ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: THE LORD INTERRUPTED MY PRAYER A FEW YEARS AGO AND
SAID, "STOP PRAYIN' FOR THINGS THAT YOU COULD EASILY DO FOR
PEOPLE AND JUST DON'T WANT TO.
STOP ASKIN' ME TO DO STUFF THAT I'VE ANOINTED YOU TO DO."
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: TRIALS BRING OUT A LOT OF STUFF BEFORE THEY GET AROUND
TO BRINGIN' OUT THE GOOD STUFF THAT'S IN THERE.
I MEAN, THEY BROUGHT FITS OUT OF ME, ANGER, JEALOUSY.
MAN, COULD I SAY SOME STUFF WHEN I GOT MAD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ISAIAH 41:10.
DIFFICULTIES OF ALL KINDS ARE IN THE TOOLBOX THAT GOD USES
TO SHARPEN AND REFINE US.
"'FEAR NOT [THERE'S NOTHING TO FEAR],"
ISAIAH 41:10: "FEAR NOT [THERE'S NOTHING TO FEAR]
FOR I AM WITH YOU; DO NOT LOOK AROUND YOU IN TERROR AND BE
DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD.
I WILL STRENGTHEN AND HARDEN YOU TO DIFFICULTIES,"
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?
IF GOD STRENGTHENS US AND HARDENS US TO DIFFICULTIES,
WE'LL GET TO THE POINT WHERE THE THINGS THAT SEEM SO HARD NOW
DON'T EVEN FAZE US LATER ON.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT IN YOUR LIFE
IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "YES, I WILL HELP YOU; YES, I WILL HOLD YOU UP AND
RETAIN YOU WITH MY [VICTORIOUS]
RIGHT HAND OF RIGHTNESS AND JUSTICE."
AND I LOVE VERSE 15: "'BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE YOU TO BE A NEW,
SHARP, THRESHING INSTRUMENT WHICH HAS TEETH.'"
NO MORE PACIFIERS.
NO MORE BABY BOTTLES.
NO MORE SQUASHED-UP FRUIT IN A DISH.
GOD'S GONNA GIVE YOU MEAT, AND TEETH TO CHEW IT WITH.
AND THIS WEEKEND WE'RE NOT THROWIN' OUT DESSERT.
WE'RE PUTTIN' OUT MEAT.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO
KNOW WHAT I MEAN BY THAT?
PAUL TOLD THE CHRISTIANS, THE CORINTHIAN CHRISTIANS,
HE SAID "I HAVE TO KEEP FEEDIN' YOU WITH MILK.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU MEAT, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT STRONG ENOUGH
TO TAKE IT.
BUT I BELIEVE I GOT THE RIGHT GROUP
AT THE RIGHT TIME THAT ARE READY TO GET ON WITH WHAT GOD
HAS FOR YOUR LIFE.
I'VE GOT THE RIGHT GROUP AT THE RIGHT TIME.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: AMEN.
YOU'VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES, AND YOU'RE READY.
AUDIENCE: YES!
JOYCE: "BEHOLD, I WILL MAKE YOU TO BE A NEW, SHARP,
THRESHING INSTRUMENT WHO HAS TEETH; YOU SHALL THRESH THE
MOUNTAINS AND BEAT THEM SMALL, AND YOU SHALL MAKE
THE HILLS LIKE CHAFF."
AND THEN, REALLY, VERSE 17 IS WHAT GOD'S TRYIN' TO GET TO:
"'THE POOR AND THE NEEDY ARE SEEKING WATER WHEN THERE
IS NONE; THEIR TONGUES ARE PARCHED WITH THIRST.
I THE LORD WILL ANSWER THEM; I, THE GOD OF ISRAEL,
WILL NOT FORSAKE THEM.'"
AND WHAT IS HE SAYING HERE.
IF YOU READ ALL THIS IN CONTEXT, HE'S GONNA ANSWER THEM
THROUGH YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SEE, GOD IS TRYING TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN
GET OURSELVES OFF OF OUR MIND LONG ENOUGH THAT WE CAN BE
WHAT TIMOTHY SAYS IS A, "VESSEL FIT FOR THE MASTER'S
USE."
AMEN?
AUDIENCE: AMEN.
JOYCE: SO HE CAN WORK THROUGH YOU AT YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.
SO HE CAN WORK THROUGH YOU IN YOUR SCHOOLS.
