ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK WHEN YOU'VE HAD A MAJOR FAILURE IN YOUR LIFE, AND YOU
FIND THE FAITH TO GO ON WITH GOD AND LET GO OF YOUR PAST, I THINK
IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS THAT YOU CAN EVER DO
IN YOUR LIFE.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: YOU CANNOT HAVE SPIRITUAL MATURITY, I CANNOT
AND YOU CANNOT, WE CANNOT BECOME WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BE AND DO
WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD DOES.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW COMFORTABLE OR UNCOMFORTABLE
THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR SOME PEOPLE TODAY, BUT I'LL TELL YOU,
WE NEED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT NOT LIVING IN SIN, SAYING NO
TO STUFF, NOT COMPROMISING.
BECAUSE THE ENEMY IS USING IT TO BRING DECEPTION
INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES.
"IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT, JUST A LITTLE BIT.
EVERYBODY ELSE DOES IT, IT DOESN'T MAKE
THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE."
I AM PLEADING WITH YOU TODAY.
AND YOU KNOW, THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, "I BEG OF YOU."
I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO DO THE KIND OF STUFF
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, AND YOU SEE WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO
IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, AND YOU SEE
THEM CONTINUE TO COMPROMISE, IT'S LIKE THERE'S
JUST LIKE A--PLEASE START DOING WHAT YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD
WANTS YOU TO DO, AND NOT JUST WHAT ALL YOUR FRIENDS
WANT YOU TO DO, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OKAY, CAN I HAVE MY SLINGERS COME OUT?
COME ON, YOU'VE GOT SLINGERS IN YOUR LIVES, SLINGERS
THAT TEMPT YOU TO COMPROMISE.
LET'S SLING A LITTLE COMPROMISE OUT THERE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: WHEW.
OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, NOW HERE IS THE THING THAT I WANT TO BRING
TO YOUR ATTENTION.
AND I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN, SO I ALREADY HAD IT PLANNED
IN MY MESSAGE.
YOU GUYS CAN GO BACK NOW UNTIL I NEED YOU AGAIN.
LISTEN, WHEN THEY SLUNG THE STONES OF COMPROMISE
OUT THERE, YOU WERE ALL TRYING TO CATCH IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: COME ON, I COULD SAY AMEN AND WE COULD GO TO LUNCH,
AND YOU GOT THE MESSAGE.
YOU WERE ALL TRYING TO CATCH IT.
AND WHAT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING WAS...
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU COULD TO AVOID IT.
YOU KNOW, THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD THE FLOW OF GOD IN HIS LIFE,
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.
AND, BUT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A COUPLE OF SCRIPTURES
AND SEE WHY.
ACTS 23:1, "THEN PAUL, GAZING EARNESTLY AT THE COUNCIL
(OF SANHEDRIN), SAID, 'BRETHREN, I HAVE LIVED BEFORE GOD,
DOING MY DUTY WITH A PERFECTLY GOOD CONSCIENCE
UNTIL THIS VERY DAY [AS A CITIZEN
AND A TRUE, LOYAL JEW].'"
LET ME JUST SAY AGAIN GOD HAS GIVEN US OUR CONSCIENCE.
AND WHEN YOUR CONSCIENCE HAS BEEN ENLIGHTENED
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT--NOW, THERE IS A FALSE GUILT THAT PEOPLE
CAN CARRY AROUND.
I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
I HAD TO LEARN ENOUGH OF THE WORD TO KNOW WHAT WAS
TRULY RIGHT AND WHAT WAS TRULY WRONG.
BECAUSE TO BE HONEST, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT,
ANYTHING YOU TRY TO DO IN LIFE TO ENJOY YOURSELF,
THE DEVIL'S GOING TO MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT.
SO, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS REAL CONVICTION FROM THE HOLY GHOST
COMPARED TO WHAT IS CONDEMNATION FROM THE DEVIL, AMEN?
THE THING THAT PAUL SAID, WHICH I LOVE THIS, HE SAID,
"I'M FREE TO DO ANYTHING.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT'S ILLEGAL FOR ME."
IN OTHER WORDS, TO BE HONEST, YOU CAN COMPROMISE
AND PROBABLY STILL GO TO HEAVEN.
A LOT OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT,
YOU COULD PROBABLY STILL DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND GO
TO HEAVEN.
BUT IT'S NOT THE BEST THING FOR YOU, IT'S NOT THE BEST
EXAMPLE TO THE WORLD.
YOU KNOW, THE WORLD IS JUST LOOKING AT US, LOOKING
FOR EXCUSES TO JUDGE AND CRITICIZE US,
AND YELL THAT WE'RE PHONY.
SO, YOU PUT A BUMPER STICKER ON YOUR CAR, AND THEY'RE
GOING TO WATCH YOUR BEHAVIOR.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE THAT MANY TIMES
PEOPLE WILL TEST US.
THEY'LL TRY TO GET US TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW IS
WRONG JUST SO IF WE DO IT, THEN
OUR PRESENCE DOESN'T CONVICT THEM ANYMORE OF THEIR SIN
BECAUSE NOW WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING THAT THEY'RE DOING.
BUT THEN THEY JUDGE US AND CRITICIZE US FOR IT.
MY DAD WAS SUCH--HE WAS JUST--HE WAS JUST NOT A GOOD MAN.
NOT ONLY WAS HE ABUSIVE, BUT HE WAS VIOLENT, AND HE JUST--HE
NEVER LIKED ANYBODY, HE DIDN'T TRUST ANYBODY.
AND YOU KNOW, HE--EVERY WEEKEND, HE WENT OUT AND GOT DRUNK.
AND WE HAD A FAMILY THAT LIVED NEXT DOOR TO US THAT RAN
A LARGE DENOMINATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DID ALL THE RULES AND REGULATIONS,
WENT TO CHURCH ALL THE TIME.
AND I REMEMBER MY DAD SAYING, "THEY'RE NO BETTER THAN I AM.
THEY GET DRUNK JUST LIKE I DO."
SO, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE BEHAVE
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, ALL WE'RE DOING IS GIVING THEM FUEL TO SAY
THAT WE'RE JUST PHONIES AND THAT WHAT WE HAVE
IS REALLY NOT REAL.
OUR BEHAVIOR AND OUR LIFESTYLES NEED TO BRING A GODLY CONVICTION
ON PEOPLE.
NOT LIKE A JUDGMENTAL SPIRIT, BUT PEOPLE NEED TO BE
A LITTLE BIT CONVICTED ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR
IN YOUR PRESENCE.
AND THE ONLY WAY THAT'S EVER GOING TO HAPPEN IS
IF YOU HOLD A STANDARD.
NOT BEING JUDGMENTAL TOWARD THEM, NOT BEING CRITICAL TOWARD
THEM, NOT TRYING TO MAKE THEM FEEL GUILTY, BUT YOU HAVE
TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOURSELF.
MY HUSBAND, WHEN HE WORKED IN THE ENGINEERING FIELD BEFORE
HE CAME TO WORK AT THE MINISTRY MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO,
DAVE WAS ALWAYS A GODLY MAN, HE HAD STANDARDS IN HIS LIFE
AND, YOU KNOW, THE GUYS WOULD SIT AROUND
AND THEY KNEW DAVE WAS A CHRISTIAN, AND HE'S TOLD ME
ABOUT TIMES WHEN THEY WOULD BE TELLING REALLY DIRTY JOKES.
AND I MEAN, I HAVE ALL THE DETAILS RIGHT,
AND IF I DON'T, I KNOW DAVE WILL CORRECT ME LATER
'CAUSE HE'S BIG ON ALL THE DETAILS BEING RIGHT.
