More than 20 years later, he pastors what Christianity Today calls “one of America’s fastest growing mega-churches.” The Potter’s House, a multiracial nondenominational church with 59 active outreach ministries, has dominated church growth records since 1996. In only eight years since relocating the church from West Virginia to Dallas, The Potter’s House has grown from 50 families to more than 28,000 members to date. Rivaling many corporations, The Potter’s House employs more than 300 staff members including full-time finance, human relations, information technology, materials distribution, public relations and television production departments. The Potter’s House is fiscally sound, having recently paid off its newest $45 million, 191,000 sq. ft. structure that was completed less than four years ago.
Bishop Jakes was born on June 9, 1957 in South Charleston, W.Va. His parents, businessman and entrepreneur Ernest Sr. and educator Odith, were charitable benefactors in their community and to whom their son credits for his own integrity, discipline and selfreliance. Bishop Jakes is the CEO of The Potter’s House, a nonprofit organization that produces three major national conferences – “The Pastor’s and Leadership Conference,” “ManPower” and “Woman, Thou Art Loosed.” WTAL, a powerful and popular symposium, addresses specific needs of all women and has helped many go from welfare to work. The conference has set national indoor attendance records with an average of 84,500 attendees per day at the Georgia Dome in 1999. “ManPower,” equips and encourages men to build strong marriages, increase their confidence and take on more responsibility in their community. “Mega Fest” is a family affair combining “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” “ManPower” and the “Youth 3-D Experience,” a new youth conference. This summer, Mega Fest attracted more than 140,000 people from 55 countries and set a cumulative record attendance of 560,000 over the four-day period. Through broadcasting efforts, Mega Fest impacted more than 314 million homes in 235 countries and territories outside of the U.S. Mega Fest 2005 is scheduled August 3 – 6 in Atlanta, Georgia.
In addition to the major conferences, Bishop Jakes hosts the God’s Leading Ladies conference, which is designed to help women in leadership positions to develop financial, relationship and balancing skills.
In an effort to remedy social and economic voids in Urban America, Bishop Jakes founded the Metroplex Economic Development Corporation in 1998. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation has sponsored home ownership conferences and youth mentorship programs.Currently, MEDC is developing a job placement center, a skills training center, a small business counseling hotline and a housing development that will include affordable homes for senior citizens and single-parent families.
Additional endeavors to improve society include building two Habitat for Humanity homes in conjunction with the 2003 ManPower conference and making a $107,000 donation to relocate Dallas citizens from an economically and environmentally disadvantaged area. The Potter’s House was also responsible for building a hospital in Belize, Central America, named Belmopan to whom they later sent $400,000 for medical supplies. Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House invested over $500,000 in outreach to prison inmates. Their “Adopt A Prison” program has impacted inmates giving them a way to reduce the rate of recidivism through spiritual support and a network of churches who have awareness to the plight of
inmates reentering the system.
He is also the founder of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, through which he employs his other aptitudes as author, songwriter and playwright. A renowned religious author with 30 books to his credit; Bishop Jakes’ works have been featured on Christian, secular and business bestseller lists. His top five nonfiction bestsellers are: Maximize the Moment; Woman, Thou Art Loosed; The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord; The Great Investment: Faith, Family and Finance and God’s Leading Lady, which has peaked at #4 on the New York Times Hardcover Advice List. He released his first novel, Cover Girls, in the summer of 2003, and later that year; he released Follow the Star, a compilation of Bishop Jakes’ personal Christmas stories. His latest book He-Motions, which is currently #10 on the New York Times Bestseller List, is a tool for both men and women written with intimate personal stories and painful lessons he learned through life. His best-selling book, Woman Thou Art Loosed, has finally come to the big screen debuting in 400 theaters across the nation and winning the 2004 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Bishop Jakes has developed business partnerships with Sony, EMI, Time Warner, Warner, Rueben Cannon Productions, Clear Channel, Thomas Nelson Publishing and a host of other highly respected companies. His theatre production company, Touchdown Concepts, created and produced the Christian plays “Woman, Thou Art Loosed” and “Behind Closed Doors.” Both became number one gospel plays in the United States. Recently his advocacy for women’s rights enabled him to develop the cinema production “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” with Rueben Cannon Productions. The movie is based on his book “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” and speaks out against domestic violence while encouraging women to rise above injustices. Bishop Jakes also operates Dexterity Sounds, a music label in collaboration with EMI Gospel Music that develops music with a divine message. The label has produced eight albums, five of which have received Grammy nominations. The album, “A Wing and a Prayer” featuring Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House Mass Choir, received a 2004 Grammy award in the “Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album” category. His album “T.D. Jakes presents Follow the Star” also received a nomination in the category of “Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album.”
He is also the founder of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, through which he employs his other aptitudes as author, songwriter and playwright. A renowned religious author with 30 books to his credit; Bishop Jakes’ works have been featured on Christian, secular and business bestseller lists. His top five nonfiction bestsellers are: Maximize the Moment; Woman, Thou Art Loosed; The Lady, Her Lover and Her Lord; The Great Investment: Faith, Family and Finance and God’s Leading Lady, which has peaked at #4 on the New York Times Hardcover Advice List. He released his first novel, Cover Girls, in the summer of 2003, and later that year; he released Follow the Star, a compilation of Bishop Jakes’ personal Christmas stories. His latest book He-Motions, which is currently #10 on the New York Times Bestseller List, is a tool for both men and women written with intimate personal stories and painful lessons he learned through life. His best-selling book, Woman Thou Art Loosed, has finally come to the big screen debuting in 400 theaters across the nation and winning the 2004 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Bishop Jakes has developed business partnerships with Sony, EMI, Time Warner, Warner, Rueben Cannon Productions, Clear Channel, Thomas Nelson Publishing and a host of other highly respected companies. His theatre production company, Touchdown Concepts, created and produced the Christian plays “Woman, Thou Art Loosed” and “Behind Closed Doors.” Both became number one gospel plays in the United States. Recently his advocacy for women’s rights enabled him to develop the cinema production “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” with Rueben Cannon Productions. The movie is based on his book “Woman, Thou Art Loosed,” and speaks out against domestic violence while encouraging women to rise above injustices. Bishop Jakes also operates Dexterity Sounds, a music label in collaboration with EMI Gospel Music that develops music with a divine message. The label has produced eight albums, five of which have received Grammy nominations. The album, “A Wing and a Prayer” featuring Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House Mass Choir, received a 2004 Grammy award in the “Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album” category.
His album “T.D. Jakes presents Follow the Star” also received a nomination in the category of “Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album. http://www.godsleadingladies.com/_downloads/bio_td_jakes.pdf
Harmony With God
Bishop T.D. Jakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In our days
I wrestle with angels in string bikinis
For me it ain’t no difference
If I want it
Then I need it
I wrestle with my greed
We don’t have no cakeIf we ain't eating
Turn around a feed the needy
You wanna see green
I tell my nigga split a kiwi
Don't tell me I ain’t king
You can’t tell me
Who I be B
I look into the mirror
Just to see what pharaoh sees
My word is bond
We temporarily free
From the reaper the judge
And the long arms reach
I gotta get this off my chest
My heart skips the beat
I'm on a narrow path
Tryna slide thru a crease
Where I wrestle with God
Yeah
Uhh
Now who really wanna wrestle with God
Yeah
I know he real
I don't fear no facades
Ain't no beef with St. Peter
He just playing his partOpen up the gates
Playing that harp
You took some women from venus
And some men from mars
Then you threw us all on earth
Look at the shit that you started
We spend a lifetime sparring
Before I wrestle with God
I use to wrestle with my demons
In our days I wrestle with angels in string bikinis
Before I wrestle with God
Now if I’m made in ya image
How you find a spot or blemish
Don’t that mean
You woulda did it
Bout the same way I did it
I was stuck in the land of the living
Ain't no point in lying
Like I’m trying and repenting
I'm prolly gone do it again
If I had did it
Guilty and acquitted
Death is the penalty for sinning
And I had to pay that there
Before we spoke
Before I entered
So I can understand
How we having a dilemma
Deny the world
And all its splendor
We both know
That I should been richer
I think you can blame yourself
Cause you kept sending pretty women
Had me thinking
I was yo gift to them and
Writing this song
I was thinking its a hymn
Whether right or wrong
I’m getting back in the gym
I ain't use to living
Like they gonna let me in
On heaven as in earth
Mens I’m prolly gone win
When I wrestle with God
I use to wrestle with my demons
In our days I wrestle with angels in string bikinis
Now who really wanna wrestle with God
I use to wrestle with my demons
In our days I wrestle with angels in string bikinis
I know he real I don’t fear no facades
I use to wrestle with my demons
In our days I wrestle with angels in string bikinis
Now who really wanna wrestle with God
I use to wrestle with my demons
Before the fall
All you feel is yo lil pride
I use to wrestle with my demons
What would you do
You had to gone head wrestle with God
I use to wrestle with my demons
Flip a coin
Pearly gates or hell fire
Gone head nigga wrestle with God
I was living for the moments
Ignoring the omens
Treated you like an opponent
When no one was closer
I had the world on my shoulders
Now it's renasci culture
That's shipping global
And I’m Karl Malone
When it's going postal
Half these niggas clones
On that MK-ultra
Is it me
Or is he just anti-social
Show me a sign
Am I Moses
To the plague of locust
Are we the people
You have chosen
And if so
I thank the promise lands broken
Yeah
Before I wrestle with God
Yeah
Before I wrestle with God
The lyrics to Bishop T.D. Jakes's song "Harmony With God" describe the singer's journey towards understanding and accepting his relationship with God. He begins by admitting that he used to struggle with his own negative impulses and temptations, but now he has turned his attention to wrestling with God himself. He expresses a sense of awe and respect for God, acknowledging that although he may have his own flaws, God is real and cannot be fooled by any façade.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in his relationship with God. He recognizes that he cannot escape the consequences of his actions, and he is willing to openly acknowledge his faults and shortcomings. At the same time, he is determined to keep striving towards a greater understanding of God and his place in the world. He concludes by acknowledging that his journey towards harmony with God is ongoing, but he is committed to putting in the effort to achieve it.
Overall, "Harmony With God" is a powerful and introspective reflection on the nature of personal spirituality and the challenges that come with seeking a deeper connection with a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
I use to wrestle with my demons
In the past, I struggled with my inner demons and personal issues.
In our days
During my current time, my focus has shifted from wrestling with my demons to wrestling with forces that are outside of myself.
I wrestle with angels in string bikinis
Now my struggles are with external, tempting forces.
For me it ain’t no difference
My struggles are equally significant, whether they are internal or external.
If I want it
If there is something I desire,
Then I need it
I feel like I require it in my life.
I wrestle with my greed
I experience inner conflict about my desires and keeping them in check.
We don’t have no cake
We don't have anything of value.
If we ain't eating
If we aren't prospering, we don't have the resources to help others in need.
Turn around a feed the needy
We should focus on helping those who are less fortunate than us.
You wanna see green
You want to see money, success, or prosperity.
I tell my nigga split a kiwi
I advise my friend to share and divide the little that we have.
Don't tell me I ain’t king
I have a sense of self-importance and won't tolerate anyone questioning my authority.
You can’t tell me
No one can persuade me to do or believe something I don't want to.
Who I be B
Who I am, my identity.
I look into the mirror
I examine and assess myself.
Just to see what pharaoh sees
I gaze at my reflection to understand more about myself and the world around me.
My word is bond
When I make a promise, I keep it.
We temporarily free
We are only temporarily free from the consequences of our actions.
From the reaper the judge
From death and judgment.
And the long arms reach
And the effects of our actions extending beyond ourselves.
I gotta get this off my chest
I need to express something that has been bothering me.
My heart skips the beat
I feel anxious or nervous about something important.
I'm on a narrow path
I am on a difficult and challenging journey in life.
Tryna slide thru a crease
Trying to navigate through difficult situations in life with limited space and resources.
Where I wrestle with God
Where I face spiritually challenging situations in life.
Now who really wanna wrestle with God
Who is willing to face the difficult spiritual challenges life presents?
I know he real
I believe in a higher power or God's existence.
I don't fear no facades
I am not afraid of anything that is not authentic or genuine.
Ain't no beef with St. Peter
I have no quarrel with Saint Peter, the gatekeeper of heaven.
He just playing his part
St. Peter's role is to fulfill his duties as gatekeeper.
Open up the gates
Allow entry into heaven.
Playing that harp
Residing in heaven and enjoying its pleasures.
You took some women from venus
God created women and men.
And some men from mars
God created all humans and placed them on earth.
Then you threw us all on earth
God placed all humans on earth to live together.
Look at the shit that you started
Look at the chaos and problems that exist on earth due to the complex nature of humans.
We spend a lifetime sparring
We spend our entire lives struggling and fighting against each other and our internal demons.
Before I wrestle with God
Before I face any spiritual difficulties, I had to face my inner demons.
Now if I’m made in ya image
If I am made in God's image,
How you find a spot or blemish
How can there be any imperfections in me if I am made in God's image?
Don’t that mean
Doesn't that imply that
You woulda did it
You would have also had imperfections in your creation.
Bout the same way I did it
Thinking that God must have created us to be human-like.
I was stuck in the land of the living
I was restricted by my mortality and human limitations.
Ain't no point lying
There is no benefit to lying or trying to deceive myself.
Like I’m trying and repenting
Like I'm actively attempting to redeem myself.
I'm prolly gone do it again
I'll probably make the same mistake again.
Guilty and acquitted
Despite my faults and mistakes, I am forgiven by God.
Death is the penalty for sinning
There are consequences to our actions, and one day we all will face death.
And I had to pay that there
I had to accept that death was a part of the human experience.
Before we spoke
Before I was born.
Before I entered
Before entering into the world.
So I can understand
So that I can interpret and make sense of.
How we having a dilemma
How we experience different challenges in life.
Deny the world
Reject the material world and its pleasures.
And all its splendor
All of its grandeur and beauty.
We both know
We both understand that
That I should been richer
I should have been more prosperous or comfortable in life.
I think you can blame yourself
I hold God or a higher power responsible for some of the challenges I face on earth.
Cause you kept sending pretty women
Because you continued to tempt me with women.
Had me thinking
It made me believe that
I was yo gift to them and
I was given to these women as a gift by God.
Writing this song
Expressing this idea through my art.
I was thinking its a hymn
I thought it was a religious or spiritual song.
Whether right or wrong
Regardless of whether it is correct or not.
I’m getting back in the gym
I'm refocusing on self-improvement and personal growth.
I ain't use to living
I am unused to living comfortably or prosperously.
Like they gonna let me in
As if I can easily enter into a place like heaven.
On heaven as in earth
Whether it is on earth or in heaven.
Mens I’m prolly gone win
I will probably achieve success or victory in one way or another.
Flip a coin
Take a chance or a gamble.
Pearly gates or hell fire
The afterlife is either paradise or eternal damnation.
Gone head nigga wrestle with God
Go ahead and face the spiritual challenges of life head-on.
What would you do
What would you choose or decide?
You had to gone head wrestle with God
If you were faced with spiritual struggles, what would you do?
Half these niggas clones
Many people are unoriginal and uninspired.
On that MK-ultra
Possibly referring to a CIA mind-control program, implying that many people are brainwashed or influenced by societal norms.
Is it me
Is it something about me specifically?
Or is he just anti-social
Or is God simply uninterested or distant?
Show me a sign
Give me a clear indication of what to do or believe.
Am I Moses
Am I being called to be a leader or deliver a message?
To the plague of locust
To some sort of disaster or devastation.
Are we the people
We as a society or a group of believers.
You have chosen
Chosen by God for a specific purpose.
And if so
And if that really is the case
I thank the promise lands broken
I am grateful that the promised land is not an easy or effortless achievement.
Before I wrestle with God
Before I face my spiritual battles.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Adonis Moore
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind