ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
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JOYCE: WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM TODAY.
MY TEACHING IS ON "GRACE FOR DIFFICULT TIMES,"
BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS TESTIMONY.
IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE WORD OF GOD CAN SUSTAIN
AND DELIVER US THROUGH LIFE'S TOUGHEST CIRCUMSTANCES.
GINGER: FAMILY DINNERS ARE A SPECIAL TIME
FOR THE BRYSON FAMILY.
THEY ENJOY GOOD FOOD, LAUGHTER, AND TIME TOGETHER BUT THEIR
GRATITUDE GOES MUCH DEEPER BECAUSE THEY CAN REMEMBER A TIME
WHEN THEIR FAMILY WAS SHATTERED.
LISA: WHEN I WOULD TALK TO 'EM AND THEY'D BE LIKE, "MOMMY,
WHEN YOU COMING HOME?" "I'LL BE HOME TOMORROW, BABY."
AND A MONTH WOULD GO BY.
YOU KNOW, SO NOW AFTER A DAY OR TWO WENT BY,
I'VE ALREADY LIED NOW.
I CAN'T FACE 'EM AGAIN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE NOW I'M NOT JUST
A DOPE FIEND AND A DRUG ADDICT, YOU KNOW,
BUT NOW I'M A LIAR TOO.
AND WHEN I DID GO HOME, ALL I DID WAS STEAL FROM THEM
SO I'M A THIEF TOO.
GINGER: LISA BRYSON GREW UP IN CHURCH, HER FATHER A PASTOR,
HER MOTHER LEADING WORSHIP.
SHE MARRIED THE LOVE OF HER LIFE, HAD CHILDREN, AND ENJOYED
HER RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
LISA: I WAS A GOOD CHURCH GIRL, YOU KNOW,
THE WHOLE 9 YARDS.
I WAS A VIRGIN UNTIL I GOT MARRIED.
I MARRIED A VIRGIN, YOU KNOW?
WE WERE GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE PERFECT LIFE, YOU KNOW,
AND THE TWO-AND-A-HALF KIDS, AND THE DOG, AND THE PICKET FENCE.
GINGER: THEN ONE DAY, IT ALL CHANGED WHEN LISA WAS
RAPED BY A LEADER IN THE CHURCH.
LISA TOOK THE BLAME UPON HERSELF AND KEPT IT ALL A DARK SECRET.
THE SHAME LED HER INTO A 16-YEAR DESCENT INTO ALCOHOLISM,
DRUG ADDICTION, PROSTITUTION, PRISON,
AND A SUICIDE ATTEMPT.
GINGER: YOU HAD A HUSBAND WHO LOVED YOU A GREAT DEAL.
YOU HAD A FAMILY.
YOU WERE A MOTHER.
HOW DID THIS SPIRAL DOWNWARD AFFECT YOUR FAMILY?
LISA: THEY TRIED TO LOVE ME AND THE MORE THEY TRIED TO LOVE
ME, THE FASTER I RAN AND THE HARDER I RAN.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE GUILT AND SHAME HAD WON.
GINGER: DESCRIBE SHAME TO ME.
WHAT DOES SHAME FEEL LIKE?
LISA: IT'S LIKE CARRYING A 2-TON WEIGHT ON YOUR SHOULDERS
AND THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, YOU HAVE THIS WEIGHT
JUST BEARING DOWN ON YOU.
AND IT APPEARED THAT THE ONLY TIME THE WEIGHT WASN'T THERE WAS
WHEN I WAS SNIFFIN' A PILE OF DOPE, OR WHEN I WAS DRINKIN'
THE BOTTLE, OR WHEN I WAS SMOKIN' CRACK.
AND SO, THE BEST WAY TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF OF YOU IS TO STAY
IN THIS DELUSIONAL WORLD.
GINGER: AND YET THOSE CHAINS ARE GETTING HEAVIER AND HEAVIER
AND HEAVIER.
LISA: EXACTLY, BECAUSE THE MINUTE THE HIGH WAS GONE, I HAD
THE BOULDER, NOW I'M IN SHACKLES AND NOW I GOT THINGS HANGING
OFF OF THE CHAINS.
AND THE WEIGHT JUST CONTINUED TO GET HEAVIER AND HEAVIER.
GINGER: IN THE MIDST OF THE CHAOS, LISA SAYS GOD
FOUND A WAY TO REACH HER AT HER WORST.
LISA: AND I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I RAN ACROSS
JOYCE MEYER AND I SAID, WOW, WHO'S THIS LITTLE LADY
DRESSED ALL SWEET AND WITH HER JEWELRY ON
AND LOOKING SHARP?
AND SO, I KEPT IT THERE FOR JUST A MINUTE, YOU KNOW?
AND I BEGAN TO USE.
SHE BECAME A PART OF MY-- THIS IS NOT GONNA SOUND GOOD.
SHE BECAME A PART OF MY HIGH ROUTINE.
GINGER: AFTER LISA HIT HER LOWEST POINT AND ATTEMPTED
TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE, HE ENDED UP IN A INSTITUTION
WHERE SHE CRIED OUT TO GOD.
LISA: AND MY ROAD BEGAN THERE, MY JOURNEY,
MY NEW JOURNEY BEGAN THERE, AND I WENT TO A REHAB
FROM THE MENTAL INSTITUTION.
GINGER: FROM REHAB, SHE WENT TO A TRANSITIONAL
HOME WHERE SHE REESTABLISHED HER RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
HE RESTORED HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER FAMILY, MAKING
THE DINNERS COMPLETE AGAIN.
LISA: AND NOW, I CAN SEE SO CLEARLY THAT THE LOVE MY HUSBAND
HAD FOR ME WAS THE PHYSICAL EXAMPLE THAT GOD HAD GIVEN ME
ON HOW MUCH HE LOVED ME.
GINGER: WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT DEEP SHAME THAT YOU
WERE FEELING?
LISA: I JUST BELIEVED HIS WORD THAT I DIDN'T HAVE
TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE ALONE.
THE BIGGEST PART OF ME FIGHTING SHAME AND GUILT WAS BELIEVING
GOD.
SO, GOING TO THOSE SHAMEFUL PLACES IN MY LIFE, YOU KNOW,
I HAD TO FACE THAT GIANT SO THAT I COULD SLAY IT, AND KILL IT.
AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF PERSONAL, INTERNAL WORK,
AND IT TAKES A LOT OF PRAYER, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF GOD.
AND YOU NEED ALL OF THAT TO SIT THERE AND TO LOOK AT ALL OF
THOSE DARK AREAS OF YOUR LIFE.
JOYCE: TONIGHT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT "GRACE
FOR DIFFICULT SITUATIONS."
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE HEAR A MESSAGE LIKE ABOUT GRACE,
HOW GOD WANTS TO HELP US AND ALL WE NEED TO DO IS RECEIVE IT.
BUT IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL, WE CAN DISCOUNT OURSELVES AND THINK,
"WELL, YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND MY SITUATION.
THIS MAY WORK FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK
FOR MY SITUATION.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL I'VE DONE" OR "YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT ALL HAS HAPPENED TO ME."
GRACE IS GOD'S UNDESERVED FAVOR.
IT'S GOD DOING SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T
DESERVE IT AT ALL.
AND IF YOU WERE HERE LAST NIGHT, YOU KNOW WE STARTED WITH
A SCRIPTURE OUT OF ROMANS CHAPTER 5, VERSE 6 THAT SAYS
THAT "WHILE WE WERE STILL YET IN SIN, GOD SENT HIS SON
TO DIE FOR THE UNGODLY."
IF HE DID THAT FOR US WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS AND DIDN'T
EVEN CARE ABOUT HIM AT ALL, HOW MUCH MORE NOW THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED CHRIST WILL WE BE DAILY DELIVERED FROM SIN'S DOMINION.
SO IF JESUS DID THAT FOR US BEFORE WE EVEN CARED, WHAT ALL
IS HE WILLING TO DO FOR A BUNCH OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO OBVIOUSLY
CARE ENOUGH TO COME OUT AND SPEND A VERY IMPORTANT EVENING
OF THE WEEK SITTING HERE HEARING THE WORD OF GOD
AND WORSHIPING GOD?
IF GOD WOULD SEND HIS SON TO DIE FOR YOU BEFORE YOU EVEN
CARED ABOUT HIM, WHAT WOULD HE BE WILLING TO DO FOR YOU NOW?
BUT WE DO WITHOUT A LOT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT BOLD ENOUGH TO PRESS
IN AND ASK FOR THE VERY BEST THAT GOD HAS FOR US.
YOU CAN NEVER ASK GOD FOR TOO MUCH.
I SAID, YOU CAN NEVER ASK GOD FOR TOO MUCH.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT ASKING FOR TOO MUCH.
UNDESERVED FAVOR.
WE ALL LOVE IT WHEN SOMEBODY DOES US A FAVOR.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, UNDESERVED FAVOR.
BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF THE DEFINITION OF GRACE THAT
WAS QUITE LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME.
I HAD HEARD THE PART ABOUT UNDESERVED FAVOR.
I KNEW THAT IT WAS GOD DOING SOMETHING FOR ME
I DIDN'T DESERVE.
I'D BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT
I WAS A STRUGGLING CHRISTIAN.
I WAS A FRUSTRATED CHRISTIAN, AND I'M SURE TONIGHT THAT EVEN
THOUGH THERE ARE MANY OF YOU HERE, YOU REALLY LOVE GOD.
YOU CARE ABOUT HIM.
YOU HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF EVER WALKING AWAY FROM GOD.
YOU STILL ARE VERY FRUSTRATED.
THERE'S A LOT OF STRUGGLE IN YOUR LIFE, A LOT OF CONFUSION.
PERHAPS YOU DON'T HAVE THE JOY THAT YOU KNOW THAT
YOU SHOULD HAVE.
AND TRUTH BE TOLD, YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY ENJOY A GREAT DEAL
OF GOD'S PEACE.
AND I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN FOR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE NO VICTORY.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS CALLED ME LARGELY TO BUILD UP THE BODY OF
CHRIST, TO EDIFY THE BODY OF CHRIST THAT THEY MIGHT BECOME
WHOLE, HEALTHY, STRONG INDIVIDUALS AND BE
A WITNESS IN A DARK WORLD.
I SAY THIS OFTEN NOW, AND I REALLY BELIEVE THIS.
WE CAN AND ALL SHOULD PREACH AND NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO
EVER OPEN OUR MOUTHS.
PREACH AT ALL TIMES AND IF NECESSARY, USE WORDS.
EVERYBODY THINKS THAT THEY'RE--YOU KNOW,
"I CAN'T WITNESS.
I CAN'T TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT CHRIST."
WELL, THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BOLDER VERBALLY THAN OTHERS,
AND WE SHOULD ALL BE WILLING TO OPEN OUR MOUTH WHEN GOD GIVES
US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
BUT HONESTLY, I BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON CAN PREACH AND MAKE
PEOPLE SO HUNGRY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE JUST BY LIVING THE LIFE
THAT JESUS DIED FOR US TO LIVE.
BUT WE ARE NOT GONNA IMPRESS THE LOST WITH A SAD, SOUR FACE
AND A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE AND A SAD STORY TO TELL
ALL THE TIME.
I DON'T CARE HOW MANY JESUS BUMPER STICKERS WE HAVE
ON OUR CAR OR HOW MANY PIECES OF CHRISTIAN JEWELRY WE HANG ON US,
WE ARE NOT GONNA IMPRESS PEOPLE IF WE DON'T HAVE--
WE NEED THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST IN OUR LIFE.
PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THAT WE CAN BE STABLE NO MATTER
WHAT IS TAKING PLACE.
THE WORLD TODAY IS SO VOLATILE.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST UP AND DOWN, AND PEOPLE GET MAD
JUST LIKE THAT.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT EVERY KIND OF ANGER AND RAGE OUT THERE THAT
YOU CAN POSSIBLY HAVE, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TO BE LIKE THAT
NO MATTER WHAT THE CONDITIONS ARE IN OUR LIFE AS LONG AS
WE KNOW HOW TO STAY PLUGGED IN TO OUR POWER SOURCE.
NOW, IF WE'RE LIGHTS, WE'VE ALL GOT ENOUGH SENSE TO KNOW
THAT THE LAMP IS NOT GONNA HAVE ANY LIGHT COMING FROM IT
IF IT'S NOT PLUGGED IN.
HOW MANY TIMES DO WE TRY TO GET POWER OUT OF SOMETHING AND
THEN REALIZE IT'S UNPLUGGED?
WELL, WE NEED TO STAY PLUGGED IN.
WE NEED TO LEAN INTO JESUS.
WE NEED MORE THAN A WEEKLY TRIP TO CHURCH AND A LITTLE
10 OR 15-MINUTE SERMONETTE THAT'S NOT GONNA GET YOU
THROUGH THE DIFFICULT WEEKS THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH NOW.