BUT HE SAID--HE TOLD ME SOME STORY ABOUT ONE GUY
WHO WAS TRYING TO--CAME UP TO HIS AREA WHERE HE WORKED,
AND STARTED TRYING TO TELL HIM A DIRTY JOKE.
AND HE LOOKED AT HIM, AND HE SAID, "NOW, WHY ARE YOU
TRYING TO TELL ME THAT?
YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT I'M A BELIEVER IN GOD AND I
DON'T LIKE THAT KIND OF STUFF."
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT HARD TO DO THAT
BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW YOU SEPARATE YOURSELF
FROM THE REST OF THE PACK.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THE OTHER SIDE OF IT WAS?
WHEN THIS GUY GOT IN TROUBLE LATER ON WITH HIS MARRIAGE
AND HIS WIFE WAS LEAVING HIM, WHO DO YOU THINK HE CAME TO
TO GET SOME HELP AND SOME COUNSEL?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT THE THING THAT I ALWAYS REALLY LIKED
ABOUT THE WAY DAVE HANDLED HIMSELF AT WORK WAS HE
WOULD CONFRONT PEOPLE, BUT NOT IN A CRITICAL
OR A JUDGMENTAL WAY.
HE WOULD BE JUST AS FRIENDLY WITH THAT GUY THE NEXT TIME HE
SAW HIM AS IF THAT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.
AND THE PLACE WHERE WE GET IN TROUBLE IS WHERE WE GET
AN ATTITUDE.
"WELL, I'M BETTER THAN YOU," AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE
CAN'T STAND.
YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE THAT ATTITUDE, BUT YOU
DON'T NEED TO COMPROMISE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD
FOR THEM TO BE WILLING TO ACCEPT YOU, AMEN?
SO, WE WANT TO KEEP OUR CONSCIENCE CLEAR BEFORE GOD
BECAUSE COMPROMISE IS LIKE
A STONE THROWN INTO YOUR WELL, AND IT'S GOING TO MESS UP
THE FLOW IN YOUR LIFE.
THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN HAVING A GUILTY CONSCIENCE
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOU DID THAT YOU KNEW GOD DID NOT WANT
YOU TO DO.
BUT SEE, HERE'S THE THING.
WE GET SO USED TO COMPROMISING AND DOING THINGS
BELOW GODLY STANDARD, IF NOBODY EVER CONFRONTS IT,
THEN WE JUST KEEP DOING IT.
LITTLE BIT, LITTLE BIT, LITTLE BIT, UNTIL ALL OF A SUDDEN,
OUR LIVES ARE RUINED AND WE
DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A BELIEVER THAT WAS ONCE REALLY STRONG
WITH GOD, STARTED GETTING OFF TRACK?
AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT, LITTLE BIT, LITTLE BIT.
AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMEBODY SAYS, "I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM."
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
IT HAPPENED A LITTLE HERE, LITTLE THERE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENED IN OUR COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, HOW DID WE GET FROM WHERE WE WERE, BEING
THE KIND OF NATION THAT WE WERE, TO WHERE WE'RE AT TODAY?
WELL, IT DIDN'T JUST--YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL IS PATIENT.
COME ON, HE TAKES HIS TIME.
HE WILL WORK IN OUR LIVES A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT,
A LITTLE BIT.
AND THAT LITTLE BIT LIE IS ONE OF THE LIES THAT YOU
HAVE TO REALLY WATCH FOR.
NOW, I KNOW SOMETIMES THIS GETS A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE
BECAUSE WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO HAVE OUR FUN, WE WANT TO BE
PART OF THE GROUP, WE WANT TO DO ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT THE THING IS, IS I'M NOT STANDING HERE TELLING YOU TODAY,
GIVING YOU A LIST OF THINGS YOU CAN'T DO.
WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THAT IF YOU DO WHAT GOD WANTS
YOU TO DO, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A FREEDOM AND A JOY
THAT'S GOING TO BE WORTH A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN ANYTHING
YOU THINK YOU HAVE TO WALK AWAY FROM TO GET IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ROMANS 9:1, "I'M SPEAKING THE TRUTH
IN CHRIST.
I'M NOT LYING.
MY CONSCIENCE ENLIGHTENED AND PROMPTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
BEARS WITNESS WITHIN ME."
SO, PAUL WAS SAYING, "LOOK, I DON'T HAVE KNOWN SIN
IN MY LIFE."
DOESN'T MEAN HE DIDN'T--THAT HE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT,
BUT HE SAID, "I'VE GOT A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.
I'M GOOD WITH GOD."
NOW, THERE'S TWO WAYS TO KEEP FROM HAVING A GUILTY CONSCIENCE.
ONE OF THEM IS WHEN YOU SIN, TO BE QUICK TO REPENT
AND WILLING TO TURN AWAY FROM WHAT YOU'VE DONE WRONG.
THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S A GOOD PLAN, THAT DOOR'S ALWAYS OPEN.
BUT IF IT CONTINUES TO BE THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER
AND OVER AND OVER, THEN MAYBE THAT'S AN INDICATION
THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO JUST STOP REPENTING FOR,
AND JUST DECIDE THAT NEEDS TO GO OUT OF OUR LIVES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING WHEN WE DO SOMETHING WRONG AND WE
DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE THAT WE'RE DOING IT WRONG.
BUT THE MORE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE, THE MORE RESPONSIBLE WE BECOME
TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE ROUTE
OF SINNING, FEELING GUILTY, HAVING GOD DEAL WITH US,
REPENTING, FINALLY RECEIVING MERCY, GETTING BACK
TO SQUARE ONE AGAIN, AND THEN DOING THE SAME THING
ALL OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
SO YES, WE CAN REPENT.
THANK GOD THAT HIS MERCY'S NEW EVERY DAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN EVER OUT-SIN GOD'S FORGIVENESS.
BUT, I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A BETTER WAY TO LIVE,
AND THAT IS TO DECIDE TODAY, "IT'S TIME FOR ME TO COME UP
TO A NEW LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY, AND INSTEAD
OF JUST REPENTING ALL THE TIME FOR THE SAME STUFF, I WANT
TO START DOING WHAT GOD LEADS ME TO DO THE FIRST TIME HE LEADS ME
TO DO IT SO I DON'T HAVE TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD AGAIN."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: EVERY COMPROMISE IS A STONE OR SOME DIRT
IN YOUR WELL.
DAVID SAID IN PSALM 18:23, "I WAS UPRIGHT BEFORE HIM
AND BLAMELESS WITH HIM, EVER [ON GUARD] TO KEEP MYSELF FREE
FROM MY SIN."
COUPLE OF WORDS THERE, "ON GUARD"
AND, "TO KEEP MYSELF FROM SIN."
SO, DAVID DIDN'T JUST WISH THE DEVIL WOULD LEAVE HIM ALONE.
HE DIDN'T JUST WISH THERE WOULD BE NO TEMPTATION.
HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO LIVE MY LIFE AND BE THE WARRIOR
THAT I SHOULD BE.
I'M GOING TO BE ON GUARD, I'M GOING TO LIVE CAREFULLY,
I'M GOING TO WATCH FOR THE LIES OF SATAN, I'M GOING TO WATCH
FOR THE COMPROMISES THAT THE SLINGERS SLING MY WAY,
AND I'M GOING TO KEEP MYSELF, WITH THE HELP OF GOD,
IN A PLACE WHERE I CAN HAVE THE KIND OF LIFE THAT GOD
WANTS ME TO HAVE."
YOU KNOW, IF YOU READ THE BIBLE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT,
YOU SEE THAT PHRASE "ON GUARD" OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
JUST READ YOU THREE QUICK SCRIPTURES, 1 CORINTHIANS 16:13,
"BE ON GUARD, STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH."
