Touré Roberts - Dominating Your Sphere - Part 2

It’s so good to be here with you today! We started something last week called «Dominating Your Sphere,» and we’re going to finish it today. I feel the Spirit of God, man! These past two weeks have been crazy; just let me tell you about my wild experience. Two weeks ago, I ruptured a tendon in my tricep, and I’ve been in nonstop pain since then. I had to travel in the midst of that, so I couldn’t really get to my doctors the way I wanted to. I ended up in two emergency rooms and, literally, for two weeks, I’ve been living with pain and on the road doing my thing because I don’t let pain stop me. Are you tracking with me? If Jesus didn’t stop, I ain’t gonna stop.

So we got back; we’re tired. My wife and I were in Denver and Maryland, and just all over, and we’re exhausted. I thought, «Alright, cool, we’re going to get back Wednesday, and then Thursday, I’m going to take it easy. I’ll maybe get a guest for Thursday night because I’m going to rest. I’ll take it down Friday; I’m going to chill. You know, Saturday night I’ve got some preaching to do, and Sunday I’ll do my thing.» Then, because our anniversary is today, we planned to take off to Mexico for about four days—that was my plan.

We landed back in California on Wednesday, and the very next morning, the news hit that, essentially right in our backyard, a mass shooting took place at the Borderline Bar. It shook up our city and our community because we knew that if it was that close to home, due to the size and influence of our church, it was going to hit in some way—and it did hit home. Many members were involved, and it was crazy.

As I tried to figure out my strategy to encourage the city and the state through this, I was praying through everything. We had our service all set for tonight, and then wildfires broke out. I couldn’t even grieve and really minister to people because from the same region, the wildfires started, and we watched as they began to move toward our house. We received a phone call from the fire department saying, «You’ve got to roll out of here.»

In the midst of all this craziness, we already needed a break, and God pretty much moved my family—there are eight of us—out of our house. Everyone was leaving their homes, so all the hotels were booked. I never even thought about it, but we basically found ourselves homeless just like that. God opened the door, and we were able to stay in one hotel for a couple of nights, and then He opened another door for us to stay in another hotel for a couple of nights. This morning, we finally got another place to stay, so we’re literally like nomads moving around.

It’s been a crazy few days! Has anyone else had a crazy few days? It was funny; I preached for my friend last night, and he said, «PT, man, you didn’t have to come. You’ve got a lot going on with your family, you’re moving around like that. You’re tired, man, and in pain. It’s just going to take time to heal; you’re just going to be in pain until you’re not.» He said I didn’t have to come, but I told him, «Are you kidding me? I needed to give me some ‘get back.’ You talking about preaching and encouraging others through what they’re going through is ‘get back’ for me. Are you tracking with me? I truly believe a breakthrough is coming!»

So, if you’re going through something, I know you’ve already come down and been prayed for, but I promise you, it is going to work together for your good. There’s something being developed on the inside of you that has everything to do with who God has created you to be, and we’re going to be okay. I also want to take a moment to pray for these fires in California—so many people, over two dozen, have lost their lives, and many have lost their homes.

Father, we’ve got a state grieving right now, from the northern part all the way to the southern end. We’re hurting: some have lost lives, some have lost homes filled with memories, and some are displaced. God, You know the stress and duress that takes place when someone loses their home and memories. There are children whose homes are all they’ve ever known, and we’re praying that You, the God of all comfort, will comfort those families. We pray that even right now, they won’t give up and that all is not lost as long as they’ve got breath in their bodies—they’ve got a shot, they’ve got an opportunity.

And for those of us who may not be going through that type of difficulty, Lord, quicken us, empower us, and strengthen us to be a light, to be love, to be help to anyone who needs it, whether they’re affected by the fires or anything else, God.