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Charles Stanley

Charles Frazier Stanley (1932–2023). Born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Virginia, Charles Stanley was an American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author who led First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 50 years. Raised by his widowed mother, Rebecca, after his father’s death at nine months, he felt called to preach at 14 and joined a Baptist church at 16. Stanley earned a BA from the University of Richmond (1956), a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1958), and a ThM and ThD from Luther Rice Seminary. Ordained in 1956, he pastored churches in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina before joining First Baptist Atlanta in 1969, becoming senior pastor in 1971. In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries, broadcasting his sermons globally via radio, TV, and online, reaching millions. A pioneer in Christian media, he authored over 60 books, including The Source of My Strength (1994), How to Listen to God (1985), and Success God’s Way (2000), emphasizing practical faith. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1984–1986), he faced personal challenges, including a 2000 divorce from Anna Johnson after 44 years; they had two children, Andy and Becky. Stanley died on April 18, 2023, in Atlanta, saying, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”
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Charles Stanley preaches on overcoming jealousy by acknowledging it as a sin that leads to idolatry, repenting, and realigning our perspective with God's will. He emphasizes the importance of thanking God for others' blessings, asking for love towards them, and avoiding malice and hate that jealousy can breed. By surrendering jealousy to God, we can protect our relationships, our witness, and fully experience God's blessings.
The Struggle With Jealousy
Psalm 37:4 Is it possible to take control of a jealous attitude? Yes, it certainly is! Knowing that God wants His children to be in charge of these emotions, let's examine some specific things you can do to gain victory. First, confess your jealousy. This emotion will always—always—take your eyes off the Lord and fix them on some other person or object. That, at its heart, is idolatry. Whenever you place a higher value on some "thing" than you place on God, you put yourself under judgment. Repent of that sin immediately! Second, realize you are in disagreement with God. If He chooses to bring some specific blessing into another person's life, that is His prerogative. Your jealousy is merely a declaration that you think you deserve the blessing more than the other person. Bring this disagreement honestly before the Lord, and ask Him to restore a godly perspective to your mind. Third, thank God for what He's doing in that person's life. You may not like this point. But, when you praise God—even if you do not feel like it—you put yourself in a position to receive His blessings by showing that you fully trust His judgment. Fourth, ask God to place love in your heart for the other person. So often in Scripture, the word "jealous" is followed by the word "anger." Do not allow jealousy to stir up malice and hate toward someone else. Jealousy can destroy your relationships, your witness, and your own experience of God's blessings. Ask the Lord to wipe away these unhealthy feelings today.
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Charles Frazier Stanley (1932–2023). Born on September 25, 1932, in Dry Fork, Virginia, Charles Stanley was an American Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and author who led First Baptist Church of Atlanta for over 50 years. Raised by his widowed mother, Rebecca, after his father’s death at nine months, he felt called to preach at 14 and joined a Baptist church at 16. Stanley earned a BA from the University of Richmond (1956), a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1958), and a ThM and ThD from Luther Rice Seminary. Ordained in 1956, he pastored churches in Florida, Ohio, and North Carolina before joining First Baptist Atlanta in 1969, becoming senior pastor in 1971. In 1977, he founded In Touch Ministries, broadcasting his sermons globally via radio, TV, and online, reaching millions. A pioneer in Christian media, he authored over 60 books, including The Source of My Strength (1994), How to Listen to God (1985), and Success God’s Way (2000), emphasizing practical faith. President of the Southern Baptist Convention (1984–1986), he faced personal challenges, including a 2000 divorce from Anna Johnson after 44 years; they had two children, Andy and Becky. Stanley died on April 18, 2023, in Atlanta, saying, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”