ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: "THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE
OF MINE ENEMIES."
OKAY, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, FROM THE SHEPHERD'S POINT OF VIEW,
THE TABLE IS CALLED--IT'S THE TABLE LANDS AND THAT'S
ACTUALLY A HIGH PLATEAU ON THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN RANGE.
THEY'RE VERY HARD TO GET TO BUT VERY GOOD HEALTHY GRASS UP
THERE.
SOMETIMES, GOD WILL LEAD US EVEN TO A PLACE THAT'S BEEN HARD FOR
US TO GET TO BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE THE BEST THING FOR US
ONCE WE GET THERE.
AND THE SHEPHERD GOES IN AHEAD OF TIME AND HE PREPARES THAT
TABLE LAND WITH SALT AND MINERALS SPREAD OUT ON
THE GROUND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SHEEP.
HE MAKES SURE THE RANGES HAS GOOD HEALTHY GRASS
AND GOOD VEGETATION.
HE CHECKS FOR POISONOUS WEEDS.
BECAUSE HE KNOWS--AND I LOVE THIS--THERE ARE EVEN SOME
FLOWERS WHICH, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, ARE DEADLY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: C'MON, THERE'S SOME--HE KNOWS THE SHEEP'S GONNA
GO IN THERE TO EAT ANYTHING THAT LOOKS GOOD.
WELL, I MEAN, IF IT'S GOOD, IT'S GOOD.
BUT NOT EVERYTHING THAT LOOKS GOOD IS GOOD, AMEN?
NOT EVERY PERSON WHO PAYS YOU ALL KINDS OF COMPLIMENTS
AND MAKES ON OVER YOU HAS A RIGHT MOTIVE IN MIND.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO USE YOU OR ABUSE YOU
OR MISUSE YOU.
SO THE SHEPHERD KNOWS THAT EVEN SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE
POISONOUS AND ARE GONNA KILL YOU AND SO SOMETIMES HE'LL TAKE
SOMETHING AWAY FROM YOU THAT YOU THINK LOOKS GOOD AND WHAT IS ALL
THIS ABOUT?
WE MUST TRUST GOD.
"WELL, THE DEVIL, THE DEVIL, THE DEVIL."
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
THE DEVIL IS ALIVE AND WELL ON PLANET EARTH AND HE WILL COME
AGAINST US.
BUT IF YOU REALLY PUT YOURSELF IN GOD'S HANDS AND YOU LOVE HIM
WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART, GOD IS GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NO
DEVIL IN HELL THAT CAN REALLY DO YOU ANY PERMANENT DAMAGE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS A TABLE SET ALL THE TIME
THAT HE WANTS US TO COME AND EAT AT.
BUT A LOT OF TIMES, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO RECEIVE WHAT GOD
WANTS US TO HAVE AND WHAT HE HAS PREPARED FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T
SEE OURSELVES THE WAY THAT GOD SEES US.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO LOOK AT 2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 9 AND GET A,
WHAT I BELIEVE IS A GREAT LESSON FROM THE WORD OF GOD.
YOU KNOW, IN GOD'S ECONOMY YOU DON'T HAVE TO DESERVE EVERYTHING
THAT GOD DOES FOR YOU, YOU JUST NEED TO BELIEVE THAT HE'S GOOD.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOURSELF?
THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS WE'RE ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE FLAWED.
WE MAKE MISTAKES, WE HAVE WEAKNESSES AND WE HAVE FAILURES,
BUT GOD LOVES US ANYWAY AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT YOU CAN
FIND IN THE WORD OF GOD IS SIMPLY THIS.
THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN TROUBLE, EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN
A PERFECT SPECIMEN OF SPIRITUALITY, YOU GO TO GOD AND
HE WILL HELP YOU ANYWAY.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE WON'T DEAL WITH US ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS
BUT HE DOESN'T SAY, "WELL, I'M NOT GONNA HELP YOU BECAUSE
YOU'VE DONE THIS, AND I'M NOT GONNA HELP YOU BECAUSE YOU'VE
DONE THAT."
SO NO MATTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE WRONG IN YOUR LIFE, IF YOU'RE AT
A POINT THIS MORNING WHERE YOU WANT TO SERVE GOD AND YOU'RE
WILLING TO TURN AWAY AND TRY TO LEARN TO DO RIGHT, YOU DO NOT
HAVE TO BE BASHFUL IN ASKING GOD TO DO ANYTHING FOR YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DESERVE GOD'S GOODNESS TO GET IT.
IT'S CALLED MERCY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: GOD, I ASK YOU TO BLESS ME AND
PROSPER ME BEYOND MY WILDEST IMAGINATION AND, BOY, THE NEXT
THING YOU'RE GONNA HEAR IS THE DEVIL SAY, "WELL, YOU DON'T
DESERVE THAT."
AND THEN IF YOU REALLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, YOU CAN SAY,
"YEAH, AND THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL.
I DON'T DESERVE IT BUT JESUS DESERVED IT AND I GET IT BECAUSE
I COME TO GOD IN HIS NAME, NOT BECAUSE I GO IN MY OWN NAME."
IT'S JUST ALMOST, LIKE, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.
SO HERE'S THE BEST ANALOGY IN THE WORD OF GOD.
2 SAMUEL 9, CHAPTER--VERSE 1, "AND DAVID SAID, IS THERE STILL
ANYONE LEFT OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL TO WHOM I MIGHT SHOW MERCY AND
KINDNESS FOR JONATHAN'S SAKE?" NOW THIS IS NOT--THIS WOULD BE
JUST EQUIVALENT TO GOD SAYING, "IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE BODY OF
CHRIST THAT I CAN BE GOOD TO FOR JESUS' SAKE?"
JONATHAN AND DAVID HAD A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP, JUST LIKE
WE HAVE A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
AND A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP MEANT SO MUCH MORE TO THEM THAN
WE UNDERSTAND TODAY, BUT WHEN YOU WERE IN A COVENANT
RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEBODY, EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAD WAS
AVAILABLE TO THEM.
EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAD WAS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
AND IT NOT ONLY WORKED IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP BUT IT WENT DOWN
YOUR BLOODLINE EVEN TO YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
AFTER THAT.
AND SO NOW, JONATHAN IS DEAD BUT DAVID'S STILL ALIVE
AND HE'S KING.
SAUL IS DEAD.
AND HE'S WANTING TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEBODY THAT WAS IN
THE BLOODLINE OF HIS COVENANT FRIEND, JONATHAN.
NOW, IF YOU'RE A SHARP LITTLE SAINT THIS MORNING
AND YOU LISTEN, YOU'RE GONNA GET
SOMETHING HERE.
"AND OUT OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL THERE WAS A SERVANT WHOSE
NAME WAS ZIBA.
AND WHEN THEY CALLED HIM TO DAVID, HE SAID, ARE YOU ZIBA?
AND HE SAID, YES, I AM.
AND THE KING SAID, IS THERE STILL ANYONE LEFT OF THE HOUSE
OF SAUL TO WHOM I MIGHT SHOW KINDNESS?
AND HE SAYS, YES, JONATHAN--NOW, WATCH VERSE 3, YES, JONATHAN
STILL HAS ONE SON WHO IS LAME IN HIS FEET."
NOW, WHAT THAT MEANS IS, WELL, YEAH, THERE'S THIS ONE GUY BUT
HE'S GOT ALL KINDS OF THINGS WRONG WITH HIM.
HE'S NOT THE GUY YOU'D WANNA HELP.
HE DOESN'T DESERVE ANY HELP.
HE'S GOT A LOT OF ISSUES IN HIS LIFE.
"AND THE KING SAID, WHERE IS HE?
AND HE SAID, WELL, HE'S IN THE HOUSE OF MACHIR, LIVES IN
A PLACE CALLED LO-DEBAR."
AND VERSE 5, "THE KING SAID HAVE HIM BROUGHT."
AND IN VERSE 7, I LOVE THIS, "DAVID SAID TO HIM, FEAR NOT,
FOR I WILL SURELY SHOW YOU KINDNESS FOR JONATHAN
YOUR FATHER'S SAKE."
YOU KNOW, GOD IS WANTING TO SAY TO YOU, "DON'T BE AFRAID.
DON'T LIVE IN FEAR OVER YOUR PAST MISTAKES EVEN IF THAT
MISTAKE WAS THIS MORNING.
I WILL SHOW YOU KINDNESS FOR JESUS' SAKE.
I WANNA BE GOOD TO YOU NOT BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT OR YOU'VE
EARNED IT BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS DID IN YOUR BEHALF."
THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE IN CHRIST, AMEN?
SOMEBODY OUGHT TO BE GETTING HAPPY.
AND "DAVID SAID, FEAR NOT, FOR I WILL SURELY SHOW YOU KINDNESS
FOR JONATHAN YOUR FATHER'S SAKE, AND I WILL RESTORE TO YOU ALL
THE LAND OF SAUL YOUR GRANDFATHER," AND WATCH THIS,
"AND YOU SHALL EAT AT MY TABLE ALWAYS."
MY TABLE.
NOW, EAT MEANS RECEIVE.
AND ACTUALLY, THERE ARE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR TIMES BETWEEN
NOW AND THE END OF THIS CHAPTER THAT HE SAYS, "EAT AT MY TABLE,
EAT AT MY TABLE, EAT AT MY TABLE.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE LAME IN BOTH FEET, COME AND EAT AT MY TABLE."
AND THIS--I MEAN, THIS JUST DID AN AMAZING THING FOR ME YEARS
AGO WHEN I FIRST GOT THIS REVELATION BECAUSE I FELT BAD
ABOUT MYSELF BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HAD GONE WRONG IN MY
LIFE AND, EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOW A CHRISTIAN SERVING GOD, I PAID
MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT I DID WRONG IN LIFE THAN I EVER DID TO
WHAT JESUS HAD DONE RIGHT FOR ME.
I WAS MORE SIN-CONSCIOUS THAN I WAS GOD-CONSCIOUS.
C'MON, IS ANYBODY HOME OUT THERE?
DON'T BE SO FOCUSED ON ALL YOUR FAULTS.
CONFESS THEM, ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU FOR THEM, BUT THEN GO ON
AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON HIM.
AND BE BOLD IN PRAYER.
GO AHEAD AND ASK GOD FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT, NEED,
AND EVEN THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE AND DO IT LOUDLY AND
WITHOUT FEAR, NOT BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE
A CHILD OF GOD AND YOU COME IN JESUS' NAME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'LL NEVER FORGET A WOMAN THAT I RAN TO
IN A STORE ONE TIME.
SHE WAS WORKING AT A DEPARTMENT STORE AND SHE'D BEEN A CHRISTIAN
FOR A LONG, LONG TIME BUT SHE WAS PART OF A CHRISTIAN
DENOMINATION THAT I GUESS DIDN'T TEACH TOO MUCH ABOUT HOW
GENEROUS GOD WANTED TO BE WITH US.
AND SO I WAS ASKING HER HOW THINGS WORKED IN HER JOB, DID
SHE GET PAID ON COMMISSION OR DID SHE MAKE A SALARY AND SHE
SAID, "WELL, WE ACTUALLY MAKE A SALARY BUT WE STILL HAVE QUOTAS
THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP AND, IF WE DON'T KEEP THOSE QUOTAS,
THEN WE'LL LOSE OUR JOB."
AND SHE SAID, "I JUST HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF CUSTOMERS LATELY,"
AND WE'D BEEN TALKING SO I KNEW SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN AND I SAID,
"WELL, WHY DON'T YOU JUST PRAY AND ASK GOD TO SEND PEOPLE OVER
TO YOUR DEPARTMENT?" AND SHE LOOKED AT ME LIKE
I HAD THREE HEADS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A WOMAN WHO'S BEEN IN CHURCH, LIKE, 30 YEARS
OF HER LIFE AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW THAT SHE CAN ASK GOD TO GIVE HER
FAVOR WITH PEOPLE AND SEND CLIENTS TO HER.
AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE SAID, "WELL, WOULD IT BE OKAY
TO DO THAT?" AND I SAID, "WELL, OF COURSE.
GOD WANTS TO BLESS YOU," BUT LISTEN TO ME TODAY, "YOU
HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT."
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING, YOU'RE NOT GONNA
GET ANYTHING.
AND I WOULD RATHER ASK GOD FOR A LOT AND GET HALF OF IT THAN TO
ASK HIM FOR A LITTLE AND GET ALL OF IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: GOD IS NOT GONNA GET MAD AT YOU FOR ASKING.
THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IS YOU WON'T GET IT.
SO STOP BEING FEARFUL.
NOW WATCH THIS.
VERSE 8.
AFTER DAVID HAD SAID, "COME AND EAT ALWAYS AT MY TABLE,"
VERSE 8, "AND [THE CRIPPLE] BOWED
HIMSELF AND SAID, WHAT IS YOUR SERVANT, THAT YOU SHOULD LOOK
UPON SUCH A DEAD DOG AS I AM?" NOW, THERE WAS THE PROBLEM.
SO I HAVE TO ASK YOU AGAIN, "HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?"
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT ANYBODY
ELSE THINKS ABOUT YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DO YOU SEE YOURSELF THE WAY GOD SAYS
YOU ARE IN HIS WORD?
ARE YOU STILL LISTENING TO THE LIES OF THE ENEMY?
GET OFF THAT WORKS TREADMILL WHERE YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO
EARN AND DESERVE EVERYTHING THAT GOD GIVES YOU.
HIS MERCY IS NEW EVERY DAY, AMEN?
I GUESS, I FIGURE, IF HE MAKES A NEW BATCH OF MERCY EVERY DAY,
I MUST HAVE USED UP ALL OF YESTERDAY'S.
AND IN VERSE 10 IT SAYS, "AND YOU SHALL EAT ALWAYS
AT MY TABLE."
AND VERSE 11, IT SAYS, "AND YOU SHALL EAT ALWAYS AT MY TABLE."
AND VERSE 13 SAYS--AND LET'S JUST READ VERSE 13.
LET'S LOOK AT IT TOGETHER.
"SO MEPHIBOSHETH DWELT IN JERUSALEM, FOR HE ATE
CONTINUALLY AT THE KING'S TABLE, [EVEN THOUGH] HE WAS LAME IN
BOTH FEET."
I LOVE THAT.
EVEN THOUGH HE CONTINUED TO HAVE WEAKNESSES AND FAILURES IN HIS
LIFE, HE NEVER STOPPED CONTINUALLY EATING AT THE KING'S
TABLE BECAUSE JESUS PAID FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AMEN?
"YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF
MINE ENEMIES."
AND I LOVE THIS PART, YOU KNOW, "SATAN COMES LIKE A ROARING LION
SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR," BUT HERE'S THE THING
I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU ENJOYING YOUR LIFE
WHILE YOU'RE HAVING A PROBLEM.
I DON'T THINK YOU HEARD ME.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU ENJOYING YOUR LIFE WHILE YOU
HAVE A PROBLEM."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, THAT COULD--THAT
STATEMENT RIGHT THERE COULD BE THE WHOLE REASON WHY GOD SENT
SOME OF YOU HERE TODAY.
IT MAKES THE DEVIL MAD WHEN YOU'RE HAPPY.
HE CAN'T STAND IT WHEN WE HAVE JOY.
JOY IS STRENGTH.
AND SO MANY PEOPLE THINK IF THEY'VE GOT A PROBLEM, THEY JUST
CAN'T ENJOY LIFE WHILE THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.
WELL, HE PREPARES A TABLE BEFORE US IN THE PRESENCE OF
OUR ENEMIES.
WHILE WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS, WE CAN GO TO THE KING'S TABLE
AND WE CAN EAT A FINE MEAL AND WE CAN ENJOY IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: C'MON, NOW YOU'RE GETTING IT.
YOU'RE GETTING IN THERE WITH ME.
"YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL."
WOW.
SUMMERTIME IS FLY TIME FOR THE SHEEP AND ALL TYPES OF PARASITES
ATTACK THE SHEEP.
THIS DOESN'T SOUND VERY GOOD BUT THIS IS WHAT THE BOOK SAYS.
NASAL FLIES ARE PARTICULARLY IRRITATING AND CAN EVEN BE
DANGEROUS.
THEY ATTEMPT TO DEPOSIT THEIR EGGS IN THE SHEEP'S NOSE WHERE
THEY HATCH TO FORM A SLENDER WORM THAT WORKS ITS WAY UP
THE NASAL PASSAGE INTO THE SHEEP'S HEAD.
THEY BURROW INTO THE FLESH AND THERE, THEY SET UP INTENSE
IRRITATION ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERE INFLAMMATION."
NOW, YOU'RE, LIKE, "OKAY, JOYCE, I WANNA SEE WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
MAKE OUT OF THAT."
OKAY, HERE IT COMES.
CERTAINLY, SATAN TRIES TO WORK HIS WAY INTO OUR HEADS AND
AFFECT OUR MINDS AND EVERY OTHER AREA OF OUR LIVING.
HE IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO DEPOSIT HIS LITTLE UGLY EGGS
THAT TURN INTO WORMS THAT WORK THEIR WAY INTO OUR MIND AND FROM
THERE THEY INFLAME AND INFECT OUR WHOLE LIFE AND THEY BEGIN TO
CONTROL EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT GOD OFFERS ME THROUGH CHRIST,
IF I DON'T BELIEVE IT, I'M NEVER GONNA HAVE IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "BE IT UNTO YOU EVEN AS YOU BELIEVE."
I'M BELIEVING FOR GOOD NEWS TODAY.
I BELIEVE--EVERY DAY I SAY, "GOD, I'M LOOKING
FOR GOOD NEWS."
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU IN LIFE BUT I NEED TO BE ENCOURAGED
SOMETIMES.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I WORK HARD, I'LL BE TIRED WHEN I GO
HOME TODAY.
DAVE'S GONNA GO TO THE BASEBALL GAME TO SEE THE CARDINALS WIN
AGAIN, AMEN.
AND THAT'S COOL.
I'M GLAD HE GETS TO DO THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I MAY NEED SOME GOOD NEWS.
AND SO I'VE LEARNED NOT TO GET MAD AT PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE
NOT GIVING ME WHAT I WANT.
I GO TO GOD AND ASK HIM FOR WHAT I WANT AND LET HIM ARRANGE IT.
BUT NOW LOOK, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET ANYTHING IF YOU DON'T EXPECT
ANYTHING.
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA EXPECT ANYTHING IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE
TO BE GOOD FIRST TO GET IT.
AND I'M NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT WE CAN JUST LIVE THESE
WRETCHED AWFUL LIVES AND GOD JUST POUR HIS BLESSINGS OUT ON
US, I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO LOVE GOD AND MAKE MISTAKES AND
YOU ARE SORRY FOR YOUR MISTAKES AND YOU REALLY--YOU'RE ON THE
PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOU'RE GETTING BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER
EVERY DAY, BUT YOU'RE STILL NOT WHERE YOU NEED TO BE ALL
THE TIME.
IT'S LIKE I SAID LAST NIGHT, THANK GOD I'M NOT WHERE I USED
TO BE.
I'M NOT WHERE I NEED TO BE BUT I AM SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE AND
MY HEART IS TO CONTINUE PRESSING ON WITH GOD.
C'MON, STOP BEING MAD AT YOURSELF.
STOP BEING MAD AT YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU DON'T ALWAYS DO
EVERYTHING RIGHT.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: OH, YEAH, OH, BOY, THE DEVIL LOVES
TO INFECT OUR MIND.
I WONDER JUST IN THIS ROOM TODAY, LET ALONE IF WE WOULD
BRANCH OUT INTO THE PEOPLE WATCHING BY TV ALL OVER THE
WORLD, I WONDER HOW MANY LIES WE BELIEVE.
WONDER HOW MANY THINGS THE DEVIL HAS TOLD YOU FOR YEARS AND YEARS
AND YEARS THAT YOU BELIEVE ARE TRUE AND THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE
EVER GONNA KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT IS TO FIND OUT WHAT THIS SAYS.
AND YOU SEE, THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS IS IT'S NOT JUST LIKE
READING SOME ROMANCE NOVEL, ALTHOUGH IT IS A ROMANCE NOVEL.
BUT THERE'S POWER IN HERE.
WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE NO GOOD AND YOU READ IN HERE OFTEN
ENOUGH THAT YOU HAVE BEEN MADE RIGHT WITH GOD, THAT YOU DON'T
JUST HAVE WRONGNESS BUT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU RIGHTNESS, IT MAY TAKE
YOU READING IT 1000 TIMES BUT EVENTUALLY THAT WORD IS GONNA
RENEW YOUR MIND AND YOU'RE GONNA BEGIN TO THINK DIFFERENT AND
THEN WHEN THE TABLE'S SET YOU'RE GONNA GET UP THERE AND EAT,
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'VE BEEN PREACHING SOME VERSION OF THIS MESSAGE
FOR YEARS AND I DON'T KNOW, PROBABLY 25 YEARS AGO,
MY KIDS HEARD ME PREACH THIS WHERE I TALKED ABOUT WHEN
WE SHOULD BE SITTING AT THE TABLE EATING AND ASKING FOR
MORE, WE CRAWL AROUND UNDER THE TABLE ACTING LIKE BEGGARS
AND SERVANTS BEING WILLING TO JUST EAT THE CRUMBS THAT FALL
OFF THE TABLE.
AND SO ONE THANKSGIVING WE HAD WORKED PRETTY HARD TO PUT
TOGETHER A NICE MEAL LIKE MOST FAMILIES WOULD AND, YOU KNOW,
THERE WERE PIES BAKED AND THERE WAS TURKEY AND THERE WAS
EVERYTHING AND SO, YOU KNOW, I GOT ALL THIS STUFF OUT ON THE
TABLE, JUST LIKE THE SHEPHERD FINDS THOSE TABLE LANDS AND HE
REALLY WORKS AND PREPARES AND MAKES SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS
JUST RIGHT AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
AND SO THEY'D BEEN WATCHING TELEVISION, DOING DIFFERENT
THINGS AND SO I CALLED FROM THE DINING ROOM WHERE I HAD
THE TABLE ALL SET AND I SAID, "OKAY, IT'S TIME TO EAT.
C'MON AND EAT."
AND MY KIDS ALL CAME OUT AND GOT UNDER THE TABLE AND STARTED
CRAWLING AROUND, SAYING, "OH, MOTHER, WE'RE NOT WORTHY TO EAT
YOUR MEAL.
OH, DEAR MOTHER, WE ARE SO WRETCHED, WE CANNOT SIT
AT THE TABLE.
JUST THROW A FEW CRUMBS OFF THE TABLE AND WE'LL BE HAPPY
WITH THAT."
AND THE THING THAT WAS INTERESTING TO ME WAS EVEN
THOUGH I KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING, IT EMBARRASSED ME.
AND I THOUGHT, "GET OUT OF THAT FLOOR AND GET UP HERE
AND SIT DOWN.
I HAVE WORKED AND MADE THIS MEAL.
YOU GET UP HERE AND YOU EAT THIS."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
GOD WANTS TO SAY THE SAME THING TO YOU TODAY.
C'MON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU STOP CRAWLING AROUND UNDER THE TABLE, BEING
SATISFIED WITH A FEW CRUMBS.
AND IF GOD SAYS, "THE TABLE'S SET," THEN YOU GET UP THERE
AND YOU EAT.
AND DON'T EVEN BE EMBARRASSED IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU'RE GETTING
AND YOU SAY, "MORE PLEASE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE A POINT.
LISTEN, IF YOU SEEK GOD'S FACE, HIS HAND WILL ALWAYS BE OPEN.
BUT IF YOU JUST SEEK HIS HAND, HE MAY GET INSULTED.
IN OTHER WORDS, DON'T JUST GO TO GOD WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING
OR NEED SOMETHING.
GO TO HIM FOR HIM.
"I NEED YOUR ANOINTING, I NEED YOUR PRESENCE.
ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL."
JOYCE: WELL, IF WE ALWAYS KEEP JESUS FIRST IN OUR LIVES,
HIS MERCY AND GOODNESS WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US.
JUST KEEP HIM FIRST.
SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HIS WAY OF
BEING AND DOING, AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED
UNTO YOU.
TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU FOUR TEACHINGS FROM PSALMS 23
ON "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD."
IT'S SUCH AN AMAZING PSALM AND SO MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT PSALM,
THEY QUOTE THAT PSALM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE HAVING
PROBLEMS IN THEIR LIFE.
AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO GET SOME MORE
IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE MANY, MANY WONDERFUL
LESSONS THAT ARE IN PSALMS 23.
AND WE'RE OFFERING THIS TO YOU TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT TO
THE MINISTRY OF ANY AMOUNT, THAT'S JUST HOW MUCH WE WANT
YOU TO HAVE IT.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS.
AND SO, YOU SEND IN THE BEST GIFT THAT YOU CAN
AND WE'RE GONNA SEND THESE TEACHINGS TO YOU.
YOU KNOW, GOD IN HIS WORD TRANSFORMS OUR LIVES.
PLEASE WATCH THIS STORY ABOUT HOW GOD CHANGED ONE WOMAN'S LIFE
IN A VERY UNEXPECTED WAY, THEN I'LL BE BACK WITH
A FINAL THOUGHT.
DAWN: I HAD GRADUATED COLLEGE AND I FELT LIKE NOW I NEEDED TO
FIGURE OUT HOW I WANTED TO LIVE MY LIFE AS AN ADULT.
I WAS WORKING SOME JOBS AND THEN I BECAME HIRED AS A FLIGHT
ATTENDANT, AND ALL OF THOSE KIND OF OCCUPATIONS, HAVE YOU WORK ON
THE WEEKENDS SO I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND A CHURCH REGULARLY.
SO, I WAS HAPPY TO STUMBLE UPON JOYCE ON TV, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATED THAT SHE WAS PRACTICAL AND HONEST WITH HER
APPROACH TO EXPLAINING GOD'S WORD, AND SHE HAD SPECIFIC
NUGGETS OF WISDOM THAT WERE SIMPLE TO GRASP.
AND SHE HAD A TEACHING ON GET OUT OF THE BOAT.
YOU NEED TO STEP OUT OF THE BOAT WHEN GOD CALLS AND PUT YOUR
FAITH AND YOUR TRUST THAT HE WILL SUPPORT YOU AND TAKE CARE
OF YOU.
AND IF YOU DON'T STEP OUT OF THE BOAT, THEN YOU'RE KIND OF
JUST RELYING ON YOURSELF.
JOYCE: ARE YOU GONNA BE AN ADVENTURER AND DECIDE TO
TAKE A RISK?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WOULD RATHER, AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE, IF I WERE YOU AND YOU
HAVE BEEN IN THE BOAT ALL YOUR LIFE, THE STINKIN' BOAT ALL YOUR
LIFE, THEN IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD RATHER STEP OUT
AND TAKE A CHANCE ON DROWNING THAN TO SPEND ONE MORE WEEK
IN THAT BOAT.
DAWN: AND BY THE END OF IT, I JUST KNEW THAT WHEN GOD CALLED,
I NEEDED TO STEP OUT OF THE BOAT.
AND SO, I TOLD GOD, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA ASK ME
TO DO, BUT I DO KNOW THAT MY ANSWER'S GONNA BE YES."
SO, I WENT TO WORK AND IT JUST SEEMED LIKE ANOTHER NORMAL DAY.
AND I STEPPED ON AN AIRPLANE AND THE CAPTAIN INTRODUCED HIMSELF
AND THE FIRST QUESTION OUT OF HIS MOUTH WAS, "WHAT ARE YOU
GONNA DO WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?"
SO, WAS TAKING ABACK BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A NORMAL QUESTION
FROM SOMEONE YOU JUST MET.
AND I SAID, "I JUST GOT THIS JOB A YEAR AGO.
I WAS PLANNING TO KICK BACK AND RELAX FOR A LITTLE WHILE."
AND HE SAID, "YOU SHOULD BE A PILOT."
SO, I WAS CONFUSED AND I KEPT GIVING HIM REASONS WHY I DIDN'T
THINK THAT MADE ANY SENSE.
I HAD STILL HAD COLLEGE DEBT, AND I JUST GRADUATED, AND I
DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, AND WHERE WOULD I GO?
AND WAS REALLY INSISTENT AND HE KEPT EXPLAINING EVERYTHING
TO ME.
HE TOLD ME WHAT KIND OF RATINGS I WOULD NEED TO GET, WHAT TO
LOOK FOR IN A FLIGHT SCHOOL, WHAT MY FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST TOLD HIM, "OKAY, OKAY,
I PROMISE I AM GONNA LOOK INTO THIS."
IT WAS A COUPLE DAYS LATER THAT IT FINALLY OCCURRED TO ME THAT I
HAD RECENTLY TOLD GOD THAT I WAS GONNA GET OUT OF THE BOAT WHEN
HE CALLED AND IT JUST DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME THAT HE WASN'T
CALLING ME OUT OF A BOAT, HE WAS CALLING ME INTO AN AIRPLANE.
SO, I TOLD HIM, "I'M ALL IN."
I FULLY FOCUSED ON THIS NEW CAREER.
THERE WERE TIMES WHERE I WONDERED AND I DOUBTED,
IS THIS RIGHT?
BUT I COULD ALWAYS LOOK BACK AND I KNEW THAT HE HAD PUT ME ON
THIS CAREER PATH SO, YOU KNOW, I WASN'T ABOUT TO QUIT JUST
BECAUSE SOMETHING GOT HARD OR, YOU KNOW, OR DIFFICULT.
I KNEW I JUST HAD TO KEEP GOING, YOU KNOW, AND GOD WOULD SHOW UP
AGAIN.
AND BECAUSE IT WAS HIS PLAN FOR MY LIFE, IT WAS REALLY
EFFICIENT.
IF I HADN'T STEPPED OUT OF THE BOAT, I WOULDN'T HAVE WORKED AT
THE REGIONAL AIRLINE, I WOULDN'T HAVE MET MY HUSBAND, YOU KNOW,
WE WOULDN'T LIVE HERE.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE KIDS.
JOYCE: WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART?
NOT WHAT'S IN YOUR BOAT THAT KEEPS YOU COMFORTABLE, BUT WHAT
IS IN YOUR HEART?
DON'T LIVE A LIFE WHERE YOU NEVER FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.
DAWN: MY WHOLE LIFE IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE JOYCE, JOYCE'S
TEACHINGS SHAPED IT WHEN I WAS IN MY 20S.
AND I'M--I'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF LIVING THAT LIFE.
I'M PROUD TO BE A JOYCE MEYER PARTNER BECAUSE SHE WORKS EVERY
DAY TO TAKE CARE OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, AND
SHE'S DOING THAT WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND THAT'S WHAT CHANGED
MY LIFE SO I'M HAPPY TO HELP THAT CHANGE OTHER
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
JOYCE: WELL, JUST LIKE DAWN, IF GOD HAS USED THIS MINISTRY
TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE, PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A PARTNER
WITH OUR MINISTRY.
YOU KNOW, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU FEEL LIKE THAT I'M A PARTNER
IN YOUR LIFE BY BRINGING YOU THE WORD OF GOD ON
AN EVERYDAY BASIS.
AND SO, I THINK IT'S RIGHT AND PROPER FOR ME TO ASK YOU IF YOU
WILL PARTNER WITH US IN THE WORK THAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO.
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS IF
PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HELPED WILL GET BUSY NOW HELPING
US HELP SOMEBODY ELSE.
WE DON'T REQUIRE ANY CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP.
WE JUST ASK THAT YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN AND THAT YOU BE REGULAR
AND YOU BE COMMITTED.
YOU KNOW, I'M COMMITTED TO BRINGING YOU THE WORD ON
A DAILY BASIS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WONDER IF I'M GONNA SHOW UP OR NOT, AND I
WOULD REALLY LOVE THAT SAME KIND OF COMMITMENT FROM YOU.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU'RE NOT A PARTNER WITH US, YOU'RE GOING
TO BECOME ONE.
AND IF YOU ARE ALREADY A PARTNER, THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
REMEMBER THAT GOD WILL ALWAYS MULTIPLY BACK TO YOU MANY TIMES
OVER WHAT YOU GIVE INTO HIS KINGDOM WORK.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
ANNOUNCER: BECOME A PARTNER TODAY AND AS A THANK YOU TO
ANYONE SIGNING UP FOR CONVENIENT AUTOMATIC GIVING FOR THE FIRST
TIME, WE'D LIKE TO SEND YOU JOYCE'S BOOK,
"UNSHAKABLE TRUST."
CONTACT US RIGHT NOW...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
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.
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét