ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
THAT THAT IS THE ONLY ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEM.
GET UP, STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF, STOP EXPECTING
SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO FOR YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING
FOR YOURSELF.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: I STARTED SOMETHING ABOUT A YEAR AGO
THAT I JUST FELT LIKE I WANTED TO JUST DO A SERIES
ON MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES IN THE BIBLE.
AND TO BE HONEST, IT COULD BE A NEVER-ENDING SERIES
AND SO I HAVE TO PUT A STOP TO IT SOMEWHERE
AND TONIGHT I'M GONNA FINISH IT.
AND IT'S GONNA BE THE END OF IT.
SO WE ALL HAVE SCRIPTURES, I THINK, THAT HAVE JUST REALLY
IMPACTED OUR LIVES THAT--
NOT JUST SCRIPTURES THAT YOU LIKE.
WE LIKE THEM ALL. WE LOVE THEM ALL.
THEY ALL MEAN SOMETHING TO US.
BUT I MEAN SCRIPTURES THAT YOU CAN SAY,
"MAN, WHEN I GOT HOLD OF THAT, WHEN GOD REVEALED THAT TO ME,
THAT WAS JUST LIKE REALLY BIG AND LIFE-CHANGING TO ME."
AND SO I HAVE LOTS OF THOSE OVER THE 42 YEARS
THAT I'VE BEEN TEACHING AND I'M GONNA SHARE THINGS THAT
I HOPE WILL MINISTER TO YOU.
SO ONE OF THE FIRST SCRIPTURES THAT I REMEMBER GOD REALLY
SPEAKING TO MY HEART ABOUT IS 1 PETER 5:8-9 OUT OF
THE AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION.
AND IT SAYS: "BE WELL BALANCED (TEMPERATE, SOBER OF MIND),
BE VIGILANT AND CAUTIOUS AT ALL TIMES;
THAT ENEMY OF YOURS, THE DEVIL, ROAMS AROUND LIKE A LION ROARING
[IN FIERCE HUNGER], SEEKING SOMEONE
TO SEIZE UPON AND DEVOUR."
WELL, TO BE HONEST, THERE'S ALREADY
ABOUT FIVE MESSAGES JUST IN THAT LITTLE BIT.
BE WELL BALANCED.
ANY TIME THAT WE'RE OUT OF BALANCE
IN OUR LIFE IN ANY AREA, IT OPENS UP A DOOR
FOR THE ENEMY.
IF YOU DON'T SPEND ENOUGH TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY,
YOU'RE GONE TOO MUCH, YOU'RE NOT TAKING THE RIGHT TIME
TO SOW INTO YOUR RELATIONSHIPS, IT'S GONNA OPEN A DOOR
FOR THE ENEMY AND THERE'S GONNA BE PROBLEMS IN THE FAMILY.
IF YOU ARE TOO SELFISH, IT'S GONNA CAUSE PROBLEMS.
BUT IF YOU NEVER SPEND ENOUGH TIME ON YOURSELF,
YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, THAT'S GONNA CAUSE PROBLEMS.
YOU CAN LOOK AT A THOUSAND DIFFERENT AREAS
AND SEE HOW IMPORTANT BALANCE IS.
AND WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT EATING BALANCED MEALS
SO EVEN FROM THAT GOD IS SHOWING US
THAT WE NEED ENOUGH PROTEIN, WE NEED ENOUGH CARBS,
WE NEED ENOUGH OF THIS, WE NEED ENOUGH OF THAT.
WE NEED TO HAVE BALANCE IN OUR LIVES AND YET
I THINK THAT MOST OF US REALIZE THAT AMERICANS IN PARTICULARLY
AND PROBABLY OTHER CULTURES IN THE WESTERN WORLD,
WE REALLY ARE BAD AT GETTING OUT OF BALANCE, AMEN?
FOR EXAMPLE, WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE WORK WAY TOO MUCH
AND THEY DON'T REST ENOUGH.
AND THEN THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO DON'T SLEEP ENOUGH.
WELL, THAT'S GONNA CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS.
AND SO I JUST WANT YOU TO REALIZE THAT IF YOU'RE
OUT OF BALANCE IN ANY AREA IN YOUR LIFE,
THE ENEMY IS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
IF YOU TALK TOO MUCH, THAT'S OUT OF BALANCE.
BUT THEN SOME PEOPLE DON'T COMMUNICATE ENOUGH
AND SO THAT'S OUT OF BALANCE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY OF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING,
YOU KNOW?
WE NEED BALANCE IN OUR LIFE, AND BALANCE--LIKE,
PEOPLE SAY TO ME A LOT, "HOW DO YOU KEEP
THE SCHEDULE YOU KEEP AND WRITE THE BOOKS
AND YOU HAVE A FAMILY," I'VE GOT 4 KIDS, 11 GRANDKIDS,
2 GREAT-GRANDKIDS.
"HOW DO YOU--"
THIS IS WHAT THEY SAY.
"HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT
AND HOW DO YOU STAY IN BALANCE?"
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE LEARNED TO SAY?
"I'M ALWAYS STRAIGHTENING THEM OUT."
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU DON'T JUST GET IN BALANCE
AND STAY THERE BECAUSE THE DEVIL LOVES EXCESS.
HE'S ALWAYS GONNA TRY US TO BE EXCESSIVE
IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, LIKE YOU MIGHT SPEND
TOO MUCH MONEY ON YOURSELF BUT THEN IF YOU DON'T EVER
SPEND ANY MONEY ON YOURSELF, EITHER ONE CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO DO
A LITTLE BALANCE INVENTORY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
AND JUST TAKE A LITTLE TIME, SPEND A LITTLE TIME WITH GOD,
AND JUST SAY, "AM I OUT OF BALANCE
IN ANY AREA OF MY LIFE?"
MAYBE YOU'RE WATCHING TOO MUCH TELEVISION
AND NOT SPENDING ENOUGH TIME IN THE WORD OR, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE--THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
THAT WE COULD THINK OF.
AND LET ME JUST SUGGEST TO YOU THAT WHEN YOU GET UNHAPPY,
YOU'RE HAVING TOO MANY BAD DAYS AND TOO MANY SAD DAYS
AND TOO MANY MAD DAYS, JUST CHECK AND SEE
IF YOU'RE OUT OF BALANCE IN SOME AREA IN YOUR LIFE
BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THERE'S JUST SOMETHING
THAT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED.
MATTER OF FACT, I'LL BET JUST AS I'M STANDING HERE
TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW, I'LL BET YOU THAT THERE'S
LOTS OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM YOU ALREADY, IF I SAID,
"WHAT AREA ARE YOU OUT OF BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE?"
YOU COULD LIFT YOUR HAND UP AND TELL ME JUST LIKE THAT.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF JESUS YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE,
YOU CAN'T BREAK HIS NATURAL LAWS AND EXPECT EVERYTHING
TO WORK OUT FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU PRAY TO FEEL GOOD,
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA REST, YOU'RE GONNA FEEL LOUSY.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU PRAY TO FEEL GOOD,
IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA SLEEP, YOU'RE GONNA FEEL LOUSY.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU PRAY TO BE HAPPY,
IF YOU DON'T TAKE ANY TIME TO RELAX AND ENJOY YOURSELF
AND LAUGH AND DO THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE HAPPY.
SO WE HAVE TO STAY BALANCED IN OUR LIFE
AND THIS SCRIPTURE TELLS ME THAT IF I DON'T STAY BALANCED,
I AM OPENING A DOOR FOR THE ENEMY.
"HE ROAMS ABOUT LIKE A ROARING--LIKE A LION ROARING
[IN FIERCE HUNGER], SEEKING SOMEONE
WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR."
HE CAN'T DEVOUR ANYBODY, BUT ONE PERSON HE CAN DEVOUR
IS SOMEBODY WHO IS OUT OF BALANCE
IN THEIR LIFE.
AND I THINK WE RAMP IT UP TO ANOTHER LEVEL
WHEN WE'RE NOT ONLY OUT OF BALANCE BUT WE KNOW
WE'RE OUT OF BALANCE.
C'MON, ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO RAISED YOUR HAND.
WE'RE OUT OF BALANCE AND WE KNOW WE'RE OUT OF BALANCE
AND WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I CAN TELL YOU FOR A LOT OF YEARS
I WORKED WAY TOO HARD AND I DID IT IN JESUS' NAME.
BUT I STILL ENDED UP GETTING BURN-OUT
AND GETTING SICK AND PAYING FOR IT.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH OF JESUS YOU HAVE,
YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE
OR HE'S GONNA GET IN AND CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS, AMEN.
