ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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 EL PASO, TEXAS
MAY 5 AND 6 WITH WORSHIP BY CHRISTIE NOCKELS
AND REDMOND, WASHINGTON MAY 19 AND 20
WITH WORSHIP BY NATALIE GRANT.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE
OR CALL...
JOYCE: GOD DOESN'T HELP US BECAUSE WE MEMORIZE
ALL THE PSALMS.
HE HELPS US BECAUSE WE ARE HELPLESS AND WE PUT OUR FAITH IN
HIM AND SAY, "GOD, IF YOU DON'T HELP ME, I'M FINISHED."
[MUSIC]
ANNIE: JUST LEFT MY FIRST PIMP AND I WAS ON THIS
REBELLIOUS STREAK.
THIS ACTUALLY WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS,
MAYBE A MONTH AND A HALF AFTER MY PIMP HAD SHAVED ALL
MY HAIR OFF.
MY HAIR WAS DOWN TO LIKE MY BACK, DOWN TO HERE AT THE TIME.
HE SHAVED IT ALL OFF.
PART OF MY PUNISHMENT FOR LEAVING HIM.
GINGER: ANNIE SPENT MANY YEARS HIDDEN AMONGST THE LIGHTS
AND GLAMOR OF LAS VEGAS, HIDDEN MEANING YOU COULD SEE HER SMILE
AND HEAR HER LAUGHTER, BOTH MECHANISMS USED TO MASK
HER PAIN.
ANNIE: THAT FACE IS A LIAR.
INSIDE ME, I'M JUST BROKEN INSIDE, YOU KNOW?
EMPTY, DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO IN LOVE WITH MY PIMP, TRYING
TO HIDE WHAT I WAS FEELING, YOU KNOW?
GINGER: ANNIE SAYS FOR MANY WOMEN IN THE SEX INDUSTRY, PAIN
BEGINS LONG BEFORE PROSTITUTION.
SHE WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN MINNEAPOLIS
WHEN HER LIFE CHANGED.
GINGER: THERE WAS AN AGE THAT YOU STARTED EXPERIENCING
SEXUAL ABUSE.
YOU WERE ABUSED BY A WOMAN, ACTUALLY.
ANNIE: AND THIS WAS THE AGE.
GINGER: IT WAS HERE.
HOW DID THAT CHANGE THE WAY YOU THOUGHT ABOUT YOURSELF EVEN
AT THAT AGE?
'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
ANNIE: IT REALLY DOES A TRICK TO YOUR BRAIN BECAUSE YOU REALLY
BELIEVE YOU'RE EVIL.
I DON'T THINK I WAS EVER THE SAME AFTER THAT.
I BECAME VERY ASHAMED OF MYSELF AND JUST THIS GUILT-RIDDEN
PERSONALITY.
SO, I COVERED IT UP WITH A LOT OF SMILES.
GINGER: LUST FOR MONEY, DRUG USE, AND ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS
EVENTUALLY LED TO PROSTITUTION.
FEELINGS OF WORTHLESSNESS, SHAME, AND FEAR KEPT HER BOUND
TO THE LIFESTYLE.
ANNIE: I FELT COMPLETELY HOPELESS THAT I WOULD NEVER EVER
BE ABLE TO LIVE A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE.
GINGER: SO, FOR YOU, WHEN DID YOU STOP ACTING?
WHEN DID THAT MASK BEGIN TO CRUMBLE FOR YOU AND YOU SAW YOUR
LIFE CHANGING?
ANNIE: FOR ME, IT WAS AUGUST 2, 2003 AND THAT'S
THE NIGHT I OVERDOSED.
AND I KNEW I COULD NEVER BE---- GINGER: WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE
MOST TERRIBLE NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE AND YET YOU HAVE A SMILE ON YOUR
FACE WHEN YOU SHARE IT.
ANNIE: IT'S MY BIRTHDAY.
IT'S MY SURRENDER BIRTHDAY, THAT'S WHAT I CALL IT.
IT'S WHEN I FINALLY SAID, "OKAY GOD, I GOT THE WHITE FLAG UP.
I'M DONE."