YOU KNOW, THE ENEMY WILL TRY EVERY WHICH WAY THAT HE CAN
TO STEAL YOUR FAITH.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT HE DOES IT IS BY SLINGING STONES
OF DOUBT AND UNBELIEF AT YOUR MIND.
ANYBODY EVER HAVE SOME PROBLEM HANGING ON TO THE PROMISES
OF GOD, AND CONTINUING TO BELIEVE THAT GOD'S WORD
IS TRUE IN YOUR LIFE, AND HE'S GOING TO DO WHAT HE
SAID HE'S GOING TO DO?
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE WE INHERIT THE PROMISES OF GOD THROUGH FAITH
AND PATIENCE.
AND WHILE YOU'RE HAVING THE PATIENCE, THAT'S WHEN
THE ENEMY COMES AGAINST US WITH HIS LIES ABOUT, WELL,
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, IT'S NOT TRUE FOR YOU,
AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
BE ON GUARD. YOU KNOW WHAT?
VICTORIOUS CHRISTIANITY IS NOT FOR A LAZY PERSON.
IT TAKES EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT TO WALK IN VICTORY.
AND WE CAN'T BE SLEEPY CHRISTIANS.
YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE EVEN TALKS ABOUT THAT, SLEEPY CHRISTIANS.
YOU KNOW, THE TEN VIRGINS, FIVE OF THEM STAYED ALERT,
AND THEY WERE ON GUARD, AND THEY WAITED
UNTIL THE BRIDEGROOM CAME.
FIVE OF THEM GOT SLEEPY, THEY GOT LAZY, AND THEY WENT
TO SLEEP, AND THEY MISSED OUT IN THE END.
MARK 13:33, "BE ON GUARD AND ALERT FOR THE PRACTICE
OF PRAYER."
LUKE 21:34 THROUGH 36, "BUT TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES
AND BE ON YOUR GUARD, LEST YOUR HEARTS BE OVERBURDENED
AND DEPRESSED (AND WEIGHED DOWN) WITH THE GIDDINESS
AND THE HEADACHE AND THE NAUSEA OF SELF-INDULGENCE, DRUNKENNESS,
WORLDLY WORRIES, AND CARES PERTAINING TO [THE BUSINESS
OF] THIS LIFE, [LEST] THAT DAY COME UPON YOU SUDDENLY LIKE
A TRAP OR A NOOSE."
YOU KNOW WHAT? JESUS IS COMING BACK SOMEDAY.
NOW, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TODAY, WE DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S TOMORROW.
NOT ONE OF US KNOWS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO MEET OUR SAVIOR.
WHETHER HE RETURNS OR HE DECIDES TO BRING US HOME, NOBODY IS
GUARANTEED ANYTHING BEYOND THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
AND WE NEED TO LIVE LIKE WE BELIEVE THAT, WHERE WE'RE NOT
JUST PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, SO TO SPEAK, THINKING WE'VE GOT
ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, BUT WE NEED TO LIVE LIKE JESUS
IS COMING BACK AT ANY MOMENT.
ALL RIGHT, I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT THAT,
BUT LET'S GO TO--LET'S GO TO ANOTHER ONE HERE.
HOW ABOUT STONES OF WORRY, ANXIETY, AND FEAR?
WE NEVER RUN OUT OF THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT, DO WE?
OH MY GOSH.
AND I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU READ THE BIBLE, I DON'T CARE HOW
MANY SCRIPTURES YOU CAN QUOTE, I DON'T CARE HOW MANY TIMES A DAY
YOU WATCH JOYCE MEYER ON TV, OR HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK YOU GO
TO CHURCH, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO USE YOUR FAITH.
COME ON, IT DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO HAVE FAITH, WE HAVE TO USE
OUR FAITH, AND THAT WE NEED TO USE IT WHEN THE ENEMY THROWS
THESE STONES OF WORRY, FRETTING, ANXIETY.
I MEAN, EVEN LIKE SITUATIONS LIKE I TOLD YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
MY SCIATIC NERVE THING THERE BOTHERING ME.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH IN MY LIFE TO KNOW
THAT GOD ALWAYS HAS AN ANSWER, ALWAYS.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT
AND GO THROUGH A FEW THINGS.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WHILE YOU'RE WAITING, HERE COMES THE STONES
OF, "WELL, WHAT IF?" HOW MANY STONES DO YOU THINK
THAT YOU GET THROWN AT YOU EVERY DAY THAT JUST ARE LABELED,
"WHAT IF?"
WELL, WHAT IF THIS?
AND WHAT IF THAT?
AND WHAT IF SOMETHING ELSE?
AND SO, THIS IS WHEN WE NEED TO KNOW THE WORD.
AND WHEN THE ENEMY THROWS THOSE THINGS AT US, WE NEED
TO KNOW HOW TO THROW THE WORD BACK AT HIM.
THE BIBLE SAYS, "BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING."
LET'S JUST LOOK AT ONE SCRIPTURE,
PHILIPPIANS 4:6.
"DO NOT FRET OR HAVE ANY ANXIETY ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY
CIRCUMSTANCE AND IN EVERYTHING, BY PRAYER AND PETITION,
(DEFINITE REQUEST), WITH THANKSGIVING,
CONTINUE TO MAKE YOUR WANTS KNOWN UNTO GOD."
WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK THE WORD AGAINST THE LIES
OF THE ENEMY.
HOW MANY OF YOU GOT THIS LITTLE BOOK CALLED "THE SECRET POWER
OF GOD'S WORD"?
ANYBODY HAVE THIS?
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALK ABOUT A BOOK AND NOT MANY PEOPLE
CLAP AND YOU DON'T HAVE IT, THAT MEANS YOU NEED IT.
THIS IS JUST SCRIPTURES FOR YOU TO CONFESS IN EVERY AREA
THAT YOU COULD THINK OF, ANGER, THE ENEMY CONDEMNING YOU
ABOUT PAST MISTAKES.
WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO THROW THE ROCK OF THE WORD BACK
AT THE ENEMY WHEN HE THROWS STONES AT US.
YOU KNOW WHAT? PAUL HAD A PAST.
I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES IN THE APOSTLE PAUL'S LIFE
THE ENEMY THREW OR TRIED TO THROW A STONE AT HIM.
"WELL, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TO BE GOING AROUND TRYING
TO TELL ALL THESE CHURCHES WHAT TO DO?
YOU WERE THE ONE THAT USED TO TRY TO PERSECUTE
THE CHURCHES."
HE ATTENDED THE STONING OF STEPHEN.
MARY HAD A PAST.
NOT A VERY GOOD PAST, AND SHE ENDED UP TRAVELING WITH JESUS.
SHE WAS ON THE TRAVEL TEAM, AND SHE'D BEEN A PROSTITUTE.
MY GOSH, I GOT SOME OF THOSE I'M SURE, AMEN?
I MEAN, IF YOU KNEW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I DID,
OH MY GOSH, YOU WOULD THINK THERE'S NO WAY THAT I
CAN LISTEN TO THAT LADY.
BUT SEE, HERE'S THE THING.
WHEN WE'RE IN CHRIST, WE DIE TO OUR OLD LIFE, AND WE BECOME
A BRAND-NEW CREATURE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BOY, WHAT ABOUT PETER?
MAN, DID PETER EVER HAVE A PAST, WHEW.
BOY, ONE OF THE 12, AND HE DENIED KNOWING CHRIST 3 TIMES,
DENIED HIM.
"I DON'T KNOW THE MAN."
EVEN USED BAD LANGUAGE.
"I DON'T KNOW HIM, NO, I'M NOT WITH HIM."
BUT BOY, WHEN THE ROOSTER CROWED AND HE REMEMBERED WHAT JESUS HAD
TOLD HIM, CAN YOU EVEN--I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE
HOW PETER FELT, HOW HARD IT MUST HAVE BEEN FOR HIM TO GO ON.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK WHEN YOU'VE HAD A MAJOR FAILURE IN YOUR LIFE, AND YOU
FIND THE FAITH TO GO ON WITH GOD
AND LET GO OF YOUR PAST, I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS
THAT YOU CAN EVER DO IN YOUR LIFE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT DOESN'T TAKE
THAT MUCH STRENGTH TO SIT AROUND AND FEEL GUILTY ALL THE TIME.
I MEAN, I WAS REALLY GOOD AT THAT BEFORE I
STARTED HANGING OUT WITH JESUS.
I MEAN, WE CAN ALL SIT AROUND AND FEEL BAD ABOUT OURSELVES,
AND THINK WE'LL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING,
AND WE DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING REALLY HUGE THAT WILL REALLY
MAKE THE DEVIL MAD, WHENEVER YOU'VE ACTED YOUR WORST,
GO TO GOD, SAY, "I'M SORRY FOR THE WAY THAT I BEHAVED,
BUT I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO HELP ME ANYWAY, AND I'M GOING
TO ASK YOU TO USE ME ANYWAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE WHAT YOUR WORD
SAYS, THAT I CAN LET GO OF WHAT LIES BEHIND AND I
CAN PRESS ON TO THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE AHEAD."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DON'T DISCOUNT YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT
A PAST THAT'S NOT VERY PLEASANT.
GOD IS AN EXPERT AT TAKING MESSED UP PEOPLE AND USING THEM
FOR HIS GLORY.
MATTER OF FACT, I THINK HE KIND OF PREFERS TO WORK
THROUGH MESSED UP PEOPLE RATHER THAN PERFECT PEOPLE BECAUSE THEN
EVERYBODY'S SHOCKED AND GOD GETS ALL THE GLORY.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
COME ON, DON'T PLAN FOR SOME KIND OF A BACKSEAT
IN LIFE AND AN INFERIOR LIFE BECAUSE YOU HAD A BAD BEGINNING.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU GET STARTED,
WHAT MATTERS IS HOW YOU FINISH.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE JOY THAT PETER
MUST HAVE FELT.
BUT IT--MAYBE IT TOOK HIM A WHILE TO REALLY GET IT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHEN MARY WENT
BACK TO THE DISCIPLES, AND SHE SAID, "OH LISTEN, HE SAID
TO TELL YOU, AND PETER, HE ESPECIALLY MENTIONED YOU
BY NAME."
HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT JESUS MENTIONED BY NAME.
"GO AND TELL MY DISCIPLES AND PETER THAT HE IS RISEN,"
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "GO AND TELL MY DISCIPLES AND PETER THAT HE
IS RISEN."
I'M SURE THE ENEMY HAD PETER CONVINCED THAT HE WOULD BE
LEFT OUT, BUT JESUS MADE SURE THAT HE KNEW THAT HE
WAS NOT BEING LEFT OUT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE'S CALLING YOUR NAME TODAY, AND HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW ALSO
THAT HE IS RISEN.
AND NO MATTER WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN YOUR PAST,
WHEN THE ENEMY THROWS THOSE STONES OF PAST THINGS
THAT YOU'VE DONE AT YOU, JUST THROW A GOOD PIECE
OF THE ROCK BACK AT HIM AND SAY,
"IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE.
OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY, AND BEHOLD, ALL THINGS BECOME
BRAND NEW."
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: WELL, DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS HINDERING
THE FLOW OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE?
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE WE
GET RID OF HINDERANCES LIKE COMPROMISING, WORRY, ANGER,
UNFORGIVENESS, AND LOTS OF OTHER THING.
WHAT FLOWS OUT OF US DIRECTLY AFFECTS OTHERS, AND A LIFE
OF GODLY STANDARDS WILL DRAW OTHER PEOPLE TO JESUS CHRIST.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU A DEVOTIONAL CALLED
"MY TIME WITH GOD," AND THERE'S NOTHING ANY MORE IMPORTANT
THAN YOUR TIME WITH GOD.
AND I WROTE THIS DEVOTIONAL, A LOT OF IT, DURING MY TIME
WITH GOD, SO I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A BLESSING TO YOU.
AND ALSO FOUR TEACHINGS THAT EVERYBODY LIKES TO HEAR
ABOUT "HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD."
I THINK THESE RESOURCES ARE GOING TO REALLY BE
A BLESSING TO YOU.
NOW, I'LL BE BACK WITH A FINAL WORD AFTER THIS.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: SPENDING TIME WITH GOD IS THE KEY
TO DEVELOPING A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THAT WILL
ENRICH EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
JOYCE MEYER OFFERS FRESH INSPIRATION OF HOW TO CREATE
DEEPER INTIMACY WITH THE LORD IN HER DEVOTIONAL,
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
THESE DAILY ENCOURAGEMENTS COME FROM PERSONAL THOUGHTS
AND INSIGHTS FROM HER OWN LIFE AND HER DESIRE TO HELP YOU
GROW CLOSER TO GOD.
IN ADDITION, JOYCE'S FOUR-CD SERIES, "HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD,"
WILL HELP YOU DEVELOP THE HABIT OF FELLOWSHIPPING WITH HIM,
AND YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO HEAR HIS VOICE SO THAT YOU CAN WALK
IN HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
THESE POWERFUL RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT OF...
OR MORE.
TO ORDER, CALL US TOLL-FREE...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: WELL, I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THE TEACHING
ON THE TELEVISION PROGRAM EVERY DAY, AND I HOPE AND PRAY
THAT YOU DON'T JUST ENJOY IT, BUT THAT IT'S REALLY CHANGING
YOUR LIFE.
NOW, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME.
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU WILL SEND IN A SPECIAL FINANCIAL GIFT
TODAY JUST TO HELP US NOT ONLY PAY FOR THE AIR TIME
ON THE PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE WATCHING, BUT ALSO TO REACH OUT
TO OTHER HURTING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD
WHO HAVE NOT YET HEARD THE GOOD NEWS.
YOU KNOW, REALLY WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS PEOPLE LIKE YOU
HELP US.
GOD IS DOING A GREAT WORK, AND WE WANT YOU TO BE
PART OF IT.
YOU KNOW, OUR TIME ON THIS EARTH I BELIEVE IS SHORT, AND WE NEED
TO TRY TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
SO, WILL YOU JOIN ME IN DOING THAT
BY SENDING IN A REALLY SPECIAL, GENEROUS GIFT JUST TO HELP
WITH TELEVISION AIR TIME?
AND THAT'S WHAT YOUR GIFT WILL BE ENTIRELY USED FOR TODAY.
THANK YOU, AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE GENEROUS.
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 CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, NOVEMBER 10 AND 11, WITH WORSHIP
BY ELEVATION WORSHIP.
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU SEE ON TV
AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE
OR CALL...
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.
JOYCE: I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REALIZE
THAT EVERYTHING YOU DO, INCLUDING LIFE, IS A JOURNEY.
AND YOU HAVE SEASONS, AND YOU HAVE STAGES OF GROWTH, AND YOU
HAVE DORMANT SEASONS, AND YOU HAVE PLANTING SEASONS, AND YOU
HAVE HARVEST SEASONS, AND YOU HAVE SEASONS OF DIGGING UP
FALLOW GROUND.
AND SO, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT SEASONS
IN OUR LIFE, AND WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE
ALL OF THOSE.
[MUSIC]
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.
[MUSIC]
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét