ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: WE DON'T SERVE GOD TO GET A REWARD, BUT THERE'S
NOTHING WRONG WITH EXPECTING ONE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE
TELLS US IS HEADED OUR WAY.
REWARDS ARE HEADED YOUR WAY, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL
LOOK FORWARD TO THEM AND GET EXCITED ABOUT IT.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: HELLO AND WELCOME TO "ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE."
DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE NO ONE SEES OR CARES ABOUT ALL THE WAYS
THAT YOU'RE BEING FAITHFUL TO GOD?
WELL, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT GOD SEES AND HE CARES
AND IN TODAY'S TEACHING, I'LL TALK ABOUT THE REWARDS
OF SERVING GOD.
THEN LATER, I'LL BE BACK TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
THAT YOU SENT IN ON THIS SUBJECT.
ENJOY THE PROGRAM.
JOYCE: SO, WE'RE GONNA TALK THIS AFTERNOON FOR ABOUT
THE REWARDS OF SERVING GOD.
FIRST OF ALL, HEBREWS 11:6 SAYS
WITHOUT FAITH, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD, AND THOSE
THAT COME TO HIM MUST BELIEVE TWO THINGS, NUMBER ONE,
THAT HE IS.
AND NUMBER TWO, THAT HE IS THE REWARDER.
DON'T YOU LOVE THAT?
HE DOESN'T JUST REWARD.
HE IS THE REWARDER OF THOSE WHO, WHAT?
DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM OUT.
CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING?
BECAUSE YOU TOOK TODAY, A SATURDAY, FOR MOST OF YOU,
PROBABLY, ONE OF YOUR TWO DAYS A WEEK THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORK AND GO TO A JOB, AND I KNOW YOU HAD
MANY THINGS TO DO.
YOU HAD MANY THINGS THAT YOU WALKED AWAY FROM IN ORDER TO BE
HERE TODAY, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A BETTER
WEEK THAN YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WOULDN'T HAVE COME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I'M NOT PROMISING YOU THAT ALL YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
NEXT WEEK ARE GONNA BE GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAME,
BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS, THERE'S A STRENGTH
THAT YOU'LL GET FROM BEING DILIGENT AND BY CHOOSING
TO SPEND THIS TIME WITH GOD THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THROUGH
WHATEVER COMES YOUR WAY NEXT WEEK WITH VICTORY
WHILE OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE FALLING APART EMOTIONALLY,
IT'S A MUCH MORE MINOR THING BECAUSE THEY LAID ON THE COUCH
ALL DAY, AND WATCHED SOAP OPERAS, AND ATE DOUGHNUTS.
WHEN WE SOW TO THE FLESH, WE REAP FROM THE FLESH RUIN,
DECAY, AND DESTRUCTION.
WHEN WE SOW TO THE SPIRIT, WE REAP FROM THE SPIRIT LIFE
AND LIFE ETERNAL.
AND EVEN IF YOU SAT HERE ALL DAY AND YOU DIDN'T FEEL LIKE YOU
LEARNED ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR, I DON'T--I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW
HOW THAT'S POSSIBLE, BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT, LET'S JUST SAY
THAT YOU LEAVE TODAY AND YOU SAY, "WELL, YOU KNOW, GOD,
I REALLY DIDN'T GET THAT MUCH OUT OF THAT."
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'D BENEFIT FROM JUST FROM SITTING
IN THIS ROOM ALL DAY WITH ALL THESE OTHER
WONDERFULLY ANOINTED PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THERE'S SOME ATMOSPHERES
OUT IN THE WORLD WHERE YOU COULD GO SIT IN ALL DAY
AND IT WOULD SUCK THE LIFE RIGHT OUT OF YOU.
LET ME ASK A QUESTION JUST FOR MY OWN ENTERTAINMENT,
HOW MANY OF YOU FEEL BETTER NOW THAN YOU DID WHEN YOU WALKED
IN HERE THIS MORNING?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL SEE, THAT'S WHAT GOD'S PRESENCE DOES FOR US.
IT ENERGIZES US.
IT ENCOURAGES US.
WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED.
WITHOUT FAITH, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD.
THOSE WHO COME TO HIM MUST BELIEVE, NUMBER ONE,
THAT HE IS, AND HE IS EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.
WHETHER YOU FEEL HIM OR YOU DON'T FEEL HIM, GOD IS ALWAYS
PRESENT IN YOUR LIFE.
HE'S ALWAYS WITH YOU.
THERE'S NOWHERE THAT YOU GO OR NOWHERE THAT YOU CAN EVER GO
WHERE YOU CAN GET AWAY FROM HIM.