GINGER: ANNIE SAYS SHE BECAME PASSIONATE ABOUT STUDYING
THE BIBLE AND WHEN SHE BEGAN WATCHING JOYCE'S TEACHINGS,
APPLYING HIS WORD TO HER LIFE BECAME CLEAR.
ANNIE: AND THOSE WORDS STARTED ENTERING MY HEART LIKE
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
YOU'VE DONE.
GOD CAN MAKE EVERYTHING NEW.
AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT?
HE LOVES ME.
HE'S NOT EMBARRASSED.
HE'S PROUD OF ME.
GINGER: GOD USED HIS WORD THROUGH JOYCE'S TEACHING TO
CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND NOW YOU'RE PART OF THAT MINISTRY
AS A PARTNER.
ANNIE: I AM.
GINGER: WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO DO THAT?
ANNIE: YOU CAN'T NOT PARTNER WITH SOMEONE THAT CHANGED
YOUR LIFE.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE THAT ARE DESPERATE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA
LEAVE THEIR HOUSE.
SOME OF THE MOST DESPERATE PEOPLE ARE HIDING LIKE I WAS AND
THEY NEED TO HEAR GOD'S WORD AND GOD'S WORD NEEDS TO BE ON EVERY
RADIO STATION, EVERY TELEVISION, EVERY INTERNET ACCESS,
EVERY APP ON A PHONE.
THAT VOICE, THE WORD OF GOD COMING THROUGH THAT WOMAN,
OPENED UP A BRAND-NEW LIFE FOR ME.
GINGER: ANNIE CREATED A MINISTRY PROVIDING A SAFE PLACE
FOR WOMEN TO LEAVE PROSTITUTION AND TO BEGIN A NEW LIFE
IN CHRIST.
SHE'S THEIR EXAMPLE THAT THROUGH CHRIST, THEY CAN REGAIN THE
FEELINGS OF INNOCENCE AND PURITY THAT WERE ONCE STOLEN.
ANNIE: THIS ACTUALLY IS A PICTURE OF ME PROBABLY ABOUT
A YEAR AFTER I COMPLETELY SURRENDERED TO CHRIST.
GINGER: YOUR EYES ARE BRIGHT, YOUR SMILE'S BIG.
YOU JUST YOU SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE EYES.
ANNIE: I WANNA TAKE THIS PICTURE AND LOOK AT THOSE EYES
AND SEE IF THAT LITTLE GIRL IS STILL THERE, YUP.
GINGER: ALL THE GOOD STUFF-- ANNIE: YEAH, IT'S STILL
THERE.
GINGER: ALL THAT GOD PUT IN THERE, YEAH.
ANNIE: THE EYES ARE STILL HAPPY.
JOYCE: I'M DOING A SERIES CALLED,
"ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE."
AND YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, KINDA
FLUFFY, BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
A VERY DIFFICULT TIME REALLY ENJOYING THEIR LIFE.
HOW MANY OF YOU COULD USE ENJOYING YOURS A WHOLE LOT MORE
THAN WHAT YOU DO?
AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE WAIT FOR THE
CONDITIONS IN OUR LIFE TO BECOME WHAT WE THINK WOULD BE
ENJOYABLE.
IF I HAD MORE MONEY, I'D ENJOY MY LIFE.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS KID, I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE.
IF MY MARRIAGE WAS BETTER, I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE.
IF I HAD A DIFFERENT JOB, I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THIS HOUSEWORK TO DO ALL THE TIME,
I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE.
IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO MOW THE GRASS TODAY,
I COULD ENJOY MY LIFE.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE SHOULD NOT PUT OFF ANOTHER
MOMENT ENJOYING OUR LIVES.
I SAID DO NOT PUT IT OFF ONE MORE MOMENT
AND DON'T WAIT FOR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO DICTATE TO
YOU THAT YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR LIFE.
YOU MAKE A DECISION TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE REGARDLESS OF YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL CHANGE.
THEY WILL.
IT'LL COME TO AN END.
AND I DON'T WANNA BE DEPRESSING, BUT SOMETHING ELSE WILL
FOLLOW IT.
NOW, WE ALL HAVE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT THAT'S
JUST KIND OF THE WAY IT IS.
