GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“Winning In a Strange Way!”

Pastor Brice is continuing his series of teachings on winning. This past Sunday he taught on the sub-title, Winning in a Strange Way. Our Scripture was from John 9:6-7, Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind. Jesus healing a man born blind, giving him something he had never had before, sight, may seem unusual to us, but this is normal for Jesus. This is Who He Is.

Miracle Maker – Deal Breaker – Hostage Taker. He’ll take Satan and turn him every which way but loose. Winning. Yes, we’re winning even while we sleep because we follow, trust, and believe in God who never slumbers nor sleeps. We serve God who is with us all day, every day, and in every way. We serve God who fights our battles while we sleep.

“Daughter. Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”                 –  Mark 5:34 (NIV).

 Jesus was speaking to the woman with the issue of blood. She had strong faith that if she could just touch the clothes of Jesus she would be healed. Which she did, and she was. Her suffering battle was won by touching the robe of Jesus.

Why are we blessed with a healing grace from God?

 Jesus, through His sacrifice at Calvary, paid the full price for our healing. He bore our iniquities, as well as our infirmities and sicknesses.

“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” – Matthew 8:17 (NIV).

 Love. We are winning because of Love. God is Love. Our winning begins and continues with Love. To non-believers this may seem strange or unusual. To all believers, this is natural. God is the Way – God is Love.

It was Love that sent His one and only Son to the cross. It was Love that held Him there to be beaten and shed precious Blood. It was Love that heard the words from His dying breath:

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” – Luke 23:34 (KJV).

 It was Love that caused the tomb not to hold Him. It was Love that caused death to release Him. Isn’t it awesome that we win because of Love? Well, there is a whole lot more that goes along with Love. Faith – trust – believe – receive. Thank You, Lord for delivering us!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“Pray and Stay!”

These past few weeks while going through a series of teachings by our Pastor, Rev. Victor S. Brice, on Winning This Thing, we’ve learned to win by praying without ceasing and by staying under the full armor of God. We’ve learned to pray and stay.

Sounds simple, but it’s not so simple. Why? Because we are consistently under attack. Satan will not let us go easily. Therefore, we must maintain our stamina. Be strong in the Word. Pray intensely and frequently. Stay under the protection of the full armor of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”    –  Luke 22:42 (NIV).

As Holy Week is nearing an end, I pray that everyone will continue to be adamant in their prayers and will stay strong in the Word. During the week before Jesus was crucified, He was deep in prayer. He knew His suffering was pending but He also knew that He would rise again.

“The stone was moved so that we could get a revelation.”                           – Pastor Victor S. Brice

The women went to the tomb to prepare Jesus for His burial, but they found that the stone had been moved and Jesus was gone. Two angels of the Lord appeared and asked why they were looking for the living among the dead, Jesus had risen.

“Then they remembered his words.” – Luke 24:8 (NIV).

The above Scripture shows Jesus is true to His Word. Jesus is the Word, and the Word is Truth.                   Revelation: If God says so, it is done!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”      –    John 1:1 (NIV). 

God’s Will of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was for our salvation. We may live today and experience eternal peace and life with Him in our tomorrow of no pain, no sorrow. Pray in all circumstances and conditions. Stay in the Word of God. Put on the full armor of God:

Belt of truth buckled around your waist. Breastplate of righteousness, shielding your heart. Shoes of peace fitted to your feet. Shield of faith, your trust, and belief. Helmet of salvation, covering your head. Sword of the Spirit – pray on all occasions. Read: Ephesians 6:14-18. 

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“Refocus!” 

Our pastor, Rev. Victor S. Brice, is continuing his teachings on I’m Winning This Thing. He is now focusing on supervising and managing our sufferings. During our Sunday morning worship service he made the statement, “You must have the right attitude.”  You must have the right reaction to your suffering. i.e., Jesus had the right reaction to his suffering while hanging on the cross.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Luke 23:34 (NIV). 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all could develop the right attitude while we are going through our trials, troubles, difficulties, sufferings? This may sound difficult to do but it is doable if we would only refocus. Refocus? Yes, refocus! Take your mind off what you’re going though and focus on God. Redirect your negative energy to positive.

“Seek peace and pursue it.” – 1 Peter 3:11b (NIV).

 Remember, all things begin and end with God. Therefore, keep Him involved in all that you do. We tend to leave God out of most things that we do. Why is that? Is it because we are doing things that God would not approve of?  If God can’t be included, then you should probably not be doing it anyway.

You can’t win it if God isn’t in it!

“Happiness and joy are the right attitude.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

Keep a positive attitude while going through your suffering and wreak the benefits. Yes, there are benefits to your suffering. Pastor Brice is teaching us that suffering will develop you – transform you – test you – and lead you to a testimony. Shout! Yes, it is time to shout! We will always win in the end!

I titled this blog Refocus because this is what we all must do while going through. Problems, pain, suffering. We must accept the inevitable but don’t focus on them. We must keep our minds stayed on Jesus. Our Healer – Comforter – Provider – Our All in All.

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“How Do I Win in This Thing Called Life?” 

Pastor Brice is continuing his on-going series on I’m Winning This Thing. During our Sunday morning worship service he made the statement, “We must keep our composure through the chaos and pain.” Yes, this sounds about right, but this is one of those statements that are easier said than done. Why?

“Pain and suffering take us out of character.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

When we are going through, pain, suffering, hard times, we tend to try for a quick fix because we just want it to stop. So, what do we do? We listen to the wrong voice. When we hear a little voice tell us to do a certain thing, we must put it through the test.  Is what I’m being told to do of God? Is it something that Jesus would do?

“My problems made me pray more.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

Yes, pray. We need help. We can’t navigate through life without the help of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Pray and let it go. We often hear our elders say, Let go and let God. This is the best advice you could ever receive. Pray and get out of the way and let God work for you. Get under the Will of God.

“Then you will be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants.”                                   – 1 Pete 4:2 (MSG).

Remember the song from the musical, The Wizard of Oz, follow – follow – follow – follow the yellow brick road? Well, when life brings trouble – hurt – pain, follow – follow – follow – follow the Will of God. Following the Will of God is the road to win – win – win – winning in life.

“Stay wide awake in prayer.” – 1 Peter 4:7b (MSG).

Live – Pray – Follow – Win!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE ….

“Are You Subscribing?”

During our Tuesday night bible class, All I Am Is an Asset, Pastor Brice posed the following question: Are you subscribing to the ministry? Take a moment, don’t answer right away, think about your individual contribution to our church ministry. As disciples of Solomon Temple Ministries International we have all taken the first step, attendance. However, our discipleship does not stop there.

“The anchor, strength, and health of our church is tied to Word, and prayer. This is also the vision of this House.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice.

With that said, lets go to step two, subscribing to the vision of the House. Word and prayer. Let’s start with Word. We get the Word on Sunday and on Tuesday night. On Wednesday night, life transformation classes based on Word. Prayer. Prayer is available to us each day, 06:00am to 06:15am, and on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 12:00 noon to 12:15pm.

“You’re either an asset or a liability to our church.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice.

You’re an asset when you subscribe to the vision of the House. To subscribe means to agree. When you agree with the vison or purpose of the House, you will become a useful, supportive, contributor. You become a liability when you don’t subscribe to the vision.

“We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.”                                              – Romans 15:2 (NLT)

The above Scripture lays the foundation for you to be an asset rather than a liability to STMI. Before you even think of the word, can’t, let me show you how you can.

Be in regular attendance for Sunday morning worship service. Be in regular attendance for Tuesday bible study and Wednesday life transformation class. Be on the prayer line every morning. And last, but not least, pray for yourselves as well as others.

This is you, doing what is right and you helping others do what is right. This is you building your relationship with the Lord and you helping others build their relationship with the Lord. By being disciples, we make disciples.

Yes, I’m an asset, I’m subscribing, I’m contributing to the vision of the church. Word and prayer.

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE … 

“Friend or Adversary?” 

When you hear these phrases: friend or adversary; with me or against me; win or lose; what one word comes to mind?  Competition. Ok, so you can name a few more, but let’s talk about competition. Why? Because we live in a very competitive and challenging world.

Competitive world: workforce – music – entertainment (stage, film, writers, producers, directors, actors, etc.) – education – sports – politics – judicial and legislative. We have an election this year. Competition. Who do you vote for? Can you trust the candidate to be truthful?

Challenging world. People of the world are carnal minded. Pastor Brice has reminded us that the carnal minded goes against everything that God is about.

“The carnal minded can’t please God.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” – Romans 8:6 (NIV).

We, as a people, tend to want and cater to things that look good, smell good, taste good, and even sound good.  This is called operating in the flesh. You may have a pretty or handsome spouse –the table you’re sitting at has delicious smelling food (so you automatically think it will taste good) – you may be listening to get up and dance music. However, all that looks, smells, tastes, and sounds good is not good.

“To be carnal minded is to be influenced by your flesh. It is a dangerous position to be in.”                                  –   Pastor Victor S. Brice.

Your pretty or handsome spouse is a cheater – that delicious smelling food tastes like wood (ok, I borrowed this from a song) – the music you’re listening to has cuss words. The moral to this story: the Devil knows how to disguise himself.

God is your friend – the Devil is your adversary.

Stay connected to God (tap in and win). Connected to the Devil (you snooze and lose).

Stay connected!

Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETIINGS FROM THE TEMPLE ….

“What’s Your Source?”

Pastor Brice is continuing his series of teachings on winning. We all know that winning is the opposite of losing. You either win or you lose, there is no in-between. A loser may look at his loss and say, we only lost by one point. Ok, fine, but did you get the prize…the money…the trophy…the ring? No, no, no, and no! You don’t get a reward for almost winning!

“God moves us from a loser to a winner.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

God designs our win – Jesus delivers our win – the Holy Spirit directs our win.

There is no win without The Trinity! God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is why we don’t just barely win, we’re massive winners – dominant winners – big-time winners – perpetual winners – we win every time.

Don’t wait til’ the battle is over, shout now!

The enemy will try to charge you (make you think what happened is your fault) – the enemy will try to condemn you (make you feel guilty) – the enemy will try to confine you (separate you from God). Don’t buy into any of these things. You’re covered by the Blood of Jesus.

Yes, all the above was gleaned from our Pastor’s teachings on winning.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”                           –   Romans 8:37 (NIV). 

More than conquerors. That’s us! Our win is designed – delivered – directed by God. Our opponents may as well concede. There is no way they will win against our Almighty God.

Therefore, you must stay connected to God. Stay connected to the Win! Jesus died for you and me! You’re a conqueror because of God. God is your Source!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE ….

“Your Assignment”

During our second Sunday sermon, January 14, 2024, Pastor Brice gave us an assignment: For the next 30 days read Romans chapter 8 in its entirety. You’ll get a closeup look at the passion and plan God has over our lives. Be intentional. Pray every time before you read it. God will give you revelation.

Yes, I’ve been diligently reading Romans chapter 8. The chapter is literately divided into three sections: Life Through the Spirit, Romans 8:1-17; Present Suffering and Future Glory, Romans 8:18-30; and More Than Conquerors. Romans 8:31-39.

I’ve found that by praying, reading, meditating, seeking discernment over one of the three sections every day, God is blessing me. He is giving me clarity concerning Romans chapter 8.

“We share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” – Romans 8:17.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to walk among the people so that He could show the people how to live. However, not everyone had love in their heart for Jesus.

“And they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.” – Matthew 26:4 (NIV).

Although Jesus suffered at Calvary, He also won because God raised Him. We must suffer also, but our sufferings will never be equivalent to the suffering Jesus had to endure to save us.

We will suffer and we will also win. We will be stronger, wiser, better, so much better. Just like in the Marvin Sapp song: Never Would Have Made It.  God will be there for you. He will see you through your storm – calamity – difficulty.

“The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”                                        – Romans 8:27 (NIV).

 As you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you. Pray for the Holy Spirit to let the will of God prevail in your request. (And you already know – you’ve won.)

“We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37 (NIV).

Thank you, Pastor Brice, for giving us this assignment. To consistently pray, read, meditate, and seek, is providing revelations that may have taken much longer had I not taken on this assignment.

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 Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

GREETINGS FROM THE TEMPLE …

“Are You a Winner?”

We all like to win. It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are. Sometimes we’re not even in competition with each other.  However, when there is competition, you try even harder to succeed. When you succeed, you feel some kind of way. Like, wow! I did that!

Hold on a second!  Did you really do that?   No!  Nope!  Naw!

Pastor Brice has been taking us through a series of teachings on I’m Winning This Thing!  We win when the Lord is with us.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV).

We triumph because the Lord is with us. We triumph because the Lord is directing our paths. He is our Source – our Power – our Strength! He will be there with you. He will stand by you – He will strengthen you. Surrender to Him.  Ask Him to walk with you.

“At the end of the day, the Lord is walking with me.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice.

We must share with others how He has stood by us – how He has strengthened us. We must share with others how special He is to us. These are not my words. This is all Biblical.

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” – Psalm 105:1 (NIV).

As we share with others the goodness and mercy God has shown us, we are making disciples. And we all know that this is one of the commands that the Lord has given us. Pastor Brice has also told us to participate more in evangelism this year.

“Share the Message – get in the prayer room – get in the Word room – get in the transformation room.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice.

Once we habitually do all the above, we’ll be well on our way to doing more in 2024. The key is to keep God in it, to win it!

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Solomon Temple Ministries International ~ Blogger ~ Othella Hill-Jordan

“Our Good Intent”

As this year, 2023, is closing, most of us will start thinking about making a resolution for the fast-approaching 2024. Why do we make resolutions that seem to fizzle right after the start of the new year?  Is this out of habit or good intent?

How many people do you know have succeeded in their New Year’s resolution? On a personal level, I don’t know anyone that has been successful for the full 365 days. In fact, the success rate for resolutions is limited and very low. Why? Because we tend to lean on our own understanding – we take charge and leave God out of it.

To win it – you must keep God in it!  

Pastor Brice has been teaching a series on I’m Winning This Thing!  He reminded us that: “The battle isn’t ours – it’s God’s!”  

I recently read an article that had the four “d’s” of success: desire – dedication – determination – discipline. Desire is your hunger for success. Dedication is your unwavering focus on your plan or dream. Determination is your resolve to stay the course. Discipline is your ability to avoid distraction. So far, all the d’s sound like a plan that can be implemented.

However, there is another “d” that always rears its ugly head. Devil. No matter what you are doing – especially when you are succeeding, the Devil will always show up. This is when the battle begins. This is when you strive. To strive means to seek something that is higher than oneself. Time to seek God. Time to get God involved in your plans.

“God is with you. He goes with you always.” – Pastor Victor S. Brice

 Let go!    Get out of God’s way and let Him win the battle for you.

We’re ending 2023 winning – we’re beginning 2024 winning.

It is our good intent to make 2024 our winning season

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Solomon Temple Ministries International – Blogger – Othella Hill-Jordan