Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: charles stanley sermons 2020

Encouraging Ourselves - Charles Stanley. With all of this uncertainty surrounding the current state of the world, it’s easy to feel like everything is spinning out of control. You’re not alone in that feeling. In part 3 of the "Encouragement" series, Dr. Stanley directs our attention on a tough predicament in King David’s life. His family had been abducted, and his army had turned on him. But David didn’t give into feelings of despair and hopelessness. First Samuel Chapter 30 is the setting for a lesson on encouraging ourselves.

Sunday Reflection: The Promise of Justice - Charles Stanley Daily Devotional (June-28-2023). Our God is just, which means that He is for the restoration of all things. 

Psalm 9:1-20 ( 1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. 2 I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. 3 When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before You. 4 For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously. 5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, And You have uprooted the cities; The very memory of them has perished. 7 But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, 8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity. 9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble; 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds. 12 For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Be gracious to me, O LORD; See my affliction from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 That I may tell of all Your praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation. 15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah. 17 The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God. 18 For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever. 19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD; Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah)

We frequently think of justice in a negative light—as punishment or vindication—but it’s also immensely positive. In fact, the Hebrew word mishpat, which is commonly translated as “judgment” or “justice,” conveys a sense of making things right or putting them in their proper place. This is evident in the heartfelt prayers of the psalmists, who cry out for the Lord’s justice and restoration.

In Psalm 9, we see both of these ideas come together as David prays longingly for God to show him mercy through judgment on his enemies (Psalm 9:13-20). And it’s because of the Lord’s justice that we can be assured “the needy will not always be forgotten” and that hope remains for those who are afflicted (Psalm 9:18). We can take great comfort in this, especially when things feel unfair. God promises He is just and merciful—and He desires to make things right for us.

Think about it
• How does justice help put things in their proper place?

• In what ways do justice and mercy work together in your life—especially in your relationships with others? 

• Reread Psalm 9:1-20. Can you imagine how David was feeling? What helps you focus on God’s love and mercy during times of trial?

Will There Be Eternal Punishment? - Charles Stanley Daily Devotional (March-21-2023). 

God created us with free will, and we have the opportunity to choose eternity with Him. 

Revelation 20:11-15 ( 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire).

Many people don’t like the idea of eternal punishment for the ungodly. Some people think God shouldn’t have created the world at all if He knew we were going to sin. But can you imagine never having been born? Others think that the heavenly Father shouldn’t have created man with the ability to sin and to do evil. But would you want to be a robot with no choices and no free will?

Our Father decided upon a different alternative: He created human beings with a free will. In this way, man can receive love from the Creator and choose to glorify Him in return. God gave us the right to decide between love or hate, obedience or disobedience. He understood that choice meant people would sometimes suffer, but that they would have the potential to grow in character. Then God can shape us as we grow in love and submit to Him—and in the process, we will be conformed to His likeness.

God knew free will was the best option for His created beings. What will you do with yours? I pray that you’ll understand the sacrifice Jesus made for you on the cross and choose to receive His love today.

A Comforting Message in Fearful Times– Dr. Charles Stanley. Dr. Stanley pulls from the Word of God to strengthen and encourage us so that we can learn to trust God during these trying times.

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