ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WHO IS GOD?
THAT'S THE NAME OF THE SERIES THIS WEEKEND.
AND YOU MIGHT THINK, "WELL, WHAT A UNIQUE TITLE THAT IS."
WELL, THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE KINDA CATCHY, AND ACTUALLY WE'RE EVEN
THROWING AROUND THE IDEA OF WRITING A BOOK WITH THAT TITLE
ON IT, BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE EITHER KNOW A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT GOD BUT THEY NEED TO KNOW HIM A LOT DEEPER, THEY NEED TO
KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT HIM, AND KNOW HIM IN A MORE INTIMATE
AND A MORE PERSONAL WAY.
I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, JESUS DID NOT DIE SO WE COULD
ALL HAVE A RELIGION.
HE DIED SO WE COULD HAVE A DEEP, INTIMATE, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD THROUGH CHRIST.
WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS, IN THE TEMPLE, THE PHYSICAL TEMPLE
THAT EXISTED THEN, THERE WAS A VERY THICK CURTAIN THAT WAS
3 FEET THICK THAT SEPARATED THE PRESENCE OF GOD FROM THE PEOPLE.
AND ONLY THE HIGH PRIEST COULD GO IN THERE, AND THEN ONLY ONCE
A YEAR, AND HE WENT IN TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR THE SINS OF
THE PEOPLE.
THERE WAS AN OUTER COURT, AN INNER COURT, BUT THEN THIS HOLY
PLACE INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
THE PEOPLE WERE SEPARATED BY A CURTAIN 3 FEET THICK.
WHEN JESUS DIED, THAT CURTAIN TORE, QUOTE, "BY ITSELF," WITH
NO HUMAN INSTRUMENTALITY, NOT FROM THE BOTTOM UP, FROM THE TOP
DOWN, BECAUSE IT WAS SO HIGH THAT NO MAN COULD HAVE REACHED
IT AND GOD DID IT JUST THAT WAY TO SHOW THAT WHEN JESUS DIED,
THE WAY WAS OPENED UP INTO THE INTIMATE PRESENCE OF GOD.
NOW EVERY PERSON CAN GO IN AND COME OUT AND GO IN AND COME OUT.
AND THAT'S WHY JESUS DIED, SO OUR SINS COULD BE FORGIVEN,
SO WE COULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND SO WE COULD HAVE AN INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WHILE WE'RE HERE.
LET ME TELL YOU THAT GOD HAS A LOT MORE FOR YOU THAN JUST
A WEEKLY TRIP TO CHURCH.
HE WANTS YOU TO LEARN HOW TO DO LIFE WITH HIM.
SO, WHO IS GOD?
I BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY WHO REALLY KNOWS GOD, IF ANYBODY
REALLY KNEW GOD, THEY WOULD DEFINITELY WANT HIM IN
THEIR LIFE.
HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY REJECT GOD OR SAY YOU DIDN'T BELIEVE IN
GOD IF YOU REALLY UNDERSTOOD HIS CHARACTER, AND THE KIND OF
RELATIONSHIP THAT HE WANTS TO HAVE WITH YOU, AND THE
BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING, WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HE'S DONE FOR YOU.
AND SO THE REDEMPTIVE NAMES OF GOD THAT ARE SEEN IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT ALL CULMINATE AND COME TOGETHER
IN THE NAME JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT TELL US
A LOT ABOUT WHAT GOD DOES.
SO, WE CONNECT WHO PEOPLE ARE TO WHAT THEY DO.
AND CERTAINLY WE'RE A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE DO, WE'RE CHILDREN
OF GOD, BUT THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS WE KNOW PEOPLE,
BY WHAT THEY DO.
SO, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING THIS WEEKEND SO FAR AT WHAT GOD DOES.
AND I CAN'T GO BACK AND COVER ALL THE GROUND I'VE COVERED
ALREADY, BUT TONIGHT WE HAVE THREE THAT WE WANNA DO, AND
THERE'S FOUR MORE FOR TOMORROW, SO PRAY FOR ME.
BUT JEHOVAH, WHICH MEANS GOD, DASH SHALOM, MEANS
"THE LORD IS PEACE."
SO, ANYTIME THAT YOU FEEL REAL PEACE IN YOUR LIFE, IT'S GOD.
THE DEVIL NEVER BRINGS PEACE.
THE WORLD DOESN'T BRING PEACE.
JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT MORE THAN
ANYTHING--MATTER OF FACT, I BELIEVE THE THREE THINGS THAT
PEOPLE WANT ARE THE THINGS THAT THE KINGDOM OFFERS US.
ROMANS 14:17 SAYS, "THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT MEAT AND DRINK."
IT'S NOT THINGS, "BUT IT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS," FEELING RIGHT
ABOUT YOURSELF, NOT HAVING TO GO AROUND FEELING LIKE SOMETHING'S
WRONG WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.
AND WE CAN ONLY HAVE THAT THROUGH CHRIST.
HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
SO, THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN HAVE--FEEL RIGHT ABOUT OURSELF
IS TO KNOW HIM.
"PEACE AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST."
I MEAN, HOW AWESOME WOULD LIFE BE IF WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE TO
FEEL BAD ABOUT OURSELVES ANYMORE EVER FOR ANY REASON?
WE JUST KNEW THAT WE WERE LOVED, AND WE HAD PEACE,
AND WE HAD JOY.
SO, HE'S THE ONE THAT GIVES US PEACE.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PRAY THAT GOD WOULD GIVE YOU PEACE.
HE'S ALREADY GIVEN YOU PEACE.
YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT HE IS YOUR PEACE.
HOW MANY OF YOU ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE IN HERE?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OKAY, YOU KNOW, EVEN RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE FEEL IN HERE
IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD SAY IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THIS WHERE
YOU WORK?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND SO WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW,
THIS--WOW.
THIS WONDERFUL PEACE.
AND BOY, IT EVEN INCREASES WHEN WE BEGIN TO WORSHIP, DOESN'T IT?
THAT'S GOD IN OUR LIVES.
AND SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU HANG OUT WITH
THE PRINCE OF PEACE SO YOU'RE NOT FRUSTRATED
AND UPSET ALL THE TIME.
ISAIAH 9:6-7, "FOR UNTO US
A CHILD IS BORN, AND UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN;
AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDERS,
AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD,
EVERLASTING FATHER [OF ETERNITY], THE PRINCE OF PEACE.
AND OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND OF PEACE THERE
SHALL BE NO END."
I LOVE THAT, THAT THE MORE WE LET HIM GOVERN OUR LIVES, THE
MORE PEACE WE'RE GONNA HAVE.
HIS GOVERNMENT AND HIS PEACE GO TOGETHER.
NOW, WE CAN BE BELIEVERS AND STILL BE TRYING TO RUN OUR OWN
LIVES, AND WE STILL WON'T HAVE MUCH PEACE.
BUT AS SOON AS YOU SAY, "GOD, YOUR WILL BE DONE," YOUR PEACE
IS GONNA BEGIN TO INCREASE.
WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT WHAT GOD'S TAKEN AWAY FROM US, AND REALLY
THE ONLY THINGS HE EVER WANTS US TO PART WITH ARE THINGS THAT ARE
HURTING US ANYWAY.
EPHESIANS 2:14 SAYS, "HE IS [HIMSELF] OUR PEACE.
(THE BOND OF UNITY AND HARMONY]
HE HAS MADE US BOTH [JEW AND GENTILE] ONE [BODY], AND HAS
BROKEN DOWN (DESTROYED, ABOLISHED) THE HOSTILE DIVIDING
WALL BETWEEN US."
NOW, THIS WAS VERY PERTINENT IN PAUL'S DAY BECAUSE NOBODY HATED
EACH OTHER ANY MORE THAN JEWS AND GENTILES.
THEY ABSOLUTELY DESPISED EACH OTHER.
WELL, HAS ANYBODY NOTICED THAT THERE'S ALWAYS--SOMEWHERE IN
THE WORLD, THERE'S ALWAYS HATRED BETWEEN RACES?
AND IT'S AMAZING TO ME THAT WE THINK WE HAVE TO HATE PEOPLE
JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LIKE US, OR EVEN JUST BECAUSE THEY
DON'T THINK THE SAME WAY THAT WE THINK.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO NECESSARILY AGREE WITH SOMEBODY IN ORDER TO
LIVE IN HARMONY.
DAVE AND I ARE VERY DIFFERENT AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE'S
A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DON'T THINK THE SAME WAY ABOUT OR FEEL
THE SAME WAY ABOUT, BUT I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT WE LITERALLY
ALMOST NEVER HAVE AN ARGUMENT OR HAVE A FIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE WE HAVE LEARNED HOW TO DISAGREE AGREEABLY
AND RESPECTFULLY.
AND BOY, DO WE EVER NEED UNITY AMONG ALL
THE CHURCH DENOMINATIONS.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO STOP FIGHTING ABOUT THE FEW THINGS WE
DON'T AGREE ABOUT AND BEGIN TO FELLOWSHIP AROUND THE NAME OF
CHRIST AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE ABOUT
THE KIND OF CONFERENCES WE DO.
I CAN PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE YOU THAT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE HERE FROM
EVERY RELIGION THAT EXISTS AND SOME WHO HAVEN'T EVEN MADE
YOUR MIND UP YET.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND I LOVE IT. YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD IS FOR EVERYBODY AND THE WORD OF GOD
WORKS THE SAME IN EVERYBODY'S LIFE.
AND SO I REALLY LIKE THIS SCRIPTURE BECAUSE IT SAYS IN
CHRIST WE ALL BECOME ONE.
AND WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT I AM, I OWE TO CHRIST AND EVERYTHING
THAT I'M NOT, I HAVE TO TRUST HIM TO TAKE CARE OF.
AND SO WHEN I UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS MY BOND OF UNITY, THEN I NO
LONGER NEED TO COMPARE MYSELF WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
I DON'T NEED TO LOOK DOWN ON THEM IF THEY'RE NOT LIKE ME AND
I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK DOWN ON ME IF I'M NOT LIKE THEM.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE PEACE, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I NO LONGER HAVE TO BE JEALOUS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHEN I
KNOW THAT MY ONLY WORTH AND VALUE IS IN CHRIST.
JESUS GIVES US A DIFFERENT KIND OF PEACE.
I'M NOT GONNA HAVE YOU TURN TO THE SCRIPTURE.
IT'S QUITE LONG IN THE AMPLIFIED, BUT IN JOHN 14:27
IT SAYS, "MY PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU.
NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES DO I GIVE UNTO YOU, BUT MY OWN SPECIAL
PEACE I NOW GIVE AND BEQUEATH UNTO YOU."
AND THEN THE AMPLIFICATION SAYS, "SO STOP ALLOWING YOURSELVES TO
BE UPSET AND DISTURBED."
I LIKE THAT PART.
JESUS SAID, "LOOK, I'VE GIVEN YOU PEACE.
NOW YOU NEED TO HOLD ONTO THAT PEACE AND STOP GETTING ALL UPSET
ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
BECAUSE IF YOU REALLY KNOW WHO I AM, YOU KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT ALL THE JUNK YOU'RE WORRYING ABOUT BECAUSE
I'M TAKING CARE OF STUFF."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HOW VALUABLE IS IT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
IT'S AMAZING.
BUT THEN ONE OF MY MOST FAVORITE SCRIPTURES AND ONE OF THE
SCRIPTURES THAT HAS PROBABLY HELPED ME MORE THAN ANY OTHER TO
REALLY BEGIN TO ACCESS THE PEACE THAT JESUS DIED TO GIVE ME IS
FOUND IN 1 PETER 3:11, AND I'M GONNA QUOTE YOU THE LAST HALF OF
IT BECAUSE IT SIMPLY SAYS THAT WE ARE TO PURSUE PEACE.
IF YOU LOOK DOWN ABOUT HALFWAY, IT SAYS--WELL, WE'LL JUST
READ IT.
"LET HIM TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS AND SHUN IT,
LET HIM DO RIGHT.
LET HIM SEARCH FOR PEACE (HARMONY; UNDISTURBEDNESS FROM
FEARS, AGITATING PASSIONS, AND MORAL CONFLICTS)
AND SEEK IT EAGERLY.
[DO NOT MERELY DESIRE PEACEFUL RELATIONS WITH GOD, WITH YOUR
FELLOWMEN, AND WITH YOURSELF, BUT PURSUE, GO AFTER THEM!]"
SO, HERE WE SEE THREE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS
WHERE WE NEED TO PURSUE PEACE.
I NEED TO HAVE PEACE WITH MYSELF, YOU NEED TO HAVE PEACE
WITH YOURSELF.
UNTIL I HAVE PEACE WITH ME, 'TIL I'M GETTING ALONG WITH ME, I'M
NEVER GONNA GET ALONG WITH YOU.
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO BE MAD AT ME ALL THE TIME
AND EVER GET ALONG WITH DAVE.
AND SO THE QUESTION ALWAYS NEEDS TO BE ASKED, HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT YOURSELF?
WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH YOU?
TO BE HONEST, YOU HAVE--YOU SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOU THAN
YOU DO ANYBODY.
DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THAT?
HEY, LIKE, WOW, I'M WITH ME ALL THE TIME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I NEVER GET AWAY FROM ME.
AND SO REALLY, THE WAY YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF IS MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT THAN THE WAY ANYBODY ELSE FEELS ABOUT YOU.
AND THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THE WAY ANYBODY ELSE THINKS ABOUT YOU.
AND THE WAY YOU TALK ABOUT YOURSELF IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THE WAY ANYBODY ELSE TALKS ABOUT YOU.
NOW, I'M VERY SERIOUS IN WHAT I'M SAYING HERE TONIGHT.
I GOT A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER, AND I DON'T PLAN TO STICK A LONG
TIME WITH THIS SUBJECT OF PEACE.
I'M JUST GONNA GO THROUGH SOME THINGS AND READ YOU SOME THINGS,
AND EACH ONE OF THEM WOULD DESERVE A WHOLE NIGHT OF
TEACHING IN THEMSELVES.
BUT BOY, IF THERE'S ONE THAT CATCHES YOUR ATTENTION, YOU NEED
TO HOLD ONTO IT AND DO SOME MORE STUDY YOURSELF OR LOOK FOR SOME
MORE MATERIAL ALONG THESE LINES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN HAVE PEACE WITH YOURSELF--WELL,
NOT ONE.
THERE'S ABOUT--HOW MANY HERE?
EIGHT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT.
DON'T CONTINUALLY INVENTORY YOUR FAULTS ALL THE TIME.
IF YOU WANNA HAVE PEACE WITH YOURSELF, JUST DON'T SIT AROUND
ALL THE TIME AND THINK ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU.
GOD WILL DEAL WITH YOU ABOUT EACH THING AS HE CHOOSES AND
THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CONVICT YOU ABOUT THINGS THAT HE WANTS TO
CONVICT YOU ABOUT.
STOP COMPARING YOURSELF WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND COMPETING WITH
THEM ALL THE TIME.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRAY LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE
MEMORIZES SCRIPTURE.
I WAS WITH ANOTHER WELL-KNOWN BIBLE TEACHER THE OTHER DAY
AND SHE JUST MADE A COMMENT IN TALKING.
SHE WASN'T TRYING TO BRAG OR ANYTHING.
SHE SAID, "THE OTHER MORNING WHEN I WAS DOING SOME
MEMORIZATION WORK IN," AND SHE NAMED A BOOK OF THE BIBLE.
AND I CAN REMEMBER DAYS WHEN THAT WOULD'VE MADE ME FEEL
THREATENED BECAUSE I DON'T SIT AROUND AND TRY TO MEMORIZE LARGE
PORTIONS OF SCRIPTURE.
IT'S JUST NOT MY THING.
I KNOW A TON OF SCRIPTURE, BUT I JUST KNOW IT FROM ALL THE YEARS
THAT I'VE TAUGHT THE WORD.
AND I CAN QUOTE A LOT OF SCRIPTURE, BUT IF YOU SAID TO ME
RIGHT NOW, "CAN YOU QUOTE THE WHOLE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS,"
I'D HAVE TO SAY NO.
BUT I KNOW BIBLE TEACHERS THAT CAN DO THAT AND I THINK THAT
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
BUT YOU SEE, WE'RE NEVER FREE AS LONG AS WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH
SOMEBODY ELSE AND WE FEEL LIKE THAT WE NEED TO DO WHAT THEY DO.
CAN ANYBODY GIVE A BIG SHOUT FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN!
AND ISN'T IT WONDERFUL TO BE ABLE TO BE HAPPY FOR WHAT
SOMEBODY ELSE CAN DO WITHOUT LETTING IT THREATEN YOU OR FEEL
LIKE THAT NOW YOU GOTTA HAVE THIS WALL OF DIVISION BETWEEN
YOU AND THEM BECAUSE THEY KINDA THREATEN YOU EVEN WHEN YOU'RE IN
THEIR PRESENCE.
AMEN?
NUMBER THREE, LISTEN TO WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS ABOUT YOU, NOT
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY ABOUT YOU.
BUT ONE THING'S FOR SURE, IF YOU LISTEN TO EVERYTHING THAT
EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY ABOUT YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE AROUND
A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THERE'S NOBODY THAT CAN PLEASE ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO, YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT.
IF YOU WANNA HAVE PEACE WITH YOURSELF, LET GO OF THE PAST
AND PRESS TOWARD THE FUTURE.
IF YOU WANNA HAVE PEACE WITH YOURSELF WHEN YOU MAKE
A MISTAKE, REPENT, RECEIVE YOUR FORGIVENESS, AND GO ON.
DON'T SPEND A MONTH IN CONDEMNATION BEFORE YOU DECIDE
TO COME BACK TO TERMS OF PEACE.
GUILT IS USELESS, ALL IT DOES IS WEAKEN YOU AND MAKE YOU
FALL INTO MORE SIN.
I SAID GUILT IS USELESS, ALL IT DOES IS WEAKEN YOU AND IT
ACTUALLY MAKES YOU FALL INTO MORE SIN.
ONE MORE TIME.
GUILT IS USELESS, IT ACTUALLY WEAKENS YOU AND MAKES YOU FALL
INTO MORE SIN.
IF YOU WANNA DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, JUST EVERY TIME
YOU DO IT, FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT FOR A MONTH AND YOU CAN BE
GUARANTEED THAT YOU'LL PROBABLY DO IT AGAIN.
BUT IF YOU REPENT, ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU, AND THEN ASK HIM TO
STRENGTHEN YOU, AND DO WHAT HIS WORD SAYS, LET GO AND GO ON.
STUDY IN THAT AREA.
DON'T JUST FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT.
STUDY THE WORD IN THAT AREA AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE
THAT YOU NEED TO OVERCOME THAT PROBLEM.
DON'T JUST FEEL GUILTY IF YOU GOT A BAD TEMPER.
STUDY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ANGER.
THERE'S POWER IN THE WORD TO SET YOU FREE, NOT POWER IN GUILT.
DECIDE--NUMBER SIX IS DECIDE--MAKE A DECISION TO LIKE
YOURSELF.
WHAT WAS THAT AGAIN?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SEE, TO BE HONEST, PROBABLY SOME OF YOU HAVE
NEVER EVEN GIVEN 2 SECONDS WORTH OF THOUGHT
TO HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF.
YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, AND YOU NEED TO HAVE A GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
NOW, I HOPE THIS DOESN'T SOUND HAUGHTY AND PRIDEFUL BECAUSE I
DON'T MEAN IT TO, BUT I LIKE MYSELF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I KIND OF ENJOY MYSELF.
YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M KINDA FUNNY SOMETIMES AND A LITTLE BIT
DITZY SOMETIMES.
AND YOU KNOW, I DO SOME KINDA INTERESTING THINGS.
THE OTHER DAY, WE WERE ON THE--[LAUGHING]
WE GOT HERE.
WE WERE SITTING ON THE PLANE.
OUR NUMBER GOT DRAWN FOR THE CUSTOMS AGENT TO COME ON BOARD,
WHICH ALWAYS TAKES LONGER.
SO HE CAME ON BOARD.
YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS--I THINK THEY TRY TO LOOK MEAN ON
PURPOSE.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT'S LIKE...
"WHAT ARE YOU IN CANADA FOR?
HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA BE HERE?
YOU BRINGING ANYTHING IN?
YOU TAKING ANYTHING OUT?" [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, AND THEN HE SAYS TO ME, HE SAYS,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I SAID, "I'M DOING
A CONFERENCE HERE."
AND HE SAID, "WHAT'S THE NAME OF YOUR COMPANY?"
BUT I THOUGHT HE SAID, "WHAT'S YOUR NAME?"
AND SO I SAID, "OH, WE'RE DAVE AND JOYCE MEYER."
HE SAID, "NO, THE NAME OF YOUR COMPANY."
MY MIND JUST FROZE UP AND I'M GOING, "UM, UM, UM."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I COULDN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF MY OWN MINISTRY.
AND FINALLY I SAID, "UH, UH, OH! JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES,"
AND EVEN HE LAUGHED AT THAT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO, LAST CONFERENCE I WENT TO, FIRST TIME I'VE EVER
DONE THIS IN MY WHOLE LIFE IN 37 YEARS OF TEACHING.
I FORGOT MY BIBLE.
SO, I FORGOT MY BIBLE THAT CONFERENCE.
THIS CONFERENCE, I FORGOT WHO I WORKED FOR.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: REALLY INTERESTING.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I COULD THINK, "OH, HOW DUMB!
HOW STUPID DO YOU LOOK?" I JUST THINK IT'S FUNNY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAN LEARN TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF,
YOU CAN REALLY HAVE A GOOD TIME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: STOP BEING ANGRY ABOUT EVERY LITTLE THING THAT YOU DO
WRONG.
MAKE DECISIONS AND BE CONFIDENT.
DON'T ALWAYS SECOND-GUESS YOURSELF AND GO TO OTHER PEOPLE
TO ASK 'EM WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
HELLO?
MAKE AN AGREEMENT WITH GOD TONIGHT TO NEVER AGAIN SPEAK
NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR OWN MOUTH.
HOW CAN YOU HAVE PEACE WITH GOD--I GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF
THOSE TOO.
GIVE UP TRYING TO CONTROL YOUR LIFE AND REALIZE THAT YOUR TIMES
ARE IN HIS HANDS.
YOU KNOW, BEING UPSET BECAUSE GOD'S NOT HURRYING WILL NOT MAKE
HIM HURRY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES, THAT'S HOW LONG
IT'S GONNA TAKE.
DON'T BE MAD AT GOD BECAUSE HE'S NOT GIVING YOU EVERYTHING THAT
YOU WANT.
HE'S GOT A BETTER PLAN THAN YOU DO.
MAN'S MIND PLANS HIS WAY BUT GOD DIRECTS HIS STEPS.
GOD FINALLY TAUGHT ME, "WHEN YOU ASK ME FOR SOMETHING AND YOU
DON'T GET IT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M HOLDING OUT ON YOU.
IT'S BECAUSE I'VE GOT SOMETHING BETTER IN MIND AND YOU DON'T
KNOW ENOUGH YET TO ASK ME FOR THAT."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU MIGHT BE SINGLE AND SAY, "I WANNA MARRY THAT
GUY," AND GOD MAY BE SAYING, "NO, YOU REALLY DON'T."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "YOU MAY THINK YOU DO, BUT TRUST ME, YOU REALLY DON'T."
IF YOU WANNA HAVE PEACE WITH GOD, STOP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT HE'S DOING IN YOUR LIFE.
GOD IS MANY TIMES A MYSTERY AND WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT
HE'S DOING.
WE LIVE LIFE FORWARD, BUT WE UNDERSTAND IT BACKWARD.
WHEN YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH YOUR LIFE, YOU'RE LIKE,
"WHAT IS GOING ON?" AND THEN, I MEAN, I
COULD--THINGS THAT JUST WORRIED ME, AND HAD ME UPSET,
AND FRUSTRATED ME SO MANY OF THE EARLY YEARS OF OUR MINISTRY,
I DIDN'T GET IT AT ALL.
BUT NOW I CAN LOOK BACK OVER HERE AND I CAN POINT TO EVERY
ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND SAY, "THIS IS WHY GOD LET THAT GO ON
THAT LONG.
THIS IS WHY GOD HAD ME IN THIS PLACE.
THIS IS WHY GOD DIDN'T DELIVER ME FROM THAT WHEN I WANTED
TO BE."
THEY ALL HELP MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE AND THEY HELP YOU BECOME
WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO BECOME.
STOP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GOD'S DOING IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU SAY, "WELL, ALL OF THIS IS A LOT EASIER THAN YOU MAKE IT
SOUND."
WELL, I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS EASY.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU THIS IS WHAT YOU GOTTA DO TO GET TO
WHERE YOU CAN HAVE PEACE.
2 THESSALONIANS 3:16, I WANNA PUT THIS SCRIPTURE UP.
I THINK THIS IS SO AMAZING.
2 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 3, VERSE 16,
"NOW MAY THE LORD OF PEACE HIMSELF GRANT YOU HIS PEACE (THE
PEACE OF HIS KINGDOM) AT ALL TIMES AND IN ALL WAYS [UNDER ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS, WHATEVER COMES].
THE LORD [BE] WITH YOU ALL."
DON'T YOU LOVE THAT SCRIPTURE? THAT'S AWESOME.
AND THEN LASTLY, HOW CAN YOU HAVE MORE PEACE WITH PEOPLE?
DOES ANYBODY NEED A LITTLE MORE OF THAT?
WELL, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE PEACE WITH PEOPLE WHEN YOU'RE WILLING
TO ACCEPT THEM THE WAY THEY ARE AND KNOW THAT ONLY GOD CAN
CHANGE THEM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HMM.
SOME OF YOU MADE BAD FACES AT ME BEFORE YOU CLAPPED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WELL, I JUST CAN'T PUT UP WITH THEM THE WAY
THEY ARE ANYMORE."
WELL, GOD PUT UP WITH YOU.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
LISTEN, HERE'S THE DEAL.
IF YOU'RE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEBODY THAT IS DIFFICULT FOR
YOU BUT YOU FEEL LIKE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH 'EM, THEN UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS NOT GOING
TO ASK YOU TO BE SOMEWHERE AND NOT GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO BE
THERE AND BE HAPPY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THIS PART OF THE ROOM.
ONLY THESE PEOPLE OVER HERE ARE CLAPPING.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, IT ALL CAME FROM RIGHT OVER HERE,
THIS ONE LITTLE PILE.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL GO OVER HERE AND TRY IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU GOTTA REALIZE THAT IF YOU'RE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH
SOMEBODY THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO HANDLE AND THEY'VE GOT
A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE CHANGED, IF YOU'RE IN
THERE BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE GOD WANTS YOU TO
BE, THEN YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS NEVER GONNA ASK YOU
TO BE SOMEWHERE AND NOT GIVE YOU THE GRACE AND THE ABILITY TO BE
THERE AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHEN WE STUDY THE REDEMPTIVE NAMES OF GOD,
WE DISCOVER A LOT ABOUT HIS CHARACTER AND WE LEARN MORE
ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT HE WANTS TO DO IN OUR LIFE, WHAT HE WANTS
TO PROVIDE FOR US.
AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, HE IS OUR PEACE, HE'S OUR PROVIDER,
HE'S OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, HE FIGHTS OUR BATTLES FOR US.
TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU FOUR TEACHINGS ON CD CALLED
"WHO IS GOD?" WE NEED TO REALLY KNOW
THE CHARACTER OF GOD, AND THEN A DEVOTIONAL THAT I REALLY THINK
YOU'RE GONNA ENJOY, CALLED "CLOSER TO GOD EACH DAY."
SO YOU CAN GET THE CDS AND THE DEVOTIONAL
AND WE'RE GONNA TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW YOU CAN DO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY AND REMEMBER GOD LOVES YOU
VERY MUCH AND HE HAS A GOOD PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
ANNOUNCER: DO YOU WANT A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S BEST IN YOUR LIFE, YOU FIRST NEED TO
UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING TWO RESOURCES TO HELP YOU
EXPERIENCE THE PEACE THAT COMES FROM A CLOSE PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
DISCOVER SOME OF THE MANY NAMES OF GOD FOUND IN THE BIBLE WITH
JOYCE'S FOUR-CD SERIES, "WHO IS GOD?"
IN THIS SERIES, JOYCE EXAMINES HOW EACH NAME REVEALS HIS
PROMISES FOR YOUR LIFE, AND SPEND TIME WITH GOD EVERY DAY
WITH JOYCE'S "CLOSER TO GOD EACH DAY" DEVOTIONAL.
THIS DEVOTIONAL WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO EMBRACE GOD'S PRESENCE
EVERY DAY TO LEAD THE JOYFUL LIFE THAT HE HAS PLANNED
FOR YOU.
THEY'RE BOTH AVAILABLE TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT OF...OR MORE.
VISIT US TODAY AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG OR CALL TOLL-FREE...
GINGER: IF YOU ARE A MEDICAL CARE PROFESSIONAL
WE NEED YOUR HELP.
IN FACT, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD NEED YOUR HELP.
AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE AS WELL.
YOU SEE, THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEER MEDICAL TRIPS, WE TRAVEL ALL
OVER THE WORLD TO PLACES THAT ARE VERY REMOTE AND HAVE
DESPERATE NEED OF HEALTHCARE.
SO GO TO OUR WEBSITE, CHECK OUT THE SCHEDULES, AND JOIN US
RIGHT HERE.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.
[MUSIC]
PHILIP: MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH HERE
HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE SYRIAN CRISIS.
EVERY TIME THERE'S A CRISIS SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHAT
THAT PRODUCES IS VULNERABLE PEOPLE TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
AND THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE REFUGEES.
EUROPOL ESTIMATES THAT AROUND 10,000 CHILDREN HAS GONE MISSING
IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S 10,000 CHILDREN THAT WE JUST
DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT THEY'RE GONE.
GINGER: FROM THE REFUGEE-- PHILIP: FROM
THE REFUGEE CRISIS.
IT'S UNREALISTIC THAT ANY ORGANIZATION WOULD FIX THIS OR
CHANGE THE WHOLE SITUATION.
WE UNDERSTAND WE CAN'T, BUT WE CAN PLAY OUR PART AND WE MUST
PLAY OUR PART.
GINGER: YOU HAD TO WONDER HOW COULD WE HELP, WHAT WILL WE DO?
WHAT DID YOU SEE WHEN YOU CAME?
PHILIP: YEAH, WELL, WE WALKED IN, ACTUALLY, WHERE
WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW.
WE CAME HERE IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, LAST YEAR AND WE
WALKED IN AND WE JUST SAW ABSOLUTE HOPELESSNESS.
THERE WAS NOTHING HERE.
THERE WAS NO WATER, NO ELECTRICITY.
AND SO WE BROUGHT IN THE WATER FOR THE ENTIRE CAMP,
AND IT'S BEING USED NOW FOR MANY DIFFERENT THINGS,
WHICH IS GREAT.
SO IT'S JUST A BLESSING TO THE CAMP.
BUT THE WATER STATIONS BEHIND US BASICALLY JUST PROVIDE A SAFE
PLACE THAT THEY CAN COME IN, PEOPLE CAN WASH THEIR CLOTHES,
THEY CAN WASH THEMSELF, THEY CAN FILL THEIR WATER BOTTLES,
THEY CAN DRINK THE WATER.
THERE'S LIGHT INSTALLED SO, YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY THERE WAS
NO ELECTRICITY IN THIS CAMP SO WE'RE, ACTUALLY, THE FIRST PLACE
WHERE THERE WAS ELECTRICITY AND WATER AND LIGHT.
SO WE HAD, YOU KNOW, SOLAR PANELS INSTALLED AND WE WERE
ABLE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A SAFE PLACE 24/7.
SO, YEAH, BUT WHAT IT'S--AND ALSO DONE FOR US IS
PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR US TO ACTUALLY BRING THIS
PREVENTION MESSAGE.
SO INSIDE OUR CONTAINERS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MIRRORS THAT YOU
OBVIOUSLY CAN SEE YOURSELF BUT ON THESE MIRRORS THERE'S ALSO A
MESSAGE, THOUGH, THAT'S ACTUALLY WARNING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BRINGING THAT IN, IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE,
AND EXPLAINING IT IN VERY PRACTICAL TERMS TO THEM.
GINGER: SO THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF WATER
THAT'S AVAILABLE WITH THE SINKS AND PEOPLE WASHING INSIDE,
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE SHOWERS.
PHILIP: YES, YES, WE DO, ALSO BUILT INSIDE
A SHIPPING CONTAINER.
AND IT FITS SIX SHOWERS WITH HOT WATER.
AND SO WE'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO COMMUNICATE A LOT MORE
INFORMATION BECAUSE WE HAVE A PERSON WHO IS IN THERE FOR
A LONGER TIME AND, AS THEY'RE SHOWERING, THEY CAN ACTUALLY
READ ABOUT, IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, ABOUT JUST GIVING SOME
REALLY PRACTICAL TOOLS TO--WHAT TO AVOID, WHAT TO LOOK FOR,
WHAT NOT TO DO, AND WHAT TO DO.
SO, AND YOU KNOW, JOYCE MEYER MINISTRY
HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PART OF SPONSORING SEVERAL OF
THESE CONTAINERS AND THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST--YOU CAN WALK INTO THIS CABIN AND YOU CAN LOCK
THE DOOR AND YOU CAN HAVE A SENSE OF PRIVACY AND YOU CAN
TAKE A SHOWER.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR THE REFUGEES, I MEAN, THEY MAYBE HAVE ONE SET
OF CLOTHES.
AND THEY'RE IN THIS DIRT AND MESS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND JUST
BEING ABLE TO WALK IN TO A ROOM, LOCK THE DOOR, AND BE ALONE FOR
A SECOND BUT THEN ALSO JUST TO GET THAT SENSE OF BEING CLEAN
AND HAVING A SENSE OF HUMANITY AGAIN, IT'S SO VALUABLE TO THEM.
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.
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