YOU GO THROUGH SOMETHING, IT GETS OVER WITH, YOU SETTLE DOWN,
EVERYTHING'S GOOD FOR A LITTLE PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN HERE
COMES SOMETHING ELSE.
AND THEN YOU GET THROUGH THAT, AND THEN EVERYTHING'S GOOD FOR
A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN, BOY, MAYBE YOU HAVE TWO, THREE,
FOUR THINGS COME AT ONCE.
THEN YOU SETTLE DOWN AND THE TRUTH IS WE JUST NEED TO BELIEVE
AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO THROUGH
CHRIST WHO IS OUR STRENGTH.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE BIBLE SAYS IN ROMANS 8 THAT WE ARE MORE THAN
CONQUERORS.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR?
I BELIEVE THAT IT MEANS THAT YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT THE VICTORY
BEFORE YOU EVER GET THE PROBLEM.
SO, THEREFORE WE DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF PROBLEMS.
"OH NO, NOT AGAIN."
WELL, I MEAN, WHO LIKES IT?
I DON'T LIKE IT.
NOBODY LIKES IT.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IT IS INEVITABLE.
NO LIFE IS GONNA BE PERFECT AND WITHOUT SOME TROUBLES, SOME
TRIALS, AND SOME TRIBULATIONS.
IF WE HAD PERFECT LIVES, WE WOULD NOT NEED ANY FAITH.
FAITH IS NOT TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEVER HAVE
A PROBLEM.
FAITH IS TO ENABLE US TO STAND UP TO THINGS AND TO KNOW THAT
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, AND THAT BECAUSE HE'S
WITH US, WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO.
SO, I'M ONLY SAYING ALL THAT TO GET YOU TO REALIZE THAT IF
YOU'RE GONNA WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE NO PROBLEMS TO ENJOY LIFE, THEN
I GUESS YOU'LL JUST STILL BE WAITING WHEN JESUS COMES TO GET
YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPEN.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, EVERY STORM IS NOT IN THE FORECAST, AMEN?
SOMETIMES IT--YOU KNOW, THE WEATHERMAN MAY EVEN SAY,
"IT'S GONNA BE SUNNY TODAY."
YOU MAY BE FOLLOWING MY ADVICE AND GET UP AND SAY, "SOMETHING
GOOD IS GONNA HAPPEN TO ME TODAY," AND BOY, IT JUST TURNS
OUT TO BE A BUMMER OF A DAY.
WELL, IF YOU'RE WISE, YOU'LL GET UP THE NEXT DAY AND SAY,
"SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME TODAY," BECAUSE
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP.
SO, I'M NOT TRYING TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO ENJOY HAVING
A VACATION, OR GOING TO A PARTY, OR GETTING A NEW OUTFIT,
OR THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY.
NOT THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE WHERE I'M JUST TRYING TO ENDURE
EVERYTHING ELSE SO I CAN GET TO THE FEW THINGS IN LIFE THAT
I LIKE.
BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT MIRACLE OF GOD WHEN WE CAN TAKE
ORDINARY, EVERYDAY, SOMETIMES HUMDRUM LIFE AND ENJOY IT,
AND JUST SAY, "I AM GONNA ENJOY THIS.
I'M GONNA ENJOY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY,
SATURDAY, SUNDAY, BACK TO MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY,
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY."
HOW MANY OF YOU THINK THAT IF YOU MADE YOUR MIND UP TO IT, YOU
COULD JUST EVEN ENJOY CLEANING YOUR HOUSE, OR CUTTING YOUR
GRASS, OR DRIVING IN TRAFFIC?
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW IT'S AN ATTITUDE?
OUR JOY IS NOT AROUND US, IT'S IN US.
IT'S HOW WE DECIDE TO LOOK AT THINGS.
SO, THREE THINGS WE WANT YOU TO ENJOY EVERYDAY LIFE.
I WANNA TEACH YOU TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE, STOP WANTING
SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE.
ENJOY YOUR LIFE, AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO DO
THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO THAT ARE JUST
COMMON, ORDINARY, EVERYDAY THINGS THAT DON'T SEEM AT ALL
SPIRITUAL TO YOU, AND DO THEM AS A SERVICE TO GOD.
