ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, THESE ARE GREAT SCRIPTURES TO PRAY.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PRAY THE WORD.
FILL YOUR PRAYERS WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
AND IF YOU THINK, "WELL, I JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO PRAY
ABOUT THIS SITUATION," THEN FIND SOME SCRIPTURES THAT APPLY TO
YOUR SITUATION, AND JUST COMMIT THOSE THINGS TO MEMORY
AND CONFESS THOSE SCRIPTURES ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND EVERY TIME THE ENEMY COMES AND SAYS, "WELL, THIS IS NOT
GONNA WORK," YOU SAY, "WELL, LISTEN TO THIS."
[MUSIC]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY FOR THE TEACHING OF
GOD'S WORD, WHICH IS VERY POWERFUL AND IS EXTREMELY
VALUABLE TO ALL OF OUR LIVES.
I LOVE DOING THESE STUDIO TEACHINGS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I
CAN JUST REALLY JUST LOOK RIGHT AT YOU AND SAY, "THIS IS WHAT'S
GONNA BENEFIT YOU."
I'M TALKING TODAY ABOUT WHAT THE WORD OF GOD DOES FOR US,
BECAUSE ANY TIME THAT WE DO WHAT GOD TELLS US TO,
THERE'S ALWAYS A REWARD.
ALWAYS.
AND THAT'S SO GOOD TO KEEP IN MIND, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S
A REWARD FOR BEING OBEDIENT TO GOD.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE OBEDIENT TO GOD JUST TO GET
SOMETHING, BUT IT IS ENCOURAGING TO KNOW, IF I KEEP DOING
THE RIGHT THING LONG ENOUGH, I'M GONNA HAVE A GREAT RESULT
IN MY LIFE.
AND SO, I STARTED THIS PREVIOUSLY ON ANOTHER SHOW,
AND TODAY WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE.
I WON'T GET THROUGH ALL 40 OF THESE.
I HAVE A LIST OF 40 THINGS THE WORD OF GOD DOES FOR YOU,
AND THAT'S JUST A SHORT LIST.
LET ME TELL YOU, IT DIDN'T TAKE ME ALL THAT LONG TO PUT THIS
TOGETHER.
I MEAN, THERE ARE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PROMISES
IN THE WORD OF GOD.
BUT I AM GONNA DO AS MANY AS I CAN, AND THERE'S A LIST ONLINE.
YOU CAN GET ON OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF THESE
40 THINGS THAT THE WORD OF GOD DOES FOR YOU.
AND WHAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL WOULD BE IF YOU WOULD TAKE THEM
THEN AND CONTINUE YOUR OWN STUDY.
YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE A STUDY THAT COULD TAKE YOU
2 OR 3 MONTHS, AND BOY, WHAT WOULD YOU LEARN?
AND SO, LET'S JUST CONTINUE NOW.
AND THE THING THAT WE WANNA LOOK AT FIRST TODAY IS GOD'S WORD IS
FILLED WITH PROMISES TO GIVE US MERCY AND GRACE.
GOD'S WORD IS FILLED--NOT--IT'S NOT FILLED WITH MESSAGES OF,
BOY, EVERY TIME YOU MAKE A LITTLE MISTAKE, YOU'RE IN
TROUBLE.
IT'S FILLED WITH MERCY.
YOU KNOW WHAT MERCY IS?
IT'S KINDNESS BEYOND ANYTHING THAT WE COULD EVER DESERVE.
SO, WHEN WE GIVE MERCY TO SOMEBODY, IF YOU'RE WAITING TO
FIND SOMEBODY THAT DESERVES MERCY TO GIVE IT TO THEM,
THEN THAT'S NOT MERCY.
MERCY IS GIVING SOMEBODY SOMETHING THAT THEY DO NOT
DESERVE, BUT YOU DO IT BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE, BECAUSE THAT'S
YOUR CHARACTER, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY DO.
AND GRACE, OH MY GOODNESS.
GRACE IS SO AMAZING.
IT IS UNDESERVED FAVOR AND IT IS THE POWER TO DO--IT'S THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT COME INTO OUR LIFE FREELY AS GIFT TO HELP US
DO WHAT GOD ASKS US TO DO.
SO MANY TIMES, WE CAN READ THESE PROMISES AND THINK, "I JUST
DON'T THINK I CAN DO THAT.
I DON'T THINK I CAN FORGIVE THAT PERSON THAT HURT ME SO BAD.
I JUST DON'T THINK I CAN."
WELL, YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU CAN'T, AND I CAN'T EITHER, BUT GOD CAN
DO IT THROUGH US AND HE CAN STRENGTHEN US AND ENABLE US.
AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPS WHEN I FEEL, FOR
EXAMPLE, LIKE, YOU KNOW--I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ANYMORE
BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THE WORD OF GOD,
BUT I CAN REMEMBER TIMES WHEN I WOULD FEEL ANGRY AT SOMEBODY AND
I KNEW THAT I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO STAY THAT WAY.
I DIDN'T WANNA LIVE LIKE THAT, AND I WOULD LITERALLY GO
SOMEWHERE, AND GET MY BIBLE OUT, AND START READING SCRIPTURES
ABOUT FORGIVENESS AND MERCY.
AND YOU CAN FEEL YOUR SOUL CALM DOWN.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY JUST LIKE AN OINTMENT THAT WILL CALM YOUR
SOUL DOWN, AND AT THE SAME TIME ENABLE YOU TO DO WHAT YOU NEED
TO DO.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY YOU'RE GONNA--"
LIKE, I SAID THE OTHER DAY I WAS GONNA TEACH ON PATIENCE,
AND SOMEBODY SAID TO ME, "WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA TELL PEOPLE?
HOW ARE YOU GONNA TELL THEM IF THEY'RE IMPATIENT, TO CHANGE?"
I SAID, "YOU STUDY THE WORD."
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAY GET TIRED OF ME SAYING THAT, BUT THAT IS
THE ANSWER.
WE STUDY THE WORD, WE STUDY THE WORD, WE STUDY THE WORD.
YOU DON'T JUST TRY.
THERE IS AN EFFORT THAT WE PUT OUT, BUT IT'S NOT A FLESHLY
EFFORT.
IT'S AN EFFORT IN THE POWER OF GOD, AND WE LEAN ON HIM FOR HIS
GRACE AND HIS MERCY TO HELP US BE SUCCESSFUL.
THEN WHEN WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, WE DON'T TAKE THE CREDIT.
WE GIVE GOD THE GLORY AND WE SAY, "THANK YOU, GOD, THAT YOU
ENABLED ME TO BE AN OVERCOMER IN THIS AREA."
"I ENTREATED YOUR FAVOR WITH MY WHOLE HEART; BE MERCIFUL
AND GRACIOUS TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD."
NOW, HERE'S A GOOD ONE.
GOD'S WORD GIVES US GOOD JUDGMENT.
HOW MANY OF YOU COULD USE A LITTLE MORE OF THAT?
ANYBODY HERE EVER JUST MADE A REALLY BAD DECISION THAT COST
YOU A LOT OF TROUBLE FOR A LONG TIME?
NO, NOBODY DID THAT?
OKAY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: GOD'S WORD GIVES US GOOD JUDGMENT, AND I LOVE THIS,
WISE AND RIGHT DISCERNMENT, AND KNOWLEDGE.
MAN, SUCH A SHORT LITTLE SCRIPTURE, BUT LOOK AT WHAT--
THE PROMISE.
GOOD JUDGMENT, WISDOM, RIGHT DISCERNMENT, AND KNOWLEDGE.
NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT DISCERNMENT IS.
DISCERNMENT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR NATURAL BRAIN, IT HAS
TO DO WITH YOUR--THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT, YOUR HEART, WHERE YOU
CAN BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT LOOKS JUST TOTALLY RIGHT, LIKE,
"WELL, WHY WOULDN'T I WANNA DO THAT?"
OR "WHY WOULDN'T I WANNA HANG OUT WITH THAT PERSON?"
AND YET SOMETHING IN YOUR HEART IS JUST SAYING, "NO, NO, NO,
NOPE, NOPE."
AND REALLY, SOMETIMES FOR ME IT'S KIND OF ANNOYING WHEN I
KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH SOMEBODY BUT I CAN'T PUT
MY FINGER ON IT.
WHEN I KNOW, IT'S LIKE, BOY, YOU NEED TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT.
BUT SEE, GOD DOESN'T WANT US--I MEAN, HE IS FULL OF MYSTERY,
BUT HE ALSO WILL FOREWARN US OF THINGS IF WE WILL PAY ATTENTION
TO HIM.
AND SO, WE NEED TO LEARN TO LISTEN TO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO, "TEACH ME GOOD JUDGMENT, WISE AND RIGHT DISCERNMENT, AND
KNOWLEDGE, FOR I HAVE BELIEVED (TRUSTED, RELIED ON, AND CLUNG
TO) YOUR COMMANDMENTS."
BOY, THIS IS A GOOD ONE HERE.
PSALM 119:72, GOD'S WORD IS BETTER THAN THOUSANDS OF GOLD
AND SILVER PIECES.
WOW.
ARE WE GONNA PURSUE THE WORD OF GOD EVEN HALFWAY AS MUCH
AS WE PURSUE MAKING A LIVING AND MAKING MONEY?
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO--LET'S JUST SAY THAT YOU HAD A JOB, AND
THAT JOB REQUIRED SO MUCH OUT OF YOU THAT YOU COULD NOT ATTEND
CHURCH, YOU DID NOT HAVE ANY TIME TO STUDY THE WORD.
WOULD YOU SAY, "WELL, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.
I HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING," OR WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO GET
ANOTHER JOB, ONE WHERE MAYBE YOU EVEN MADE A LITTLE LESS MONEY,
BUT YOU SAID, "IF I HAVE TO DO WITHOUT SOME STUFF, I CAN,
BUT I CANNOT DO WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD"?
I HAVE TO HAVE GOD IN MY LIFE, I HAVE TO HAVE HIS PRESENCE,
AND I HAVE TO HAVE THE WORD.
WHEN WE BEGIN TO HONOR THE WORD TO THAT DEGREE, WE SEE GOD'S
HONOR COME INTO OUR LIFE IN AN AMAZING, AMAZING WAY.
PSALM 119:72, "THE LAW FROM YOUR MOUTH IS BETTER TO ME THAN
THOUSANDS OF GOLD AND SILVER PIECES."
NOW, ALSO, THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALM THAT GOD'S WORD MAKES ME
WISER THAN MY ENEMIES.
HOW MANY OF YOU WANNA BE A LITTLE SMARTER THAN THE DEVIL?
YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY'S OUT TO GET YOU, WOULDN'T YOU LIKE
TO RECOGNIZE WHAT THEY'RE UP TO BEFORE YOU'RE SERIOUSLY IN
TROUBLE?
I LIKE BEING WISER THAN MY ENEMIES.
HERE'S THE SCRIPTURE, "YOU, THROUGH
YOUR COMMANDMENTS, MAKE ME WISER THAN MY ENEMIES,
FOR [YOUR WORDS] ARE EVER BEFORE ME."
PSALM 119:105, "YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT
TO MY PATH."
IT SHOWS US WHICH WAY TO GO IN LIFE.
SHOULD I GO RIGHT?
SHOULD I GO LEFT?
SHOULD I DO THIS?
SHOULDN'T I DO THIS?
WHAT DOES THE WORD HAVE TO SAY?
WHEN WE ARE AFFLICTED, GOD'S WORD QUICKENS US
AND GIVES US LIFE.
I LOVE THAT QUICKENING.
STIMULATES, ENCOURAGES.
PSALM 119:107, "I AM SORELY AFFLICTED; RENEW AND QUICKEN ME
[GIVE ME LIFE], O LORD, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD!"
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE GREAT SCRIPTURES TO PRAY.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PRAY THE WORD.
FILL YOUR PRAYERS WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
AND IF YOU THINK, "WELL, I JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO PRAY
ABOUT THIS SITUATION," THEN FIND SOME SCRIPTURES THAT APPLY TO
YOUR SITUATION, AND JUST COMMIT THOSE THINGS TO MEMORY
AND CONFESS THOSE SCRIPTURES ALL THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND EVERY TIME THE ENEMY COMES AND SAYS, "WELL, THIS IS NOT
GONNA WORK," YOU SAY, "WELL, LISTEN TO THIS.
LISTEN TO THIS."
OH BOY, HERE WE GO.
GOD'S WORD GIVES US HOPE.
WOW.
THERE'S A SCRIPTURE IN 1 PETER THAT I HAVE JUST COME TO LOVE,
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.
"WE ARE BORN AGAIN INTO AN EVER-LIVING HOPE."
ISN'T THAT AMAZING?
WHEN YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, WHEN YOU BECOME A CHILD OF GOD, AND YOU
RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, FROM THAT MOMENT ON, YOU ARE
NEVER WITHOUT HOPE IN YOUR LIFE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HOPE IS?
IT'S AN EXPECTATION THAT SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
SO, THAT MEANS NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW,
NO MATTER HOW BAD YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE, NO MATTER HOW
LONG YOU'VE HAD THE SITUATION THAT YOU'VE GOT RIGHT NOW, YOU
CAN BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
NOT ONLY SHOULD YOU BELIEVE IT, YOU SHOULD SAY IT.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO SPEAK THOSE WORDS FORTH IN OUR LIFE.
GOD'S WORD GIVES US HOPE.
PSALM 119:114, "YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE AND MY SHIELD;
I PUT MY HOPE IN YOUR WORD."
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POWER THAT'S IN THE WORD OF GOD.
THE WORD OF GOD IS A SEED.
I HAVE A PEACH SEED HERE.
I GOT THIS ONE BECAUSE IT'S A BIG ONE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I COULD GET A LITTLE, TINY SEED AND IT STILL HAS POWER.
GOD'S WORD HAS INHERENT POWER IN IT.
THAT MEANS JUST LIKE THERE'S AN ABILITY INSIDE OF THIS SEED IF
PLANTED, AND NURTURED, AND CARED FOR, TO PRODUCE MORE OF WHAT
THIS SEED IS, TO PRODUCE--RIGHT NOW IT JUST LOOKS LIKE AN UGLY,
DRIED UP SEED, BUT IF I PLANT IT, IT'S GONNA PRODUCE WHAT'S
INSIDE OF IT.
THERE'S POWER IN THIS PEACH SEED TO PRODUCE PEACHES
IF IT'S PLANTED.
AND THERE'S POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD TO PRODUCE WHAT GOD PROMISES
THAT IT WILL PRODUCE IF WE LET GOD PLANT IT IN OUR HEARTS,
AND WE NURTURE IT, AND WE KEEP WATERING IT WITH THE WORD.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE A LAW IN THE EARTH.
YOU SOW, YOU WILL REAP.
IF YOU DON'T SOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA REAP.
IF WE WILL STUDY THE WORD OF GOD, BELIEVING IT LIKE THAT,
THERE'S POWER IN THIS.
I DON'T JUST READ A CHAPTER A DAY.
I MEAN, I USED TO READ A CHAPTER A DAY SO I COULD GET A CHECKMARK
HERE, AND YOU KNOW, FEEL LIKE I'D DONE MY DUTY.
THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME WAY I WENT TO CHURCH AND DID EVERYTHING
ELSE THAT I DID.
BUT BOY, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO THIS THAN THAT.
IF YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, IF YOU'RE A BELIEVER IN CHRIST, AND ALL
YOU DO IS GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
YOUR LIFE'S NOT WORKING OUT, WELL, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
WE HAVE GOT A MESS IN OUR WORLD TODAY AND YOU NEED MORE THAN
A LITTLE 20-MINUTE SERMONETTE ON SUNDAY MORNING AND MAYBE
A 45-MINUTE TO AN HOUR VISIT IN A PLACE WHERE MAYBE YOU DON'T
EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HALF THE TIME.
GOD WANTS TO BE IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
I MEAN, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, GOD JUST WANTS TO MESS
IN YOUR BUSINESS.
HE JUST WANTS TO GET INTO EVERYTHING.
AND WHEN YOU INVITE HIM IN, IF YOU'LL BEGIN TO STUDY HIS WORD,
HE WILL BEGIN TO GIVE YOU A LIFE THAT WILL BE SO AMAZING THAT YOU
WON'T EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE IT.
AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S ALL GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT,
BUT IF YOU'RE PERSISTENT AND CONSISTENT, IT WILL HAPPEN.
THINGS IN YOUR LIFE--LISTEN TO ME.
THINGS IN YOUR LIFE CAN CHANGE.
ONLY GOD NEVER CHANGES, BUT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT HE
CANNOT CHANGE.
IF YOU TRUST GOD, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HIM.
WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
WELL, NOW I'M GETTING EXCITED AGAIN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE AND MY SHIELD;
I HOPE IN YOUR WORD."
PSALM 119:130, "THE ENTRANCE AND UNFOLDING OF YOUR WORD GIVES
LIGHT; THEIR UNFOLDING GIVES UNDERSTANDING (DISCERNMENT AND
COMPREHENSION) TO THE SIMPLE."
SEE, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO BE ESPECIALLY SMART TO UNDERSTAND
THE WORD.
I MEAN, JUST A SIMPLE PERSON, A CHILD CAN UNDERSTAND THIS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT THE BIBLE AND THINK, "WELL, YOU
KNOW, I'M NOT SMART ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE."
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SMART ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND IT.
YOU GO DILIGENTLY, AND YOU STUDY, AND YOU READ, AND YOU
TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GIVE YOU LIGHT, TO TEACH YOU, AND TO
DIRECT YOU BY THE WORD OF GOD.
NOW, I JUST GOTTA READ THESE, BECAUSE THESE SCRIPTURES
ARE JUST SO GOOD.
"JESUS IS THE WORD."
SO SEE, THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO RESPECT THIS.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I--DON'T THROW YOUR BIBLE AROUND.
DON'T JUST, YOU KNOW, PILE IT UNDER A BUNCH OF STUFF.
THIS IS THE MOST PRECIOUS BOOK IN THE WORLD.
WE NEED TO CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THIS THAT IF SOMEBODY SAID TO
US, "YOU'RE GONNA SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE IN PRISON.
YOU CAN HAVE ONE POSSESSION.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?" THIS WOULD BE WHAT YOU
SHOULD TAKE.
THIS IS WHAT YOU TAKE.
YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR EARRINGS, YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR LIPSTICK,
YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR AUTOMOBILE.
YOU TAKE THE WORD OF GOD, BECAUSE EVERYTHING YOU NEED,
REALLY, IS IN HERE.
AND SO, BUT JESUS IS THE WORD WHO ACTUALLY TOOK ON FLESH
AND CAME HERE.
IN THE BEGINNING, GOD SAID, AND THAT WAS JESUS.
NOW, HE BECAME FLESH, CAME HERE IN A HUMAN BODY TO PAY THE PRICE
FOR OUR SINS, BUT HE WAS FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN.
FULLY GOD AND FULLY MAN.
AND HE IS THE WORD.
SO, WHEN YOU STUDY THE WORD, YOU'RE FELLOWSHIPPING
WITH JESUS.
RIGHT NOW, HE'S IN THE MIDST OF US.
SO, GOTTA READ YOU THESE SCRIPTURES.
"IN THE BEGINNING [BEFORE ALL TIME] WAS THE WORD (CHRIST),
AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD HIMSELF."
JOHN 1:14, "AND THE WORD (CHRIST) BECAME FLESH (HUMAN,
INCARNATE) AND TABERNACLED (FIXED HIS TENT OF FLESH,
AND LIVED FOR AWHILE) AMONG US; AND WE [ACTUALLY] SAW HIS GLORY
(HIS HONOR, HIS MAJESTY), SUCH GLORY AS AN ONLY BEGOTTEN
SON RECEIVES FROM HIS FATHER, FULL OF GRACE
AND FULL OF TRUTH."
WOW.
FULL OF GRACE AND FULL OF TRUTH.
ONE LAST ONE, REVELATION 19:13.
I'M PARTICULARLY FOND OF THIS.
THERE'S A DESCRIPTION OF JESUS, AND IT SAYS, "HE'S DRESSED IN
A ROBE DYED BY DIPPING IN BLOOD, AND THE TITLE BY WHICH HE IS
CALLED IS THE WORD OF GOD."
IS THAT NOT AMAZING?
CAN YOU IMAGINE JESUS ON A WHITE HORSE, WITH FLAMES OF
FIRE COMING OUT OF HIS EYES, AND WHITE HAIR THAT'S SO BRIGHT YOU
DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK AT IT, AND THIS ROBE DIPPED IN BLOOD,
AND THIS BIG TITLE ACROSS HIS CHEST, "THE WORD OF GOD."
AMEN? WHOO!
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT DAY.
JESUS IS COMING SOON.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT--WE SHOULD BE SPENDING OUR TIME HERE GETTING
READY FOR THERE.
THAT'S KIND OF A NEW PHRASE I'VE COME UP WITH AND I LIKE IT.
WHILE YOU'RE HERE, GET READY FOR THERE.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE THERE, THINKING YOU CAN GET READY
FOR THERE, AMEN?
THE WORD OF GOD, JAMES 1:21.
NOW, THIS IS A FAVORITE SCRIPTURE OF MINE TOO.
THE WORD OF GOD, WHEN IT'S PLANTED AND ROOTED IN OUR
HEARTS, HAS THE POWER TO SAVE OUR SOULS.
OUR SOULS.
NOT YOUR SPIRIT.
IF YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, GOD HAS COME BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE
IN YOUR SPIRIT.
EVERYTHING IN YOUR DEEP SPIRIT, THE DEEPEST PART OF YOU,
IS ALL CLEANED UP.
IT'S HOLY, ON AND ON.
BUT THE SOUL CAN GIVE US A PROBLEM.
AND OUR SOUL IS LIKE THE SECOND COMPARTMENT OF OUR BEING.
IT WOULD BE LIKE THE SECOND DEEPEST PLACE IN US.
THE SPIRIT'S DEEPER, BUT THE SOUL IS NEXT, AND THAT'S
YOUR MIND, YOUR WILL, AND YOUR EMOTIONS.
IT'S HOW YOU THINK, WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU FEEL, AND THAT'S
WHAT GIVES US TROUBLE.
THE MIND HAS TO BE RENEWED BY THE WORD OF GOD, THE WILL NEEDS
TO BE TURNED OVER TO THE WILL OF GOD, AND THE EMOTIONS NEED TO
NOT RULE US.
AMEN?
AND SO, GET THIS, JAMES 1:21, "SO GET RID OF ALL UNCLEANNESS
AND THE RAMPANT OUTGROWTH OF WICKEDNESS, AND IN A (MODEST,
GENTLE) SPIRIT RECEIVE AND WELCOME THE WORD OF GOD
WHICH IMPLANTED AND ROOTED [IN YOUR HEARTS]
CONTAINS THE POWER TO SAVE YOUR SOUL."
WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW.
YOU MIGHT JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, IF I PUT SUGAR IN CAKE BATTER, IT
HAS THE POWER TO MAKE IT SWEET.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF I PUT THE WORD OF GOD INTO MY LIFE, IT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE
MY SOUL.
BUT YOU GOTTA PUT IT IN.
IT SAYS, "TO THOSE WHO WELCOME THE WORD OF GOD IN A HUMBLE
ATTITUDE."
IN OTHER WORDS, "MAN, I NEED THIS, GOD.
I NEED EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAY.
THERE'S NOTHING YOU SAY THAT I DON'T NEED, AND I DON'T CARE HOW
MANY TIMES I HEAR IT, I NEED IT AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN."
OH BOY, HERE IT COMES NOW.
THIS IS GETTING BETTER EVERY TIME.
GOD'S WORD STRENGTHENS US.
HALLELUJAH.
HOW MANY OF YOU NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED TODAY IN YOUR
RESOLVE TO KEEP GOING AND KEEP DOING WHAT YOU--YOU KNOW,
EVEN JUST TO DO GOOD.
WE NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED TO KEEP JUST DOING WHAT'S RIGHT,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE STILL IN AN AREA WHERE YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE GETTING THE RIGHT RESULT YET.
AND YOU KNOW, GOD WILL TEST US AND TRY US.
HE DOESN'T WANT US TO SERVE HIM JUST FOR WHAT WE GET.
AND SO, YOU MAY HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR A LONG TIME
BEFORE YOU START GETTING A RIGHT RESULT.
BUT IF OUR HEART'S RIGHT, WE'LL DO THE RIGHT THING 'TIL JESUS
COMES BACK TO GET US IN FAITH THAT WHEN HE SHOWS UP, HE'S
COMING WITH MY FULL REWARD.
HOWEVER, I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL TAKE UNTIL HE COMES BACK, BUT WE
HAVE TO LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.
WE CAN'T BE SAYING, "WELL, I'M GONNA DO THIS FOR ANOTHER MONTH,
AND IF I DON'T GET A BREAKTHROUGH, THEN BLAH BLAH."
I REMEMBER A GIRL WHO CAME TO THE PLATFORM AFTER I SPOKE
ONE NIGHT, AND SHE HAD HER HANDS ON HER HIPS,
AND SHE SAID, "I WANT MY MONEY BACK."
I SAID, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"
SHE SAID, "LISTEN, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 2 WEEKS, GIVING,
AND LISTENING TO YOU PREACH, AND NOTHING'S CHANGED YET."
AND I THOUGHT, "OH--" IT WAS HARD FOR ME NOT TO LAUGH
IN HER FACE, IF YOU WANNA KNOW THE TRUTH.
I MEAN, WE SPEND A LIFETIME GETTING IN A MESS, AND THEN
WE'RE MAD AT GOD IF WE READ THREE SCRIPTURES AND WE HAVEN'T
CHANGED.
SO, THE WORD OF GOD WILL STRENGTHEN US TO KEEP GOING.
IT WILL STRENGTHEN US NOT TO QUIT AND GIVE UP.
IT WILL STRENGTHEN US NOT TO GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION.
GOD, YOUR WORD IS MY STRENGTH.
NOW, HERE'S A SCRIPTURE, PSALM 119:28,
"MY LIFE DISSOLVES AND WEEPS ITSELF AWAY FOR HEAVINESS;
RAISE ME UP AND STRENGTHEN ME ACCORDING TO [THE PROMISES OF]
YOUR WORD."
HERE'S A GOOD ONE.
HOW MANY OF YOU HERE HAVE EVER DEALT WITH A HARD HEART,
YOU'VE EVER HAD A HARDNESS ON YOUR HEART?
OKAY. WELL, I DID.
I WAS ABUSED WHEN I WAS A CHILD, AND SO I HAD A HARD HEART.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A LOT OF MISTREATMENT,
THE ONLY WAY YOU SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE IT IS TO GET THIS
HARDNESS ON YOUR HEART THAT KINDA COMES LIKE, "I DON'T CARE.
I DON'T NEED PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, WHO NEEDS YOU?
NOBODY'S GONNA TELL ME WHAT TO DO AGAIN."
AND SO, IN A WAY, YOU'RE PROTECTING YOURSELF, BUT THEN
WHEN YOU START TRYING TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND BEHAVE
LIKE A CHRISTIAN, YOU HAVE TO TRUST GOD TO MELT THAT
HARDNESS OFF OF YOUR HEART.
GOD'S WORD MELTS THE HARDNESS IN OUR HEART.
HERE IT COMES, PSALM 147:18, "HE SENDS OUT HIS WORD, AND MELTS
[ICE AND SNOW]."
WERE YOU LIKE A BLOCK OF ICE?
NO WARMTH IN RELATIONSHIPS.
HE MELTS THOSE COLD, HARD HEARTS.
"HE CAUSES HIS WIND TO BLOW, AND THE WATERS FLOW."
NOW, YOU PROBABLY WON'T CARE MUCH FOR THIS, BUT IT'S IN HERE,
SO I PROBABLY NEED TO TELL IT TO YOU.
THE WORD OF GOD OFTEN BRINGS PERSECUTION.
SEE, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU FIRST START TRYING TO STUDY THE WORD,
THE ENEMY WILL LAUNCH AN ATTACK AGAINST YOU TO SEE IF YOU REALLY
MEAN BUSINESS.
MARK 4:17, "AND THEY," IT'S TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE GROUND
THAT THE WORD OF GOD IS SOWN INTO.
IN MARK, THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUND THAT THE WORD IS
SOWN INTO.
"AND THEY HAVE NO REAL ROOT IN THEMSELVES, AND SO THEY ENDURE
FOR A LITTLE WHILE; AND THEN WHEN TROUBLE OR PERSECUTION
ARISES ON ACCOUNT OF THE WORD, THEY IMMEDIATELY ARE OFFENDED
(THEY BECOME DISPLEASED, INDIGNANT, RESENTFUL) AND THEY
STUMBLE AND THEY FALL AWAY."
YOU SEE, WHEN I BEGAN TO SERIOUSLY STUDY THE WORD OF GOD,
I STARTED LOSING FRIENDS.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS.
YOU SAY, "WELL, WHY WOULD YOU LOSE CHRISTIAN FRIENDS?"
BECAUSE NOT ALWAYS DOES EVERYBODY WANT TO BE--EVERYBODY
WHO IS A CHRISTIAN IS NOT A COMMITTED, SERIOUS CHRISTIAN.
I ALWAYS SAY SOME PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH OF JESUS TO STAY OUT OF
HELL, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO WALK IN VICTORY.
AND SO, WHEN YOU DECIDE, "I'M GONNA WALK IN VICTORY," THE
ENEMY DOESN'T WANT THAT FOR YOU.
THAT'S THE LAST THING HE WANTS FOR YOU, SO HE WILL BRING ATTACK
AGAINST YOU, HE WILL BRING PERSECUTION, HE'LL BRING
CRITICISM, HE'LL BRING JUDGMENT.
PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU YOU'RE A RELIGIOUS FANATIC AND ALL KINDS
OF THINGS JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO LOVE JESUS WITH ALL OF
YOUR HEART.
SO, STAND STRONG.
THE WORD TRANSFORMS US INTO GOD'S IMAGE.
CHANGES US.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CHRIST-LIKE.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE
OF CHRIST.
YOU KNOW, I LIKE TO PRAY WHEN I GO OUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I GET UP
IN THE PULPIT TO PREACH, "LORD, I PRAY THEY'LL SEE YOU TODAY
AND NOT ME, AND THEY'LL HEAR FROM YOU AND NOT ME."
AND WE NEED TO BE LIKE THAT EVEN WHEN WE FELLOWSHIP WITH PEOPLE.
"GOD, I PRAY THAT THEY'LL FEEL LIKE THEY'RE WITH YOU, NOT ME,
THAT THE FRUIT THAT COMES OUT OF ME WILL BE YOUR FRUIT, NOT
THE FRUIT OF THE FLESH."
2 CORINTHIANS 3:18, AND THIS IS GONNA HAVE TO BE MY LAST
SCRIPTURE, "AND ALL OF US, AS WITH UNVEILED FACE, [BECAUSE WE]
CONTINUED."
EVERYBODY IN HERE SAY, "CONTINUED."
AUDIENCE: CONTINUED.
JOYCE: "BECAUSE WE CONTINUED TO BEHOLD
[IN THE WORD OF GOD] AS IN A MIRROR THE GLORY OF THE LORD,
ARE CONSTANTLY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO HIS IMAGE FROM ONE DEGREE
OF GLORY TO ANOTHER, TO ANOTHER, TO ANOTHER."
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?
IF YOU CONTINUE TO STUDY THE WORD OF GOD, YOU WILL GET
BETTER, AND BETTER, AND BETTER, AND BETTER, AND YOUR LIFE WILL
GET BETTER, AND BETTER, AND BETTER, AND YOU WILL FEEL
BETTER, AND BETTER, AND BETTER, AND BETTER, AND YOU WILL MAKE
BETTER AND BETTER DECISIONS.
COME ON, EVERYBODY SAY, "BETTER AND BETTER."
AUDIENCE: BETTER AND BETTER.
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, NOW, WE'RE ENCOURAGING YOU TO MAKE THE WORD
OF GOD FIRST PLACE IN YOUR LIFE.
WE'RE OFFERING A NEW DEVOTIONAL CALLED, "WAKE UP TO THE WORD."
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE WRITTEN AND I BELIEVE IT'S
REALLY GONNA HELP YOU.
YOU CAN GET THIS TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY OF
ANY AMOUNT.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GOOD OFFER.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT VERY MANY PLACES IN THE WORLD WHERE
SOMEBODY SAYS, "HEY, YOU CAN HAVE THIS AND JUST PAY WHATEVER
YOU WANT."
YOU KNOW?
WELL, THE ONLY REASON WHY WE DO THAT IS WE TRUST YOU.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE SITTING THERE WANTING TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF US.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU APPRECIATE THE WORD THAT WE TEACH YOU, AND
I BELIEVE THAT YOU WANNA GIVE BACK TO US TO HELP THE PREACHING
OF THE GOSPEL, TO HELP THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU ENJOY STAY ON
THE AIR, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN DO IT.
SO, ORDER YOURS TODAY AND GIVE THE BEST GIFT THAT YOU CAN, AND
START WAKING UP TO THE WORD.
GOD BLESS YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
ANNOUNCER: SOME MORNINGS, EVERYTHING JUST GOES RIGHT.
OTHERS, NOT SO MUCH.
BUT LET'S FACE IT, HOW YOU WAKE UP EACH MORNING HAS A TREMENDOUS
IMPACT ON YOUR DAY.
THAT'S WHY JOYCE WANTS YOU TO "WAKE UP TO THE WORD."
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING JOYCE'S DEVOTIONAL,
"WAKE UP TO THE WORD," FOR YOUR DONATION OF...
CALL RIGHT NOW...
OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: TRUST HIM ALL THE TIME.
YOUR WALK WITH GOD IS NOT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE DEVIL MAD, GET HAPPY.
HE HAS TO GET THE CREDIT.
HE HAS TO GET THE GLORY.
JOYCE: WELL, YOU'VE SPOKEN AND PICKED YOUR FAVORITE
"ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE" SHOWS FROM 2017 AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO
REVEAL THE WINNERS SO WATCH EVERY DAY TO SEE YOUR WINNERS.
JOYCE: IF I WERE TO ASK YOU IF YOU LOVE YOUR LIFE, WHAT
WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE?
I BELIEVE THAT JESUS WANTS US TO LOVE OUR LIVES.
BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'VE GOT, CONTINUING TO DO THE
SAME THING IS NOT GONNA GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT OUTCOME, AND I WANT
TO ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO GET MY NEW BOOK CALLED
"LIVING A LIFE THAT YOU LOVE" AND SEE WHAT THE CHANGES
ARE THAT YOU CAN MAKE THAT WILL START TO GIVE YOU
WONDERFUL RESULTS IN YOUR LIFE.
WHY NOT GET YOUR COPY TODAY?
JOYCE: VERY FEW DAYS GO BY THAT I DON'T THANK GOD FOR
LETTING ME TEACH THE WORD AND, YES, IT'S BEEN A LOT OF HARD
WORK AND PROBABLY WANTED TO GIVE UP MILLION TIMES IN THE PROCESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE PUBLIC EYE LIKE WE ARE, YOU
GET JUDGED, YOU GET CRITICIZED, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
THAT AREN'T SO KIND.
BUT EVEN WITH ALL THAT, WE'VE MET SO MANY AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL
PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY THE WORD THAT, YOU
KNOW, THE FEW WHO CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS ARE REALLY NOTHING
COMPARED TO ALL THE ONES THAT YOU GET TO HELP.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, OUR DESIRE IS TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE'RE
DOING IN SOME FORM OR FASHION UNTIL JESUS TAKES US HOME.
PEOPLE ASK ALL THE TIME, "ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT RETIRING,
OR WHEN YOU GONNA RETIRE?" AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU RETIRE
FROM A CALL ON YOUR LIFE.
IT'S NOT LIKE HAVING A JOB AND SO NOW AT A CERTAIN AGE,
YOU RETIRE.
I MEAN, I JUST WANT TO DO--I MEAN, WE HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES.
WE HAVE TO KEEP MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, YOU KNOW, CAN'T
WORK AS HARD AS WE USED TO, DON'T NEED TO, DON'T WANT TO.
I ALWAYS SAY I DON'T WORK HARDER, I WORK SMARTER.
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG TO SHARE YOUR
PRAYER REQUESTS, SEE THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE,
OR PARTNER WITH US IN SHARING CHRIST AND LOVING PEOPLE
ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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