ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: EXODUS 17 VERSE 3, "BUT THE PEOPLE THIRSTED
THERE FOR WATER, AND THE PEOPLE MURMURED AGAINST MOSES."
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING.
IT'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY ELSE'S FAULT.
"AND SAID, 'WHY DID YOU BRING US OUT OF EGYPT?'"
YOU JUST BROUGHT US OUT HERE TO KILL US.
WE'RE GOING TO DIE OF THIRST.
SO IN VERSE--IN CHAPTER 16, THEY WERE GOING TO DIE OF
HUNGER, IN CHAPTER 17, NOW THEY'RE DYING OF THIRST.
THESE GUYS HAVE GOT SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NUMBERS 21:4-7.
"AND THEY JOURNEYED FROM MOUNT HOR BY WAY OF THE RED SEA,
TO GO AROUND THE LAND OF EDOM, AND THE PEOPLE BECAME IMPATIENT
(DEPRESSED AND MUCH DISCOURAGED),
BECAUSE [OF THE TRIALS].
THE PEOPLE SPOKE AGAINST GOD AND AGAINST MOSES, 'WHY HAVE YOU
BROUGHT US OUT OF EGYPT SO WE COULD JUST DIE OUT HERE?
WE DON'T HAVE ANY BREAD.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY WATER.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, WE ARE FED UP WITH THIS MIRACLE MANNA
THAT'S COMING OUT OF THE SKY EVERY DAY.'"
NOW, COME ON.
I MEAN, COME ON.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY I JUST FEEL THE URGENCY SOMETIMES TO TELL
PEOPLE: MORE THAN YOU NEED A MIRACLE, YOU NEED
SPIRITUAL MATURITY.
BECAUSE YOU SEE, IF GOD GIVES YOU A MIRACLE AND YOU STILL
HAVEN'T GROWN UP SPIRITUALLY, THEN THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE
A PROBLEM, YOU GOT TO HAVE ANOTHER MIRACLE.
THEN THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, YOU GOT TO HAVE
ANOTHER MIRACLE.
BUT IF YOU'RE SPIRITUALLY MATURE, THEN YOU CAN BE
THE SAME NO MATTER WHAT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE.
AND THAT'S GOD'S GOAL IN OUR LIVES.
NOT TO JUST KEEP HAVING TO TREAT US LIKE BABIES, WHERE THE ONLY
WAY WE CAN BE HAPPY IS IF WE GOT OUR BOTTLE AND OUR PACIFIER AND
OUR BLANKIE AND ALL THAT STUFF.
CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW EXCITED THEY WERE ABOUT THAT MANNA
THE FIRST TIME THEY SAW IT?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "OH, THIS IS SO COOL.
GOD, OUR GOD, IS AN AWESOME GOD."
IF THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT SONG, THEN THEY WOULD
HAVE BEEN SINGING IT.
[SINGING]
"OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD.
HE REIGNS."
I MEAN, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DOIN' IT.
BUT AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF MANNA, WE ARE SICK OF THIS MANNA.
SEE, THAT PROVES THAT YOU GET A MIRACLE AND IT DON'T TAKE LONG
AND IF YOU GOT A GROUCHY HEART, THE GROUCHY HEART'S GOING TO
COME RIGHT BACK OUT AND GROUCH EVEN ABOUT THE MIRACLE
THAT YOU GOT.
BUT YOU SEE, WE PRAY FOR SOMETHIN'
AND THEN WE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
THEY HAD MANNA; NOW THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT.
BUT NOW WATCH VERSE 7-- OR VERSE 6.
"THEN THE LORD," DON'T FORGET VERSES 4 AND 5.
THEY GOT IMPATIENT.
THEY GOT DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THEIR TRIALS.
VERSE 5, THEY SPOKE AGAINST GOD, AGAINST MOSES.
"WE HAVE NO WATER.
WE HAVE NO BREAD.
WE'RE SICK OF THE MANNA."
VERSE 6.
"THEN THE LORD SENT FIERY (BURNING) SERPENTS AMONG
THE PEOPLE, AND THEY BIT THEM, AND THEY DIED."
PROGRESSION.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: MURMUR, GRUMBLE, COMPLAIN.
DON'T APPRECIATE THE MIRACLES OF GOD.
GRUMBLE, FIND FAULT.
THE DOOR IS OPENED FOR SERPENTS.
THEY BITE YOU; YOU DIE.
[LAUGHING AND APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I LOVE THIS.
THIS JUST--THIS IS LIKE A COMEDY TO ME.
VERSE SEVEN.
"AND THE PEOPLE CAME TO MOSES, AND SAID, 'WE HAVE SINNED.'"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE HAD TO DIE BEFORE THEY
GOT IT.
AND THEY ALL DROPPED DEAD IN ONE DAY.
IT'S LIKE, "WOW, SOMETHING'S GOIN' ON HERE, FOLKS.
PEOPLE ARE DYING RIGHT AND LEFT.
YOU THINK MAYBE WE'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG?"
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S COMICAL, BUT THE THING THAT YOU--THAT WE
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THIS WAS BECAUSE OF COMPLAINING,
SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T EVEN SEE IS A SIN.
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT 99% OF PEOPLE, CHRISTIANS
WHO COMPLAIN, DON'T EVER REPENT FOR DOING IT.
THEY DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S A PROBLEM.
"OH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST A HUMAN BEING."
WELL, YEAH, DUH, BUT YOU'RE A BORN AGAIN HUMAN BEING
FULL OF GOD, FULL OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
MURMUR, GRUMBLE, FIND FAULT, AND COMPLAIN.
CAN ANY OF YOU THINK OF SOMETHING RIGHT THIS MINUTE THAT
YOU'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT?
COME ON, LET'S DON'T FLY THE FLAG AT HALF MAST.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OKAY, WELL I'M NOT EVEN GONNA TELL YOU STOP IT.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU START PRAYING ABOUT IT.
START PRAYING ABOUT IT.
PHILIPPIANS 2:14.
"DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT GRUMBLING, FAULT-FINDING,
COMPLAINING AGAINST GOD, AND QUESTIONING AND DOUBTING
AMONG YOURSELVES."
AND THEN VERSE 15 GOES ON TO SAY THAT YOU MAY SHOW YOURSELF TO BE
A BRIGHT LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD, THAT YOU MAY SHOW YOURSELF
TO BE CHILDREN OF GOD.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOD IS LOOKING FOR IS A DIFFERENCE
IN US IN THE WORLD TO WHERE THEIR COMPLAINING, GRUMBLING,
MURMURING, AND FINDING FAULT WITH EVERYTHING,
WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.
WE'RE NOT TO GOSSIP, JUDGE, OR CRITICIZE.
NOW, LET ME JUST SAY A WORD ABOUT THIS WHOLE REALM
OF JUDGING THINGS BEFORE I GET INTO THIS.
ACTUALLY, PAUL DID TELL US TO JUDGE SIN.
AND HE EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY IF THE PERSON WON'T REPENT
AND BE RESTORED AND THEY CONTINUE IN THAT BEHAVIOR,
THEN YOU SHOULD NOT FELLOWSHIP WITH 'EM.
SO WHEN I SAY DON'T JUDGE, WE DON'T ALL JUST NO LONGER SEE SIN
OR WE'RE GOING TO JUST GLOSS OVER THINGS AND LET ALL KINDS
OF JUNK BE IN THE CHURCH AND WE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO JUDGE.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUDGE.
THAT'S TAKING IT TO THE OTHER EXTREME.
ACTUALLY, PAUL SAID WE'RE NOT CALLED TO THOSE--TO JUDGE THOSE
OUTSIDE THE CHURCH, BUT WE ALL CALL--WE ARE CALLED TO JUDGE
THOSE INSIDE THE CHURCH.
HOWEVER, HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT JUDGING SOMEBODY'S HEART.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE SIN.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HATE THE SIN AND LOVE THE SINNER.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WHEN SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING, WE NOT ONLY JUDGE THE SIN, WE
JUDGE THEM AND THEN VERY OFTEN, FROM THEN ON, WE HAVE
AN ATTITUDE ABOUT THEM.
AND OUR RELIGIOUS ATTITUDE WON'T EVEN LET THEM RECOVER.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT YOU'RE TO BEAR WITH THE FAILINGS
OF THE WEAK.
YOU'RE TO PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE DOING THINGS THAT ARE WRONG.
WE WANT TO REMEMBER WHAT JESUS PRAYED ON THE CROSS.
"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM.
THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO."
WHAT THEY DID WAS WRONG, BUT HE KNEW THAT THEY WERE DECEIVED.
I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT WE JUDGE HARSHLY AND CRITICALLY
ARE JUST DECEIVED.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE DECEIVED, YOU'RE BELIEVING
A LIE.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUDGE ME CRITICALLY AND
JUDGE MY BEHAVIOR AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME.
I'D BEEN ABUSED BY MY DAD AND I HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS IN MY
SOUL AND MAN, I WAS GETTING UP EVERY DAY AND DOING THE BEST
I COULD.
BUT TRUTH WAS, I WAS OBNOXIOUS.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT.
AND I DIDN'T NEED SOMEBODY'S CRITICISM.
I NEEDED PRAYER.
AND, MORE THAN ANYTHING, I NEEDED A GOOD EXAMPLE IN FRONT
OF ME TO SHOW ME WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE BECAUSE
I HAD NEVER HAD A GOOD EXAMPLE.
AND THAT WAS WHAT GOD GAVE ME IN DAVE WAS A SOLID, STABLE,
GOOD EXAMPLE.
AND HE JUST KEPT BEING WHAT HE WAS, WHICH WAS A MAN OF GOD,
UNTIL I GOT IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE.
WE NEED TO BE SOLID, STABLE, GOOD EXAMPLES FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK
AT SO THEY WANT WHAT WE WANT.
INSTEAD OF JUST, "WELL, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU?
WHY AREN'T YOU THIS?
YOU NEED TO CHANGE."
JUDGE THE SIN, BUT BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DON'T TURN AGAINST
THE SINNER.
NOW, WE DO NEED TO BE CAREFUL WHO WE HANG OUT WITH.
BUT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN HAVING CLOSE
FELLOWSHIP WITH SOMEBODY AND BEING DOWNRIGHT RUDE TO 'EM.
AMEN?
YOU GOT TO BE LED BY GOD.
YOU JUST CAN'T GO IN LIKE A BULL IN A CHINA CABINET AND, "LET ME
GIVE YOU MY GOSPEL TRACTS AND THREE JOYCE MEYER BOOKS AND
A NEW RENDITION OF THE BIBLE AND I'M GOING TO STRAIGHTEN
YOU OUT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T JUDGE SIN, BUT YOU
STILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU TREAT THE SINNER.
NOW, MATTHEW 7.
I THINK THE--I THINK THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT
AREA FOR CHRISTIANS BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT WE GET OUR RELIGIOUS,
SNOOTY NOSES UP IN THE AIR, AND BOY, SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING
WRONG AND THEY'RE LIKE OUT.
BETTER REMEMBER BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, THERE GO I.
OKAY, NOW, I DON'T KNOW--IF YOU WEREN'T HERE LAST NIGHT,
I JUST GOTTA REITERATE THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED RESTUDYING FOR
MYSELF THIS WHOLE SPECTRUM OF THE WORDS AGAIN, WHICH I'VE BEEN
ON THIS JOURNEY FOR A WHILE NOW, IT WAS ACTUALLY THROUGH SEEKING
GOD ABOUT WANTING TO SEE GREATER AND MORE POWERFUL
ANSWERS TO PRAYER.
ARE YOU WITH ME?
HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED?
ALL RIGHT.
AND HE LED ME TO A SCRIPTURE IN ISAIAH, WHICH I READ LAST NIGHT,
WHERE HE BASICALLY SAID, "YOU'LL CALL AND I'LL SAY, 'HERE I AM'
IF YOU TAKE AWAY FROM YOU THE FINGER POINTED IN SCORN
TOWARD THE OPPRESSED OR THE GODLY AND YOU GET RID OF
EVERY FORM OF FALSE, HARSH, UNJUST, WICKED SPEAKING."
SO WE SEE RIGHT THERE THAT GOD IS SAYING, "HEY, I WILL ANSWER
YOUR PRAYERS SPEEDILY IF YOU STOP JUDGING PEOPLE AND YOU
START GETTING REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT'S COMING OUT OF YOUR
MOUTH THE REST OF THE TIME WHEN YOU'RE NOT PRAYING."
NOW, HERE'S ANOTHER SCRIPTURE THAT PRETTY MUCH SAYS
THE SAME THING, ONLY A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY.
MATTHEW 7:1, "DON'T JUDGE AND CRITICIZE AND
CONDEMN OTHERS, SO THAT YOU MAY NOT BE JUDGED AND CRITICIZED
AND CONDEMNED YOURSELVES."
EVERYBODY SAY, "I REAP WHAT I SOW."