WE NEED TO FEED ON THE PRESENCE OF GOD, AND WE NEED
TO FEED ON THE WORD OF GOD.
AND INSTEAD OF JUST SINGING, "JESUS, YOU'RE THE CENTER OF IT
ALL," HE NEEDS TO BE THE CENTER OF IT ALL."
AMEN?
BEING A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST IS NOT ABOUT JUST CLAIMING SOME
CERTAIN BRAND OF RELIGION AND GOING TO CHURCH EVERY WEEK.
I'M ALL FOR GOING TO CHURCH EVERY WEEK, BUT WE JUST HAVE
TO GET IT THROUGH OUR HEAD THAT THERE'S MORE TO IT
THAN "I GO TO CHURCH."
JESUS IS THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES,
AND WE NEED TO STAY PLUGGED IN.
THERE'S POWER AVAILABLE TO US.
BUT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT GRACE IS UNDESERVED FAVOR,
BUT IF YOU STUDY THE WORD IN THE VINE'S GREEK DICTIONARY,
IT SAYS THAT GRACE IS UNDESERVED FAVOR
AND IT IS FORCE, IT'S POWER.
SO, GOD'S UNDESERVED FAVOR, HIS GRACE, GIVES US SALVATION, GIVES
US A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, BUT IT ALSO THEN GIVES US THE POWER
TO LIVE THAT LIFE OUT AND WALK IT OUT IN SUCH A WAY THAT NOT
ONLY CAN WE ENJOY OUR JOURNEY, AND I MEAN HAVE A WONDERFUL
LIFE, BUT WE CAN BE A WITNESS EVERYWHERE THAT WE GO.
NOW LET ME ASK YOU, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN OUR WORLD IF
EVERY PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO BE A CHRISTIAN ACTUALLY GOT OUT
THERE AND ACTED LIKE ONE?
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IT WOULD BE JUST PRETTY, REALLY, AMAZING.
WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THIS GRACE WAS POWER FOR ME
TO LIVE MY DAILY LIFE, MY, MY, MY, IT WAS
A LIFE-CHANGING THING FOR ME.
GRACE WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE APOSTLES.
MANY OF THE LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES BEGIN WITH
"GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU IN JESUS' NAME."
AND THEN I WAS NOTICING TODAY THAT PAUL CLOSES MANY OF HIS
LETTERS WITH "MAY THE GRACE OF GOD FILL YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS
IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING" OR "THE GRACE OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL."
SO PAUL DIDN'T SAY HI AND BYE.
HEY.
WE DON'T EVEN BOTHER SAYING HELLO ANYMORE.
IT'S JUST, EH, YO.
[LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE'VE DEGENERATED FROM WHERE PAUL WAS WHERE HE SAID--
I MEAN, IF HE SAW YOU HE'D SAY, "GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED
UNTO YOU IN JESUS' NAME," AND THAT MEANT SOMETHING TO THEM.
THAT WAS JUST LIKE SAYING, "THE POWER OF GOD BE UNTO YOU.
GOD'S UNDESERVED FAVOR BE ON YOU."
AND THEN TO SAY, "GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU,"
YOU SEE, YOU CAN'T HAVE PEACE WITHOUT GRACE.
THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN HAVE PEACE WITHOUT GRACE.
THAT'S WHY HE LINKS THE TWO TOGETHER
IN SO MANY OF HIS LETTERS.
HOW CAN I HAVE PEACE IN MY LIFE IF I DON'T HAVE UNDESERVED
FAVOR AND POWER IN MY LIFE?
SO HONESTLY AND TRULY, WHEN WE SING ABOUT AMAZING GRACE,
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT JUST A SONG.
GRACE IS JAW-DROPPING AMAZING.
I MEAN, IT IS ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDINGLY AMAZING.
GOD NOT ONLY SAVES US, BUT HE GIVES US EVERYTHING
THAT WE NEED, EVERYTHING-- LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING.
GOD NEVER CALLS YOU TO DO SOMETHING AND DOESN'T GIVE YOU
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IT.
GOD NEVER PUTS YOU IN A PLACE WITHOUT GIVING YOU
WHAT YOU NEED TO BE THERE.
AMEN?
"WELL, I JUST CAN'T DO THIS."