IN OTHER WORDS, GOD, I'M GOING TO DO MY GROCERY SHOPPING WITH
YOU, FOR YOUR HONOR AND YOUR GLORY.
I'M GONNA GO OUT WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN
SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE IF YOU GET YOUR MIND OFF OF HOW MISERABLE
YOU ARE ABOUT GOING AND JUST DECIDE YOU'RE GONNA GO WITH GOD
AND SEE WHAT HE DOES.
I THINK IF YOU HANG OUT WITH GOD ALL DAY, EVERY SINGLE THING THAT
YOU DO COULD TURN OUT TO BE AN ADVENTURE.
I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO RECEIVE
FROM GOD.
BECAUSE WHAT WE USUALLY DO IS SPEND OUR TIME TRYING TO GET
THINGS.
I'M GONNA GET MY HEALING.
I'M GONNA GET SAVED.
I'M GONNA GET MY BREAKTHROUGH.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE THAT EVEN REALLY, I DON'T KNOW,
EVEN USES THAT WORD.
BUT THE WORD "RECEIVE" IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND THE WORD
"RECEIVE" MEANS TO ACT LIKE A RECEPTACLE AND JUST TAKE IN
WHAT'S BEING OFFERED.
AHH.
DON'T YOU FEEL THE REST OF THAT ALREADY?
BUT "GET" MEANS TO OBTAIN BY STRUGGLE AND EFFORT.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MUST DO IF WE WANT TO ENJOY OUR
LIFE--NOW LISTEN TO ME--IS STOP TRYING TO MAKE HAPPEN WHAT
EITHER ONLY GOD CAN MAKE HAPPEN OR WHAT HE HAS IN FACT ALREADY
MADE HAPPEN, AND ALL WE NEED TO DO IS BELIEVE IT AND RECEIVE IT
BY FAITH.
I THINK WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME TRYING TO GET THINGS WE'VE
ALREADY GOT, AND I'M GONNA EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE
TO YOU LATER.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE ARE TO ACCEPT, AND WELCOME, AND RECEIVE
THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A LITTLE CHILD, OTHERWISE WE WILL IN
NO WISE ENTER IN.
"TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, WHOEVER DOES NOT ACCEPT AND RECEIVE."
EVERYBODY SAY, "RECEIVE."
AUDIENCE: RECEIVE.
JOYCE: "AND WELCOME THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A LITTLE
CHILD SHALL NOT IN ANY WAY ENTER INTO IT AT ALL."
SO, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A LITTLE EXAMPLE AND IT WILL HELP YOU
UNDERSTAND.
KIDS, CAN YOU COME ON OUT PLEASE?
I GOT ME SOME HELPERS TONIGHT.
OH, AREN'T THEY SWEET?
LET'S SEE.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU, SO WHERE SHOULD I HAVE
YOU STAND?
I GUESS WE'LL JUST GO RIGHT OVER HERE, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT.
DO YOU GUYS LIKE MONEY?
DO YOU? YOU LIKE MONEY?
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF I JUST GAVE YOU SOME MONEY?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, YOU GET IT?
HE SAYS, "I'LL TAKE IT."
BOY, GOD WISHES WE WERE THAT WAY.
YOU MEAN, YOU THINK I WOULD JUST GIVE YOU MONEY FOR NO REASON?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHAT IF I JUST GAVE IT TO YOU AND SAID YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO
ANYTHING FOR IT EXCEPT JUST BELIEVE I'M GONNA GIVE IT
TO YOU?
THERE'S SOME FOR YOU.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW 'BOUT YOU?
OOH, OH MY GOSH, DON'T LET ANYBODY ELSE GET IT.
HOW 'BOUT YOU?
OH, YOU'RE A SWEET RECEIVER.
THERE, HOW 'BOUT THAT.
MAYBE I'LL HAVE SOME LEFT AND SOMEBODY WILL GET SOME MORE.
I DON'T KNOW.
FEMALE: THANK YOU.