IT SAYS: "BE VIGILANT AND CAUTIOUS,"
ONCE IN A WHILE.
NO, IT SAYS, "AT ALL TIMES."
AT ALL TIMES.
VERSE 9: "WITHSTAND HIM; BE FIRM IN FAITH,"
AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS OF THIS,
"[AGAINST HIS ONSET.]"
I GET SOME THINGS OUT OF THE AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION
THAT I'M NOT GONNA GET ANYWHERE ELSE AND I LIKE THAT.
WHEN DO I RESIST THE DEVIL?
THE MINUTE HE STARTS IN ON ME.
WHEN DO I RESIST THE ENEMY?
"AT HIS ONSET."
YOU DON'T WAIT UNTIL YOU GOT SOME DEEP-ROOTED
PROBLEMS BEFORE YOU DECIDE, "OH, THAT'S THE DEVIL.
HE'S A LIAR AND I GUESS I BETTER STAND AGAINST HIM."
NO, THE MINUTE THE DEVIL LIES TO YOU, YOU SAY,
"YOU'RE A LIAR."
THE MINUTE THAT HE TEMPTS YOU, THAT'S WHEN YOU SAY, "NO."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE NEED TO DEAL A LITTLE MORE VIOLENTLY
WITH TEMPTATION INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING,
"WELL, I JUST WISH I WASN'T SO TEMPTED."
WELL, YOU CAN WISH ALL YOU WANT TO BUT YOU'RE STILL
GONNA BE TEMPTED.
AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS GET A LITTLE MORE VIOLENT WITH IT.
WHAT HAS JESUS SAID?
"IF YOUR EYE OFFENDS YOU, PLUCK IT OUT.
IF YOUR HAND OFFENDS YOU, CUT IT OFF."
WELL, HE OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T WANT YOU TO PULL YOUR EYE OUT
AND CUT YOUR HAND OFF BUT WHAT HE IS SAYING
IS IF YOU'RE TEMPTED TO LOOK AT THINGS
YOU SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT, CUT IT OFF.
IF YOU'RE TEMPTED TO DO THINGS WITH YOUR HANDS
YOU SHOULDN'T BE DOING WITH 'EM, THEN CUT THAT SIN OFF.
JUST DEAL VIOLENTLY WITH SIN AND SAY, "NO,"
AND DO IT AT THE ENEMY'S ONSET BECAUSE THE LONGER YOU LET HIM
RULE IN YOUR LIFE, THE HARDER IT'S GONNA BE
TO GET RID OF HIM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "[ROOTED, ESTABLISHED, STRONG, IMMOVABLE,
AND DETERMINED], KNOWING THAT THE SAME (IDENTICAL) SUFFERINGS
ARE APPOINTED TO YOUR BROTHERHOOD
(THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRISTIANS) THROUGHOUT THE WORLD."
SO ANOTHER MESSAGE I GET OUT OF THAT
IS DON'T SIT AROUND AND FEEL SORRY FOR YOURSELF, JOYCE,
BECAUSE YOU'RE HAVING TEMPTATIONS, YOU'RE GOING
THROUGH PROBLEMS.
EVERYBODY GOES THROUGH STUFF, AMEN?
ALL RIGHT, SO GET A LITTLE BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE
AND IT'S GONNA HELP YOU.
NOW, PROBABLY--THIS IS NOT ONLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE, THIS IS,
LIKE, ONE OF MY VERY, VERY, VERY FAVORITE.
SO JOHN CHAPTER 5, THE FIRST EIGHT VERSES:
"LATER ON THERE WAS A JEWISH FESTIVAL (A FEAST)
FOR WHICH JESUS WENT UP TO JERUSALEM.
AND NOW THERE IN JERUSALEM A POOL NEAR THE SHEEP GATE.
THIS POOL IN THE HEBREW IS CALLED BETHESDA.
IT HAVE FIVE PORCHES (ALCOVES, COLONNADES, OR DOORWAYS)."
SO I WANT YOU TO KIND OF GET A PICTURE OF THIS.
HERE'S A POOL AND APPARENTLY THERE'S NOT JUST
ONE ENTRANCE INTO IT; THERE'S FIVE DIFFERENT ENTRANCES
INTO THIS POOL.
