Out of the Country, Out of the Box
One day at the Hillsong conference in Sydney, Australia, I was interviewed before 20,000 people while Pastor Brian Houston and I sat in chairs talking. The format was amazingly intimate and people go to see a side of me that preaching doesn’t show.
Brian and I talked about family, dreams, fears…it got out of the box. I love people who are brilliantly provocative like Brian. They asked me on stage, what preachers do you listen to? I said I try to get it out like it was when God preached it in me, ’cause I can never tell it as good as He told it to me.
Another strong impression hit me being there with Ed Young, whose father is a prominent force in the Southern Baptist Convention, and Richard Roberts, whose father is Oral Roberts, and Brian Houston whose father was a strong preacher—it was like looking at the next generation of leadership. The openness was interesting; not a lot of ego, no one was trying to outdo anyone else in terms of “who’s the fairest of them all.”
Thank God for new people, new places, new stages, new everything. Test me, challenge me, teach me, stretch me. Someone asked me what part of the world I want to see next. Asia interests me greatly. Not necessarily to preach there, I’m just voraciously interested in other people’s cultures—how they eat, live, think. I’m not an arrogant American who thinks this is the only way to do it. Traveling broadens me, exposes me, and helps to deflate any propensity to think we have a monopoly on how things ought to be done.
As it turns out, God is not a Democrat, Republican, or even American. He’s got a lot going on in a whole lot of places!
I think it is interesting that Bishop reveals the things he does behind the scenes and some of the things he can’t talk about when preaching, such as his fears, plans for the future and so on. Cause I think some people, as I used to do, think he is forever looking at his bible and thinking on the title for his next sermon. So I’m blessed by bishop’s blog.
May you be blessed as well.
Its amazing how people have become increasingly self absorbed and selectively intrigued due to the fact that they are continuosly sadated by the buzz we now call life.I would like to say thank you to the Lord for using people like you to clear away the fog and accentuate that silver lining.May the Lord bless you for being a blessing.
Bisoph Jakes:
Just a note to say “Thank You”. I am a seventh grade Math teacher in the Houston ISD. I am dealing with my own personal demons and as a result I watch you on television and have received confirmation of God’s awesome power through you. I was recently attending a class this summer and one of my fellow students presented me with your book “Repositioning Thyself”. WHAT A BLESSING!!! Just that morning prior to attending class I prayed to the LORD for some answers, some guidance and wisdom. When the young lady passed me the book and I read the book cover along with the Chapter regarding your visit to the ladies home in Africa I knew that this was the confirmation for me. Really all I wanted to say to you is to keep on keeping on, continue to tell it like it is… Many of us are so turned off by the traditiional church that we look forward to hearing the word, following the word, studying the word and you are part of that process. May GOD continue to bless you, your family and the entire Potter’s House organization.
Hi Bishop Jakes,
I was there at the conference watching enthusiastically when you were being interviewed. I’m really thankful you were there. It was an awesome experience.
Regards,
Aaron
I have been so incredibly blessed a number of times hearing Pastor Jakes via his books and through television. I have had the opportunity to visit the Potter’s House. Just this past week I found myself reading the potter and clay story. It reminded me once again of the many things God is doing in Dallas, Texas and even here in San Antonio.
Thank you, Pastor Jakes, for allowing our God to use you in such incredible ways.
One last thought; recently I told my husband if there were one minister I would love to sit and talk with, it would probably be T.D. Jakes. I told him as much as I love Chuck Swindoll, I just felt that I related with the same background or Pastor Jakes. I too grew up in the Pentecostal church. My husband told me to talk with someone that I know and they could probably introduce him to me. I told him, “Sure, I am just going to call them up and ask them. No way.”
The next day I received a letter from Swindoll’s ministry and he shared how his greatest struggle has been the loneliness he struggles with while writing. I related so much with him because I too am working on a book and have over eighty journals and it has been such a lonely experience at times. But at the same time, I have really gotten to know my God.
I appreciate so much the honesty from the men of God in our generation and their dedication to serving the people of God.
