I watched Steven Furtick’s interview Bishop TD Jakes and was so amazed of how he responded.  It was on point, spontaneous, full of wisdom and full of power.

The interview was like a game where Steven Furtick gave Bishop TD Jakes a song title from Hamilton The Musical.  Without much time to think and ponder, he was asked to preach a one-minute sermon on that particular song title with a text.  There were a few song titles that were mentioned along with the sermons, but this one caught my attention.

Song Title:  The Room Where It Happens

Bishop TD Jakes’ One Minute Sermon: (Transcribed)

“Thomas coming into the upper room after Christ has risen from the dead.  And he comes into the room having missed the initial inaugural moment that Christ reappears to His disciples.

Now, he comes to the room.

The power of being in the room will determine the destiny of his ministry and his life.  He comes to a room that he ENTERS IN to the door, but Christ COMES THROUGH THE DOOR, Spirit enough to come through the door and man enough to eat fish inside the door.  HE boggles the mind of the disciples.

But, that was not what convinced Thomas to believe.  What caused Thomas to believe – because otherwise Thomas would have thought HE was a ghost, HE says, “reach into your hand and feel the nail prints in My hands and touch My side, and be not faithless but believe.

And all of a sudden, the doubting Thomas is converted, but only because HE is in the room.”

John 20:24-29 NKJV

²⁴ Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷ Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

²⁸ And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

After I watched that short clip, I thought to myself, if I was asked the same question, what would be my answer?  What would be my testimony that happened in the room?

I was taken back into the time when I stopped reading the Bible because although I was halfway through it, I was just reading the letters without comprehension and was not benefiting from it at all.  I was a bookworm then, gathering all the inspirational books that I could lay my hand to and desperate enough to ask two of my friends of another faith to lend me their book because I was searching for life answers that can satisfy my seemingly unquenching questions.   And at that very moment, I heard the still small voice that said, “You have your Bible at your bedside table.  Why don’t you start reading it again?”

Those words kept resonating in my heart until I came home.  I went straight into my room, closed the door behind me and prayed, “Lord, I am willing to read the Bible again but please make me understand it the way You would want me to understand.  Holy Spirit, come, guide me and be my teacher, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen!”

At that very moment, He opened my spiritual eyes to see and the spirit of my mind started to grasp the truth of His Word.  It was as if lightbulbs were switched on that enlightened me to see the words differently that created a passion in me to read my Bible day and night, night and day especially during my days off.  To this very day, it still has the same powerful effect on me.  His Word indeed is the same yesterday, today and forever.

“Every Scripture has been written by the Holy Spirit, the breath of God. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness.  Then you will be God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.”  (2 Timothy 3:16-17 TPT)

Just one encounter with Jesus in the room where it happens can change our lives forever.

And if I ask you now, what would be YOUR story in the room where it happens?