A Thankful Heart Charles F. Stanley Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5 I.

Introduction: In the Bible, the heart is regarded as the seat of our emotions, passions, attitudes, and moral choices. Its condition is vitally important to our spiritual and emotional well-being. Do you have a thankful heart? II. Message: A. What motivates us to be thankful? We serve the one true and sovereign God. He loves us unconditionally and forgives our sin. The Lord has sealed us with the Holy Spirit and adopted us as His children. God equips us with spiritual gifts to fulfill the specific plans He has for our lives. Our heavenly Father is merciful, loving, and good. We have the privilege of developing close relationships with others. Jesus went to heaven to prepare a place for us, and He intercedes on our behalf. We have the Word of God. The Lord created our amazing bodies. B. In what areas of our lives should we have a thankful heart? Worship (Ps. 100:4) Prayer (Phil. 4:6) Giving (2 Cor. 9:12) Friendships (Phil. 1:1-3) Spiritual battles (1 Cor. 15:55-57) Daily living (Col. 2:6-7) Everything (1 Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20) C. What is the impact of a thankful heart? Godliness, because we are aware of His presence Motivation to look for His purpose in our circumstances Submission to His will, even when we dont understand A reminder of our dependence on Him A stronger witness Attractiveness to others Joy and contentment instead of fear and anxiety Focus on God in difficult times Transformation of our attitude toward others Supernatural energy III. Closing: Cultivating a thankful heart will transform your life. But youll never be genuinely happy or fulfilled until you know Jesus as Savior. Once you are a believer, the Holy Spirit can enable you to be grateful in all circumstances. A Call to Godly Living By Dr. Charles Stanley Watch A Call to Godly Living video. Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 Introduction: God desires that every believer lead a righteous life. But our culture places a tremendous amount of pressure on Christians to "fit in." The doctrines of our faith are often mocked and ridiculed in the public arena. Individual believers sometimes make spiritual or moral compromises in an attempt to be accepted. How can we resist the secular influence of our time? In Romans 12:1-2, the apostle Paul reveals how to pursue holiness and resist compromise. God calls us to godly living. God's call to surrender our lives to Him as living sacrifices is reasonable because He redeemed us from spiritual darkness and adopted us as children. In Romans 1-11, Paul explains salvation, victorious Christian living, and the Lord's ultimate plan for Israel. In Romans 12:1-2, he urges believers to give control of their lives to God in light of all He has done for us. We must make the choice to give control to the Father. As God's people, we no longer have the right to run our own lives, but He still allows us to choose whether or not to surrender. Your entire beingincluding your mind, will, and emotionsshould be yielded to God. We are called to be living sacrifices. Becoming a "living sacrifice" means we allow the Holy Spirit to live through us. As we surrender to the Spirit's guidance and leadership, He empowers us to live a godly life. The apostle also urges believers to be holy sacrifices.

In Greek, this word means "set apart" (as in "for a special purpose"). In one of the paradoxes of our faith, sanctificationor being made holyhappens immediately at salvation, but it is also a lifelong process. Our lives should be acceptable to God. As believers, we ought to be different from the world. Our goal should be to act as Jesus did: forgiving, loving, and helping othersyet knowing when to speak the truth in love or share our faith. When we sin, we should be quick to confess and repent. A godly lifestyle will attract some people to you, and it will drive others away. But sometimes the same people who resist the gospel will seek out a believer for help when life gets difficult. Those who live in a godly manner will face conflict with the world. Pressure from those in the world sometimes causes believers to compromise their convictions. As individuals, Christians sometimes justify compromising the truth in this way: they claim they are "being a witness" by spending time with ungodly friends, even when that includes making unrighteous choices. Instead, we should make sure our best friends are believers who take their faith seriously (2 Cor. 6:14-15, 17; 1 Cor. 15:33). Our highest priority should be to please God rather than to fit in with the world. Paul warns believers, "Do not be conformed to this world" (Rom. 12:2). The media frequently portrays the idea that if we become rich, attractive, influential, or famous, we will be happy and content. But none of things guarantee joy. Don't let our culture shape your value system and determine your priorities. To resist conforming to the world's image, you must "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom. 12:2). But how? Fill your mind with Scripture. It is through the Bible that we learn God's perspective. Focus on positive, righteous, and holy things (Col. 3:3; Phil. 4:8). This should include choosing friends and entertainment wisely. Apply biblical truth to your heart. As you go about your day, ask God to show you how to put into practice the principles of His Word. Practice the presence of the Lord. God is always with you. Ask Him to make you more sensitive to His presence. As you allow the Holy Spirit to live through you, He will help you withstand temptation and become more Christlike. Conclusion: The key to living a godly life is full surrender. That means we must let God have complete control over our lives. The Lord is looking for faithful men and women who will stand up for truth in a world that is increasingly opposed to the gospel. Rather than base your standards on popular opinion, allow Scripture to set your values. Answer the Lord's call to a godly life, and you will never be the same. A Life of Obedience Watch A Life of Obedience video. Scripture: Acts 5:14-29 I. Introduction: How do you make decisions? Do you try to determine what will benefit you the most, or perhaps you strive to please or impress others? Maybe you let emotions take control or attempt to make a logical choice. Wise men and women learn to obey God, and leave all the consequences to Him. There is nothing more important in life than following Jesus and trusting Him to care for your needs. II. What does the Bible say about obeying God? A. Biblical Example: When the apostles were told to stop preaching in Jesus name, they responded, We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). B. Sowing and Reaping: Galatians 6:7 says, Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Every action has an impact, for good or evil. Our decisions, and the choices of others, determine the quality of our lives. C. Disobedient Biblical Characters: The Bible says, Be sure your sin will find you out (Num. 32:23). Imagine how different the stories in Scripture would be if mankind knew what disobeying God would cost: 1. Adam and Eve would never have eaten the forbidden fruit. 2. The nation of Israel would have chosen to fight for the Promised Land the first time around instead of wandering 40 years in the desert. 3. After seeing Bathsheba bathing, David would have turned away and walked back inside. 4. Jonah would have willingly traveled to Ninevah to preach the Word of God. D. Faithful Biblical Characters: The Lord rewarded those who were willing to follow His commands: 1. Noah was asked to build a massive boatwhich made him the laughing stock of his commnity. But he was ready when the flood came. 2. Moses, a desert nomad, had to appear before Pharaoh, the leader of a powerful civilization, and demand freedom for the Israelites. Ultimately, the people were allowed to go. 3. Joshua was told to march around Jericho for seven days instead of relying on the military tactics he knew. And God destroyed the enemy. 4. Nehemiah boldly asked the Babylonian king for supplies to rebuild Jerusalem and received all he needed, including guards to help him safely reach the city. 5. In captivity, Daniel and his three friends refused to eat meat because it was not prepared according to Hebrew dietary laws. Yet they were healthier than all the other young men. 6. Peter and the apostles refused to stop preaching about Jesus, even though they were threatened with flogging and imprisonment. E. The Requirements: As believers, we must:

1. Believe that God is sovereignHe controls all things at all times (Ps. 103:19). 2. Trust that He will work for our good in every situation and circumstance (Rom. 8:28). 3. Love the Lord. The Bible says we show our love for Him by obeying His commands (1 John 5:3)and not just when they are convenient and desirable. 4. Listen to Him. When you pray, make time to hear what He has to say. 5. Be courageous. Obeying God takes courage because following His will often leads to conflict. You must be willing to do what is right anyway. 6. Fully surrender to Him. F. The Results of Obedience 1. You will experience personal victory if you follow His will, even if the world does not consider you a success. (See Josh. 1:8.) 2. Obedience leads to supernatural peace and joy in every circumstance. 3. Spiritual growth and maturity results when believers continue to walk with God in the midst of suffering. G. Application 1. God may ask you to do something that doesnt make sense from a human perspective. 2. The Father may lead you to give up a hobby or donate a valuable item. 3. He may prompt you to give financially when money is scarce. 4. The Lord might want you to serve in your church or take a leadership role although you feel inadequate. III. Conclusion: When you need to make an important decision, dont rely primarily on your own reasoning, the opinions of others, or even what worked in the past. Get on your knees before the Lord and pour out your heart. Spend time prayerfully reading His Word. Listen for His voice, and then follow His specific guidance for your life. Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him. If you will take to heart this one principle, you will have the awesome privilege of watching the Lord accomplish great things in and through you. A Life-Changing Prayer By Dr. Charles Stanley Watch A Life-Changing Prayer video. Scripture: Colossians 1:7-14 I. Introduction: How do you respond when people ask you to pray for them? Do you know how to lift them up before the Lord? In the first chapter of Colossians, the apostle Paul has given us a powerful model for intercession. We can have confidence that God will answer this life-changing biblical prayer. II. Message A. Power: The prayer in Colossians 1:7-14 has the power to rescue someone from all kinds of difficulty, hardship, and destruction. One couple shared that they began praying it years ago for their small children. Today, all their children and grandchildren walk in the ways of the Lord. B. Content: Ask God that the person would . . . 1. Be filled with the knowledge of His will (v. 9). Every believer needs to know the Lords specific plans for his or her life. As a parent, give your children freedom to follow their heavenly Fathers best for their lives. 2. In all spiritual wisdom and understanding (v. 9). Ask God to help them walk in a manner worthy of Christs name. As believers, our conversation, character, and conduct should reveal obedience to God. 3. Bearing fruit in every good work (v. 10). Christians should have an eternal influence on our world. As we obey God, He makes our lives fruitful. 4. Increasing in the knowledge of God (v. 10). A believer should grow closer and closer to the Lord over time. On a practical level, that means we should study the Bible, apply what we learn, and observe what happens when we obey or disobey God. 5. Strengthened with all power (v. 11). Pray that the other person will experience the power of God in his or her daily life. The Lord loves it when we realize our helplessness and cry out for His supernatural strength. 6. Joyously giving thanks to the Father (vv. 11-12). This request has to do with the persons attitude. God wants us to meet life with thankfulness, trusting Him in the midst of hardship. He brings good out of suffering and deepens our character. C. Results: Praying biblically yields fruit. While Dr. Stanley was on an In Touch cruise, he met a godly 11-year-old who prayed one of the most powerful scriptural prayers he had ever heard from a child. Because her parents cultivated an atmosphere that encouraged her to seek the Lord, shes already making an impact. III. Conclusion: Colossians 1 gives us a model that we can pray for anyone, no matter how young or old a person is. Commit yourself to intercede consistently for others, and believe that God will work in their lives.