Keep preaching His word and allowing Him to use you, Pastor Jakes. And may our God continue to bless you and your family. Marlene
Thank you Pastor Jakes for your dedication to serve the people of God and allowing Our Father to use you in such incredible ways. I am one who has been so blessed by your books and your ministry at times when I so needed confirmation of what God was already speaking to me through His Word and prayer. Marlene
I was born and raised in the DFW metroplex. I understand what Bishop means about being narrow. Narrow in our thinking, our way of life, etc. I look at other cultures or just someone who grew up somewhere different than me, and I realize how small my life has really been. I mean, I may not be able to travel as much as I would like, but “in my own back yard” are people living a more abundant life. I truly believe that is why God allows us to make human connections, so that we can broaden our minds as well as our way of living. Abundant LIfe…hummm, sounds good to me.
As always Bishop shows us what it means to expand and take the limits off of God! Bishop is truly opening the doors for the next generation and teaching us not to become formalized in our thinking. I praise God for all he is doing in the life of Bishop Jakes!
Pastor Mike
Well what can we say here in Australia. We were blessed during the Hillsong conference and we thank you Bishop for the interview that was awesome.
We love you here in Australia. God Bless you Bishop TD Jakes.
It has been so wonderful and instructive listening to Bishop Jakes on TBN Eorope. I lost my father 20 years ago and since i discovered Jakes teaching on TBN, my life has never been the same. He is my father and mentor that i trust his teachings and love to apply his wisdom in my life. I pray and fast that our heavenly Father will continue to guide, protect and bless him and the ministry God has placed in his care. I wish that he will leave some of his old teachings in the internet for free viewing. Frank
Bishop, you continue to inspire me. More so, lately, as a man than a minister. Reposition Yourself and now this blog is allowing me to see the man, TD, as he lives from Monday to Saturday and it’s a beautiful thing. Demystifying the pulpit and podium and letting us peer behind the veil is teaching me to ‘lighten up’ in my every day life and to become live simplier but with even more intention and conviction. GOD is a very present help and you’re living that example, daily.
`EDEN in Albuquerque, NM
Bishop, you are an inspiration to young spiritual leaders like us. I watch your show everyday @ 4am in the South African time, and if I am out of town, I record your show. I have significantly grown spiritualy over the last few years, and your preachings contributed to this. As such my preachings have grown. I know u’ve been to SA a few years back and Kenya recently, if your programme allows you, please visit us again (may be when we celebrate Mandela’s 90th birthday next year).
I thank God for you and the first lady, your wife. U r a blessing to various nations across the globe.
greatings in the beloved name of our Lord and Master Jesus, I would like to just use this moment to say that Bishop Jakes may be on the other side of the world to me at this moment but when the storm broke around me his teachings in the sermons about new beginnings, no other gods, running with patiance and the scarlet wife all had follow on messages straight to my position where I was standing trapped by satan, on the point of taking my life so that the insurance money could be used to put a roof over my families head and food on the table, my oldest son who is not a fervent believer, came home that very night with these CD’s which I was somehow compelled to watch, and in doing so the Lord shook my whole foundation and that of my wife who was watching with me, I now find myself trying to get more of the Bishops sermons and teachings as my spiritual hunger grows, I have discovered that Our Lord was telling me that after I was baptised, I had recieved the Holy Ghost which had manefest itself in utterance that I had somehow gotten myself way layed and of at a tangent that was leading me to my destruction. I thank the Lord for the powerful teachings of Bishop Jakes, which may be aimed at the ladies but also make sense to us males who have reached the end of our tether.God Bless you Bishop T.D. Jakes and the gift of teaching that you use to show us the true meaning of what the Lord wants us to be doing. May the full Anointing of Jesus rest upon you and your family and all who are linked to your ministries. from Clive in Cape Town, South Africa.
Good Morning Bishop!!
We thank God for your ministry and Praise him for how he has equipped you to speak into so many lives. Bishop, I am writing to you regarding our ministry. We know we have purpose and destiny, my husband and I have touched somethings that I thought we were not going to come out of!! All I can say is BUT GOD!! we are preachers of the Gospel, and somethings we have touched seems to have taken something out of us. I don’t want to confess doubt or failure, but we have missed God in the past and paid an awesome price for that. Don’t want to sound like the Lord is a doomer either, we watch you all the time and have been to your church a couple of times, we live in TX. Bishop right now in our life we are asking the Lord for clear direction and instruction, we are firm believer’s that when you are in your assignment the Lord will make provision. We have only been in Texas for 10yrs now and it has really been a ride, I feel at times I am living someone else’s life, I don’t want to bore you with our trials. I just ask that you keep us in your prayers as we seek the Lord about our Destiny, we know we are called to the Nations, but we have to wait on the Lord because we DO NOT want to miss him ever again. We solicit your prayers Bishop you will never know the times we have watched you and tears have just rolled down our face because you were talking directly to us. My the Lord continue to Bless you and First Lady and you family is our prayer.
Hell’o Bishop Jakes;
I have been truely blessed by your teachings. I’m learning so much, Iv’e watched your show several times and have been in tears or just know that was a word from God to get me through the day.I would be searching something out in the word and then you’ll come and speak on that same subject ,giving it clarification. Thank you for being an example of a living sacrifice. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you and your family.
SIR
I thank you for always teaching and sharing what GOD has for his people. You have been such a inspiration for me, words can never explain. Learning to grow and reach for what GOD has for me has been hard at times because, the mind was so messed up. I believe what the word says. It was not in my timing but GOD’s timing, So that really helped becasue i understood, how to live in a hellish situation and eat a ice cream cone. Bishop thank you I LOVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. I pray that GOD gives you all your hearts desires.
God Bless and Greetings to the Potters House Family!
I read your thought of the day! First and foremost I missed the 3 day move of GOD!
I’m looking forward to the movie too! I like journalism alot, but the word of GOD, GOD Himself what shalll I say, (ear have not heard nor has it enter into the heart of man what he has prepared for them. I forgot the rest of the verses, you know them…………..
how do you deal with past failures as it relates to your current strugles? what are the steps for a come back life? I listern to bishop TD jakes all the time…but i tried to put my pass behind me…but it keeps dragging me down.
Papa TJakes you are blessed for us to be bless through you. Infact you are a source of inspiration.hope and confidence in the Lord. any time I read your monthly article in Yaounde,(Cameroon ,west Africa,) something in uplifted in my spirit man. God bless you the more is all I can say for now. know that God has raise poeple to be praying for you and your family.silver and gold have I not to suport the work but prayers. It is well with you for ever.
Thank you for giving yourself to the Lord and to us. I have never been the same since I started watching you. I realize for a long time I have loved the Lord and dedicated to his services without knowledge and it has caused me untold loses and missery, just when I was about to give up, here you were with all this revelation knowledge now I know to seek God for who he is and as I submit my mission is to enlighten every believer in my way to know No matter how dark it is the way of the cross is the best way. But we need to look for knowledge and other brethren. Thank you for your testimony. We love and pray for you.
Serah, Kenya
Bishop has been a blessing to us here in Nigeria. Though i did not get to see the show but i have blessed tremendously by Bishop Jakes. I am currently reading your book, The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord.
Dear Bishop Jakes,
Thank you so much for your sermons that lift me up and encourage me at my very lowest. I believe the power of God is in me right now and I am experiencing the faith of God through me. I dont believe this is my faith at work anymore. Thank you for you, thank you for your family that encourage and keeps you strong, and thank you for God that keeps you on your feet to bring life to souls like mine, each and every day. I am believing God for something huge right now, and through your messages that I buy on iTunes, I am so encouraged and so strengthened that I am beginning to fall in love with God at my very lowest. I’m beginning to understand how he is Jehovah Jireh even when I see nothing around me, How He remains my peace when the storm keeps raging in front of me. There is nothing that encourages me more in my problem, than to know that He knows…and He understands. Even if I dont get over it, even if I dont get through it the way I’m expecting to, I know that He is still GOD.
You have friends and supporters all over the world. Even in SWAZILAND, where I’m from.
We love you and we are praying for you.
…And may God, the Lord of your fathers bless you a THOUSAND times, and Bless you like He has promised!
Deut 1:11
Only God knows how my life would’ve turned out without the gift of God on Bishop Jakes life.
I came across Bishop just two years ago through one of his messages.[Let me say it here that,since then,I have baught and watched over one hundred messages by him,I've read more than ten of his books including He-motions,Naked And Not Ashamed,Loose The Man And Let Him Go etc].And since then my life has had a tremendous change.Through him I’ve discovered God’s call for my life.Now I know that satan would not be fighting me the way he does if God has not called me.
Here in Lagos Nigeria,I know that God is about to do something through a man,and am that man.Let me conclude here by saying that,”if all that God has sent Bishop Jakes to do is to raise a man like me,then it worth it”.
hey i was there at this session! it was amazing and i learnt heaps
Stay BlesseD!
Liz
oh and im from New Zealand!
thankyou so much for fulfilling the call of GOd on your like!
eagles ouT
Liz
When I have been asked (surely, not EVEN as much as you Bishop) “what preachers do I listen to” I have answered, my own Pastor and Bishop, Anthony Willis, then I will say Bishop T.D. Jakes, then Bishop Noel Jones, and there are many others to follow..including some Great Women of God, local and international…
but Oh… how the Lord was magnified when you, Bishop T.D. JAKES, answered that question with “I try to get it out like it was when God preached it in me, cause I can never tell it as good as He told it to me.
WOW.. I like that..God is all things to all people, including THE NUMBER 1 PREACHER!
Bishop Jakes, I thank God for you and the word he brings through you. I started tithing after hearing one of your sermons on tithing. I listen to you on TBN daily from 7-7:30 a.m. in Baltimore, MD. I am also reading “Repositioning Yourself” and find much knowledge, guidance and delight in the words. I have been from the “poor house to the white house” and back a couple of times, from “Park Avenue to the Park Bench” and it has not been in vain. Through my struggles I learned where my strength comes from “God”. I want very much to come to the Potter’s House or attend one of your Conferences; my finances have not allowed for that yet but I do have faith that it will happen! Thanks for all you do in and out of the church. I pray for your health and strength to allow God to contine working through you.
Hello, And God Bless you Bishop Td Jakes . I`m writing you from Puerto Rico, my Pastor Richard Gonzales he is the pastor of the church Torre Fuerte Iglesia de la Ciudad is a huge fan of Christ first and you are his favorate preacher, recently he went to Orlando florida and he saw you for the first time in person, it was a great expirience for him . I want to encourage you to keep on doing what you are doing for the body of Christ, because is mazing how many life have you reach and touch with the word of God, and through out your teachings in every aspect of life. I was wondering and I know you have a very bussy schedule but who knows that maybe some day you could come and preach in our church in Puerto Rico, it will be amazing to have you preaching and teaching us the word of God. Our pastor is an amazing pastor he teches the word of God with Gods authority and a word that we can aply in our daily lives as Christians and I Know he will be honor to have you come to our Churh . Well thank you and may the Lord keep on blesing you and your family..
yours truly Jose Rivera (787)344-0699
Dear Bishop Jakes,
I was there at the Hillsongs conference and was so blessed esp that YOU were there…and i was like awestruck!! As i am from South Africa and work in the Emirates and the first time at Hillsongs conference ( this was my dream).
I would love to see you in the Potters House!!….
I knew your back way back in SA in the 90’s when i saw the video ‘Woman…thou are loosed’ and NEVER thought for a minute i would see you preach as i has opportunity to access TBN in this arab nation and was so inspired by your teachings and so was my husband. and …… To see you in person and have pictures of you was the most for us !!!
I wonder what we all will do when we face our SAVIOUR?
With love , respect and admiration for one who is blesed by god to inspire us thro his undersatnding of Gods words!!!!God bless you and Lady Serita always…we LOVE you!!!
Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease visit the Caribbean as we too in the caribbean watch you too. i would like you to visit TRINIDAD so that i can finally see you. You have been a MAJOR blessings to my life and I wish you would visit us someday. Thank you and keep blessed.
It seemed what was the darkest days of our life,our faith was strengthened as we tuned into your program each day seeking for God’s will to be done in our lives.
Your word from God spoke to our hearts then and continues to now. I can’t express what your ministry means to both my husband and myself as we watch The Potter’s House each morning at 7 A.M.
Your books, “Mama Made The Difference and “Reposition Yourself”, have been tremendous aides in our spiritual growth.
