ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM
IS PAID FOR BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
ANNOUNCER: SO, THE BIBLE IS GOD'S MANUAL TO HELP US NAVIGATE
LIFE, BUT LIFE OFTEN GETS IN THE WAY OF KNOWING THE BIBLE,
FINDING THE TIME, KNOWING WHERE TO BEGIN, AND DISCOVERING
WHAT THIS ALL MEANS TO YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND AND WE'D LIKE TO HELP.
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/STUDY, YOU'LL FIND FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU
GET MORE OUT OF THE BIBLE, WHETHER YOU'RE A NEW CHRISTIAN
OR HAVE BEEN WALKING WITH CHRIST FOR YEARS.
SO, JUMP IN TODAY, THE WORD: IT'S FREE, IT'S MOBILE,
AND IT'S TAILORED FOR YOU AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, STARING AT WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU
ALL THE TIME CAN DISTRACT YOU FROM YOUR WALK WITH GOD.
GOD KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GONNA DO WRONG BEFORE YOU EVER GOT
INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND HE'S NOT AT ALL SHOCKED
OR SURPRISED.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, HE ALREADY KNOWS ALL THE THINGS I'M GONNA
DO WRONG THAT I HAVEN'T EVEN DONE WRONG YET
AND HE STILL LOVES US.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT NOW, I'M GETTING READY TO READ VERSE 10,
BUT I WANNA DO A LITTLE SYNOPSIS FIRST.
PAUL WROTE THIS LETTER.
HE'S COMING TO THE END OF IT.
WE'VE ONLY GOT 14 VERSES LEFT AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE STUDIED
THE ENTIRE BOOK OF EPHESIANS WITH ME SINCE THURSDAY NIGHT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND BOY, WE HAVE HAD SO MANY INSTRUCTIONS
IN THIS BOOK.
BY NOW, A PERSON COULD JUST BE TOTALLY EXHAUSTED.
IT'S A GOOD THING WE GOT TO GET SOME SLEEP AT NIGHT, RIGHT?
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO BEHAVE RIGHT,
TO TALK RIGHT, TO THINK RIGHT, TO KNOW WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST,
TO UNDERSTAND OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
I MEAN, WE'VE LEARNED SO MANY THINGS,
AND I LOVE THIS PART.
HERE'S WHAT PAUL SAYS. THIS IS SO GOOD.
"IN CONCLUSION, BE STRONG IN THE LORD."
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO ANY OF THIS IF YOU DON'T
STAY STRONG IN THE LORD.
"[BE EMPOWERED THROUGH YOUR UNION WITH HIM];
DRAW YOUR STRENGTH FROM HIM [THAT STRENGTH
WHICH HIS BOUNDLESS MIGHT PROVIDES]."
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IT IS SO SUPER FOOLISH
TO GET OUT OF BED AND JUST TRY TO BEHAVE.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I CAN LAY IN BED AND MAKE ALL MY PLANS FOR HOLINESS,
AND THEY LAST UNTIL I PUT MY FEET ON THE FLOOR
AND THAT'S THE END OF IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, EVEN THOUGH YOUR HEART IS RIGHT OR MY HEART
IS RIGHT, YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A BOATLOAD OF HELP FROM GOD
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, I'M SURE SOMETIMES I SOUND LIKE I'VE GOT
SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME.
THERE'S NO TELLING HOW MANY TIMES EVERYDAY I SAY,
"GOD, HELP ME.
HELP ME, GOD. HELP ME."
AND I'M NOT EVEN REAL SURE WHAT I NEED HELP WITH
AT THAT MOMENT.
IT COULD BE PUTTING MY CONTACT LENS IN, IT COULD BE
COMBING MY HAIR, IT COULD BE GETTING UP TO PREACH.
ALL I KNOW IS I AM USELESS
WITHOUT HIM, I CAN DO NOTHING APART FROM HIM, AND I NEED GOD'S
HELP IN EVERYTHING THAT I DO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
NOW, YOU SEE, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM ENTERING
INTO A REAL FULL-ON RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, BECAUSE THEY DON'T
WANT TO DEPEND ON GOD THAT MUCH.
