ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: THERE'S NO PROBLEM BETWEEN WHAT PAUL SAID AND WHAT
JAMES SAID IF YOU LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS.
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.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: JAMES CHAPTER 2.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: WOO-HOO!
ALL RIGHT, JAMES CHAPTER 2 IS BASICALLY DIVIDED
INTO TWO PARTS: VERSES 1 THROUGH 13
AND VERSES 14 THROUGH 26.
AND THE FIRST PART OF IT DEALS WITH HOW WE ARE NO LONGER
JUSTIFIED BY KEEPING THE LAW OF MOSES.
WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES
BUT WE ARE NOW LIVING UNDER A NEW LAW.
IT'S CALLED THE ROYAL LAW OF LIBERTY AND IT'S BASICALLY
THE LAW OF LOVE.
JESUS SAID, "ONE NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU."
THIS ONE SUMS UP ALL THE LAW AND ALL THE PROPHETS.
YOU CAN KEEP EVERYTHING ELSE, EVERYTHING.
THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
WILL BE KEPT IF WE LEARN HOW TO WALK IN LOVE.
AND LOVE IS VERY SIMPLY HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE.
LET ME TELL YOU THAT WHEN YOU'RE AROUND PEOPLE,
THEY MAY NOT REMEMBER MUCH OF WHAT YOU SAID,
BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER IF YOU MADE THEM
FEEL GOOD OR IF YOU MADE THEM FEEL BAD.
IF YOU MADE THEM FEEL VALUABLE OR IF YOU MADE THEM FEEL
UNVALUABLE.
AND THAT CAN BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS LEARNING TO LISTEN
TO OTHER PEOPLE WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THEM EVERY
2 SECONDS.
I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE WAYS THAT WE CAN ADD VALUE
TO PEOPLE IF WE WILL LET GOD SHOW US HOW TO DO THAT.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU BELIEVE WHAT I'M SAYING YET OR NOT
BUT I AM TELLING YOU THAT LOVING OTHER PEOPLE
AND HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE-- I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT
HOW I TREAT PEOPLE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO THE LORD.
I THINK HOW I TREAT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING AND I THINK THAT THAT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO
WITH THE ANOINTING ON MY LIFE AND THE ANOINTING ON YOUR LIFE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU IF WE SPEND OUR LIVES MAKING SURE THAT WE
VALUE PEOPLE AND WE TREAT OTHER PEOPLE RIGHT, YOU ARE NOT GONNA
HAVE TO CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR BLESSING PACKAGE BECAUSE
BLESSINGS WILL CHASE YOU DOWN AND OVERTAKE YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO MAYBE SOMETIME--MAYBE WE NEED
TO FIX OUR FOCUS A LITTLE BIT.
THE SECOND HALF OF JAMES CHAPTER 2
THEN DEALS WITH WHAT JAMES HAD TO SAY ABOUT HOW YOU CAN'T--
YOU CAN'T SEE FAITH APART FROM WORKS.
AND THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE,
THEOLOGICALLY, BETWEEN WHAT PAUL SAID ABOUT BEING JUSTIFIED
TOTALLY BY FAITH AND WHAT JAMES SEEMS TO BE SAYING HERE ABOUT,
"WELL, OKAY, YOU SAY THAT YOU'VE GOT FAITH BUT I'M TELLING YOU
THAT IF YOU HAVE REAL FAITH, THEN THERE'S GONNA BE WORKS
TO BACK IT UP."
AND SO HE'S SAYING, "I CAN BY MY GOOD WORKS SHOW YOU MY FAITH.
BUT YOU CAN'T SHOW ME YOUR FAITH WITHOUT GOOD WORKS."
AND SO ACTUALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN THEOLOGIANS DOWN THROUGH HISTORY
AND SOME VERY POPULAR ONES WHO THOUGHT THAT JAMES WAS A LITTLE
BIT OFF BECAUSE IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE HE'S DISAGREEING
WITH WHAT PAUL SAID.
BUT REALLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IN
THE CHURCH, YOU LEARN A TRUTH, "WE'RE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH
AND NOT BY OUR WORKS," AND THAT'S RIGHT.
WE ARE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD BY FAITH NOT BY WORKS.
SALVATION CANNOT BE EARNED.
GOD'S LOVE CANNOT BE EARNED.
WE CANNOT BUY A TICKET TO HEAVEN.
IT COMES FROM GOD'S GRACE AND WE RECEIVE IT THROUGH OUR FAITH.
I BELIEVE WHAT JESUS DID FOR ME, I RECEIVE IT.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS IF WE TRULY BELIEVE, THEN WE ARE JUSTIFIED
BEFORE GOD BY OUR FAITH, AMEN?
WELL, MAN, THAT IS SUCH GOOD NEWS.
AND IF YOU'RE ON THE LEGAL SIDE OF CHRISTIANITY, BOY,
THAT NEWS IS SUPER-GOOD TO YOU BECAUSE MOST OF US,
WE COME INTO A WALK WITH GOD AND THEN WE START
TRYING TO BE REAL GOOD AND TRYING TO CHANGE
AND THEN WE'RE MAD AT OURSELVES ALL THE TIME AND WE FEEL LIKE
A FAILURE BECAUSE WE'RE ALWAYS FAILING
AND THEN WE GET THE GOOD NEWS.
WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?
O THANK GOD, HE WILL THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
SO NOW WE'RE ALL EXCITED BECAUSE WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT
THE GRACE OF GOD AND I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT
BY MY WORKS.
GOD'S DONE IT FOR ME AND IF I BELIEVE--AND SO WE'RE
JUST LIKE, "OHH!" [CLAPPING]
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE ARE ALWAYS PEOPLE WHO KEEP
THAT BALANCE AND EVERYTHING IS FINE BUT THEN THERE ARE ALSO
PEOPLE AND WE HAVE SOME OF THIS TODAY WHERE, "WELL, THEN,
IF GOD LOVES EVERYBODY AND GOD IS SO GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL,"
THEN THEY BEGIN TO SLIP OVER INTO THINKING THAT WHAT THEY DO
DOESN'T REALLY MATTER BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, GOD IS LOVE AND HE
LOVES EVERYBODY AND HE'S MERCIFUL.
SO THEN YOU GET ALL THIS JUNKY IMMORALITY.
YOU GET ALL THIS IMMORALITY GOING ON AMONG CHRISTIANS AND
THEN OUR WITNESS IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED BECAUSE THE WORLD
CANNOT SEE OUR FAITH IF WE DON'T SHOW THEM SOME WORKS.
AND SO THERE'S REALLY--THERE'S NO PROBLEM BETWEEN WHAT PAUL
SAID AND WHAT JAMES SAID IF YOU LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS.
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.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND WE NOT ONLY NEED TO BE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD.
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 GOING TO HEAVEN.
BUT I TELL YOU 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.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: C'MON, ARE YOU OUT THERE?
AND I'LL TELL YOU 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,
WHAT'S TO EVEN SAY WE'VE GOT 100 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 SAYING 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 THINKING 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.
C'MON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO I DON'T EARN ANYTHING FROM GOD BY MY WORKS
BUT I DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY I DON'T--WHILE I'M HERE
BUT I DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND I DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LOTS OF PEOPLE
TO HEAVEN WITH ME.
AND I'M--AREN'T YOU EXCITED TO SEE WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN,
HOW MANY PEOPLE SAY, "I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WASN'T
FOR YOU"?
WOULDN'T THAT BE A GOOD THING?
"I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU.
YOU WERE A GREAT EXAMPLE TO ME.
I SAW SOMETHING REAL IN YOUR LIFE AND I WANTED WHAT YOU HAD."
YOU KNOW, MY DAD WAS JUST AN AWFUL MAN AND AT 83
I GOT THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING HIM TO THE LORD
AND HE'S IN HEAVEN.
I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT HE'S IN HEAVEN
AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
BUT I'M STILL SAD THAT HE WASTED HIS WHOLE LIFE.
AND I'M SAD THAT HE MISTREATED SO MANY PEOPLE.
AND SO LET'S JUST DON'T LIVE A LIFE WHERE AS LONG AS WE SNEAK
IN THE BACK DOOR OF HEAVEN, WE'RE OKAY.
LET'S LIVE A LIFE THAT REALLY GLORIFIES GOD, THAT CAN REALLY
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE.
SO NOW I'VE PROBABLY PREACHED MY WHOLE SERMON BUT WE'LL GO BACK
AND LOOK AT THE VERSES.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: JAMES CHAPTER 2, VERSE 1: "MY BRETHREN,
PAY NO SERVILE REGARD TO PEOPLE [SHOW NO PREJUDICE,
NO PARTIALITY].
DO NOT [ATTEMPT TO] HOLD AND PRACTICE THE FAITH OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST [THE LORD]
OF GLORY [TOGETHER WITH SNOBBERY]!
FOR IF A PERSON COMES INTO YOUR CONGREGATION WHOSE HANDS
ARE ADORNED WITH GOLD RINGS AND WHO'S WEARING SPLENDID APPAREL,
AND ALSO A POOR [MAN]
IN SHABBY CLOTHES COMES IN, AND YOU PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO
THE ONE WHO WEARS THE SPLENDID CLOTHES AND YOU SAY TO HIM,
SIT OVER HERE IN THIS PREFERABLE SEAT!
WHILE YOU TELL THE POOR [MAN], NOW GO STAND OVER THERE!
OR, SIT ON THE FLOOR!
ARE YOU NOT DISCRIMINATING AMONG YOUR OWN AND BECOMING CRITICS
AND JUDGES WITH WRONG MOTIVES?" NOW, WE ALL LIKE TO THINK
THAT WE'RE NOT PREJUDICED.
BUT TO BE HONEST, I THINK PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM
TODAY MAY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PREJUDICE IN SOME AREA
OF YOUR LIFE.
LET'S JUST TAKE FOR AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, HE'S GIVEN THE
EXAMPLE, THE RICH AND THE POOR.
AND TO BE HONEST, SOMETIMES PEOPLE OF MEANS WILL SHY AWAY
FROM PEOPLE THAT ARE POOR BUT ALSO PEOPLE THAT ARE POOR
RIGHT AWAY CAN FORM AN OPINION THAT'S TOTALLY WRONG
OF ANYBODY WHO HAS MORE THAN THEY DO.
I'M TELLING YOU WHAT, THE OPINIONS THAT WE HAVE
THAT ARE BASED ON NOTHING ARE VERY, VERY SAD.
I SAID, THE OPINIONS WE HAVE THAT ARE BASED ON NOTHING,
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
AND YET WE HAVE A SOLID OPINION OF THOSE PEOPLE.
AND SO I REALLY DON'T WANNA BE LIKE THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO JUDGE AND CRITICIZE AND FORM OPINIONS
ABOUT THINGS THAT I REALLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.
BUT WE HAVE A TENDENCY TO SHY AWAY FROM WHAT IS NOT LIKE US.
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO SLOW.
EXAMPLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IF YOU'RE 50 OR ABOVE, YOU COME FROM A CERTAIN
GENERATION WHICH WE ALL DO AND I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH,
WE DO THINK GENERATIONALLY, LIKE IT OR NOT.
I MEAN, WE JUST DO, OKAY?
AND SO LET'S JUST SAY THAT I WALK INTO A COFFEE SHOP
AND THE GIRL THAT'S BEHIND THE COUNTER HAS GOT TATTOOS
ALL DOWN BOTH ARMS.
LOTS OF PIERCINGS, HER HAIR IS THREE DIFFERENT COLORS,
GOING IN 40 DIRECTIONS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND IF I'M HONEST, THERE'S SOMETHING IN ME THAT
KINDA GOES--THIS KINDA WALL JUST KINDA LIKE--ALL RIGHT.
AND CHANCES ARE, SHE MIGHT FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT ME.
I GO IN WITH MY THREE-PIECE RHINESTONE SUIT AND MY EARRINGS
AND EVERY HAIR IN PLACE AND EVERY PIECE OF MAKE-UP PERFECT
AND SHE MIGHT AUTOMATICALLY THINK, "WELL, WHO ARE YOU,"
YOU KNOW?
AND SO WE HAVE TO PURPOSELY AND I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE
WE ALL HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS.
AND I PURPOSELY WANT US TO START BRINGING DOWN THOSE WALLS.
I MEAN, I--WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT ON PURPOSE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THERE ARE SO STINKING MANY WALLS OF DIVISION AND IT'S
KEEPING US DIVIDED AND CAUSING US TO EVEN HATE PEOPLE AND ALL
IT DOES IS JUST TEAR DOWN OUR POWER, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH.
ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH.
AND JESUS SAID--LOOK, I MEAN, THESE ARE THE WORDS
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
"DON'T BE PREJUDICED."
DON'T SHOW FAVORITISM TO ONE PERSON WHILE YOU MISTREAT
ANOTHER AND LET'S STOP THINKING THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE LIKE
US TO BE OKAY, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, WE, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE CHANGED UP
SOME THINGS IN THE MINISTRY AND WE STARTED GETTING YOUNGER
WORSHIP TEAMS.
AND I MEAN, I STILL--I'LL STILL BE SITTING OVER THERE AND,
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY DRESS DIFFERENT THAN WE DO.
AND SO MAYBE I GET ONE AND THEY'VE GOT RIPS
AND, YOU KNOW, IN THEIR JEANS.
NOW, I STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY ANYBODY WANTS TO PAY
$100 FOR A PAIR OF JEANS THAT'S GOT HOLES IN IT BUT--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I CAN TELL YOU THIS.
IT'S NOT HURTING THEIR ANOINTING.
I SAID IT'S NOT HURTING THEIR ANOINTING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I SAID IT'S NOT HURTING THEIR ANOINTING.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT CAN HURT MINE, IF I'VE GOT
A SNOOTY, I'M-BETTER-THAN-YOU ATTITUDE.
C'MON, NOW, DON'T MAKE ME COME DOWN THERE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SOMEBODY
BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT A TATTOO AND IT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD
NEVER HAVE OR THEY'VE GOT A NOSE PIERCING AND WE WOULD
NEVER DO THAT.
OR THEY GOT HOLES IN THEIR JEANS AND WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT.
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THEM.
AND WE NEED TO TAKE THE TROUBLE TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE'S HEARTS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW HOW WE ARE.
IT'S, LIKE, "OH, ONE OF THOSE."
WHATEVER THAT IS!
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE TO SOME PEOPLE
I'M ONE OF THOSE.
I'M ONE OF THOSE TELEVANGELISTS THAT'S JUST OUT TO GET
EVERYBODY'S MONEY.
YOU KNOW, I AM SO, EXCUSE ME, FED UP WITH LABELS.
I MEAN, WE WANNA PUT A LABEL ON EVERYTHING AND WE DON'T EVEN
KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL, WE NEED TO BROADEN
OUR CIRCLE OF INCLUSION.
AND I DON'T MEAN BY THAT THAT WE HAVE TO START ACCEPTING SIN
AND SAYING THAT IT'S OKAY JUST BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SOMEBODY
WANTS TO DO.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS.
WE CAN LOVE THE SINNER, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: JAMES WARNS THE BELIEVER TO TREAT ALL PEOPLE
THE SAME, REGARDLESS OF THEIR WEALTH OR SOCIAL STANDING.
I'VE TOLD THIS STORY WAY TOO MUCH BUT I CAN'T RESIST
TELLING IT AGAIN.
I'M IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WAITING
FOR MY APPOINTMENT.
THERE WAS AN ELDERLY MAN IN THERE WHO'D FALLEN ON THE ICE
AND BROKE HIS LEG AND HE KEPT WANTING TO TELL ME ABOUT
HIS LEG MORE THAN ONCE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW I KINDA KNEW THE GUY LIVES ALONE AND HE'S JUST
LONELY AND I'M SURE HE JUST WANTS SOMEBODY TO TALK TO
BUT I DID NOT WANNA TALK TO HIM.
I WANTED TO READ MY BIBLE AND BE SPIRITUAL.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, I HAD IT. I HAD THE BIBLE.
I MEAN, I WAS PRAYING, READING THE BIBLE,
AND THIS MAN KEPT TRYING TO TALK TO ME.
AND I ACTUALLY SAID TO THE LORD, "WOULD YOU MAKE HIM LEAVE ME
ALONE?" NOW THERE ARE SOME PRAYERS WE
CAN PRAY THAT GOD IS NOT GONNA ANSWER.
SO THE LORD SPOKE TO MY HEART AND HE SAID, "IF THAT
WAS BILLY GRAHAM, WOULD YOU LISTEN TO HIM?"
OH, MY GOD.
I MEAN, GOD KNOWS HOW TO JUST RIP YOU UP, DOESN'T HE,
WITH JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS?
AND I AM--I DIDN'T EVEN NEED A FURTHER SERMON.
I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT GOD WAS SAYING.
YOU WOULD LISTEN TO SOMEBODY THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULD MAKE YOU IMPORTANT
OR THAT MAYBE THEY COULD DO SOMETHING FOR YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
I NEVER TRY TO GIVE YOU GUYS ANYTHING THAT GOD HASN'T
MADE ME EAT FIRST.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS OUT DOING MY MORNING WALK
AND I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE HEAR
AND I JUST THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I AM SO FED UP WITH HATRED.
I MEAN, I'M JUST SO TIRED OF PEOPLE HATING PEOPLE AND GROUPS
OF PEOPLE HATING GROUPS OF PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE
DIFFERENT THAN SOMEBODY ELSE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO WE--I ASKED PASTOR MIKE TO HELP ME
AND WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF STUDY AND THERE ARE MULTITUDES
OF WARS THAT HAVE BEEN FOUGHT THROUGH THE CENTURIES
BECAUSE PEOPLE FROM ONE CULTURE OR ETHNIC BACKGROUND DESPISE
THOSE FROM ANOTHER.
STARTED IN GENESIS WITH CAIN AND ABEL.
THEY WERE DIFFERENT.
CAIN KILLED ABEL.
IN 1618 TO 1648 THERE WAS A WAR OF RELIGIOUS HATRED THAT EXISTED
BETWEEN CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANTS.
NOW, I'M JUST TELLING YOU HERE ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS WARS.
WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA GET INTO ALL THE OTHER STUFF.
ALL RIGHT, I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT ALL RELIGIOUS WARS BUT THEY'RE
ALL JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT.
THE NAZI/JEWISH HOLOCAUST, 6 MILLION PEOPLE WERE KILLED
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY WERE JEWS.
NO OTHER REASON.
"I JUST DON'T LIKE YOU.
YOU'RE NOT LIKE ME SO WE'RE GONNA ERADICATE YOU."
IN 1967 TO '70, 1 MILLION PEOPLE WERE KILLED
IN THE NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR, A WAR BETWEEN 2 TRIBES
WHO HATED ONE ANOTHER.
THE RWANDAN GENOCIDE, IN 100 DAYS 1 MILLION PEOPLE WERE
BRUTALLY SLAUGHTERED AND THAT WAR WAS DUE TO ETHNIC HATRED
BETWEEN 2 TRIBES, THE TUTSIS AND THE HUTUS.
THERE HAS BEEN A CONFLICT AND WAR IN IRELAND FOR YEARS
BETWEEN THE CATHOLICS AND THE PROTESTANTS.
THIS ONE WAS, KIND OF LIKE, JAW-DROPPING.
THERE'S A WAR ACTUALLY CALLED THE COLD RELIGIOUS WAR
THAT HAS LASTED FOR 962 YEARS AND IT IS BETWEEN
THE WESTERN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCH,
WHICH IS THE GREEK OR THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX
AND THEY SPLIT IN 1054 OVER DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES
AND HAVE NOT OFFICIALLY FELLOWSHIPPED TOGETHER
SINCE THEN.
THE DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCE THEY SPLIT OVER WAS THE ORIGIN OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD HAVE THE EUCHARIST WITH
LEAVENED OR UNLEAVENED BREAD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE WONDER
WHY THE WORLD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY US.
AND THEN I LOOKED UP THIS MORNING ONLINE HOW MANY
CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS THERE ARE.
33,000 DIVISIONS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
22,000 OF THEM ARE INDEPENDENT SO THAT'S ALL THE PEOPLE
THAT DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: 9,000 PROTESTANT, 1,600 CALL THEMSELVES MARGINALS,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.
781 ORTHODOX.
THESE ARE, LIKE, DENOMINATIONS, NOT JUST PEOPLE.
242 CATHOLICS, 168 ANGLICANS.
THERE ARE--THERE'S THE RADIO CHURCH, THE TV CHURCH,
THE ONLINE CHURCH, THE NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH,
THE--AND THEN THERE'S A GROUP CALLED THE INDEPENDENT EXCLUSIVE
BRETHREN.
HOW'D YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THAT GROUP?
THE INDEPENDENT EXCLUSIVE BRETHREN.
AND, BOY, WHEN YOU GET INTO THE PENTECOSTALS,
NOW WE GOT SOME FUN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THERE ARE THE NORMAL PENTECOSTALS AND THERE
ARE THE HOLINESS PENTECOSTALS.
THERE ARE THE ONENESS PENTECOSTAL AND THE DELIVERANCE
CHURCH PENTECOSTALS.
AND THEN THERE'S THE CHARISMATICS AND THEY ARE
THE RESPECTABLE PENTECOSTALS, I GUESS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
WE ARE, SO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THEN THERE'S ALL THE NON-DENOMINATIONAL
AND SO LORD HELP US, THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.
I MEAN, WE GOTTA STOP THIS SILLINESS, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU BELIEVE IN BEING BAPTIZED
AS A BABY AND I BELIEVE IN BEING BAPTIZED AFTER YOU RECEIVE
CHRIST SO I CAN'T FELLOWSHIP WITH YOU."
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
STONE ME IF YOU WANT TO BUT IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IT, THEN
JUST GET BAPTIZED BOTH TIMES.
I, YOU KNOW, I DON'T-- [AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DISRESPECTFUL BUT I'M JUST
SAYING THIS STUFF IS RIDICULOUS.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, WE'RE PLAYING RIGHT
INTO THE DEVIL'S HANDS.
HE WANTS US ALL TO FIND A NEW REASON EVERY WEEK TO HATE
EACH OTHER BUT JESUS SAID, "ONE NEW COMMANDMENT
I GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER
JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, BEING A VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN ACTUALLY
MEANS MORE THAN JUST BELIEVING GOD AND HIS WORD
AND HIS PROMISES.
IT MUST ALSO BE FOLLOWED UP WITH ACTION IN OUR LIVES.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE STUDY THE WORD OF GOD AND WE SEE
WHAT GOD ASKS US TO DO THEN WE FOLLOW IT UP WITH ACTION.
AND GOD ALWAYS GIVES US THE GRACE AND THE STRENGTH
TO DO WHAT HE'S ASKED US TO DO.
WHY NOT ASK GOD TODAY WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO DO
AND FOLLOW IT UP WITH ACTION?
TODAY, YOU'VE WATCHED JUST A PORTION OF THE TEACHING
FROM THE BOOK OF JAMES.
BUT YOU CAN GET THE WHOLE STUDY TODAY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE
WITH OTHER BOOKS OF THE BIBLE AND PEOPLE HAVE REALLY
ENJOYED IT.
I'VE ENJOYED IT.
AND I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU THAT BIBLE STUDY,
YOUR OWN BIBLE STUDY IS SO IMPORTANT TO YOUR LIFE.
SO TODAY WE HAVE THE BOOK OF JAMES,
THE ACTION PLAN, AND THIS INCLUDES A PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE
ON THE BOOK OF JAMES, IT'S A BOOKLET,
AND FOUR TEACHINGS ON CD AND DVD.
AND YOU CAN ALSO DOWNLOAD THE STUDY GUIDE.
I REALLY WANT YOU TO LEARN THE WORD OF GOD FOR YOURSELF
IN A PERSONAL WAY THAT'S GONNA REALLY AFFECT YOUR LIFE.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS GONNA REALLY HELP YOU MAKE SOME
CHANGES THAT YOU'VE BEEN WANTING TO MAKE FOR A LONG TIME.
NOW, GOD LOVES YOU.
HE LOVED YOU BEFORE YOU EVER DID ANYTHING RIGHT OR WRONG.
AND ACTUALLY, HE WILL NEVER EVER, EVER,
STOP LOVING YOU.
SO YOU REMEMBER THAT AND ENJOY THE DAY
THAT HE'S GIVEN YOU.
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...
CALL US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: WELL, JEFF FROM PENNSYLVANIA SENT US HIS STORY
AND I WANNA SHARE IT WITH YOU.
HE SAID, "I WAS A MESS AND I HAD NO REAL DIRECTION OR PURPOSE,
OR AT LEAST SO I THOUGHT.
STRUGGLING WITH A HARD HEART AND SINKING INTO SELF-PITY,
ONE MORNING WHILE GETTING READY FOR WORK, JOYCE'S
'ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE' TV PROGRAM CAME ON.
IT SEEMED AS IF SHE WAS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO ME.
THAT MORNING CHANGED MY LIFE.
THANK YOU FOR POINTING ME TO THE PATH OF SALVATION.
WITH YOUR VOICE EACH MORNING REMINDING ME OF THE RIGHT COURSE
TO FOLLOW AND WITH THE LORD'S GRACE, I NOW FEEL I CAN ACHIEVE
ANYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED OF ME."
WELL, YOU KNOW, STORIES LIKE THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I'M DOING
WHAT I'M DOING.
AND I WANNA ASK YOU TODAY IF YOU WOULD SEND A SPECIAL LOVE GIFT,
A FINANCIAL GIFT, JUST TO HELP US WITH TELEVISION AIR TIME,
TO HELP PAY FOR THE PROGRAM YOU WATCH, FOR THE PROGRAM THAT JEFF
WATCHED, FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE IN INDIA, AND AFRICA, AND
ASIA, AND SO MANY OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD WATCH, AND ALSO
TO HELP US CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT OUTREACH TO REACH MORE
AND MORE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY, NOT EVERYBODY GOES TO CHURCH,
BUT EVERYBODY WATCHES TV.
JEFF DIDN'T TURN HIS TV ON THAT MORNING LOOKING FOR SALVATION.
I'M SURE HE WASN'T LOOKING TO HEAR A TV PREACHER.
BUT GOD KNEW WHAT HE NEEDED AND HE USED THAT TELEVISION, THE
MESSAGE THROUGH THAT TELEVISION, TO GET IT TO HIM.
WILL YOU HELP ME BY GIVING FINANCIALLY TO HELP ME CONTINUE
REACHING PEOPLE LIKE JEFF?
THANK YOU.
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
TOGETHER, WE'RE SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST AROUND THE WORLD.
TO FIND OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT US ONLINE AT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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