ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: HAVE YOU EVER HAD GOD TOUCH SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY "TOUCH IT"?
IT'S LIKE HE, LIKE, PUTS HIS FINGER ON IT AND SAYS,
"NO MORE."
ANYBODY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
ALL RIGHT?
OKAY, DO YOU KNOW IF, DEPENDING ON HOW BAD IT HURTS, THAT LETS
YOU KNOW HOW ATTACHED YOU ARE TO IT AND IF GOD PUTS HIS FINGER ON
ANYTHING IN OUR LIFE AND WE CANNOT LAY IT DOWN EVEN THOUGH
WE KNOW HE WANTS US TO, THEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT GOD WILL
HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH WITH US BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY
HURTING US, IT'S NOT HELPING US.
IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY THINGS WE HANG ONTO THAT ARE DESTROYING US
WHEN REALLY, GOD WOULD LOVE TO MOVE THAT OUT OF OUR WAY AND
HE'LL GIVE US SOMETHING SO MUCH BETTER IN THE PLACE OF IT.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: I'VE BEEN DOING SOME TEACHING ON SOME OF THE PARABLES
OF JESUS, SOMETHING THAT I'VE NEVER DONE IN ALL MY YEARS OF
TEACHING, AND TONIGHT I'M GOING TO DO THE "PARABLE OF THE COST
OF DISCIPLESHIP."
AND WE'RE GONNA START IN LUKE 14:25 THROUGH 35: "NOW HUGE
CROWDS WERE GOING ALONG WITH [JESUS], AND HE TURNED AND SAID
TO THEM, IF ANYONE COMES TO ME AND DOES NOT HATE HIS [OWN]
FATHER AND MOTHER [IN THE SENSE OF INDIFFERENCE TO OR RELATIVE
DISREGARD FOR THEM IN COMPARISON WITH HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD]
AND [LIKEWISE] HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN AND BROTHERS
AND SISTERS--[YES] AND EVEN HIS OWN LIFE ALSO--HE CANNOT BE
MY DISCIPLE."
NOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY ROUGH SCRIPTURE, DOESN'T IT?
BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES JESUS USED WHAT WE
CALL TODAY HYPERBOLE WHICH MEANS THAT HE WOULD MAKE A STATEMENT
THAT SOUNDED FAIRLY OUTRAGEOUS TO MAKE A POINT.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY, GOD DOESN'T WANT US TO HATE PEOPLE.
BUT HE WANTS TO PUT SUCH A SPACE BETWEEN HOW WE FEEL ABOUT PEOPLE
AND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT HIM THAT IT WOULD ALMOST SEEM THAT THAT
WOULD BE THE CASE.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
I JUST READ THIS STORY AND I THINK THIS'LL MAKE THE POINT.
A GIRL IN A JEWISH FAMILY RECEIVED CHRIST AND, 'COURSE,
HER WHOLE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY HER MOM, WAS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY
AGAINST IT.
AND SO IT CAME TIME THE GIRL WANTED TO BE BAPTIZED AND SO SHE
TOLD HER MOTHER SHE WAS GONNA BE BAPTIZED THAT AFTERNOON.
AND HER MOTHER SAID, "IF YOU GO AND GET BAPTIZED, THEN SURELY
YOU MUST HATE ME."
AND SHE SAID, "NO, MOM, I DON'T HATE YOU BUT I LOVE JESUS MORE."
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THAT SCRIPTURE IS TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S LIKE WE HAVE TO LOVE JESUS SO MUCH THAT WE WON'T LET OUR
OWN SELF-WILL OR EVEN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WANT US TO DO KEEP US
FROM THE WILL OF GOD.
"WHOEVER DOES NOT PERSEVERE AND CARRY HIS OWN CROSS AND COME
AFTER (AND FOLLOW) ME CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE."
NOW, YOU CAN BE SAVED.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN RECEIVING CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR
AND BEING A FULL-ON, COMMITTED DISCIPLE.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT JUST ENOUGH OF JESUS TO STAY OUT OF
HELL BUT THEY DON'T WANT ENOUGH TO REALLY LIVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE
WHILE THEY'RE HERE AND BE A BENEFIT TO SOMEBODY OTHER THAN
THEMSELVES.