JOYCE: OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
ONE OUT OF THE FIVE SO FAR SAID THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, YOU'RE A GOOD LOOKING GUY.
UH OH, I GOT--HOW 'BOUT YOU.
FEMALE: THANK YOU.
JOYCE: YOU'RE SO SWEET.
I GOT A LITTLE BIT LEFT.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY.
SHOULD I TEAR 'EM IN HALF AND START GIVING 'EM AWAY?
I DON'T KNOW.
WHO REALLY WANTS TO HAVE MORE?
ALL RIGHT, THERE YOU GO.
THERE YOU GO, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO GIVE IT
TO EVERYBODY.
YOU'RE THE LITTLEST, THERE YOU ARE.
YOU'RE THE BIGGEST, THERE YOU ARE.
ALL RIGHT, GIVE 'EM A CLAP, THOUGH.
THANK YOU, YOU CAN GO BACK.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THAT THEY RECEIVED WHAT I
OFFERED WITHOUT QUESTIONS.
THEY DIDN'T TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY I WOULD GIVE IT TO THEM.
THEY DIDN'T SAY, "OH NO, NO, NO, NO, I DON'T DESERVE THAT."
THEY DIDN'T EVEN DO WHAT MOST ADULTS DO.
DO YOU KNOW, MOST ADULTS, WHEN YOU TRY TO BLESS 'EM, EVEN
CHRISTIANS, THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS, "OH NO, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO DO THAT."
STOP THAT!
IF YOU'RE GONNA PRAY FOR GOD TO BLESS YOU, WHEN SOMEBODY TRIES
TO BLESS YOU, JUST SAY, "THAT IS AWESOME!
PRAISE GOD, THANK YOU!"
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I DON'T LIKE THAT, "OH NO, NO, NO."
YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU'RE JUST GONNA MAKE SOMEBODY TRY TO PUSH IT OFF
ON YOU.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT GOD HAS FOR US, SO MANY THINGS
THAT HE WANTS TO DO FOR US, AND WE KEEP TRYING TO EARN AND
DESERVE WHAT GOD IS GIVING US FREELY, AND WE NEED TO STOP IT.
NOW, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK, BUT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO AVOID
WORKS.
YOU SAY, "HUH?
THAT'S A BRAIN TWISTER."
JESUS SAID, "WE MUST WORK THE WORKS OF HIM WHO SENT ME."
SO HE SAID WE'RE GONNA WORK, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE OUR WORKS,
IT'S GONNA BE HIS WORKS.
OUR WORKS--NOW LISTEN.
I GOT A BUNCH OF SCRIPTURE TONIGHT.
I REALLY WANT YOU TO GET THIS.
OUR WORKS, THE BIBLE CALLS WORKS OF THE FLESH, AND IT'S OUR
ENERGY TRYING TO BUY FROM GOD WHAT HE HAS ALREADY GIVEN FREELY
OR WANTS TO GIVE US FREELY.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T--YOU CAN NEVER EARN FORGIVENESS.
YOU CANNOT DESERVE FORGIVENESS, YOU CANNOT EARN FORGIVENESS,
YOU CANNOT BUY FORGIVENESS WITH HOURS OF PRAYER OR HOURS OF
BIBLE READING.
THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT FORGIVENESS WHEN
YOU SIN IS ASK FOR IT, RECEIVE IT, AND BE AMAZED.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
ASK FOR IT, RECEIVE IT, AND BE AMAZED.
AND I THINK IF WE WOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT JUST RECEIVING THE
GOODNESS OF GOD, WE WOULD LIVE MORE AMAZED, AND I THINK WE
WOULD BE A LOT HAPPIER THAN WHAT WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
ANYBODY UNDERSTANDING THIS?
ALL RIGHT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: RECEIVE LIKE THESE LITTLE KIDS DID TONIGHT.
I LIKE THAT LITTLE BOY.
I SAID, "WHO WANTS SOME MONEY?" AND HE WAS LIKE, "I'LL TAKE IT.
I'LL TAKE IT."
I JUST TOLD GOD, "YOU KNOW, THE WORD SAYS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR
SOMEBODY TO BLESS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, HERE I AM.
YOO HOO!
HERE I AM."
YOU SAY, "WELL, THAT JUST DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT.
YOU DON'T DESERVE THAT."
WELL, THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT EXCITING IS THAT WE DON'T
DESERVE IT.
GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S DESERVING.
HE'S LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS THEY'RE NOT DESERVING,
BUT BY FAITH WILL RECEIVE ANYWAY AND GLORIFY GOD FOR EVERYTHING
HE DOES IN THEIR LIVES.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S WHY IT'S SO AMAZING WHEN YOU TAKE SOMEBODY
THAT HAS LIVED SUCH AN AWFUL, TERRIBLE, RIDICULOUSLY SINFUL
LIFE, TO WATCH THEM RECEIVE THE FORGIVENESS AND THE MERCY OF GOD
AND BE CHANGED INTO A NEW CREATURE WHO CAN LET GO
OF THE PAST AND PRESS ON TO THE GOOD THINGS THAT GOD HAS.
HOW COULD YOU BE ANYTHING BUT EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND HOW COULD
WE NOT WANT TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US?
CHILDREN HAVE NO PROBLEM RECEIVING WHAT THEY'VE NOT
DESERVED OR EARNED.
TO RECEIVE, ONCE AGAIN, MEANS TO ACT AS A RECEPTACLE OR
A CONTAINER AND TO JUST PERMIT TO ENTER OR TO RECEIVE
WHATEVER IS BEING OFFERED.
BUT TO GET MEANS TO COME INTO POSSESSION OF OR TO OBTAIN, TO
GO AFTER AND OBTAIN, TO TAKE BY FORCE, TO SEIZE, TO REQUIRE
AS A RESULT OF ACTION OR EFFORT.
NOW, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT, IN EPHESIANS 2:8-9--WE WANNA LOOK
AT THIS.
IT'S OUR CLASSIC SCRIPTURES ABOUT SALVATION.
"FOR IT IS BY GRACE (GOD'S UNMERITED FAVOR) THAT YOU ARE
SAVED (DELIVERED FROM JUDGMENT AND MADE A PARTAKER OF CHRIST'S
SALVATION) THROUGH [YOUR] FAITH.
AND THIS [SALVATION] IS NOT OF YOURSELVES [OF YOUR OWN DOING,
IT CAME NOT THROUGH YOUR OWN STRIVING], BUT IT IS THE GIFT OF
GOD; NOT BECAUSE OF WORKS [NOT THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW'S
DEMANDS], LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.
[IT IS NOT THE RESULT OF WHAT ANYONE CAN POSSIBLY DO]."
IT IS NOT THE RESULT OF WHAT ANYONE CAN POSSIBLY DO.
NO MATTER HOW MANY GOOD WORKS WE DID, WE COULD NEVER MAKE UP
FOR OUR SIN.
ONLY CHRIST COULD DO THAT, AND HE HAS ALREADY IN FACT
DONE THAT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THIS IS WHY THE GOSPEL IS SUCH GOOD NEWS, AND TO BE
HONEST, IT REALLY MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL THAT THERE'S SO MANY
UNHAPPY CHRISTIANS.
I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HELL.
THAT OUGHTA BE ENOUGH TO KEEP US HAPPY FOR AWHILE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK TODAY ABOUT THE CONDITIONS
IN THE WORLD, AND SURELY WE'RE LIVING IN THE END TIMES,
AND JESUS IS COMING SOON.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT DOESN'T FRIGHTEN ME AT ALL.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'M READY TODAY IF HE WANTS TO TAKE ME, AND THAT'S
A GOOD FEELING.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FULLNESS AND THE COMPLETION
OF ALL THAT GOD HAS FOR ME.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR IF YOU KNOW THAT
YOU'RE BORN AGAIN.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, THEN WE WOULD
LOVE TO HELP YOU TONIGHT.
AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING BY TELEVISION AND YOU DON'T HAVE
THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION, AND YOU WANT TO RECEIVE CHRIST AS
YOUR SAVIOR, CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW AND
SOMEBODY AT MY OFFICE WILL PRAY WITH YOU AND LEAD YOU BY FAITH
INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO REALLY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE CONDITION YOU
WERE IN WHEN YOU WERE SAVED, YOU BASICALLY CAME TO THE END OF
YOURSELF, DIDN'T YOU?
