ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: WELL, THERE'S REALLY NO SPECIAL FORMULA TO SPENDING
TIME WITH GOD.
IT'S JUST VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO IT.
MAKING THIS A PRIORITY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE LIKE
NOTHING ELSE.
I KNOW IT HAS MINE, AND NOW I WANT TO HELP YOU ENRICH YOUR
TIME WITH GOD BY SHARING SOME THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS FROM MY
OWN LIFE IN MY BRAND NEW DEVOTIONAL CALLED
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
LET'S FOCUS ON HIM TOGETHER.
AND MY PRAYER IS THAT THESE SCRIPTURES AND DECLARATIONS OF
FAITH WILL HELP YOU GROW DEEPER IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
A LITTLE BIT MORE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ANNOUNCER: ORDER YOUR COPY OF JOYCE'S NEW DEVOTIONAL,
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
CALL...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, NOW COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FIRST AT THE FIRST FOUR VERSES.
"IF YOU'VE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST TO A NEW LIFE," WHICH YOU
HAVE BEEN, CORRECT?
IF YOU'RE NOT BORN AGAIN TONIGHT, WE CAN FIX THAT, BUT
YOU'VE BEEN RAISED TO A NEW LIFE, YOU'RE A NEW CREATURE.
OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW.
SO, "OKAY, THEN WHY DO I STILL ACT LIKE I'M NOT SAVED
SOMETIMES?" AND THIS IS WHERE IT GETS
CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE.
IT'S LIKE, "WELL, IF ALL THIS STUFF IS MINE, THEN WHY AM I NOT
SEEING IT MANIFESTED IN MY LIFE?"
WELL, IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
WHAT WE HAVE LEGALLY GIVEN TO US THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
AND WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENTIALLY IN OUR LIVES CAN BE TWO VERY
DIFFERENT THINGS IF WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO WALK OUT WHAT GOD
HAS DONE IN US.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, IT TAKES TIME.
GOD WORKS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF GRADUAL GROWTH.
I'M GOING TO READ YOU A SCRIPTURE IN JUST A FEW MINUTES
'CAUSE PART OF THIS TALKS ABOUT THE CRUCIFIXION OF THE FLESH,
DYING TO SELF.
AND PAUL SAID THAT HE WAS CRUCIFIED TO THE WORLD,
AND THE WORLD HAD BEEN CRUCIFIED TO HIM.
AND HE SAID, "IT'S NO LONGER I THAT LIVE, BUT CHRIST THAT
LIVES IN ME.
AND THE LIFE THAT I NOW LIVE, I LIVE BY FAITH IN
THE SON OF GOD."
AND YOU KNOW, YOU READ THAT AS A YOUNG CHRISTIAN, YOU THINK,
"OH, THAT MUST BE SO WONDERFUL."
SO WONDERFUL, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
PAUL WROTE THAT 20 YEARS AFTER HIS CONVERSION.
THAT GIVES ME HOPE.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, AFTER 20 YEARS, I CAN SAY A FEW THINGS
THAT I COULDN'T SAY YEAR 1.
SO, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IT'S NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
YOU'VE ARRIVED, BUT ARE YOU GROWING?
COME ON, ARE YOU GROWING?
YOU CERTAINLY WANT TO GROW OR YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
YOU WANT TO GROW, AND GOD SEES THAT.
AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES HIM HAPPY.
HE'S GOT SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO DO THE RIGHT THING, AMEN?
"IF YOU'VE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST TO A NEW LIFE,
THUS SHARING HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD, AIM AT AND SEEK."
SEEK, SEEK, SEEK, SEEK, SEEK.
SEEK IS A VERY STRONG WORD IF YOU STUDY IT OUT IN THE ORIGINAL
LANGUAGE.
IT MEANS TO CRAVE, PURSUE, AND GO AFTER WITH ALL OF YOUR MIGHT.
ARE YOU SEEKING GOD ON A REGULAR BASIS?
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH TODAY.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S BEEN THIS WAY ALL THROUGHOUT HISTORY,
BUT ESPECIALLY THE DAYS THAT WE LIVE IN.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT, JUST A 1-HOUR TRIP TO CHURCH ON
SUNDAY MORNING AND A 28-MINUTE SERMON
OR WHATEVER A LOT OF THEM ARE THESE DAYS, IT'S LIKE IF YOU
THINK THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU STRONG ALL WEEK, LET ME TELL YOU
WHAT, THE DEVIL CAN SUCK THAT OUT OF YOU BEFORE YOU GET OUT OF
THE PARKING LOT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE CANNOT BE STRONG AND GET IT ALL
FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.
YOU JUST CAN'T.
YOU GOT TO HAVE YOUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
NO SECONDHAND FAITH.
AND THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO BE STRONG IN GOD IS PUTTING TIME
INTO IT.
TIME, TIME, TIME.
YOU CAN BE AS CLOSE TO GOD AS YOU WANT TO BE.
IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH TIME YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT INTO
THE RELATIONSHIP.
"AIM AT AND SEEK, SEEK THE [RICH ETERNAL TREASURES] THAT ARE
ABOVE WHERE CHRIST IS, SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD."
AND I LOVE VERSE 2, "AND SET YOUR MINDS AND KEEP THEM SET ON
WHAT IS ABOVE [HIGHER THINGS], NOT ON THINGS THAT ARE ON
THE EARTH."
SO, WHEN HE SAYS, "SET YOUR MIND ON THINGS ABOVE," HE'S NOT JUST
TALKING ABOUT THINKING ABOUT THE DAY WHEN WE GO TO HEAVEN
AND, YOU KNOW, THE PEARLY GATES, AND--YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GOOD
TO BE HONEST, TO THINK ABOUT THAT SOMETIMES AND WHAT IT'S
GOING TO BE LIKE.
I THINK WE NEED TO MAYBE SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME LOOKING
FORWARD TO GOING TO HEAVEN THAN WHAT WE DO.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S TALKING ABOUT DON'T GIVE YOUR MIND TO LOW THINGS
AND THINK YOU'RE GOING TO LIVE A HIGH LIFE.
WE GOT TO PUT OUR MIND WHERE WE WANT OUR LIFE TO BE BECAUSE
WHERE YOUR MIND GOES, THAT'S WHERE YOUR LIFE IS GOING
TO END UP.
AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE.
I ALWAYS SAY, "WHERE THE MIND GOES, THE MAN FOLLOWS."
SO, JUST AN EXAMPLE, I LIKE TO BE PRACTICAL, WHAT WOULD BE
CONSIDERED SETTING OUR MIND ON LOW THINGS?
ALL RIGHT, IF YOU SET YOUR MIND AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT ALL YOU
DON'T HAVE, AND THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE, AND
HOW YOU THINK THEY DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE, AND NOW
TO BE HONEST, YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT MIFFED AT GOD THAT HE GAVE
THEM WHAT YOU WANT BECAUSE, FRANKLY, YOU THINK YOU'RE MORE
SPIRITUAL AND DESERVING.
COME ON, COME ON.
THAT'S LOW THINKING.
THE BETTER THING TO DO, ESPECIALLY IF THOUGHTS LIKE THAT
EVEN BEGIN TO COME INTO YOUR HEAD, THE BETTER THING TO DO IS
QUICKLY JUST START DOING A SURVEY OF ALL YOUR BLESSINGS,
AND START THANKING GOD OUT LOUD FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU
CAN THINK OF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS YOU FIGHT THE DEVIL AND WIN.
YOU RESIST HIM AT HIS ONSET.
AND THE MINUTE HE TRIES TO FILL YOUR MIND FULL OF JUNK, YOU
START DOING SOMETHING GOOD WITH YOUR MIND.
YOU DON'T JUST GO LOWER, YOU GO HIGHER.
WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE HURT US,
ALL THE FAULTS THEY HAVE, ALL THE MISTAKES THAT WE'VE MADE
IN THE PAST, ALL OF OUR FAULTS AND WEAKNESSES, YOU GOT TO BE
CAREFUL WHEN YOU REALLY WANT TO CHANGE AND YOU WANT TO BE
CHRIST-LIKE THAT YOU DON'T JUST GET TOO WIGGED OUT ABOUT ALL
YOUR FAULTS.
'CAUSE THE MORE YOU FOCUS ON THEM, THE BIGGER THEY'RE GOING
TO GET.
LOOKING AWAY FROM ALL THAT WILL DISTRACT UNTO JESUS.
DON'T GET INTO TOO MUCH REASONING, TRYING TO FIGURE
TOO MUCH STUFF OUT.
"WHY GOD, WHY?" I TELL YOU, THERE'S SOME STUFF
THAT WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO KNOW TILL WE GET TO HEAVEN.
AND THAT'S PART OF TRUSTING GOD.
SO, JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING TO THROW OUT TO YOU, A LITTLE GIFT.
HAPPY THOUGHTS, HAPPY LIFE.
PRETTY SIMPLE.
HAPPY THOUGHTS, HAPPY LIFE.
SET YOUR MIND AND KEEP IT SET.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE POWERFUL THAN A MADE-UP MIND.
AND WHEN YOU SET YOUR MIND TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO,
YOU CAN'T START GETTING DOUBLE-MINDED.
"WELL, YOU KNOW."
NO, MY MIND IS MADE UP.
THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO PRODUCE GOOD RESULTS IN MY LIFE.
I'M NOT EVEN PLAYING AROUND WITH ANY OTHER KIND OF THOUGHTS.
THIS IS IT, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.
A MADE-UP MIND, A BORN AGAIN, MADE-UP MIND WITH
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOUR LIFE HELPING YOU,
I WANT TO TELL YOU THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN'T DO
THROUGH CHRIST.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "FOR [AS FAR AS THIS WORLD IS CONCERNED] YOU HAVE
DIED, AND YOUR [REAL, NEW] LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD.
WHEN CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE APPEARS, THEN YOU WILL APPEAR
ALSO WITH HIM IN [THE SPLENDOR OF HIS] GLORY."
AMEN?
HALLELUJAH.
ALL RIGHT, NOW I KNOW YOU'RE JUST GOING TO LOVE THIS NEXT
SECTION.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO IT.
COLOSSIANS 3:5, "SO KILL (DEADEN, DEPRIVE OF POWER)
THE EVIL DESIRE LURKING IN YOUR MEMBERS."
KILL IT, KILL THE FLESH.
WHOA, THAT'S KIND OF VIOLENT, ISN'T IT?
WELL, PROBABLY THE AMPLIFIED IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SAYS THAT, BUT
I LIKE THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE.
IT JUST PUTS IT OUT SO PLAIN THAT I CAN'T IGNORE IT.
I MEAN, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S EQUALLY AS VIOLENT,
JESUS SAID, "IF YOUR EYE OFFENDS YOU, PLUCK IT OUT.
IF YOUR HAND OFFENDS YOU, CUT IT OFF."
WELL, THERE'S A PRINCIPLE HERE.
I MEAN, THEY'RE REALLY NOT--YOU CAN'T REALLY--HE'S NOT TALKING
ABOUT GET A CLUB AND BEAT YOURSELF TILL YOU DIE SO YOU
DON'T WALK IN THE FLESH.
NOBODY REALLY WANTS YOU TO PULL YOUR EYE OUT OR TO CUT YOUR HAND
OFF, BUT WHAT HE'S REALLY SAYING IS, "DEAL VIOLENTLY WITH SIN,
AND DON'T JUST NAMBY PAMBY PUT UP WITH IT IN YOUR LIFE.
RESIST IT AND STAND AGAINST IT AND SAY, 'NO, I HAVE GOT MY MIND
MADE UP IN CHRIST THAT I AM NOT GOING TO LIVE LIKE THIS.
I'M NOT GOING TO STAY LIKE THIS.'"
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BECAUSE YOU SEE, HONESTLY AND TRULY, NO MATTER
HOW MUCH GOD WANTS SOMETHING FOR ANY ONE OF US, IF WE DON'T WANT
IT JUST AS MUCH AS HE DOES, THE DEVIL WILL FIND SOME WAY
TO TAKE IT AWAY FROM US.
NOW, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT GETTING INTO WORKS OF THE FLESH
AND TRYING TO MAKE STUFF HAPPEN YOURSELF.
I'M TALKING ABOUT DESIRE.
IF YOU REALLY, REALLY, WANT IT.
IT'S AMAZING REALLY, SO OFTEN WHEN WE SAY, "WELL, I JUST--I
JUST--I WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH GOD, BUT I JUST DON'T HAVE
TIME."
NO, AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO BAD
ENOUGH.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
LOOK AT ME AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE ALL PRETTY MUCH DO WHAT WE WANT TO.
I MEAN, WHEN IT COMES RIGHT DOWN TO IT, IF YOU WANT TO DO IT
STRONG ENOUGH, YOU WILL FIND A WAY TO DO IT.
SO, THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DO BECAUSE IF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN,
THEN NOTHING EVER CHANGES, WE DO HAVE TO STOP MAKING EXCUSES.
WHOOP.
WE DO HAVE TO STOP MAKING EXCUSES BECAUSE AS LONG AS I'M
EXCUSING MY BEHAVIOR, THEN IT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.
IT'S TRUE, YOU'RE RIGHT, I GOT A FAN OUT THERE TALKING TO ME.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, "SO KILL (DEADEN, DEPRIVE OF POWER) THE EVIL
DESIRE LURKING IN YOUR MEMBERS [THOSE ANIMAL IMPULSES AND ALL
THAT'S EARTHLY IN YOU THAT IS EMPLOYED IN SIN], SEXUAL VICE,
IMPURITY, SENSUAL APPETITES, UNHOLY DESIRES, AND ALL GREED
AND COVETOUSNESS, FOR THAT IS IDOLATRY (THE DEIFYING OF SELF
AND OTHER CREATED THINGS INSTEAD OF GOD)."
ALL RIGHT, SO YOU--NOW, I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT REGARDING
THIS CRUCIFIXION OF THE FLESH THING.
AND I STARTED PREACHING IT WHEN IT WAS JUST YOU FELT LIKE YOU
WERE GETTING STONED WHEN YOU STOOD UP AND TOLD PEOPLE THAT
THEY MIGHT NOT GET WHAT THEY WANTED AND THEY STILL NEEDED TO
BE HAPPY.
HELLO?
IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO DO IT NOW, BUT I'M TELLING YOU
WHAT, WE WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF TIME IN THE CHURCH WHERE, I
MEAN, WE JUST FELT LIKE WE COULD USE OUR FAITH AND SHOULD USE OUR
FAITH TO GET ANYTHING THAT WE WANTED TO AND THEN NEVER HAVE
ANY KIND OF A PROBLEM AT ALL.
AND A LOT OF WHAT WE GOT WAS REALLY GREAT, AND WE NEEDED IT,
BUT IT KIND OF MADE US A LITTLE BIT TOO MATERIALISTIC SOMETIMES.
AND WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OVERBOARD ABOUT EVERY
CIRCUMSTANCE HAVING TO BE JUST RIGHT.
AND SO, I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TELL YOU AND SEE WHAT
I CAN GET OUT OF YOU.
YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT GET WHAT YOU WANT.
AND GOD WANTS YOU TO STILL BE JUST A HAPPY LITTLE CAMPER WITH
THAT, AND BELIEVE THAT HE IS SMARTER THAN YOU ARE AND KNOWS
BETTER THAN YOU DO WHAT YOU NEED.
AND IF WHAT YOU WANT IS REALLY WHAT YOU NEED, THEN GOD WILL
MAKE IT HAPPEN AT THE RIGHT TIME AND IN HIS WAY.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: NOW, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE WANT THAT WE
CANNOT BE HAPPY WITHOUT IT, IT'S NO LONGER A DESIRE, IT'S BECOME
A LUST.
SEE, GOD GIVES US THE DESIRES OF OUR HEART IF WE DELIGHT
OURSELVES IN HIM.
PSALM 37, "DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD."
PUT HIM FIRST ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE, WANT HIM MORE THAN YOU
WANT ANYTHING ELSE, PUT HIM FIRST IN YOUR TIME, FIRST IN
EVERYTHING, AND BE HAPPY WITH OR WITHOUT THE STUFF.
AND AT THE RIGHT TIME, GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR
HEART.
BUT IF WE'RE LUSTING AFTER SOMETHING AND WE THINK WE CAN'T
BE HAPPY WITHOUT THAT, GOD'S NOT GOING TO GIVE US THAT.
BECAUSE THEN OUR JOY IS IN THE THING, NOT IN HIM.
OKAY, SO HOW DO YOU CRUCIFY THE FLESH?
YOU JUST DON'T FEED IT.
YOU CAN KILL ANYTHING IF YOU STARVE IT.
IT'S REALLY--IT'S REALLY NOT THAT CHALLENGING IF YOU REALLY
FINALLY SEE THIS.
EVERY TIME WE GIVE IN TO A FLESHLY WHIM OR DESIRE,
LET'S JUST SAY THAT I DON'T GET MY WAY, AND SO MY NORMAL, OLD
NATURE REACTION TO NOT GETTING MY WAY IS TO POUT AND FEEL SORRY
FOR MYSELF.
WELL, I MEAN, I DID THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
AND SO, WHEN GOD STARTED DEALING WITH ME ABOUT THAT--SEE, THAT'S
HOW IT WORKS.
THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO LIVE IN YOU, AND HE DOESN'T TOUCH
EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG WITH US AT ONE TIME.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.
HE'LL PUT HIS FINGER ON ONE THING.
YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS STANDS AT THE DOOR
AND KNOCKS.
WELL, WHAT DOOR IS HE KNOCKING AT IN YOUR LIFE?
AND ARE YOU SAYING NOBODY'S HOME, OR COME IN?
COME ON.
COME ON, LET ME SAY IT AGAIN.
IS HE KNOCKING AT THE DOOR OF APPETITE?
IS HE KNOCKING AT THE ENTERTAINMENT DOOR OF YOUR LIFE?
ARE THERE SOME THINGS THAT YOUR FRIENDS WANT YOU TO DO, AND YOU
KNOW IT'S NOT WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO ANYMORE, AND MAYBE YOU'RE
AFRAID YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS IF YOU DON'T DO
IT ANYMORE TOO?
AND SO, JESUS IS KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
"NOBODY'S HOME. NOBODY'S HOME.
I'M NOT READY FOR THAT YET.
I'M NOT--NO, GOD, NOT THAT, I'M NOT READY FOR THAT YET."
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WHEN GOD PUTS HIS FINGER ON SOMETHING
IN OUR LIFE, WE BETTER GET READY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE THINGS AREN'T GOING TO WORK TOO GOOD
AFTER THAT IF WE DON'T.
SEE, THAT TO ME--AND I REALLY MEAN THIS.
TO ME, THIS IS AN EXCITING PART OF OUR JOURNEY WITH GOD 'CAUSE I
WANT TO BE EVERYTHING THAT HE WANTS ME TO BE, BUT I'M NOT
SMART ENOUGH TO DO IT WITHOUT SOME HELP FROM GOD.
AND I NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DEAL WITH ME.
AND I NEED CONVICTION, I DON'T NEED CONDEMNATION.
I HAD THAT A LONG TIME AGO.
I FINALLY GOT RID OF THAT, BUT I DO NEED CONVICTION.
I'M GLAD WHEN GOD SHOWS ME, "EH, JOYCE, KNOCK IT OFF.
THAT ATTITUDE IS NOT GOOD."
AMEN?
I DON'T WANT TO JUST GET BY WITH STUFF.
YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST GET BY WITH STUFF ANYMORE, DO YOU?
YOU WANT GOD TO DEAL WITH YOU.
YOU WANT HIM KNOCKING AT THE DOORS OF YOUR LIFE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
BUT IF WE--EVERYBODY IN HERE TONIGHT, PROBABLY IF I ASK YOU
WHAT'S GOD DEALING WITH YOU ABOUT, IT'D BE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.
EXCEPT DAVE, I DO REMEMBER ONE TIME ASKING DAVE 'CAUSE GOD
WAS ALWAYS DEALING WITH ME.
LIKE ALWAYS.
AND I SO WANTED GOD TO DEAL WITH DAVE 'CAUSE I WAS PRETTY
CONVINCED HE HAD MORE PROBLEMS THAN ME.
WHICH WAS ANOTHER THING GOD NEEDED TO DEAL WITH ME ABOUT.
HONESTLY, THIS HAPPENED, I'M NOT KIDDING.
AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO DAVE, "IS GOD DEALING WITH YOU ABOUT
ANYTHING?" 'CAUSE I'D BEEN PRAYING FOR HIM
IN SOME AREAS.
COME ON, ARE YOU WITH ME?
I MEAN, I'D BEEN PRAYING FOR HIM IN SOME AREAS THAT I WAS TRYING
TO HELP GOD.
AND I MEAN, I STILL REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS AT,
THE HOUSE WE WERE LIVING AT THE TIME.
AND I SAID, "IS GOD--IS GOD DEALING WITH YOU ABOUT
ANYTHING?" HE SAID, "NO, I DON'T THINK SO."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: LORD HAVE MERCY.
IT'S TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE MARRIED TO SOMEBODY THAT'S PERFECT,
I'LL TELL YOU.
SO, LET'S JUST SAY THAT EVERY TIME I DON'T GET MY WAY, WHICH
THIS WAS A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME, A BIG FLESHLY PROBLEM,
EVERY TIME I DIDN'T GET MY WAY, I WOULD POUT
IF I DIDN'T GET MY WAY...
AND THEN I'D PUT UP MY WALLS AND GIVE THE SILENT TREATMENT.
YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF YOU--LADIES KNOW HOW TO DO THIS
WELL, RIGHT?
OKAY.
I DON'T KNOW IF MEN EVEN POUT OR NOT, BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T,
YOU'VE SEEN A WOMAN DO IT.
AND SO, I'M SURE THERE'S MEN WHO DO IT TOO.
THEY PROBABLY DO IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO, WHEN GOD FINALLY PUT HIS FINGER ON THAT IN MY LIFE AND HE
WAS KNOCKING AT THAT DOOR IN MY LIFE, THEN I COULD NEVER STOP
DOING THAT BECAUSE THE FLESH IS STUPID, AND IT ONLY CAN DO WHAT
IT'S USED TO DOING.
IT ONLY WANTS WHAT WE GIVE IT, YOU KNOW?
IF YOU GIVE IT A POUND OF SUGAR A DAY, IT'S GOING TO SCREAM FOR
A POUND OF SUGAR A DAY.
AND WHEN YOU FIRST START TAKING IT AWAY FROM IT, IT'S GOING TO
SCREAM BECAUSE YOU TOOK IT AWAY.
IT'S LIKE A BABY WHEN YOU TAKE A PACIFIER AWAY FROM THEM.
AMEN?
THE PROBLEM IS WE GOT A LOT OF ADULTS IN CHURCH THAT ARE STILL
CARRYING OUR PACIFIERS AROUND WITH THEM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THAT'S NOT WHAT GOD WANTS.
SO, THE WAY TO GET FREE FROM SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS, OKAY,
THEN I HAVE TO START NOT POUTING AND NOT FEELING SORRY FOR
MYSELF.
AND EVERY TIME I DON'T GIVE INTO IT, THEN THAT FLESHLY TRAIT IN
MY FLESH GETS WEAKER AND WEAKER AND WEAKER, TO WHERE THEN,
ULTIMATELY, YOU WOULD ACTUALLY FEEL REALLY--LIKE FOR ME NOW, IF
I SPEND A WHOLE DAY POUTING AND FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF, THAT
WOULD JUST BE MISERY TO ME.
I WOULDN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL 'CAUSE NOW I'M NOT USED TO THAT.
NOW, I'M USED TO BEING OKAY WITH IT IF I DON'T GET MY WAY.
SAME WAY YOU CAN TAKE ANY FLESHLY THING AND IF YOU JUST
QUIT FEEDING IT, IT'LL GET WEAKER AND WEAKER AND WEAKER.
HOW MANY OF YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM AND WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT?
OKAY.
SO, KILL IT MEANS TO WEAKEN IT.
PAUL TALKS A LOT ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD.
AND HE SAID, "I'VE BEEN CRUCIFIED TO THE WORLD, AND THE
WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME."
SO, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A MINUTE.
WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH THE WORLD?
GALATIANS 6:14 SAYS, "BUT FAR BE IT FOR ME TO GLORY [IN ANYTHING
OR ANYONE] EXCEPT THE CROSS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THROUGH
WHOM THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME,
AND I TO THE WORLD."
NOW, WE LIVE IN THE WORLD, BUT WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO
BE WORLDLY.
SO, WE CAN ENJOY THINGS IN THE WORLD, BUT WE CAN'T GET
UNHAPPY IF WE DON'T HAVE THEM.
WE WANT TO ENJOY ANYTHING THAT GOD GIVES US, BUT WE ALWAYS WANT
TO KEEP HIM FIRST IN OUR LIFE.
1 JOHN 2:15 SAYS, "DON'T LOVE OR CHERISH THE WORLD OR THE THINGS
THAT ARE IN THE WORLD.
IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, LOVE FOR THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM."
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PRINCIPLE OF GREED FOR JUST A SECOND.
GREED IS A PRETTY UGLY WORD, ISN'T IT?
NOBODY WANTS TO THINK THAT THEY'RE GREEDY.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK IF WE'RE HONEST, WE'D HAVE TO SAY THAT
GREED IS JUST A FLESHLY PRINCIPLE THAT'S IN THE FLESH.
AND IT'S THAT LITTLE--IT'S THAT ANNOYING THING THAT JUST NEVER
QUITE SATISFIED.
I'VE PRETTY MUCH COME TO THE POINT IN MY MANY YEARS OF
LIVING--YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY SAY, THIS IS NOT MY FIRST RODEO.
I'VE LIVED THIS STUFF AND DEALT WITH SO MANY THINGS.
AND I'VE PRETTY MUCH COME TO THE POINT THAT I DON'T THINK THERE'S
ANYTHING ON THIS EARTH THAT CAN EVER REALLY KEEP OUR FLESH
COMPLETELY SATISFIED.
I JUST--BECAUSE THERE'S--IN THE FLESH, NOT IN THE SPIRIT,
BUT IN THE FLESH, THERE'S ALWAYS THAT LITTLE, NAGGING CRY
FOR MORE, MORE.
AND WE HAVE SO MUCH.
EVERY PERSON IN THIS BUILDING TONIGHT, BY MOST PEOPLE'S
STANDARDS IN THE WORLD, YOU WOULD BE EXTREMELY RICH
AND WEALTHY.
I MEAN, EVEN TO HAVE TWO CHANGES OF CLOTHES, IN A LOT OF PARTS IN
THE WORLD, THEY WOULD JUST THINK THAT WAS JUST, LIKE, AMAZING.
AND YET, WE WANT MORE.
AND SO, JUST BE CAREFUL.
I GUESS THE ONLY THING I WANT TO REALLY SAY ABOUT THIS IS JUST BE
CAREFUL ABOUT GETTING ENTANGLED WITH THINGS OF THE WORLD.
JOYCE: WELL, PAUL SAID, "NO SOLDIER WHEN THEY'RE IN SERVICE
GETS ENTANGLED IN THE THINGS OF THE WORLD."
THEY STAY FOCUSED.
HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO EVER COMPLETELY
SATISFY OUR FLESH, SO WE HAVE TO LEARN TO SAY NO TO WRONG THINGS,
AND YES TO RIGHT THINGS.
FOR THE ENTIRE TEACHING OF COLOSSIANS, WE'RE OFFERING
THE "COLOSSIANS ACTION PLAN," FOUR TEACHINGS ON CD AND DVD,
A COLOSSIANS BOOKLET, AND A STUDY GUIDE.
YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STUDY
THE WORD OF GOD.
THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THAN
THE TIME YOU PUT INTO STUDYING THE WORD AND THE FINANCES THAT
YOU SPEND ON PURCHASING THINGS THAT WILL HELP YOU DO THAT.
REMEMBER, IT'S GOD'S WORD THAT TRANSFORMS OUR LIVES.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND REMEMBER, GOD HAS A GREAT PLAN FOR YOU.
ANNOUNCER: FOR A LIMITED TIME, WE'RE OFFERING
"A BIBLE STUDY OF COLOSSIANS ACTION PLAN,"
JOYCE'S TEACHING THROUGH THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS.
JOYCE: THE BIBLE SAYS WE ARE TO BE ROOTED DEEP IN HIS LOVE,
AND WE ARE TO BE ROOTED DEEP IN CHRIST, AND WE'RE TO LEAVE
THE SHALLOWS AND COME OUT INTO THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO GO DEEPER, AND NOT JUST KEEP TRYING TO
IMPRESS PEOPLE WITH HOW MUCH OF EVERYTHING WE DO.
ANNOUNCER: WITH THIS ACTION PLAN, YOU'LL RECEIVE A PERSONAL
STUDY GUIDE, THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS BOOKLET,
AND FOUR TEACHINGS ON CD AND DVD.
THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS IS TRULY A MANUAL FOR UNDERSTANDING
EVERYTHING WE HAVE IN CHRIST.
AS YOU SPEND TIME IN STUDY, DISCOVER HOW IT CAN GUIDE YOU TO
BECOMING MORE LIKE HIM, REFLECTING ON HIS LOVE, JOY,
PEACE, AND STABILITY TO THE WORLD AROUND YOU.
"A BIBLE STUDY OF COLOSSIANS ACTION PLAN," ALL OF THIS CAN BE
YOURS FOR A GIFT OF...
CALL US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
GINGER: IT MAY SEEM A BIT EARLY TO THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS
GIFTS, BUT HOW WOULD YOU FEEL ABOUT FINDING A BEAUTIFUL GIFT
THAT THEY WILL APPRECIATE AND WILL HELP PEOPLE FOR
GENERATIONS?
AFTER ALL, IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START THINKING ABOUT
HELPING OTHERS.
AND YOU CAN CHECK SOME GIFTS OFF YOUR LIST AT THE SAME TIME WITH
THE HAND OF HOPE CHRISTMAS CATALOG.
YOU CAN GIVE A GIFT IN THEIR NAME TO HELP MAKE THIS HOLIDAY
SEASON A LITTLE BRIGHTER FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
FILL A HUNGRY BELLY THROUGH OUR FEEDING PROGRAMS.
REFRESH AN ENTIRE VILLAGE BY PROVIDING CLEAN WATER.
TRANSFORM A CHILD'S FUTURE THROUGH EDUCATION.
SUPPORT GIRLS AND WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH PROJECT GIRL,
OR EASE PHYSICAL SUFFERING THROUGH OUR MEDICAL AND DENTAL
OUTREACHES.
GIVE A GIFT THAT WILL TOUCH THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE IN NEED
WITH THE HAND OF HOPE CHRISTMAS CATALOG.
GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CHRISTMAS AND MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU, FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
TOGETHER, WE'RE SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST AROUND THE WORLD.
TO FIND OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT US ONLINE AT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
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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