HE KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
HE KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT YOU EVER WILL DO.
AND GUESS WHAT.
HE LOVES YOU EVERY MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE.
YOU KNOW, GOD SPOKE THIS TO MY HEART LAST WEEK AND I WANT
TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.
HE SAID, "NOT ONLY DO I LOVE YOU, BUT I'M ALWAYS LOVING YOU."
SEE, I LIKE THAT.
IT'S LIKE IT'S A CONTINUOUS THING.
GOD DOESN'T JUST LOVE US AND THEN NOT LOVE US.
HE'S ALWAYS LOVING US.
THERE'S NEVER A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN GOD HAS NOT
LOVED YOU AND THERE WILL NEVER BE A MOMENT WHEN HE WILL NOT
LOVE YOU.
WE ALL WANT TO BE LOVED.
YOU'RE ACCEPTED BY GOD.
HE ADORES YOU.
SOME OF YOUR FAULTS HE EVEN THINKS ARE FUNNY.
IT'S TRUE.
YOU KNOW HOW I KNOW THAT?
THE LONGER DAVE AND I ARE MARRIED,
THE FUNNIER I THINK HE IS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND HE'S THE SAME WAY WITH ME.
WE'RE KIND OF LIKE EACH OTHER'S ENTERTAINMENT,
AND--BUT IT'S SILLY STUFF THAT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE
TO ANYBODY BUT US.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE USED TO GET UPSET ABOUT
50 YEARS AGO, 40 YEARS AGO,
30 YEARS AGO, BUT NOW SOME OF THOSE THINGS, THEY'RE WHAT
MAKES DAVE DAVE, AND I THINK, TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, THAT GOD
FEELS THE SAME WAY ABOUT US.
YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT THIS LITTLE SASSY PERSONALITY, BUT I THINK
GOD KIND OF LIKES IT.
I DON'T THINK THAT I HAVE TO GO AROUND TRYING TO REWORK MYSELF
BECAUSE I'M NOT LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE OUT THERE.
I SPENT A LOT OF YEARS TRYING TO BE A NORMAL WOMAN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION OF?
I AM NORMAL FOR ME.
WHAT IS NORMAL?
IT'S HOWEVER GOD HAS CREATED YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE'S PERSONALITY.
I TRIED TO BE SWEET, AND KIND, AND QUIET, AND, YOU KNOW,
ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
I WAS TELLING DAVE THE OTHER DAY, I SAID, "YOU KNOW DAVE,
I THINK THE OLDER YOU GET, THE MORE YOU TALK."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, HE JUST SEEMS LIKE HE TALKS A LOT MORE
THAN WHAT HE USED TO.
AND I SAID, "I GUESS YOU WISH THE OLDER I GOT
THE QUIETER I GOT."
HE SAID, "NO," HE SAID, "THAT'S NOT EVER GONNA HAPPEN.
THERE'S NO POINT IN EVEN WISHING FOR THAT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: REWARD, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE REALLY, WE CAN GET
SO MUCH MORE HELP FROM GOD THAN WHAT WE DO IF WE WOULD JUST
PRAY A LOT MORE BOLDER PRAYERS.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK GOD FOR BIG THINGS.
I'D RATHER ASK FOR SOMETHING BIG AND GET HALF OF IT THAN TO ASK
FOR SOMETHING LITTLE AND GET ALL OF IT.
GOD WANTS DO BIG THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.
HE IS THE REWARDER OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.
FIRST OF ALL, THE FIRST REWARD THAT WE GET FROM SERVING GOD,
AND LET ME JUST SAY THIS, WE DON'T SERVE GOD TO GET A REWARD,
BUT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH EXPECTING ONE
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BIBLE TELLS US IS HEADED OUR WAY.
REWARDS ARE HEADED YOUR WAY, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL
LOOK FORWARD TO THEM AND GET EXCITED ABOUT IT.
THE FIRST REWARD THAT WE GET, AND THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT,
THE FIRST REWARD THAT WE GET IS GOD HIMSELF, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WOW, YOU KNOW, WE GET KIND OF USED TO GOD.
WE GET ACCUSTOMED TO GOD'S PRESENCE.
WE GET ACCUSTOM TO UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL THINGS, BUT WOW,
WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS
TO HAVE GOD IN OUR LIVES.
WHAT KIND OF A PRIVILEGE IS IT TO HAVE ANY KIND OF PROBLEM YOU
CAN TAKE TO GOD AND PRAY ABOUT IT AND KNOW THAT HE HEARS YOU,
THAT HE LOVES YOU, AND HE WANTS TO HELP YOU?