AND IN THESE DOORWAYS OR BY THIS POOL
"LAY A GREAT NUMBER OF SICK PEOPLE--SOME WERE BLIND,
SOME WERE CRIPPLED, SOME WERE PARALYZED
(ALL SHRIVELED UP)--
WAITING FOR THE BUBBLING UP OF THE WATER.
FOR AN ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT DOWN AT AN APPOINTED SEASON
INTO THE POOL AND MOVED AND STIRRED UP THE WATER;
AND WHOEVER THEN FIRST, AFTER THE STIRRING UP
OF THE WATER, STEPPED IN WAS CURED OF WHATEVER DISEASE
WITH WHICH HE WAS AFFLICTED."
SO THIS WAS LIKE A MIRACLE POOL AND ONCE A YEAR
AN ANGEL WOULD COME AND MAKE THE WATER BOIL UP
AND BUBBLE UP AND, OF ALL THESE SICK PEOPLE
LAYING AROUND THE POOL, WHICHEVER ONE GOT INTO THE POOL
FIRST GOT A MIRACLE.
SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD.
"THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN THERE WHO HAD SUFFERED
WITH A DEEP-SEATED AND A LINGERING DISORDER
FOR 38 YEARS."
MAYBE I'LL STOP HERE AND ASK YOU HOW LONG YOU'VE HAD
YOUR PROBLEM.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WHEN JESUS NOTICED HIM LYING THERE [HELPLESS],"
NOW YOU KNOW JESUS WAS THE EPITOME OF COMPASSION,
WAS HE NOT?
BUT LET'S LOOK AT HOW HE DEALT WITH THIS MAN.
"WHEN JESUS NOTICED HIM LYING THERE [HELPLESS],
KNOWING THAT HE HAD ALREADY BEEN A LONG TIME IN THAT CONDITION,
HE SAID TO HIM, DO YOU WANT TO BECOME WELL?"
QUESTION MARK.
WHAT KIND OF A QUESTION IS THAT?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THEN HE TAKES IT FURTHER:
"[ARE YOU REALLY IN EARNEST ABOUT GETTING WELL?]"
ANOTHER QUESTION MARK.
SO REALLY, IN ESSENCE, JESUS IS SAYING TO THIS MAN
WHO'S BEEN LAYING THERE 38 YEARS WAITING FOR A MIRACLE,
"ARE YOU REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING OVER YOUR PROBLEMS?"
SO MAYBE I JUST WANNA STOP FOR A MINUTE AND JUST
SAY THAT TO YOU TONIGHT, AND ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE
WATCHING THIS BY TV.
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GET OVER YOUR PROBLEMS?
ARE YOU SERIOUS ENOUGH ABOUT GETTING OVER YOUR PROBLEMS
TO DO YOUR PART?
ARE YOU SERIOUS ENOUGH ABOUT GETTING OVER THEM
THAT WHATEVER GOD SHOWS YOU TO DO
YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO DO IT?
IF HE SAID TO YOU, YOU NEED TO WALK AWAY FROM THIS,
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO IT?
YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU, YOUR WHOLE LIFE WOULD CHANGE
IF YOU'D JUST GET SOME NEW FRIENDS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, I JUST MIGHT AS WELL GO AHEAD
AND SAY THIS 'CAUSE IT'S IN MY HEART.
SOME OF YOU WONDERFUL SWEET LADIES,
YOU ALREADY KNOW WHERE I'M GOING, DON'T YOU?
AND YOU WANT SO MUCH TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO LOVE YOU.
YOU GOT SOMEBODY IN YOUR LIFE THAT'S JUST BEEN
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOU FOR 5 OR 10 YEARS
AND THEY'RE NOT SERIOUS AND THEY DON'T EVER INTEND
TO MAKE IT SERIOUS, AND YOU JUST KEEP
PUTTING UP WITH IT AND PUTTING UP WITH IT
BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF BEING LONELY.
YOU KNOW, YOU'D BE BETTER OFF TO BE WITH NOBODY
THAN SOMEBODY THAT'S GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: NOW, YOU SEE, I CAN JUST PULL ALL THE STOPS
OUT TONIGHT AND BE REALLY WILD BECAUSE I'M LEAVING HERE
IN A FEW MINUTES AND--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BY THE TIME I COME BACK ANYTHING I SAID
YOU DIDN'T LIKE, YOU'LL FORGIVE ME FOR IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I DON'T KNOW WHY I FIND THIS SO INTERESTING.
A MAN LAYING THERE 38 YEARS, HE SAID, "ARE YOU REALLY SERIOUS
ABOUT GETTING WELL?"
"THE INVALID SAID--"
NOW HERE WE COME TO WHAT THE GUY'S REAL PROBLEM WAS.
"THE INVALID SAID, SIR, I HAVE NOBODY
WHEN THE WATER IS MOVING TO PUT ME INTO THE POOL;
BUT WHILE I'M TRYING TO GET INTO IT MYSELF,
SOMEBODY ELSE ALWAYS STEPS DOWN AND GETS AHEAD OF ME."
NOW, I MEAN, GOD'S REVEALED SOME STUFF TO ME
OUT OF THIS THAT I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYBODY TEACH IT BUT ME,
BUT I BELIEVE THIS.
I MEAN, IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT THAT,
THE GUY IS SAYING--
JESUS IS SAYING, "DO YOU--ARE YOU SERIOUS
ABOUT GETTING WELL?"
AND HE'S SAYING, "WELL, JESUS, I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP ME.
AND EVERY TIME I TRY TO GET IN THE POOL,
SOMEBODY ELSE ALWAYS GETS AHEAD OF ME."
I THINK IT'S LIKE A SELF-PITYING TYPE--WELL, POOR ME.
NOBODY'S MAKING IT HAPPEN FOR ME.
NOW, INSTEAD OF JESUS, MR. COMPASSION HIMSELF,
FEELING SORRY FOR THE GUY AND SAYING, "OH, YOU POOR MAN.
WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THAT.
NO WONDER-- I FEEL SO SORRY FOR YOU.
HERE, LET ME PUT YOU IN THE POOL."
"JESUS LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, GET UP!"
C'MON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU SEE THAT EXCLAMATION MARK THERE?
I THINK HE GOT LOUD ABOUT IT.
"GET UP!" AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT THAT IS
THE ONLY ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEM.
GET UP, STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF,
STOP EXPECTING SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO FOR YOU
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING FOR YOURSELF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I CAN SAY THAT WITH BOLDNESS
BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT GOD HAD TO SAY TO ME.
"ALL RIGHT, JOYCE, YOU WERE ABUSED.
THAT WASN'T FAIR.
IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU.
IT IS THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS YOU HAVE
BUT DON'T LET IT BECOME AN EXCUSE TO STAY THAT WAY."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DON'T LET THE REASON FOR YOUR PAIN BE AN EXCUSE
TO STAY MESSED UP ALL YOUR LIFE, AMEN?
I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN.
DON'T LET THE REASON FOR YOUR PAIN
BECOME AN EXCUSE TO STAY THAT WAY THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
JESUS SAYS, "DO YOU REALLY WANNA GET WELL?
ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING WELL?"
I'M GONNA TELL YOU, IF YOU'VE GOT A BIG MESS
IN YOUR LIFE, GETTING WELL IS NOT GONNA BE EASY,
BUT IT'S GONNA BE MUCH BETTER THAN LAYING THERE
FOR ANOTHER 38 YEARS WAITING FOR SOMEBODY
TO COME ALONG AND DO FOR YOU WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO
FOR YOURSELF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I LIKE THE REST OF THIS.
"JESUS SAID, GET UP!
PICK UP YOUR BED AND WALK!" SO HE NOT ONLY TOLD HIM
TO GET UP, HE SAID, "AND CLEAN UP THE MESS YOU MADE
WHILE YOU WERE HERE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SEE, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ABOUT JUST GETTING WELL
AND GOING ON WITH YOUR NICE LITTLE LIFE.
I MEAN, I HAD SOME MESSES I'D MADE THAT I HAD TO GO BACK
AND STRAIGHTEN OUT.
SOMETIMES, THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE YOU'VE GOTTA GO BACK
AND MAKE A FEW THINGS RIGHT WITH AND THERE MIGHT BE A FEW THINGS
THAT YOU NEED TO GO BACK AND SAY YOU'RE SORRY FOR AND GET
STRAIGHTENED OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
LUKE CHAPTER 5, THE FIRST EIGHT VERSES.
NOW, DAVE AND I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE ONE TIME
AND WE BOTH PICKED OUT SOME BOOKS WE WANTED
AND, FOR SOME REASON, WHEN WE GOT IN THE CAR,
I PULLED ONE OF THE ONES THAT HE BOUGHT OUT OF THE BAG
AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT JUST STRUCK ME AND I KNEW
THAT I WANTED TO READ IT.
AND THE TITLE OF IT WAS "EXPERIENCING THE DEPTHS
OF JESUS CHRIST," BY MADAM JEANNE GUYON
WHO LIVED IN THE 1600S.
AND I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE TITLE ON THE FRONT
OF THE BOOK BUT I FELT THAT I WAS SUPPOSED
TO READ IT.
AND LO AND BEHOLD, NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS,
I WAS NOT ONLY STARTING TO READ THE BOOK
BUT I CAME ACROSS LUKE CHAPTER 5 IN THE BIBLE
AND IT IS TALKING ABOUT COMING OUT INTO THE DEEP
AND GETTING READY FOR A HAUL.
YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF KNOW WHEN GOD'S TRYING TO GET
YOUR ATTENTION ON SOMETHING, DON'T YOU?
WHEN HE IS, YOU HEAR IT ON THE PULPIT,
YOU HEAR IT ON THE RADIO, YOU SEE IT ON THE TV,
YOU GET IT IN THE MAIL.
IT'S, LIKE, "OKAY, GOD, I'M NOT REALLY THAT DUMB.
FOUR CONFIRMATIONS AND I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING
TO ME," OKAY?
AND SO THIS BOOK THAT SHE WAS WRITING
WAS REALLY LIKE ONE OF MY FIRST REAL UNDERSTANDINGS
ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD LIVES IN US.
AND I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT I'D NEVER HEARD IT.
I'D BEEN IN SOME GOOD CHURCHES BUT I JUST WASN'T
REALLY GETTING IT LIKE SHE WAS BRINGING IT ACROSS,
THAT GOD LIVES IN US AND WE CAN TALK TO HIM SILENTLY.
ALL PRAYER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE VERBAL PRAYER
THAT WE PRAY OUT LOUD.
AND SHE WAS REALLY TALKING ABOUT LIVING A DEEPER LIFE
AND REALLY LEARNING HOW TO LIVE INSIDE OUT,
BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT RATHER THAN BEING LED BY OUR FLESH.
AND YOU KNOW, JESUS SAID THAT WE ARE TO BE ROOTED DEEP
IN HIS LOVE AND WE ARE TO BE
ROOTED DEEP IN HIM.
AND SO THE BIBLE TALKS A LOT ABOUT GOING A LITTLE BIT DEEPER.
AND FOR ME, THAT MEANS LEARNING TO WALK BY THE SPIRIT
RATHER THAN WALKING BY WHAT I THINK,
WHAT I WANT, AND HOW I FEEL.
WE LIVE A LOT ON THE SURFACE LEVEL.
WE LIVE A LOT BASED ON, "WELL, THIS IS WHAT I WANT
AND, GOD, THIS IS WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO GIVE ME,"
AND WE BASE A LOT ON HOW WE FEEL AND WHAT WE THINK
AND HOW THINGS LOOK.
HOW MANY OF YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
WE JUST BASE A LOT ON THIS EXTERIOR REALM.
AND IT'S REALLY CALLED THE FLESH.
AND GOD DOESN'T WANT US TO WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.
HE WANTS US TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT AND THAT MEANS
WE HAVE TO REALLY PAY CLOSE ATTENTION
TO WHAT'S IN OUR HEART AND WHAT WE FEEL LIKE
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LEADING US TO DO AND, GUESS WHAT?
IF OUR FLESH DOESN'T HAPPEN TO AGREE,
THEN THE SPIRIT HAS TO WIN.
AND IF THE FLESH DOESN'T LIKE IT,
THEN IT JUST HAS TO SUFFER AND GET OVER IT
BECAUSE GOD NEEDS TO GET HIS WAY IF WE EVER REALLY WANNA BE HAPPY
IN OUR LIVES.
SO HAVING SAID THAT, LUKE CHAPTER 5,
THE FIRST EIGHT VERSES: "NOW IT OCCURRED THAT WHILE
THE PEOPLE PRESSED UPON JESUS TO HEAR THE MESSAGE OF GOD,
HE WAS STANDING BY THE LAKE OF GENNESARET
(THE SEA OF GALILEE).
AND HE SAW TWO BOATS DRAWN UP BY THE LAKE,
BUT THE FISHERMEN HAD GONE DOWN FROM THEM AND THEY WERE
WASHING THEIR NETS.
AND GETTING INTO ONE OF THE BOATS, [THE ONE]
THAT BELONGED TO SIMON (PETER), HE REQUESTED HIM
TO DRAW A LITTLE BIT AWAY FROM THE SHORE.
AND THEN HE SAT DOWN AND CONTINUED TO TEACH
THE CROWD [OF PEOPLE]
AND WHEN HE HAD STOPPED SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE,
HE TURNED TO SIMON (PETER) AND HE SAID,
PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP [WATER], AND LOWER YOUR NETS FOR A HAUL."
NOW, SOME OF YOU ARE WAITING FOR A HAUL OF BLESSINGS
IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU WOULD LOVE NOTHING BETTER THAN IF THE BIGGEST DUMP TRUCK
IN TOWN WOULD BACK UP TO YOUR DRIVEWAY AND JUST
LOAD YOU DOWN WITH BLESSINGS.
AND JESUS SAID, "IF YOU WANT THAT,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO OUT INTO THE DEEPER PLACES."
"GO OUT INTO THE DEEP, AND LOWER YOUR NETS FOR A HAUL.
AND SIMON (PETER) ANSWERED, MASTER, WE TOILED ALL NIGHT
[EXHAUSTINGLY] AND WE CAUGHT NOTHING [IN OUR NETS]"
SO WHAT'S HE SAYING?
"NOW, JESUS, WE'VE BEEN FISHING ALL NIGHT AND WE ARE BONE TIRED.
AND WE HAVE COME IN NOW AND WE'VE WASHED THESE NETS
AND THAT IS A BIG JOB."
AND, IN ESSENCE, PETER WAS SAYING,
"I DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA.
I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA WORK, AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING IT."
BUT NOW, LOOK AT THE NEXT THING HE SAYS.
"BUT ON THE GROUND OF YOUR WORD--"
I LOVE THIS.
"BUT ON THE GROUND OF YOUR WORD, I WILL LOWER THE NETS [AGAIN]"
SO HE'S SAYING, "I DON'T WANT TO.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA AND, FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK
IT'S GONNA WORK BUT IF THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY TO DO,
THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO."
NOW LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WHEN YOU DECIDE TO LIVE
ON THAT LEVEL, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET READY
FOR A HAUL OF BLESSINGS IN YOUR LIFE.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS WEEK-LONG STUDY
OF SOME OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES HAS INSPIRED YOU
TO REALLY DIG INTO GOD'S WORD AND APPLY IT TO YOUR OWN LIFE.
GOD'S WORD IS SO FULL OF POWER AND YOU'LL BE AMAZED
AT THE CHANGES YOU WILL SEE IN YOUR OWN LIFE.
TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU THIS 4 HOURS OF TEACHING
ON "MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES."
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE SOME OF THEM WILL BECOME YOUR FAVORITES TOO
OR YOU MAY HAVE SOME THAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES ALREADY,
THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN LIFE-CHANGING TO YOU.
AND I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THESE FOUR TEACHINGS.
IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO PUT THESE TOGETHER.
I DID A LOT OF THINKING ABOUT WHICH ONES WERE REALLY
THE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND WE'RE OFFERING THIS TO YOU TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT
TO THE MINISTRY OF ANY AMOUNT.
WE TRUST YOU TO DO YOUR VERY BEST
AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL.
NOW IF YOU'LL STAY WITH US, I'M GONNA PRAY RIGHT AFTER THIS
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING
SICKNESS IN YOUR BODY.
THANK YOU.
ANNOUNCER: IN MORE THAN 42 YEARS OF TEACHING THE BIBLE,
JOYCE MEYER HAS EXPERIENCED THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD.
IN HER FOUR-CD SERIES, "MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES,"
AND THE ACCOMPANYING BOOKLET, JOYCE SHARES
SOME OF THE KEY SCRIPTURES THAT CHANGED HER LIFE
AND LED TO MAJOR TURNING POINTS IN HER WALK WITH GOD.
JOYCE: BIBLE SAYS IN ZECHARIAH THAT IF WE WILL
BECOME PRISONERS OF HOPE THAT GOD WILL RESTORE DOUBLE
EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE EVER LOST.
SO IF WE, AS BELIEVERS IN CHRIST,
WILL BECOME SO FULL OF HOPE THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE ENEMY
THROWS AT US, WE STILL HAVE GOT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE,
SOMETHING GOOD IS GONNA HAPPEN.
