Date: January 8, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost yet abiding in the body. The 2024 Proclamation is “God is Taking Us Higher”.  This month’s phrase is “Going Higher in God”. This week’s message discusses two steps to level up Spiritually.

Brothers and Sisters, when God says come up higher, He wants us to listen to the Holy Spirit and do what He says. We cannot jump out into the deep water unless God leads us.  God enlarges our spirit (if we let Him) to receive more revelation. God teaches us to ascend; He takes us to a higher level and constantly teaches us how to live on earth as it is in Heaven. Consequently, there are steps for us to take to level up spiritually. 

Step No. 1: Feed Your Spirit. Matthew 4:4 tells us, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  We cannot live on just food for our body; we need food for our spirit, too. How do you feed your spirit? By reading God’s Word every day.  It is vital to know that one snack each week (church on Sunday) isn’t enough to sustain us through the trials Jesus told us would come our way (John 16:33). We need daily hot meals to stand on top of every trial.  We must arrange our schedule around the Word instead of trying to make the Word fit into our busy schedules. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize the Word of God in our lives.

Step No. 2: Build Your Faith. 1 Samuel 30:6 reads, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”  Faith is your responsibility, not God’s, your pastor’s,  or your spouse’s. God has given us the tools to develop a strong faith that moves mountains, shuts the lion’s mouth, quenches the fire’s flames, turns weakness into strength, and puts armies to flight.  How do we build that kind of faith? Repeatedly hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17) is how we nurture the seed of faith.

In closing, as you feed your spirit, remember that faith comes by hearing, but so does doubt. What are you listening to? What is the news telling you? What are your friends telling you? Guard the precious Word you’ve sown into your heart by refusing to consume anything contrary.  Because when you build your faith by hearing the Word daily, the truth will come, faith will come, and then victory will come. Next week’s message will discuss Step 3: Speak the Word and Step 4: Control Your Thought Life. Until then, let us remember, “…with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop