ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
ANNOUNCER: MAKE PLANS NOW TO SPEND YOUR FRIDAY
AND SATURDAY WITH JOYCE.
TWO UNIQUE SESSIONS OF INSPIRING TEACHING,
HEARTFELT WORSHIP, AND ENCOURAGING
BEHIND-THE-SCENES MOMENTS AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE,
COMING TO TULSA, OKLAHOMA APRIL 21 AND 22 WITH WORSHIP BY
JESUS CULTURE.
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU SEE ON TV
AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE,
OR CALL...
[MUSIC]
NAOMI: THEY LOOK SAD AND DOWNHEARTED
AND THEN THEY LOOK AT--YOU MAKE EYE CONTACT AND YOU SMILE,
AND THEY READ THAT SMILE AND THEN THEY START SMILING.
AND THEN THE KIDS ALL RUN TO YOU AND THEY SMILE.
WHEN YOU REALLY EXPERIENCE THAT, YOU JUST, YOU WOULD,
YOU'RE HOOKED.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WE'RE NOT CALLED TO DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.
WE'RE NOT CALLED TO FIT IN.
WE'RE CALLED TO STAND OUT.
WE'RE CALLED TO BE THE ODD PERSON WHO DOES WHAT'S RIGHT.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: NOW, AS WE WALK WITH GOD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
HAPPENS--AND I LOVE THIS PROMISE IN ISAIAH 49:8 THROUGH 10: "THUS
SAYS THE LORD, 'IN AN ACCEPTABLE AND A FAVORABLE TIME I'VE HEARD
AND ANSWERED YOU, AND IN A DAY OF SALVATION I HAVE HELPED YOU;
AND I WILL PRESERVE YOU AND GIVE YOU FOR A COVENANT
TO THE PEOPLE, TO RAISE UP AND ESTABLISH THE LAND
[FROM ITS PRESENT STATE OF RUIN]
AND TO APPORTION AND CAUSE THEM TO INHERIT THE DESOLATE [MORAL
WASTES OF HEATHENISM, THEIR]
HERITAGES,'" NOW THE NEXT VERSE, VERSE 9:
"'SAYING TO THOSE THAT ARE BOUND, "COME FORTH,"
AND TO THOSE WHO ARE IN [SPIRITUAL] DARKNESS,
"[COME OUT INTO THE LIGHT]"'" SEE, HE'S SAYIN',
"I CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND THEN I CAN MAKE YOU
USEFUL TO OTHER PEOPLE."
WHAT AM I DOIN' HERE TONIGHT?
I'M SAYIN', "COME OUT, YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO BE BOUND.
COME OUT OF THE DARKNESS INTO THE LIGHT.
GOD'S GOT A BETTER LIFE FOR YOU."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: LET'S LOOK AT VERSE 10, NOW, I LOVE THIS:
"THEY WILL NOT HUNGER OR THIRST, NEITHER WILL MIRAGE
[MISLEAD] OR SCORCHING WIND OR SHAME SMITE THEM;"
NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT A MIRAGE IS?
I FIND THIS SO INTERESTING.
A MIRAGE IS LIKE SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK YOU SEE
THAT'S NOT REALLY THERE.
IT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE IN THE DESERT,
WHICH YOU MIGHT AS WELL SAY THAT IN THE WORLD
WE'RE LIVING IN, A DESERT, AND THEY SEE SOMETHING OUT
IN THE DISTANCE THAT THEY THINK IS WATER.
THEY SEE SOMETHING THEY THINK IS GONNA SOLVE THEIR THIRST
AND SO THEY GO FOR THAT.
AND THEN WHEN THEY GET THERE, THEY FIND OUT IT WAS JUST
A MIRAGE.
SEE, THREE OR FOUR OF YA ARE GETTIN' THIS ALREADY,
AND I HAVEN'T EVEN TOLD YA WHAT IT MEANS YET.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU GUYS ARE SMART.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
UNTIL WE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD'S WANTING TO DO IN OUR LIVES
AND WE STOP CHASING AFTER THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE GOING TO MAKE
US HAPPY THAT THEN WE GET AND FIND OUT THEY HAVE NO ABILITY TO
MAKE US HAPPY--AND I LOVE THIS 'CAUSE HE SAID, "WHEN YOU'RE
TRULY SAVED, YOU'LL NO LONGER BE LED BY MIRAGES, BUT I'LL DO
A WORK IN YOUR LIFE AND I WILL USE YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO BRING
OTHER PEOPLE OUT OF DARKNESS."
HOW MANY OF YOU DON'T WANNA JUST KEEP CHASIN' BIG AND EMPTY WELLS
THAT HAVE NO WATER IN 'EM?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BOY, I SPENT SO MUCH OF MY LIFE DIGGIN' EMPTY WELLS
THAT HAD NO WATER IN 'EM.
"OH, THIS'LL MAKE ME HAPPY.
OH, THIS'LL MAKE ME HAPPY.
OH, THIS'LL MAKE ME HAPPY.
THIS'LL MAKE ME HAPPY.
IF I QUIT THIS JOB AND GET ANOTHER JOB,
IT'LL MAKE ME HAPPY.
IF I LOSE 10 POUNDS, IT'LL MAKE ME HAPPY.
IF I GET MORE MONEY, IT'LL MAKE ME HAPPY.
IF I HAVE A BIGGER HOUSE, IT'LL MAKE ME HAPPY."
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I HAD NO INTENTION OF BEIN' HAPPY BECAUSE I WAS NOT
HAPPY WITH MYSELF.
AND UNTIL YOU GET HAPPY WITH YOURSELF THERE'S NOTHING
IN THE WORLD THAT CAN EVER MAKE YOU HAPPY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN BE HAPPY WITH YOURSELF
IS TO GET IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: LIFE GETS TOUGH WHEN WE'RE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD.
IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THERE, BUT YOU CAN COME TO THE POINT
WHERE YOU JUST ABSOLUTELY DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE,
AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN GOD'S WILL.
NOW, A BIG THING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN WHEN WE'RE SAVED IS WE
NEED TO HAVE OUR MINDS RENEWED.
THE BIBLE SAYS IN EPHESIANS 6:17 THAT WE'RE TO: "PUT ON
THE HELMET OF SALVATION."
WELL, WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN?
I THINK IT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO THINK SAVED.
NOT JUST BE SAVED, BUT THINK SAVED.
LIKE I SHARED THAT SCRIPTURE THIS MORNING ABOUT HOPE: "[WHAT,
WHAT WOULD HAVE BECOME OF ME]
HAD I NOT BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE LORD'S GOODNESS
IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING!" NOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN TROUBLE,
BUT YOU CAN THINK, "SOMETHING GOOD IS ABOUT
TO HAPPEN TO ME AT ANY MOMENT," NOW YOU'RE THINKING LIKE
A SAVED PERSON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHEN SOMEBODY OFFENDS YOU AND YOU CAN THINK,
"I AM NOT GONNA WASTE MY DAY BEIN' MAD AT YOU,
I HAVE POWER FROM GOD TO FORGIVE YOU,"
NOW YOU'RE THINKING LIKE A SAVED PERSON.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: C'MON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT NOW, IF YOU'RE STILL TRYIN'
TO RUN YOUR OWN LIFE, IF YOU HAVEN'T COMMITTED THAT
PART OF YOUR LIFE TO GOD YET, I WONDER IF THERE'D BE SOME
PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT THAT MAYBE NEED TO COMMIT THEIR TEMPER
TO GOD.
I LOVE 1 PETER 2:23: "WHEN HE WAS REVILED AND ABUSED,
HE DID NOT REVILE AND ABUSE IN RETURN."
"WHEN HE WAS REVILED AND INSULTED, HE DID NOT REVILE OR
OFFER INSULT IN RETURN; [WHEN]
HE WAS ABUSED AND SUFFERED, HE MADE NO THREATS [OF VENGEANCE];
BUT HE TRUSTED [HIMSELF AND EVERYTHING] TO HIM WHO
JUDGES FAIRLY."