SO HE CAN WORK THROUGH YOU IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS,
WITH YOUR UNSAVED FAMILY.
SO HE CAN WORK THROUGH YOU.
PEOPLE ARE SEEKING WATER WHERE THERE IS NONE.
PEOPLE WANT HELP.
THEY NEED HELP.
NOW, WE'RE GOOD AT PRAYIN' FOR PEOPLE SOMETIMES.
"OH, GOD, HELP THEM."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "GOD, PLEASE HELP THEM.
GOD, WOULD YOU PROVIDE WHATEVER FOR SO AND SO?"
THE LORD INTERRUPTED MY PRAYER A FEW YEARS AGO AND SAID,
"STOP PRAYIN' FOR THINGS THAT YOU COULD EASILY DO FOR PEOPLE
AND JUST DON'T WANT TO.
STOP ASKIN' ME TO DO STUFF THAT I'VE ANOINTED YOU TO DO.
HELLO?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, IT'S THE TRUTH, ISN'T IT?
WHAT IF EVERY TIME SOMEBODY HAS A PROBLEM, WE SAY,
"GOD, SHOW ME IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT ME TO DO
IN THIS SITUATION"?
I HEARD ONE FAINT--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS A CLAP OR NOT, BUT--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SOUNDED LIKE SOMEBODY STARTED TO CLAP
AND THEN DECIDED TO QUIT.
I WASN'T SURE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, LET ME SAY THAT TRIALS ARE NOT EVIDENCE
OF GOD'S DISPLEASURE AND ANGER.
WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY HAVIN' A TRIAL, THE LAST THING YOU NEED
IS CONDEMNATION HEAPED ON TOP OF YOU
THAT YOU HAVE SOME BIG SIN IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAS NOW
CAUSED THIS PROBLEM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND ISN'T THAT THE FIRST PLACE OUR MINDS
GO SOMETIMES?
I WAS MINISTERING TO A WOMAN SOMETIME OVER THE PAST YEAR,
AND SHE HAD AN AUTISTIC SON, AND ACTUALLY, GOD JUST GAVE ME
A WORD OF WISDOM IN A MEETING.
I DIDN'T KNOW THE WOMAN, BUT I SAW A CHILD
ABOUT 9 YEARS OLD WITH BROWN HAIR, AND I KNEW
THAT HIS MOTHER FELT GUILTY, LIKE IT WAS HER FAULT
THAT HE WAS AUTISTIC.
AND SO I JUST SHARED THAT.
AND SURE ENOUGH, WITHIN 24 HOURS,
THE WOMAN GOT AHOLD OF MIKE AND SAID,
"WELL, HERE'S MY 9-YEAR-OLD SON WITH THE BROWN HAIR.
AND THAT WAS EXACTLY RIGHT.
I HAVE FELT GUILTY EVER SINCE HE WAS BORN,
LIKE MAYBE I DID SOMETHIN' WRONG AND IT WAS MY FAULT."
THE DEVIL LOVES TO LOAD US DOWN WITH GUILT AND CONDEMNATION
ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT GOD LOVES TO HELP US.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SEE, THE THING YOU'RE GONNA READ
IN A FEW MINUTES IS EVEN IF THROUGH OUR OWN
STUPIDITY WE DID GET OURSELVES IN TROUBLE, WHICH IS THE CASE
A LOT OF TIMES, GOD STILL WILL HELP US IF WE ASK HIM TO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, WHO COULD GET UPSET ABOUT A DEAL LIKE THAT?
SO, JUST A FEW THINGS THAT, WAYS THAT TRIALS CAN HELP YOU.
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WANNA KNOW HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU, RIGHT?
[LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OKAY, I'M EXCITED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, THEY TRAIN US AND THEY FORCE US TO USE OUR
FAITH, AND EVENTUALLY, WE BECOME STABLE
DURING THE STORMS OF LIFE.
NUMBER TWO, THEY HUMBLE US.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT WILL HUMBLE YOU QUICKER THAN TO HAVE
SOMETHING THAT YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT HANDLE AND HAVE TO GO TO
SOMEBODY ELSE AND ASK FOR HELP.
2 CORINTHIANS 12:7, ONE BIBLICAL EXAMPLE.
THE APOSTLE PAUL, WHO WAS HAVING SUCH TREMENDOUS REVELATIONS FROM
GOD, WAS ACTUALLY TAKEN UP TO THE THIRD HEAVEN AND SAW THINGS
THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE.