DON'T BE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT JUST DOES THE LEAST LITTLE BIT
YOU CAN GET BY WITH JUST TO SQUEAK IN THE BACK DOOR
OF HEAVEN.
IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS, LET'S GET ON WITH IT AND GIVE GOD
ALL THAT WE'VE GOT, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "FOR WHICH OF YOU, WISHING TO BUILD A FARM
BUILDING, DOES NOT FIRST SIT DOWN AND CALCULATE THE COST [TO
SEE] WHETHER HE HAS SUFFICIENT MEANS TO FINISH IT?"
NOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN IT COMES
TO BUILDING A HOUSE OR BUILDING A BUILDING BUT THIS APPLIES TO
SO MANY AREAS OF OUR OWN LIFE.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD NOT START ANY KIND OF A PROJECT OR MAKE
ANY KIND OF A COMMITMENT WITHOUT THINKING IT THROUGH TO THINK
ABOUT AM I REALLY WILLING TO COMMIT TO THIS TO BRING IT
THROUGH TO THE FINISH?
CAN I TELL YOU A SECRET?
IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH AT ALL TO START SOMETHING.
ANYBODY, ANY MOTION, CAN START SOMETHING.
ANYBODY CAN SAY, "I'M GONNA DO THIS."
DO YOU KNOW HOW EASY IT IS TO GO ON A DIET SUNDAY NIGHT
AFTER DINNER?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
I MEAN, YOU CAN EVEN GO BUY THE TREADMILL.
THAT'S NOT HARD IF YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT.
BUT IT'S GETTING ON THE THING DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY
AFTER DAY.
IT'S STICKING WITH THE DIET WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO
STARVE TO DEATH ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AND--OR WHATEVER,
YOU KNOW?
IT--THERE'S SO MANY, MANY THINGS.
NOW, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY APPLYING TO OUR WALK WITH GOD AND WALKING
IT OUT AND BECOMING WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE BUT WE CAN APPLY
THIS TO SO MANY AREAS OF OUR LIFE.
"OTHERWISE," PEOPLE WILL SAY, "THIS MAN BEGAN TO BUILD AND WAS
NOT ABLE (OR WORTH ENOUGH) TO FINISH IT."
THERE'S A PLACE WHERE DAVE AND I GO BY SOMETIMES.
IT'S ACTUALLY IN ANOTHER STATE AND WE'VE DRIVEN BY THIS
SEVERAL TIMES.
IT'S KIND OF--THERE'S A LOT OF GOLFING COMMUNITIES IN THIS AREA
AND THERE'S ONE THAT WE TALK ABOUT EVERY TIME WE GO BY
BECAUSE IT HAS THIS ELABORATE ENTRANCE, A BIG GUARD GATE OUT
FRONT, A LITTLE GUARD HOUSE, AND THESE HUGE ARCHWAYS,
AND IT'S JUST THIS BEAUTIFUL GREAT OPENING THERE TO WHAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE A SUBDIVISION AND THE DIRT IS PLOWED UP ALONG THE
GROUND INSIDE AND THERE'S A FEW PIECES OF BUILDING MATERIAL OUT
THERE AND A LONE TRACTOR SITTING OUT THERE.
AND IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR 8 YEARS AND NOBODY EVER DID
ANYTHING.
SO THAT'S SOMEBODY WHO STARTED SOMETHING AND DIDN'T CALCULATE
THE COST OF FINISHING IT.
AND IT JUST--IT REMINDS ME, EVERY TIME I GO BY THERE,
OF WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE DO WITH THEIR LIVES.
THEY START SOMETHING BUT THEN WHEN IT GETS CHALLENGING OR WHEN
IT GETS DIFFICULT, THEY DON'T STICK WITH IT, INCLUDING
MARRIAGE, AMEN?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT RESPONSE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT HARD TO SAY "I DO" AT THE ALTAR
BUT IT TAKES A LOT TO BE ABLE TO STAND HERE LIKE DAVE AND I CAN
AND SAY WE'VE BEEN MARRIED 50 YEARS.
AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT A STRONG COMMITMENT.
"OR WHAT KING, GOING OUT TO ENGAGE IN CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER
KING, WILL NOT FIRST SIT DOWN AND CONSIDER AND TAKE COUNSEL
WHETHER HE IS ABLE WITH 10,000 [MEN] TO MEET HIM WHO'S
COMING AGAINST HIM WITH 20,000?" YOU'RE GOING TO WAR, YOU'VE GOT
10,000, THEY'VE GOT 20,000, PROBABLY BE SMART TO GIVE THAT
A LITTLE BIT OF THOUGHT.