ANNOUNCER: IT'S JOYCE'S HOPE THAT YOU'LL BE INSPIRED
TO STUDY THE BIBLE YOURSELF AND DISCOVER YOUR OWN
FAVORITE SCRIPTURES THAT WILL LEAD YOU
TO A LIFE-CHANGING ENCOUNTER WITH GOD.
THIS SERIES IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT.
TO ORDER CALL US TOLL-FREE...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: GOD'S WORD HAS THE POWER
TO CHANGE OUR LIVES IN EVERY AREA,
INCLUDING OUR HEALTH.
JESUS WANTS US TO BE HEALTHY AND WHOLE,
AND YET SO MANY OF US STRUGGLE IN THE AREA OF HAVING PAIN
AND SICKNESS.
SO TODAY I WANNA PRAY FOR YOUR HEALING.
THAT'S WHAT WE SEE THE APOSTLES DOING,
THAT JESUS HEALED PEOPLE ALL THE TIME,
SO I WANNA PRAY FOR YOU AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE
SCRIPTURES RECORDED THAT YOU CAN HAVE AS A FREE GIFT.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THEM AND GET AN AUDIO
OF THESE AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD.
SO LET'S PRAY.
FATHER, WE THANK YOU THAT YOU SENT JESUS
TO DIE FOR OUR SINS AND TO HEAL OUR SICKNESSES
AND OUR DISEASES.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE MEDICAL HELP
THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED.
I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY COULD HELP US
IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE
YOU'RE BEHIND ALL HEALING.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, I KNOW THAT
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT DOCTORS CANNOT SOLVE,
MEDICINE CANNOT SOLVE, AND EVEN IF IT HELPS,
WE STILL NEED YOUR HEALING TOUCH.
AND SO I SAY IN JESUS' NAME FOR PEOPLE TO BE HEALED TODAY
THROUGH THE POWER OF YOUR WORD AND JUST THE MENTION
OF THAT NAME, JESUS, EVERY KNEE HAS TO BOW
AND I BELIEVE THAT SICKNESS HAS TO BOW
AT THE MENTION OF THAT NAME.
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, YOU ARE OUR HEALER.
THANK YOU.
WELL, GOD BLESS YOU AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE
GONNA START FEELING BETTER.
BE SURE YOU GET THIS FREE DOWNLOAD
AND LISTEN TO THE RECORDING OF THESE SCRIPTURES.
LET THEM GET DOWN IN YOU AND GET SOAKED INTO YOUR SPIRIT.
I THINK THEY'LL HELP YOU.
ANNOUNCER: THIS CHRISTMAS YOU CAN HELP MAKE
THE HOLIDAY SEASON A LITTLE BRIGHTER FOR SOMEONE ELSE
THROUGH THE HAND OF HOPE CHRISTMAS CATALOG.
MAKE A DONATION AS A SPECIAL GIFT
FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE OR SIMPLY GIVE
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO AND CHOOSE THE AREA YOU WANT:
FEEDING PROGRAMS; WATER WELLS; EDUCATION INITIATIVES;
OUR GIRLS' AND WOMEN'S MINISTRY, PROJECT GRL;
OR MEDICAL AND DENTAL OUTREACHES,
WITH THE HAND OF HOPE CHRISTMAS CATALOG.
GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CHRISTMAS AND MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
JOYCE: WELL, THERE'S REALLY NO SPECIAL FORMULA
TO SPENDING TIME WITH GOD.
IT'S JUST VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO IT.
MAKING THIS A PRIORITY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
LIKE NOTHING ELSE.
I KNOW IT HAS MINE.
AND NOW I WANNA HELP YOU ENRICH YOUR TIME WITH GOD
BY SHARING SOME THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS FROM MY OWN LIFE
IN MY BRAND NEW DEVOTIONAL CALLED "MY TIME WITH GOD."
LET'S FOCUS ON HIM TOGETHER AND MY PRAYER
IS THAT THESE SCRIPTURES AND DECLARATIONS OF FAITH
WILL HELP YOU GROW DEEPER IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
A LITTLE BIT MORE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ANNOUNCER: ORDER YOUR COPY OF JOYCE'S NEW DEVOTIONAL,
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
CALL...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU, FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
TOGETHER, WE'RE SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST AROUND THE WORLD.
TO FIND OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US
OR VISIT US ONLINE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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