AND YET, THE BIBLE SAYS IN 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7:
"AND TO KEEP ME FROM BEING PUFFED UP AND TOO MUCH ELATED
BY THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF THESE REVELATIONS,
THERE WAS GIVEN ME A THORN (A SPLINTER) IN THE FLESH,
A MESSENGER OF SATAN, TO RACK AND BUFFET
AND HARASS ME, TO KEEP ME FROM BEING
EXCESSIVELY EXALTED."
NOW, THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH CONVERSATION ABOUT
WHAT PAUL'S THORN WAS.
AND I FRANKLY DON'T CARE.
THE POINT WAS HE DIDN'T LIKE IT, AND HE BEGGED GOD
TO GET RID OF IT, AND GOD SAID, "NO, MY GRACE IS
SUFFICIENT FOR YOU.
BECAUSE OF ALL THESE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING
THROUGH YOU, AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'M SHOWING YOU,
WE GOTTA HAVE A LITTLE BIT IF ABASING HERE TO KEEP THINGS
IN BALANCE."
AND YOU KNOW, OVER IN PHILIPPIANS, PAUL SAID,
"I'VE LEARNED HOW TO BE CONTENT WHETHER I'M ABASED
OR ABOUNDING."
AND YEARS AGO, AS I STUDIED THAT, I THOUGHT,
"WHAT WAS IT THAT HE LEARNED?"
HE SAID, "I'VE LEARNED HOW TO BE CONTENT."
WHAT WAS IT THAT THE LEARNED THAT KEPT HIM THAT STABLE
AND THAT MUCH THE SAME, WHETHER HE LIKED HIS
CIRCUMSTANCES OR HE DIDN'T?
AND ISN'T THAT WHERE WE WANNA BE?
AUDIENCE: YES.
JOYCE: YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE A LOUSY CIRCUMSTANCE COME ALONG
AND RUIN YOUR WEEK, DO YA?
YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE DO SOMETHING THAT YOU
COULDN'T CONTROL, AND NOW HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR JOY BECAUSE
THEY DECIDED TO HAVE A BAD DAY.
THAT'S NOT WHAT JESUS DIED FOR US TO HAVE.
HE WANTS US TO HAVE PEACE AND JOY, AND TO BE STABLE,
AND TO HAVE IT ALL THE TIME, NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON IN
OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, AMEN?
AUDIENCE: AMEN.
JOYCE: SATAN IS THE GOD OF THIS WORLD, AND HE CAN MESS
AROUND WITH OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
BUT IF WE TRUST GOD, HE WILL USE EVERY ONE OF THEM TO OUR GOOD.
THEY WILL HELP US GROW SPIRITUALLY.
AND AS WE STAY STRONG IN HIM, THEN WE WILL SEE ADDITIONAL
BLESSINGS IN OUR LIFE ACCORDING TO WHAT GOD KNOWS
THAT WE CAN HANDLE.
AND SO PAUL SAID, "I'VE LEARNED, I'VE LEARNED HOW TO BE CONTENT,
SATISFIED TO THE POINT WHERE I'M NOT DISTURBED."
BEING CONTENT DOESN'T MEAN YOU NEVER WANNA SEE ANY CHANGE
IN YOUR LIFE.
THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT I WANNA SEE CHANGED,
AND ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT I WANNA SEE CHANGED.
BUT THANKFULLY, I'VE COME TO THE POINT WHERE I'M NOT UPSET
ABOUT IT NOW.
I'M NOT LOSING MY JOY.
YOU KNOW WHY?
I'M REALLY WELL AWARE THAT ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND ME BEIN' UPSET ABOUT IT'S NOT GONNA GET HIM
TO MOVE ANY FASTER.
AND SO HE SAID, "I'VE LEARNED HOW TO BE CONTENT WHETHER
I'M ABASED OR ABOUNDING."
AND HE SAID THAT BECAUSE HE TRUSTED GOD SO MUCH THAT HE KNEW
THAT IF HE WAS GOING THROUGH A TERM OF DIFFICULTY,
THAT THERE WAS A REASON FOR IT.
EVEN IF HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT, HE TRUSTED GOD TO WORK IT OUT
FOR HIS GOOD.
CAN WE BELIEVE THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD
IF WE TRUST GOD?
ALL THINGS.
BUT LET'S BE ABLE TO BELIEVE THAT WHILE WE'RE IN IT.