THEY WANNA HAVE ENOUGH OF GOD TO STAY OUT OF HELL.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT NOT ENOUGH TO WALK IN VICTORY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND IF YOU WANT TO REALLY HAVE THE KIND
OF RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOU TO HAVE,
THEN YOU'VE GOT TO LET HIM INTO EVERY ROOM IN YOUR LIFE.
NO BLOCKED OFF ROOMS.
I MEAN, HE GETS TO GET IN EVERYTHING.
HE GETS IN YOUR THOUGHTS, HE GETS IN YOUR WORDS,
HE GETS IN YOUR SEX LIFE, HE GETS IN HOW YOU DRESS,
HE GETS IN YOUR MONEY, HE GETS IN YOUR CHOICES,
HE GETS IN YOUR FRIENDS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT I TELL YOU, THE TRADE OFF IS AMAZING.
YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE HARD IN THE BEGINNING, BUT I'LL TELL
YOU, IT'S NOT REALLY THAT HARD ANYMORE.
ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE JUST NOT GONNA BE HAPPY IF YOU
DON'T DO WHAT GOD TELLS YOU TO, THAT THINGS ARE JUST NOT GONNA
WORK OUT RIGHT IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT GOD TELLS YOU TO.
HAS ANYBODY LEARNED THAT YET?
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT GOD TELLS
YOU TO DO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
TO BE HONEST, I'M PRETTY GOOD AT READING PEOPLE AT THIS POINT,
AND I CAN SEE, I CAN SEE, I STILL GOT SOME PEOPLE
OUT THERE, YOU GOT--MAN, YOU GOT YOUR ARMS CROSSED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND YOU HAVE DUG IN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, I GET IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT GOD HAS TAUGHT ME OVER THE YEARS,
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE JUST LITTLE THINGS.
HE USED LITTLE EXAMPLES TO TEACH ME HOW TO DEPEND ON HIM
IN EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I WAS BOWLING
AND WASN'T BOWLING VERY GOOD, AND IT WAS AFTER I HAD REALLY
GOTTEN A MORE SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
AND HE WAS TEACHING ME THIS THING ABOUT LEANING
ON HIM ALL THE TIME.
AND I FELT LIKE THE LORD SAID, "WELL, IF YOU WANT TO BOWL
BETTER, WHY DON'T YOU ASK ME TO HELP YOU?"
AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, THAT'S STUPID.
NOBODY'S GONNA ASK GOD TO HELP 'EM BOWL."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOT BEING ABLE TO GET MY HAIR TO DO WHAT I WANT IT TO.
"WELL, WHY DON'T YOU ASK ME TO HELP YOU?"
I AM A GROWN WOMAN.
I AM NOT GONNA ASK YOU TO HELP ME COMB MY HAIR.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU SEE, OUR PROBLEM IS WE'VE GOT THIS INDEPENDENT,
"I DO IT MYSELF," ATTITUDE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: COME ON, IF YOU'VE GOT KIDS, YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.
THEY GET TO BE ABOUT 2.
"I DO IT MYSELF. I DO IT MYSELF.
I DO IT MYSELF."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND SOMETIMES, NOW, LISTEN, THE ONLY THING YOU
CAN DO IS JUST LET THEM GO TRY TO DO IT THEMSELVES.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THEN THEY'LL COME BACK.
[WAILING]
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THAT'S THE WAY WE ARE WITH THE LORD.
LET HIM INTO EVERY ROOM IN YOUR LIFE.
IS ANYBODY UNDERSTANDING WHAT I'M SAYING?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "IN CONCLUSION." DON'T YOU LOVE IT?
I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE
OF THOSE TWO WORDS, "IN CONCLUSION," UNTIL I TAUGHT
THIS WHOLE THING.
AND THEN I GET HERE AND HE SAYS, "IN CONCLUSION, BE STRONG
IN THE LORD," AND I'M LIKE, "WELL, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD,
I GUESS WE NEED STRENGTH IF WE'RE GONNA
PULL ALL THAT OFF," AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: EPHESIANS 3:16, "MAY HE GRANT YOU
OUT OF THE RICH TREASURY OF HIS GLORY TO BE STRENGTHENED
AND REINFORCED WITH MIGHTY POWER IN THE INNER MAN
BY THE [HOLY] SPIRIT [HIMSELF INDWELLING YOUR INNERMOST BEING
AND PERSONALITY]."