RIGHT THERE, THAT'S THE PLACE OF PEACE.
"GOD, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I TRUST YOU.
I TRUST YOU."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
JESUS NEVER--HE DIDN'T GIVE PEOPLE BACK WHAT THEY GAVE HIM.
HE GAVE THEM BACK TRUE LOVE, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THEY
COULDN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE.
NOW THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE FREE, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND
YOUR LIFE BEIN' MAD AT PEOPLE WHO HURT YOU ALL THE TIME.
THE WORLD IS FULL OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA DO NOTHIN' BUT TRY TO
OFFEND YOU AND HURT YOU.
AND AS LONG AS YOU KEEP BUYIN' INTO IT, THE DEVIL WILL JUST
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT.
BUT YOU CAN THINK DIFFERENTLY.
AND WHEN YOU THINK DIFFERENTLY, IT WILL CAUSE YOU TO BEHAVE
DIFFERENTLY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I HAVE A BOOK THAT I WROTE CALLED "POWER THOUGHTS"
AND IT'S GOT 12 DIFFERENT BASIC FOUNDATION THOUGHT PRINCIPLES
THAT I'VE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE, TAKE EACH ONE OF THOSE AND
MEDITATE ON THAT AND STICK WITH IT FOR LIKE, 30 DAYS, AND LET IT
GET ROOTED ON THE INSIDE OF YOU.
WHAT IF YOU TOOK THE NEXT 30 DAYS AND YOU PONDERED
AND THOUGHT AND SPOKE, "I'M QUICK TO FORGIVE.
I DON'T STAY ANGRY.
IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO OFFEND ME."
INSTEAD OF SAYIN', "WELL, I CAN'T HELP IT.
I'M JUST TOUCHY."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "I CAN'T HELP IT.
I'M JUST A TENDER PERSON THAT GETS MY FEELINGS HURT EASY.
SO, NOW, EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD NEEDS TO TIPTOE
AROUND ME BECAUSE I'M TOUCHY."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE CAN CHANGE THE WAY WE FEEL AND WE CAN
CHANGE THE WAY WE BEHAVE BY CHANGING THE WAY WE THINK
AND LEARNING HOW TO THINK THE WAY GOD THINKS,
BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT ON PURPOSE.
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN ACCIDENTALLY.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: SO, I'LL JUST THROW OUT A NEW WAY YOU CAN THINK
THAT WILL HELP YA.
GOD'S DEALING WITH YOU ABOUT SOMETHIN'.
HE WANTS YOU TO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW,
STOP GOIN' OUT AFTER WORK ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND HANGIN' OUT
IN THE BAR WITH YOUR FRIENDS, HMM.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO
ANYTHING YOU SHOULDN'T DO.
YOU JUST WANNA HANG OUT.
YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK YOU'RE UNFRIENDLY.
BUT YOU KINDA KNOW DOWN DEEP INSIDE THAT THAT'S NOT
REALLY WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.
IT'S NOT THE BEST ATMOSPHERE FOR YA.
I'M JUST THROWIN' OUT EXAMPLES.
YOU CAN APPLY THIS ANY WAY YOU WANT TO.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT REALLY THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU.
IT MIGHT NOT KEEP YA FROM GOIN' TO HEAVEN, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY
THE BEST PLACE FOR YOU.
IT'S KINDA LIKE A WASTE OF YOUR TIME, AND YOU KINDA KNOW THAT,
BUT YOU DON'T REALLY WANNA GO HOME AND JUST SIT AT HOME
BY YOURSELF ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
AND SO, THE THING WE THINK IS, "IT'S JUST SO HARD."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "IT'S JUST SO HARD."
OR MAYBE GOD'S DEALING WITH YOU ABOUT, LET'S PICK SOMETHIN' THAT
YOU REALLY WON'T LIKE, TITHING.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL...
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "THAT TITHING STUFF, THAT'S OLD TESTAMENT.
THAT'S UNDER THE LAW."
WELL, IF THEY COULD GIVE 10% UNDER THE LAW, I WONDER WHAT WE
OUGHTA BE DOIN' BY GRACE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, YOU DON'T WANNA HAVE THAT ARGUMENT WITH ME.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYIN' TO DO IT.
LET'S JUST SAY GOD'S BEEN DEALIN' WITH YA.
"I MEAN, IT'S SO HARD.
IT'S SO HARD.
THE GOVERNMENT ALREADY GETS MOST OF WHAT I MAKE, AND--"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "NOW GOD WANTS ME TO GIVE THE REST OF IT TO HIM.
WELL, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME?
IT'S JUST SO HARD."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HOW 'BOUT IF YOU CHANGE YOUR THINKING AND
YOU START THINKIN' LIKE THIS, "I CAN DO WHATEVER GOD ASKS ME
TO DO THROUGH CHRIST WHO IS MY STRENGTH"?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: "NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR ME BECAUSE I AM MORE THAN
A CONQUEROR THROUGH CHRIST WHO LOVES ME."
AND THAT'S JUST NOT A SERMON THAT SOMEBODY PREACHES TO YOU
ONCE IN A WHILE AND YOU GET ALL EXCITED AND CLAP AND CHEER
IN THE CHURCH.
THESE ARE WAYS THAT YOU NEED TO THINK WHEN YOU GO HOME.
"I CAN DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO AND I CAN DO IT WITH A SMILE
ON MY FACE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: PAUL NEVER PRAYED FOR THE CHURCH THAT THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS.
HE PRAYED THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ENDURE WHATEVER CAME
WITH GOOD TEMPER.
SO GUESS WHAT?
I'M NOT GONNA PRAY FOR YOU TONIGHT FOR YOUR PROBLEMS
TO GO AWAY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "OH."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE HERE'S THE THING.
WE GOTTA LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH STUFF.
EVEN IF THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW GOES AWAY,
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE RIGHT ON ITS TAIL.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SEE, SOME OF YOU ARE LIKE, "MAN, I WISH I WOULDN'T
HAVE COME TONIGHT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HEY, I'M JUST TRYIN' TO HELP YA.
AND THE ONLY WAY PEOPLE CAN REALLY HELP YA IS TO TELL YA
THE TRUTH.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF TROUBLE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF PROBLEMS, BECAUSE YOU ARE MORE
THAN A CONQUEROR AND YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO OVERCOME
ANYTHING THAT COMES AGAINST YOU.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: C'MON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND OUR LIFE BEIN' LED AROUND
BY MIRAGES AND, "OH, IT'S THIS.
THAT'S GONNA MAKE ME HAPPY.
OH, IT'S THAT."
ANYTHING TO AVOID LETTIN' GOD DEAL WITH US.
WHY NOT STOP CHASING WHAT YOU THINK IS GONNA MAKE YOU HAPPY
AND JUST SAY, "HERE I AM, GOD.
I WANT ALL OF YOU, AND I WANT YOU TO HAVE ALL OF ME"?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OH, WE JUST HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IN OUR
LIFE WHEN WE JUST REALLY PUT OUR SELF ON THE ALTAR AND SAY,
"GOD, YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN MY LIFE."
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE A LITTLE HARD
TO HANDLE.
YOUR JOY WILL INCREASE THE MORE YOU SURRENDER TO GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
BRITTANY: BRITTANY JAMES, B-R-I-T-T-A-N-Y
JAMES, J-A-M-E-S.
WELL, IT STARTED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LAST SPRING
OF 2012.
AND A LADY STEPPED DOWN FROM WOMEN'S MINISTRY SO THERE
WAS A NEED AT THE CHURCH.
AND I FILLED IN JUST, I SAID I WAS JUST GONNA BE THE HELPER,
I WOULD BE PART OF IT.
AND I KNEW GOD WAS SPEAKING TO ME.
HE HAD PUT A PASSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN MY HEART
A LONG TIME AGO.
ANYWAY, LO AND BEHOLD GOD HAS A FUNNY WAY OF WORKIN' THINGS OUT.
AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, I'M LEADIN' WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY.
AND HE BEGAN TO SPEAK TO ME IN MY PRAYER TIME IN THE WORD ABOUT
HOW IT WAS GONNA BE MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS HOME BIBLE STUDY.
WE WERE DOING IT OUT OF MY HOME.
AND I'M THINKIN', "NO, GOD, I'M CONTENT WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEED ANYTHING BIG."
AND HE'S LIKE, "NO, I'VE GOT BIG PLANS.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS GONNA BE AN OUTREACH FOR THE WOMEN
OF THIS CITY.
THEY'RE LOST, THEY'RE BROKEN, AND THEY NEED HOPE.
AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS GONNA BE."
AND I JUST KEPT TRYING TO PUSH IT OFF.
AND IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE OUR PASTOR HAD BEEN PREACHING A LOT
ABOUT DREAMING BIG AND HOW GOD, HE WANTS US TO DREAM BIG.
AND THEN I GET TO JOYCE MEYER'S CONFERENCE,
AND I DIDN'T KNOW HER STORY.
I DIDN'T KNOW--I KNEW WHO SHE WAS.
I'M FROM MISSOURI.
EVERYONE KNOWS JOYCE MEYER IN MISSOURI, I THINK.
JOYCE: I THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY ANYWAY, EVEN THINKIN' I'D EVER
BE IN MINISTRY, BUT I HAD THIS DESIRE IN MY HEART.
AND I WAS JUST TEACHIN' ONE HOME BIBLE STUDY.
BRITTANY: AND WHEN SHE SAID THAT HER MINISTRY STARTED OUT
IN HER HOME IN A BIBLE STUDY, I LITERALLY ABOUT DROPPED MY
BIBLE AND FELL OUT OF THE CHAIR.
AND I THOUGHT, "WOW, GOD, YOU ARE SO AWESOME."
AND IT JUST, SO MUCH CONFIDENCE THAT SHE SPOKE INTO ME.
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I HAD IT IN ME TO DO THESE THINGS, TO LEAD
5 WOMEN, LET ALONE WE HAVE ABOUT 20 WOMEN.
[MUSIC]
BRITTANY: THE BIBLE STUDY'S BEEN WONDERFUL, AND IT'S BEEN
MORE OF A BLESSING TO ME THAN ANYTHING, THAT I EVER THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE.
GOD'S VOICE IS UNDENIABLE, AND IF IT LINES UP
WITH THE WORD OF GOD, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY DO IT.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES GOD HAS ASKED ME TO DO THINGS AND
I'M LIKE, "NAH, NO, CAN YOU ASK ME TOMORROW?"
BUT IT KEEPS SMACKIN' ME IN THE FACE, AND I'M LIKE,
"OKAY, I SHOULD DO THIS."
AND IF GOD IS CALLING YOU TO DO SOMETHING,
AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE'S NOT JUST ASKING THAT FOR
HIS BENEFIT.
IT'S TO BENEFIT YOU TOO BECAUSE THAT'S HOW OUR GOD WORKS.
HE IS A LOVING, GRACIOUS, MERCIFUL GOD AND HIS PLAN IS SO
INTRICATE AND SO COMPLEX THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE PIECES.
BUT HE'S GOT IT SET UP TO WHERE, IF WE ARE OBEDIENT TO HIM,
HE'S GONNA JUST OVERWHELM US WITH BLESSINGS.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: THE PLACE TO BEGIN BEING MORE OBEDIENT TO GOD
IS IN ALL THE LITTLE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE, THE LITTLE THINGS
IN YOUR LIFE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "IT'S THE LITTLE FOXES THAT SPOIL THE VINE."
IF WE PRACTICE ON THE LITTLE THINGS, THEN THE BIG THINGS
WILL GET EASY.
C'MON, WHY DON'T YOU STEP INTO THE SCHOOL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND
JUST SAY, "OKAY, HOLY SPIRIT, YOU TEACH ME HOW TO BE
THE PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE.
YOU BRING TO--EVERY TIME THAT GOD BRINGS CONVICTION."
YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THESE STORIES, BUT A COUPLE OF 'EM ARE
COMIN' UP IN ME AND SO I'M GONNA TELL 'EM TO YA AGAIN.
AND IT SOUNDS FUNNY NOW, BUT IT WAS A BIG DEAL TO ME
AT THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, I WAS NOT AN EXCELLENT PERSON.
I DID WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DID.
YOU JUST DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO GET BY.
BUT GOD WANTS US TO BE EXCELLENT.
AND IF SOMEDAY I WAS GONNA STAND UP HERE AND REPRESENT HIM LIKE
I AM TONIGHT AND REACH NOT ONLY YOU BUT PEOPLE ALL OVER
THE WORLD, WOW, YOU KNOW, THAT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE.
BUT THERE'S A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOES
ALONG WITH THAT.
AND SO, WAY BACK OVER HERE 40 YEARS AGO, I WENT INTO
THE SCHOOL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HE STARTED TEACHING ME,
TEACHING ME.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN SOME SPECIAL CLASS SOMEWHERE
TO BE TAUGHT BY GOD.
HE'LL TEACH YOU WHEREVER YOU'RE AT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND HE USES ALL THE LITTLE ORDINARY THINGS
OF DAILY LIFE TO DO IT.
"WHY WERE YOU LATE FOR WORK THIS MORNING?"
WELL, THE PERSON OF INTEGRITY'S GONNA SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
JUST TO BE HONEST, I JUST DIDN'T LEAVE MY HOME IN TIME.
IT'S MY FAULT.
I'M SORRY, IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN."
NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT?
A PERSON CAN RESPECT THAT.
BUT WHEN WE MAKE EXCUSES THAT EVERYBODY ELSE KNOWS
IS NOT TRUE-- [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GO TALK TO THESE GUYS
FOR A WHILE.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE DOES
EVERY WEEK FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.
BUT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT GOT SERIOUS WITH ME,
ALL OF A SUDDEN, THINGS THAT I DID STARTED
BOTHERING ME THAT NEVER BOTHERED ME BEFORE.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN I LEFT MY GROCERY CART OUT
IN THE PARKING LOT LIKE I DID EVERY OTHER WEEK--
YOU KNOW, WE PROP IT UP AGAINST SOMEBODY'S CAR, AND--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND I STARTED TO GET IN MY CAR, AND I REMEMBER,
I JUST SENSED, "GO PUT THAT BACK WHERE IT SHOULD BE."
I JUST, "WELL, NOBODY ELSE DOES."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WELL, THAT'S THE PROBLEM ISN'T IT?
NOBODY DOES, SO SOMEBODY'S GOTTA START."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE'RE NOT CALLED TO DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.
WE'RE NOT CALLED TO FIT IN.
WE'RE CALLED TO STAND OUT.
WE'RE CALLED TO BE THE ODD PERSON WHO DOES WHAT'S RIGHT.
WELL, I'M REALLY KINDA--IT'S NOT REALLY EASY TO TELL YOU THIS,
BUT IT TOOK ME 2 WHOLE YEARS TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I PUT
THAT SILLY GROCERY CART BACK WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO
EVERY TIME I WENT TO THE STORE.
I WOULD DO IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN IF THE WEATHER
WAS BAD, I WOULDN'T DO IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I'D DO IT FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN IF I WAS IN
A HURRY, I WOULDN'T DO IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SORRY, NOW YOU HAVE TO START PUTTING YOURS BACK.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ONE LADY TOLD US A FUNNY STORY.
SHE SAID, "I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE THE OTHER DAY AND PUT
MY GROCERIES IN THE CAR AND I STARTED GOIN' BACK WITH MY
GROCERY CART 'CAUSE I LISTENED TO YOUR PREACHING.
THERE WAS A LADY OVER HERE GOIN' BACK WITH HERS,
AND SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, 'JOYCE MEYER, RIGHT?'"
AND SHE SAID, "THAT'S RIGHT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: BUT SEE, HERE'S MY POINT.
IF WE CAN LEARN IT ON THAT LEVEL, IF WE CAN LEARN IT RIGHT
DOWN IN OUR MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, THEN
WHEN THE BIG THINGS COME ALONG, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PRACTICE.
GOD WANTS US TO BE PEOPLE OF EXCELLENCE.
HE WANTS US TO BE PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY.
LET'S JUST DON'T GO TO CHURCH AND SING, "I SURRENDER ALL,"
AND THEN GO OUT AND DO WHAT WE WANT TO ALL WEEK.
LET'S LEARN HOW TO LISTEN TO THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND START DOING WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOWS US TO DO.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S
DOING IT RIGHT, YOU KEEP DOING WHAT'S RIGHT IF IT COSTS YOU
EVERY FRIEND THAT YOU'VE GOT.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: SOMEBODY NEEDS TO MAKE A MOVE TONIGHT.
YOU NEED TO MOVE JUST ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO GOD.
I CAN FEEL IT IN MY BONES.
C'MON, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION TO STOP LYIN'.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: MAN, IT'S HARD TO TELL THE TRUTH ALL THE TIME IF
IT'S GONNA GET YOU IN TROUBLE.
WELL, PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE WHAT YOU DID TO START WITH,
THEN THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY TROUBLE.
HEY, I KNOW, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
I MEAN, SOME TIME LAST YEAR I TOLD A LIE.
I DID, I TOLD A LIE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THEY ASKED ME A QUESTION ON SOME MEDICAL PAPERS
I WAS FILLIN' OUT, AND I THOUGHT IT WAS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS
SO I JUST DIDN'T TELL 'EM.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ACTUALLY, I WROTE DOWN SOMETHIN' THAT WASN'T CORRECT.
AND SO I GOT HOME LATER AND THE LORD SAID, "YOU KNOW, YOU LIED."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, SEE, I'D HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF TO HAVE JUST
SAID, "I DON'T REALLY THINK-- I DON'T THINK IT'S ANY OF YOUR
BUSINESS.
I'M NOT GONNA ANSWER IT."
BUT SEE, WE DON'T WANNA JUST COME OUT WITH THE TRUTH.
AND THEN I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT I'D GO IN THE
GROCERY STORE HUNGRY AND I'D GET MY CART FULL
OF EVERYTHING IMAGINABLE AND THEN FIGURE OUT BY
THE LAST AISLE I COULDN'T PAY FOR IT ALL.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND INSTEAD OF GOIN' AND PUTTIN' IT BACK WHERE I'D
GOT IT, I'D JUST PILE IT ALL, YOU KNOW, PUT THE LETTUCE
IN WITH THE CLEANSER.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YEAH, I WAS THE-- YOU KNOW, I WAS LIKE,
"WHO IS THE NUTCASE WHO PUT THAT HERE?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I DIDN'T WANNA GO PUT IT BACK.
I DIDN'T WANT TO. "I DON'T WANT TO.
I DON'T WANT TO. I DON'T WANT TO."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THE HOLY GHOST WOULD SAY, "PUT IT BACK.
PUT IT BACK.
WALK IT ALL THE WAY--" "BUT GOD, I'M IN A HURRY."
"PUT IT BACK.
PUT IT BACK."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: OH, YEAH, WENT OUT SHOPPIN', BOUGHT A PAIR OF SHOES
AND LOOKED AT THE PURSE THAT MATCHED THE SHOES,
DECIDED I DIDN'T WANT THE PURSE.
GOT HOME AND THE SALES CLERK HAD ACCIDENTALLY PUT THE PURSE
IN WITH THE SHOES.
I HAD A FREE PURSE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NO, GOD WASN'T TRYIN' TO BLESS ME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HE WAS TESTING ME.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: NOW YOU'RE UNDERSTANDING.
HE WAS TESTING ME.
SO I HAD TO USE MY TIME, MY GAS MONEY, TO TAKE IT BACK.
AND THE CLERK SAID, "THIS IS AMAZING."
HE SAID, "DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE THAT
WOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS BACK?" WELL, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
I SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I SERVE GOD, AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK, SO HERE IT IS."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOUR BUMPER STICKER'S
GOT SOME POWER BEHIND IT.
GOD WANTS TO DO SUCH AN AMAZING WORK IN OUR LIFE.
BUT IT'S TIME FOR US TO COME UP HIGHER.
LET'S BE EXCELLENT.
LET'S BE PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY WHO DO WHAT'S RIGHT
BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT.
EVEN IF WE NEVER GET A RIGHT RESULT, WE'RE GONNA DO
WHAT'S RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
LET'S BE COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
JOYCE: WELL, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR WORTH
AND VALUE IS NOT IN WHAT YOU DO.
IT'S IN BEING A CHILD OF GOD.
AND YOU ARE SET APART FOR A SPECIAL PURPOSE.
THAT REQUIRES TAKING STEPS OF FAITH.
AND SO I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO TRUST GOD TO TAKE WHATEVER
THAT NEXT STEP IS THAT HE MIGHT BE LEADING YOU TO TAKE.
YOU KNOW, I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU.
DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS THAN WHAT JESUS DIED TO GIVE YOU.
YOU ARE MADE FOR MORE.
AND TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU 5 CDS, AND THAT'S LIKE
5 HOURS OF TEACHING, CALLED "MADE FOR MORE."
AND A LITTLE BOOK THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU CALLED
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE?" YOU KNOW, ALL THE PROMISES
OF GOD COME TO US THROUGH BELIEVING.
SO WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?
AND IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE SOME OF YOUR BELIEVING, WHAT IS IT
THAT YOU NEED TO BELIEVE?
I THINK THAT THIS MATERIAL IS REALLY GOING TO HELP YOU.
THIS MORNING I WAS THINKIN' ABOUT HEBREWS 4:12.
IT SAYS THAT: "THE WORD OF GOD IS SHARP AND QUICK AND POWERFUL
LIKE A TWO-EDGED SWORD."
IN THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE, IT SAYS: "IT'S ENERGIZING AND OPERATIVE."
AND SO I LIKE TO THINK THAT THE WORD OF GOD ACTUALLY,
WHEN I RECEIVE IT BY FAITH, IT ACTUALLY OPERATES ON ME.
IT GETS INTO MY SOUL AND IT DIVIDES THE THINGS THAT
ARE WRONG FROM THE THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT.
I DON'T EVER WANT YOU TO FORGET HOW POWERFUL GOD'S WORD IS AND
HOW VALUABLE IT IS IN YOUR LIFE.
GOD BLESS YOU.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.
JOYCE: GOD ORDERED EVERY DETAIL OF YOUR BODY.
HE CHOSE YOUR RACE, YOUR SKIN COLOR, YOUR HAIR COLOR,
THE TEXTURE OF YOUR HAIR.
HE PRESCRIBED THE DETAILS OF YOUR BODY SHAPE AND YOUR HEIGHT.
HE DETERMINED YOUR ABILITIES, YOUR NATURAL TALENTS.
HE DETERMINED THE TIME PERIOD THAT YOU WOULD LIVE IN.
YOU ARE NOT RANDOM.
YOU ARE DESIGNED ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE.
ANNOUNCER: THIS FIVE-PART AUDIO SERIES, "MADE FOR MORE,"
FEATURES THE INSPIRING WORDS OF JOYCE MEYER, ANDY STANLEY,
AND PRISCILLA SHIRER.
UNCOVER HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU, THE DANGERS OF COMPARISON,
AND HOW YOU CAN WORK WITH GOD TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING JOYCE'S BOOK,
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE?" THIS BOOK WILL ENCOURAGE YOU
WITH PROMISES FROM GOD'S WORD THAT APPLY TO EVERY AREA
OF YOUR LIFE.
THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT OF...
CALL US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG [MUSIC]
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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