AUDIENCE: I REAP WHAT I SOW.
JOYCE: I WONDER IF WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE REALLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
WE REALLY DON'T.
WE SAY WE DO, BUT WE DON'T BECAUSE IF WE REALLY BELIEVED
IT, WE WOULDN'T DO SOME OF THE STUFF WE DO.
"FOR JUST AS YOU JUDGE AND CRITICIZE AND CONDEMN OTHERS,
YOU WILL BE JUDGED AND CRITICIZED AND CONDEMNED, AND
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEASURE YOU [USE TO] DEAL OUT
TO OTHERS, IT WILL BE DEALT OUT TO YOU AGAIN.
WHY DO YOU STARE FROM WITHOUT AT THE VERY SMALL PARTICLE THAT'S
IN YOUR BROTHER'S EYE BUT DON'T BECOME AWARE OF AND CONSIDER THE
BEAM OF TIMBER IN YOUR OWN EYE?" I THINK IT'S THE MESSAGE OF
THE LIVING BIBLE.
ONE OF 'EM SAYS, "WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO TAKE THE TOOTHPICK OUT
OF YOUR BROTHER'S EYE WHEN YOU HAVE A TELEPHONE POLE
IN YOUR OWN EYE?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY THE TRUTH BECAUSE
IT'S LIKE WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS OF OUR OWN AND WE'RE
IGNORING THEM, AND WE'RE WEARING THIS RELIGIOUS CLOAK, IT MAKES
US JUST LOOK AT EVERYBODY ELSE THROUGH A MAGNIFYING GLASS AND
HERE WE ARE TRYING TO FIX THEM AND WE HAVE NO ABILITY TO
FIX THEM BECAUSE WE'RE SUCH A MESS OURSELVES.
"HOW CAN YOU SAY TO YOUR BROTHER," VERSE 4, "LET ME
GET THE TINY PARTICLE OUT OF YOUR EYE, WHEN THERE IS A BEAM
OF TIMBER OF IN YOUR OWN EYE?
YOU HYPOCRITE, FIRST GET THE BEAM OF TIMBER OUT OF YOUR
OWN EYE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO TAKE THE TINY
PARTICLE OUT OF YOUR BROTHER'S EYE."
YOU SEE, ONCE WE LET GOD DEAL WITH US AND THERE'S A DEEP
DEGREE OF HUMILITY THAT COMES INTO OUR LIVES BECAUSE WE'VE
SEEN OUR OWN SIN, NOW WE CAN HELP RESTORE OUR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS WITH A SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS AND A SPIRIT OF LOVE
THAT WILL ACTUALLY BRING RESTORATION IN THEIR LIFE,
RATHER THAN CONDEMNATION.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH
SOMEBODY THAT'S GOT A WEAKNESS IN AN AREA, IF YOU HAVE ALSO HAD
THAT SAME WEAKNESS AND BY GOD'S GRACE AND MERCY YOU'VE OVERCOME
IT, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE MUCH MORE GENTLE IN HOW
YOU DEAL WITH THEM THAN IF, "WELL, I, YOU KNOW, I JUST CAN'T
BELIEVE YOU DID THAT."
IT'S AMAZING HOW IF WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM,
WE JUST DON'T GET IT.
"DO NOT GIVE THAT WHICH IS HOLY (THE SACRED THING) TO THE DOGS,
AND DON'T THROW YOUR PEARLS BEFORE HOGS, LEST THEY TRAMPLE
ON THEM WITH THEIR FEET AND TURN AND TEAR YOU IN PIECES."
NOW, WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN?
IT'S LIKE, "WHOA, WHERE DID THAT GO?"
I BELIEVE I HAVE UNDERSTANDING ON WHAT THAT MEANS.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A HOLY THING IN US.
WE HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD IN US.
AND HE SAYS, "DON'T THROW THAT HOLY THING IN FRONT OF
THE DEVIL AND LET HIM JUST TRAMPLE ALL OVER IT."
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOVE PEOPLE, SO DON'T BE CRITICAL
AND JUDGMENTAL AND FAULT-FINDING WHEN YOU COULD BE MERCIFUL
AND HELP BRING RESTORATION.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS STILL TEACHING A SMALL HOME BIBLE
STUDY, I HAD THREE CHILDREN AT THE TIME AND I'D ALWAYS FELT
REALLY GOOD WHEN I WAS PREGNANT.
I'D BE A LITTLE TIRED THE FIRST SIX WEEKS AND OTHER THAN THAT,
YOU WOULDN'T EVEN HARDLY KNOW I WAS PREGNANT.
I DID ALL MY WORK, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T GET SICK TO MY STOMACH.
NONE OF THAT.
AND SO WHILE I WAS TEACHING MY BIBLE STUDY, THE LEADER OF
THE BIBLE STUDY, THERE WAS A YOUNG GIRL THAT CAME
ALL THE TIME THAT GOT PREGNANT.
SHE ALREADY HAD A COUPLE KIDS AND SHE GOT PREGNANT AGAIN AND
SO SHE STARTED MISSING BIBLE STUDY ALL THE TIME BECAUSE
SHE DIDN'T FEEL GOOD, "I DIDN'T FEEL GOOD."
NAUSEATED, TIRED, DIDN'T FEEL GOOD.
WELL, I REMEMBER ME AND TWO OR THREE OTHERS OF THE SISTERS--
THERE WERE NO BROTHERS, JUST THE SISTERS.
AND WE WERE DISCUSSING WHAT A SHAME IT WAS THAT SHE
DIDN'T DISCIPLINE HERSELF AND HOW RIDICULOUS IT WAS
BECAUSE SHE NEEDED THIS WORD THAT I WAS TEACHING.
YOU UNDERSTAND?
SHE NEEDED MY SPIRITUAL INPUT IN HER LIFE.
[LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND HERE SHE WOULDN'T--WAS JUST--
YOU JUST NEED TO SUCK IT UP AND JUST DO IT.
WELL, WE JUST WENT ON, NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NOW, MIND YOU, NONE OF US OFFERED TO HELP HER.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NONE OF US OFFERED TO GO CLEAN HER HOUSE THAT DAY SO
SHE COULD COME OR--WE DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO PRAY FOR HER.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE JUST HAD OUR OPINIONS.
SO I GOT PREGNANT FOR THE FOURTH TIME WITH MY CHILD THAT IS NOW
29 AND I WAS A WOMAN OF FAITH AND I BELIEVED GOD FOR THAT
PREGNANCY TO BE PERFECT.
NOW, I DIDN'T EVEN PRAY OVER THE OTHER THREE BECAUSE
I DIDN'T KNOW TO, BUT NOW I'M A WOMAN OF FAITH AND POWER.
AND I WAS SO SICK.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I WANT TO TELL YOU I WAS TIRED.
I WAS NAUSEATED.
I MEAN, FROM THE TOP OF MY HEAD TO THE BOTTOM OF MY FEET, I FELT
HORRIBLE, SICK, SICK, HORRIBLE.
NO ENERGY AT ALL.
COULDN'T HARDLY DRAG MYSELF OFF THE COUCH.
"WELL, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WRONG.
I'VE BEEN PRAYING.
I'M REBUKING DEVILS.
I'M BELIEVING GOD."
AND I JUST STAYED SICK.
AND ONE DAY, I COULD HEAR MY FAMILY OUT IN THE YARD, DAVE
WAS OUT IN THE BACKYARD WITH THE KIDS AND THEY WERE PLAYING
BALL OR SOMETHING AND I'M LIKE, "I JUST WISH I COULD GO OUTSIDE
WITH MY FAMILY AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE TO BE SO SICK."
SO I SAID TO GOD--THIS IS SUCH A VALUABLE THING.
I SAID TO GOD, "OKAY, WHAT'S WRONG HERE?"
I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU WHEN THINGS AREN'T GOING RIGHT
TO SAY THAT, BUT BE OPEN TO GOD TOUCHING SOMETHING
IN YOUR HEART FIRST.
THE MINUTE THAT I SAID THAT TO GOD, IT WAS LIKE I HAD A VISION
AND I SAW THAT WOMAN THAT HAD BEEN IN MY BIBLE
STUDY YEARS BEFORE.
AND I SAW ME AND THE SISTERS.
AND I KNEW--THE NEXT THING THAT I THOUGHT OF WAS MATTHEW 7.
I GOT MATTHEW 7 OUT AND I READ IT AND I KNEW THAT I KNEW
THAT I KNEW THAT I WAS REAPING WHAT I HAD SOWN.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT EXPERIENCE BECAUSE NOTHING
IMPACTS YOU LIKE HAVING A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WHERE
YOU KNOW THAT GOD HAS GOT YOUR NUMBER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
AND WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
I PRAYED AND ASKED GOD TO FORGIVE ME AND I IMMEDIATELY
STARTED FEELING BETTER AND FELT GOOD THE REST OF THAT PREGNANCY.
I HAD OPENED THE DOOR THROUGH JUDGMENT.
BUT NOW HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE.
AND I'D BEEN READING MATTHEW 7, BUT FOR SOME REASON I THINK
I THOUGHT WHEN HE TOOK OFF ON PRAYER IN VERSE 7, WE
WERE NOW GOING TO A NEW SUBJECT.
BUT NOW I KNOW BETTER.
NOW I KNOW THAT HE'S SAYING, "AND SO," LET'S JUST
PUT IT LIKE THIS.
"IF YOU WON'T JUDGE AND CRITICIZE AND CONDEMN, IF YOU
WON'T POINT THE FINGER AT PEOPLE AND SAY UGLY THINGS ABOUT 'EM,
IF YOU'LL LOVE PEOPLE, NOW YOU CAN KEEP ON ASKING AND IT WILL
BE GIVEN YOU; KEEP ON SEEKING AND YOU WILL FIND;
KEEP ON KNOCKING [REVERENTLY]
AND [THE DOOR] WILL BE OPENED.
FOR EVERYONE WHO KEEPS ON ASKING RECEIVES; AND HE WHO KEEPS ON
SEEKING FINDS; AND HE WHO KEEPS ON KNOCKING, TO HIM
[THE DOOR] WILL BE OPENED."
I BELIEVE HE'S VERY CLEARLY SAYING THERE IF YOU WANT YOUR
PRAYERS TO GET ANSWERED, THEN STOP JUDGING
AND CRITICIZING AND POINTING THE FINGER AT OTHER PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY OF YOU CAN SEE THAT?
I MEAN, IT'S JUST AS PLAIN AS IT CAN BE.
HE WASN'T TALKING ABOUT ONE SUBJECT AND THEN SUDDENLY HE
WENT TO SOME OTHER TOTALLY UNRELATED SUBJECT.
WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN AFTER THAT START TALKING ABOUT HOW TO GET
YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED?
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON'T WANT TO WASTE MY TIME.
I'M NOT A PERSON WHO LIKES TO WASTE TIME, SO IF I'M GOING TO
PRAY, I WANT RESULTS.
IF I'M GOING TO TAKE MY TIME AND MY EFFORT AND MY ENERGY AND I'M
GOING TO PRAY, I WANT RESULTS.
AND IF I'M NOT GETTING RESULTS, THEN I AM GOING TO BE BOLD
ENOUGH TO ASK GOD WHAT IS WRONG THAT I AM NOT GETTING RESULTS.
AND I KNOW THERE'S PATIENCE AND I KNOW THERE'S WAITING
AND I KNOW THERE'S THE ENEMY WHO COMES AGAINST US.
I KNOW ALL THAT, BUT SOONER OR LATER, YOU GOT TO SEE THE
WHATEVER THAT GOD PROMISES YOU.
AND YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO WITH THIS, BUT I'VE DECIDED
TO GROW UP JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.
AND HOPEFULLY A LITTLE MORE AFTER THAT AND A LITTLE
MORE AFTER THAT.
GOD CHANGES US FROM GLORY TO GLORY, LITTLE BY LITTLE.
WE'RE ON A JOURNEY.
WE HAVEN'T ARRIVED, BUT I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING
WE HAVE TO DO IS PRESS!
AND YOU HAVE NEVER HAD AN AREA WHERE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PRESS
LIKE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PRESS WITH THIS ONE CONCERNING
THE MOUTH.
AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY HOPE FOR US IF WE DON'T PUT SOME
SCRIPTURES UP AROUND THE HOUSE, KEEP SOME BOOKS IN FRONT OF US.
YOU NEED TO GET MY BOOK, "ME AND MY BIG MOUTH," AND YOU
NEED TO READ A FEW PAGES OF IT EVERY DAY, POSSIBLY
THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP THINGS IN FRONT OF US.
OTHERWISE, WE FORGET 'EM.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A MESSAGE FROM ME.
I MEAN, I'M GONNA TELL YOU, I REALLY DON'T.
AND I MEAN, I PREACH A LOT.
I MEAN, I PREACH A LOT, YOU KNOW?
SOMETIMES 12, 20 TIMES A MONTH.
I MEAN, I PREACH A LOT.
AND I DON'T SAY ANYTHING THAT I DON'T THINK IS GOD LEADING ME,
BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT I FEEL STRONGER ABOUT--I MEAN, EVEN
DAVE SAID LAST NIGHT, WHEN I WENT DOWN THE LITTLE STEPS.
HE'S ALWAYS THERE TO WAIT FOR ME.
AND HE SAID, "MAN, YOU'RE FIERY TONIGHT."
AND THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT THIS.
IT'S LIKE I'VE GOT A REAL FIRE ON THE INSIDE OF ME ABOUT THIS.
THAT'S WHY I DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS AS JUST ANOTHER
LITTLE SERMON ON THE MOUTH.
YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE SAY, "OH, I COULDN'T GO TO THE CONFERENCE.
WHAT'D SHE TEACH ON?" DON'T YOU JUST SAY,
"OH, THE MOUTH."
YOU SAY, "A LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE ON THE POWER
OF OUR WORDS!"
[CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, ONE GIRL THAT WORKS FOR ME TOLD ME LAST NIGHT,
AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS VERY FUNNY, SHE SAID, "WELL, I JUST
REMEMBERED THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS I HAVE BEEN GIVEN
FIVE COPIES OF YOUR BOOK, "ME AND MY BIG MOUTH."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WHEN THAT BOOK FIRST CAME OUT, WE HAD PEOPLE CALLING
THE OFFICE, ORDERING THEM FOR OTHER PEOPLE ANONYMOUSLY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THEN WE WOULD SEND 'EM AND THE PEOPLE WHO GOT
'EM WOULD CALL US MAD, WANTING TO KNOW WHO SENT IT TO 'EM.
SO WE FINALLY HAD TO SAY, "SORRY, IF YOU WANT TO SEND
A GIFT, IT'S GOING TO HAVE YOUR NAME ON IT.
WE'RE NOT GETTING BLAMED FOR IT."
FATHER, I PRAY IN JESUS' NAME, HELP US.
GOD, WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE YOUR HELP.
LORD, POUR YOUR SPIRIT OUT UPON US.
HELP US NOT TO GRIEVE THE HOLY GHOST
WITH EVIL COMMUNICATION.
FORGIVE US FOR OUR SINS, LORD, AND HELP US COME UP HIGHER.
I PRAY THAT EVERYBODY WOULD BE SAFE AS THEY GO THIS AFTERNOON,
THEY'D HAVE A WONDERFUL, RELAXING, FUN-FILLED AFTERNOON
AND RETURN SAFELY TONIGHT.
IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN. GOD BLESS YOU GUYS.
WE LOVE YOU.
JOYCE: WELL, YOU KNOW, THE WORDS THAT WE SPEAK
HAVE TREMENDOUS POWER TO IMPACT OUR LIVES
AS WELL AS THOSE AROUND US.
PROVERBS 12:18 SAYS THAT "SPEAKING RASHLY IS LIKE
THE PIERCING OF A SWORD, BUT THE TONGUE OF THE WISE
BRINGS HEALING."
YOU KNOW, THE POWER OF WORDS, WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT RESOURCES
ON THAT, BUT TODAY WE'RE OFFERING A 4-HOUR CD TEACHING,
THAT'S 4 CDs THAT I BELIEVE YOU ARE REALLY GONNA ENJOY, AND THIS
IS FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT TO THE MINISTRY TO HELP US
CONTINUE THE WORK OF GOD AROUND THE EARTH.
AND, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THIS IS GOOD FOR YOU
AND IT'S GOOD FOR US.
THIS WAY EVERYBODY CAN GET THIS.
ALL WE ASK YOU TO DO IS DO THE VERY BEST THAT YOU CAN.
IF YOU CAN SEND IN MORE, THEN MAYBE THAT WILL HELP
COVER SOME OF THE ONES WHO CAN'T SEND IN AS MUCH.
YOU KNOW, THE WORD OF GOD IS SO STRONG AND SO POWERFUL.
AND DAVID, KING DAVID SAID THAT HE LAID GOD'S WORD UP IN
HIS LIFE, IN HIS HEART, THAT HE WOULD NOT SIN AGAINST GOD.
HE ACTUALLY SAID THAT "WHEN I'M FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD,
IT KEEPS ME FROM SIN."
SO ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO DO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CHANGE
THE WORDS OF YOUR MOUTH AND START SAYING THINGS
THAT ARE GONNA HELP YOU, IS TO STUDY THE WORD
IN THAT AREA SO YOU'LL HAVE THE STRENGTH TO DO IT.
SO YOU GET THESE RESOURCES AND I BELIEVE THEY'RE
REALLY GOING TO HELP YOU.
ANNOUNCER: THE BIBLE TELLS US THE POWER OF LIFE
AND DEATH ARE IN THE TONGUE.
JOYCE: WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART WILL COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH IF
IT'S IN YOUR HEART IN ABUNDANCE.
ANNOUNCER: LEARN TO SPEAK GOD'S WORD AND HIS PROMISES AND
EXPERIENCE A LIFE BUILT ON FAITH INSTEAD OF FEAR AND NEGATIVITY.
DISCOVER HOW YOUR WORDS MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOU CAN REQUEST JOYCE'S FOUR-PART CD SERIES,
"THE POWER OF WORDS," FOR YOUR GIFT OF...
TO ORDER, CALL US TOLL FREE AT...
ANNOUNCER: GET A FRESH UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
THE WORD OF GOD APPLIES TO YOUR LIFE AND BE
ENCOURAGED AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
THREE UNIQUE SESSIONS THAT WILL HELP YOU GAIN
A NEW FOCUS ON LIFE AND MOTIVATE YOU TO GROW IN GOD.
COMING TO SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA AUGUST 3 AND 4 WITH WORSHIP BY
JESUS CULTURE.
AND ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA AUGUST 24 AND 25
WITH WORSHIP BY KARI JOB.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE
OR CALL...
JOYCE: TRUST HIM ALL THE TIME.
YOUR WALK WITH GOD IS NOT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THE DEVIL MAD, GET HAPPY.
HE HAS TO GET THE CREDIT, HE HAS TO GET THE GLORY.
JOYCE: WELL, YOU'VE SPOKEN AND PICKED YOUR FAVORITE
"ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE" SHOWS FROM 2017 AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO
REVEAL THE WINNERS.
SO, WATCH EVERY DAY TO SEE YOUR WINNERS.
JOYCE: I STILL FELT LIKE GOD WANTED TO USE ME.
I MEAN, I STILL FELT LIKE I STILL HAD THIS DREAM.
I WAS STILL STUDYING.
WE WERE STILL STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY.
YOU KNOW, I WAS CONFUSED, ALL THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE
GO THROUGH.
AND SO, THEY ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO START A WOMEN'S BIBLE
STUDY AT THIS CHURCH.
AND I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO START A WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY
BECAUSE I SPECIFICALLY FELT LIKE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME
A SCRIPTURE IN PHILIPPIANS 2 THAT I WAS TO HOLD OUT TO ALL
MEN THE WORD OF GOD.
SO, I NEVER REALLY FELT CALLED JUST TO TEACH WOMEN.
I REALLY FELT LIKE THAT THE SAME WORD WAS FOR EVERYBODY AND THAT
I WAS GONNA TEACH EVERYBODY, NOT JUST WOMEN.
AND SO, AT FIRST I WASN'T GONNA DO THE BIBLE STUDY AND
THEN I REMEMBER THINKING WELL, GOD'S NOT OPENING UP ANYTHING
ELSE AND THIS HAS OPENED UP SO I PROBABLY SHOULD TAKE
THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEY ADVERTISED IT A LITTLE BIT AND, I MEAN, THIS WAS JUST A
MIRACLE FROM GOD, THE FIRST ONE THAT WE HAD WAS ON A THURSDAY
MORNING AT WHAT DAVE CALLS A LITTLE CHURCH IN THE VALLEY,
WHICH IT WAS JUST A LITTLE, TINY BUILDING.
AND 115 PEOPLE CAME AND IT WAS LIKE, WHERE DID ALL THESE PEOPLE
COME FROM?
AND IT WAS THE START OF SOMETHING PRETTY MAJOR,
AND IT WAS JUST GOD.
FEMALE: AND I LOVE THAT MAGAZINE SHE SENDS OUT.
FEMALE: THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE FOR EVERYBODY.
ANNOUNCER: THE "ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE"
MAGAZINE IS FREE.
SUBSCRIBE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG TO READ ENCOURAGING ARTICLES
FROM JOYCE AND MUCH MORE.
FEMALE: READING THROUGH THE MAGAZINE CONFIRMS FOR ME
GOD'S AT WORK.
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU HAVE 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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