PAUL SAID, "I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE STRENGTHENED
WITH ALL MIGHT AND POWER IN THE INNER MAN SO YOU
CAN GET OUT THERE AND HAVE A SPIRIT-FILLED PERSONALITY
AND BEHAVE THE WAY THAT YOU OUGHT TO BEHAVE
OUT IN THE WORLD."
YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT GOD'S STRENGTH.
AND THEN, ISAIAH 40:31, "THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD
SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.
THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES.
THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY.
THEY SHALL WALK AND THEY SHALL NOT FAINT."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT HELP FROM GOD.
WELL, THEN THE VERY NEXT THING THAT HAPPENS HERE IS HE STARTS
TELLING US, "GET READY FOR A WAR."
HA HA HA.
YEAH, GET READY FOR A WAR.
HERE'S HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU, HERE'S HOW I WANT YOU TO BEHAVE,
YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO BE STRONG IN THE LORD TO DO IT,
NOW GET READY FOR A FIGHT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THIS IS SO GOOD.
IT JUST LEAVES THE WHOLE THING OUT AND SHOWS US
THE WHOLE PLAN, AND WE HAVE
BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
"PUT ON GOD'S WHOLE ARMOR."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: GET READY FOR A FIGHT.
IF YOU--YOU KNOW, ON THURSDAY NIGHT--I THINK IT
WAS THURSDAY NIGHT, WE HAD ABOUT 85% OF THE PEOPLE IN HERE
STAND UP SAYING THEY WANTED-- OR IT WAS FRIDAY MORNING,
WANTED A DEEPER, FULL ON RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
AND THEY WERE WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM THINGS
THAT WERE SEPARATING THEM FROM GOD.
WELL, YOU THINK THE DEVIL JUST ROLLED OUT A RED CARPET
AND JUST SAID, "OH, YAY!"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "YAY! YAY!
LET ME HELP YOU!" NO, OPPOSITION.
YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH AND SAY,
"DEVIL, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO.
I MADE A COMMITMENT TO GOD, AND WITH HIS HELP,
I'M GONNA GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH GOD.
ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH GOD."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU IT'S GONNA BE EASY.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT WILL GET EASIER.
BUT THERE'S A FIGHT IN THE BEGINNING.
ANY TIME THAT YOU'RE GONNA MAKE PROGRESS, THE ENEMY
IS GOING TO OPPOSE YOU.
AMEN?
"PUT ON GOD'S WHOLE ARMOR [THE ARMOR
OF A HEAVY-ARMED SOLDIER WHICH GOD SUPPLIES]."
THANK GOD HE GIVES US EVERYTHING WE NEED TO FIGHT THE FIGHT.
"THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE SUCCESSFULLY TO STAND UP
AGAINST [ALL] THE STRATEGIES AND THE DECEITS OF THE DEVIL.
FOR WE ARE NOT WRESTLING WITH FLESH AND BLOOD [CONTENDING
ONLY WITH PHYSICAL OPPONENTS], BUT WE ARE WRESTLING
WITH POWERS, [MASTER SPIRITS WHO ARE] WORLD RULERS
OF THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRIT FORCES
OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY (SUPERNATURAL) SPHERE."
IN OTHER WORDS, THERE ARE LITTLE DEMONS FILLING
THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE CAN'T SEE, AND THEY HATE
CHRISTIANS.
THEY HATE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOOD AND THEY OPPOSE IT
AND COME AGAINST IT.
BUT GUESS WHAT?
WE HAVE MORE POWER THAN THEY DO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: JESUS STRIPPED SATAN OF HIS AUTHORITY.
THE DEVIL STILL HAS POWER, BUT HE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE
ANY AUTHORITY UNLESS WE GIVE IT TO HIM, DOING THINGS
LIKE GETTING ANGRY AND STAYING ANGRY,
WHICH THE BIBLE SAYS OPENS A DOOR FOR THE DEVIL.
REMEMBER EPHESIANS 4, "DON'T GO TO BED MAD"?
COME ON, BEHAVIOR.
DON'T GO TO BED MAD.
WE CAN'T FIGHT THE DEVIL IF WE'RE GONNA THROW DOORS
WIDE OPEN FOR HIM AND INVITE HIM IN.