Thank you for giving of yourself to the ministry in all the many ways in which you’re led of God to do.
I pray for God to continue to give you all that you need in order to accomplish great things for Him.
God Bless and keep you safe always.
PaPa T.D. Jakes, I want to thank God for you, your family, minstry and Bussiness etc. My prayer is that My God should continue to bless the work He has put in your hands and to ultimately bless everything that is associated with you. I love Daddy, keep the fire burning and Don’t forget to Rest. Dave
Bishop,
God bless you!
God has used you over the years i have known you to change my life completely!
I watch the Potters house,Dallas live services every sunday and you have indeed been a blessing to me.
Indeed God has a sense of humour; how He has used you to raise children all over the world you have never seen(will never see) - We are many!!
Love you Daddy- Pastor Fred
Dear Bishop Jakes,
I am always excited to listen to your messages. Your accurate use of word when preaching always bless my life. Thank God for the impact you are making in this generation. I am also a Minister of the gospel in Nigeria - You have been a good example to preachers worldwide.
Greetings to your lovely wife - First lady Serita.
Shalom !!!!!
Good morning Bishop:
You have been my spiritual mentor for the last twenty years. Only heaven can really tell the many times that God used you to speak a Word God has brought me through many trials. I know that God has called me. I preached, taught, ministered and counseled for the last ten-plus years. I love the Lord and HIS Word.
I was in the house of Saul and had to duck many javelins and even hide in the cave of Adullam. He removed me from a church that I had served in for 20 years.
This year God is delivering me from the pain of rejection that I received from my own brothers and sisters in Christ and literally. I turned 50 in February and God has taken me on a tremendous journey of repositioning.
I feel that God has given my many gifts, talents and a calling to preach. I am currently seeking God for my postition in the Body, a mentor and a covering.
Thank you again for being who you are.
we thank God for life sir,you are not just a teacher, but also a FATHER, to many of christians that are not close to you,(geographically),we praise God for using you to change so many lives. Your new book, Repositioning yourself, is a blessing to all,young,old,staring and aging,God used you to cut accross so many facets of life and ethnicities. Even though i am yet to see it, and read it(which i will really love to do),because of the area of Nigeria i stay.
Bishop God has used you to open so many people’s eyes,through the messages God preaches to you, that you always humbly deliver.
thank you sir for this blog today,i love you sir, and my prayer is that God will bring me under someday, just to listen to ;”THUS SAITH THE LORD.”
I remember that interview , i was there. I remember you saying that you knew God had put you there to preach to someone….well i can’t speak for the others but God did amazing things in my heart that conferense , through you and the other preachers aswell. I actually came to the front to give you a hug but you were gone so i’m sending you one now. : )
I hadn’t been to a church for 11 years but had been seaking God for the last 5 years. I came to Hillsong under my visit in Australia and heard about the conferense. It was actually the videoclip with you that made me interested. To make a long story short , i came to the conferense against all the odds and it changed my life. God spoke through the preachers right into my life and one thing followed the other in a perfect match. He released me from what kept me bound and He lit up a fire inside me! He answered many prayers in just a couple of weeks! He has never been more real to me and He is changing me with His love…teaching me His ways.
I’m home now with my family after 7 years of travelling and God is moving their lifes aswell! I’m so excited about what God has in store. I brought home the dvd’s from the conferense, and they too have been moved by Gods message you preached.
Anyhow…I just wanted to encourage you in what you are doing. And thank you for giving of yourself…you have a great sence of humour!
Love
waoh, what a great man in our time.i remember seeing you two times, in my home country nigeria.1st in house on the rock, 2nd in redeem christian church of GOD. it was realy awesome.bishop, you are one of my role models.
While it is true that we cannot just expose ourselves to everybody yet it is so edifying to hear great men of God remove the mask and become themselves. Bishop you totally minsiter to my life. I use your testimony of how you got delivered from smoking to encourage myself in the fact that no matter the struggles my son may be going through God is well able to deliver him. Thank you for your honesty. Your life is a testimony, to me.
