In this bonus episode, we officially pick back up our book club read of The Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley after pausing in Q4 due to major life transitions, including starting law school and welcoming a new baby. The goal now is simple: finish the book together and apply it practically as we move into a new year.
If you are new to the book club, all previous episodes are linked in the show notes, along with the link to purchase the book. This remains one of my top Christian books of all time and one I believe should be reread regularly, especially at the beginning of the year.
Today’s Focus: Chapter 11 — Doing God’s Work God’s Way
While this episode technically covers Chapters 11 and 12, the primary focus is Chapter 11. Chapter 12 largely reiterates themes already covered earlier in the book regarding the Holy Spirit, so today’s discussion centers on what it truly looks like to build, work, and live by God’s Spirit rather than our own strength.
The chapter opens with Zechariah 4:6–7:
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
Using the story of Zerubbabel rebuilding the temple, Charles Stanley reminds us that:
- God knows we will face opposition
- God does not always remove obstacles
- God prepares us instead
- Self-sufficiency is often the greatest opposition
This scripture is a critical anchor for anyone building a business, pursuing goals, or stepping into God-ordained work.
No Separation Between Spiritual and Secular Work
Colossians 3:23–24 reminds us that “whatever you do” is service to the Lord. God does not divide life into sacred and secular categories. Your job, business, career, and daily responsibilities are all part of your calling.
Even in environments where faith cannot be openly expressed, excellence, humility, integrity, and Spirit-dependence still glorify God. Your work ethic and posture can be a bridge to someone who may never step into a church.
Two Ways to Approach God’s Work
Doing God’s work in the flesh looks like:
- relying on skill, experience, influence, and strategy
- planning first and asking God to bless it later
- measuring success by numbers, money, or visibility
- operating in stress, pressure, and control
Doing God’s work by the Spirit looks like:
- beginning with dependency
- hearing from God before planning
- remaining flexible and surrendered
- allowing God to receive the glory
God’s work done God’s way carries an unmistakable mark. It produces transformation, not just emotional stimulation or surface-level success.
Five Indicators You’re Doing God’s Work God’s Way
According to Charles Stanley, Spirit-led work is marked by:
- Knowing the work will fail if God does not intervene
- Seeing God as your only true source
- Looking for evidence of the Spirit’s intervention
- Living without chronic stress
- Spending more time thanking God than asking Him
If these are not currently descriptive of you, that is not condemnation—it is an invitation to course-correct.
Final Encouragement
This episode is especially timely for the beginning of the year, when many of us are setting goals and making plans. If you started the year operating in the flesh, now is the time to bring those plans back to God, repent of self-sufficiency, and realign your posture.
Write these five indicators down. Keep Zechariah 4:6 somewhere visible. Check yourself often and intentionally choose to do God’s work God’s way.
We have two more bonus episodes to finish the book before moving on to our next book club pick.
Thank you for listening to another episode of the Blessed + Bossed Up podcast.
Previous episodes:
https://www.blessedandbossedup.com/podcast/episode/39405540/the-joy-youve-been-missing-starts-with-the-holy-spirit
https://www.blessedandbossedup.com/podcast/episode/3255ebb2/the-holy-spirit-is-not-an-it-or-a-ghost
https://www.blessedandbossedup.com/podcast/episode/20f3c1c7/faith-over-formula
https://www.blessedandbossedup.com/podcast/episode/4df616ba/abiding-over-achieving
https://www.blessedandbossedup.com/podcast/episode/2213e340/the-faith-factor
https://www.blessedandbossedup.com/podcast/episode/28425033/keeping-in-step-with-the-spirit
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