SEE, I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SAY LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS GOING
THROUGH MY LITTLE THING, AND IT WAS A LITTLE THING,
BELIEVE ME.
IT WAS NOTHIN' TO EVEN CRAB ABOUT.
BUT IT WAS JUST A LITTLE THING.
BUT AS I WAS GOIN' THROUGH IT I THOUGHT, "NOW, GOD,
I WANNA GO THROUGH THIS THE WAY I'M SUPPOSED TO
GO THROUGH IT.
AND SO HELP ME NOW."
SEE, A LOT OF TIMES WE CAN GO THROUGH VERY DIFFICULT THINGS,
AND 3, 4 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY,
"OH, YEAH, YEAH, I SEE HOW GOD USED THAT
IN MY LIFE.
IT WORKED OUT FOR GOOD."
CAN ANY OF YOU THINK OF STUFF LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW?
"I SEE HOW GOD USED THAT IN MY LIFE.
IT WORKED OUT GOOD."
BUT GOD WANTS US TO GET IT ON THIS SIDE.
SEE?
THE ISRAELITES DANCED AND SANG, BUT THEY DID IT ON THE WRONG
SIDE OF THE RED SEA.
THEY WAITED TILL THEY GOT THROUGH THE RED SEA,
AND THEN THEY HAD A PARTY.
GOD WANTED 'EM TO DANCE ON THIS SIDE WHEN THEY WERE FACING IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THEY REMIND US TO BE TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON GOD.
THEY HELP US DEVELOP CHARACTER.
AND WE GIVE GLORY TO GOD.
REVELATION 12:11 SAYS: "WE OVERCOME HIM,"
HIM BEING SATAN, "BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND BY
THE UTTERANCE OF OUR TESTIMONY."
WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE A TESTIMONY WITHOUT A TEST.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: TEST-IMONY.
WHAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE OF IS THAT WHEN WE'RE DONE,
WE DON'T JUST HAVE THE MOANIES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND STILL DON'T HAVE A TESTIMONY.
BECAUSE IN GOD'S ECONOMY, IF YOU DON'T PASS THE TEST,
YOU GET TO TAKE IT AGAIN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, PATIENCE.
[LAUGHING]
PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE.
WELL, WE HAD A PIECE OF PROPERTY WE NEEDED TO SELL.
WELL, I'LL PUT IT LIKE THIS.
I WANTED TO SELL IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF "NEED" IS THE RIGHT WORD,
BUT I WANTED TO SELL IT.
SO 3 AND 1/2 YEARS, WE DIDN'T EVEN GET AN OFFER.
AND 3 AND 1/2 YEARS IS A LONG TIME FOR ME TO WAIT.
NOW, DAVE COULDN'T HAVE CARED LESS IF WE SOLD IN 2 DAYS
OR 10 YEARS, YOU KNOW?
BECAUSE HE'S JUST LIKE, "IT'LL SELL AT THE RIGHT TIME.
GOD'LL SELL IT AT THE RIGHT TIME."
YOU KNOW, SOMETIME, IF YOU NEED TO GROW IN PATIENCE
AND YOU'RE AROUND SOMEBODY THAT'S REALLY PATIENT,
AREN'T THEY ANNOYING?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND SO, OKAY, I MEAN, I'M PRAYIN' ABOUT THIS PIECE
OF PROPERTY.
I'M GETTING PEOPLE TO AGREE WITH ME ABOUT SELLING THIS PIECE
OF PROPERTY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I'M REBUKING THE DEVIL BECAUSE I'M NOT GETTING
ANY OFFERS ON MY PROPERTY.
I'M CONFESSING THAT MY PROPERTY IS SOLD, IN JESUS' NAME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND ONE MORNING I STARTED TO TALK TO THE LORD
AGAIN ABOUT THE PROPERTY, AND HE SAID, "WILL YOU FORGET
THAT PROPERTY?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WILL YOU JUST FORGET THAT PROPERTY
AND LET ME TAKE CARE OF IT?"
NOW, DON'T MISS THE SECOND HALF OF WHAT I SAID.
"WILL YOU FORGET ABOUT IT?"
SEE, SOME OF YOU HAVE ISSUES AND YOU'VE JUST BEEN CAMPED
ON TOP OF 'EM SO LONG THAT GOD COULDN'T GET A CHANCE
TO HELP YOU IF HE TRIED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU ALMOST GOTTA GET TO THE POINT WHERE
YOU JUST FLAT-OUT DON'T CARE.
