We, the Church, are the hand of the Lord. It is through us that others find out how much God loves them. It never occurred to me before that the Lord needs us, but we are His plan to reach others.
When I saw the tears in Jesus’ eyes as He thought about having to turn away those who rejected Him, I felt changed. I have a new compassion for others. I want to help others understand His great love for them.
Before my trip to heaven, I was critical and full of judgment toward others. I judged the personality behind the ministry, but I’ve learned that God works through personalities.
Some of us may be loud and others quiet. God uses our differences to reach different people. I’m not as critical since I have seen God’s love. It’s a physical substance that rubs off on you, and after you see it you walk in more mercy and grace.
Since I saw Abraham and David so eager to serve others, I want to be like that, too. I want to be a servant of the Lord. I want to help you to see how much the Father loves you.
I want to help people receive all the glorious riches that God has stored up for them. I have a new compassion for the Body of Christ.
Everyone was a team player in heaven. There were only two distinctions—those in gowns and those in robes. The ones in robes were serving the ones in gowns.
All the people in robes were helping the ones in gowns to understand the oracles of God so they could go on into the Throne and stand in the presence of the Father.
I believe I saw the garments of salvation and the robes of righteousness that Isaiah spoke of in chapter 61:10. He said,
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
(Isa. 61:10)
I don’t understand church splits. I don’t understand jealousy from preachers. In heaven, we all receive the blessings of God. On earth, only God should be exalted!
I don’t have to be in the forefront. I’m on a team. I’m going to get the Super Bowl ring, too, even if I’m sitting on the bench. I may not be a first-stringer; but it doesn’t matter—I will still earn the team ring.
God needs His believers to be team players.
by Jesse Duplantis.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Jesse Duplantis, minister of the Gospel, motivational speaker, television personality, and best-selling author, has been in full-time ministry since 1976 and is the founder of Jesse Duplantis Ministries, located in the Greater New Orleans area of south Louisiana in the United States of America. With over four decades of sharing his unique blend of humor and faith around the world, generations of believers have been inspired by his messages and countless numbers have come to know Jesus Christ as Savior through his ministry.
Known for his unflinching, status-quo-breaking messages and humorous take on experiences in the life of the believer, Jesse continues to draw large audiences of believers through social media, television, and meetings held around the world. With speaking engagements booked years in advance, Jesse Duplantis continues to keep an intense traveling schedule, flying throughout the United States and the world preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With no booking agents pursuing meetings for him and no set fees imposed upon churches for speaking engagements, Jesse chooses his outreach meetings based on the same two criteria he always has: invitations that come in and prayer over each one. This uncommon way of scheduling in today’s world means Jesse’s many followers may find him speaking in some of the largest churches and venues in America and the world, as well as a great many small and growing congregations, too. No church is too big or small for the Holy Spirit, as he says.
Side by side with his wife Cathy Duplantis, the co-founder and chief of staff of Jesse Duplantis Ministries and the senior pastor of Covenant Church in Destrehan, Louisiana, Jesse continues to fulfill his life’s calling by daily taking up the Great Commission of Jesus Christ: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Through social media, television broadcasts, books, and other ministry products, as well as through many evangelistic meetings, the JDM website, the JDM app, and Voice of the Covenant magazine, Jesse Duplantis continues to see growth in his ministry and expand each year while maintaining his roots. Jesus is the center of his life. The salvation of lost people and the growth of believers is the purpose of his ministry. And for both he and his wife, every day is another day to “Reach People and Change Lives, One Soul at a Time.”