Bishop i respect u so much
Hi Bishop.You’re such a blessing to everyone worldwide.You’re my mentor and role-model.Though I’m in far away Nigeria,the anointing of God on you life knows no distance.I’ve been so blessed by your messages and book over the years.Right now I’m going through the slow paced stage of discovering myself in God,your messages have been a tremendous source of strenght to me.
The big news is that you will be coming to Nigeria on November 30th for The Experience 2007.I’m mobilizing my friends to be in attendance with me.Above all,I’m praying for the deluge of God’s Word such that Nigeria has never seen before.Looking foreward to see you sir.
We were members of the POTTERS HOUSE Lamar,Nancy my wife and kids Bria,Breon,Breylin are from St.Louis,Mo. move to Atanta living a wealty lifestyle and lost it all.Did not want to go back home to Mo. So we move to Texas with her brother.Long story short we had nothing, sleeping on the garage hard floor in her brothers house in Fortworth .Started out going to his church . AND I REALLY WANTED TO GO TO THE POTTERS HOUSE! So what got us there was a Patti Labelles play the TRAIN . From there we became members and I became security there and work with your brother Earnest and was bless by the word you were preaching for mouths . I know now that all what we been through in life was to be there at that time was to here the word of god!And it really change our lives . We moved back to Mo. And know preach the word to our familys what we learned at the Potters House. We thank GOD for you Bishop . What a life changer. prayers go out to you and your family . Like to say THANK YOU FOR YOU! Family is the most importing thing in life . SAVE MORE LIVES BISHOP JAKE! WE LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU
Hi Bishop, I remember 1996 my wife left me, I had a difficult time ever in my life. I cuoldn’t pray effectively. My life just came to a sudden stand still. I got hold of your videos to listen to. You addressed a number of things that hurts in life e;g devorce,abuse. You caoched me to my best level of life I am 2day. I am the best father and provider to my kids and the best husband 2 my wife. I remember you saying back flashs are there,but don’t stay there. Stand up, shake dust of you and pursue your goal. I can see my yesterday over my shoulder which earges me to excell in what I am doing. All what I can say Bishop you are a good role model. God bless U.
Dear Bishop…
I greet you in the powerful name of Jesus Our God. I am a south African with a diverse sense of following the Christian way of life, of course using the KJV Bible as an instrument of guide, in the presence of the holy spirit. I write how ever seeking understanding about the issue of keeping SABBATH on SATURDAY/ SUNDAY.
In my diverse understanding and spiritual growth, learning to follow Christ, I went out to as many different churches as possible and listen to many tapes and I found out that most preachers or church leaders do not embarge on clarifying the worship day…..in as much as the bible tells how important it is to the MOST HIGH.
In as much as i agree that every day its a day to thanks giving, praise and worship, how ever the collective day of saints to worship is a bit confusing to me, with these few scriptures, I dearly would like your assistance in clearing my mind.
Mathew 28:1; Mark 16:1, 2 & 9; Luke 24:1; 1Cor 16:1-3 (Gen 2:1-3, Ex 20:8; 1 Chron 17:27; Psalms 89:34, Mal 3:6)
Kind regards
Mpolokeng
m so overjoyed by da fact dat Bishop tdjakes wil b n south africa 4 2008 megafest,m frm a coutry next to south africa called Botswana nd i believe by da grace of God al make it 2 dat conference
Greetings from New Zealand Bishop, I was there at the conference, not as a delegate, but to cook and clean for our team of about 50 young people we brought over from NZ who were very excited to hear you in person. It was very hard for me, cos I had a baby there and I was very sick and stressed and I prayed hard and cried out to God everyday for strength, while everyone was at conference. I managed to make it into the conference on Friday, the last day (not illegally), and even got a seat on the floor area of the arena. You spoke that morning, about the spirit of a man is a candle of the Lord, and towards the end of your message, you called out for pastors wives on the floor area to come out for prayer. I couldnt believe it, I felt God noticed me, I was reminded about the God who sees me and hears me and affirms me. and you encouraged us while we were sobbing there at the altar, like I never done before. I was affirmed for life. This weekend I’m preaching at church on mothers day, and I will be mentioning that experience as a reminder of God’s goodness. Thank you Bishop, you are big daddy, we love you, Ane Ponifasio