AND IT'S LIKE, "IT'S UP TO YOU."
"WILL YOU FORGET ABOUT THAT?"
NOW, AS GOD IS MY WITNESS, I'M TELLIN' YOU THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
IN 2 WEEKS IT SOLD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, IT WOULD COME BACK TO MY MIND, AND I WOULD
JUST SAY, "NOPE, GOD'S TAKIN' CARE OF THAT."
[LAUGHING]
NOW, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SAYIN' THAT YOU CAN'T PRAY
ABOUT THINGS FOR A LONG TIME.
BUT I WILL BE HONEST AND SAY I THINK THERE COMES A TIME
WHERE WE DON'T NEED TO PRAY ABOUT SOMETHIN' ANYMORE.
[LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: MAYBE IF IT COMES TO YOUR MIND, YOU JUST SAY,
"THANK YOU, GOD.
YOU'RE TAKIN' CARE OF THAT."
THAT'S A TYPE OF PRAYER TOO, YOU KNOW?
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST KEEP ASKIN' FOR THE SAME THING OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
NOW, "WHEN A MAN IS FULLY PATIENT," JAMES SAYS,
"THEY'RE PERFECT AND ENTIRE, LACKING NOTHING."
NOW, THAT'S AN AMAZING SCRIPTURE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT BASICALLY MEANS, IF I CAN JUST GIVE IT
TO YA IN THE SHORT WAY OF WHAT I THINK?
I THINK IT MEANS WHEN WE BECOME FULLY PATIENT, WE SO TRUST GOD
FOR HIS TIMING, HIS WAY, THAT WE KNOW THAT GOD
WILL TAKE CARE OF IT.
WE KNOW THAT GOD WILL DO WHAT WE'VE ASKED IF INDEED THAT
IS HIS WILL.
AND TO BE HONEST, I BELIEVE THE CHURCH WORLDWIDE
NEEDS TO GROW SPIRITUALLY TO THE POINT WHERE WE REALLY
TRULY DON'T WANT ANYTHING THAT'S NOT GOD'S WILL.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BECAUSE WE CAN'T BE HAPPY WITH ANYTHING
THAT'S NOT GOD'S WILL.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH I WANT IT.
IF IT'S NOT RIGHT FOR ME, THEN INSTEAD OF TRYIN'
TO FINAGLE AROUND AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET IT--AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, THERE'S A SCRIPTURE IN PSALMS,
I THINK IT'S IN 106, WHERE WHEN THE ISRAELITES
GOT TIRED OF MANNA, THEY GOT TIRED OF THEIR MIRACLE
BREAD, THEY WANTED MEAT.
"GIVE US MEAT. GIVE US MEAT.
GIVE US MEAT."
AND SO THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD WAS UNABLE TO RESTRAIN
THEIR INSISTENT DESIRE.
THEY JUST KEPT IT UP AND KEPT IT UP AND KEPT IT UP.
AND SO HE SAID, "OKAY, YOU WANT MEAT?
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MEAT."
AND HE GAVE 'EM MEAT.
AND THEY HAD MEAT TO EAT TILL IT WAS RUNNIN' OUT THEIR NOSTRILS.
AND THEN IT SAYS, "BUT HE SENT LEANNESS INTO THEIR SOULS."
SO, SEE, I MAY CRAB AROUND ENOUGH TO GET WHAT I WANT.
GOD MAY EVEN SOMETIMES GIVE US WHAT WE DEMAND TO SHOW US
IT'S NOT REALLY WHAT WE WANT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
"OH, YOU THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT?
OKAY, HERE."
BUT THEN IF WE HAVE LEANNESS IN OUR SOULS, IF WE'RE NOT HAPPY
INSIDE AND WE'RE NOT CONTENT INSIDE--SOME OF YOU THINK YOU'D
JUST BE HAPPY IF YOU HAD MORE MONEY.
AND I'M NOT AT ALL AGAINST HAVIN' MORE MONEY.
I MEAN, MONEY'S A COMFORTABLE THING TO HAVE.
BUT THE WORLD IS FULL OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE GAZOODLES OF MONEY
AND THEY ARE SO MISERABLE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO WE HAVE TO SEE THINGS FOR WHAT THEY ARE.
NOW, JAMES 1:6 THROUGH 8.
WE HAVE NOW MADE IT THROUGH FIVE VERSES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I CAN SEE I'M NOT GONNA GET DONE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT AS LONG AS WE GET THE GOOD STUFF,
THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT, RIGHT?
JAMES 1:6 THROUGH 8: "ONLY IT MUST BE IN FAITH
THAT HE ASKS," WELL, HE STARTS OUT AND HE SAYS,
"IF ANY MAN, YOU KNOW, NEEDS ANYTHING,
LET HIM ASK GOD WHO GIVES TO ALL MEN LIBERALLY,
WITHOUT GRUDGING OR FINDING FAULT WITH HIM."
SO THAT REFERS BACK TO WHAT I SAID ABOUT EVEN IF YOU GOT
YOURSELF IN TROUBLE, GOD WILL HELP YOU.
AND HE DOES IT WITHOUT BLAMING YOU.
"IF ANY OF YOU IS DEFICIENT IN WISDOM, LET HIM ASK
OF THE GIVING GOD [WHO GIVES] TO EVERYONE
LIBERALLY AND UNGRUDGINGLY, WITHOUT REPROACHING
OR FAULTFINDING, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN HIM."
SEE, IF SOMEBODY HASN'T DONE RIGHT BY ME,
IF I'M GONNA HELP 'EM, I'M GONNA LET 'EM KNOW,
"WELL, I'M GONNA HELP YOU, BUT LET'S DON'T FORGET."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT GOD IS NOT LIKE THAT.
HE JUST HELPS US.
AND THEN IN VERSE 6 SAYS: "ONLY IT MUST BE IN FAITH THAT
HE ASKS WITH NO WAVERING (NO HESITATING, NO DOUBTING).
FOR THE ONE WHO (HESITATES AND DOUBTS) IS LIKE THE BILLOWING
SURGE OUT AT SEA THAT IS BLOWN HITHER AND THITHER
AND TOSSED BY THE WIND.
FOR TRULY, LET NOT SUCH A PERSON IMAGINE HE WILL RECEIVE
ANYTHING [HE ASKS FOR] FROM THE LORD, [FOR BEING AS HE IS]
A MAN OF TWO MINDS (HESITATING, DUBIOUS, IRRESOLUTE), [HE IS]
UNSTABLE AND UNRELIABLE AND UNCERTAIN ABOUT EVERYTHING
[HE THINKS, FEELS, AND DECIDES]"
NOW, HERE'S THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF WHAT I WANNA SAY
TO YA ABOUT THIS.
IF WE'RE GONNA BELIEVE GOD, LET US MAKE UP OUR MINDS
TO BELIEVE GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND LET'S DON'T DECIDE IN THE MORNING WE'RE GONNA
BELIEVE GOD, AND THEN BY NOON, WE'RE FULL OF DOUBT AGAIN.
NOW WE'RE GONNA BELIEVE GOD AGAIN.
THEN WE'RE FULL OF DOUBT AGAIN.
NOW, I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE FREE FROM FEAR AND DOUBT,
BUT I WANNA TELL YOU SOMETHIN' THAT I'VE RECENTLY LEARNED,
AND IT'S JUST MAYBE A WAY TO PUT IT THAT IS HELPFUL.
JUST BECAUSE JESUS DIED TO SET US FREE FROM SOMETHING
DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT DISAPPEARS.
WE'RE FREE FROM FEAR.
BUT EVERY ONE OF IN THIS ROOM WILL EXPERIENCE FEAR
AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN OUR LIFE.
BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL SOMETHING, OR BECAUSE
YOU'RE TEMPTED WITH SOMETHING, DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO
GIVE INTO IT.
SEE, WE CAN HAVE A STRONG ENOUGH FAITH THAT IT WILL CONTROL US.
AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN TO DO IS DOUBT OUR DOUBTS.
SO IF I'VE SET MY MIND TO TRUST GOD, AND THEN DOUBT COMES IN,
TRIES TO COME IN, I ACTUALLY NEED TO SAY,
"I NEED TO DO WHAT JESUS DID."
THE BIBLE SAYS HE IGNORED THOSE THINGS.
HE OVERHEARD THEM, BUT HE IGNORED THEM.
YOU CAN HEAR THE DEVIL BUT STILL NOT PAY ATTENTION TO HIM.
YOU CAN HEAR HIM AND STILL DECIDE, "I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
GOD IS FAITHFUL.
GOD WILL DO IT."
"YEAH, WELL, WHEN'S HE GONNA DO IT?"
"I DON'T KNOW WHEN HE'S GONNA DO IT,
BUT HE'LL DO IT, AND HE'LL DO IT."
LEARN TO TALK BACK TO THE DEVIL.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "THE DEVIL?"
YES, THE DEVIL.
WE HAVE AN ENEMY.
"THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL, KILL, AND DESTROY.
JESUS CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A GOOD LIFE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE ENEMY HAS TO BE RESISTED.
NOW, LISTEN, IF WE ASK FOR ANYTHING IN JESUS' NAME THAT
IS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD FOR US, WE WILL GET IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
IF WE ASK FOR ANYTHING THAT IS ACCORDING
TO THE WILL OF GOD FOR US, THAT MEANS IT'S AT
THE RIGHT TIME IN MY LIFE, "IS THIS THE RIGHT THING
FOR ME?
AM I SPIRITUALLY MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THIS?"
IF I ASK FOR ANYTHING IN JESUS' NAME,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU ASK IN JESUS' NAME,
YOU'RE NOT PRESENTING TO GOD WHO YOU ARE.
YOU'RE PRESENTING UNTO HIM ALL THAT JESUS IS.
SO WHEN WE ASK IN JESUS' NAME, IF IT IS THE WILL OF GOD,
GOD MUST, ACCORDING TO HIS WORD, DO IT BECAUSE HE IS NOT A MAN
THAT HE SHOULD LIE.
BUT WE HAVE NO IDEA WHEN HE WILL DO IT.
THEREFORE, IF WE WANT TO ENJOY THE JOURNEY,
WE NEED TO LEARN PATIENCE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE TO BE UPSET ABOUT WAITING,
BECAUSE WE CAN SAY, "THIS WILL HAPPEN
IN THE RIGHT WAY AT THE RIGHT TIME."
C'MON, "IN THE RIGHT WAY AT THE RIGHT TIME."
DON'T JUST TELL OTHER PEOPLE, "WELL, JUST BE PATIENT.
YOUR TIMES ARE IN THE LORD'S HAND."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DON'T JUST GIVE ADVICE TO OTHER PEOPLE.
TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEBODY ELSE IF THEY HAD YOUR PROBLEM?
WHAT KIND OF AN ATTITUDE WOULD YOU TELL THEM TO HAVE IF THEY
WERE GOIN' THROUGH WHAT YOU'RE GOIN' THROUGH RIGHT NOW?
SEE, ALL WE GOTTA DO IS JUST TAKE OUR OWN ADVICE,
AND WE'LL BE IN GOOD SHAPE.
[LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: MARK CHAPTER 5, VERSE 35.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES OF SCRIPTURE, ESPECIALLY
TEACHIN' ALONG THESE LINES.
I WROTE BESIDE THIS SCRIPTURE: "I LOVE IT!"
"WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, THERE CAME SOME FROM THE RULER'S
HOUSE, WHO SAID [TO JAIRUS], 'YOUR DAUGHTER HAS DIED.'"
NOW, JESUS WAS ON HIS WAY TO HEAL THIS MAN'S DAUGHTER AND
SOMEBODY ELSE INTERRUPTED HIM, AND HE STOPPED AND TOOK THE TIME
TO DEAL WITH THEIR PROBLEM.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, THIS REPORT COMES.
"YOU'RE TOO LATE.
YOUR DAUGHTER HAS DIED."
WELL, NOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THE FATHER MIGHT HAVE FELT
AND WHAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TEMPTED TO SAY.
"WELL, YOU WERE ON YOUR WAY TO HELP ME, AND IF YOU WOULDN'T
HAVE FOOLED AROUND WITH HER, THEN NOW MY DAUGHTER'S DIED,"
AND NAH, NAH, NAH.
YOU KNOW HOW WE ARE.
"'DON'T EVEN DISTRESS THE TEACHER ANYMORE.' OVERHEARING
BUT IGNORING WHAT THEY SAID, JESUS SAID TO THE RULER OF
THE SYNAGOGUE, 'DO NOT BE SEIZED WITH ALARM AND STRUCK WITH FEAR;
ONLY KEEP ON BELIEVING,'" WOW.
JOYCE: WELL, I SAID IT TODAY, BUT IT'S WORTH REPEATING.
OUR TRIALS ARE NOT NECESSARILY EVIDENCE OF GOD'S DISPLEASURE
OR ANGER.
THAT THEY DEVELOP US AND THEY TRAIN US TO USE OUR FAITH.
"SO COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS."
NOW, IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TODAY'S TEACHING, OR IF
THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING YOU, AND YOU WANNA KNOW ABOUT
THE REST OF THE BOOK OF JAMES, TODAY OUR OFFER IS AN ENTIRE
PACKAGE ABOUT JAMES, "A BIBLE STUDY OF JAMES."
IT'S AN ACTION PLAN.
THIS INCLUDES PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE,
THE BOOK OF JAMES BOOKLET, AND FOUR TEACHINGS ON CD
AND DVD.
YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD THE STUDY GUIDE.
NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN DOING,
JUST TEACHING ON DIFFERENT BOOKS OF THE BIBLE.
AND PEOPLE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED IT.
I'VE ENJOYED DOING IT, AND PEOPLE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED
GETTING THIS BECAUSE IT'S SO GOOD TO HEAR OTHER PEOPLE,
BUT IT'S REALLY GOOD WHEN YOU STUDY THE BIBLE
FOR YOURSELF.
THIS IS A WAY THAT YOU CAN DO A GROUP BIBLE STUDY
OR EVEN YOUR OWN STUDY ON YOUR OWN.
SO PLEASE GET THESE RESOURCES.
I THINK THEY WILL REALLY HELP YOU.
NOW, REMEMBER, GOD HAS GOT A GOOD PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
IT MAY BE TAKING LONGER THAN YOU'D LIKE IT TO.
GOD'S NOT USUALLY IN A HURRY, BUT HE WILL SHOW UP AT JUST
THE RIGHT TIME.
ANNOUNCER: "RECEIVE AND WELCOME THE WORD WHICH IMPLANTED
AND ROOTED [IN YOUR HEARTS]
CONTAINS THE POWER TO SAVE YOUR SOULS."
FOR A LIMITED TIME, WE'RE OFFERING "A BIBLE STUDY
OF JAMES ACTION PLAN," JOYCE'S TEACHING THROUGH
THE BOOK OF JAMES.
JOYCE: WHAT PAUL SAID IS RIGHT.
"WE ARE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD BY OUR FAITH."
BUT WHAT JAMES SAID IS RIGHT TOO.
"WE ARE JUSTIFIED BEFORE MEN BY OUR WORKS."
ANNOUNCER: WITH THIS ACTION PLAN YOU'LL FIND A COMPANION
PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE, THE BOOK OF JAMES BOOKLET,
AND FOUR TEACHINGS ON CD AND DVD.
THE BOOK OF JAMES HAS SO MANY VALUABLE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT
LIVING A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.
AS YOU TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH AND LISTEN, YOU'RE PLANTING GOOD
SEEDS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH.
"A BIBLE STUDY OF JAMES ACTION PLAN,"
ALL THIS CAN BE YOURS FOR A DONATION OF...OR MORE.
CALL US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: SO, THE BIBLE IS GOD'S MANUAL
TO HELP US NAVIGATE LIFE.
BUT LIFE OFTEN GETS IN THE WAY OF KNOWING THE BIBLE,
FINDING THE TIME, KNOWING WHERE TO BEGIN,
AND DISCOVERING WHAT THIS ALL MEANS TO YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND, AND WE'D LIKE TO HELP.
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/STUDY, YOU'LL FIND FREE RESOURCES
TO HELP YOU GET MORE OUT OF THE BIBLE,
WHETHER YOU'RE A NEW CHRISTIAN OR HAVE BEEN WALKING WITH CHRIST
FOR YEARS.
SO, JUMP IN TODAY.
THE WORD, IT'S FREE, IT'S MOBILE,
AND IT'S TAILORED FOR YOU AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: YOU MEAN MORE TO US AT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
THAN YOU MAY EVER KNOW.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE THANK OUR FRIENDS
AND PARTNERS FOR MAKING THIS WORLDWIDE MINISTRY POSSIBLE.
TOGETHER, WE'RE FEEDING THE HUNGRY, CLOTHING THE POOR,
AND PRESENTING THE GOSPEL TO THE NATIONS.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG TODAY
TO SHARE YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS, FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT OUR RESOURCES, SEE JOYCE'S CONFERENCE SCHEDULE,
AND TO JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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