SO WE START BY DOING OUR BEST TO DO WHAT WE BELIEVE GOD
HAS ASKED US TO DO, KNOWING HE'S GONNA FORGIVE US
FOR OUR MISTAKES, KNOWING HE'S GONNA HELP US,
LEANING AND RELYING ON HIM, BUT WE JUST KEEP IT UP,
AND KEEP IT UP, AND KEEP IT UP, AND KEEP IT UP, AND KEEP IT UP,
AND KEEP IT UP, AND KEEP IT UP UNTIL WE FINALLY WEAR HIM OUT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DON'T LET THE DEVIL WEAR YOU OUT, YOU BE PERSISTENT
AND WEAR HIM OUT.
"THEREFORE," VERSE 13, "PUT ON GOD'S COMPLETE ARMOR."
PUT IT ON.
NOW, YOU'RE GONNA SEE HERE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
I CAN'T THINK OF A GREATER WAY TO END THIS SERIES OF TEACHINGS
THAN TALKING ABOUT THE ARMOR OF GOD, AND HOW IF WE
WILL PUT IT ON, WE WILL BE PROTECTED FROM THE ASSAULTS
OF THE ENEMY.
"PUT ON" IS AN ACTION WORD.
IT'S SOMETHING YOU DO ON PURPOSE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WAIT TO FEEL LIKE DOING.
YOU DO IT ON PURPOSE.
I HAVE TO PUT MY CLOTHES ON IN THE MORNING.
I DON'T GO IN THE CLOSET AND SAY,
"I'D LIKE TO WEAR THAT," AND IT JUMP ON MY BODY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I HAVE TO CHOOSE IT AND PUT IT ON ON PURPOSE.
"PUT ON GOD'S COMPLETE ARMOR, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RESIST
AND STAND YOUR GROUND ON THE EVIL DAY [OF DANGER],
AND, HAVING DONE ALL [THE CRISIS DEMANDS],
NOW YOU ARE TO STAND [FIRMLY IN YOUR PLACE]."
SO, YOU DO WHAT GOD ASKS YOU TO DO AND HE WILL DO WHAT YOU
CANNOT DO.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.
I REALLY FELT LIKE I NEEDED AN INCREASE IN ENERGY.
I WORK PRETTY HARD AND I FELT LIKE I NEEDED AN INCREASE
IN ENERGY.
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I DON'T WANNA JUST GIVE ALL YOU GUYS
ALL MY ENERGY AND THEN HAVE NOTHING LEFT FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
SO I STARTED PRAYING FOR MORE ENERGY
IN JANUARY OF 2015.
AND WHAT GOD GAVE ME WAS A DESIRE TO START WALKING
AND ADD THAT TO MY ALREADY FULL EXERCISE REGIME.
AT LEAST, I THOUGHT IT WAS.
AND I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH ENERGY
THAT HAS ADDED TO MY LIFE.
NOW I WALK QUITE A LONG AWAY, AND I'M NOT GONNA TRY TO IMPRESS
YOU WITH WHAT I'M DOING, NOR AM I TRYING TO GET YOU TO DO
WHAT I'M DOING, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT A LOT OF TIMES
YOU'LL PRAY FOR SOMETHING, BUT THEN YOU'RE NOT WILLING
TO DO YOUR PART.
IT SAYS, "DO EVERYTHING THE CRISIS DEMANDS."
WHATEVER'S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE, ASK GOD
IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO.
AND IF THERE IS, THEN DO THAT PART AND THEN
WAIT PATIENTLY AND ABIDE IN HIM, WAITING FOR HIM TO DO THE PART
THAT YOU CANNOT DO.
PUT ON GOD'S COMPLETE ARMOR.
NOW, THEN HE STARTS GOING INTO THESE PIECES OF ARMOR.
BEFORE I GET TO THAT, I WANNA READ YOU A SCRIPTURE
OUT OF REVELATION.
IN REVELATION 16:15, IT SAYS, "BEHOLD, I AM COMING
LIKE A THIEF!
BLESSED (HAPPY, TO BE ENVIED) IS HE WHO STAYS AWAKE (ALERT)
AND WHO GUARDS HIS CLOTHES."
NOW, WHAT KIND OF A-- WHAT IS THAT SAYING?
HE'S NOT SAYING I NEED TO STAY UP AT NIGHT,
AND GET A SHOTGUN, AND GO SIT IN MY CLOSET,
AND GUARD MY CLOTHES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW WHAT GOD IS TELLING US?
HE'S TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUAL CLOTHING,
AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE WHAT THEY ARE.
THEY'RE RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, FAITH, THE BELT OF TRUTH,
THE HELMET OF SALVATION.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WHEN WE PUT OUR SPIRITUAL ARMOR
ON, SATAN CAN SEE THAT WE'VE GOT IT ON OR THAT WE'VE GOT IT OFF,
AND THAT MEANS WHERE THE BIBLE SAYS,
"TIGHTEN THE BELT OF TRUTH."
WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO TIGHTEN THE BELT OF TRUTH?
IT LITERALLY MEANS THAT WHEN YOU ARE IN--GOING THROUGH A TRIAL
OR YOU'RE HAVING SOME KIND OF A DIFFICULTY
IN YOUR LIFE, MAN, THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO HANG ON
TO THE WORD THAT YOU HAVE MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME
IN YOUR LIFE, BECAUSE THAT IS THE TRUTH.
THE TRUTH IS THE WORD OF GOD.
AND SO, WHEN YOU'VE HAD A LOSS IN YOUR LIFE, THAT'S WHEN YOU
NEED TO BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU,
MULTIPLIED MANY TIMES OVER.
WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE IN TROUBLE, THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO BELIEVE
THAT IF YOU HAVE TRAINED THEM UP IN THE WAY THAT THEY SHOULD GO,
WHEN THEY'RE OLD THEY WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT.
COME ON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IF YOU'VE BEEN FAITHFUL IN GIVING AND NOW
YOU'VE GOT A FINANCIAL NEED, THAT'S WHEN YOU DON'T GO
WITH YOUR EMOTIONS AND START SAYING,
"WELL, THIS GIVING THING DOESN'T WORK."
THAT'S WHEN YOU HOLD ON TO THE BELT OF TRUTH AND YOU
SAY, "GOD IS FAITHFUL AND HE WILL MEET MY NEED."
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, THE ENEMY WILL COME AGAINST US, BUT IF WE OPEN
OUR MOUTH AND LET HIM KNOW THAT WE KNOW THE TRUTH,
THEN HE BEGINS TO BACK DOWN.
BUT IF WE JUST GET IN OUR EMOTIONS,
AND START GOING WITH HOW WE FEEL AND SAYING
A BUNCH OF STUPID STUFF OUT OF OUR MOUTH THAT DOESN'T
AGREE WITH THE WORD OF GOD, THEN IT'S A PROBLEM.
THEN HE SAYS, "PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS."
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
RIGHTEOUSNESS--A BREASTPLATE COVERS YOUR HEART.
IT'S TALKING ABOUT YOUR CONSCIENCE,
HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF, HOW YOU FEEL
IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE NOT GONNA DEFEAT THE DEVIL IF YOU'RE FULL
OF GUILT AND CONDEMNATION ALL THE TIME, IF YOU
GO AROUND FEELING BAD ABOUT YOURSELF AND ALL YOU DO
IS THINK ABOUT ALL YOUR FAILURES AND EVERYTHING
THAT YOU'VE DONE WRONG IN LIFE.
YOU KNOW, WORD OF GOD SAYS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AWAY
FROM ALL THAT DISTRACTS UNTO JESUS.
YOU KNOW, STARING AT WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU ALL THE TIME
CAN DISTRACT YOU FROM YOUR WALK WITH GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: GOD KNEW WHAT YOU WERE GONNA DO WRONG BEFORE YOU EVER
GOT INTO A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, AND HE'S NOT
AT ALL SHOCKED OR SURPRISED.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, HE ALREADY KNOWS ALL THE THINGS I'M GONNA
DO WRONG THAT I HAVEN'T EVEN DONE WRONG YET
AND HE STILL LOVES US.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: RIGHTEOUSNESS.
DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST?
THAT WAS THE FIRST THREE CHAPTERS,
KNOWING WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, KNOWING THAT GOD LOVES YOU
UNCONDITIONALLY.
SO NOW WE'RE ALL THE WAY AT THE END OF THE LETTER
AND PAUL'S SAYING AGAIN, "NOW, LOOK, YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO FIGHT A FIGHT."
SO WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M TRYING TO BEHAVE WELL AND I JUST HAVE
A TOTAL FLESH DAY?
THAT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU, YOU JUST HAVE A TOTAL FLESH DAY?
YOU'VE LAID IN BED AND PLANNED TO BE HOLY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU'VE GOTTEN UP AND PRAYED TO BE HOLY.
YOU KNOW, I USED TO SAY, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY THE TRUTH,
I COULD GET ALONG WITH EVERYBODY UNTIL SOMEBODY CAME HOME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: MAN, I JUST WAS SO SWEET.
IF THE HOUSE WAS EMPTY AND THERE WAS NOBODY THERE BUT ME,
IT WAS GOOD.
BUT WHEN THE PEOPLE CAME IN, THAT'S WHEN IT GOT
A LITTLE BIT TESTY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OKAY, SO NOW WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M READING
EPHESIANS, I'M TRYING TO DO THIS BEHAVIOR THING WELL,
AND I JUST HAVE A TOTAL FLESH DAY?
I MEAN, I JUST--I'M MAD AT EVERYBODY.
I'M LIKE--I'M SELFISH, I'M SELF-CENTERED, I HAVE
JUST A REGULAR FEMALE FIT.
I MEAN, I'M JUST--YOU KNOW, I'M A MESS.
WELL, THEN THE NEXT THING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS THE DEVIL
IS GONNA COME AT ME WITH CONDEMNATION.
COME ON NOW.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, THIS IS WHEN YOU NEED TO PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT YOU CAN PUT IT ON LIKE A ROBE.
JOB SAID, "I CLOTHED MYSELF WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS
OR IT CLOTHED ME."
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GIDEON WAS CLOTHED
WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
THE BIBLE SAYS, "PUT ON CHRIST.
PUT OFF THE OLD MAN.
PUT ON THE NEW MAN.
PUT ON LOVE.
PUT ON MERCY."
SEE, WE CAN PUT THESE THINGS ON.
JUST LIKE I GO AND DECIDE TO PUT MY CLOTHES ON, I
CAN PUT ON THINGS OF THE SPIRIT.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I HAVE TO FEEL THAT WAY.
I MAY NOT FEEL RIGHTEOUS, BUT I CAN PUT ON MY RIGHTEOUSNESS
BY ACTUALLY REINITIATING MY FAITH IN WHAT GOD HAS SAID
TO ME OF WHO I AM IN HIM.
AND I SAY, "YES, I HAD A BAD DAY.
I'M SORRY, LORD.
I SHOULD NOT HAVE ACTED THE WAY THAT I ACTED TODAY."
AND MAYBE I EVEN NEED TO GO AND APOLOGIZE TO SOMEBODY ELSE,
SO I DO THAT TOO.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE TO SAY, "BUT DEVIL,
I DO NOT RECEIVE YOUR GUILT AND YOUR CONDEMNATION
BECAUSE I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
AND YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THAT EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS IS YOU'RE NOT RIGHT WITH GOD
BECAUSE OF RIGHT BEHAVIOR, YOU'RE RIGHT WITH GOD
BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU.
AND YOU'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU THAT THAT
MAKES YOU WANT TO BEHAVE RIGHT.
ISN'T THAT GOOD?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DON'T GET IT UPSIDE-DOWN.
DON'T SPEND YOUR LIFE TRYING TO BEHAVE RIGHT SO YOU
CAN GET GOD TO LOVE YOU.
HE ALREADY LOVES YOU.
MATTER OF FACT, GOD'S NEVER GONNA LOVE YOU ANY MORE THAN HE
DOES AT THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, EVERY TIME I SAY THAT TO A CROWD, I GET
JUST ABOUT WHAT I GOT HERE, LIKE... "HE'S NOT?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "HE'S NOT?" YOU KNOW WHAT THAT'S FROM?
BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THAT LITTLE BIT OF MENTALITY,
"WELL, SURELY IF I BEHAVE BETTER,
GOD WILL LOVE ME MORE."
NO, LOVE IS NOT SOMETHING GOD DOES, IT'S WHO HE IS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE JUST IS WHAT IT IS.
AND SO, GOD JUST LOVES YOU, AND I'M TELLING YOU, HE'S NEVER
GONNA LOVE YOU ANY MORE THAN HE DOES RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT,
BUT YOU CAN LOVE HIM MORE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IN OUR LOVE FOR HIM,
AND THE MORE WE GROW TO LOVE HIM, THE MORE
WE'RE GONNA WANT TO OBEY HIM AND THE EASIER
IT'S GOING TO BE.
ISN'T THIS SO GOOD?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IT JUST GETS EASIER, AND EASIER, AND EASIER.
JESUS IS COMING SOON.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE LORD IS NEAR.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE GIVING WAY TOO MUCH OF YOUR TIME
TO SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN CHANGE IT.
AMEN?
EVERYTHING THAT WE SEE IS ALREADY IN THE PROCESS
OF DECAY AND ON ITS WAY OUT.
DON'T IGNORE YOUR FAMILY WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS JUST TRYING
TO MAKE MONEY SO YOU CAN HAVE A BIGGER HOUSE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS GO DRIVE THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD
WHERE THE HOUSES ARE ABOUT 75 YEARS OLD
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT YOURS IS IN THE PROCESS OF DECAY
THE DAY YOU MOVE INTO IT.
GO DRIVE BY A JUNKYARD.
TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE PILES OF JUNK IN THERE,
AND THEN JUST TELL YOURSELF, "SOMEBODY GAVE UP THEIR LIFE
TO GET THIS.
SOMEBODY LOST THEIR FAMILY TO GET THIS.
AND NOW ALL IT IS IS A PILE OF JUNK SOMEWHERE."
BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ENDURE FOREVER, AND THOSE ARE
THE THINGS WE NEED TO GIVE OURSELVES TO,
THINGS THAT ARE HERE FOR ETERNITY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SPEND TIME WITH GOD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TIME NOT TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD.
"WELL, WHAT DO I DO WHEN I SPEND TIME WITH GOD?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: PRAY, LAUGH, CRY, LISTEN TO MUSIC, DANCE,
RUN AROUND THE ROOM, LOOK OUT THE WINDOW,
LAY ON YOUR FACE.
BUT JUST SAY, "GOD, THIS IS MY TIME WITH YOU.
I HAVE SET THIS--I'M SEPARATING MYSELF FROM THE WORLD
AND THIS IS MY TIME WITH YOU."
AND THEN YOU SIT DOWN AND TALK TO HIM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND ALSO LEARN TO LISTEN.
WE'RE IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE.
WE ARE SOLDIERS IN GOD'S ARMY.
GOD SUPPLIES US WITH ALL THE ARMOR THAT WE NEED
TO BE VICTORIOUS IN OUR LIFE, BUT WE MUST PUT IT ON.
JOYCE: WELL, NOW REMEMBER, GOD SUPPLIES US
WITH ALL THE ARMOR THAT WE NEED TO BE VICTORIOUS
IN LIFE, BUT WE MUST BE WILLING TO TAKE ACTION AND PUT IT ON.
YOU KNOW, WE ONLY MENTIONED A FEW TODAY, BUT WE HAVE A WAY
FOR YOU TO FIND OUT THE REST AND MORE.
OUR OFFER IS SO GOOD TODAY.
IT'S THE "EPHESIANS ACTION PLAN."
IT INCLUDES SIX TEACHINGS ON CD AND DVD, THE STUDY GUIDE,
AND THE ENTIRE BOOK OF EPHESIANS THAT WE PUT
INTO A SPECIAL LITTLE BOOKLET FOR YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE REALLY GONNA ENJOY
THESE TEACHINGS, AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT BIBLE STUDY
IS SO IMPORTANT.
IT'S GOOD TO JUST HEAR OTHER PEOPLE SPEAK,
BUT TO GET IN AND STUDY THE BIBLE YOURSELF MAKES
A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE.
SO WHY DON'T YOU GET THIS AND USE IT?
YOU CAN USE IT FOR SMALL GROUP, YOU CAN USE IT YOURSELF
PERSONALLY, YOU CAN GIVE IT AS A GIFT.
NOW, STAY WITH ME.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING IMPORTANT WITH YOU
RIGHT AFTER THIS.
ANNOUNCER: FOR THE WORD OF GOD
IS LIVING AND ACTIVE, SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD,
ABLE TO JUDGE THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF THE HEART.
FOR A LIMITED TIME, WE'RE OFFERING "A BIBLE STUDY
OF EPHESIANS ACTION PLAN."
JOYCE TEACHES THE ENTIRE BOOK WITH YOU.
JOYCE: IF I STUDY YOUR WORD, THE WORD HAS THE POWER
TO CHANGE ME.
I CAN'T CHANGE ME, YOU CAN CHANGE ME.
ANNOUNCER: INSIDE THE ACTION PLAN
IS A PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE.
THEN, WE'VE INCLUDED THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS
AND SIX TEACHINGS ON CD AND DVD.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, TAKE NOTES, AND JOURNAL WHAT GOD
SHOWS YOU THROUGH THIS STUDY.
THESE HELPS WILL WALK YOU THROUGH EACH CHAPTER,
VERSE BY VERSE.
IT'S LIKE DOING A BIBLE STUDY TOGETHER WITH JOYCE.
GET IT FOR YOUR PERSONAL STUDY OR GROUP.
ALL THIS CAN BE YOURS FOR A DONATION OF...OR MORE.
CALL US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: EVERYONE LOVES THE FEELING OF A FRESH MAKEOVER.
WELL, THIS SUMMER, LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS.
IT'S TIME FOR JOYCE'S SUMMER MAKEOVER,
A 12-WEEK CHALLENGE THAT WILL CHANGE YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG TO START YOUR TRANSFORMATION
WITH INSPIRING MESSAGES, SCRIPTURES, AND MORE
TO KEEP YOU MOVING FORWARD.
THEN CONTINUE YOUR MAKEOVER WITH JOYCE
ON "ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE" IN AUGUST
FOR A SPECIAL MONTH OF SHOWS TO HELP SHAPE THE NEW YOU.
LET GOD'S WORD GIVE YOU THE ULTIMATE SUMMER MAKEOVER.
SIGN UP TODAY AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: OUR MEDIA TEAM TRAVELED TO GREECE TO SEE
HOW YOUR DONATIONS ARE HELPING WITH THE REFUGEE CRISIS,
PROVIDING FRESH WATER AND BASIC HYGIENE
AND CARE ITEMS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S YOUR GIVING AND YOUR PRAYERS THAT ALLOWS
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES TO REACH OUT
WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST SO EFFECTIVELY.
AND IF YOU ARE A PARTNER, I WANNA THANK YOU,
AND IF YOU'RE NOT, I'M ASKING YOU TODAY TO BECOME A PARTNER
WITH THE MINISTRY.
IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU
WANNA GIVE FINANCIALLY ON A REGULAR BASIS,
AND YOU TAKE ACTION TO DO THAT.
WE'LL PRAY FOR YOU, YOU PRAY FOR US, AND TOGETHER WE CAN DO
A LOT OF GREAT THINGS.
DO YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING
THAT'S GREATER THAN YOU ARE BY YOURSELF.
I FEEL THAT FROM MY LIFE AND I FEEL THAT FOR YOU.
AND I FEEL THAT I'M PARTNERING WITH YOUR LIFE BY BRINGING YOU
THE WORD ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND YOU CAN PARTNER WITH ME
BY SHARING WITH US FINANCIALLY, PRAYING FOR US, AND HELPING US
CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK AROUND THE WORLD THAT GOD'S ALLOWING US
TO DO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYER IN THIS AREA
AND FOR TAKING ACTION.
BECOME A PARTNER TODAY.
GOD BLESS YOU.
ANNOUNCER: YOU MEAN MORE TO US AT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
THAN YOU MAY EVER KNOW.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE THANK OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
FOR MAKING THIS WORLDWIDE MINISTRY POSSIBLE.
TOGETHER, WE'RE FEEDING THE HUNGRY, CLOTHING THE POOR,
AND PRESENTING THE GOSPEL TO THE NATIONS.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG TODAY TO SHARE
YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS, FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR RESOURCES,
SEE JOYCE'S CONFERENCE SCHEDULE, AND TO JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP
AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST AROUND THE GLOBE.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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