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!

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Creflo Dollar: Are You Loving or Selfish?

Do you ever find it really difficult to love someone? Loving your enemies really is a test of character and too often I fail at it. Creflo Dollar offers a challenging message in this article. See what you think.

As a Christian, you are commanded to love everyone—the good, the bad and the ugly (John 13:34). It is not an option; you can't pick and choose whom to love. The only choice you have in the matter is whether or not you will obey the commandment. Unfortunately, many believers are in a state of disobedience because their decision to love is based on feelings or on whether their love is returned. That is conditional, human love—it profits nothing. Others fail to walk in love because they believe that it is impossible for them to love as Goes does. They fail to realize that God would never ask anyone to do something that isn't within their capacity to accomplish. Every born–again believer has the ability to walk in love.

When you became born again, you received an "injection of love" from the Holy Spirit, Who came to live inside of you. As a result, you have an anointing, or God—given ability that makes it possible for you to love in a supernatural way. You can show affection toward others despite their actions. In addition, you are more than capable of retaliating the right way, which is according to the Word of God.Nothing in your life—finances, family, healing and so on—will work to its fullest potential until you let go of selfishness and perfect your love walk. To be selfish is to "regard one's own interest;"selfishness is "a devotion to one's own interest." Selfishness and love are the two most powerful forces in existence. When you operate in one of these forces, you short–circuit the other. When you choose to love, you turn your back on selfishness. When you choose to be selfish, you turn your back on the opportunity to express love. There is no middle ground. You cannot love unconditionally and be unconditionally selfish as well.

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Creflo Dollar: Be Healed

by: Creflo Dollar

We all know someone who was sick or injured at one time, and usually the person recovered under a doctor’s care. Sometimes, though, their health continued to deteriorate, and no one could do anything to save them. Situations like this are frustrating at best and heart-breaking at worst, and it’s a helpless feeling having to stand by and watch loved ones suffer. But when we study our Bible, we see that healing is actually God’s will for those who believe the promises He makes to us.

All throughout the Bible, we see examples of God’s healing power. Depending solely on doctors to keep us healthy can be hit or miss, and it’s always expensive. But one day when a woman who was in a predicament sought out Jesus when He was preaching to the people, she was instantly healed. “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, ‘If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering’” (Mark 5:25-29, 34, NIV). Jesus has been called the Great Physician, the Author of life, and the Prince of Peace, for good reason.

When God heals us, we get peace along with healing. Now, being a doctor is a noble profession, but none of them can give us the peace that comes from Jesus Christ! Jesus had compassion on the people He met, and He e cast out evil spirits and healed paralytics, deaf, mute, and blind people, and even resurrected the dead on several occasions. Imagine how their families and friends felt while witnessing this firsthand.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not putting down doctors, but despite all the education and book learning they soak up, there are some things that even they can’t do. Wise doctors admit as much. When they’ve done all they can, faithful prayer causes miracles. “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:15).

There’s a link between healing and forgiveness of sins, and there was a reason Jesus was whipped and beaten before His crucifixion. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, NKJV). God heals us not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well. There’s a definite connection between the mind and the body. When we know we’re forgiven, spiritual healing of the soul begins on the inside and moves outward.

The story of Jesus and the leper shows that healing and cleansing are also linked. “And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him” (Luke 5:12, 13). Spiritual cleansing is just as much God’s will as physical healing. It’s ours by faith!

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: Divine Health and Wholeness

by: Creflo Dollar

Life can be a joyful adventure for some people, but painful and depressing for others. Sickness, grief, and brokenness can bruise and wound the spirit, and if we tried to withstand the pain on our own, we would crumble. Fortunately, we have promises of health and vigorous life from God, and these eternal promises are better than any health care plan. God’s plans for our healing and wholeness are found in many places throughout the Bible.

Sickness can take many forms, and it can attack the body or the mind. When we’ve tried all we can but got no results, we finally reach our lowest point. We mustn’t just accept the situation, assuming God must be trying to teach us something by making us sick. The story of Jesus healing the leper tells us that healing is actually His will for us. “Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed” (Mark 1:40-42, NKJV).

The mind plays a large part in the healing process, and doctors are just now discovering that patients who have strong faith are much more likely to recover. Jesus healed many people, including the woman with the bleeding disorder. The link between faith and healing is no coincidence. “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, if I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” (Mark 5:25-29, 34).

We can even be spiritually sick from sin in our lives, and God heals us in this area also. Our mind can influence what happens in our physical body, and wrong thinking can eventually make us physically sick. Jesus is also known as the Prince of Peace, and He can restore the peace of mind that sin steals from us. He was scourged and crucified to make this type of healing available to everyone. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4, 5).

During Jesus’ ministry, His reputation for restoring the broken and missing parts of people, physically as well as mentally, spread far and wide. We read story after story of Him healing paralytics, the blind and the lame, casting out the demons of mental illness, and even raising the dead. When sickness has stolen our health, or circumstances have robbed us of our peace of mind and emotional well-being, God restores it back to us and makes us whole again. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12, AMP). He is willing to do this!

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!