Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association

THE MAX
DECEMBER 2013
©
A NEWSLETTER FROM CREFLO DOLLAR MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION | MAXIMIZE YOUR VISION
Creflo Dollar:
A Student
of Grace
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Revelation of
by Tawanda Mills
Dr. Dollar has taught us that, according to scripture, the
Gospel of Christ is the Gospel of grace (Galatians 1:67). It is the nearly-too-good-to-be true news. Moreover,
grace is the unmerited, undeserved, favor of God, which
we didn’t earn, work for, or deserve, that He wants to
lavish upon us. When we get a revelation of God’s
grace, it sets us free from condemnation, guilt, and the
fear of dying and going to hell. We have been given an
abundance of undeserved favor (Romans 3:24, AMP).
The Gospel of grace has made available to us everything
that pertains to life and godliness. That’s over-the-top
good news!
As pastors, five-fold ministry gifts, and ministry leaders,
we have the awesome privilege of leading God’s people
into everything that He has provided for us. This is a
unique responsibility that can only be accomplished by
our dependence on God’s grace operating in our lives
and ministries. The over-the-top good news of God’s
amazing grace has revitalized my passion for God and
ministry. All of my efforts now lead me to one thing – I
trust Him. As the message of grace continues to spread
throughout this world, I understand there may also be
some misunderstandings and questions that need to be
answered.
In this special issue of the Max Newsletter, my team
and I have set out to answer many of those questions
through an in-depth interview with Creflo Dollar on
this enlightening subject. We took a couple hours of his
time in an informal setting and allowed him to share his
heart from the perspective of a ministry leader. I ask that
you read this interview in its entirety with an attitude of
expectation for revelation knowledge to flow from him to
you and, consequently, to God’s people. Continue to rest
in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Enjoy the interview!
Kenneth Fuller
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On a beautiful, fall-like day at the College Park location
Bishop Fuller: How did you become a student of
Dollar has meetings scheduled back-to-back. Although
concordances and other materials, etc? Also, what made
of World Changers Church International, Pastor Creflo
cell phones are quietly buzzing around the executive suite,
paperwork has to be reviewed, budgets are to be discussed,
grace? Was it by just reading the Bible, corresponding
you delight in being a student of grace?
travel plans are underway, events are to be attended, and
Pastor Dollar: Well, I don’t know if I delighted in being
serenely in his office. As we enter his office, he cheerfully
be a student. I knew that being a student of grace would
yet more meetings are being scheduled, Pastor Dollar sits
greets us and shares a laugh with Bishop Kenneth Fuller.
Ryan Hyndman, the CDMA administrative coordinator,
and I, a senior writer for the ministry are in attendance.
We all sit down, and Pastor Dollar begins to expound on
a student in the beginning. I knew what was required to
require the study of grace. I started by locating every
scripture in the Bible on grace. I used about three or four
translations. I used the Internet. I went to the bookstore and
identified every piece of writing I could get on the subject
some of his personal revelations on the grace message
of grace. In other words, I built my curriculum on grace by
decided to share a part of this profound and insightful
was concerned. If anybody was preaching on grace, I paid
in preparation for the launch of The Grace Institute. We
conversation with you.
Bishop Fuller: Can you expound on how you first
received the revelation of grace?
Pastor Dollar: Frustration. I knew something was missing
in our revelation of faith, healing, and deliverance. I was
frustrated because I thought I should work harder to receive
the promises, but my hard work wasn’t producing the way
I thought it would produce. And in the middle of my holy
frustration—seeing people die and even carrying my own
guilt and condemnation, the Word of the Lord came to
me, and God asked me, “Would you become a student of
getting everything I could get my hands on where grace
attention to what he was saying. I read a lot of books that
I didn’t agree with, but part of being a student is exploring
the good, the bad, and the ugly. Then the spirit of God
began to talk to me about some things. I started noticing
there was a thread, a line (or connection) from Genesis to
Revelation. Some of the authors of the books I read became
my friends, particularly Andrew Wommack and Joseph
Prince. Although I read books by other authors, I really
began to identify with those two authors because they both
have a Word of Faith background like I do. God promised
me that if I would remain a student He would give me more
revelation on grace, just as He has done with them.
grace?” I asked Him, “What’s a student of grace?” You
Bishop Fuller: I remember 15 years ago you taught
said, “Yes, I’ll become a student of grace.” I believed that
sessions, and you did the evening sessions. What is the
know how God doesn’t always give you all the details. I
meant to get all the books I could get on grace, and all the
scriptures. All I knew about grace was what I had already
preached on it. I began to investigate one question after
on grace. We did a conference every year, I did the day
difference between teaching grace then and teaching
grace now?
another, and that started my journey. I was in a perfect
Pastor Dollar: I didn’t have a revelation of grace as the
do. When you have tried everything, you are in a place
as a curriculum, not a person.
place for it—a place in which I didn’t know what else to
where you’re ready for grace.
person of Jesus. I saw grace as a subject matter. I saw grace
C O P Y R I G H T © A U G U S T 2 0 1 3 C R E F L O D O L L A R M I N I S T E R I A L A S S O C I AT I O N | M A X I M I Z E Y O U R V I S I O N |
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Bishop: How has the revelation of grace impacted your
the end of it all I still had these questions. Something deep
Pastor Dollar: (Pastor laughs). The revelation of grace
Ryan: For those who have grown up in the Word of Faith,
has caused me to enter into a rest—to be delivered from
I’ve been doing up until this point has been working
personal life?
has totally revolutionized my life. It has tenderized me. It
fear. I used to beat myself up every time I felt I wasn’t this
flawless, perfect preacher, or whenever I said something
wrong. I’d beat myself up if I didn’t pray enough or if I
down inside was saying, “I’m missing something.
how would you answer them if they asked, “Everything
and I’ve gotten results, why should I change what I’m
teaching to accept this other perspective?
missed time reading. I would beat myself up because I
Pastor Dollar: Faith teaching, in its extreme, leads to
for God’s blessings. The revelation of grace changed my
for you right now, you’re becoming legalistic, and now
thought that I needed to do these things in order to qualify
whole life—I went from trying to work for God’s love to
receiving His love. I had a problem receiving His love, and
then I found out that I’m not the only one. Most Christians
I know have a problem receiving His love. Once we realize
how much God loves us, we extend that love toward
everyone in our lives. I love everyone in my life even more
because I can receive God’s love for me. My relationship
with my wife has gone through the roof. The restoration of
my children has been amazing. I’m not afraid of not being
able to keep up with the Joneses. Now I’m free to be me.
I’m free to dress the way I want to, and I know God accepts
me for who I am. I’m happier. I’m calm. I’m restful. I’m
peaceful. I don’t try to do what I know I can’t do.
Tawanda: Earlier you mentioned that you felt you weren’t
doing enough. What created the drive in you to try to earn
grace?
Pastor Dollar: My mentors taught me that I needed to pray
legalism. Although you may have some things working
you will begin to preach that legalism to other people.
For example, you’re going to tell people, “You have to do
this and then you’ll have that.” You may have a different
heart while you’re teaching it, but those you’re teaching
will probably receive it as legalism. But grace teachings
can also become extreme. Grace teaching, in its extreme,
causes lasciviousness. People will begin to believe they can
just do anything they want because they are under grace.
Grace has provided everything we need, and faith is what it
takes to get it. But you know, at the end of the day, I want to
know Jesus when I see Him. I want to know I have a loving
God who is forgiving, and who doesn’t condemn me or
beat me up. I can’t judge another man’s faith walk because
I’m not walking it with him. I’m still Word of Faith. But
I’m not legalistic about my faith walk. I use my faith as a
positive attitude to lay hold of what Jesus has already given
me versus using faith to try to make God do something just
because I need it at the time. So that’s the difference.
for an hour, fast, and so forth. One day God interrupted me
Bishop: I’ve known you for approximately 30 years. I see
and pray so I can be more anointed because I heard that
10 years ago, and 20 years ago. Will you talk about how
and asked me, “What are you doing?” I said I need to fast
if you want to be anointed you have to spend time with
God. He said, “You’re already anointed. You are trying to
qualify for something I’ve already qualified you for. I’m the
one who called you.” I was taught to do those things, but at
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a great difference between the Creflo Dollar 5 years ago,
you have changed?
One of the things I know is that if a person is unwilling
to change, he will not grow. And I never wanted to be
|MAXIMIZE YOUR VISION
12/19/13 4:10 PM
someone who would not grow. The major change was
started trying to work my way back into God’s grace. After
problem because I was afraid that things were going to fail,
issues.
was as mean as a rattlesnake. I realized that my expression
Bishop: What is the most important thing you’ve learned
eliminating the fear that I didn’t know I had. I had an anger
and that people were going to fail. I was afraid of betrayal. I
all of that, the revelation of grace freed me of all those
of fear was anger. After I discovered the love of God, that
about grace so far?
the grace of God, I understood fear, and I recognized that
Pastor Dollar: That grace is a person—Jesus Christ. I tell
about my anger. I was thinking, “What is God thinking
and truth came by Jesus. Jesus didn’t come to give us more
began to temper me off a little bit. But when I discovered
my expression of fear was anger. Then I felt condemnation
about me because of the way I acted all of those years?” I
you, that’s so important. The Law came by Moses but grace
Resting
in Jesus
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MAXIMIZE YOUR VISION |
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If you are continually struggling to make things happen and
constantly feel as if you’re not doing enough to feel the
love and acceptance of God, Creflo and Taffi Dollar’s series
Resting in Jesus reveals the truth about how to rest in Jesus.
God has already accepted you because of Jesus’ worth and
not your works. Seeing yourself in Christ is the key to living
in triumph. Order this life-changing 3-message series today!
Call (866) 477-7683 or visit creflodollarministries.org.
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law. He came to give us more grace. I’m thinking, “Wow,
God. I would then talk about righteousness by faith versus
can’t separate them.”
soul, and body. Once people understand the spirit, soul,
if you reject grace, in a sense, you reject Jesus because you
Tawanda: How can we continue working the principles
that you’ve preached in previous messages and still grasp
the grace message you are preaching today?
Pastor Dollar: I think it’s all in who you depend on. Do
you know the difference between a cursed man and a
blessed man? It’s who you trust. As far as the principles are
concerned, it is not necessarily what you do that makes it
grace or not grace. It is all about who you’re trusting and
why you’re doing what you do. For example, I am going to
righteousness by works. I would then teach about the spirit,
and body teaching, they will understand the righteousness
of God. Then they will understand the love of God. I
would make sure people know that God is love—this is a
foundation to build upon. You have to be patient to ensure
that people understand. When you talk about righteousness
with clarity, it’s going to lead them into grace.
The conversation wrapped up with Bishop Fuller noting
that Dr. Dollar recently won the NAACP Jondelle Johnson
Freedom Fund Legacy Award for outstanding leadership
in local communities throughout the U.S. and worldwide.
Dr. Dollar said that he believes that the award, the recent
still be a giver, but I’m going to trust Jesus instead of what
commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the March on
trust in Jesus versus the amount of time I spend praying.
“I Have a Dream”speech), and the launch of the Grace
I give. I’m still going to pray, but you know I’m going to
I’m going to still fast, but I’m not going to fast to try to
make something happen. I’ll just get busy studying and
fellowshipping with God—you can do that and forget to eat
breakfast and lunch. Am I going to throw away everything
I’ve taught in the past? No. That’s good stuff. I take every
bit of those teachings and benefit from them today. But
what I’m going to do is make the adjustment, knowing that
I, within myself, can’t do it or make it work, so I’ll say,
Washington (where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his
Institute in Montgomery, where the bus boycott began, all
have a spiritual significance and connection. The Civil
Rights Movement was a time when freedom from oppression
was celebrated in the U.S. with much anticipation and
intensity. “That’s amazing,” said Dr. Dollar, “because
there is no freedom like the freedom we have in Jesus
Christ. People are in slavery because they have rights in
Jesus Christ, and they won’t take advantage of them.”
“Lord, I can’t do it, but you can.”
Bishop: Let’s say I am a pastor, or even a young pastor,
who follows you, and I believe that God speaks to you.
However, I’ve heard this message you’ve been teaching
on grace for only a couple of months. I can’t start there.
So, if I’m going to teach my congregation and bring them
into grace teaching, where would I start?
Start with the love of God. I would make sure that within
that series I’d eventually end up explaining that it is not
about how much you love God but how much God loves
you. I would go from the love of God to the righteousness of
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GRACERESOURCES
THE TRIUMPH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS CD 16214093 - $21; DVD 16215093 - $34
When you became the righteousness of God, you overcame sin in every form. You are
now connected to God and in right-standing with Him through your faith in Jesus. Nothing
can make you unrighteous because Jesus’ work is eternal, and when you accept Him, your
spiritual nature is eternally righteous. In the powerful 3-message series The Triumph of
Righteousness, Creflo Dollar teaches you the truth about who you are in Christ and how
you are eternally victorious. Order now!
RESTING IN JESUS CD 16964093 - $ 21; DVD 16965093 - $36
If you are continually struggling to make things happen and constantly feeling as if you’re
not doing enough to feel the love and acceptance of God, Creflo and Taffi Dollar’s new
3-message series Resting in Jesus reveals the truth about how to rest in Jesus. God has
already accepted you because of Jesus’ worth and not your works. Seeing yourself in
Christ is the key to living in triumph. Order this life-changing series today!
GIVING UP SELF–EFFORT CD 17354095 - $34; DVD 17355095 - $ 57
We live in a world that applauds self-effort and achievement. As a result, many people
live their lives covered in the shame that comes from relying on their own efforts to make
themselves righteous. God wants you to be free to receive His goodness, grace, favor, and
blessing simply because Jesus has done it all. The powerful 5-message series Giving Up
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time to receive your right standing with God and rest in His unmerited favor!
FINISHING STRONG CD 15974093 - $21; DVD 15975093 - $36
Each of us has been called to run our race as Believers and advance the kingdom of God.
We have each been equipped with the ability to carry out our assignments, and it is through
the grace of God that we are able to do this. In the power-packed 3-message series Finishing
Strong, Creflo Dollar shows you how to move from belief to action and how to manifest
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GRACERESOURCES
LIVING YOUR DREAM LIFE CD 15994093 - $21; DVD 15995093 - $36
Did you know that God has made provision for every Believer to live an abundant life
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GRACE TO OVERCOME THE FLESH CD 15874092 - $14; DVD 15875092 - $24
We are not subject to sin and its dominion because God has given us the grace to live above
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The blood of Jesus is the end-time secret weapon for every Believer. It is the weapon for
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redeeming power of Jesus’ blood and how it strengthens you for victory!
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There is no limit to the things you can achieve when you are a part of God’s family. Your
acceptance of Jesus Christ gives you access to a new spiritual nature. In the 3-message
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FREEDOM FROM THE SHAME OF SIN CD 16394093 - $21; DVD 16395093 - $36
Sin-consciousness will absolutely paralyze you from being effective in the kingdom of
God. In fact, Satan uses the Law to cause Christians to be perpetually aware of sin rather
than aware of who they are in Christ as the righteousness of God. The 2-message series
Freedom from the Shame of Sin will show you how to overcome sin-consciousness so
that you can live the victorious, overcoming life He intends for you to live.
CONQUERING UNBELIEF CD 16974094 - $28; DVD 16975094 - $47
Many have struggled for years, wondering why their faith never produced the desired re-
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Jesus has eternally paid the price for our sins, bringing us into right-standing with
the Father forever. We are no longer living under the dispensation of the Law but are under the dispensation of grace. The life-changing 2-message series He Did It All! uncovers
the truth about God’s grace and how we now have access to a better covenant than those
in the Old Testament. Order this powerful series now. Your life will never be the same!
REMOVING SIN AND GUILT CD 17554094 - $28; DVD 17555094 - $47
There is a mistaken belief among many Christians that the message of grace
endorses sin. Nothing is farther from the truth. The grace of God isn’t a pass to sin, but
rather an empowerment to live free from sin. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the
cross, you have been set free from sin, guilt, and condemnation. In the 2-message series
Removing Sin and Guilt, Creflo Dollar reveals that deliverance has already been made
available to you because Jesus paid the price for it. Order today!
MAXIMIZE YOUR VISION |
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JOIN CREFLO DOLLAR
F O R T H E DY NA M I C
Grace
INSTITUTE
A C all to Grac e
This meeting is a private impartation
from Creflo Dollar. The event is for pastors
and other five-fold ministry leaders.
April 3 – 4, 2014
Houston, TX
World Changers Church-Houston
July 31 – August 1, 2014
Suitland, MD
Victory Christian Ministries International
November 6 – 7, 2014
Tampa, FL
Revealing Truth Ministries Christian Center
Hosted by
Creflo Dollar
Ministerial
Association
SAVE
THE DATE!
2014
ion
n
Creflo Dollar Ministerial Association
Ministry Enrichment Seminar
Thursday, March 6 - Saturday, March 8
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CHANGE CONVENTIONS
Tallahassee, FL
January 9 - 10
WCCI EVENTS
28th WCCI Church Anniversary
February 2
Vision Keepers Conference
March 20 - 21
WCC-NY EVENTS
WCCI EVENTS
Women’s Day
March 22 - 23
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
“Healthy You” Day
March 29
*Dates and locations are subject to change.
For more information, visit worldchangers.org
Also get a copy of the new SERMONS Vol. III
OVERCOMING FEAR CD.
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CREFLO DOLLAR MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION
PO BOX 491328 • COLLEGE PARK, GA 30349
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PAID
ATLANTA, GA
PERMIT #233
CHANGE EXPERIENCE
GOT PROBLEMS?
GOD Has Answers!
Creflo Dollar Live!
JANUARY 9–10, 2014
MAY 1–2, 2014
Tallahassee, FL
Donald L. Tucker
Civic Center
Birmingham,
gham, AL
Birmingham-Jefferson
am-Jefferson
Convention
tion Center
REGISTER TODAY at creflodollarministries.org or call (866) 477-7683.
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