THAT'S A GREAT PRIVILEGE, AND WE DON'T EVER WANT
TO TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.
YOU KNOW, I WORK HARD JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU WORK REAL HARD,
AND YEARS AGO, I SAID TO GOD ONE DAY, "WHAT AM I GONNA GET
OUT OF THIS?" 'CAUSE IF YOU'RE IN A POSITION
WHERE YOU'RE CONSTANTLY GIVING OUT IN WHATEVER WAY THAT IS,
IF IT'S AS A PARENT, OR AS A WIFE, OR A HUSBAND,
OR AS AN EMPLOYEE.
IF YOU'RE IN MINISTRY, YOU'RE ALWAYS GIVING OUT.
AND SOMETIMES WE JUST FEEL LIKE, "WELL, WHAT AM I GONNA GET
OUT OF THIS?" AND I'LL NEVER FORGET IT,
AND I WASN'T EVEN ALL THAT FAMILIAR
WITH THESE SCRIPTURES I'M GONNA SCARE WITH YOU TODAY.
GOD SAID, "I AM YOUR PORTION."
SEE, GOD IS THE NUMBER-ONE FIRST THING THAT YOU GET
AND WE NEED TO BE REALLY GLAD ABOUT THAT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE A NEW BELIEVER AND GOD BEGINS
TO DO THINGS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN GET SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
"I HEARD FROM GOD."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "I PRAYED ABOUT THIS AND GOD DID IT, OH MY GOSH,
SO EXCITED."
OR YOU NEED AN ANSWER ABOUT SOMETHING AND YOU'RE PRAYING
ABOUT SOMETHING AND YOU GO TO CHURCH AND YOU CAN'T BELIEVE
IT, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PASTOR PREACHES ON.
YOU'RE LIKE, OH...
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I THINK ALL OF THAT KIND OF COMES
UNDER THAT CATEGORY OF COME TO HIM LIKE A LITTLE CHILD.
LITTLE CHILDREN GET REALLY EXCITED, AND THEY HAVE
NO PROBLEM SHOWING THOSE EXCITED EMOTIONS.
SO, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I SAID TO THE LORD, "GOD, WHY DON'T YOU
DO THE THINGS THAT YOU USED TO DO?
YOU KNOW, I DON'T SEEM TO GET THAT MANY GREAT REVELATIONS
AND SPECIAL WORDS FROM YOU.
AND WHY DON'T YOU DO THE THINGS YOU USED TO DO?"
AND HE SAID, "I STILL DO THE SAME THING I'VE ALWAYS DONE,
YOU'VE JUST GOTTEN USED TO IT."
COME ON, THINK ABOUT THAT, YEAH.
HOW MUCH HAVE WE JUST GOTTEN ACCUSTOMED TO GOD'S PRESENCE?
YOU KNOW, THIS FEELS REALLY NORMAL TO ME TODAY BECAUSE I'VE
BEEN IN THIS ATMOSPHERE SO MUCH.
I'VE LIVED IN THIS ATMOSPHERE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I REMEMBER
THE FIRST TIME I WALKED INTO A MEETING LIKE THIS,
I THOUGHT I HAD DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN.
I MEAN, I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE MUSIC.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THE LIFE IN THE PLACE.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY COULD TAKE ONE VERSE
OF SCRIPTURE AND PREACH ON IT FOR 45 MINUTES AND KEEP
MY INTEREST.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
NOW I KNOW NOW IT WAS THE PRESENCE OF GOD
AND THE ANOINTING.
BUT IT WAS LIKE ELECTRIFYING TO ME.
IT WAS AMAZING.
WELL, YOU SEE, I'D LIKE TO STAY AMAZED AT ALL THOSE THINGS
THAT GOD DOES BECAUSE I THINK WE SHOULD BE AMAZED BY GOD,
BUT I'M TRYING TO IMPRESS ON YOU THIS AFTERNOON WHAT A PRIVILEGE
IT IS JUST TO HAVE GOD IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT A PRIVILEGE
IT IS TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND SAY, "GOOD MORNING, LORD."
WHAT A GREAT PRIVILEGE IT IS TO HAVE A PROBLEM AND BE ABLE
TO GO TO GOD AND SAY, "I NEED YOU TO HELP ME WITH THIS,"
AND TO KNOW THAT HE LISTENS TO YOU.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR THINGS LIKE THIS
BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE GET SO FOCUSED ON WHAT WE
DON'T HAVE AND WE FORGET ABOUT WHAT WE DO HAVE.
