ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, THE GREAT THING ABOUT GOD
IS NO MATTER HOW MANY MISTAKES YOU'VE MADE IN THE PAST
YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP MAKING THEM.
AND THE MORE WE CHOOSE THE RIGHT THING,
THE MORE WE GET OUT OF THE MESSES THAT WE'RE IN.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: EVERYBODY HAS EMOTIONS.
WELL, AT LEAST, MOST PEOPLE DO.
SOME PEOPLE YOU THINK COULD USE HAVING A FEW MORE BUT--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE PEOPLE WHO JUST
HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF THEM AND THEY TEND TO BE LED
AND GUIDED BY THEM, RATHER THAN BEING GUIDED
BY THE SPIRIT.
SO OUR EMOTIONS DO NOT TELL US THE TRUTH.
THEY TELL US HOW WE FEEL.
YOUR MIND DOESN'T NECESSARILY TELL YOU THE TRUTH
UNLESS IT'S BEEN TOTALLY RENEWED BY THE WORD OF GOD.
YOUR MIND AND MY MIND TELLS US WHAT WE THINK.
AND SO PROBABLY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE,
PEOPLE TELL ME AND THEY TELL YOU AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
TO EACH OTHER YOU TALK ABOUT AND I TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT,
WHAT WE THINK, AND HOW WE FEEL.
I WANT, I THINK, I FEEL.
WELL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, ALL OF THAT,
UNLESS IT'S CLOSELY GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
IS PART OF WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS "THE FLESH."
WHAT I THINK DOESN'T NECESSARILY TELL ME WHAT GOD THINKS
OR WHAT HIS WORD SAYS.
WHAT I FEEL DOESN'T NECESSARILY TELL ME WHAT GOD
WOULD HAVE ME DO IN A SITUATION, AND WHAT I WANT MAY NOT BE
WHAT GOD WANTS.
NOW, WE IMPROVE IN THOSE AREAS THE MORE WE STUDY THE WORD
AND THE MORE WE LEARN TO WALK ACCORDING TO THE WORD,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU EVEN AFTER BEING IN CHURCH
MANY, MANY YEARS, BACK IN THE '70S WHEN I GOT INTO
WHAT I CALL A MORE SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
AND I LOVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE, TO BE HONEST,
YOU CAN BE A CHRISTIAN AND YOU CAN GO TO CHURCH
A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK AND YOU MIGHT READ YOUR BIBLE
A LITTLE BIT AND STILL NOT BE REAL SERIOUS
IN YOUR WALK WITH GOD.
WHEN PEOPLE GET SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
THEY'RE NOT JUST INTERESTED IN WHAT GOD CAN DO FOR THEM,
BUT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR GOD.
THEY WANT TO BE THE KIND OF PERSON
THAT GOD CAN USE, THAT GOD IS WORKING THROUGH THEM
TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, I LOVE DOING THINGS FOR MY KIDS
AND I WILL ALWAYS DO THINGS FOR MY KIDS BUT I'LL TELL YOU,
I REACHED A POINT WHERE I JUST THOUGHT,
"I'D LIKE YOU TO DO SOMETHING FOR ME."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND YOU'LL GET TO--
NOW, ALL MY KIDS ARE GREAT AND THEY DO A LOT OF STUFF
FOR US BUT IT'S JUST THE TRUTH.
YOU DON'T--YOU KNOW, THAT BABY STAGE OF CHRISTIANITY
IS ALL ABOUT ME, ME, ME, ME, ME.
WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?
BUT MATURITY BEGINS TO SEE THAT IT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY
AND IT BEGINS TO WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT CAN DO THEN FOR THE ONE
WHO'S HELPED THEM SO MUCH.
SO THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE HAVE EMOTIONS,
WE HAVE THOUGHTS, WE HAVE A WILL,
AND WHAT GOD'S DESIRE IS FOR US IS THAT WE USE OUR WILL
TO CHOOSE HIS WILL.
HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE US DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
HE'S GIVEN US FREE CHOICE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT ROBOTS
WHO HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO SERVE HIM.
HE WANTS US TO COME TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN EVEN SAY,
"YOU KNOW, GOD, THIS IS WHAT I WANT
BUT IF IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT, THEN PLEASE
DON'T GIVE IT TO ME."
