ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: NOT ONE OF US DESERVE ONE THING THAT GOD DOES FOR US
AND UNTIL WE KNOW THAT WE WILL NEVER BE REALLY TRULY GRATEFUL
IN THE WAY THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE GRATEFUL.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: TODAY I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE PARABLE OF
THE LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD AND, BOY, DOES THIS EVER TEACH
US A LESSON.
BEGINNING IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 20, VERSES 1 THROUGH 16.
FATHER, HELP US WITH YOUR WORD TODAY TO MAKE IT PLAIN AND CLEAR
AND LET US ALL GROW SPIRITUALLY AS A RESULT OF YOUR WORD.
"THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE AN OWNER OF AN ESTATE WHO WENT
OUT IN THE MORNING ALONG WITH THE DAWN TO HIRE WORKMEN
FOR THE VINEYARD.
AFTER AGREEING WITH THE LABORERS FOR A DENARIUS A DAY, HE SENT
THEM INTO HIS VINEYARD.
AND GOING OUT ABOUT THE THIRD HOUR,
HE SAW OTHERS STANDING IDLE IN THE MARKETPLACE; AND HE
SAID TO THEM, YOU GO ALSO INTO THE VINEYARD, AND WHATEVER IS
RIGHT I WILL PAY YOU THAT.
AND THEY WENT.
AND HE WENT AGAIN AT THE SIXTH HOUR, AND HE WENT
AGAIN AT THE NINTH HOUR."
AND THE WAY THIS WORKED, WAS PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE JOBS
WOULD GO OUT AND THEY WOULD STAND IN THIS CERTAIN PLACE
WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO COME ALONG AND HIRE THEM TO DO
A DAY'S LABOR.
SO SOME GOT HIRED REAL EARLY IN THE MORNING, SOME GOT HIRED
AT 9 O'CLOCK, SOME GOT HIRED AT NOON,
SOME GOT HIRED AT 3 O'CLOCK, SO YOU WOULD AUTOMATICALLY THINK
THAT THOSE WHO WORKED THE LONGEST GOT THE MOST,
WOULDN'T YOU?
WELL, THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE WAY WE THINK THEY SHOULD BE
IN GOD'S KINGDOM.
HE ACTUALLY LIKES TO DO THINGS THAT NOBODY REALLY UNDERSTANDS.
"SO AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR," ONE HOUR BEFORE QUITTING TIME,
"HE WENT OUT AND HE FOUND STILL OTHERS STANDING AROUND,
AND HE SAID TO THEM, WHY DO YOU STAND HERE IDLE ALL DAY?
AND THEY SAID, BECAUSE NOBODY HAS HIRED US."
NOW, SOMETHING THAT KIND OF CAME TO MY HEART THAT I THINK IS
INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PARABLE IS I THINK THAT MAYBE THE MASTER
WAS REALLY PLEASED BECAUSE AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T GIVE UP.
THEY STOOD THERE ALL DAY.
AND I THINK SOMETIMES THE ONE THING
THAT GOD'S WAITING FOR US TO DO IS JUST NOT GIVE UP.
AND YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR YOU EVEN IN
THE 11TH HOUR IF YOU JUST WILL NOT GIVE UP.
"BECAUSE NOBODY'S HIRED US AND HE SAID, WELL, YOU GO OUT INTO
THE VINEYARD AND I WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER'S JUST AND FAIR."
NOW THE ONLY GROUP THAT HE TOLD THEM WHAT HE WOULD GIVE THEM
WAS THE FIRST GROUP.
THE REST OF THEM HE SAID, "I WILL GIVE YOU WHATEVER IS
JUST AND RIGHT AND FAIR."
"WHEN EVENING CAME, THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD SAID TO HIS
MANAGER, CALL THE WORKMEN NOW AND PAY THEM THEIR WAGES,
BEGINNING WITH THE LAST AND ENDING WITH THE FIRST,"
WHICH THAT'S ALSO INTERESTING.
YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HE WOULD HAVE BEGUN WITH THE FIRST
AND ENDED WITH THE LAST, BUT HE STARTED WITH THE LAST BECAUSE HE
WAS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS GONNA AGGRAVATE ALL THE REST
OF THESE PEOPLE AND HE DID IT ON PURPOSE.
"AND THOSE WHO HAD BEEN HIRED AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR CAME AND THEY
RECEIVED A DENARIUS EACH.
NOW WHEN THE FIRST CAME, THEY SUPPOSED THEY WOULD GET MORE,
BUT EACH OF THEM ONLY RECEIVED A DENARIUS."
BY THE WAY, I TRIED TO FIND OUT WHAT A DENARIUS WAS BUT--ON OUR
BEAUTIFUL INTERNET I FOUND 3 DIFFERENT AMOUNTS RANGING FROM
$3.62 ALL THE WAY UP TO, LIKE, A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS AND
I THOUGHT, "WELL, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT."
BUT ANYWAY, IT WAS AN AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND SO THEY GOT THE DENARIUS THAT GOD HAD TOLD THEM THEY
WOULD GET BUT THEY HAD STOOD THERE AND WATCHED ALL THESE
OTHER PEOPLE GET JUST AS MUCH AS THEY GOT, EVEN THOUGH THEY
DIDN'T WORK AS HARD OR AS LONG.
"AND WHEN THEY RECEIVED IT, THEY GRUMBLED AT THE OWNER OF THE
ESTATE, SAYING, WELL, THESE [MEN] WHO CAME AND WORKED LAST,
NO MORE THAN AN HOUR, AND YET YOU MADE THEM RANK WITH US
AND WE'VE BEEN THE ONES THAT HAVE BORNE THE BURDEN AND
THE SCORCHING HEAT OF THE DAY.
BUT HE ANSWERED ONE OF THEM, FRIEND, I AM DOING YOU
NO INJUSTICE.
DID I NOT GIVE YOU WHAT I AGREED TO GIVE YOU?
TAKE WHAT BELONGS TO YOU AND GO.
I CHOOSE TO GIVE THIS HIRED--THE MAN I HIRED LAST THE SAME
AS I GAVE YOU."
OKAY, NOW, WE GOTTA WATCH VERSE 15.
"AM I NOT PERMITTED TO DO WHAT I CHOOSE WITH WHAT IS MINE?"
OKAY, LET ME JUST GET REAL PLAIN BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY GOT A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF TIME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WHAT GOD GIVES OTHER PEOPLE IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BOY, IF WE COULD EVER LEARN TO JUST STAY OUT OF
EVERYBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS AND NOT HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT
THEY GET COMPARED TO WHAT WE GET AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY DESERVE
IT AND I DESERVE MORE AND WHY ARE YOU GETTING WHAT I'M
BELIEVING FOR WHEN I'M THE ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE IT.
AND I'M SURE NONE OF YOU ARE LIKE THAT BUT I DO OCCASIONALLY
HAVE PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA.
AND SO HERE AGAIN, I'LL PREACH TO MYSELF AND IF YOU NEED
IT YOU CAN LISTEN.
"[DO YOU BEGRUDGE ME BEING GENEROUS?]
IS YOUR EYE EVIL BECAUSE I AM GOOD?
SO THOSE WHO [NOW] ARE LAST WILL BE FIRST, AND THOSE WHO [NOW]
ARE FIRST WILL BE LAST."
THAT'S INTERESTING.
DO YOU KNOW THAT WE KIND OF LIVE--IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE AN UPSIDE-DOWN KINGDOM THAT'S RIGHTSIDE-UP.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE WAY GOD DOES THINGS IS REALLY THE RIGHT WAY
BUT COMPARED TO THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE IN THE WORLD, IT REALLY
SEEMS LIKE IT'S THE TOTAL OPPOSITE OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
IF YOU WANT MORE, YOU'VE GOTTA GIVE AWAY SOME OF WHAT
YOU'VE GOT.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU GET MORE IN THE KINGDOM IS BY GIVING
SOME OF WHAT YOU HAVE.
BUT THE WORLD SAYS IF YOU WANNA HAVE MORE YOU GOTTA BE GREEDY
AND SAVE EVERYTHING YOU GET YOUR HANDS ON.
WE WOULD THINK THAT THE ONE THAT WAS FIRST WOULD GET THE MOST BUT
IN THIS INSTANCE THE GUY THAT WAS LAST GOT JUST AS MUCH
AS THE ONE THAT WAS FIRST.
NOW, WHAT IS THE MESSAGE IN SOME OF THESE PARABLES?
WELL, SEVERAL DIFFERENT MESSAGE IN THIS ONE.
ONE IS DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
DON'T LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE GETTING AND WONDER WHY YOU'RE
NOT GETTING THE SAME AND ESPECIALLY THE MESSAGE IS
WHATEVER IT IS THAT GOD IS DOING FOR YOU, DON'T EVER MAKE
THE MISTAKE OF THINKING THAT YOU DESERVE IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'LL GO SLOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEART MOTIVES,
THINGS THAT ARE BURIED DEEP DOWN IN PEOPLE THAT MANY OF US NEVER
EVER, EVER EVEN GET AROUND TO DEALING WITH.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE SUPER-DUPER-CHRISTIAN IF YOU
COULD SIT THERE THIS MORNING AND TELL ME THAT YOU NEVER FEEL
JEALOUS OF OTHER PEOPLE OR THAT WHEN SOMEBODY THAT YOU THINK IS
NOT NEARLY AS SPIRITUAL AS YOU--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WHEN THEY GET BLESSED MORE THAN YOU, OH MAN, DON'T ACT
LIKE THAT DOESN'T TICK YOU OFF BECAUSE IT DOES, AMEN?
"WELL GOD, I GET UP EVERY MORNING AND
PRAY 3 HOURS BEFORE I GO TO WORK AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY
KNOW HOW TO PRAY, AND," YOU KNOW.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WELL, I'VE BEEN IN CHURCH ALL MY LIFE,"
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
I SO REMEMBER A SITUATION IN MY OWN LIFE OVER 40 YEARS AGO AND,
YOU KNOW, SO OFTEN WHEN THINGS HAPPEN AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY THEY HAPPEN, GOD IS LETTING THINGS HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE'S
A LESSON THAT HE WANTS TO TEACH US.
AND I HAD A FRIEND, MAYBE YOU'VE HEARD ME TELL THIS STORY.
I HAD A FRIEND AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS--I MEAN, I REALLY DID LOVE
THE GIRL BUT THERE WAS A LOT ABOUT HER PERSONALITY THAT I
DIDN'T LIKE.
I WAS REAL DISCIPLINED, SHE WASN'T SO DISCIPLINED.
I HAD A PLAN FOR EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY, YOU KNOW?
SHE WAS JUST REALLY...
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
DO YOU REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS TO LET OTHER PEOPLE BE THE WAY THEY
ARE EVEN IF THEY'RE DIFFERENT THAN YOU AND NOT RESENT THEM
FOR BEING THAT WAY?
AND TO BE HONEST, SHE ENJOYED HER LIFE A WHOLE LOT MORE THAN
I DID.
AND I THINK THAT MADE ME MAD TOO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, ANYWAY, I WAS BELIEVING GOD FOR A CERTAIN
THING AND WASN'T GETTING IT, WASN'T GETTING IT, WASN'T
GETTING IT.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, GOD GAVE HER WHAT IT WAS THAT I WANTED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND WHEN SHE CAME OVER, "OH, YOU ARE NOT GONNA
BELIEVE WHAT GOD DID FOR ME."
AND SHE WAS ALL EXCITED AND I WAS TRYING TO BE
THE PROPER CHRISTIAN, "OH, PRAISE THE LORD."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "OH, HOW AWESOME.
WOW, THAT--" AND, YOU KNOW,
INSIDE I'M THINKING, "GOD, GET HER OUT OF MY HOUSE BEFORE I
ABSOLUTELY HAVE A SCREAMING FIT."
I DID NOT--I DID NOT THINK THAT SHE DESERVED IT.
I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT BECAUSE I DESERVED IT.
I GAVE MORE TO THE KINGDOM THAN SHE DID.
I PRAYED LONGER THAN SHE DID.
I TAUGHT THE BIBLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW WHAT A HYPOCRITE IS?
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT HYPOCRITES TODAY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, IF THE CHURCH WASN'T FULL OF
HYPOCRITES THE REST OF THE WORLD WOULD ALREADY BE SAVED, RIGHT?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: I MEAN HONESTLY AND TRULY, THAT'S THE BIGGEST
PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE IS WE'RE GOOD AT TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO
DO BUT THEN NOT DOING IT OURSELVES.
OOH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SO MUCH FUN TODAY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ACTUALLY, THIS AFTERNOON MAY BE EASY COMPARED
TO THIS MORNING, I DON'T KNOW.
AND SO THE THING THAT I REALIZED, YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
I GOT MAD AT GOD.
I WAS MAD BECAUSE HE WAS GENEROUS TO THIS PERSON THAT I
DID NOT THINK DESERVED IT.
AND SEE, THE POINT IS, IS NOT ONE OF US DESERVE ANYTHING THAT
GOD DOES FOR US.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
NOT ONE OF US DESERVE ONE THING THAT GOD DOES FOR US AND UNTIL
WE KNOW THAT WE WILL NEVER BE REALLY TRULY GRATEFUL IN THE WAY
THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE GRATEFUL BECAUSE THE MINUTE THAT WE START
THINKING THAT GOD OWES US SOMETHING BECAUSE OF OUR GOOD
WORKS--"WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT HAPPENED TO ME.
I MEAN, I GO TO CHURCH, I TITHE, I SERVE AT CHURCH.
WHY DID I GET SICK?
WHY DID MY CHILD GET SICK?
I MEAN, THIS UNBELIEVER OVER HERE, THEY DIDN'T GET
THE FLU AND, HERE, I GOT THE FLU AND I'M--I DO,
I DO, I DO, I DO THIS, I DO THAT."
AND MANY TIMES, GOD LETS THOSE THINGS HAPPEN JUST SO WE CAN--HE
CAN GET TO THE ROOT OF THIS ATTITUDE, THIS RELIGIOUS
ATTITUDE THAT GETS DOWN ON THE INSIDE OF US THAT WE DESERVE
GOD'S BLESSINGS BECAUSE WE'RE DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS.
DOES ANYBODY NEED THIS TODAY?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU'RE NOT SURE YET, OKAY.
WELL, I REALIZED LATER THAT I WAS BEING SO PHONY.
I WAS PRETENDING LIKE I WAS HAPPY FOR HER AND I WAS NOT
HAPPY.
I WAS ENVIOUS. I WAS JEALOUS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, I WAS MAD AT GOD FOR BLESSING HER.
AND I MEAN, THE STUFF THAT WAS COMING OUT OF ME.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR HEARTS
AND NOT JUST PUT ON THIS CHRISTIAN SHOW FOR EVERYBODY.
"OH, PRAISE THE LORD.
I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU.
OH, BLESS YOU, BLESS YOU."
WE'VE ALL GOT A CHURCH FACE, DON'T WE?
AND SOME OF YOU PUT YOURS ON THIS MORNING BEFORE YOU WALKED
IN THE BUILDING.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I WELL REMEMBER WHEN DAVE AND I WOULD FIGHT AND ARGUE
ALL THE WAY TO CHURCH BUT LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN WE GOT TO
THE CHURCH DOOR, "PRAISE THE LORD."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, COMPARISON.
YOU KNOW, THIS THING ABOUT COMPARING OURSELVES WITH OTHER
PEOPLE AND COMPARING OUR BLESSINGS WITH OTHER--OR
COMPARING YOUR TRIALS.
SOMETIMES WE WONDER WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY TRIALS AND THIS
PERSON OVER HERE DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY.
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH STUFF.
EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH THINGS.
IT MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, IT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING
THAT WOULD EVEN BOTHER YOU BUT EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH
DIFFICULTIES IN THEIR LIFE.
SO WE START ALL THE WAY OVER IN GENESIS WHEN CAIN ENDED UP
BEING SO JEALOUS OF ABEL THAT HE KILLED HIM.
AND SO IN GENESIS CHAPTER 4 BEGINNING IN VERSE 3
IT SAYS: "AND IN THE COURSE OF TIME CAIN
BROUGHT TO THE LORD AN OFFERING OF THE FRUIT OF THE GROUND.
AND ABEL BROUGHT OF THE FIRSTBORN OF HIS FLOCK
AND OF THE FAT PORTIONS.
AND THE LORD HAD RESPECT AND REGARD FOR ABEL AND FOR HIS
OFFERING, BUT FOR CAIN AND HIS OFFERING HE HAD NO RESPECT
OR REGARD."
NOW WHY WAS THAT?
THEY BOTH BROUGHT AN OFFERING.
WHY WAS GOD PLEASED WITH ONE AND NOT WITH THE OTHER?
BECAUSE IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE HERE, ACTUALLY
WHAT CAIN BROUGHT WAS THE WORK OF HIS OWN HANDS.
HE BROUGHT THE FRUIT OF THE GROUND BUT ABEL BROUGHT
THE FIRSTFRUIT OF HIS FLOCKS AND GOD'S NOT ASKING FOR OUR WORKS,
HE'S ASKING FOR OBEDIENCE.
WE REALLY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CANNOT EARN ANYTHING
FROM GOD BASED ON WORKS OF THE FLESH.
GOD WANTS US TO WORK BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN WORKS
OF THE FLESH AND WORK.
WORKS OF THE FLESH IS MY EFFORT TRYING TO EARN GOD'S GOODNESS,
BUT MY WORK THAT I DO FOR GOD IS SOMETHING THAT I DO BECAUSE OF
HIS GOODNESS, NOT TO GET HIS GOODNESS.
HOW MANY OF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
I DON'T GET UP AND PRAY TO GET MY LITTLE CHECKMARK ON MY GOD
CALENDAR.
I DON'T READ THE WORD EVERY DAY OR STUDY THE WORD BECAUSE NOW
I'M PUTTING IN MY TIME WITH GOD AND SO NOW HE'S GONNA OWE ME
SOMETHING BECAUSE I DO THAT.
WE DO THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE LOVE GOD, NOT TO GET HIM TO
LOVE US.
SO IT ENDED UP, CAIN GOT SO JEALOUS OF ABEL THAT HE KILLED
HIM AND WHAT HE SAID TO CAIN WAS, "WHY ARE YOU ANGRY
AND DISPLEASED?
IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING, WILL YOU NOT BE BLESSED?"
SO ONE OF THE MESSAGES I WANT TO GET ACROSS THIS MORNING IS EACH
ONE OF US IS ONLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR OURSELVES.
WE DON'T EVER NEED TO LOOK AT SOMEBODY ELSE, CARE ABOUT
WHAT GOD'S DOING WITH THEM.
EACH ONE OF US NEEDS TO REALIZE WE'RE ONLY RESPONSIBLE TO DO
WHAT GOD IS ASKING US TO DO AND IF WE DO THE PART THAT GOD GIVES
US TO DO, WE WILL ALWAYS BE BLESSED AND BE TAKEN CARE OF,
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASK SOMETIMES, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH
ANYMORE BUT IN THE PAST THEY'VE ASKED A LOT, WELL, HOW DOES THIS
THING WORK WITH DAVE AND I, YOU KNOW, WITH ME BEING THE ONE
THAT'S MORE OUT IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, DAVE SITS
THERE AND IS A SUPPORT AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S A LOT OF
THINGS THAT DAVE HAS DONE THAT NOBODY EVEN KNOWS ABOUT.
HE'S BEEN A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
BUT THE POINT IS, IS THAT BACK WHEN I STARTED DOING WHAT I'M
DOING, IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL FOR A WOMAN TO DO WHAT I'M DOING WHILE
THE MAN DID WHAT DAVE IS DOING.
AND SO PEOPLE HAVE ASKED US WASN'T THAT HARD?
WELL, YOU KNOW, MY HUSBAND IS SO GREAT.
HE GOT OVER THE WHOLE PROBLEM IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS.
IT DOESN'T TAKE HIM LONG TO GET OVER PROBLEMS.
NOW, ME, IT MIGHT HAVE TAKEN 30 YEARS BUT HE GOT OVER IT
IN 3 WEEKS.
AND AT FIRST, IT WAS HARD FOR HIM.
"GOD, WHY DID YOU CALL HER?
WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME?
NORMALLY, THE MAN DOES THIS."
CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING?
GOD DOES NOT ALWAYS DO THINGS "NORMALLY."
HE DOES NOT ALWAYS DO THINGS BASED ON THE WAY WE THINK
THAT HE SHOULD DO THEM.
MATTER OF FACT, HE LOVES TO DO THINGS KIND OF UPSIDE DOWN.
AND SO IN TALKING TO GOD ABOUT THIS, GOD BASICALLY SHOWED DAVE,
"THAT'S WHAT I'VE ANOINTED HER TO DO AND I'VE ANOINTED YOU
TO DO OTHER THINGS.
IF YOU TRY TO DO WHAT SHE'S DOING, YOU'RE GONNA BE MISERABLE
AND SO IS SHE.
BUT IF YOU DO THE PART," NOW LISTEN TO ME.
"IF YOU DO THE PART THAT I'M GIVING YOU TO DO WITHOUT HAVING
ANY KIND OF A COMPETITIVE SPIRIT TOWARD HER, I WILL ALWAYS GIVE
YOU JOY AND YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE A GOOD LIFE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY PEOPLE RUIN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE THEY SPEND
THEIR LIFE BEING JEALOUS OF WHAT GOD IS USING SOMEBODY ELSE FOR
INSTEAD OF JUST DOING THE PART THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THEM TO DO?
SO DAVE DOES THE PART THAT GOD HAS GIVEN HIM TO DO AND, TO BE
VERY HONEST WITH YOU, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT SITTING THERE
LISTENING TO ME FOR 40-SOME-ODD YEARS IS MUCH HARDER THAN
BEING UP HERE DOING IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I DON'T KNOW HOW THE MAN DOES IT.
HE LAUGHS AT EVERYTHING I SAY.
I MEAN, HE ACTUALLY APPEARS TO BE INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING
I SAY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND I'VE ASKED HIM SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, "ARE
YOU REALLY THAT INTERESTED?" AND HE'S, LIKE,
"YEAH, I LOVE IT.
I LOVE IT."
AND SO-- FEMALE: WE LOVE YOU, DAVE.
JOYCE: YEAH, WE LOVE YOU, DAVE.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: SO LET ME JUST SAY SOMETHING TO ANY MAN WHO WOULD
BE MAN ENOUGH TO LISTEN.
IF GOD IS TRYING TO USE YOUR WIFE, DON'T--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DON'T JUST GET ALL, "WELL, [MUTTERING]."
JUST DO THE PART THAT GOD IS GIVING YOU TO DO AND GOD
WILL BLESS YOU.
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO DO
WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT ALL THAT COMES FROM?
INSECURITY.
ANY--YOU SEE, DAVE IS A GREAT MAN.
HE OBVIOUSLY KNOWS WHO HE IS IN CHRIST.
SO LET ME SAY AGAIN, IF I DO WHAT'S RIGHT, THAT GOD HAS GIVEN
ME TO DO, IF YOU DO WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU TO DO, WE'RE ALL GONNA
BE HAPPY, WE'RE ALL GONNA BE BLESSED, AND GOD IS GONNA TAKE
CARE OF US.
BUT IF DAVE WAS TRYING TO DO WHAT I'M DOING, I MEAN, WE TRIED
IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE A PASTOR SAID, "BROTHER, YOU
SHOULD BE TEACHING THAT BIBLE STUDY IN YOUR HOME," AND SO DAVE
THOUGHT, "OOH, OKAY, I GUESS I SHOULD TRY."
WELL, HE TRIED TO TEACH AND I TRIED TO SHUT UP AND NEITHER
ONE OF 'EM WORKED VERY GOOD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT BE HERE TODAY
OR MIGHT EVEN BE LISTENING THAT YOU'RE UNHAPPY BECAUSE
YOU'RE TRYING TO BE SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT.
BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO DO SOMEBODY ELSE'S ASSIGNMENT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT GOD ORDERS, HE SUPPLIES THE GRACE FOR.
BUT IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY
ELSE IS DOING IT AND GOD'S NOT IN IT FOR YOU, IT'S NOT GONNA
WORK.
DON'T BE JEALOUS OF WHAT GOD DOES THROUGH ANYBODY ELSE
BECAUSE WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO THROUGH YOU IS JUST AS GREAT AS
WHAT HE DOES THROUGH ANYBODY ELSE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW THE WORLD LOOKS AT IT.
THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS ARE YOU DOING YOUR ASSIGNMENT
FROM GOD.
YOU CAN GO AND CLEAN THE BATHROOMS WHEN THIS MEETING IS
OVER AND BE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANYBODY UP HERE ON THE PLATFORM,
AS LONG AS YOU'RE DOING THE PART THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU TO DO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT FROM
GOD, SOMETHING THAT HE HAS GIVEN US THE GRACE AND THE ABILITY
TO DO.
AND YOU KNOW, I'VE DISCOVERED FROM MY OWN LIFE AND FROM TRYING
TO HELP A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT IF WE'RE NOT DOING WHAT GOD
HAS ASSIGNED US TO DO, WE REALLY JUST END UP NOT BEING
VERY HAPPY.
WE DON'T FEEL FULFILLED.
AND SO I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU TO DO
WITHOUT COMPARING WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT MAKES PEOPLE UNHAPPY.
THEY FEEL LIKE THAT IF WHAT THEY'RE DOING DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
AS BIG OR AS GRAND AS WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS DOING,
THAT IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
BUT BY KEEPING YOUR FOCUS ON GOD, YOU WILL BE BLESSED AND GOD
WILL ALWAYS MEET YOUR NEEDS.
TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THE BIBLE
IN A MORE IN-DEPTH WAY.
WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WITH
A LOT OF HARD WORK THE "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND
BIBLE."
IT'S A STUDY BIBLE AND, OF COURSE, IT'S THE WHOLE BIBLE
BUT WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED ALL THE SCRIPTURES ON THE MIND
AND THE MOUTH AND LOTS OF ARTICLES IN
THERE THAT I'VE--TEACHINGS THAT I'VE DONE AND LIFE POINTS THINGS
FOR EACH DAY.
I BELIEVE MORE THAN ANY OTHER AREA WE HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH OUR
THOUGHTS AND ALSO WITH THE THINGS THAT WE SAY.
AND YOU'LL FIND BOTH OF THOSE REALLY HIGHLIGHTED AND COVERED
WELL IN THIS BIBLE.
AND IT'S GONNA HELP YOU NOT JUST READ THE WORD OF GOD BUT STUDY
THE WORD OF GOD, THANK YOU.
ANNOUNCER: NEW FROM JOYCE MEYER,
A STUDY BIBLE DESIGNED TO HELP YOU RENEW YOUR THOUGHTS:
THE "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND BIBLE,"
WITH INSIGHT FROM JOYCE'S BESTSELLING BOOK,
"BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND," PAIRED WITH THE SCRIPTURES THAT
INSPIRED THEM.
EXPLORE GOD'S WORD IN A DEEPER WAY TO HELP YOU LEARN TO THINK
HOW GOD THINKS, GAIN PRACTICAL TRUTHS FOR OVERCOMING LIFE'S
CHALLENGES, TRAIN YOUR MIND FOR ULTIMATE VICTORY AND MORE.
THE "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND BIBLE."
RENEW YOUR MIND THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD,
FROM JOYCE MEYER.
RECEIVE YOUR COPY TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT OF...OR MORE.
CALL...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, DURING THIS SPECIAL SEASON OF THANKFULNESS,
I'D LIKE TO SAY A VERY HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU,
OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT IN 2017, TOGETHER WE WERE ABLE
TO HELP PEOPLE IN DESPERATE NEED AND SHARE CHRIST
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WELL, THIS YEAR, GOD USED YOUR GENEROSITY TO BUILD WATER WELLS
AND CHURCHES IN INDIA AND AFRICA, PROVIDE MILLIONS OF
MEALS AT FEEDING CENTERS IN MANY NATIONS, AND YOU'VE HELPED US
EXPAND OUR CLASSROOMS OF HOPE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND INTO ZAMBIA.
MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN THAT ONCE LIVED IN DEVASTATION NOW
LAUGH AND DANCE BECAUSE THEY RECEIVE CLEAN WATER, NOURISHING
FOOD, AND AN EDUCATION.
TOGETHER, THROUGH OUR PROJECT GRL INITIATIVE,
WE HAVE HELPED WOMEN AND GIRLS UNDERSTAND THEIR
VALUE IN CHRIST AND BUILD NEW LIVES AFTER THE HORRORS OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WITHOUT ACCESS TO BASIC MEDICAL
CARE RECEIVED HEALING OF THEIR BODY AND SOUL.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO EQUIP AND ENCOURAGE PASTORS IN CHINA,
SHARING THE GOSPEL IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTION.
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, HAND OF HOPE PARTNERED WITH
EAST COAST CHURCHES TO HOLD COMMUNITY OUTREACHES
FOR FAMILIES OF SPECIAL NEEDS, THOSE DEVASTATED BY
TRAGIC FLOODS, RECEIVING HELP REBUILDING, GIVING THEM
MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES.
AND ALSO, PRISONERS RECEIVE BIBLICALLY BASED
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRY RESOURCES REMINDING THEM
THAT THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN AND THAT GOD STILL LOVES
AND CARES FOR THEM.
YOUR SUPPORT HELPED SPREAD THE GOSPEL IN MORE THAN 90 LANGUAGES
AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH OUR MEDIA AND ONLINE CHANNELS.
THOSE DISTANT FROM GOD WERE REMINDED THAT GOD STILL HAS
A PLAN FOR THEIR LIFE AND THAT THEY COULD COME BACK HOME
TO HIM.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR ALL THAT HE ALLOWS US TO
BE PART OF AND WE REALIZE THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY OF
THIS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.
REALLY, THE ONES THAT ARE MOST THANKFUL ARE THE ONES THAT HAD
THEIR BASIC EVERYDAY AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS MET.
SO ON THEIR BEHALF, I ALSO WANNA SAY A VERY HEARTFELT THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AND WE THANK GOD FOR EVERY DAY AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT GOD HAS
IN STORE FOR US, TOGETHER AS WE CONTINUE SHARING CHRIST
AND LOVING PEOPLE.
YOU'RE RIGHT THERE WITH US EVERYWHERE THAT WE GO.
GOD BLESS YOU.
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 WANNA 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.
ANNOUNCER: THIS CHRISTMAS YOU CAN HELP MAKE THE HOLIDAY SEASON
A LITTLE BRIGHTER FOR SOMEONE ELSE THROUGH THE HAND OF HOPE
CHRISTMAS CATALOG.
MAKE A DONATION AS A SPECIAL GIFT FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE OR
SIMPLY GIVE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO AND CHOOSE THE AREA YOU WANT:
FEEDING PROGRAMS; WATER WELLS; EDUCATION INITIATIVES;
OUR GIRLS' AND WOMEN'S MINISTRY, PROJECT GRL; OR MEDICAL
AND DENTAL OUTREACHES, WITH THE HAND OF HOPE
CHRISTMAS CATALOG.
GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CHRISTMAS AND MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
GINGER: YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST BEEN WONDERING LATELY, WHAT IS
IT THAT MAKES A PERSON WANT TO LEAVE THE COMFORT AND MONOTONY
OF HOME TO COME SOMEPLACE CRAZY LIKE THIS AND DO
A MEDICAL CLINIC?
WELL, LET'S ASK THE VOLUNTEER DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO DO IT ALL
THE TIME.
MALE: SEEING THE WORLD IS AWESOME.
IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT ADVENTURE.
FEMALE: BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE SO AMAZING.
FEMALE: I DO THIS BECAUSE GOD PUT IT IN MY HEART TO HELP
OTHERS.
FEMALE: BECAUSE IT'S LIFE-CHANGING.
MALE: WE LOVE IT.
IT'S AWESOME.
FEMALE: 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY FUN.
GINGER: SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IT CAN'T HURT TO AT LEAST CHECK IT OUT, RIGHT?
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GO TO OUR WEBSITE, JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE FOR YOU AND, JUST THINK, YOUR
ADVENTURE MAY BEGIN TODAY.
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.
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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