GOD IS OUR REWARD.
HE IS OUR PORTION.
PSALMS 73:26, "MY FLESH AND MY HEART MAY FAIL,
BUT GOD IS THE ROCK AND THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART
AND MY PORTION FOREVER."
LAMENTATIONS 3:24, "'THE LORD IS MY PORTION AND MY INHERITANCE,'
SAYS MY SOUL; 'THEREFORE I HAVE HOPE IN HIM AND I WAIT
EXPECTANTLY FOR HIM.'"
WHAT DID I TELL YOU HOPE WAS?
IT'S WAITING WITH EXPECTATION FOR SOMETHING GOOD TO HAPPEN
IN YOUR LIFE AT ANY MOMENT.
NOBODY CAN TAKE YOUR HOPE.
PETER SAYS WHEN YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, YOU'RE BORN AGAIN
INTO AN EVERLIVING HOPE.
THE WORLD IS A MESS TODAY, BUT I HAVE HOPE IN GOD.
HE'S COMING BACK.
WHEN I LEAVE THIS EARTH, I'M GONNA SEE HIM FACE TO FACE.
I HAVE HOPE THAT WHEN I PRAY, GOD HEARS MY PRAYERS
AND HE ANSWERS MY PRAYERS.
THANK GOD WE HAVE HOPE.
HE IS OUR PORTION.
ONE MORE, PSALM 142:4 AND 5, "LOOK TO THE RIGHT
[THE POINT OF ATTACK] AND SEE; FOR THERE IS NO ONE
WHO HAS REGARD FOR ME, NOBODY [TO ACT IN MY FAVOR].
ESCAPE HAS FAILED ME AND I NOW HAVE NOWHERE TO RUN;
NO ONE CARES ABOUT MY LIFE."
HE'S IN PRETTY DESPERATE SHAPE, WASN'T HE?
"'BUT I CRIED OUT TO YOU, O LORD; I SAID, 'YOU ARE
MY REFUGE, YOU ARE MY PORTION IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING."
SO, DAVID TALKED ABOUT WHAT A MESS HE WAS IN, BUT THEN HE
SAID, "I'M REALLY NOT IN THAT BAD A CONDITION
BECAUSE I'VE GOT YOU, GOD.
YOU'RE MY PORTION."
IS IT WRONG TO EXPECT REWARD?
NO, IT'S NOT.
IT'S NOT WRONG AT ALL, AND I THINK SOME OF YOU
COULD ENCOURAGE YOURSELF TODAY BY JUST RAISING YOUR LEVEL
OF EXPECTATION.
SOMETIMES WE JUST GET UP EVERY DAY
AND GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS, AND GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS,
GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS AND WE KIND OF SORT OF HOPE MAYBE GOD
WILL DO SOMETHING FOR US, BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE
THAT HE WILL.
WE THROW UP THESE PRAYERS OF DESPERATION, BUT WHAT IF YOU
GET A NEW ATTITUDE?
WHAT IF YOU GET UP EVERY DAY SAYING, "TODAY IS MY DAY
OF REWARD, GOD IS GONNA SHOW UP IN MY LIFE TODAY.
GOD'S GONNA SPEAK TO ME.
TODAY, SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN LIFE.
TODAY MAY BE THE DAY THAT MY CHILD CHANGES.
TODAY MAY BE THE DAY THAT MY FRIEND GETS SAVED.
TODAY MAY BE THE DAY THAT MY BACK STOPS HURTING.
TODAY MAY BE THE DAY THAT I STOP HAVING MIGRAINE HEADACHES,"
OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU'VE DEALT WITH.
HOW ABOUT IF YOU SAY, "TODAY COULD BE THE DAY,"
ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DEVIL WHISPERS IN YOUR EAR,
"IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN."
WHEN HE SAYS THAT TO YOU, YOU NEED TO SAY,
"TODAY MAY BE THE DAY."
JOYCE: WELL, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD IS THE REWARDER
OF THOSE WHO DILIGENTLY AND EARNESTLY SEEK HIM OUT,
HEBREWS 11:6.
MANY OF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REWARDS OF SERVING GOD
AND GINGER'S HERE WITH ME TODAY.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS
AND, HOPEFULLY, GIVE YOU SOME REALLY GOOD ANSWERS.
WELL GINGER, WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE?
GINGER: WE HAVE SOME GREAT QUESTIONS, AND I THINK THESE ARE
REALLY THOUGHT PROVOKING.
THE FIRST ONE COMES FROM VICKI, AND SHE SAYS, "SOMETIMES I FEEL
LIKE I DON'T DESERVE ANY KIND OF REWARDS BECAUSE I'M A SINNER.
I KNOW JESUS TOOK ALL OF THAT TO THE CROSS AND I'M FORGIVEN,
I JUST THINK THAT I SHOULDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING ELSE.
ARE THOSE LIES FROM THE ENEMY?" JOYCE: YES, THEY ARE LIES
FROM THE ENEMY, AND SHE'S RIGHT, WE DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING,
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT GOOD BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT GOD
GIVES US IS STRICTLY A GIFT FROM HIM.
I WAS TALKING THE OTHER DAY TO SOME PEOPLE ABOUT--WHO'VE
BEEN IN MINISTRY, YOU KNOW, LIKE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME,
AND SOME OF THEM NOW ARE NEARING THE END OF THEIR LIFE AND THEY
HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH THEM.
AND YOU'RE ALMOST TEMPTED TO THINK,
WELL, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
I MEAN, SOMEBODY WHO SERVED GOD ALL THEIR LIFE,
THEY SHOULDN'T END UP LIKE THAT.
BUT GOD DOESN'T OWE US ANYTHING.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE FOR US TO SERVE
HIM, BUT HE DOES PROMISE REWARDS AND HE PROMISES IT IN MANY,
MANY, MANY PLACES IN THE BIBLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS
THAT YOU'RE NOT TO MUZZLE THE OX WHEN IT'S TREADING OUT
THE GRAIN.
AND SO, THE POINT THERE, THEY
WERE TALKING ABOUT FARM ANIMALS, WAS IF YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THEM
WORK ALL DAY, YOU GOTTA LET THEM EAT AS THEY GO ALONG.
AND SO, FOR US, THERE NEEDS TO BE PROMISE OF REWARD,
NOT THAT WE DESERVE IT, OR EARN IT, OR GOD OWES IT
TO US, BUT HE WANTS US TO EXPECT THAT WALKING WITH HIM
AND LIVING FOR HIM DOES BRING A REWARD IN OUR LIFE.
GINGER: THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE
THOSE REWARDS THAT WE THINK ABOUT ARE OFTEN QUITE DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND.
HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION FROM LEANNE, FROM CANADA.
SHE SAYS, "I THOUGHT OUR REWARD WOULD COME WHEN WE ARE
IN HEAVEN."
SO, SHE'S ASKING, IS THERE MORE OR IS THAT
THE WHOLE BALL OF WAX?
JOYCE: WELL, OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF GREAT
ETERNAL REWARDS AND REWARDS THAT, SOME OF THEM, WE WON'T GET
UNTIL WE GET TO HEAVEN.
BUT I REMEMBER ONE TIME IN FRUSTRATION SAYING
TO THE LORD, I'D BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD IN MINISTRY
AND JUST FELT LIKE I WAS JUST WORKING, WORKING, WORKING,
WORKING, AND I SAID, REALLY, A DUMB COMMENT.
BUT I SAID, "WHAT AM I GONNA GET OUT OF THIS?"
AND SO, WHEN I DID THIS TEACHING,
ONE OF THE FIRST SECTIONS WAS, "GOD IS OUR PORTION."
AND THERE'S SEVERAL SCRIPTURES THAT JUST SAY THAT WHEN HE'S
OUR PORTION, YOU KNOW, WALKING WITH GOD AND SERVING GOD,
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SERVING GOD, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
JUST HAVING A REVEREND IN FRONT OF YOUR NAME,
OR BEING ON A PLATFORM, OR BEING IN, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC MINISTRY.
EVERY PERSON HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE GOD
AND EVERY PERSON SHOULD SERVE GOD.
AND SO, I THINK THE REWARDS OF JOY, THE REWARDS OF PEACE,
THE REWARDS OF JUST KNOWING THAT GOD IS WITH US,
THEY ARE--THEY'RE MUCH BETTER REWARDS THAN JUST THINKING
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, GOD BLESSING YOU FINANCIALLY
OR SOME OTHER WAY.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE IS A HUGE REWARD
IF OUR LIFE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.
I KNOW I DIDN'T FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AND THAT IS IS THAT GOD
GIVES YOU FAVOR, AND WHEN GOD GIVES YOU FAVOR, THAT MEANS HE
CAN OPEN DOORS THAT NOBODY ELSE CAN OPEN, AND THANKFULLY,
HE CAN ALSO CLOSE DOORS THAT WE MIGHT TRY TO KICK OPEN, AND HE'S
GOOD ENOUGH TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T GET SOMETHING
THAT WE REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE.
SO, THERE'S A LOT OF REWARDS FOR SERVING GOD, AND THERE'S NO,
NOTHING WRONG AT ALL WITH EXPECTING THOSE REWARDS.
I THINK IT'S GOOD TO SAY, "I'M NOT SERVING YOU FOR A REWARD,
BUT IT'S YOUR PROMISE IN THE WORD, AND SO I CLAIM
THAT PROMISE AND I TRUST YOU TO GIVE ME WHATEVER YOU FEEL
IS BEST FOR ME AT THE RIGHT TIME."
GINGER: YEAH, GOOD.
HERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT THOSE REWARDS THAT I THINK
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE ASKED, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
I FIND THE RIGHT ONE.
HERE IT IS, "WHY IS GOD GIVING A REWARD OF FAVOR
TO SOMEONE ELSE AND NOT ME?
IS IT THAT I DON'T PLEASE GOD ENOUGH?"
JOYCE: WELL, MAYBE SHE'S NOT SEEING WHAT GOD IS DOING FOR HER
OR MAYBE SHE HAS SOME SPECIFIC THING IN MIND THAT SHE WANTS
AND SHE'S NOT GETTING THAT.
AND SHE'S SEEING SOMEBODY ELSE GET THAT, AND SO SHE'S WONDERING
WHY GOD IS NOT GIVING HER FAVOR.
BUT WE DON'T GET TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT GOD GIVES US
OR HOW HE SHOWS US FAVOR.
SO, I'M QUITE SURE THAT GOD'S FAVOR IS ON HER LIFE AND I THINK
SHE'S PROBABLY JUST LOOKING FOR THE WRONG THING.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR GREATEST PROBLEMS IS
UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.
GINGER: THAT IS SO TRUE.
JOYCE: GOD WANTS US TO EXPECT THINGS FROM HIM.
HOPE IS A POSITIVE EXPECTATION THAT SOMETHING GOOD IS GONNA
HAPPEN, BUT I DON'T GET TO SAY, "NOW GOD, THIS IS WHAT I WANT,
THIS IS WHAT I WANT, THIS IS WHAT I WANT,
AND THIS IS WHAT I WANT."
I LEAVE IT UP TO HIM TO SHOW HIS GOODNESS IN MY LIFE.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I CANNOT ASK FOR SPECIFIC THINGS.
I CAN, BUT I ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IF GOD DOES NOT
GIVE ME WHAT I ASK FOR, THEN IT'S REALLY BECAUSE HE'S GOT
SOMETHING BETTER IN MIND AND I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASK
FOR THAT YET.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES PEOPLE CAN MAKE, GINGER,
IS COMPARING THEIR PROBLEMS OR THEIR BLESSINGS
WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
GINGER: IT'S THAT AGE-OLD QUESTION, WHY ARE THE EVIL
PROSPERING AND I'M NOT?
JOYCE: EXACTLY.
GINGER: BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT COMPARISON'S STAYING AWAY
FROM THAT.
JOYCE: IT'S JUST NOT A WISE THING TO DO.
GINGER: AND IT'S HARD TO STAY AWAY FROM,
BUT IT WILL CHANGE THINGS.
IT WILL CHANGE SO MANY THINGS.
JOYCE: AND YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU DO HAVE,
NOT WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE.
GINGER: YEAH.
QUESTION FROM JAMIE, "DO WE STOP ASKING IF WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED?"
JOYCE: WELL, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS A REAL EASY QUESTION
TO ANSWER.
FIRST OF ALL, IF YOU'RE ASKING AND ASKING AND NOT RECEIVING,
YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO A DOUBLE CHECK OR WHETHER OR NOT
YOU'RE ASKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS JUST SOMETHING YOU WANT,
OR IS IT ACTUALLY SOMETHING
THAT GOD HAS PROMISED, YOU KNOW?
GINGER: WHAT ARE YOUR MOTIVES?
DOES IT LINE UP WITH GOD'S WORD.
JOYCE: WHAT ARE YOUR MOTIVES, YEAH.
AND, YOU KNOW, IN JAMES 4, IT SAYS, VERSE 2 SAYS, "YOU
HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT."
OR YOU DO ASK, BUT YOU ASK AMISS,
YOU INTEND TO USE WHAT YOU GET ON SELFISH MOTIVES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I COULD ASK GOD FOR MORE PROSPERITY, BUT DO
I JUST WANT MORE MONEY TO SPEND, OR DO I REALLY WANT TO BE A--BE
ABLE TO BE A GREATER BLESSING TO MORE PEOPLE?
YOU KNOW, I CAN ASK GOD FOR A BIGGER HOUSE, BUT IS THAT
REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW?
IT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE THAT GOD DOESN'T WANT ME TO HAVE A BIGGER
HOUSE, BUT MAYBE THAT'S NOT WHAT I SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON
RIGHT NOW.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ASK
FOR THE WRONG THINGS, AND I THINK THERE'S
SUCH A TEMPTATION TO ASK FOR MATERIAL THINGS WHEN WE
SHOULD BE ASKING FOR SPIRITUAL THINGS.
WHEN YOU STUDY THE PRAYERS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL, HE NEVER
ASKS FOR MATERIAL THINGS.
HE DIDN'T PRAY FOR THE CHURCH FOR THEIR PROBLEMS TO GO AWAY.
HE PRAYED THINGS LIKE THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ENDURE
WHATEVER CAME WITH GOOD TEMPER.
YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER HAD ANYBODY ASK ME TO PRAY THAT FOR THEM.
EVERYBODY ALWAYS WANTS, YOU KNOW, "PRAY THAT GOD
WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS," NOT, YOU KNOW,
NOT PRAY--NOBODY'S EVER SAID, "WILL YOU PRAY THAT WHILE I'M
GOING THROUGH THIS I'LL HAVE A REALLY GOOD ATTITUDE?"
SO, HERE AGAIN, IT ALL
COMES BACK TO TRUSTING GOD.
AND SO, I CAN'T TELL HER TO KEEP PRAYING OR NOT TO KEEP PRAYING.
I CAN TELL HER ALWAYS KEEP PRAYING, BUT MAYBE DOUBLE CHECK
YOUR MOTIVES AND MAKE SURE.
AND ALSO THERE'S JUST TIMING.
YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE GOD HASN'T GIVEN YOU THE ANSWER YET,
I MEAN, I PRAYED FOR MY DAD'S SALVATION
FOR 40 YEARS ON AND OFF BEFORE-- GINGER: THAT WAS A CASE
THOUGH THAT YOU KNEW TO KEEP-- JOYCE: I KNEW, YEAH, I KNEW
THAT THAT WAS A SITUATION WHERE I REALLY NEEDED TO KEEP PRAYING
BECAUSE THAT WAS IN THE WORD.
GINGER: WELL, LET'S CLOSE WITH THIS ONE,
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION FROM MICHELLE IN QUEBEC.
"AREN'T WE SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE MORE THAN WHAT THE ENEMY STOLE?
I'M STILL WAITING AT 48 YEARS OLD."
JOYCE: WELL, AND WAITING IS A GOOD THING BECAUSE THAT MEANS
THAT SHE HASN'T GIVEN UP.
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH GOD,
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T DO THAT.
I ALWAYS SAY THERE'S A BEGINNING, THERE'S AN END,
BUT THERE'S A MIDDLE, AND NOBODY GETS TO HOW LONG
THE MIDDLE'S GONNA BE.
IN MARK 11:23, 24, IT SAYS THAT WE ARE TO ASK,
AND BELIEVE THAT WE RECEIVE, AND WE WILL GET IT.
DOESN'T SAY HOW LONG.
IT SAYS YOU ASK, YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE,
AND YOU WILL GET IT.
SO HERE AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S ASKING FOR.
THE BIBLE DOES SAY THAT THE ENEMY WILL COME OUT
AGAINST US ONE WAY, FLEE BEFORE US SEVEN WAYS.
IT DOES SAY IN SEVERAL PLACES THAT GOD WILL GIVE US
A DOUBLE REWARD FOR WHAT'S BEEN STOLEN AND LOST IN THE PAST.
BUT I LIKE TO THINK TOO SOMETIMES THAT MAYBE GOD DOESN'T
GIVE ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS TAKEN FROM ME, BUT HE MAY GIVE ME
SOMETHING THAT'S SO MUCH BETTER.
GINGER: YOU'VE DEFINITELY SEEN THAT THIS YOUR LIFE.
JOYCE: OH, I'VE DEFINITELY SEEN THAT IN MY LIFE,
AND SO HERE AGAIN, YOU CAN'T--YOU GOTTA KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GOING FOR, AND ARE YOU EVEN REALLY ASKING
FOR THE THING THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST FOR YOU?
YOU KNOW, LIKE I LOST A LOT OF FRIENDS WHEN I
STEPPED OUT TO GO INTO MINISTRY BECAUSE BEING IN MINISTRY
AS A WOMAN WAS VERY UNPOPULAR, ESPECIALLY IN THE CIRCLES
THAT I WAS IN.
AND EVERYBODY JUST THOUGHT I WAS WRONG, AND IT WAS
A VERY HARD TIME FOR ME, AND I WENT THROUGH SOME LONELINESS.
BUT NOW GOD HAS GIVEN ME A LOT MORE FRIENDS
THAN WHAT I HAD THEN, BUT THEY'RE EVEN DIFFERENT KINDS
OF FRIENDS.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY ALWAYS PEOPLE THAT I SPEND ALL MY TIME
WITH, BUT THEY'RE BETTER FRIENDS THAN I HAD BECAUSE THOSE FRIENDS
WANTED TO CONTROL WHAT I DID.
THE FRIENDS I HAVE NOW LOVE ME ENOUGH TO WANT ME TO DO WHAT I
FEEL LIKE GOD WANTS ME TO DO.
SO, GOD IS GOOD.
HE IS A REWARDER, AND I THINK THOSE WERE GREAT QUESTIONS
AND I HOPE WE DID A GOOD JOB ANSWERING THEM.
GINGER: I THINK YOU DID. VERY HELPFUL, THANK YOU.
JOYCE: THANK YOU.
WELL, TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS
REALLY SPECIAL.
IT'S BEEN DOING VERY WELL.
IT'S THE "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND PSALMS
AND PROVERBS."
IT'S FROM THE "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND" BIBLE,
BUT IT'S JUST PSALMS AND PROVERBS.
AND ALONG WITH THAT IS A CD ABOUT
"GOD'S WORD FOR YOUR LIFE."
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO LOOK AT THE PROMISES OF GOD
AND IT'S CERTAINLY ALWAYS GOOD TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE
A REWARD COMING IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY.
ANNOUNCER: TODAY WE'RE OFFERING TWO RESOURCES
THAT WILL SHOW YOU HOW GOD'S WORD CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
IN THIS PSALMS AND PROVERBS EDITION OF THE
"BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND" BIBLE, JOYCE COMBINES HER INSIGHTS
WITH THE POETIC WISDOM OF PSALMS AND PROVERBS
TO HELP YOU APPLY SCRIPTURE IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING A "GOD'S WORD FOR YOUR LIFE" CD.
JOIN JOYCE AS SHE READS MORE THAN 100 BIBLE VERSES
ON 25 TOPICS THAT WILL COMFORT AND STRENGTHEN YOUR SOUL.
THIS PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT OF...OR MORE.
CALL US...OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: MAKE PLANS NOW TO SPEND YOUR FRIDAY
AND SATURDAY WITH JOYCE, THREE UNIQUE SESSIONS
OF INSPIRING TEACHING, HEARTFELT WORSHIP,
AND ENCOURAGING BEHIND-THE-SCENES MOMENTS
AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
COMING TO LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA MAY 4 AND 5 WITH WORSHIP
BY PHIL WICKHAM.
JOIN US, ALL SESSIONS ARE FREE AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE
OR CALL...
LORI: SOME OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE NEVER EVER HAD A BATH
IN THEIR LIFE.
AS WE'RE TAKING LAYERS OFF, WE'RE FINDING WOUNDS,
BURNS THAT WERE NEVER TREATED AND DISFIGURED FEET.
IT'S TOUGH TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY ENJOY IT.
THEY'VE NEVER HAD THIS BEFORE, SO WHAT IS BASIC TO US
IN THE UNITED STATES, THESE CHILDREN HAVE NEVER HAD,
SO IT'S HUMBLING, YES.
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.
For more infomation >> Вязание крючком. ПЛАТЬЕ. РАЗБОР УЗОРА+СХЕМА+ОПИСАНИЕ - Duration: 16:57. 
For more infomation >> VASTO - KiKiRiKi [VIDEOCLIP] - Duration: 2:26. 
For more infomation >> Why did God command the OT killing of women and children? - Duration: 9:18. 
For more infomation >> Gấu Trúc.Những chú Gấu Trúc dể thương nhất quả đất #2 - Duration: 11:53. 
For more infomation >> 主流是什麼可以吃嗎？（同志\男同志\LGBT) - Duration: 3:31. 
For more infomation >> Star Wars: WAS WÄRE WENN die Separatisten die Klonkriege gewonnen hätten? - Star Wars Basis WWW - Duration: 4:30. 
For more infomation >> Coconut Water for Athletic Performance vs Sports Drinks - Duration: 5:36. 
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét