The Potter's House Podcast

Episode: The Empire Within You, Part II | Touré Roberts

Date: December 28, 2025
Host: The Potter’s House
Speaker: Pastor Touré Roberts

Episode Overview

This episode continues the impactful sermon series, "The Empire Within You." Pastor Touré Roberts delves deeper into what it means to recognize, own, nurture, and manifest the “empire”—the delegated domain of God’s authority—within each believer. Roberts explores key biblical distinctions between "kingdom" and "empire," shares spiritual strategies for growth, and issues a bold call to step into generational legacy, provision, and purpose, challenging listeners to break free from limitation and mediocrity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Honoring Spiritual Legacy

• Acknowledgement of Leadership:
  Roberts begins by honoring Bishop T.D. Jakes and Serita Jakes, emphasizing the biblical principle of honoring spiritual fathers and mothers (03:06-04:26).

  “Those who rule well are worthy of double honor... We are not ignorant to the reality of the shoulders upon which we stand and the sacrifice that those shoulders procured for us.” (03:34)

• Biblical Pattern:
  The practice is rooted in how the Bible continually references predecessors (e.g., David, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) in God’s promise and covenant.

2. Kingdom vs. Empire—Divine Distinction

• Defining the Kingdom and the Empire:
  • Kingdom: God's singular, sovereign reign over all creation.
  • Empire: The delegated domain of authority, the specific sphere God expresses through the individual believer. (06:35-09:40)
  • Quote:

    "The kingdom is singular. There's only one kingdom. Empires are plural. ... The kingdom of God is God's sovereign reign. Empire, as it relates to what you and I carry, is the delegated domain where that kingdom is expressed through you." (07:18)

• Personal Assignment:
  Everyone has unique "territory" they are called to occupy—success and effectiveness depend on functioning within your God-assigned sphere.

3. From Conception to Reception—Mary as a Model

• The Process of Receiving God’s Word:
  Using Mary’s encounter with the angel as an example, Roberts highlights that conception (hearing a word from God) isn’t enough—there must be reception (active belief and acceptance). (12:04-15:55)
  • Quote:

    “God can speak a word to you... but that word not being mixed with faith to receive doesn’t profit the one who heard it.” (12:30)

• Defiant, Resilient Faith:
  Even barrenness, seen through the stories of Mary and Elizabeth, can position someone for God’s greatest moves—a willing and fertile (open) heart is essential.
  • Quote:

    “Just because I never had means that I never will. ... Just because you don’t have it doesn’t mean that God can’t do it. If God said it, his word supersedes your history.” (14:57)

  • Key Scripture Reference: Hebrews 10:35 – “Cast not therefore away your confidence... after you have done the will of God, you shall receive the promise.”

4. Three Stages of Stewarding the Empire Within

Roberts organizes the rest of the sermon into a practical, progressive framework:

(1) Eat from It (Personal Nourishment)

• God provides the internal resources and sustenance needed before outward advancement. (19:50–24:14)
• Illustration:

  “God is not an unfair God that will say, ‘work for me,’ but not nourish you to work.” (22:06)

• Biblical Support:
  • Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the Kingdom.
  • Deuteronomy 8:18 – God gives the ability to create wealth, not merely wealth itself.
• Breaking Poverty and Passivity:
  Roberts prays against a “poverty mentality” and encourages listeners to "stay fertile," open for God’s ideas and provisions. (24:38–28:38)
  • Quote:

    “You were designed to work like crazy. ... God is getting ready to bless the work of your hands. He is not going to bless your wishes. He is going to bless your work.” (30:40)

(2) Be Increased By It (Personal Expansion)

• The empire within is meant to stretch you beyond your comfort—growth is inherently uncomfortable but necessary. (34:00-39:43)
• Expanding Capacity:
  • Example of Solomon: God enlarged his heart to manage great wisdom and resources.
  • Quote:

    “Purpose is supposed to be uncomfortable. ... Don’t ask God to shrink the assignment to your comfort. Let the assignment stretch your thinking, your faith, and your habits.” (37:00)

• Embracing the Stretch:
  Life’s disappointments and challenges are stretching you for future impact and capacity.

(3) Impact With It (Kingdom Advancement)

• Your empire must flow through you to others; it is about transformation beyond yourself. (41:50-53:15)
• Sphere of Influence:
  • Reference to 2 Corinthians 10:13—know and operate within your “sphere.”
  • Humility is not denying what God has given you—false humility withholds kingdom impact.
• Faithful, Focused, Fierce:

  “God told me this week… I want you to be faithful, focused, and fierce.” (53:01)

  • Lay hold of your inheritance boldly; timidity will not bring kingdom results.
  • Action Step:
    • Evaluate your conversations—are they aligned with your destiny?
    • “You cannot rise above the conversations that you’re having.” (57:40)

5. Redemption and Dominion Within Your Sphere

• Inside each God-given territory are challenges and “squatters” (darkness, disorder, lack) to be confronted.
• Call to Action:
  • Pray actively against darkness; don’t be passive about chaos in your “sphere.”
  • Business, systems, and industries should be transformed as believers embrace the kingdom responsibility. (1:01:40-1:04:32)
  • Quote:

    “There are some things that are out of order that if you bring order to you will prosper. ... Business that solves problems prosper, and our kingdom solves problems.” (1:02:25)

6. Manifesting the Empire—Salvation, Identity, and Prayer

• Practical Outworking:
  True kingdom success isn’t measured by church attendance alone, but by redeeming every arena of life—science, government, business, etc.
• Altar Call and Activation:
  Roberts leads listeners to commit to Christ, recommit, or join a faith community, emphasizing that everything needed for destiny is given in Christ. (1:05:05-1:12:10)
• Spoken Declaration:

  “When you accept Christ, you get it all. ... The rest of our lives, we’re unpacking all that we got.” (1:08:10)

  • Peace, joy, authority—the “empire” within provides supernatural calm amid storms.
• Closing Prayer & Affirmation:
  Roberts releases a prayer blessing, declaring restoration, new identity, and a fresh infilling of the Spirit for every listener, recapping the charge to be “faithful, focused, and fierce.” (1:12:30-1:16:45)

  “Heavenly Father, I thank you for Jesus. ... I will be faithful, I will be focused, and I will be fierce. ... You’ve placed an empire within me. I will be increased by it, and I will expand it all to your glory.” (1:14:30)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Staying Ready for God’s Promises:

  "Every time you come to church, you ought to make up your mind that you’re gonna get knocked up before you leave. ... God is not finished with me. Hello, somebody?" (13:15)

• On Inheritance & Generations:

  “Scripture repeatedly connects inheritances to generations. ... He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (33:53)

• On Action and Destiny:

  “If God gives you an unction, get up out the bed, write it down, research it, do it, believe it. ... Everything big started small.” (29:35)

• On Timidity vs. Boldness:

  “You ain’t doing nobody no service being all sweet and cute and timid... I want you to be faithful, focused, and fierce.” (53:12)

• On Redeeming the World:

  “Everything that God made has a hidden glory in it... and if kingdom people stay in a church mentality, then whole systems and industries... will fail to reflect the God who made it.” (1:04:45)

Key Timestamps

• Scripture Reading & Honor: 02:41–04:26
• Kingdom vs. Empire Distinction: 06:35–09:40
• Mary: From Conception to Reception: 12:04–15:55
• Faith Over Barrenness/Disadvantage: 14:57–18:30
• Eat from the Empire (Stage 1): 19:50–24:14
• Provision and Breaking Poverty Mindset: 24:38–28:38
• Be Increased by the Empire (Stage 2): 34:00–39:43
• Stretched Capacity and Habits: 36:50–39:43
• Impact with the Empire (Stage 3): 41:50–56:00
• Faithful, Focused, Fierce Mandate: 53:01–54:44
• Redeeming Domains/Spheres: 1:01:40–1:04:32
• Altar Call and Activation: 1:05:05–1:12:10
• Closing Prayer & Declaration: 1:12:30–1:16:45

Tone & Language

Roberts’ message is energetic, prophetic, and deeply pastoral. He speaks with conviction and urgency, blending biblical exposition, personal exhortation, and practical instruction. The language alternates between poetic and plain—always passionate, often humorous (see “get knocked up at church”), and relentlessly focused on empowering the listener.

Summary Takeaways

• The “empire within you” refers to your God-given authority, gifts, and territory—meant for generational impact.
• Honor, clarity of purpose, and personal responsibility ("eat from it, be increased by it, impact with it") are essential to manifesting God’s intentions.
• Boldness, strategy, and faith-filled work will unlock and sustain this internal kingdom.
• Every believer is called not just to be sustained, but to become a legacy-builder and a redeemer in their sphere.
• "Faithful, focused, and fierce" should be the watchwords for entering the new year and new season.

For listeners:
You are called, equipped, and pregnant with kingdom potential. Manage your time, elevate your conversations, stretch your capacity, and step fiercely into every opportunity God provides. The kingdom starts within—and is ready to impact every sphere through you.