HAS ANYBODY STARTED PRAYING LIKE THAT YET?
OKAY, THAT'S THE WISE WAY TO PRAY.
AND WE ALSO GROW TO THE POINT WHERE,
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE OUR OWN THOUGHTS
AND WE HAVE OUR OWN FEELINGS, WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T BE LED
AND GUIDED BY THAT IF THEY DON'T AGREE
WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
SO LET ME JUST SAY THAT YOU'RE NEVER
GONNA NOT HAVE FEELINGS.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FEELINGS.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE EMOTIONS.
AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE GOOD AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE THERE WHEN YOU NEED THEM.
THEY--OR THEY'RE THERE WHEN YOU NEED 'EM;
SOMETIMES THEY'RE THERE WHEN YOU'RE--THEY'RE THERE
WHEN YOU WANT 'EM; SOMETIMES THEY'RE THERE
WHEN YOU DON'T WANT 'EM.
YOU MAY FEEL LIKE DOING SOMETHING
WHEN YOU GO TO BED AT NIGHT.
GET UP THE NEXT MORNING AND NOT FEEL LIKE DOING IT ANYMORE.
AND SO WE HAVE TO LEARN THAT WE HAVE FEELINGS
BUT WE CANNOT LET THEM HAVE US.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO MANAGE OUR EMOTIONS.
AND BECAUSE EMOTIONS ARE SO PREVALENT,
I READ AND STUDY IN THAT AREA A FAIR AMOUNT,
AND I RECENTLY HAVE BEEN READING A BOOK BY A GENTLEMAN
WHO'S PROBABLY GONE HOME TO BE WITH THE LORD
100 YEARS AGO BUT I LOVE THE FACT
THAT THE WORD NEVER GETS OLD.
MATTER OF FACT, A LOT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
I'VE LEARNED, I'VE LEARNED FROM PEOPLE THAT LEFT THE PLANET
YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I WANTED TO WRITE
SO MANY BOOKS AND LEAVE THAT LEGACY
AND THAT HERITAGE TO PEOPLE THAT WILL COME AFTER ME
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THE THINGS THAT I'M TEACHING NOW
WILL BE JUST AS VALUABLE 100 YEARS FROM NOW
AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
AND SO--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS MAN SAID
AND IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT I DON'T KNOW
BUT IT JUST WAS SOMETHING THAT I NEEDED TO BE REMINDED OF,
AND MAYBE YOU NEED TO BE REMINDED
OF THIS TOO TODAY.
HE SAID, "WATCH YOUR EMOTIONS AND NOTICE HOW EASILY
THEY ARE AFFECTED BY SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
IF YOU DON'T SLEEP WELL, YOU'RE LIKELY TO BE MORE
EMOTIONAL THE NEXT DAY.
IF YOU DON'T FEEL WELL, YOU'RE LIKELY TO BE
MORE EMOTIONAL THE NEXT DAY.
IF THE WEATHER DOESN'T SUIT YOU--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: MY POINT IS, IS THAT THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO
OR DON'T DO CAN AFFECT US EMOTIONALLY.
HOW OTHER PEOPLE BEHAVE CAN AFFECT US EMOTIONALLY.
WHAT KIND OF APPRECIATION PEOPLE GIVE YOU
OR DON'T GIVE YOU CAN AFFECT US EMOTIONALLY.
SO BECAUSE OUR FEELINGS SEEM TO BE SO AFFECTED
BY SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, I THINK IT WOULD BE JUST
A GOOD LITTLE STUDY CLASS TO TAKE A WEEK AND JUST MAYBE
PAY A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION TO WHEN THEY'RE UP
AND WHEN THEY'RE DOWN AND WHAT SEEMS
TO BE CAUSING BOTH.
SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE EMOTIONAL THAN OTHERS.
SOME HAVE, YOU KNOW, MORE CONTROL
OVER THEIR EMOTIONS THAN OTHERS.
THEY SAY THAT WOMEN ARE A LOT MORE EMOTIONAL THAN MEN.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S TRUE IN MINE AND DAVE'S CASE.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE IN EVERY SITUATION.
I MEAN, SOMETIMES I WONDER IF DAVE'S GOT ANY EMOTIONS.
I MEAN, HE'S LIKE--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, YEAH, HOW MANY OF YOU
ARE MARRIED TO SOMEBODY THAT JUST NOTHING BOTHERS THEM?
GOOD, ABOUT 20 PEOPLE.
THERE'S NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIKE THAT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO IS LEARN TO LIVE DEEPER.
EVERYBODY SAY "DEEPER."
BECAUSE THE FLESH, WHAT I THINK, WHAT I WANT, AND WHAT I FEEL,
IS MORE PART OF MY EXTERIOR LIFE
AND IT DOESN'T REALLY OR DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE
THAT MUCH TO DO WITH MY DEEPER LIFE
WHICH IS MY LIFE IN CHRIST.
BUT IT TAKES US QUITE A WHILE TO LEARN THAT.
HOW MANY OF YOU, IF YOU'VE BEEN WALKING WITH GOD,
NOW LET'S SAY, 10 YEARS, YOU ARE LESS AFFECTED
BY YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES NOW THAN YOU WERE 10 YEARS AGO?
OKAY, SEE, AND THE LONGER YOU WALK WITH GOD, THE MORE
THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE ALTHOUGH YOU ARE A SPIRIT,
YOU HAVE A FLESH WHICH IS YOUR SOUL AND YOUR BODY,
THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT IF WE WALK
BY THE SPIRIT WE WILL NOT FULFILL THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH.
IT DOESN'T SAY THAT THE FLESH WILL STOP SCREAMING AT YOU.
BUT IT SAYS THE MORE THAT WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT,
GALATIANS 5:16, THE LESS WE WILL FOLLOW
OR SUBMIT TO THE LUSTS OF OUR FLESH.
YOUR FLESH IS ALWAYS GONNA BE SCREAMING AT YOU,
ALWAYS GONNA BE SCREAMING AT ME, BUT WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS
THAT WE'RE GONNA DO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO.
NOW, DEEPER.
THE BIBLE SAYS TO BE ROOTED DEEP IN GOD'S LOVE.
DO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN COME TO A PLACE
WHERE YOU ARE SO CONVINCED THAT GOD LOVES YOU
THAT NOTHING CAN EVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU.
NOTHING CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT HOW MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE
AND PERHAPS IN YOURS TOO, AND THANKFULLY
I DON'T DO THIS ANYMORE, BUT HOW MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE
DID EVERY TIME I HAVE TROUBLE THAT WAS LONG-LASTING
I WOULD SAY, "WELL, GOD, DON'T YOU LOVE ME?
DON'T YOU LOVE ME?"
YOU KNOW, WE THINK THAT IF GOD LOVES US
THEN EVERYTHING SHOULD TURN UP ROSES ALL THE TIME.
BUT THE BIBLE ACTUALLY SAYS THAT WHEN GOD CHASTISES US
IT'S A SIGN OF HIS LOVE.
IN REVELATIONS IT SAYS WE SHOULD BE ENTHUSIASTIC
AND FULL OF ZEAL WHEN GOD CORRECTS US AND
SHOWS US WHAT'S WRONG WITH US.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I'VE THOUGHT SOMETIMES,
"GOD, YOU COULD JUST LOVE ME A LITTLE BIT LESS TODAY.
I REALLY--"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "I DON'T WANNA KNOW ANYTHING ELSE
THAT'S WRONG WITH ME RIGHT NOW.
JUST BE--FEEL FREE TO GO LOVE SOMEBODY ELSE," AMEN?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT WHEN YOU'RE ROOTED DEEP IN THAT LOVE THEN YOU KNOW
THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW AND NOTHING CAN EVER TAKE THAT
AWAY FROM YOU.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE'RE TO BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN CHRIST.
AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU GROW TO A POINT
WHERE YOU--YOUR IDENTITY IS SO ESTABLISHED
IN WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST THAT ALTHOUGH
YOU DON'T WANNA BE REJECTED, IF A PERSON REJECTS YOU,
YOU CAN STILL BE OKAY BECAUSE YOU KNOW
GOD NEVER REJECTS YOU.
IF YOU GET TURNED DOWN FOR A POSITION AT WORK
THAT YOU WANTED OR A PROMOTION YOU WANTED,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL INSECURE AND FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NO GOOD
BECAUSE YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
AND SAY, "IF THAT WAS WHAT GOD HAD FOR ME
THEN IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, AND IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN
THEN GOD'S GOT ANOTHER PLAN FOR ME,
AND MY WORTH AND VALUE IS NOT TIED UP IN THE TITLE
I HAVE AT MY COMPANY."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
THAT HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD IS THAT WE CAN BECOME SECURE IN WHO WE ARE IN HIM.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT A NIGHTMARE IT IS
WHEN YOU'RE INSECURE AND EVERYTHING ABOUT
HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF IS AFFECTED
BY HOW OTHER PEOPLE TREAT YOU AND WHAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE?
THE BIBLE SAYS: "DEEP CALLETH UNTO DEEP."
AND I WANNA JUST ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
HOW MANY OF YOU MAYBE YOU'RE AT A POINT IN YOUR HOME
WHERE YOU NEED TO DO SOME DEEP CLEANING?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OKAY, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND WE'RE GONNA GET A LITTLE ANALOGY.
SO ARE YOU THE KIND OF PERSON THAT JUST,
WHEN SOMEBODY IS GONNA COME OVER YOU JUST QUICKLY STRAIGHTEN UP?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OH, THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "OH, WE GOT COMPANY COMING, C'MON."
ALL THE KIDS HAVE TO GET IN GEAR.
WE'RE THROWING EVERYTHING IN CLOSETS.
WE'RE SHOVING EVERYTHING IN DRAWERS.
WE'RE PICKING EVERYTHING UP.
THE DISHES ARE THROWN IN THE DISHWASHER.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THE COMPANY COMES IN AND WE'RE BUSY,
LIKE, IMPRESSING THEM WITH OUR LOVELY HOUSE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT WE KNOW WHAT'S HIDDEN BEHIND THE DRAWERS
AND THE DOORS.
OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE SAME THING CAN BE TRUE IN OUR LIVES.
WHEN SOMEBODY COMES AROUND THAT WE KNOW
AND WE WANNA IMPRESS, ARE WE QUICK TO STRAIGHTEN UP?
OR HAVE WE INVITED GOD TO COME INTO OUR LIFE
AND DO A LOT OF DEEP CLEANING ON THE INSIDE OF US?
HM, YOU KNOW, WELL, LET'S JUST SAY THIS.
IF YOU WOULD BEHAVE AT HOME ALL THE TIME
THE WAY YOU WOULD BEHAVE IF I SHOWED UP
AT YOUR FRONT DOOR--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: C'MON, WAKE UP.
I'M TIRED TOO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SEE, OUR BIG EXCUSE IS, "WELL, I JUST CAN'T HELP IT.
I JUST CAN'T HELP IT.
I JUST LOSE MY TEMPER.
I'M JUST AN EMOTIONAL PERSON.
I JUST CAN'T HELP IT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THAT'S ONE EXCUSE THAT WE NEED TO GET RID OF.
THE "I CAN'T HELP IT" EXCUSE.
"IT'S JUST HARD. IT'S JUST SO HARD."
WELL, YEAH, IT'S HARD FOR EVERYBODY.
WE ALL JUST THINK BEING OUT OF CONTROL IS GREAT
BUT THAT'S NOT THE WAY GOD WANTS US TO BE.
SO YOU KNOW, I DID A LOT OF SCREAMING
AND YELLING AT MY KIDS IN MY FRUSTRATED YEARS.
I MEAN, I WASN'T ABUSIVE TO THEM BUT I JUST WAS--I WAS UPSET
A LOT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME.
[GRUMBLING]
I KNOW NONE OF YOU WERE LIKE THAT BUT I WAS.
I ALWAYS SAID I GOT ALONG WITH EVERYBODY
'TIL SOMEBODY CAME HOME AND THEN IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND HONESTLY, I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME ONE TIME
AND IT TAUGHT ME A GREAT LESSON AND I SHARE IT OFTEN
IN MY TEACHINGS WHEN I'M TEACHING
ALONG THESE LINES.
ONE DAY I WAS UPSET WITH MY KIDS AND THEY'D MADE A MESS
AND, YOU KNOW, BACK THEN I WOULD SAY, "GO PLAY,"
AND THEN THEY'D GET THEIR TOYS OUT AND I'D SAY,
"CLEAN THAT MESS UP."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO PEOPLE THAT ARE UNHAPPY INSIDE,
THEY'RE KIND OF LED BY THEIR EMOTIONS
AND THEY BLAME A LOT OF THEIR UNHAPPINESS
ON OTHER PEOPLE.
LIKE, "I'M GONNA BE HAPPY NOW IF YOU GO PLAY.
WELL, NOW I'M GONNA BE HAPPY IF YOU CLEAN YOUR MESS UP."
AND SO I WAS HAVING ONE OF MY UPSET SPELLS
AND THE DOORBELL RANG AND I PEEKED OUT
AND IT WAS MY PASTOR.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I TELL YOU WHAT, I GOT CONTROL OF MYSELF SO FAST.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, I STILL REMEMBER,
"OH, PASTOR!
WOW, IT'S SO NICE OF YOU TO STOP BY.
OH, THE KIDS? OH, YEAH, THEY'RE PLAYING.
THEY'RE--"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "THE LITTLE DARLINGS, THEY'RE JUST
IN THEIR ROOM PLAYING."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S AMAZING WHEN THERE'S SOMEBODY AROUND
THAT WE WANT TO IMPRESS HOW FAST WE CAN GET CONTROL.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, THAT WOULD BE WORTH YOU COMING
IF THAT'S ALL I SAID.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT I'M GONNA SAY SOME OTHER STUFF.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
UNTIL WE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND STOP JUST SAYING,
"WELL, THAT'S JUST THE WAY I AM, I JUST CAN'T HELP IT."
YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL GOT EXCUSES BUT ALL THEY ARE
IS REASON STUFFED WITH A LIE.
THEY'RE NOT THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD
AND GOD HAS GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF SELF-CONTROL
AND IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO GET IT DEVELOPED
AND TO LEARN HOW TO WALK IN IT BUT THERE'S NO POINT IN ME
OR YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE SAYING, "I JUST CAN'T HELP IT,"
BECAUSE GOD IS NEVER GONNA TELL US
TO DO OR NOT TO DO SOMETHING AND LEAVE US
WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE CANNOT HAVE SPIRITUAL MATURITY
IF WE DON'T LEARN HOW TO LIVE DEEPER IN GOD.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE DON'T--WE HAVE FEELINGS
BUT WE DON'T LIVE BY THEM.
WE HAVE THOUGHTS; WE DON'T LIVE BY THEM.
WE HAVE THINGS WE WANT OR DON'T WANT
BUT WE DON'T LIVE BY THEM.
I THINK TOO MANY OF US, WE'RE GOING TO CHURCH
ALL THE TIME TRYING TO FIND A WAY
THAT WE CAN GET WHAT WE WANT AND THAT'S NOT EXACTLY
GOD'S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES, AMEN?
WHAT IF I SAID TO YOU TODAY AND I--WE'LL JUST PRETEND
'CAUSE I WOULD NEVER SAY THIS 'CAUSE YOU'D PROBABLY
NEVER COME BACK IF I DID.
SO WE'LL JUST PRETEND THAT WHAT IF I SAID TO YOU TODAY,
"YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE
YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET 'EM, SO WILL YOU LOVE GOD
JUST AS MUCH AND SERVE HIM ANYWAY?"
I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION WE ALL NEED TO ASK OURSELVES:
"AM I SERVING GOD FOR WHAT HE CAN DO FOR ME?
AM I JUST WILLING TO SERVE HIM WHEN I'M ON THE MOUNTAINTOPS
IN MY LIFE?
OR AM I WILLING TO SERVE HIM WHEN JUST NOTHING IN MY LIFE
IS MAKING SENSE?
AND I SEE OTHER PEOPLE GETTING WHAT I WANT
AND I DON'T THINK THEY'RE NEARLY AS SPIRITUAL AS I AM
AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHY GOD IS NOT GIVING IT TO ME,
AND GIVING IT TO THEM."
WELL, IT MAY BE THAT ATTITUDE THAT HE'S AFTER.
"WHY ARE YOU GIVING IT TO THEM, GOD?
THEY'RE NOT NEARLY AS SPIRITUAL AS ME.
I AM SO SPIRITUAL."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, ROMANS 8, VERSE 8:
"SO THEN THOSE WHO ARE LIVING THE LIFE OF THE FLESH,"
AND I LIKE THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, OBVIOUSLY,
I'VE USED IT FOR YEARS.
"THOSE WHO ARE LIVING THE LIFE OF THE FLESH [CATERING
TO THE APPETITES AND IMPULSES OF THEIR CARNAL NATURE]"
SO HE'S SAYING THAT LIVING THE LIFE OF THE FLESH
MEANS THAT WE CATER TO OUR FLESH.
WHATEVER IT WANTS, THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO GIVE IT.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE EVER HOSTED
A CATERED EVENT BUT IT'S SO MUCH FUN
WHEN THE EVENT'S GOING ON.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE WAITING ON YOU.
YOU KNOW, YOU GO TO A REALLY, LIKE, TOP-NOTCH RESTAURANT,
YOU MIGHT HAVE THREE WAITERS OR WAITRESSES THAT ARE JUST
ASSIGNED TO YOUR TABLE.
I MEAN, EVERY TIME YOU GET A CRUMB ON THE TABLE,
THEY'RE COMING AND WIPING IT UP AND ANYTHING YOU WANT,
THEY'RE GONNA GET IT.
THEY, "YES, MA'AM; NO, MA'AM."
THEY KNOW YOUR NAME.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST AWESOME.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU WILL GET THE BILL.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: C'MON, AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU
ARE IN A PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE YOU'VE GOTTEN THE BILL
FOR CATERING TO YOUR FLESH IN THE PAST
AND GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT CAN TURN AROUND
SO YOU'RE NOT CONTINUING TO PAY THAT PRICE IN THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, THE GREAT THING ABOUT GOD IS NO MATTER
HOW MANY MISTAKES YOU'VE MADE IN THE PAST
YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP MAKING THEM.
AND THE MORE WE CHOOSE THE RIGHT THING,
THE MORE WE GET OUT OF THE MESSES THAT WE'RE IN.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, WE GET IN TROUBLE--
WE GET IN TROUBLE ONE DECISION AT A TIME.
EVERY TIME WE MAKE A DECISION THAT TAKES US
FURTHER AWAY FROM GOD, THINGS GET WORSE AND WORSE.
AND MAYBE YOU'VE SPENT 40 YEARS MAKING A MESS IN YOUR LIFE.
WELL, DON'T GET MAD AT GOD IF HE HASN'T FIXED IT IN A WEEK.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU MAY NOT BE WHERE YOU WANNA BE
BUT IF YOU'RE STARTING TO MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS
IN YOUR LIFE NOW, THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER
AND BETTER.
AND EVEN LIKE CHOOSING TO BE HERE THIS WEEKEND,
IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER.
YOU MAY NOT FEEL ZIPPY DIFFERENT WHEN YOU WALK OUT OF HERE
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER
OR THE MONTH AFTER YOU'RE GONNA REMEMBER
SOMETHING THAT WAS SAID AND IT'S GONNA KEEP YOU
FROM GETTING IN TROUBLE ON THAT DAY.
AND SO WE DON'T ALWAYS--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE DON'T ALWAYS REAP IMMEDIATELY,
THE MOMENT THAT WE SOW, BUT IF WE SOW WE WILL REAP
IN DUE SEASON AND AT THE RIGHT TIME.
SO WE'VE GOTTA BE CAREFUL ABOUT CATERING TO OUR APPETITES
AND IMPULSES.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:3.
PAUL SAID, "YOU ARE STILL [UNSPIRITUAL],"
AND HE WAS TALKING TO CHRISTIANS.
YOU KNOW, WEAK--
THERE'S CARNAL CHRISTIANS AND THERE'S
SPIRITUAL CHRISTIANS, AND OUR GOAL SHOULD BE
NOT TO BE A CARNAL CHRISTIAN BECAUSE CARNAL CHRISTIANS
ARE THOSE WHO WALK IN THE FLESH.
THEY ARE THE ONES WHO DO EVERYTHING
THEY FEEL LIKE DOING, GO AFTER EVERYTHING
THEY THINK THEY SHOULD HAVE, AND DO WHAT THEY WANT.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE WITH ME OR YOU'RE STILL
TRACKING HERE WITH ME?
HE SAYS, "AN UNSPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN
IS SOMEBODY WHO IS UNDER THE CONTROL
OF ORDINARY IMPULSES."
I LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY EMOTIONS CAN COME ACROSS
LIKE SOMETIMES LIKE A...
YOU SAY SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE, I FEEL LIKE TELLING YOU OFF
SO I DO.
YOU SAY SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE, I DECIDE
TO SHUT YOU OUT OF MY LIFE AND I'M NOT EVER
GONNA TALK TO YOU AGAIN.
WELL, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE OFFEND ME
I STILL FEEL THAT WAY BUT NOW I'VE LEARNED
I DON'T GET TO DO WHAT I FEEL LIKE.
I HAVE TO DO WHAT THE WORD TELLS ME TO DO
IF I WANNA HAVE THE LIFE THAT JESUS WANTS ME TO HAVE.
SHALL I SAY THAT AGAIN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, NOW, HERE'S ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS
OF BEING A BABY CHRISTIAN, A CARNAL, UNSPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN.
"AS LONG AS [THERE IS] ENVY AND JEALOUSY AND WRANGLINGS
AND FACTIONS," WHICH IS STRIFE, "AMONG YOU,
ARE YOU NOT UNSPIRITUAL AND OF THE FLESH,
BEHAVING YOURSELVES AFTER A MERE HUMAN STANDARD
LIKE (UNCHANGED) MEN?"
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH STRIFE THERE IS IN THE CHURCH?
HOW MANY PEOPLE GO TO CHURCH AND LISTEN TO SOME MAN
OR SOME WOMAN PREACH EVERY WEEK AND THEN LEAVE AND
GO TO LUNCH WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND DO NOTHING
BUT GOSSIP ABOUT HIM?
C'MON, DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THERE CAN BE STRIFE ON THE WORSHIP TEAM,
STRIFE AMONG THE NURSERY STAFF, STRIFE ON THE CHURCH STAFF.
AND SEE, WHERE THERE'S STRIFE, GOD CAN'T BLESS US.
BUT WHERE TWO AGREE ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING,
WHATEVER THEY ASK FOR, GOD CAN DO IT.
THERE'S POWER IN AGREEMENT AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHY SATAN TRIES SO HARD TO STIR UP STRIFE.
I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SITTING IN HERE TODAY
AND YOU'RE MAD AT SOMEBODY.
WELL, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.
YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING TOO INNOCENT FOR ME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS IN SEATTLE.
MAYBE YOU'RE TOO BUSY WORRYING ABOUT THE WEATHER,
I DON'T KNOW.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, A.B. SIMPSON, WHO'S THE MAN
I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT THAT WROTE THE THINGS
THAT I SAID ABOUT HOW EASILY OUR FEELINGS CHANGE,
HE SAID HE ALWAYS LIVES BY THIS FORMULA:
"FIRST IN IMPORTANCE IS THE FACT OF GOD'S WORD.
THIS IS THE STANDARD.
THE NEXT THING IS I CHOOSE TO PUT MY FAITH
IN THE FACTS OF GOD'S WORD.
AND THE LAST THING THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO
IS OUR FEELINGS.
FEELINGS ARE FICKLE.
THEY'RE EVER-CHANGING AND, BOY,
HOW QUICK THEY CAN CHANGE.
HOW SUDDENLY THEY CAN CHANGE."
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER GOTTEN EXCITED AND BOUGHT SOMETHING
AND, BOY, YOU SPENT THE NEXT 10 YEARS
WISHING YOU WOULDN'T HAVE?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HM-MM.
WATCHMAN NEE, WHO WAS A GREAT CHRISTIAN WRITER,
SAID THAT "EMOTIONS ARE THE BELIEVER'S
NUMBER ONE ENEMY."
WHOO.
"THEY KEEP PEOPLE WALKING IN THE FLESH.
THEY KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD."
I THINK IT'S JUST GOOD TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME
THIS AFTERNOON JUST TO REMEMBER HOW EASILY WE'RE LED AROUND
BY OUR FEELINGS.
JOYCE: WELL, ALL OF US HAVE EMOTIONS
AND THEY CAN DICTATE OUR LIVES IF WE LET THEM.
BUT WE CAN BE SECURE IN WHO WE ARE AND WE CAN LEARN
TO FOLLOW GOD'S WORD AND NOT FOLLOW
HOW WE FEEL ALL THE TIME.
I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF US WANNA HAVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE,
SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY.
AND I'M SURE THAT THERE'S AT LEAST ONE AREA
OF YOUR LIFE, AS WELL AS IN MINE,
THAT WE CAN MAKE A HEALTHY CHANGE.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU "HEALTHY LIVING:
SPIRIT, SOUL & BODY."
YOU CAN BE HEALTHY IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
THAT'S FOUR TEACHINGS.
AND ALSO A "HEALTHY LIVING JOURNAL."
IT'S GOT SCRIPTURES AND IT'S GOT PLACES IN IT
FOR YOU TO RECORD THE PROGRESS THAT YOU'RE MAKING
IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
WHY NOT JUST MAKE A COLLEGE COURSE OUT OF THIS
AND BE AS HEALTHY AS YOU CAN BE IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE?
GOD BLESS YOU AND HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
ANNOUNCER: EVERY PERSON IS COMPOSED OF THREE PARTS:
SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY.
GOD NOT ONLY CARES ABOUT YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH,
BUT WANTS YOU TO THRIVE IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
JOYCE'S FOUR-AUDIO TEACHING SERIES,
"HEALTHY LIVING: SPIRIT, SOUL & BODY,"
WILL INSPIRE YOU TO ESTABLISH NEW HABITS THAT LEAD
TO A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER WAY OF LIFE.
FEMALE: I LOVE JOYCE'S PRACTICAL TEACHING
AND HER KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD.
AND IT REFRESHES ME AND IT CONVICTS ME.
IT ENCOURAGES ME.
ANNOUNCER: IT'S NOT TOO LATE.
WITH GOD'S HELP, YOU CAN MAKE CHOICES TODAY
THAT LEAD YOU INTO A HEALTHY BALANCED LIFE.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING JOYCE'S "HEALTHY LIVING JOURNAL."
THIS WILL ASSIST YOU WITH PRACTICAL STEPS
TO LIVE THE BALANCED LIFE GOD CREATED YOU TO LIVE.
MAKE IT FUN AND REWARD YOURSELF WITH THESE HELPFUL TOOLS.
YOU CAN GET THIS "HEALTHY LIFE" PACKAGE FOR A DONATION OF...
OR MORE.
CALL...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: I WANNA PERSONALLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN US
FOR THE 2018 LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
IN TAMPA, FLORIDA.
THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR TIME TO SOAK UP THE WORD OF GOD
AND THE FLORIDA SUNSHINE.
WE'VE GOT A FANTASTIC LINE-UP OF SPEAKERS, ENGAGING WORSHIP,
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS IT.
SO GRAB YOUR BIBLE AND YOUR BEACH TOWEL
AND REGISTER TODAY.
ANNOUNCER: EARLY-BIRD PRICING ENDS MAY 31.
SPACE IS LIMITED.
REGISTER TODAY.
GINGER: WE ALL GO THROUGH TIMES
WHEN THE QUESTIONS IN OUR LIFE SEEM TO OUTWEIGH THE ANSWERS.
JOYCE MEYER WANTS TO HELP WITH THAT.
CHECK OUT HER NEW SHOW, "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS AND JOIN US
AS WE DISCOVER LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS TOGETHER.
[SIREN WAILING]
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO
"ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE" MAGAZINE TODAY
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG
TO SHARE YOUR PRAYER REQUEST, SEE THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE,
OR PARTNER WITH US IN SHARING CHRIST
AND LOVING PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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