IT'S LIKE, "I AM SO MISERABLE THAT I REALLY JUST DON'T THINK I
COULD BE MISERABLE ANYMORE.
I CAN'T HELP MYSELF.
GOD, TAKE ME, GOD, JUST THE WAY I AM.
SAVE ME, JESUS.
HELP ME."
OKAY, NOW WATCH THAT.
YOU GET THAT.
HOW MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT SURRENDER, THAT, "I'M DONE"?
[LAUGHING]
FINISHED!
IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WITH ME, TAKE ME AND DO IT, 'CAUSE I'M
LOST WITH YOU.
BUT DO YOU KNOW THE BIBLE SAYS IN COLOSSIANS 2:6 THAT THE SAME
WAY THAT YOU WERE SAVED, THAT'S THE SAME WAY YOU HAVE TO LEARN
HOW TO LIVE?
OH, THAT IS SO GOOD.
LET'S LOOK AT IT, COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 2, VERSE 6.
THIS WAS REALLY EYE-OPENING TO ME WHEN I SAW THIS MANY
YEARS AGO.
IT WAS LIKE, "WOW."
THE SAME ONE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU IS THE ONE THAT WILL
FINISH IT.
AND HE WILL FINISH IT THE SAME WAY THAT HE STARTED IT, AS YOU
PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIM AND HE POURS HIS GRACE INTO YOU.
EVERYTHING.
"AS YOU HAVE THEREFORE RECEIVED CHRIST, [EVEN] JESUS THE LORD,
[SO] WALK (AND REGULATE YOUR LIVES AND CONDUCT YOURSELVES)
IN UNITY WITH AND CONFORMITY TO HIM."
AS YOU HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS, SO LIVE YOUR LIFE
AND WALK THE SAME WAY THAT YOU RECEIVED HIM.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET UP TODAY AND BE ALL
STRESSED OUT, AND GO THROUGH THE DAY FRUSTRATED AND STRUGGLING
BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING, YOU'RE TRYING, YOU'RE TRYING,
YOU'RE TRYING.
I'M TRYING TO PRAY MORE.
I'M TRYING TO READ MORE.
I'M TRYING. I'M TRYING TO BE GOOD.
I'M TRYING TO MAKE MY CONFESSIONS.
I'M TRYING.
OH MY GOSH, I FORGOT TO SAY, "SOMETHING GOOD'S GONNA HAPPEN
TO ME TODAY."
OH, LORD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OH YEAH, WE'RE ALWAYS GIVING YOU GUYS SOMETHING NEW
TO DO, YOU KNOW?
TO BE HONEST, YOU JUST-- YOU CAN'T REMEMBER IT ALL.
SO, YOU GET UP EVERY DAY AND YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN, AND YOU
TRUST GOD TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST.
YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN HIM AND YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SALVATION IS
NOT EARNED BY YOUR CONFESSION, IT'S NOT EARNED BY HOW MUCH YOU
READ THE BIBLE, IT'S NOT EARNED BY HOW MANY HOURS YOU PRAY,
OR HOW MUCH SCRIPTURE YOU'VE GOT MEMORIZED.
YOU CAN READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH TEN TIMES EVERY YEAR AND THAT'S
NOT GONNA EARN YOU SALVATION OR GOD'S HELP.
GOD DOESN'T HELP US BECAUSE WE MEMORIZE ALL THE PSALMS.
HE HELPS US BECAUSE WE ARE HELPLESS AND WE PUT OUR FAITH IN
HIM AND SAY, "GOD, IF YOU DON'T HELP ME, I'M FINISHED."
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE BUILDING TONIGHT THAT'S TIRED OF TRYING
TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN THAT YOU JUST CANNOT MAKE HAPPEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ANYBODY HERE TRYING TO CHANGE YOUR KIDS?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ANYBODY TRYING TO CHANGE YOURSELF?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: OH MY GOSH.
