ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
GINGER: DOES HELPING OTHERS REALLY HELP YOU?
WELL, THERE IS A BENEFIT TO IT, BUT IT'S REALLY EASY TO MISS
WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH STRUGGLES OF YOUR OWN.
JOYCE WILL SHED SOME NEW LIGHT ON THIS TODAY.
ALSO, OUR "HELP ME" QUESTION IS A GREAT ONE: WHY DO PEOPLE GET
AWAY WITH SIN?
AND WE'RE SHARING "YOUR VOICE" ABOUT BREAKING FREE FROM
BONDAGES.
THAT AND MORE COMING UP.
GINGER: AS WE WALK THROUGH EACH NEW DAY, WE ALL HAVE
QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE JUST PART OF LIFE.
BUT DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE ANSWERS FOR YOU?
GOD SAYS WHEN WE LOOK, WE'LL FIND HIM.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
SO, TOGETHER, WE ARE DISCOVERING LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS.
GINGER: HI, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO "EVERYDAY ANSWERS," WHERE WE
WORK TO PROVIDE BIBLICAL ANSWERS TO LIFE'S QUESTIONS THAT WILL
GUIDE AND STRENGTHEN YOU TO OVERCOME YOUR CHALLENGES.
SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE IS BY HELPING SOMEONE
ELSE WITH THEIRS.
SO, TAKE A LOOK AT THIS COMMENT FROM TWITTER.
HEATHER SAYS: "BY SERVING OTHERS VIA CHURCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA,
IT HELPS ME DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES OF MY CANCER."
WOW, HEATHER, WE WILL PRAY WITH YOU FOR COMPLETE
HEALING, AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR REACHING OUT AND DOING SOMETHING
FOR OTHERS.
IT REALLY IS TRUE, EXACTLY WHAT HEATHER SAYS.
SOMETIMES IN OUR MOST DIFFICULT TIMES, THERE ARE BENEFITS TO
HELPING OTHER PEOPLE, AND JOYCE WILL SHARE THOSE AS SHE ANSWERS
THIS QUESTION FIRST: "WHY SHOULD I HELP OTHERS?"
JOYCE: "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: JAMES 2:14: "WHAT IS THE USE (OR THE PROFIT), MY
BRETHREN, FOR ANYONE TO PROFESS TO HAVE FAITH IF HE HAS NO
[GOOD] WORKS [TO SHOW FOR IT]?
CAN [SUCH] FAITH SAVE [HIS SOUL]?"
NOW, HE'S NOT TALKIN' ABOUT HIS SPIRIT.
HE'S TALKIN' ABOUT HIS SOUL.
YOUR SOUL IS DIFFERENT THAN YOUR SPIRIT.
WHEN JESUS COMES TO LIVE IN YOU, HE COMES TO LIVE IN YOUR SPIRIT.
IT'S OUR SOUL THAT NEEDS A WORK DONE IN IT.
"IF A BROTHER OR A SISTER IS POORLY CLAD AND LACKS FOOD FOR
EACH DAY, AND YOU SAY TO HIM, 'GOOD-BYE!
STAY WARM AND WELL FED--'" OR IT KINDA COMES DOWN
TO THIS: "I'LL PRAY FOR YOU."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THAT'S OUR OUT OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DON'T WANNA
DO, "I'LL PRAY FOR YOU."
AND I'M NOT SAYIN' THAT PRAYER IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT I ALREADY
SAID LAST NIGHT, "LET'S STOP PRAYING ABOUT THINGS AND ASKING
GOD TO DO THINGS THAT WE COULD EASILY DO OURSELVES AND JUST
DON'T WANT TO."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHOO, I'M HAVIN' SO MUCH FUN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND IT'S ONLY FRIDAY MORNING.
YOU KNOW WHY I HAVE FUN?
BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THIS CAN DO FOR OUR LIVES.
I'VE GOT THIS THING BURNING IN ME.
I WANNA SEE PEOPLE HAVE THE LIFE THAT JESUS DIED TO GIVE THEM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S WHAT I WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING.
AND WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE BORN AGAIN IN OUR MEETINGS,
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
BUT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I DON'T WANNA SEE PEOPLE JUST BORN
AGAIN AND THEN STAY MISERABLE.
I WANNA SEE PEOPLE LEARN HOW TO LIVE THE WAY JESUS WANTS THEM TO
LIVE SO THEY CAN HAVE WHAT HE WANTS 'EM TO HAVE, AND THAT IS
PEACE, AND JOY, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND POWER,
AND A GREAT LIFE WHERE WE BEAR GOOD FRUIT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S WHY I GET EXCITED.
"I'LL PRAY FOR YA."
NO, "GOD, I'M GONNA PRAY FOR THEM, BUT IF THERE'S SOMETHIN'
THAT I CAN DO TO HELP, SHOW ME."
YOU KNOW, I DON'T EXPECT TO GET A WHOLE ROOM FULL OF CLAPS.
I'LL TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID GOD JUST MIGHT SHOW US
SOMETHIN'.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MIGHT LOSE MY BRACELET.
I MIGHT HAVE TO APOLOGIZE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: COME ON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA TELL YA SOMETHIN' THAT I READ
YESTERDAY MORNING, AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOOD SO I'LL JUST SEE
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
THIS GUY WAS BASICALLY TALKIN' ABOUT SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND HOW
WE NEED TO GROW UP, AND IT TAKES SACRIFICE DAILY TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT.
PAUL SAID, "I DIE DAILY."
AND WHAT HE MEANT BY THAT WAS, EVERY SINGLE DAY, HE HAD TO SAY,
"NO," TO HIMSELF AND, "YES," TO GOD.
AND EVERY TIME WE SAY, "NO," TO SELF AND, "YES," TO GOD, THERE'S
A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS, "DYING TO THE FLESH,"
ALL RIGHT?
I'D LOVE TO WRITE A BOOK CALLED "DYING TO SELF," AND JUST SEE IF
I COULD SELL EVEN TWO COPIES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO, HE SAID, "WE ALL ADMIRE THE MARTYRS OF THE PAST,
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED RATHER THAN DENY CHRIST."
AND I MEAN, WHO WOULDN'T?
YOU KNOW, YOU READ BOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, "JESUS FREAKS," OR,
"FOXE'S MARTYRS," AND YOU'RE LIKE--SOME OF US GET NERVOUS
PRAYIN' IN A RESTAURANT.
SO INSTEAD OF PRAYIN', WE ACT LIKE WE GOT A HEADACHE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: [MUMBLING]
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THEN IF WE'RE OUT IN PUBLIC
AND WE START TO TALK ABOUT GOD, WE GET QUIET, LIKE...
THE SINNERS ARE SCREAMIN', AND WE'RE GETTIN'
QUIET, YOU KNOW?
AND SO, WE READ THESE STORIES ABOUT THE MARTYRS, AND PEOPLE
WHO WERE EATEN BY LIONS AND SAWN IN HALF AND, YOU KNOW, WENT
BEFORE THE FIRING SQUAD, AND WE'RE JUST LIKE, "AHH."
AND THEY DESERVE HONOR, AND NOBODY'S TRYIN' TO SAY THAT
THEY DON'T.
BUT HE JUST HAD A POINT THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.
HE SAID, "I KNOW PEOPLE PERSONALLY THAT, IF THEY WERE
PUT TO THE TEST, WOULD GO BEFORE A FIRING SQUAD BEFORE THEY WOULD
DENY CHRIST."
AND I IMAGINE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT HERE IN
THIS ROOM.
I THINK I WOULD DO THAT.
NOBODY KNOWS WHAT YOU'D DO, I GUESS, TILL YOU COME RIGHT DOWN
TO IT, BUT I PRAY THAT IF I'M EVER PUT IN THAT POSITION THAT I
HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE WHO GOD WANTS ME TO BE.
HE SAID, "BUT THOSE SAME CHRISTIANS THAT WOULD STAND
BEFORE A FIRING SQUAD RATHER THAN DENY CHRIST, IF YOU TALK
TO THEIR FAMILIES-- ABOUT HOW THEY ARE ON
A DAILY BASIS AT HOME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, THAT'S WHERE WE
NEED TO DIE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BECAUSE TO BE HONEST, I MEAN, A FIRING SQUAD WOULD BE
QUICK AND DONE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: [LAUGHING]
YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS THING GOD'S WAY, IT'S A DAILY,
ALL DAY LONG, DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY AFTER YEAR
AFTER YEAR.
COME ON, GIVE GOD A PRAISE.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: VERSE 17: "SO FAITH, IF IT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS (DEEDS
AND ACTIONS OF OBEDIENCE TO BACK IT UP), BY ITSELF IS
DESTITUTE OF POWER."
AND WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME.
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO CHURCH WEEKLY AND THEN DO
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO HELP ANYBODY ELSE.
AND I WAS ONE OF 'EM FOR A LONG TIME, AND I THOUGHT
I WAS SO SPIRITUAL.
GO TO CHURCH, AND THEN GO OUT WITH MY FRIENDS AFTER
CHURCH AND GOSSIP ABOUT THE PASTOR.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I HAD NOT LEARNED ONE THING ABOUT BRIDLING MY
TONGUE YET.
COME ON, YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND DON'T YOU LEAVE HERE TODAY AND TALK ABOUT ME
IN A BAD WAY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: IN VERSE 18, HE SAID: "BUT SOMEBODY WILL SAY [TO YOU],
'WELL, NOW, YOU [SAY YOU] HAVE FAITH, BUT I HAVE [GOOD] WORKS.
NOW YOU SHOW ME YOUR [ALLEGED]
FAITH APART FROM ANY [GOOD]
WORKS [IF YOU CAN], AND I BY [MY GOOD] WORKS [OF OBEDIENCE] WILL
SHOW YOU MY FAITH.'" NOW, AND THIS IS A GOOD ONE,
"YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ONE; THAT'S GOOD.
DEMONS BELIEVE THAT."
WOW, OKAY THEN.
"ARE YOU WILLING TO BE SHOWN [PROOF]," VERSE 20,
"YOU FOOLISH (UNPRODUCTIVE, SPIRITUALLY DEFICIENT) FELLOW,
THAT FAITH APART FROM [GOOD]
WORKS IS INACTIVE, INEFFECTIVE AND WORTHLESS?"
LET ME SAY AGAIN, WE ARE NOT JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD BY
OUR WORKS.
I MEAN, EPHESIANS 2:8 AND 9 SAYS: "WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE,
NOT BY WORKS.
OUR SALVATION IS NOT BASED ON WHAT ANYBODY CAN POSSIBLY DO.
NOBODY CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR THEIR SALVATION.
IT'S TOTALLY BY THE GRACE AND THE WORK OF GOD.
AND WE RECEIVE THAT BY FAITH."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT WE'VE GOTTA CARE ABOUT SOMEBODY OTHER THAN
OURSELVES.
I MAY BE OKAY, AND I MAY BE ON MY WAY TO HEAVEN, BUT AS
A CHRISTIAN, WE ALL HAVE A JOB.
AND I'M NOT TALKIN' ABOUT YOUR OFFICE JOB OR YOUR FACTORY JOB.
WE ALL HAVE A JOB.
WE ALL HAVE A MINISTRY, AND A MINISTRY DOESN'T HAVE TO
BE UP HERE TO BE A MINISTRY.
I HAVE A MINISTRY BESIDES THIS ONE, IF YOU WANNA KNOW
THE TRUTH, AND I TAKE PART IN IT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE
EVERYWHERE THAT I GO.
BECAUSE WE ARE JUST FOOLING OURSELVES IF WE THINK WE CAN GET
UP IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND PUT ON A SHOW OR PRETEND ON SUNDAY
MORNING TO BE SOMETHIN' SPECIAL, BUT THEN, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
AND IN OUR DAILY LIFE, WE'RE ACTING LIKE THE REST OF
THE WORLD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'M BLOWIN' THE TRUMPET IN ZION, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: JESUS IS COMING SOON, AND WE ALL HAVE A JOB TO DO.
PEOPLE WILL SAY, "WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY PURPOSE IS."
YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO.
GET OUT IN THE WORLD AND ACT LIKE A CHRISTIAN.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BEHAVE LIKE A CHRISTIAN.
SHOW THE FRUIT OF BEING A CHRISTIAN.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU DID SOMETHIN' FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?
AND SOME OF YOU ARE AWESOME.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I--I'M NOT JUST PREACHIN' TO YOU.
WE GOT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WATCHIN' BY TELEVISION IN MANY
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HERE THAT YOU WATCH ME EVERY DAY,
AND IT'S MAYBE BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU DID ANYTHING FOR
ANYBODY ELSE.
I MEAN, JUST MAYBE ONE OR TWO, I DON'T--PROBABLY NOT MANY
THOUGH, I'M SURE.
YOU KNOW, THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT GREED AND SELFISHNESS IS TO BE
AGGRESSIVE IN GENEROSITY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I CAN TELL YA SOMETHIN', THE MORE WE HAVE, THE
MORE TEMPTED WE ARE TO JUST LIVE OUR OWN LITTLE COMFORTABLE LIFE
AND STOP REACHING OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN NEED.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE THE OPPOSITE WAY, BUT IT'S NOT.
I TELL YA SOMETHIN', HE TALKS IN HERE, AND I DIDN'T READ THE
SCRIPTURES, ABOUT HOW THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE RICH AND ALL YOU
HAVE IS YOUR WEALTH, YOU NEED TO NOT BE ALL EXCITED ABOUT WHAT
YOU HAVE, BECAUSE YOU COULD LOSE THAT IN A SECOND.
SO, IF THAT'S ALL YOU HAVE AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FAITH, THEN
YOU'RE ACTUALLY A POOR PERSON.
BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE POOR IN NATURAL THINGS AND THEY HAVE
A FAITH RICH IN GOD, THEY'RE ACTUALLY WEALTHIER THAN THE
PERSON WHO HAS A LOT OF MONEY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I'LL TELL YA SOMETHIN' THAT I'VE LEARNED, AND
WE KNOW IN OUR WESTERN CULTURE WE HAVE SO MANY BLESSINGS THAT
SOMETIMES WE JUST DON'T--I MEAN, I THINK, IN THE PROCESS,
SOMETIMES WE FORGET HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE.
NOW, I CAN BE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD AND GO TO HEAVEN.
AND I CAN REALLY BELIEVE IN GOD, AND I CAN, IF YOU WANNA KNOW THE
ABSOLUTE TRUTH, I CAN PROBABLY MISTREAT PEOPLE WHILE I'M HERE,
AND I CAN STILL END UP GOIN' TO HEAVEN.
BUT I TELL YA WHAT I WON'T HAVE.
I WON'T BE HAPPY.
I WON'T BEAR ANY GOOD FRUIT.
I WON'T TAKE ANYBODY TO HEAVEN WITH ME.
I MIGHT KEEP A FEW PEOPLE OUT.
COME ON, ARE YOU OUT THERE?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I'LL TELL YA WHAT ELSE I WON'T HAVE.
I WON'T HAVE ANY REWARDS WAITING FOR ME WHEN I GET THERE.
AND THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT THERE IS GONNA BE REWARDS
WAITING FOR US BASED ON HOW WE'VE LIVED OUR LIVES AND WHAT
WE HAVE DONE WHILE WE'RE HERE IN THE BODY.
AND I PERSONALLY AM BIG ON REWARDS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, THIS TRIP THAT WE MAKE THROUGH HERE, LET'S EVEN
SAY WE GOT A HUNDRED YEARS, I MEAN, IT'S BAD ENOUGH.
BUT WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN, I DON'T WANNA SPEND ETERNITY
WITHOUT THE BEST LIFE THAT I CAN POSSIBLY HAVE BECAUSE I DIDN'T
DO HERE WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.
I'VE BEEN SAYIN' THIS, AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD STATEMENT.
I THINK WE NEED TO SPEND HERE GETTING READY FOR THERE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SO, MAYBE WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME THINKIN' ABOUT OUR
INSTANTANEOUS COMFORT AND NOT ENOUGH TIME THINKING,
"IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER IF I'M COMFORTABLE HERE OR NOT.
I'VE GOT FOREVER TO LIVE, AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I'M LIVING
NOW IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHEN I STAND BEFORE THE LORD,
I'VE GOT A FULL REWARD COMING BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
FAITHFUL WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE, COME ON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
GINGER: SO, WE'VE LEARNED THAT HELPING OTHERS GLORIFIES
GOD, IT BUILDS UP REWARDS IN HEAVEN, AND IT PROVIDES A GREAT
EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD ABOUT LIFE IN CHRIST.
SO, WE ALSO HAVE SOME RESOURCES TO HELP YOU DEVELOP YOUR
LOVE WALK.
YOU KNOW, WALKING IN LOVE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY
CHANGED JOYCE'S LIFE.
IT'S CHANGED MINE, AND I KNOW THAT IT CAN CHANGE YOURS.
SO, OUR OFFER TODAY IS THIS TEACHING FROM JOYCE.
IT'S CALLED, "HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD."
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT DEVOTIONAL CALLED,
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
NOW, IF YOU DO NOT WANNA HEAR FROM GOD, THEN YOU'VE GOT
SOMETHIN' WRONG IN YOUR LIFE BECAUSE THAT REALLY IS THE KEY
TO EVERYTHING.
AND THIS TEACHING DIRECT FROM GOD'S WORD WILL JUST HELP YOU
UNDERSTAND THE WAY THAT GOD SPEAKS TO US, HOW WE CAN TUNE
IN, HOW WE CAN HEAR HIM, AND THEN HOW WE CAN BE OBEDIENT.
AND THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL, THIS IS SUCH A GOOD ONE, AND IT JUST
MEANS THAT SPENDING THAT LITTLE BIT OF TIME EVERY MORNING WITH
GOD IS SOMETHING THAT WILL REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO, LET US KNOW RIGHT NOW THAT YOU WOULD LIKE THESE RESOURCES.
PICK THEM UP AND WORK ON THAT LOVE WALK.
NOW, YOU MAY SAY THAT YOU'RE JUST TOO BUSY TO HELP OTHERS
RIGHT NOW.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE IN THAT SITUATION.
WE ALL GET IT.
BUT JOINING US NOW IS A MOTHER OF FOUR, WHO TOOK A STEP OF
FAITH AND VOLUNTEERED WITH OUR MEDICAL MISSIONS TEAM TO REACH
OUT TO FAMILIES IN NEED.
AND SHE HAS LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO DO SOMETHING
FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
SARAH LOLLEY IS WITH US.
SARAH, YOU AMAZE ME BECAUSE YOU'RE A MOTHER OF FOUR.
YOU HOMESCHOOL YOUR KIDS.
AND YET, YOU DECIDED, "I'M GONNA TAKE THIS STEP AND I'M GONNA GO
OUT AND GO OVERSEAS AND VOLUNTEER WITH
THE MEDICAL MISSIONS TEAM."
WHAT ON EARTH COMPELLED YOU TO DO THAT?
SARAH LOLLEY: WELL, I THINK IN HAVING FOUR CHILDREN, AND
THEY'RE FAIRLY CLOSE IN AGE, I WONDERED, "WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE
IF I LIVED IN ONE OF THESE OTHER COUNTRIES AND DIDN'T HAVE MY
BASIC NEEDS MET?
WHAT IF MY CHILD NEEDED MEDICAL CARE AND WE DIDN'T HAVE
THE MONEY TO DO IT OR WE DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE?
WHAT WOULD I DO?" AND I THINK THAT REALLY HELPED
ME IN STEPPING OUT AND DOING IT BECAUSE YOU OFTEN--SOME OF THESE
MOTHERS IN THE CLINICS, THEY HAVE THREE, FOUR, FIVE,
SIX CHILDREN, AND THEY COME IN, AND EVERY CHILD NEEDS SOME
KIND OF MEDICATION OR VITAMINS, AND THE MOTHER THEMSELVES
NEEDS SOME KIND OF HELP.
AND SO, IT JUST REALLY SPOKE TO ME, AS IN, LIKE,
"THIS COULD BE ME."
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK, OFTEN WE PRAY LIKE, "GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?
WHY AREN'T YOU HELPING THESE PEOPLE?"
AND OFTEN, HE'S EQUIPPED US, LIKE, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS
HANDS AND FEET, YOU KNOW?
AND AS WE STEP OUT AND HELP THEM, IT IS GOD HELPING THEM.
GINGER: EXACTLY, WAS IT A BLESSING TO YOU TOO?
SARAH: YES, YES, I THINK, AND JUST SEEING PEOPLE'S--THEY'RE
NOT ONLY GETTING THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET, LIKE, PHYSICAL NEEDS,
THEY'RE ALSO GETTING THEIR SPIRITUAL NEEDS MET.
AND JUST SEEING THE COMBINATION OF BOTH AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT
REALLY DOES MAKE IN THE KIDS AND THE ADULTS' LIVES, AND, I MEAN,
IT CHANGES YOU ALSO.
THAT, YES, IT COMPLETELY SPEAKS TO YOU.
GINGER: AND YOU HAVEN'T JUST DONE THIS ONE TIME NOW.
YOU'VE DONE IT HOW MANY TIMES?
HOW MANY TRIPS HAVE YOU BEEN ON?
SARAH: WENT ON FIVE TRIPS WITH HOH, AND I WILL BE GOING ON
MY SIXTH THIS NOVEMBER.
GINGER: WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
SARAH: ETHIOPIA.
GINGER: ETHIOPIA.
SARAH: YES, ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
GINGER: YEAH, WELL, I'LL TELL YA, IT REALLY IS ENCOURAGING TO
THINK, NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE IN LIFE, IF GOD CALLS US TO DO
SOMETHING, IF HE ASKS US TO HELP OTHERS IN A PARTICULAR WAY, HE
GIVES US EVERYTHING WE NEED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO, JUST, FINALLY, HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE SOMEONE, WHETHER IT'S
DOING SOMETHING AS LARGE AS TAKING A MEDICAL MISSIONS TRIP,
OR SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS GOING TO A NEIGHBOR AND SEEING WHAT
THEY NEED?
HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE SOMEONE TO STEP OUT AND DO SOMETHING
FOR SOMEONE ELSE?
SARAH: I MEAN, YOU JUST HAVE TO GO FOR IT.
AS SCARY AS IT CAN BE, I THINK THAT'S OFTEN WHEN WE KNOW WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING, WHEN WE FEEL THE, LIKE, "OH, GOSH,
I DON'T THINK I COULD DO THIS," OR, "SO MUCH COULD GO WRONG,
MAYBE I SHOULDN'T."
I THINK IT'S THOSE LITTLE PROMPTINGS THAT IT'S KIND OF
LIKE THAT'S PROBABLY GOD TELLING YOU.
AND IF YOU JUST TRUST HIM, HE EQUIPS YOU.
AND SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DIFFICULT, BUT IT CAN
STRENGTHEN YOU.
AND YOU LOOK BACK AND YOU REALIZE, LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH,
I WAS SO SCARED ON THAT VERY FIRST TRIP."
AND HE REALLY HELPS YOU, AND IT CAN BE YOUR NEIGHBOR.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY.
I MEAN, YOUR NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR NEED TO KNOW GOD
AND EVERYTHING TOO.
GINGER: YEAH, THANK YOU, SARAH, WE APPRECIATE IT.
AND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING AND DOING THOSE TRIPS.
I KNOW HOW LIFE CHANGING THEY ARE.
THEY ARE FANTASTIC.
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE SIMILAR TO SARAH'S,
CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING AT ONE OF OUR MEDICAL TEAMS WITH ONE OF
OUR TEAMS.
AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN JUST CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE,
JOYCEMEYER.ORG/MEDICALMISSIONS, AND YOU'LL FIND ALL
THE INFORMATION THERE.
AND IF THAT IS NOT WHAT GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO, THEN ASK HIM
WHAT HE IS CALLING YOU TO DO AND GO DO IT.
YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU'LL HELP THAT PERSON, AND YOUR LIFE
WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
IT'S WELL WORTH THE COMMITMENT AND THE INVESTMENT THAT YOU
WILL MAKE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT A REALLY BIG QUESTION
ON YOUR HEART, AND YOU NEED AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW.
WE CALL THOSE OUR "HELP ME" QUESTIONS, AND JOYCE
TACKLES THOSE.
IT'S TIME FOR OUR "HELP ME" QUESTION NOW.
[MUSIC]
GINGER: JOYCE, WE HAVE A QUESTION, AND IT'S FROM SOMEONE
THAT SAYS THEY'RE ANONYMOUS, BUT IT COULD BE JUST ABOUT ANYBODY
OUT THERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE ALL-TIME QUESTION THAT WE
READ THROUGH GOD'S WORD.
"WHY DOES GOD LET SINFUL PEOPLE GET AWY WITH THEIR SINS,
WHILE THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIS WORD SUFFER?"
JOYCE: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, GOD DOES NOT LET PEOPLE GET
AWAY WITH THEIR SIN.
HE MIGHT BE GIVING THEM MERCY FOR A SPACE OF TIME,
TRYIN' TO DEAL WITH THEM.
BUT YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT.
I WAS WATCHING A MOVIE RECENTLY WHERE EVERYBODY IN THIS FAMILY
WAS JUST SO WICKED, YOU KNOW?
THEY WENT TO CHURCH AND IT WAS ALL A PRETENSE, AND I MEAN,
THERE WAS JUST SO MANY TRAGIC THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN
THEIR LIFE.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE, "YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING.
HOW CAN THAT MANY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO ONE FAMILY?"
BUT I JUST KEPT FEELING IN MY HEART, "YOUR SIN WILL FIND
YOU OUT.
YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT."
AND REALLY, NOBODY GETS BY WITH SIN.
PSALM 37 IS A GREAT PSALM TO READ THAT, IN THE END, THE MEEK
WILL INHERIT THE EARTH, AND GOD DOES DEAL WITH THE WICKED.
BUT HIS TIMING IN DOING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST LEAVE UP
TO HIM.
AND SO, IN THE MEANTIME, WE GET TO PRAY FOR THEM, AND WE GET TO
BE PATIENT, WHICH IS ALWAYS QUITE INTERESTING.
GINGER: I LOVE THAT, "WE GET TO BE PATIENT."
JOYCE: YEAH, WE GET TO BE PATIENT, WHICH IS ALWAYS
QUITE INTERESTING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT ALWAYS AGGRAVATES US, ESPECIALLY WHEN
WE FEEL THAT MAYBE SOMEBODY THAT'S WICKED AND SINFUL
ACTUALLY SEEMS TO HAVE MORE MATERIAL BLESSINGS THAN WE DO.
BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT PEACE WITH GOD IS THE MOST
VALUABLE GIFT THAT WE CAN HAVE.
SO, THE PERSON WHO'S DOING WHAT'S RIGHT IS GOING TO HAVE
THAT PEACE WITH GOD.
AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT SOMEBODY LIVING IN SIN, KNOWINGLY LIVING
IN SIN AND BEING WICKED AND EVIL, CAN HAVE THAT KINDA
PEACE IN THEIR LIFE.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO REALIZE WHAT WE DO HAVE AND JUST NOT
ASSUME THAT SOMEBODY'S GETTING BY WITH SOMETHING, BECAUSE SIN
HAS ITS OWN PUNISHMENT, AND IT WILL CHASE YOU DOWN AND FIND YOU
OUT AND DEAL WITH YOU.
GINGER: WELL, AND EVERYBODY SUFFERS.
I MEAN, THAT IS JUST PART OF THE NATURE OF SIN IN THE WORLD.
WE ALL, WHETHER WE FOLLOW GOD'S WORD OR NOT, HAVE PAIN
IN OUR LIVES.
BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK IS SO HELPFUL IS TO NOT TO HAVE THAT
NEED TO SEE THE SINFUL PAY FOR IT.
LET GOD TAKE CARE OF IT.
IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY.
AND THAT PEACE THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE SO MUCH
MORE PEACE IF WE LEAVE THAT IN HIS HANDS AND WE DON'T FEEL
LIKE, "I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THEM SUFFER FOR WHAT
THEY'RE DOING."
JOYCE: WELL, AND ACTUALLY, IF OUR HEART'S RIGHT, WE SHOULDN'T
EVEN WANT THAT FOR PEOPLE.
WE SHOULD WANT GOD TO GIVE THEM A SPACE OF TIME TO DEAL WITH
THEM AND BRING THEM AROUND TO WHAT'S RIGHT.
SO, IF I'M JUST REALLY, YOU KNOW, GETTIN' EXCITED WHEN
SOMEBODY THAT'S WICKED IS SUFFERING, THEN I PROBABLY NEED
TO EXAMINE MY OWN HEART AND SEE WHAT GOD NEEDS TO DO IN ME.
GINGER: YEAH, THANK YOU.
[MUSIC]
GINGER: WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WOULD YOU ALLOW US TO TACKLE SOME OF YOUR BIG LIFE QUESTIONS?
WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP.
YOU CAN SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO US THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
GO ON TWITTER, USE #ASKJOYCE.
YOU CAN DO 'EM ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, OR OUR "EVERYDAY ANSWERS"
PAGE AT OUR WEBSITE, JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
IT'S REALLY EASY.
YOU JUST PUT YOUR QUESTION IN AND BE WATCHING FOR A TIME THAT
JOYCE MIGHT ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, WHETHER IT'S OUR
"HELP ME" SEGMENT OR THROUGH SOME OF HER TEACHING.
AND SO IT IS REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE WHAT GOD'S WORD HAS TO SAY
ABOUT OUR OWN PERSONAL DILEMMAS.
WE ALSO LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY, SO NOW IT'S TIME
FOR "YOUR VOICE."
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GINGER: THANKS FOR SHARING HOW GOD HAS BEEN FREEING YOU
FROM BONDAGE.
YOUR ANSWERS ARE REALLY INSPIRING.
HERE IS ONE FROM KATHRYN.
SHE SAYS: "GOD HAS TAKEN AWAY MY BITTERNESS AND ANGER
TOWARD PEOPLE.
FOR ONCE, I CAN TRULY LOVE AGAIN AND BE LOVED.
I'VE HAD THREE BAD MARRIAGES AND I DIDN'T CARE ANYMORE.
I HATED LIFE, BUT WITH PRAYER--EVERYTHING CHANGED.
I LET GOD IN MY LIFE, AND I AM A BRAND-NEW ME."
THAT IS FANTASTIC.
TIA SAYS: "I'VE BEEN HOME WITH AN INJURY FOR OVER A MONTH NOW,
AND IT'S BEEN HARD TO REMAIN PATIENT.
PART OF ME WANTS TO GET BETTER FAST SO I CAN 'PLEASE EVERYONE'
WHO'S WAITING FOR ME TO GET BETTER.
BUT JESUS TELLS ME TO REST.
I AM HEALING!
I'M BEING PATIENT AND DOING ALL I CAN, SO I CAN RECOVER AND AM
LETTING GOD WORK THINGS OUT.
IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL PRESSURED TO BE WHAT EVERYONE EXPECTS ME
TO BE, BUT JESUS SAYS REST AND LET GO OF THE FEAR."
WELL, I'LL TELL YA, IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY IN SOME OF THOSE
SITUATIONS TO REST AND TO BE PATIENT.
AND WE DO HAVE THAT BONDAGE SOMETIMES OF MAKING EVERYBODY
ELSE HAPPY AND DOING WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO.
SO, WE HOPE THAT YOU'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED BY SOME OF THESE
THINGS.
YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
IF YOU JUST ARE HAVIN' KIND OF A HARD DAY AND YOU NEED SOME
ENCOURAGEMENT, CHECK IT OUT.
AND TODAY, WE WANT YOU TO TELL US HOW YOU'RE GOING TO REACH OUT
AND HELP SOMEONE ELSE.
MAKE A PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
IF YOU DON'T MAKE A PLAN, YOU'LL NEVER FOLLOW THROUGH.
SO, DECIDE RIGHT NOW, AND THEN GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELL US.
USE #EA, AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE SHARING SOME OF THESE THINGS
WITH YOU VERY SOON ON THE PROGRAM.
RIGHT NOW, HERE'S A GLIMPSE AT WHAT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK.
JOYCE: STOP THINKING THAT YOU CANNOT ENJOY YOUR LIFE UNTIL ALL
OF YOUR PROBLEMS ARE OVER WITH.
A STRONG CHRISTIAN WHO'S STANDING IN CHRIST AND WALKING
IN GOD CAN ENJOY THEIR LIFE BECAUSE IT'S THE WILL OF GOD
FOR THEM TO ENJOY IT.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE LIVING ON VACATION, BUT IT MEANS
THAT YOU'RE LIVING IN THE REST OF GOD.
GINGER: DON'T FORGET THAT OFFER WE TOLD YOU ABOUT.
IT IS A GREAT ONE, A DEVOTIONAL TO REALLY HELP YOU IN YOUR TIME
WITH GOD CALLED, "MY TIME WITH GOD."
THESE LITTLE DEVOTIONALS FROM JOYCE ARE POWER PACKED.
AND THIS, FOUR TEACHINGS ON CD CALLED, "HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD."
WHAT A GREAT THING THAT WE ALL NEED.
SO, PICK THESE UP TODAY.
USE THE PHONE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.
GO TO THE WEBSITE.
BUT DON'T WAIT.
AS PART OF REALLY STARTING THAT NEW--IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN DOING
IT ALREADY, STARTING THAT NEW TIME WITH GOD AS A COMMITMENT.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HELP OTHERS UNTIL YOU'VE REALLY FILLED
YOURSELF UP WITH GOD'S WORD.
SO, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?
REMEMBER, YOU WON'T HELP ANYONE ELSE UNTIL YOU REALLY MAKE IT
A PRIORITY.
SO GIVE IT SOME EFFORT.
AND IF YOU DON'T, YOU MAY BE MISSING OUT ON SOMETHING
QUITE AMAZING.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENS, SO MAKE SURE TO LET US
KNOW, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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