In Touch Ministries with Dr. Charles Stanley

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August 26

A Helper for All Occasions

John 16:7-15

The Holy Spirit is a very practical Helper who assists us in every
aspect of our lives. When we pray, He intercedes for us according to
the Lord’s will (Rom. 8:26). Because of our limited knowledge or self-
centered desires, we sometimes ask for the wrong things, but the
Spirit takes our petitions and aligns them with the Father’s will.
Although you may think your prayer wasn’t answered, in reality, the
Holy Spirit just straightened out your request in order to give you
what was best.

God’s Spirit also helps us understand His Word (John 16:13). In fact,
no one can comprehend the Bible unless the Spirit illumines his
thinking. If you come to the Scriptures with a clean heart, a
submissive will, and a dependent attitude, He will enlarge your
spiritual senses to see the truth and understand His thoughts.

Perhaps one of the Spirit’s most under-appreciated works is His
conviction of our sin (vv. 8-11). Although it’s unpleasant and
sometimes painful, we should never want Him to stop, because this is
the way He gets us back on track after we have strayed. But He doesn’t
just point out our wrongs; He also empowers us to do right. True
righteousness is achieved only by relying on Him to transform us and
carry out His work through us.

Sometimes we don’t realize how much we need the Spirit. Though we
acknowledge that salvation is accomplished by Christ alone, how many
of us feel as if living the Christian life is now up to us? But self-
reliance is a recipe for failure. Only when you know you can’t, will
you find He can!

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley,
please visit www.intouch.org.

Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2009 All Rights
Reserved.

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August 27, 2011

Building Muscles of Faith

1 Kings 18:22-36

"I wish I had great faith." These are words that almost every
Christian has said at one time or another. But faith is like a muscle,
which must be exercised in order to become strong; just wishing cannot
make it happen.

Christians are to believe God, not only for salvation but for
everything. Rather than a spiritual "plateau," faith is actually a
process that involves increasing degrees of trust throughout life.
Little faith hopes that God will do what He says; strong faith knows
that He will; and great faith believes that He has already done it.

Elijah was a man of great faith. He saw increased challenges as
opportunities for God to do His work—and the prophet believed Him for
the supernatural. So can you. The Lord may not do every miraculous
thing you ask of Him, but He does some extraordinary work in and
through each person who is obedient and willing to trust in Him.

You may be thinking, I am not good enough for the Father to use me.
The Scriptures are filled with examples of weak and flawed people whom
the Lord used to achieve His purposes. He is looking, not for
perfection, but for individuals willing to believe Him. He not only
works through people of faith; He transforms them.

Start by reading God's Word to learn what He wants you to do. Each
day's situations and needs are opportunities to trust Him. Ask the
Lord to bring to mind verses that apply to your circumstances. Trust
Him and do what He says—your faith "muscles" will grow, and He will be
glorified.

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August 29, 2011

The Influence of Faith

1 Kings 18:37-40

In contemporary Christian culture, faith is often considered a
possession that affects just its "owner." Because of our love for
independence and self-sufficiency, we have, in many ways, lost the
sense of community and outreach that the church is meant to embody. We
live like little islands in our own "personal relationship with
Christ." But in reality, God wants our faith to influence others, both
within and outside the church.

Elijah's faith influenced the entire nation of Israel. By believing
and delivering God's message, he was an example to them in word and
deed. When he asked the Lord to reveal Himself as almighty God, fire
fell from heaven, and the people believed.

His motive in the showdown at Mount Carmel was to draw the people back
to the Lord. We usually think of "sharing our faith" with those who
don't know Christ, but our confidence in God can also encourage weak
or wayward believers. Likewise, those strong in faith can strengthen
us when we are struggling with doubt.

The church is described as a body whose parts are all interconnected
(1 Cor. 12:12). God never intended that we be autonomous, living in
our own personal faith. We are not like a bag of marbles; rather,
we're to be like a bunch of grapes whose juices blend in times of
pressure.

Guard against living an isolated Christian life. Share your confidence
in God's faithfulness. Your testimony could help others' faith to
grow. If you're troubled by doubt or fear, let go of any pride or
shame, and seek help from a strong believer. Mutual blessing awaits
when we reach out to one another.

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August 30

Perseverance in Prayer

Romans 12:11-13

As a pastor, I speak with many people about their spiritual journey.
From these interactions, I know that most individuals are not
satisfied with their prayer life. They lack anticipation and faith,
and time with God feels empty. Most likely, this is why many
Christians pray so little and so passionlessly.

Yesterday, we began looking at obstacles to a healthy prayer life.
Let’s explore one more hindrance that blocks vibrant communication
between God and us: impatience.

Most of us have at some point brought our supplication to Jesus
vigorously but did not see the desired results. Unfortunately, humans
are, by nature, fainthearted. We get weary of asking and listening
when all we perceive is silence. Remember, though, that God is not
some “cosmic bellhop”; He does not act on our cue. In fact, if we
could see the big picture as He can, we would gladly wait for His way
and time.

Actually, I believe that we benefit by not receiving all that we
request. Understanding this concept is a sign of spiritual maturity.
When we are thoroughly satisfied with the Lord’s presence, our
relationship with Him will flourish, even when we don’t get all we
ask. When that is the case, we grasp what prayer is—not a long want
list, but a relationship.

Barriers can develop if we persistently cry out to God but nothing
changes. Continue to pray. Beyond this “wall,” you’ll sense God’s
presence, where you will find peace, joy, and awesome glimpses of His
glory. This will be completely satisfying, even if He never gives you
exactly what you requested.

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September 1

Reasons to Surrender

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

As we learned yesterday, God tells us to surrender our lives to Him.
This is no small task. All our plans, every desire we feel, each
entitlement that once seemed our right—everything is put aside in
order to make way for our King’s will. But perhaps you have wondered
why God can ask this of us.

The Lord has every right to demand that we give Him our all. First,
Scripture teaches us that He is sovereign—the King and Ruler over the
entire universe. As a result, we are under His authority, whether we
choose to submit or not. Next, through His death and resurrection,
Jesus saved us from our sin and its consequences. Therefore, we are
indebted to Him more than we could ever repay. And finally, He
sustains us; we should consider each breath and heartbeat a gift from
Him.

Undoubtedly, God is entitled to ask that we yield our life to Him. At
the same time, surrender is in our best interest. The Father promises
that following Him leads to hope and an established future. Psalm
31:19 states, “How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up
for those who fear You . . .” So, while He is the Almighty One with
all authority to demand our life, He promises to care for us and to do
what will benefit us most.

Are you willing to put yourself aside in order to follow Jesus? His
way is best, and it offers hope, joy, and peace. We will not always
like everything He chooses at the moment, but He promises to work all
things for good. Will you trust God enough to hand the reins over to
Him?