WHATEVER YOUR PROJECT IS, WHOEVER YOU'VE GOT ON THE
POTTER'S WHEEL, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO HOME, AND LET 'EM OFF,
AND GIVE 'EM A LITTLE JOY?
AND INSTEAD, JUST PRAY AND LET GOD DO WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO.
BECAUSE HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN TRANSFORM AND CHANGE A LIFE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, IF WE REALLY WANNA ENJOY OUR LIVES, WE NEED
TO KNOW HOW TO BELIEVE GOD'S PROMISES AND TO RECEIVE ALL
THAT HE HAS FOR US.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I SPENT A LOT OF YEARS JUST
RECEIVING THE LIES OF SATAN BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
ANY BETTER.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL NOW THAT WILL I'VE LEARNED THAT HE IS
A LIAR, THAT I CAN RESIST HIM, AND TO INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT
I USED TO DO, I CAN NOW RECEIVE THE GOODNESS OF GOD INTO
MY LIFE AND YOU CAN TOO.
NOW TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU COUPLE OF RESOURCES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE WORD OF GOD, THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT
TO YOU THAN THE WORD OF GOD.
JESUS IS THE WORD MADE FLESH SO REALLY WHEN WE SPEND TIME IN
THE WORD, WE'RE SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS.
SO TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU A BOOK THAT I'VE WRITTEN CALLED
"20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER" AND SOME CDS CALLED,
"SIMPLE, PRACTICAL CHANGES WITH REAL RESULTS."
NOW, WHO WOULD NOT WANT THAT?
I THINK ANYBODY WHO'S GOT A BAD SITUATION OR YOU'RE HAVING
A LOUSY DAY, YOU'D LOVE SOMEBODY TO JUST SAY, "HERE'S
SOMETHING SIMPLE, PRACTICAL, IT'S DOABLE, AND THIS IS
GONNA CHANGE YOUR LIFE."
SO, I THINK THAT THIS--THESE RESOURCES ARE GONNA REALLY BE
HELPFUL TO YOU AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET ALL
THE INFORMATION YOU NEED AND ORDER YOUR COPY RIGHT AWAY.
ANNOUNCER: ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10,
HOW WOULD YOU RATE TODAY?
WELL, WHETHER YOU'RE HAVING A GOOD DAY OR NOT, JOYCE MEYER
WANTS TO TEACH YOU 20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER, PRACTICAL
ADVICE THAT YOU CAN APPLY RIGHT NOW TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE NO
MATTER HOW YOUR DAY IS GOING.
PICK IT UP FOR YOU OR TO BRIGHTEN SOMEONE ELSE'S DAY.
THEN, WITH GOD'S HELP, TURN BAD DAYS INTO GOOD AND GOOD DAYS
INTO GREAT.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING JOYCE'S NEW BOOK "20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY
DAY BETTER," PLUS HER CD SERIES, "SIMPLE, PRACTICAL CHANGES
WITH REAL RESULTS" FOR YOUR GIFT OF...OR MORE.
CONTACT US NOW...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE TRUST IS DIFFICULT TO GAIN
AND EASILY BROKEN YET WE ALL NEED A SAFE PLACE WHERE WE CAN
TRUST FEARLESSLY.
COME, CONNECT WITH THE ONE WHO WON'T LET YOU DOWN, WHOSE LOVE
FOR YOU NEVER EVER FAILS AT THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY
LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE FEATURING JOYCE MEYER
AND HER GUESTS JOEL OSTEEN, JOHN GRAY, MICHAEL W. SMITH,
CHRIS TOMLIN, CECE WINANS, RUTH GRAHAM, AND DAVE MEYER.
JOYCE: YOU WANNA REALLY MAKE THE DEVIL MAD?
TRUST GOD AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE WHILE GOD IS SOLVING YOUR
PROBLEM.
JOEL: SO, QUIT TRYING TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT AND SAY, "GOD,
I'M GONNA TAKE THE LIMITS OFF OF YOU.
I KNOW ONE TOUCH OF YOUR FAVOR CAN GET ME TO WHERE I'M SUPPOSED
TO BE."
ANNOUNCER: EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS MAY 31 SO REGISTER TODAY,
THE 2017 LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE.
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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