THE GREATEST WORD

 THE GREATEST WORD

Charles Stanley is one of the greatest preachers in the world. His “In Touch” programs reach millions around the world each week. But he has been through some real trials. 

 

Many years ago I had a cassette tape with Dr. Stanley’s testimony of his calling to First Baptist Church in Atlanta. That testimony made a profound impact on my life. I listened to it many times. Unfortunately, I lost the tape and have been unable to find it.  

 

But, hallelujah, Dr. Stanley shares the story in his new book, Courageous Faith.  Allow me to briefly quote a paraphrase from a book review with some other details from the book. 

 

From 1957 to 1969 Stanley pastored churches in Fruitland, North Carolina, Fairburn, Ohio, and Miami and Bartow, Florida.

 

God began to deal with him about moving to Atlanta. All he saw was a vision of a dark cloud over the church. 

 

Following God’s call, he reluctantly became associate pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta, which was a hornet’s nest. His reception was poor: Most people were cold and unwelcoming, and the staff opposed him. The liberal, senior pastor soon resigned.

 

Worst of all, the executive committee, who micromanaged everything, disliked his Biblical preaching, publicly berated him and intimidated him to resign. Of the about 2,500 in the Sunday morning service “at least 300 … were actively, virulently against me.” They’d sing in the halls, “We will overcome,” referring to him, their acting pastor. His family and a few prayer warriors were his only allies—besides God.                  

 

After speaking at a Bryan College revival in 1971, Stanley returned Sunday to find every sanctuary seat with a leaflet opposing him being named the senior pastor in the following week’s business meeting. 

 

He struggled with the sermon that morning. He always had notes or an outline, but that morning he had nothing. In the pulpit he opened his Bible and began to share from Proverbs 3:5-6. After his sermon, which had no reference to the battle, he writes, “It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen at a church service. It was like a bomb. God sent people sprinting in two distinct directions … to the exits … (and even more) toward the altar.”

 

More than 2,000 came to the Wednesday meeting, and 65 percent of the church voted to make Stanley the senior pastor.

 

Things continued to boil over, however, and reached a climax when one of the leaders of the church who opposed him, got up to speak at a business meeting and became so riled up he cursed in the pulpit. When Dr. Stanley quietly corrected him, he backhanded Dr. Stanley with his fist! Another man threatened him in the pulpit on a televised Sunday morning service by stating that people were not going to get a sermon that morning, but a funeral!

 

As we now know, God blessed Dr. Stanley’s ministry. His Pentecostal grandfather had always taught him to “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him!”

 

What does that verse that he spoke from say?

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (make your paths straight).

 

Four simple things...

 

1. Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Commit completely with your mind, will, emotions. No plan B. 

 

2. Lean not on your own understanding. Obeying God often is counter-intuitive. 

 

3. In all your ways acknowledge Him. Obedience is acknowledgement. 

 

4. He shall direct your paths (make your paths straight). He will make His will clear and plain. He will limit your options. 

 

Illustration: My college choice. 

 

My own experience with Proverbs 3:5-6: Moving to El Paso.

 

God is concerned about you. He is watching you, praying for you, cheering for you...