WELL, YEAH, IF IT'S WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THEN YOU
CAN DO IT, BUT IT'S GONNA BE VERY HARD FOR YOU IF YOU DON'T
BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN DO IT.
NOW GRACE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT HAS EVER LIVED ON THE PLANET
HAS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VICTORIOUS LIFE.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
THEIR SINS FORGIVEN AND HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
AND THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE.
EVERY PERSON, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR SITUATION IS,
THERE'S GRACE AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR YOUR SITUATION.
AND I FELT VERY STRONGLY THAT I WAS TO PRESS THIS POINT
TONIGHT THAT IF YOU THINK YOU ARE A SPECIAL CASE,
GOD WILL GIVE YOU A SPECIAL GRACE.
THERE IS SPECIAL GRACE FOR THE SPECIAL CASES
IN THE HOUSE TONIGHT.
AND YOU SEE, I THOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME I WAS A SPECIAL CASE
BECAUSE I HAD BEEN ABUSED BY MY FATHER, BUT I FOUND OUT THAT
GOD HAD ENOUGH GRACE TO HELP ME OVERCOME MY SPECIAL CASE AND TO
SET MY FEET ON A ROCK AND LIFT MY HEAD UP AND MAKE SOMETHING
BEAUTIFUL OUT OF WHAT STARTED OUT TO BE A BUNCH OF ASHES.
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NO MATTER HOW BAD YOU'VE BEEN TREATED, NO MATTER
HOW YOU GOT STARTED IN LIFE, YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT FINISH
BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
BUT IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN FOR YOU IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT
BECAUSE GRACE IS A FREE GIFT, NOW LISTEN, THAT CAN ONLY
BE RECEIVED THROUGH FAITH.
GOD'S NOT GONNA PUSH IT ON YOU.
HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE YOU RECEIVE IT.
YOU RECEIVE IT BY FAITH.
YOU ASK FOR IT.
YOU HUMBLE YOURSELF UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND.
"GOD, I CANNOT DO THIS.
I CANNOT DO THIS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND EVEN IF I DID, I WOULDN'T
HAVE THE ENERGY TO DO IT, BUT I ASK YOU TO HELP ME.
I ASK YOU TO DO IT THROUGH ME."
AMEN?
AND BOY, ANYTIME YOU START TO FEEL THAT YOU'RE LOSING YOUR
CHARGE OR ALL YOUR CIRCUITS ARE ABOUT TO GO ON OVERLOAD,
JUST LIKE YOU GO PLUG THAT PHONE IN OR MAKE SURE
YOU PLUG THAT COMPUTER IN, YOU GO PLUG YOURSELF IN.
YOU SAY, "WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, JOYCE?"
IT'S VERY SIMPLY JUST TAKING A MOMENT AND PURPOSELY GOING
TO GOD AND SAYING, "GOD, I NEED YOU.
HELP ME, JESUS.
I AM GONNA LOSE IT HERE.
HELP ME CALM DOWN.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF MYSELF.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY A BUNCH OF STUFF I'M GONNA
BE SORRY FOR LATER.
HELP ME."
THE MOMENT THAT SOMEBODY HURTS YOUR FEELINGS,
DON'T JUST TRY TO GET OVER IT.
DON'T JUST TRY TO FORGIVE THEM.
YOU START RIGHT AWAY WHEREVER YOU'RE AT, IF YOU CAN'T DO IT
OUT LOUD, THEN INTERNALLY, "GOD, HELP ME, HELP ME.
HELP ME FORGIVE, HELP ME FORGIVE.
I REFUSE TO BE OFFENDED.
I REFUSE TO STAY ANGRY.
I AM NOT GONNA LET THE DEVIL STEAL FROM ME ONE MORE DAY.
HELP ME."
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OH, IF WE CAN JUST UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS
A LIFESTYLE.
BEING A BELIEVER IS A LIFESTYLE.
IT'S NOT A SUNDAY MORNING EVENT.
IT'S NOT A ONE TIME AT THE ALTAR EVENT.
THIS IS A LIFESTYLE.
WE LIVE BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
PRAYER BECOMES LIKE BREATHING.
WE DO IT TO STAY ALIVE.
YOU SEE, GRACE IS THE GREAT EQUALIZER, THAT MEANS THAT NO
MATTER WHAT I DON'T HAVE, GOD'S GRACE WILL COME IN AND FILL
UP THAT LACKING IN MY LIFE AND SUDDENLY IT LIFTS ME UP
TO AN EQUAL PLANE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S WHY IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU START.
THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS BETWEEN ANY PERSON AND VICTORY
IS HOW QUICK OR HOW SOON IN THEIR LIFE THEY TURN COMPLETELY
TO JESUS AND LEARN HOW TO RECEIVE HELP FROM HIM.
JAMES CHAPTER 4, VERSE 1.
THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF UPSET IN THE WORLD AND FAR TOO MUCH UPSET
IN THE LIVES OF BELIEVERS AND JAMES 4:1 AND 2
GIVES US A LOT OF INSIGHT.
"WHAT LEADS TO STRIFE (DISCORD AND FEUDS) HOW DO CONFLICTS
AND (QUARRELS AND FIGHTS) ORIGINATE AMONG YOU?
DO THEY NOT ARISE FROM ALL YOUR SENSUAL DESIRES THAT ARE EVER
WARRING IN YOUR BODILY MEMBERS?" ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING THAT
IS THERE'S ALL THIS STRIFE IN THE WORLD BECAUSE OF ALL
THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE WANT.
"YOU'RE JEALOUS AND YOU COVET [WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE]
AND YOUR DESIRES GO UNFULFILLED; AND [SO] YOU BECOME
A MURDERER BECAUSE [TO HATE SOMEBODY IS TO MURDER
AS FAR AS YOUR HEARTS ARE CONCERNED.]
YOU BURN WITH ENVY AND ANGER AND ARE NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN
[THE GRATIFICATION, AND THE CONTENTMENT, THAT YOU--AND
THE HAPPINESS THAT YOU SEEK], SO YOU FIGHT AND YOU WAR."
AND HERE'S THE BIG ANSWER TO THIS GREAT WORLD DILEMMA.
"YOU DO NOT HAVE, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT ASK."
SO HERE'S THE SIMPLIFIED VERSION, IF YOU WANT SOMETHING,
ASK FOR IT.
DON'T BE JEALOUS 'CAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE HAS GOT IT.
DON'T GET INTO STRIFE TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN YOURSELF.
YOU ASK GOD FOR IT AND IF IT'S RIGHT FOR YOU AND IF IT'S
THE RIGHT TIME, THEN HE'LL GIVE IT TO YA.
AND IF HE DOESN'T GIVE IT TO YOU, THEN IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE'S
HOLDING OUT ON YOU, IT'S ONLY BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN SMART
ENOUGH TO ASK FOR THE BETTER THING THAT GOD HAS IN MIND.
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU SEE, SOMETIMES WE'RE ASKING FOR SOMETHING
THAT'S ON A LOWER LEVEL THAN WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND FOR US.
"WELL, GOD, I WANT TO MARRY THAT PERSON.
PLEASE MAKE THEM FALL IN LOVE WITH ME AND ASK ME
TO MARRY THEM."
AND YOU DON'T KNOW, THAT COULD BE A NIGHTMARE
WAITING TO HAPPEN.
[LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WHY CAN'T WE TRUST GOD ENOUGH?
WHY CAN'T WE HONOR GOD ENOUGH TO SAY, "YOU KNOW, GOD,
I BELIEF THAT IF THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME--"
HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE GOD CAN MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN?
ALL RIGHT, SO LOOK, IF THAT'S WHAT GOD WANTS TO HAPPEN FOR
YOU, GOD CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO YOU PRAY AND LET GOD DO THE PICKING AND CHOOSING.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT, WHOEVER'S OUT THERE
THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU, IF YOU WILL REALLY TRUST GOD,
GOD CAN GIVE YOU UNDESERVED, DIVINE FAVOR.
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT.
INSTEAD OF STRUGGLING WITH THINGS AND TRYING TO
MAKE THEM HAPPEN YOURSELF, ASK.
YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT.
NOW, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO KIND OF SANDWICH
IN HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE BOLD ENOUGH TO ASK.
MANY PEOPLE WILL NOT ASK GOD FOR THINGS BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL
LIKE THAT THEY'RE GOOD ENOUGH TO ASK OR THEY FEEL LIKE, "WELL,
I'VE MADE TOO MANY MISTAKES.
I CAN'T ASK GOD FOR THAT."
AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO ME THE WAY WE PRAY, AND
I STILL CATCH MYSELF DOING THIS BUT BEGIN TO NOTICE HOW MANY
TIMES WE USE THE WORD "JUST" IN OUR PRAYERS.
"WELL, GOD, IF YOU'LL JUST DO THIS.
IF YOU'LL JUST HELP ME.
IF YOU'LL JUST FORGIVE ME.
IF YOU'LL JUST, IF YOU'LL JUST."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?
BARELY ENOUGH TO GET BY ON.
HE SAYS WE CAN ASK BOLDLY.
COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE AND THAT HE IS ABLE
TO DO EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY ABOVE AND BEYOND
ALL THAT WE CAN EVER DARE.
BUT SEE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, IF YOU
STILL SEE YOURSELF AS THAT OLD CREATURE, YOU REALLY NEVER HAVE
PUT ON THE NEW NATURE, YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE
IN CHRIST, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT REALLY HAPPENED WHEN YOU
RECEIVED CHRIST THAT YOU WERE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN
CHRIST, THAT YOU WERE JUSTIFIED AND MADE JUST AS IF YOU HAD
NEVER SINNED AND THAT EVERY LEGAL ORDNANCE AGAINST YOU
WAS COMPLETELY CANCELED AND BLOTTED OUT AND THAT GOD SEES
YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD.
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU
BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU NEED TO ASK BOLDLY
AND THAT WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR, GOD WILL HEAR YOUR PRAYER
AND IN THE RIGHT WAY AND AT THE RIGHT TIME,
HE WILL ANSWER THAT PRAYER.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT AND YOU WILL THINK, "WELL, THAT'S GOOD AND I
WISH IT COULD HAPPEN TO ME, BUT I'M NOT--" THE DEVIL JUST STAYS
SO BUSY TRYING TO TELL US WHAT WE'RE NOT, AND THE ONLY ANTIDOTE
FOR THAT IS TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE IN CHRIST AND LEARN
TO TALK BACK TO THE DEVIL.
"WELL, JOYCE, YOU'RE NOT THIS."
"WELL, DEVIL, I AM ANOINTED."
"WELL, JOYCE, YOU'RE NOT THIS."
"WELL, DEVIL, I AM A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD."
JOYCE: WELL, I LIKE TO SAY THAT GRACE IS THE GREAT
EQUALIZER IN LIFE BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE OR DON'T
HAVE, GOD'S GRACE WILL COME IN AND GIVE US EXACTLY WHAT
WE NEED IN EVERY SITUATION.
WOW, HOW EXCITING IS THAT?
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I'M NOT BECAUSE GOD'S STRENGTH IS MADE
PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESSES.
SO TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU 4 HOURS OF TEACHING THAT
WE'RE CALLING "AMAZING GRACE' BECAUSE REALLY, GOD'S GRACE
IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
AND ALONG WITH THAT, YOU CAN RECEIVE WHAT WE CALL OUR GOOD
MORNING GOD COFFEE MUG.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE MESSAGE SAYING, "GOOD MORNING,
THIS IS GOD.
I'LL BE RUNNING YOUR LIFE TODAY AND YOU WON'T NEED YOUR HELP."
AND SO, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA ENJOY THIS BECAUSE IT JUST
REMINDS US TO LET GOD BE GOD AND NOT START TRYING TO DO
THINGS THAT ONLY GOD CAN DO.
YOU CAN RELAX AND ENJOY THE DAY BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL.
ANNOUNCER: LEARN HOW TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF GOD'S
GRACE IN YOUR LIFE WITH JOYCE'S FOUR-CD SERIES,
"AMAZING GRACE."
JOYCE: THE SAME GRACE THAT SAVED YOU IS THE SAME GRACE THAT
WILL GET YOU THROUGH EVERY DAY, THE SAME GRACE THAT WILL CHANGE
YOU, THAT WILL HELP YOU INTO NEW LEVELS OF HOLINESS,
THAT WILL GIVE YOU FAVOR, THAT WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO LIKE YOU,
THAT WILL OPEN DOORS FOR YOU.
THAT SAME FAVOR IS WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE, THAT SAME GRACE
IN EVERY SINGLE AREA OF OUR LIFE AND WE NEED TO LEARN HOW
TO LIVE BY GRACE.
ANNOUNCER: THIS POWERFUL RESOURCE, ALONG WITH THIS MUG
INSCRIBED WITH "GOOD MORNING, THIS IS GOD," FEATURING A
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