DO I REALLY THINK I CAN WIN THIS?
AND HE SAYS, "IF HE REALIZES THAT HE CANNOT WIN WHEN THE
OTHER KING IS STILL A GREAT WAY OFF, HE'LL SEND AN ENVOY
AND ASK FOR TERMS OF PEACE."
YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T BEAT YOUR ENEMY, IT'S BETTER TO MAKE PEACE
WITH HIM.
ALL RIGHT, NOW, SO LISTEN TO THIS SCRIPTURE.
THIS IS VERSE 33 IN LUKE 14: "SO THEN, ANY OF YOU WHO DOES NOT
FORSAKE (RENOUNCE, SURRENDER CLAIM TO, GIVE UP, AND SAY
GOOD-BYE TO) ALL THAT HE HAS CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE."
SO SOME OF YOU, I BELIEVE, NEED TO SAY GOODBYE TO SOME STUFF,
AMEN?
SOME OF YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH A PERSON IN YOUR LIFE, FRIEND OR
GIRLFRIEND OR BOYFRIEND, AND YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE CAUSING YOU TO
COMPROMISE YOUR WALK WITH GOD.
YOU KNOW THAT IT'S HURTING YOU SPIRITUALLY.
AND YOU NEED TO SAY "GOODBYE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THIS HARD ON ME TONIGHT, AREN'T YOU?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SOME OF YOU HAVE A CAREER AND YOU HAVE TO
COMPROMISE YOUR MORALS IN ORDER TO KEEP THAT JOB.
YOU NEED TO SAY GOODBYE TO THAT JOB.
AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE TO MAKE LESS MONEY.
THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN GOING TO BED AT NIGHT WITH A GUILTY
CONSCIENCE AND THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN KNOWING THAT YOU'RE
RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF GOD'S WILL.
AND ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE HARD SOMETIMES TO MAKE THOSE
SACRIFICES, IT'S ONLY HARD ON YOUR FLESH BUT YOUR SPIRIT
REJOICES.
SO I GUESS IT'S A MATTER OF DO YOU WANNA KEEP YOUR FLESH HAPPY
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU REALLY CAN'T KEEP IT HAPPY.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU GIVE IT, 5 MINUTES LATER IT'S GONNA WANT
SOMETHING ELSE.
AND SO WE CAN EITHER LET THE FLESH RULE OR WE CAN LEARN
TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND, BOY, WHEN YOU'RE HAPPY INSIDE--HOW
MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HAD EVEN ONE INSTANCE OF BEING SO HAPPY
INSIDE, IN YOUR SOUL, IN YOUR SPIRIT, THAT YOU HAD A MASSIVE
PROBLEM BUT SOMEHOW IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM TO MATTER BECAUSE
YOU HAD THE JOY OF THE LORD GOING ON INSIDE?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, SEE, THAT'S WHAT GOD WANTS US TO HAVE ALL
THE TIME, EVERY DAY OF OUR LIFE.
NOW, WHEN I TALK ABOUT GIVING UP--WHERE IT SAYS HERE, "SAY
GOODBYE TO ALL THAT HE HAS."
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR SOME SCRIPTURES TONIGHT THAT
YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIKE.
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE 'EM OUT OF BALANCE BECAUSE THIS IS
NOT ABOUT IF YOU'RE GONNA BE A CHRISTIAN YOU CAN'T HAVE
ANYTHING OR IF YOU'RE GONNA BE A CHRISTIAN, YOU NEVER GET
ANYTHING YOU WANT.
THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO SAY GOODBYE TO SELF-WILL
AND HELLO TO GOD'S WILL.
SAY GOODBYE TO SELF-WILL AND HELLO TO GOD'S WILL.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD GOD TOUCH SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN WHEN I SAY "TOUCH IT"?
IT'S LIKE HE, LIKE, PUTS HIS FINGER ON IT AND SAYS,
"NO MORE."
ANYBODY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
ALL RIGHT?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OKAY, DO YOU KNOW IF, DEPENDING ON HOW BAD IT HURTS,
THAT LETS YOU KNOW HOW ATTACHED YOU ARE TO IT AND IF GOD PUTS
HIS FINGER ON ANYTHING IN OUR LIFE AND WE CANNOT LAY IT DOWN
EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW HE WANTS US TO, THEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT GOD
WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH WITH US BECAUSE IT'S
ACTUALLY HURTING US, IT'S NOT HELPING US.
IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY THINGS WE HANG ONTO THAT ARE DESTROYING US
WHEN REALLY, GOD WOULD LOVE TO MOVE THAT OUT OF OUR WAY
AND HE'LL GIVE US SOMETHING SO MUCH BETTER IN THE PLACE OF IT.
NOW, I'M GONNA TELL YOU A LITTLE SECRET UP FRONT, BECAUSE IF I
DON'T TELL YOU THIS, I'LL LOSE YOUR ATTENTION.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA TALK TONIGHT ABOUT GIVING UP SOME STUFF.
NOBODY LIKES THAT.
THAT'S NOT A HAPPY MESSAGE.
BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT GOD
WANTS YOU TO GET RID OF IN YOUR LIFE IS SOMETHING THAT'S
HURTING YOU.
EVEN A BAD ATTITUDE.
SOME OF YOU COULD SAY GOODBYE TO A BAD ATTITUDE AND IT WOULDN'T
HURT AT ALL.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YEAH, AND SOME OF YOU AT HOME COULD SAY GOODBYE
TO COMPLAINING.
THAT WOULD BE GOOD, AMEN?
HOW ABOUT SAYING GOODBYE TO HAVING
A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE?
HOW ABOUT SAYING GOODBYE TO JEALOUSY?
ALL KINDS OF STUFF, SEE?
WE GOTTA ALWAYS BE SAYING GOODBYE TO STUFF.
GOODBYE!
YOU SEE "SOUND OF MUSIC," THAT SONG, "GOODBYE,
GOODBYE, GOODBYE."
AND I DON'T SING MUCH SO WHEN I DO, YOU BETTER LISTEN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, BUT ANYTHING THAT GOD ASKS US TO
PART WITH, EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF IT, IT ACTUALLY
IS SOMETHING THAT'S HURTING US.
HE--ANYTHING THAT HE PUTS HIS FINGER ON IS JUST SOMETHING
THAT'S HURTING US AND HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS, THE LITTLE SECRET
I WANNA TELL YOU.
ANYTHING THAT GOD ASKS YOU TO PART WITH HE WILL GIVE YOU
SOMETHING BETTER IN RETURN.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: BUT SEE, IN THESE SCRIPTURES, HE'S NOT TELLING US
THAT YET.
HE'S ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE GIVING IT UP STUFF.
BUT WHEN YOU'VE HAD ENOUGH EXPERIENCE WITH GOD, YOU LEARN
THAT, YEAH, YOU GIVE IT UP FIRST AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S
GONNA HAPPEN.
SEE, LET'S JUST TAKE, LIKE, A WOMAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE, BEING
ABUSED I WAS DESPERATE FOR SOMEBODY TO LOVE ME AND I REALLY
THOUGHT THAT NOBODY WOULD EVER WANT ME BECAUSE I WAS USED
MERCHANDISE.
AND SO THE FIRST YOUNG MAN THAT CAME ALONG THAT PAID ANY
ATTENTION TO ME AND ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM, I MARRIED HIM.
AND IT WAS STUPID.
I KNEW DOWN DEEP INSIDE IT WASN'T GONNA WORK.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY--I HAD BEEN BORN AGAIN WHEN I WAS
9 YEARS OLD SO I COULD SENSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I HAD PEACE ABOUT
SOMETHING AND WHEN I DIDN'T, BUT I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT
THAT WAS.
AND I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE PEACE ABOUT MARRYING HIM BUT I DID IT
ANYWAY BECAUSE I WAS DESPERATE AND I WAS AFRAID IF I DIDN'T
TAKE WHAT I COULD GET, THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE ANYBODY.
C'MON NOW.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU'RE TOO IMPORTANT TO GOD TO STAY WITH SOMEBODY
THAT'S MISTREATING YOU AND IS ABUSING YOU AND TALKS TO YOU
LIKE YOU'RE NO GOOD.
GOD HAS GOT SOMETHING BETTER FOR YOU BUT YOU MAY HAVE TO SAY
GOODBYE TO WHAT YOU'RE GOT FIRST.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU'RE TOO IMPORTANT TO GOD TO KEEP A JOB WHERE THE
BOSS MAKES YOU LIE FOR HIM IN ORDER TO KEEP THE JOB AND EVERY
TIME YOU DO, IT'S RIPPING YOU UP INSIDE.
YOU CAN SAY GOODBYE TO THAT AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU
SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT EVERY TIME YOU SAY GOODBYE TO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU
FEEL FIRST?
FEAR.
[GASPING]
GOD TOLD ABRAHAM TO SAY GOODBYE AND HE DIDN'T EVEN
TELL HIM WHERE HE WAS GOING.
HE SAID, "SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR FAMILY.
WALK AWAY FROM EVERYTHING YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH."
YOU KNOW WHY GOD HAD HIM DO THAT?
BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL IDOL WORSHIPERS.
GOD HAD TO--HAD A GREAT PLAN FOR HIM AND HE HAD TO GET HIM AWAY
FROM THEM IN ORDER FOR THAT PLAN TO COME TO PASS IN HIS LIFE.
ANYTHING THAT GOD IS TRYING TO MOVE OUT OF YOUR WAY, IT'S GONNA
END UP FOR YOUR BENEFIT IF YOU DO IT.
LET ME ASK A QUESTION.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THIS BUILDING--I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE
I'M NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE
A CLUE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE BUILDING THAT GOD'S DEALING WITH YOU
ABOUT SAYING GOODBYE TO SOME STUFF AND YOU JUST REALLY COULD
USE THIS TONIGHT?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, "SO ANY OF YOU WHO DOES NOT FORSAKE (RENOUNCE,
SURRENDER CLAIM TO, GIVE UP, SAY GOOD-BYE TO) ALL THAT HE HAS
CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.
SALT IS GOOD [IT'S AN EXCELLENT THING], BUT IF SALT HAS LOST ITS
STRENGTH AND HAS BECOME SALTLESS (INSIPID AND FLAT), HOW SHALL
ITS SALTINESS BE RESTORED?
IT'S FIT NEITHER FOR THE LAND NOR FOR THE MANURE HEAP;
MEN THROW IT AWAY.
HE WHO HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM LISTEN AND CONSIDER
AND COMPREHEND BY HEARING!" NOW, ALL OF YOU HAVE EARS ON
YOUR HEAD 'CAUSE I CAN SEE THEM.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE EARS TO HEAR AND THEY HEAR
NOT, EYES TO SEE AND THEY SEE NOT.
SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO WASTE YOUR TIME HERE TONIGHT.
I DON'T WANT THOSE OF YOU WATCHING THE TV PROGRAM TO
WASTE YOUR TIME WATCHING IT.
I DON'T WANNA WASTE MY TIME DOING THIS.
SO LET'S JUST GET READY RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GONNA REALLY LISTEN,
WE'RE GONNA NOT JUST LET THE STUFF WE DON'T LIKE JUST KIND OF
GO IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER, BUT WE'RE GONNA REALLY TAKE IT
ALL IN AND SAY, "NOW, GOD, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY TO ME
THROUGH THIS?" IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT JOYCE
SITTING UP HERE PREACHING.
IT'S WHAT IS GOD WANTING TO SAY TO YOU THROUGH WHAT I'M SAYING
HERE TONIGHT?
NOW, I HAVE A QUESTION.
ARE YOU ATTACHED TO JESUS OR COMMITTED?
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
YOU SEE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST ATTACHED.
THEY ATTEND CHURCH, THEY'VE MADE A PROFESSION OF FAITH,
THEY WANNA GO TO HEAVEN, BUT THEY'RE NOT COMMITTED.
THEY'RE NOT REALLY LIVING FOR GOD.
I DID THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
YEARS AND YEARS.
I HAD JESUS BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE ME.
C'MON.
IT'S VERY EASY TO JUST WANNA TAKE HIM AND TACK HIM ON TO YOUR
CURRENT LIFE AND KEEP EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT AND NOT CHANGE
ANYTHING AND JUST HAVE JESUS IN YOUR LIFE FOR EMERGENCIES OR
WHEN EVERYTHING'S GOING CRAZY.
BUT WHAT HE WANTS US TO DO IS GIVE UP OUR LIFE,
FULLY COMMIT TO HIM, AND SAY, "GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT
ME TO DO?
WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO WITH ME?" [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ATTACH MEANS JOINED OR FASHIONED TO A THING WITH
FONDNESS AND AFFECTION.
YOU KNOW, JESUS ASKED PETER THREE TIMES, "PETER, DO YOU
LOVE ME?
PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?
PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?" THIS IS IN JOHN 21.
AND SOME OF THE--THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT WORDS FOR LOVE AND I'M
NOT GONNA GET INTO ALL THAT BUT ONE OF THEM IS JUST A WORD FOR,
LIKE, FONDNESS AND AFFECTION.
AND SO ONE OF THE ANSWERS PETER GAVE WAS, "YES, LORD, YOU KNOW
I'M FOND OF YOU.
YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU, THAT WE'RE FRIENDS."
SO HE ASKED HIM AGAIN, THEN HE ASKED HIM AGAIN.
AND EACH TIME, HE SAID TO HIM, "WELL, IF YOU LOVE ME,
FEED MY SHEEP.
IF YOU LOVE ME, FEED MY LAMBS."
SO REALLY, WHAT HE WAS SAYING TO PETER WAS IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME,
THEN YOU CAN'T LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE THE WAY YOU WANNA LIVE IT.
I'VE GOT WORK THAT I WANNA DO THROUGH YOU SO I NEED YOU TO LAY
YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE AND REALLY GET FULLY COMMITTED TO THIS
THING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SEE, WE START OUT WANTING JESUS IN OUR LIFE
BECAUSE, FRANKLY, WE'VE GOT SO MANY PROBLEMS, WE'RE ABOUT TO
GO CRAZY.
AND WE WANT HIM TO COME INTO OUR LIFE AND FIX THEM ALL.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE'LL DO THAT FOR A WHILE.
I CALL IT THE HONEYMOON PHASE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IT'S LIKE, I MEAN, IF YOU WANNA GET A PRAYER ANSWERED,
YOU GO GET SOMEBODY TO PRAY FOR YOU THAT JUST GOT SAVED
LAST NIGHT.
I MEAN, GOD JUST SHOWS OUT WITH NEW BELIEVERS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT THE TIME WILL COME WHEN GOD'S GONNA WANT YOU TO
MAKE A TRANSITION AND, INSTEAD OF TELLING HIM 20 THINGS YOU
NEED EVERY MORNING TO EVEN PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE, HE WANTS YOU
TO SAY, "WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM ME TODAY AND I DON'T CARE
WHETHER IT MAKES ME SMILE OR NOT, I WANT TO BE IN YOUR WILL."
THAT'S A COMMITMENT.
COMMITMENT DEFINED MEANS TO PLEDGE YOURSELF TO A THING
OR A POSITION, TO BE BOUND OR OBLIGATED.
IN GREEK, IT INDICATES A CONTINUOUS ACTION TOWARDS
SOMETHING NOT YET COMPLETED.
A CONTINUOUS ACTION TOWARDS SOMETHING NOT YET COMPLETED.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?
THIS IS A LIFELONG PROJECT OF CONTINUING TO LET GOD DO WHAT
HE WANTS TO DO IN OUR LIFE.
THE COMMITTED PERSON WILL STICK WITH SOMETHING UNTIL IT'S
COMPLETELY FINISHED.
THEY STICK WITH A THING OR A PERSON IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD.
YOU CAN COUNT ON THEM.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT MARRIAGE IS.
IT'S A COMMITMENT.
AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY, THEY HAVE
THE ATTITUDE, "WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A PIECE OF PAPER.
WHO CARES?
WE JUST LIVE TOGETHER."
WELL, IT'S ABOUT THE COMMITMENT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PIECE OF PAPER.
AND SEE, WHEN YOU'RE MARRIED LEGALLY, YOU--IT'S A LITTLE BIT
HARDER TO JUST PACK YOUR STUFF AND WALK OUT THE DOOR THAN IF
YOU'RE JUST STAYING OVERNIGHT.
AND I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME.
YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT DOESN'T CARE ENOUGH
TO REALLY BE COMMITTED TO YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS ONE PARTICULAR AREA BECAUSE
THERE'S SO MUCH OF THIS EVEN IN THE CHURCH THAT, TO BE HONEST,
I VERY RARELY EVER SAY ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND DON'T HAVE A FEW
PEOPLE WALK OUT.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYBODY LEAVING YET SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS, BUT--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WELL, YOU KNOW, JOYCE, IT'S THE 20TH CENTURY,
IT'S THE 21ST CENTURY," OR WHATEVER IT IS.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE BIBLE IS THE SAME WHETHER IT'S THE 1ST CENTURY OR
THE 10,000TH CENTURY.
IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW, TODAY EVERYTHING IN OUR SOCIETY IS
SO CASUAL.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
GOD IS NOT CASUAL.
HE MEANS BUSINESS, HE'S GOT A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
AND IF YOU COOPERATE WITH HIM, YOU WILL HAVE A LIFE THAT WILL
LEAVE YOU WITH YOUR MOUTH HANGING OPEN IN AWE;
IT WILL BE SO AMAZING.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: SO I KIND OF LIKEN THIS ATTACHED OR COMMITTED THING
TO DATING VERSUS BEING MARRIED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS DATING DAVE I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO
EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD LIKE I DID WHEN WE GOT MARRIED.
AND I DIDN'T HAVE A CAR WHEN DAVE AND I GOT MARRIED BUT WHEN
WE GOT MARRIED, SUDDENLY I HAD A CAR.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT THAT WASN'T MY CAR.
I MEAN, I COULD NOT SAY, "LOOK AT MY CAR,"
WHEN WE WERE JUST DATING.
BUT THE MINUTE THAT WE GOT MARRIED I CAN SAY,
"LOOK AT MY CAR."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, DAVE HAD A LITTLE MONEY.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
SUDDENLY, WE GOT MARRIED AND I HAD A LITTLE MONEY, AMEN?
SO I GUESS I JUST WANNA ASK TONIGHT,
"ARE YOU DATING JESUS?
OR ARE YOU MARRIED?" [AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: HE SAYS HE'S THE BRIDEGROOM AND WE'RE THE BRIDE
SO HE MUST LIKE THIS MARRIAGE COMMITMENT THING, AMEN?
THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON IN THIS BUILDING THAT CANNOT COME UP
HIGHER AFTER HEARING THIS MESSAGE.
MYSELF INCLUDED.
THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON IN HERE WHO DOES NOT--DOESN'T NEED THIS
IN SOME AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
NOW, SAYING GOODBYE TO YOURSELF AND TO YOUR LIFE AS YOU KNOW IT
SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT FRIGHTENING.
OH, BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE LIFE THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU.
DO YOU THINK WHEN I WAS BACK JUST ATTACHED TO JESUS AND JUST
GOING TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING AND LEAVING
AND GOSSIPING ABOUT THE PREACHER AND ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH
AND-- [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DO YOU THINK THAT I HAD ANY IDEA BACK THEN WHAT GOD
HAD PLANNED FOR MY LIFE?
YOU THINK I HAD ANY CLUE THAT I WOULD BE WHERE I'M AT TODAY?
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, I'VE HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO A LOT OF
STUFF, AMEN?
AND I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU THAT GOD HAS GOT SOMETHING
BETTER PLANNED FOR YOU AND DON'T LET THE STUFF THAT YOU'RE
HANGING ON TO THAT GOD HAS PUT HIS FINGER ON KEEP YOU FROM
THE VERY BEST THAT GOD HAS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, MAKING A FULL COMMITMENT TO GOD MEANS
THAT WE ARE WILLING TO SURRENDER TO ANYTHING THAT HE WANTS TO DO
IN OUR LIVES.
AND JUST REMEMBER THAT ANYTHING HE MIGHT ASK US TO PART WITH OR
LET GO OF HE WILL ALWAYS REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING BETTER
IN RETURN.
TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU SOME WONDERFUL TEACHING ON SPIRITUAL
MATURITY CALLED "THE BEAUTY OF
SPIRITUAL MATURITY."
YOU KNOW, GROWING UP SPIRITUALLY CAN BE HARD SOMETIMES BUT IT'S
REALLY A BEAUTIFUL AND AN AMAZING THING.
AND IT WORKS OUT SO GOOD IN OUR LIVES.
SO THERE'S THREE TEACHINGS ON CD AND THEN WE'RE GONNA SEND YOU
A PAPERBACK BOOK CALLED "GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS."
AND IT'S ABOUT THE POWER THAT'S IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THE WORD
OF GOD, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.
VERY FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS THAT IT'S JUST GOOD FOR ALL OF US TO
KNOW ABOUT AND EVEN IF YOU KNOW ABOUT 'EM, TO GO OVER THEM AGAIN
AND AGAIN.
EVERY TIME WE SPEAK THE NAME JESUS THERE'S POWER
THAT'S RELEASED.
WE WANNA LEARN EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN ABOUT HOW TO BE
THE GREATEST BLESSING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY BE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AND I PRAY THAT YOU'LL
HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL DAY.
ANNOUNCER: NO MATTER WHAT SEASON OF LIFE YOU'RE IN,
YOU CAN BE HAPPY AND ENJOY A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT'S
DEEPER THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE.
AS WE GROW IN OUR WALK WITH GOD, OUR FUTURE WILL BE NOTHING SHORT
OF BEAUTIFUL.
IN THIS THREE-CD PACK, JOYCE TEACHES PRINCIPLES THAT BRING
GREAT REWARD.
FEMALE: I STARTED LISTENING TO ALL HER CDS, YOU KNOW, AND I
WOULD PASS THEM AROUND TO MY FRIENDS, AND IT'S JUST HER VOICE
WOULD--SHE JUST WAS SO REAL.
ANNOUNCER: "THE BEAUTY OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY," LEARNING
HOW TO DEFEAT THE ENEMY, IDENTIFY ROADBLOCKS,
UNDERSTANDING GOD'S PURPOSE FOR CHANGE, AND LOTS MORE.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING JOYCE'S BOOK, "GOD'S GREATEST GIFTS."
THREE IMPORTANT AREAS OF WARFARE AGAINST THE ENEMY: HIS WORD,
HIS NAME, AND HIS BLOOD.
YOU CAN GET THESE KEY RESOURCES TO UNLOCK GOD'S AMAZING PLAN FOR
YOUR LIFE, ALL FOR A DONATION OF...OR MORE.
CONTACT US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: I WANNA PERSONALLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR
THE 2018 LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
IN TAMPA, FLORIDA.
THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR TIME TO SOAK UP THE WORD OF GOD
AND THE FLORIDA SUNSHINE.
WE'VE GOT A FANTASTIC LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS, ENGAGING WORSHIP,
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS IT.
SO GRAB YOUR BIBLE AND YOUR BEACH TOWEL AND REGISTER TODAY.
ANNOUNCER: EARLY-BIRD PRICING ENDS MAY 31.
SPACE IS LIMITED.
REGISTER TODAY.
[MUSIC]
DAVID: HEY, WE'RE IN HAMMOND, LOUISIANA,
ONE OF THE POOREST PARISHES IN LOUISIANA AND SO
THE NEED HERE IS IMMENSE.
SO WE'RE HERE PARTNERING WITH MY DAILY BREAD AND THEY'VE BEEN
WORKING IN THIS WHOLE PARISH FOR YEARS.
THEY REALLY WEREN'T FEEDING IN ONE LOCATION.
THEY WERE TAKING IT OUT AND IT WAS A LOT OF MANPOWER,
A LOT OF DRIVING AROUND.
SO WE CAME ALONG AND THEY HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS BUILDING
AND IT WAS ALL DILAPIDATED.
AND THEY WANTED TO TURN IT INTO A FEEDING CENTER BUT THAT NEEDED
THE FUNDING SO HAND OF HOPE, JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES, CAME
ALONGSIDE THEM AND PROVIDED ALL THE FUNDING FOR EVERYTHING
YOU SEE HERE.
AND THEY HAVE SOME EXTRA WAREHOUSE SPACE IN THE BACK
THERE WHICH HAS REALLY IMPROVED WHAT THEY CAN DO AS FAR AS
STORAGE OF FOOD.
THEY'RE FEEDING BETWEEN 100 AND 150 PEOPLE EACH DAY, AND IT'S
JUST THE BEGINNING, HONESTLY.
THEY'RE JUST KIND OF GETTING IT STARTED.
SO IT'S A GREAT DAY.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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