ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
I'M GOING TO START WITH A STORY THAT ANY TIME I USE THIS STORY,
I PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS CLOSE WITH IT.
BUT I THOUGHT, "I'M GOING TO DO IT BACKWARDS TONIGHT,
I'M GOING TO START WITH IT."
SOMETIMES, I JUST LIKE TO SHAKE THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT, AMEN?
A COUPLE WENT INTO AN ANTIQUE SHOP, AND THEY SAW A VERY
BEAUTIFUL, I MEAN A REALLY BEAUTIFUL, MAGNIFICENT LITTLE
TEACUP SITTING VERY HIGH UPON A SHELF IN THE STORE.
AND THEY JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
THEY GO, "THAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TEACUP I HAD
EVER SEEN.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS TEACUP."
WHILE THEY WERE ADMIRING THE TEACUP, ALL OF THE SUDDEN
THE TEACUP BEGAN TO TALK.
AND IT SAID, "YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN LIKE THIS.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN NOBODY WOULD'VE WANTED ME.
THERE WAS A TIME WHERE I WAS NOT ATTRACTIVE AT ALL.
YOU SEE, THERE WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I WAS JUST AN OLD,
HARD, GREY LUMP OF CLAY.
AND THE MASTER POTTER CAME ALONG, AND HE PICKED ME UP
ONE DAY, AND HE BEGAN TO PAT ME AND RESHAPE ME.
AND I SAID, 'STOP THAT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
THAT HURTS.
LEAVE ME ALONE.' AND HE SIMPLY LOOKED AT ME
WITH A LITTLE SMILE AND SAID, 'NOT YET.'
AND THEN HE PUT ME ON THIS WHEEL, AND HE
BEGAN TO SPIN ME AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND.
I GOT SO DIZZY, I COULDN'T EVEN HARDLY SEE WHERE I WAS GOING.
I FELT LIKE I WAS LOSING IT.
EVERYTHING WAS SPINNING AROUND.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON ANYMORE.
I FELT SICK TO MY STOMACH AND I SAID, 'LET ME OUT OF HERE,'
AND HE JUST SMILED AND SAID, 'NOT YET.'"
ANYBODY KIND OF GET THE SYMPTOMS?
OKAY.
"FINALLY, THE DAY COME WHEN I HAD TAKEN ON ANOTHER SHAPE,
ALL THAT SPINNING AROUND FINALLY GAVE ME ANOTHER SHAPE, AND ALL
THAT PATTING AND MOLDING AND SQUEEZING AND PINCHING GAVE ME
ANOTHER SHAPE.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE PUT ME INTO A FURNACE.
AND IT WAS CALLED THE FIRST FIRING, AND IT WAS SO HOT
IN THERE.
OH, I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW HOT IT WAS.
I THOUGHT, 'I CAN'T STAND THIS, I'M GOING TO DIE.
YOU HAVE GOT TO GET ME OUT OF HERE.
DON'T YOU LOVE ME?' WHILE CRYING,
'WHY ARE YOU LEAVING ME HERE?' YOU SEE, THE OVEN DOOR
HAD GLASS IN IT, AND THE MASTER COULD LOOK IN THROUGH THE GLASS,
AND HE JUST HAD THIS BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE AND A CERTAIN LOOK IN
HIS EYES, BUT HE WOULDN'T LET ME OUT.
AND THEN HE JUST SMILED AND SIMPLY SAID, 'NOT YET.'
FINALLY, THE OVEN DOOR OPENED, AND HE TOOK ME OUT
AND HE SET ME ON A SHELF, AND I THOUGHT, 'PHEW,
THANK GOD THAT'S OVER.' THEN HE BEGAN TO PAINT ME
ALL OVER."
WE THINK THAT, "OH, THANK GOD THAT'S OVER, I FINALLY GOT
THAT ONE."
"THEN HE BEGAN TO PAINT ME ALL OVER WITH A STINKY PAINT,
CHANGING MY COLOR FROM GREY TO A PRETTY BLUE THAT I AM NOW,
AND I SAID, 'THIS STUFF STINKS, IT'S CHOKING ME.
[COUGHING]
I DON'T LIKE THIS SMELL.
STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT.'
AND ALL HE WOULD SAY IS, 'NOT YET.'
THEN HE PUT ME BACK INTO THE SECOND OVEN, AND IT WAS
CALLED A SECOND FIRING, AND IT WAS TWICE AS HOT.
AND I THOUGHT, 'NOW, I'M REALLY GOING TO DIE FOR SURE.
THIS IS THE END OF ME.
THIS WILL FINISH ME OFF.
GET ME OUT OF HERE.
I CAN'T STAND IT, I CAN'T STAND IT.'"
I BET THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF YOU MAYBE EVEN THIS WEEK.
"'I'M TELLING YOU, GOD, I CAN'T STAND IT.
I MEAN, REALLY GOD, I REALLY CAN'T STAND IT.
GET ME OUT OF HERE.' AND HE JUST LOOKS THROUGH
THE GLASS AND SAY, 'NOT YET.'" NOW, DON'T GIVE UP ON ME,
WE'RE JUST ABOUT DONE HERE.
"THEN ONE DAY, THE DOOR FINALLY OPENED, AND HE TOOK ME OUT AND
HE PUT ME UP HERE ON THIS SHELF TO LET ME COOL OFF."
HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT WHEN GOD PUTS YOU ON A SHELF TO LET YOU
COOL OFF?
"AND AFTER I COOLED OFF, ONE DAY HE CAME BY AND HE HANDED ME
THIS MIRROR.
AND I LOOKED AT MYSELF, AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW BEAUTIFUL
I WAS, AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I HAD CHANGED.
WELL, I DID NOT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THAT OLD, GREY LUMP OF CLAY
THAT I STARTED OUT TO BE.
NOW, I'M THIS BEAUTIFUL, DELICATE TEACUP, AND EVERYBODY
WANTS ME NOW.
BUT THERE WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN NOBODY WANTED ME,
NOBODY LIKED ME, NOBODY PAID ANY ATTENTION TO ME.
THEY JUST KICKED ME AROUND AND WALKED ON ME,
BUT NOW I'M SPECIAL.
BUT YOU SEE, I WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY."
GIVE GOD A PRAISE HERE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A LEANING TOWARD
TEACHING IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM ON
SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
WHEN GOD CALLED ME TO TEACH, I WAS A PERSON WHO'D BEEN
A CHRISTIAN FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I HAD NEVER REALLY BEEN
TAUGHT REALLY HARDLY ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
I WAS TAUGHT A LOT ABOUT DOCTRINE, I HAD GOOD DOCTRINE,
I KNEW ABOUT THE TRINITY, THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, COMMUNION,
AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARN WHEN WE GO TO CHURCH, BUT
I WASN'T HEARING WHAT I NEEDED TO DEAL WITH THE KINDS OF
PROBLEMS THAT I HAD IN MY LIFE.
AND SO, BECAUSE OF THAT, I CERTAINLY WASN'T A VERY
GOOD WITNESS.
I REALLY WASN'T HELPING ANYBODY ELSE.
AND SO, WHEN I REALLY BEGAN TO LEARN THE WORD AND I SAW WHAT
GOD REALLY WANTED TO DO IN OUR LIVES, I JUST HAD A PASSION FOR
THE CHRISTIAN WHO LOVES GOD, BUT JUST KEEPS STAYING IN THAT
BABY STAGE OF CHRISTIANITY.
AND WHEN WE'RE LIKE THAT, NOT ONLY CAN WE NOT REALLY HELP
ANYBODY ELSE, BUT WE'RE NOT HAPPY.
WE'RE NOT HAPPY, WE'RE NOT CONTENT, WE'RE NOT SATISFIED.
WE ALWAYS THINK THERE'S ONE MORE THING THAT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE
TO BE HAPPY.
AND JESUS DIED THAT WE COULD HAVE AND ENJOY OUR LIFE, NOT SO
WE COULD JUST NOW BE A MISERABLE CHRISTIAN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO BE A MISERABLE SINNER, IT'S ANOTHER
THING TO BE A MISERABLE CHRISTIAN.
I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF A TRANSITION THAT
TAKES PLACE.
AND YOU KNOW, GOD WANTS US TO ENJOY OUR LIVES, THERE'S NO
DOUBT ABOUT THAT, AND HE WANTS US TO BE BLESSED, BUT I WANT
EVERYBODY TO BE CLEAR AND UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S NOT
THE ONLY REASON WHY YOU'RE ON THE PLANET.
GOD DOESN'T HAVE US HERE JUST SO WE CAN GET EVERYTHING WE WANT,
AND JUST SO WE CAN BE HAPPY AND WE CAN HAVE A NICE LIFE.
WE ARE HIS REPRESENTATIVES IN THE EARTH.
THE BIBLE SAYS IT CLEARLY THAT WE ARE GOD'S REPRESENTATIVES.
AND THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD IS MAKING HIS APPEAL TO
THE WORLD THROUGH US.
NOW, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IN THIS BUILDING AND EVERYBODY
WATCHING BY TV, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO
THE CAUSE OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD TODAY.
AND IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME IN THE WORLD, EVER A TIME, AND I
KNOW THAT TIMES HAVE BEEN BAD IN THE PAST, WE ALWAYS SAY,
"WELL, THIS IS THE WORST THINGS HAVE EVER BEEN."
AND YOU KNOW, THEN SOMETIMES YOU READ SOME STUFF IN HISTORY AND
YOU THINK, "WELL, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE NOT."
BUT YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE REALLY BAD, AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE
DON'T BELIEVE IN GOD.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FINDING REASONS TO TRY TO GET GOD
OUT OF THEIR LIFE.
AND SO, REALLY AND TRULY, WE DO LIVE IN DESPERATE TIMES.
BUT THEY CAN ALSO BE WONDERFUL TIMES IF WE'LL ALL JUST REALIZE,
"I'M NOT HERE JUST FOR ME.
I'M HERE BECAUSE GOD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING, YES, FOR ME, BUT HE
ALSO WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THROUGH ME.
AND IN ORDER FOR HIM TO DO SOMETHING THROUGH ME,
I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HIS WAY."
AMEN?
SO, JUST REAL QUICKLY, IF MAYBE YOU'VE NEVER MADE THAT
TRANSITION FROM SAYING, "GOD, I NEED THIS, I NEED THIS.
DO THIS FOR ME, GIVE ME THIS, GIVE ME THAT, GIVE ME SOMETHING
ELSE," IF YOU'VE NEVER MADE THE TRANSITION FROM THAT TO,
"GOD, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO USE ME FOR," THEN HOW ABOUT LET'S JUST DO A
TURNAROUND HERE TONIGHT AND GET THINGS STRAIGHTENED OUT THE WAY
THAT GOD WANTS THEM TO BE?
I LOVE THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON,
AND YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH IT IF YOU'VE BEEN IN CHURCH
VERY MUCH, BUT JUST REAL QUICKLY, WHEN THAT BOY LEFT
HOME, HE WANTED HIS INHERITANCE, AND HE LEFT SAYING TO HIS
FATHER, "GIVE ME, GIVE ME."
AFTER A TRIP IN THE PIG PEN AND REALIZING WHAT HE HAD GIVEN UP
AND WHAT HE HAD AT HOME, HE SAID, "I'M GOING TO GO BACK
TO MY FATHER."
AND WHEN HE WENT BACK, HE SAID TO HIS FATHER, "MAKE ME WHAT YOU
WANT ME TO BE."
SO, WE NEED TO GO FROM GIVE ME TO MAKE ME.
WE NEED TO GO FROM, "THIS IS WHAT I WANT," TO,
"GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT?" AND I CAN TELL YOU, YOU MAY
THINK THAT YOU CANNOT DO WITHOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT RIGHT
NOW, BUT I CAN TELL YOU IF WHAT YOU WANT IS WHAT GOD WANTS,
YOU'LL END UP WITH IT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ALL
YOUR TIME TRYING TO GET IT.
IF YOU CHASE GOD, THE BLESSINGS WILL CHASE YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE ALL HAVE MANY--I MEAN, I HAVE THINGS THAT I WANT.
I HAVE THINGS IN MY LIFE I DON'T WANT.
I HAVE THINGS THAT I DON'T HAVE THAT I DO WANT.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE DESIRES, WE ALL HAVE THINGS THAT WE WANT.
BUT WE HAVE TO GET THINGS--JESUS SAID, "I'D RATHER NOT DO THIS.
IF YOU CAN REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME, THEN REMOVE IT FROM ME.
NEVERTHELESS, YOUR WILL BE DONE AND NOT MINE."
SO, SPIRITUAL MATURITY, WHAT DOES SPIRITUAL MATURITY LOOK
LIKE?
A PERSON WHO'S SPIRITUALLY MATURE, WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT WE MIGHT SEE IN THEIR LIVES?
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A LOT OF SELF-CONTROL.
THERE'S A LOT OF, "GOD, I WANT YOUR WILL," IN THEIR PRAYERS.
THEY'RE VERY CAREFUL WITH THEIR WORDS, THEY HAVE VERY
DISCIPLINED SPEECH.
THEY DON'T LIVE BY THEIR FEELINGS.
THEY HAVE FEELINGS, BUT THEY DON'T LET THEIR FEELINGS RULE
THEM AND CONTROL THEM.
LOTS AND LOTS OF CONSISTENCY.
NOT ONE TIME ONE WAY YOU SEE THEM, AND ANOTHER TIME
THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THEM.
AND HAPPY WHEN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE GOOD, AND NOT
HAPPY WHEN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AREN'T GOOD, JUST CONSISTENCY.
LOTS OF GENEROSITY.
A REAL SPIRITUALLY MATURE CHRISTIAN, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO TRY TO TALK THEM INTO GIVING.
THEY GET UP EVERY DAY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BE A BLESSING
TO PEOPLE.
LOTS OF HUMILITY FROM A SPIRITUALLY MATURE CHRISTIAN.
QUICK TO FORGIVE.
DIFFICULT TO OFFEND.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, I'M SURE THAT ALL OF YOU HERE HAVE ALL THESE
QUALITIES AND THAT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED MUCH OF THIS, BUT
I'VE BEEN IN KIND OF A SEASON LATELY OF GOD DEALING WITH ME
ABOUT SOME THINGS.
AND I TOLD SOMEBODY TONIGHT IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE GONE
THROUGH THIS.
I'VE BEEN WALKING WITH GOD QUITE A WHILE AND, YOU KNOW,
GOD DEALS WITH US IN LAYERS.
SOMETIMES, YOU THINK THAT YOU JUST REALLY MASTERED SOMETHING,
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, GOD WILL COME ALONG AND--YOU KNOW
WHEN--YOU MIGHT SAY, "WELL, WHAT DO YOU MEAN GOD'S DEALING
WITH ME?" WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN GOD
IS DEALING WITH YOU IS YOU BEGIN TO NOTICE THINGS IN YOUR
BEHAVIOR THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T PAY THAT MUCH ATTENTION
TO BEFORE.
SO, I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF IN MY HEART, "WELL, THAT WAS
SELFISH.
WELL, YOU SURE DIDN'T NEED TO SAY THAT."
AND IT'S BEEN KIND OF GOING ON FOR A LITTLE WHILE, SO I'LL JUST
TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
IF YOU DON'T NEED THIS MESSAGE TONIGHT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO STAND
HERE AND PREACH TO MYSELF BECAUSE I DO NEED IT.
AND YOU SEE, YOU'RE GOING TO BE GROWING YOUR WHOLE LIFE.
THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING WHERE YOU ARRIVE.
THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, "I'VE NOT ARRIVED.
BUT ONE THING I DO, IT'S MY ONE ASPIRATION,
FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND AND PRESSING ON TO THE THINGS
THAT ARE AHEAD."
HE SAID, "I AM--" NOW LISTEN TO THIS, HE SAID,
"I AM DETERMINED TO TAKE HOLD OF THOSE THINGS FOR WHICH
CHRIST JESUS DIED TO TAKE HOLD OF ME."
SO HE SAID, "JESUS DIED FOR US FOR A PURPOSE, NOT JUST SO WE
COULD GO TO HEAVEN, BUT SO WE COULD DEVELOP CHRIST-LIKENESS
AND BE MOLDED INTO HIS IMAGE WHILE WE'RE HERE,
AND THE WORLD COULD--" HE SAID THAT HE SHOWED
THE WORLD THE FATHER.
WELL, NOW HE'S GIVING US THE JOB OF SHOWING JESUS TO THE WORLD.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
AND IT'S NOT JUST UP TO SOMEBODY LIKE ME THAT'S ON TELEVISION
OR HAS A LARGE AUDIENCE.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU CAN REACH PEOPLE THAT SOMEBODY LIKE
ME COULD NEVER REACH, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
YOU KNOW PEOPLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW PEOPLE
AT YOUR WORKPLACE, YOU MEET PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND IF EVERY CHRISTIAN WOULD JUST TURN THE LIGHTS ON.
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN BY THAT?
JUST TURN THE LIGHTS ON.
MY GOODNESS, YOU KNOW WHAT?
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, IF CHRISTIANS WILL STOP
COMPROMISING AND STOP SLIPPING OVER INTO THE WORLD, AND REALLY
TAKE A STAND TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS THEM TO BE, WE CAN SEE
SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPEN IN THE EARTH.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SO, I'VE ALWAYS PREACHED ALONG THESE LINES
IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
I DON'T PREACH ON THE SAME THING ALL THE TIME, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I
PREACH ALONG THESE LINES BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IF WE STAY BABY
CHRISTIANS, WE'RE NOT EVER GOING TO BE HAPPY.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IF I'M GOING TO BE HERE,
I WANT TO BE HAPPY.
I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO STAY BABY CHRISTIANS, WE'RE NEVER
REALLY GOING TO HAVE ANY PEACE.
YOU KNOW WHY?
YOU CAN'T CONTROL ALL YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEITHER CAN I.
SO, WE HAVE TO LEARN IF WE CAN'T CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, THEN
WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO CONTROL OURSELVES SO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES
ARE NOT RULING US ALL THE TIME, AMEN?
SO, 2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3, VERSE 18, "AND ALL OF US AS WITH
UNVEILED FACE," KEEP THAT UNVEILED FACE IN MIND, I'M GOING
TO EXPLAIN THAT TO YOU.
"[BECAUSE WE] CONTINUED," STRESSING CONTINUED, "TO BEHOLD
[IN THE WORD OF GOD] AS IN A MIRROR THE GLORY OF THE LORD,
WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING TRANSFIGURED INTO HIS VERY OWN
IMAGE IN EVER INCREASING SPLENDOR, AND FROM ONE DEGREE
OF GLORY TO ANOTHER [FOR THIS COMES] FROM THE LORD [WHO IS]
THE SPIRIT."
SO, GOD CHANGES US IN DEGREES FROM GLORY TO GLORY.
AND SO, I TOLD YOU GOD'S BEEN DEALING WITH ME ABOUT JUST
STUFF, YOU KNOW?
I DON'T KNOW, NOT PROBABLY THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO SEND ME
TO HELL, BUT JUST STUFF, YOU KNOW?
JUST THINGS THAT HE WANTS ME TO COME UP HIGHER IN.
AND SO, WHAT HE'S DOING IS HE'S CALLING ME INTO ANOTHER LEVEL
OF GLORY.
YOU GO FROM GLORY TO GLORY TO GLORY TO GLORY.
WELL, USUALLY--WELL, NOT USUALLY, ALWAYS YOU WILL HAVE TO
BE DEALT WITH ABOUT SOMETHING, SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE
BEHIND IN ORDER TO GO TO THAT NEXT PLACE THAT GOD HAS
WITH YOU.
SO, I'M HOPING THIS WEEKEND THAT WE CAN HELP YOU, WITH THE WORD
OF GOD, MOVE SOME OBSTACLES OUT OF YOUR PATH.
AND JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE A DECISION TO STOP PUTTING SOME
THINGS OFF, AND JUST GET ON WITH IT, AND BEGIN TO DO WHAT GOD
WANTS YOU TO DO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, BECAUSE REALLY, HOW MANY
TIMES DO YOU WANT TO GO AROUND THE SAME STUPID MOUNTAIN?
I MEAN, MOST OF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU'VE BEEN AROUND THE SAME ONE
LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU'RE DIZZY.
IT'S TIME TO JUST GO THROUGH IT, GO OVER IT, OR YOU KNOW,
WHATEVER.
SO, HE SAYS THAT AS WE LOOK INTO THE WORD, IT BECOMES LIKE
A MIRROR.
AND WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK IN THE WORD IS WE SEE JESUS,
BUT WE ALSO SEE OURSELVES.
THAT EVER HAPPEN TO YOU?
YOU THINK, "WELL, I GOT A LONG WAY TO GO IN THAT."
OR YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST--OR JUST REMINDERS, JUST REMINDERS.
YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME THAT I READ THE WORD, I DON'T LEARN
SOMETHING NEW, BUT I GET REMINDED OF THINGS THAT I NEED.
NOW IT'S--I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING UPFRONT, AND THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT, VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU HEAR THIS.
WE NEVER WILL CHANGE IF WE DON'T LEARN HOW TO RECEIVE CONVICTION
AND CORRECTION FROM GOD WITHOUT LETTING IT CONDEMN US.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHEN I FIRST STARTED REALLY HEARING
THE WORD PREACHED IN A WAY WHERE IT WAS CONVICTING ME
OF THINGS THAT WERE WRONG IN MY LIFE, EVERY TIME I WENT TO
CHURCH AND WENT HOME, I FELT WORSE WHEN I LEFT THAN I DID
BEFORE I WENT BECAUSE I ALWAYS LEFT THINKING, "WELL, ANOTHER
THING THAT'S WRONG WITH ME."
AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WAS GOOD NEWS.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT GOD WAS LOVING ME BY SHOWING ME THINGS
THAT NEEDED TO CHANGE IN MY LIFE.
SO, I NEVER CHANGED BECAUSE AS LONG--NOW LISTEN, AS LONG AS YOU
GET CONDEMNED OR FEEL GUILTY, EVERY TIME SOMEBODY PREACHING
SAYS SOMETHING THAT CONVICTS YOU, OR GOD DEALS WITH YOU WHEN
YOU'RE PRAYING, OR YOU READ SOMETHING IN THE BIBLE THAT
CONVICTS YOU, IF YOUR FIRST RESPONSE IS TO FEEL GUILTY
AND CONDEMNED AND FEEL BAD ABOUT YOURSELF, THEN YOU'RE JUST
WASTING YOUR TIME, YOU WILL NOT GROW.
THE DEVIL JUST LOVES IT THAT YOU NOW FEEL WORSE THAN YOU DID.
HOW MANY OF YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
ALL RIGHT, NOW AREN'T YOU TEMPTED SOMETIMES WHENEVER YOU
GET CONVICTED BY GOD TO JUST START GOING, "I'M SO BAD"?
SO, I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'VE COME A LONG WAY IN THIS BECAUSE,
I MEAN, I HAD SUCH A PROBLEM WITH GUILT BECAUSE OF BEING
ABUSED BY MY DAD THAT, I MEAN, I DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT WHEN
I DIDN'T FEEL WRONG.
I MEAN, THAT WAS ALL I KNEW HOW TO DO WAS FEEL WRONG.
AND SO I HAVE, THANK GOD, BEEN SET FREE FROM THAT.
IT WAS A LONG JOURNEY AND IT IS--IT IS WONDERFUL.
AND EVEN THOUGH I TOLD YOU THAT GOD HAS BEEN DEALING WITH ME
ABOUT SOME DIFFERENT THINGS, I CAN ALSO TELL YOU THAT NOT
ONE TIME HAVE I FELT BAD ABOUT MYSELF, NOT ONE TIME HAVE I FELT
GUILTY OR CONDEMNED.
NOW, I FEEL SORROW.
WE SHOULD FEEL SORROW OVER OUR SINS AND OUR MISCONDUCT.
WE WANT TO BE EVERYTHING THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE, BUT I'VE
ALSO LEARNED THAT REALLY AND TRULY, WHEN GOD CHASTISES US OR
HE SHOWS US AN AREA IN OUR LIFE THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE,
IT IS AN ACT OF HIS LOVE.
HE'S DOING IT OUT OF LOVE.
YOU BETTER THANK GOD THAT HE LOVES YOU ENOUGH NOT TO LEAVE
YOU ALONE IN THE MESSES THAT YOU'RE IN.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SO, HOW ABOUT THIS?
BEFORE YOU EVER PRAY AGAIN, "GOD, CHANGE THIS, THAT,
SOMETHING ELSE," HOW ABOUT STARTING WITH, "GOD, CHANGE ME."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "GOD, CHANGE ME"?
BECAUSE YOU SEE, IF WE CHANGE, OUR CIRCUMSTANCES WON'T BOTHER
US NEARLY AS MUCH AS THEY DO RIGHT NOW.
AND WE CAN'T EXPECT GOD TO CHANGE EVERYBODY ELSE IN
THE WORLD SO WE CAN BE HAPPY.
"OH GOD, MAKE THEM ALL BE LIKE I WANT THEM TO BE SO I DON'T
HAVE ANY PROBLEMS."
WE KNOW GOD USES PEOPLE THAT IRRITATE THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS
OUT OF YOU TO CHANGE YOU.
AND HE DOESN'T-- [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU CAN--YOU CAN RUN AWAY FROM THE ONES YOU GOT
NOW, AND YOU'LL JUST MOVE NEXT DOOR TO SOME MORE OR GO TO WORK
WITH SOME MORE.
I MEAN, YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO GET AWAY FROM THEM BECAUSE WE
ALL HAVE ROUGH EDGES, AND GOD FINDS PLENTY OF SANDPAPER OUT
IN THE WORLD.
AMEN?
WHOO, HALLELUJAH.
SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, "ALL OF US AS WITH UNVEILED FACE?"
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S WITH THAT?
ALL RIGHT, 2 CORINTHIANS 3, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO
VERSE 13, "NOR [DO WE ACT] LIKE MOSES
WHO PUT A VEIL OVER HIS FACE SO THAT THE ISRAELITES MIGHT NOT
GAZE UPON THE FINISH OF THE VANISHING [SPLENDOR WHICH
HAD BEEN UPON IT]
IN FACT, THEIR MINDS WERE GROWN HARD AND CALLUSED [THEY HAD
BECOME DULL AND HAD LOST THE POWER OF UNDERSTANDING],"
NOW LISTEN TO THIS, "FOR UNTIL THIS PRESENT DAY, WHEN
THE OLD TESTAMENT (THE OLD COVENANT) IS BEING
READ," WHICH IS THE LAW, "A VEIL LIES [ON OUR HEARTS] AND
IS NOT LIFTED [TO REVEAL] THAT IN CHRIST IT HAS BEEN MADE VOID
AND DONE AWAY WITH."
NOW, HERE'S PART OF OUR BIG PROBLEM.
AS NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS, WE CAN'T KEEP ACTING LIKE WE
NEED TO LIVE UNDER THE LAW.
LEGALISM WILL KEEP YOU FROM GROWING.
GOD DOES NOT GIVE YOU A BOATLOAD OF RULES AND REGULATIONS
TO FOLLOW.
HE GIVES YOU THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LIVE ON THE INSIDE OF YOU,
TO GUIDE YOU AND TO PROMPT YOU IN WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU.
SO, HERE'S THE THING.
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, ALL KINDS OF LAWS, ALL KINDS OF DIETARY
LAWS, ANIMAL SACRIFICE LAWS, HOLIDAY LAWS, FEAST LAWS.
NOW, WHEN WE SAY WE'RE FREE FROM THE LAW, WE'RE NOT FREE FROM
THE MORAL STANDARD THAT GOD LAID DOWN EVEN IN THE OLD COVENANT.
THE MORAL STANDARD IS GOOD FOR ALL TIME.
BUT WE ARE FREE FROM RULES AND REGULATIONS.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THERE'S PLENTY OF CHURCHES YOU
CAN GO TO THAT STILL WILL LOAD YOU DOWN WITH RULES
AND REGULATIONS.
AND THERE'S PLENTY OF WELL-MEANING PEOPLE THAT WILL
LOAD YOU DOWN WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS.
YOU CAN EVEN HAVE A GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT ARE ALL INVOLVED
IN A CERTAIN BIBLE STUDY OR A CERTAIN PRAYER GROUP, AND BOY,
IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT, THEY CAN
CERTAINLY MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DOING
THEIR THING.
AMEN?
OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, I MEAN, I WAS SO LEGALISTIC, I DIDN'T
REALLY NEED ANYBODY TO HELP ME.
I COULD JUST DO IT ALL BY MYSELF.
I MEAN, I MADE A LAW OUT OF CLEANING MY HOUSE.
EVERYTHING WAS A LAW, EVERYTHING HAD TO DO BE DONE EVERY DAY.
AND IF I DIDN'T DO IT EVERY DAY, THEN I FELT GUILTY ABOUT IT.
AND SO, WHAT HE'S SAYING HERE IS AS LONG AS YOU READ THIS LIKE
IT'S A LAW, LIKE NOW, "BOY, THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO.
AND IF I DON'T DO IT, GOD'S GOING TO BE MAD AT ME."
SEE, HERE'S THE THING, EVEN IF I STAY SELFISH, GOD STILL
LOVES ME.
YEAH, I KNEW, I KNEW YOU'D GO.
OKAY, LOOK, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THAT GOD WILL NEVER
LOVE YOU ANY MORE THAN HE DOES AT THIS MOMENT RIGHT NOW.
SEE, THAT'S WHAT LEGALISM IS.
LEGALISM THINKS THAT BY BETTER BEHAVIOR, WE CAN EARN MORE
OF GOD'S LOVE.
BUT YOU DON'T EARN ANYTHING FROM GOD BY BETTER BEHAVIOR.
WE DON'T TRY TO BEHAVE BETTER TO GET GOD TO LOVE US.
WE WANT TO BEHAVE BETTER BECAUSE HE DOES LOVE US.
WE WANT TO BEHAVE BETTER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US.
SO, WHEN WE LOOK IN HERE AND WE SEE CHRIST, AND WE SEE THAT IN
HIM THE LAW IS FULFILLED AND THAT HE'S GIVEN US
THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND THAT EVERYTHING THAT
GOD ASKS US TO DO, HE ALSO GIVES US THE POWER TO DO IT.
HE GIVES US THE GRACE TO DO IT.
JOYCE: WELL, WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO RECEIVE CORRECTION
AND CONVICTION FROM GOD WITHOUT LETTING IT CONDEMN US.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GROW
AND SPIRITUALLY MATURE.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU A DEVOTIONAL CALLED
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
AND NOTHING IS ANY MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR TIME
WITH GOD.
AND ALSO FOUR TEACHINGS ON "HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD."
THAT'S A SUBJECT THAT EVERYBODY'S INTERESTED IN.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS BREAK WITH A SPECIAL INVITATION
FOR YOU.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: SPENDING TIME WITH GOD IS THE KEY TO DEVELOPING
A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM THAT WILL ENRICH EVERY AREA
OF YOUR LIFE.
JOYCE MEYER OFFERS FRESH INSPIRATION ON HOW TO CREATE
DEEPER INTIMACY WITH THE LORD IN HER DEVOTIONAL,
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
THESE DAILY ENCOURAGEMENTS COME FROM PERSONAL THOUGHTS
AND INSIGHTS FROM HER OWN LIFE AND HER DESIRE TO HELP YOU GROW
CLOSER TO GOD.
IN ADDITION, JOYCE'S FOUR-CD SERIES, "HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD,"
WILL HELP YOU DEVELOP THE HABIT OF FELLOWSHIPPING WITH HIM,
AND YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO HEAR HIS VOICE SO THAT YOU CAN WALK
IN HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
THESE POWERFUL RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT OF...
TO ORDER, CALL US TOLL-FREE...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: WELL, BECOMING A PARTNER WITH OUR MINISTRY
CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIFE, IN YOUR LIFE, AND THE
PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE THE GOSPEL.
I WANT TO SHARE A LETTER THAT KAREN SENT IN.
KAREN SAYS THAT SHE WAS ADDICTED TO DRUGS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS
AND WAS INCARCERATED TWICE.
SHE SAYS, "YOU TOUCHED MY LIFE WHILE I WAS IN PRISON WITH YOUR
BOOKS AND YOUR AMAZING PRISON MINISTRY TEAM.
AS A RESULT, I'VE NOW BEEN CLEAN, FREE FROM DRUGS FOR OVER
3 YEARS THANKS TO GOD AND A STRONG RECOVERY PROGRAM.
I'M BLESSED THAT I GET TO WATCH 'ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE' EVERY
MORNING WITH ALL THE LADIES AT THE TREATMENT CENTER.
I'M NOW A PARTNER WITH YOU, AND I FEEL THAT YOU AND YOUR
MINISTRY TOUCH MILLIONS OF LIVES.
I'M SO THANKFUL TO BE PART OF THAT."
NOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A PARTNER WITH
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES, THEN YOU WERE INVOLVED
IN HELPING KAREN NOW HAVE THE LIFE THAT SHE HAS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO.
HELP US HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
WE CAN'T REALLY DO IT IF PEOPLE DON'T HELP US.
THE WAY OUR MINISTRY IS SUPPORTED IS THROUGH ITS PARTNER
BASE, AND SO I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER
BECOMING A FINANCIAL, REGULAR PARTNER WITH THE MINISTRY.
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WILL BE SO GRATEFUL, AND I
BELIEVE THAT YOUR LIFE WILL BE VERY BLESSED IN ADDITION.
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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