Creflo Dollar: God’s Priority Is Loving Us

by: Creflo Dollar

Some of us are so amazed at God’s power and might, we forget His other side. God is indeed strong and just, but He also loves us with a love so great we can’t comprehend it. We receive this love and acceptance not from anything we did, but from accepting Jesus Christ and making Him Lord of our lives. God loves all creatures great and small, and we are by no means the least.

Although He made the earth, the sky, the universe and all creation, He never forgets us, His beloved children (Psalm 8:3-8, NIV). Sometimes as Christians we let religion get in the way of this beautiful relationship with the Father, and we make the mistake of thinking God doesn’t love us. But the truth is that He wants to bless and not curse us (Proverbs 26:2, AMP).

He’s not an angry, vengeful God. In the Old Testament, His children were under the Law, and they operated under curses. But we’ve been redeemed from the Law, and we can operate under blessings. His priority is loving us, and curses can’t attach themselves to His loved ones.

If you’ve ever been bird watching, you’ll notice how carefree they seem as they fly back and forth. When you see the beautiful flowers in the springtime, you may be reminded of God’s beauty when you admire their colors and smell their sweet fragrance. If God loves and takes care of something seemingly as insignificant as the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, so much more so will He take care of us (Luke 12:24-27, NIV).

When we worry and fret, it causes us unnecessary stress, but it also disconnects us from reaping God’s blessings. When we trust in Him to supply all our needs, we’re acknowledging His ability to do so. We can take a lesson from the birds. The Bible says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6, 7, NIV).

God tells us not to be afraid because He knows fear operates freely through the earth, and fear involves punishment. But God sent His Son to save us, not punish us. The Scriptures repeatedly use the analogy of birds to show us the importance of trusting Him (Matthew 10:29, 31, NIV; Matthew 6:25-31, NIV).

Unlike any earthly emotions, God’s love is unconditional and unchanging. When we accepted His Son Jesus, God revealed the divine family ties that connect us to Him. He knows us inside and out, and accepts us with all our flaws and imperfections. His love isn’t based on our behavior, but on what Jesus did for us thousands of years ago.

Even before the beginning of time, God had decided to make us His own. He wants to set us apart from the world as His highly valued, favored children (Ephesians 1:4-6, AMP). In the Old Testament, His people mistakenly thought He hated them, and they turned bitter and rebellious (Deuteronomy 1: 26, 27). When we realize God loves us, we know that we’ll have more than enough love to share with others, and still have it in abundance.

Experience “Your World with Creflo Dollar”! Everyone faces challenges in life, and with every challenge we face, there is a solution. “Your World” is passionate about empowering our viewers for positive change through the Grace of God. We invite you to tune in weekly!

Creflo Dollar: Is Jesus Enough?

by: Creflo Dollar

Personal relationships are important to us, and relationships with others can enrich our lives and make them more enjoyable. Yet, many people fail to realize the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Some mistakenly believe that the simplicity of this bond with God isn’t enough to be saved, and they feel they must perform good works to help things along. But we don’t need to let religion or the traditions of man dilute this perfect union.

There is one line of reasoning that says if we fail to do certain prescribed works, we will be cut off from God. This comes from the misinterpretation of what Jesus said about our relationship with Him. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:1, 2).

We are saved by God’s grace, not by anything we do or don’t do. His salvation doesn’t depend on our behavior, and we don’t become “unsaved” if we don’t bear fruit right away. Some people feel they need to add something extra to what God brings us, to try and guarantee their salvation in case grace doesn’t work for them. But the Scriptures tell us that Jesus is enough. “And he said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When we face adversity, challenges, or hardship, Jesus doesn’t abandon us. He instead bears us up and gives us the strength to persevere. Jesus shed His blood for us as the one perfect sacrifice for all time, and when we accept Him, that blood washes away our sins and atones for our mistakes. The net result is that nothing can separate us from Jesus’ love (Romans 8:38, 39).

In the Old Testament, the priests had to make regular sacrifices on behalf of God’s people, and sin was a huge issue. They had to work hard to perform all the rituals just right, to earn God’s favor. But Jesus, Who is Grace personified, changed all that. Some people reject the simplicity of God’s promises of forgiveness, and still cling to the old ways of thinking, but sin no longer has to separate us from Him.

When we accept Jesus and what He did for us, we are born again, and we become righteous. This righteousness is not because of our own good works or intentions, but because we believe in the finished works of Jesus that were completed thousands of years ago. The sanctification we receive sets us apart from those who choose not to accept Him (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

One component of a successful relationship is open communication, and God communicates His love and acceptance for us through the Bible. We learn from the Scriptures that Jesus intercedes with the Father on our behalf, and the righteousness we gain through Him makes us worthy to stand in God’s presence. Jesus has conquered sin, and He is the bridge between us and God that didn’t exist in the Old Testament. When we let Jesus live inside us, sin is no longer a barrier to salvation.

Experience “Your World with Creflo Dollar”! Everyone faces challenges in life, and with every challenge we face, there is a solution. “Your World” is passionate about empowering our viewers for positive change through the Grace of God. We invite you to tune in weekly!

Pastor Creflo Dollar: The Importance of Pleasing God

by: Creflo Dollar

As Believers, our goal in life should be to please God. There are many people who believe that God is pleased with their lives simply because they are born again. There is, however, a difference between God being pleased with you because you are His child and Him being pleased with you because of your behavior. We want to please God in every aspect of our lives, meaning not only do we want to be pleasing to Him because we accepted Jesus, but we want our conduct and character to please Him as well. The way we live our lives on this earth determines the rewards we will get in heaven. For this reason, we should be diligent about cultivating a lifestyle that truly pleases God.

God holds us to a higher standard of living because He has given us the grace, or supernatural ability, to carry it out. Grace was never designed to be a cover-up for sin, but rather a means of overcoming sin in all its forms. This grace is always marked by God’s enabling work within us to help us overcome our shortcomings. Because we have grace, we can please God through our behavior. We are no longer under the dominion of sin and do not have to give in to temptation when it shows up.

There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less. John 17:23 says, “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” Jesus said that the Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus! And yet, it is possible to displease God through our behavior and lifestyle. God’s pleasure with us is not unconditional, like His love is. We must make a decision to please God through our obedience to His Word, out of reverence and honor for Him. Our love for Him and appreciation for all He has done for us should move us to align our lives with His Word. When we do, we please Him.

Making a quality decision to please God has so many benefits. Besides the fact that pleasing God through our obedience to His Word positions us to receive the benefits of the blessing on this earth, it also ensures that we receive rewards when we get to heaven. We all will have to go before the Lord one day and give an account of the things we did in our bodies, while on the earth (2 Corinthians 5:10). For this reason, we must make sure that we build our lives upon the foundation of God’s Word and not the fashions of this world.

First Corinthians 3:12-15 says, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

The works that we do while we are alive will be brought before the judgment seat of Christ one day, and everything we did that had lasting, eternal value will cause us to reap eternal rewards in heaven. Likewise, the things that had no eternal value will not make it through the fire of God’s judgment. Many people will lose their eternal rewards because the things they did on the earth, while successful in the world’s eyes, did not please God.

What do you allow to define you—the Word of God, or the norms and values of this world? Are you more concerned with being celebrated in the world’s eyes rather than developing love, faith, and godly character? Are your motives coming from a place of wanting to please God or please yourself? These are questions all of us must ask ourselves as we examine our lives and the plans, purposes, and pursuits we have in life.

It is God’s will for every Christian to obtain the full spectrum of rewards He has for them, both on earth and in heaven. What we do with the Cross determines where we spend eternity, but how we live our lives determines how we spend eternity. The only way to live a life that is pleasing to God is through His grace, which enables us to live according to His Word. When we discover and fulfill His will for our lives, rather than pursue our own will, we please Him and set ourselves up to receive eternal rewards that will last forever.

Experience “Your World with Creflo Dollar”! Everyone faces challenges in life, and with every challenge we face, there is a solution. “Your World” is passionate about empowering our viewers for positive change through the Grace of God. We invite you to tune in weekly!

Dr. Creflo Dollar: Sexually Active and Single?

by: Dr. Creflo Dollar

We need to talk about sex, particularly sex among singles. The media has too much to say about sex. Billboards go as close to the edge as they can to flaunt sex. Turn on the television, and every day, we’re bombarded with images, many that hinge upon the lewd and the crude. Now here’s a shocker, similar to how a new employee waits 90 days before enjoying a company’s benefits, there’s a concept going around which says, women who date should wait 90 days before sharing benefits of a sexual nature. And there’s more! Popular opinion says 90 days is too long to wait! Did anyone ever think about going to The Expert? God. After all, He created sex—for a husband and a wife, that is.

The Word of God is very clear concerning sexual activity among singles. It is called fornication, which is consensual sexual intercourse between two people who are not married to each other. The Bible calls it sin sex. Yes, there’s marital sex and then there’s sin sex.

In Corinthians 6:18, God says, “Flee fornication.” That means don’t toy with it, debate it, or consider it—flee! Strong words for sure, but God is serious about this—seriously trying to save you from harmful and unnecessary pitfalls.

However sex, like all gifts from God, requires responsibility on the part of the receivers. For example, God richly provided Adam and Eve with the Garden of Eden, but they were not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When they disobeyed by willfully eating the fruit of that tree, there were adverse consequences, not just for the two of them but for all of mankind!

And just like in the garden, the results of sin are not limited to one person. What happens to one affects another. For instance, the act of fornication involves at least two people. However, these days, many more could be involved, as in group sex. If a pregnancy results, another life or more is added to the equation. One bad decision, in the heat of passion, or weakly following popular opinion can affect an entire family for a lifetime.

Another result of “sin sex” is sexually transmitted diseases—or STDs. The numbers for people affected by STDs is on the rise and is at pandemic levels, affecting a large population.

Remember the saying, “If everyone else jumps off a bridge, would you do it too?” Well,

before you decide to follow popular opinion or a media craze, stop and think about it. Also, remember you will receive the corresponding popular results we just talked about, not to mention social embarrassment, a broken heart, or the ultimate—missing God and missing heaven.

Popular opinion can vary from day to day. James 1:7 says God does not change. In the end, God is always right. It may take a while before it is obvious, but He has the last word. Moreover, the Word of God is accurate, dependable, wise, and remains standing, long after popular opinion isn’t popular anymore.

If you are ever in doubt about whether the Bible is still relevant or current with the times, the book of Isaiah makes it plain. Remember these words: “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8, NLT).

Experience “Your World with Creflo Dollar”! Everyone faces challenges in life, and with every challenge we face, there is a solution. “Your World” is passionate about empowering our viewers for positive change through the Grace of God. We invite you to tune in weekly!

Creflo Dollar: A Godly View of Wealth

by: Creflo Dollar

When some people hear the word “money,” their eyes light up like they’re seeing dancing dollar signs. There’s nothing wrong with having money in the bank, but we’ve all seen individuals who take it to the extreme and seek it exclusively. We all need money, but many people have the wrong relationship with it, and how to get it. The Bible tells us there are right ways and wrong ways to acquire wealth.

Regardless of the currency, money is simply paper and ink, but it’s amazing how it can influence our way of thinking. Some individuals take great pride in building a vast empire with a large bank account. Others steal it, or even commit suicide because of it. God’s Word concerning this is radically different than what the world says. “If you start thinking to yourselves, ‘I did all this. And all by myself. I’m rich. It’s all mine!’—well, think again. Remember that God, your God, gave you the strength to produce all this wealth so as to confirm the covenant that he promised to your ancestors—as it is today” (Deuteronomy 8:17, 18, MSG).

The world has a love/hate relationship with money. Many people crave it for themselves, and are highly suspicious of those who have it. Others are willing to murder others for it. Money itself isn’t evil, but developing a wrong relationship with it is. “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:9, 10, NIV).

Money is simply a tool to accomplish what’s really important in life, which is helping others. We’ve all heard stories of “self-made” millionaires who squandered all their fortunes on themselves and ended up penniless. God promises that if we love Him more than money, He’ll make sure we’ll have plenty of everything we need. “Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; so shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9, 10, AMP).

Honoring the Lord means trusting Him enough to release our tight grip on our wallet, and giving generously. Whatever we give will return to us abundantly. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:10, 11). God actually wants to abundantly bless our finances. The problem is that too many of us don’t see how He figures into our financial lives, but these two verses clearly state how God will honor our belief and obedience in this area.

God loves us and doesn’t want to see us struggle financially. If we acknowledge Him as our true Source of wealth, amazing things will begin to happen. Letting His Word guide us in every financial decision we make brings true prosperity.

Experience “Your World with Creflo Dollar”! Everyone faces challenges in life, and with every challenge we face, there is a solution. “Your World” is passionate about empowering our viewers for positive change through the Grace of God. We invite you to tune in weekly!

Creflo Dollar: Sharing Jesus with Others

by: Creflo Dollar

The relationships we forge can either make life blissfully sweet, or miserable and unhappy. We see them all around us, although many people don’t know how to build happy, healthy spiritual bonds between themselves and others. Relationships are a gift from a loving God, and He wants us to be happy in them.

When we study the Bible, we see that Jesus is always in the center of successful relationships. Worldly relationships that leave out God can be painful and destructive. Many of them are built around fear or other negative emotions. When we proactively reach out to others and share Jesus’ love, we begin laying the groundwork for healthy relationships. It can start with something as simple as encouraging someone else. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24, NKJV).

Jesus was all about mercy, compassion, and kindness. Instead of condemning the woman caught in adultery, He forgave her. He never pointed the finger of blame, and He had harsh words for hypocrites who set themselves above everyone else. “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor” (Matthew 7:1-5, MSG).

 Sharing Jesus enriches any relationship, whether it’s between spouses, parents, children, neighbors, friends, or co-workers. The lessons found in the Word of God about how to treat others are radically different than what we see in the world. Treating others the way we’d like to be treated makes a positive difference. “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Luke 6:31, NKJV). Jesus preached this during His earthly ministry, and it’s still true today. When Jesus ministered to the crowds, He had compassion on them. He saw how lost and hurting they were, just like today. He reached out to the people in love, knowing full well that not all of them would accept His message. In Him, we have the perfect example to follow in all our relationships. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31, 32).

Getting along with others is easier if we set aside selfish motives, and put others first. Remembering the saying “Walk a mile in my shoes” helps us to get a different perspective from our own, increasing our understanding of someone else’s emotional needs. Having empathy for others’ feelings makes us less likely to say or do hurtful things. When we remember how Jesus conducted Himself with others and apply those same principles, God will bless our relationships.

Experience “Your World with Creflo Dollar”! Everyone faces challenges in life, and with every challenge we face, there is a solution. “Your World” is passionate about empowering our viewers for positive change through the Grace of God. We invite you to tune in weekly!

Grace for Financial Stewardship

http://www.creflodollarministries.org 

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