Bishop's Blog

1 John 3:13
¹³Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred.

So many times in life we find ourselves making bad decisions because we are concerned with the opinions of people in the world. “What will they say if I do this?” or “what will they think of me if I say this?” and all the while we are fighting a battle that can’t be won. There are some people that will never like you and never appreciate you no matter how hard you try. No matter what you do and no matter how you attempt to cater to them.

We all want to be accepted and we all want to be loved, but we must know that our worth is not derived from what others say, rather by what Christ says about you. Don’t fear the world but have a reverent fear of God.

The Bible teaches us not to be surprised by that or even wonder about it - just focus on what God says about you.

How do you trust God?

Christians come up with some of the best cliches and positive sayings around. The truth is that if we don’t clearly understand what it is that we’re really saying, it can be difficult for us to act. You’ve heard things like “Turn it over to Jesus” or “Hold onto to God’s unchanging hand.” While things like that sound nice, what do they really mean? How do you hold onto God’s hand if you’ve never seen it? How do you just turn something over to Jesus if you don’t really understand what that means?

Trusting God isn’t a feeling and it isn’t warm fuzzies on your body when you pray. Trusting God is a decision that we back up with corresponding action. You decide to trust God so you don’t worry. We don’t praise God because we always feel like it, we praise Him because we decide to. We don’t tithe because we don’t have other things to do with our money. We make a decision that if that’s what God says, that’s what we’re going to do. No matter what’s going on in your life, decide to trust God and then just don’t stop there, put corresponding action into motion and watch God do just what He said.

Do you have trouble making time for God?

Let’s face it… most of us live busy lives and wear many different hats. Developing a quality relationship with God requires time. You must be intentional!! Here’s a question that came in on the subject -

Thank You Bishop for answering my question…..I have one more…Hope I’m not asking to much….But I have trouble getting into my word due to the fact I have 3 children and can’t seem to find the time…do you have any Scriptures that could help me with what God is getting ready to do in my life?

This is a great question because I am sure that there are many people in this position. Believe it or not, being a good mother is a part of your relationship with God because that means that He has entrusted you with His inheritance according to Psalm 127:3. In terms of getting in your Word, here are some very practical steps to take to being able to do so:

God prefers quality over quantity according to Matthew 6:7. Set aside a time each day when you can begin with worship, prayer, and then getting into the Word. You should study the Scriptures just taught the last message you were taught by your pastor. Just start with 10-15 minutes per day when you can focus and from there add more time. The key is being CONSISTENT!! I taught on that in the message on this called “The Power of Consistency.” It’s available in our online store.
Utilize time that’s not being used constructively like time you spend watching TV or talking on the phone. If we look for time, we can find it!! Maximize the 24 hours that you have each day!
Ask God for a hunger and a passion for the Word and He’ll give it to you!! This will help you to find that time. Whatever you have passion about you act on.

Don’t Accept what God Rejects!

1^st Samuel 16:1 THE LORD said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided for Myself a king among his sons.

There are things that God rejects to be in our lives that we try to hold on to and try to make them fit. Maybe it’s a relationship, a job choice, even some permanent decisions that we make from temporary locations. The Lord had originally decided that Saul would be the King of the people, but not because He wanted them to have a king. The people cried out for a king and God permitted it even though He knew what would happen. They wanted to be like the other nations not realizing that they were special and different. That’s how you are. You are special and you are different and you can’t try to make yourself average and like everyone else because God has called you out! That’s what the word church means in Hebrew “the called out.”

What is it that you are trying to force in your life that God has rejected? What situations make you miserable and you concluded that it’s God’s will that it be that way. Newsflash… God’s thoughts and plans for you are for good and never for evil. It is not God’s will that you be broke, busted and disgusted with life. If you feel that way today, decide to change it. Stop accepting things that God rejects. Stop allowing things that don’t have to be accepted. Don’t allow lack, don’t allow sickness, don’t accept what God rejects.

Blow Your Shofar!

Psalm 47:5-7⁵God has ascended amid shouting, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. ⁶Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! ⁷For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises in a skillful psalm and with understanding.

So many times as believers we are confronted with tough circumstances that leave us with one of two choices - to worry or to praise God. Many have been taught that when things get tight and life takes a detour that they need to focus on fighting the devil. That’s not correct. Christ has already defeated Satan according to Colossians 2:15 so we don’t have to fight someone that has been defeated. Our fight is the fight of faith and the way we fight it is determined through our response in crisis.

When people of the world hear bad news, they lament and get angry, but that can’t be the same for the Body of Christ. Our response must be like Job; it must be to praise and worship God. The true test of faith is not when things are going well, but when the bottom seems to fall out. Do we get angry and go into depression or do we simply go into prayer and praising God? God ascends and becomes big in our life according to our praise.

In Scripture, many times a trumpet is referring to the shofar which was a rams horn which was used to call the people into order. It was also a proclamation of the arrival of a new season and of the Lord. God can only come into an environment that is in order and where He is celebrated. God will get involved in your situation when you stop complaining and stop plotting and planning and go to praising. Praise is like blowing the shofar, it sets the atmosphere in order and it announces the arrival of the King.

Blow your shofar today. Shout to God with praises and life His name on high. When people ask you how you’re doing, tell them that there is no God like your God. Magnify Him and He will become big in your life.

For every temptation, there is an exit strategy.

Do You See What He Sees?

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]—blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.

It can be easy to be distracted by bills, circumstances, bad relationships, and negative things. When we find ourselves discouraged, it is because of a lack of vision. If you live life like you have nothing to live for, then you’ll perish with an unfulfilled assignment. The King James Version says that “where there is no prophetic revelation, the people cast off restraint.” In other words, vision determines your actions. If you forget that God showed you you’d own your own business, you’ll make bad decisions and “cast of restraint” like you’ll never have it. If you forgot that God showed you that your family will be saved, you’ll stop praying for them and they’ll perish. God allows us to enter places of frustration in order to give us revelation.

If you feel like you are in a stagnant place, that might be a good place to be!! That means God is trying to speak to you and remind you of the vision. Once you get it, write it down. When discouragement comes your way, which it will, you then can go back to what you wrote and say this isn’t what God promised me, so that must mean that I’ve got to keep on pressing on.