ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: RUNNING FROM YOUR PROBLEMS NEVER SOLVES THEM.
HIDDEN THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE US SICK,
THINGS THAT WE HIDE FROM PEOPLE, THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT
ANYBODY TO KNOW.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: I'M DOING A LITTLE TWO-PART SERIES TODAY
ON KEYS TO BREAKTHROUGH.
NEEDING A BREAKTHROUGH BASICALLY MEANS
THAT YOU'VE COME UP AGAINST SOMETHING THAT IS PREVENTING YOU
FROM DOING WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO,
OR FROM BEING WHO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE,
OR HAVING WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE.
AND OUR FIRST INCLINATION ALWAYS,
AND IT'S A RIGHT THING TO DO, IS TO PRAY
THAT GOD WILL DELIVER US OR GOD WILL HELP US.
WE ALMOST ALWAYS PRAY FOR GOD TO HELP US,
BUT RARELY DO WE REALLY WANT HIM TO HELP US,
WE WANT HIM DO IT FOR US.
I MEAN, THAT'S, IN ESSENCE, MORE OR LESS WHAT WE'RE SAYING
BECAUSE WHEN YOU ASK GOD TO HELP YOU, THEN THAT MEANS
THAT HE GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO.
HE'S NOT GONNA DO ALL THE DOING.
HE GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO.
AND I THINK I MADE A FAIRLY GOOD STAB
AT LAYING DOWN THAT POINT PRETTY CLEAR THIS MORNING
BUT JUST IN CASE YOU WEREN'T HERE,
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU PRAY AND ASK GOD
TO DO ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE, YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED
TO LISTEN FOR WHAT HE MAY SAY BACK
OR HOW HE MAY LEAD YOU OR GUIDE YOU,
AND YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO DO WHATEVER IT IS
THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.
NOW, LOOK AT ME, GOD IS NOT GOING TO DO
EVERYTHING FOR US WHILE WE SIT BACK
AND DO NOTHING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE'RE PARTNERS WITH GOD,
THAT MEANS THAT HE HAS A PART, YOU HAVE A PART.
YOU CAN'T DO HIS PART AND WE WON'T DO YOUR PART.
WE'RE PARTNERS WITH GOD.
SO, I TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS THIS MORNING,
AND I WANT TO START NOW WITH IF YOU WANT
TO HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH, YOU GOTTA STOP BLAMING
OTHER PEOPLE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
MOST OF US LIKE TO BLAME EVERYBODY ELSE FOR OUR PROBLEMS.
I DID THAT FOR A LONG TIME.
I WAS ABUSED SEXUALLY BY MY DAD SO EVERY PROBLEM I HAD,
EVERY BAD WAY I ACTED, MY TEMPER,
ANYTIME I FELT SORRY FOR MYSELF, WHATEVER IT IS WAS,
IT WAS ALWAYS, "IF THAT WOULDN'T
HAVE HAPPENED TO ME."
WELL, THERE WERE MANY PROBLEMS CAUSED IN MY LIFE
BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, BUT WHEN WE'RE IN CHRIST,
NOW LISTEN, CLEARLY THE BIBLE SAYS
WE BECOME NEW CREATURES, THAT OLD THINGS PASS AWAY.
AND HOW MANY THINGS?
ALL THINGS BECOME BRAND NEW AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT JUST OVERNIGHT EVERYTHING COMPLETELY CHANGES.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN IF YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT
THE NEXT MORNING YOU WAKE UP AND YOU'RE SKINNY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THAT DOESN'T MEAN IF YOU'RE BALD,
THE NEXT MORNING YOU WAKE UP AND YOU HAVE
A FULL HEAD OF HAIR.
I BELIEVE THAT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A NEW CREATURE
IS THAT WE BECOME NEW SPIRITUAL CLAY.
I BELIEVE IT MEANS THAT GOD PUTS US IN A POSITION
WHERE ALTHOUGH WE MAY HAVE THINGS TO OVERCOME
AND THERE ARE GONNA BE MANY THINGS
THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO LEARN AND ONE OF THEM
IS HEARING FROM GOD AND BEING OBEDIENT TO HIM,
BUT AT THAT POINT WHEN YOU'RE BORN AGAIN
AND RECEIVE CHRIST, NOW LISTEN TO ME,
EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS PROMISED TO HIS CHILDREN
BECOMES SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU.
IF ANYBODY CAN HAVE ANYTHING THAT GOD OFFERS,
THEN THAT ANYBODY CAN AND SHOULD BE YOU, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU SAY, "BUT IT'S NOT MY FAULT."
WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO YOU IN YOUR LIFE
MAY NOT BE YOUR FAULT, MAYBE SOMEBODY HURT YOU
REALLY BAD, MAYBE SOMEBODY STOLE FROM YOU,
LIED TO YOU.
MAYBE YOU WERE ABUSED BY SOMEBODY,
BUT YOU MUST NOT LET IT BECOME AN EXCUSE TO STAY THAT WAY.
THAT'S THE THING THAT CONCERNS ME
IS WHEN WE GET HURT AND THEN WE CARRY THAT AROUND
WITH US ALL OF OUR LIFE AND IT BECOMES AN EXCUSE
TO NEVER GET ANY BETTER.
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT HUMAN NATURE
LOVES TO BLAME?
FOURTEEN OF YOU KNOW THAT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU EVER SEE A HUSBAND AND A WIFE LEAVING THE HOUSE
LATE TO GO SOMEWHERE?
THE WIFE SAYS IT'S HIS FAULT, HE SAYS IT'S HER FAULT.
WE'RE JUST NOT VERY GOOD AND JUST SAYING,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT WAS TOTALLY MY FAULT, I'M REALLY SORRY."
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT THIS MORNING
BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT AGAIN.
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT WAS TOTALLY MY FAULT AND I AM REALLY SORRY."
I WONDER WHY THAT IS SO PAINFUL FOR US.
YOU KNOW WHY?
THE DEVIL MAKES IT PAINFUL BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT US
DOING IT BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE POWER
THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR US WHEN WE TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY
FOR OUR ACTIONS, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'M GIVING YOU A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
WHICH IS TO GO HOME AND HAVE A MEETING WITH YOURSELF,
A COME TO TRUTH MEETING.
AND SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE YOU TO ASK YOURSELF IS,
"WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY LIFE THAT I'M BLAMING SOMEBODY ELSE FOR
THAT MAYBE IT'S TIME I JUST STOP THAT
AND EVEN IF IT WAS THEIR FAULT, I NOW TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
TO WORK WITH GOD TO FIX IT"?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, ADAM AND EVE, UH-OH, GENESIS 3:11,
"GOD SAID, 'WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED?
HAVE YOU EATEN [FRUIT]
FROM THE TREE OF WHICH I COMMANDED YOU
NOT TO EAT?'
AND THEN THE LORD SAID TO THE WOMAN,
'WHAT IS THIS THAT YOU HAVE DONE?'
AND THE WOMAN SAID, 'THE SERPENT BEGUILED
AND DECEIVED ME, AND I ATE [FROM THE BIDDEN TREE--
FORBIDDEN TREE]'"
SO, SHE DIDN'T SAY, "OH, I DISOBEYED YOU
AND I SINNED."
SHE KIND OF TRIED TO SKIRT AROUND THE ISSUE AND SHE SAID,
"WELL, IT WAS THE DEVIL.
HE MADE ME DO IT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
SO, THE LORD TURNED FROM EVE AND HE TURNED TO THE SERPENT
AND HE SAYS, "BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE THIS,
YOU ARE CURSED MORE THAN ALL THE CATTLE,
AND MORE THAN ANY ANIMAL OF THE FIELD;
ON YOUR BELLY YOU SHALL GO, AND DUST YOU SHALL EAT
ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE.
AND I WILL PUT ENMITY OR (OPEN HOSTILITY)
BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN, AND BETWEEN YOUR SEED
(OFFSPRING) AND HER SEED; HE SHALL [FATALLY]
BRUISE YOUR HEAD, BUT YOU SHALL [ONLY]
BRUISE HIS HEEL."
SO, WE KNOW THAT ENEMY WAS SUCCESSFUL
IN CAUSING SOME HURT IN JESUS'S LIFE
BUT WE KNOW WHO WON, AMEN?
SO--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, WE START OUT, GOD SAID, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
EVE SAID, "IT WAS THE DEVIL."
I WANT YOU TO WATCH, HOWEVER, THAT GOD ASSIGNS RESPONSIBILITY
TO EVERY PERSON IN THIS INCIDENT THAT'S GOING ON HERE.
"THEN ADAM TO THE WOMAN HE SAID,
'I WILL GREATLY MULTIPLY YOUR PAIN IN CHILDBIRTH;
IN PAIN YOU WILL GIVE BIRTH TO CHILDREN;
YET YOUR DESIRE AND LONGING WILL BE FOR YOUR HUSBAND,
AND HE WILL RULE [WITH AUTHORITY] OVER YOU
AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU."
NOW GUYS, ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO HAVE AUTHORITY,
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE RESPONSIBLE PART.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU JUST BOSS THE LADY AROUND
ALL THE TIME WHILE YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF HER, AMEN?
DAVE, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT I'M GONNA NEED
A FOOT RUB TONIGHT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
"THEN TO ADAM, THE LORD SAID--"
SO SEE NOW, HE'S TALKED TO EVE.
HE'S TALKED TO THE DEVIL.
NOW, HE'S TALKING TO ADAM.
AND HE SAID, "BECAUSE YOU HAVE LISTENED
[ATTENTIVELY] TO THE VOICE OF YOUR WIFE,
YOU HAVE EATEN [FRUIT]
FROM THE TREE ABOUT WHICH I COMMANDED YOU,
TELLING YOU NOT TO EAT OF IT."
NOW BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, LET ME TELL YOU
THAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT A MAN
SHOULD NEVER LISTEN TO HIS WIFE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN INCIDENT HERE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THIS IS NOT LAYING DOWN A WHOLE
LIFETIME PROGRAM WHERE MEN ARE NOT TO LISTEN THEIR WIFE.
THE PROBLEM WAS ADAM KNEW WHAT GOD SAID
AND HE TOOK EVE'S ADVICE OVER GOD'S AND THAT'S WHAT A MAN
SHOULD NOT DO.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS GO WITH GOD AND FOR THAT MATTER,
WOMEN SHOULD TOO, AMEN?
"THE GROUND IS [NOW]
UNDER A CURSE BECAUSE OF YOU; AND IN SORROW AND TOIL
YOU SHALL EAT [THE FRUIT] OF IT ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE."
BLAME STARTED IN THE GARDEN AND IT GOES RIGHT
ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BIBLE.
AND IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN SOCIETY TODAY.
IT IS AMAZING YOU GO TO GET A SURGERY
AND YOU HAVE TO SIGN ENOUGH PAPERS
THAT IF THEY KILL YOU 20 TIMES, IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, NOTHING IS ANYBODY'S FAULT TODAY.
IT'S JUST, IT'S GOOFY.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE NOBODY, ABSOLUTELY NOBODY
WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING
BUT WE, AS THE CHURCH, ARE BETTER THAN THAT
AND WE HAVE TO STAND UP AND BE STRONG MEN AND WOMEN
OF GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND ANYBODY HERE WITH ANY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH AT ALL
SHOULD BE EASILY BE ABLE TO SAY WITHOUT MUMBLING,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT WAS MY FAULT.
I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND I'M REALLY SORRY."
CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MUCH BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WOULD BE
IF PEOPLE WOULD STOP ALL THE BLAMING AND JUST OWN UP
TO THEIR OWN MISTAKES?
NOW, ABRAHAM, SARAH, AND HAGAR, ONE OF THE MOST FOOLISH STORIES
IN THE BIBLE.
"NOW SARAI, ABRAM'S WIFE, HAD NOT BORNE HIM ANY CHILDREN,
BUT SHE HAD AN EGYPTIAN MAID WHOSE NAME WAS HAGAR.
SO SARAI SAID TO ABRAM, 'SEE HERE,
THE LORD HAS PREVENTED ME FROM BEARING CHILDREN.
SO, I'M ASKING YOU TO GO TO [THE BED OF] MY MAID
[SO THAT YOU MAY BEAR--
SO SHE MAY BEAR YOU A CHILD]; PERHAPS I WILL OBTAIN CHILDREN
BY HER."
AND ONCE AGAIN THE SILLY MAN LISTENED TO HIS WIFE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THAT WHAT SHE SUGGESTED
WAS NOT A VERY GOOD IDEA.
WHAT KIND OF A GOOFY WOMAN WOULD YOU BE
TO GIVE YOUR HUSBAND TO ANOTHER WOMAN
TO GO HAVE SEX WITH HER?
"AFTER ABRAM HAD LIVED IN THE LAND OF CANAAN TEN YEARS,
ABRAM'S WIFE SARAI TOOK HAGAR THE EGYPTIAN [MAID],
AND GAVE HER TO HER HUSBAND ABRAM
TO BE HIS [SECONDARY] WIFE.
HE WENT IN TO [THE BED OF] HAGAR,
AND SHE CONCEIVED; AND WHEN SHE REALIZED
THAT SHE HAD CONCEIVED, SHE LOOKED WITH CONTEMPT
ON HER MISTRESS [REGARDING SARAI AS INSIGNIFICANT
BECAUSE OF HER INFERTILITY]"
SO, RIGHT AWAY, WHICH SARAH SHOULD HAVE SEEN THIS,
BUT RIGHT AWAY HAGAR GETS AN ATTITUDE.
"I'M PREGNANT AND YOU'RE NOT, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH."
BUT HERE'S WHERE IT GETS CUTE.
"THEN SARAI SAID TO ABRAM, 'MAY [THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR] THE WRONG DONE TO ME [BY THE ARROGANT BEHAVIOR
OF HAGAR] BE UPON YOU.'"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW I ASK YOU WHAT MADE THIS ABRAM'S FAULT
WHEN SARAH WAS THE ONE THAT STARTED IT?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, THIS JUST SHOWS HOW PEOPLE
PLAY THE BLAME GAME.
TURNS RIGHT AROUND IN VERSE 6, "BUT ABRAM SAID TO SARAI,
'LOOK, YOUR MAID IS ENTIRELY IN YOUR HANDS
AND SUBJECT TO YOUR AUTHORITY; YOU DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH HER.'"
SO, SARAH SAID, "IT'S YOUR FAULT."
HE TURNED RIGHT BACK AROUND AND SAID, "NO, IT'S YOUR FAULT,
I'M NOT DEALING WITH THIS."
AND THEN HAGAR, SHE'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
SO SHE DECIDES TO RUN AWAY.
THEN GOD FOUND HER AND SAID, "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
IN VERSE 8.
AND SHE SAID, "I'M RUNNING AWAY FROM MY MISTRESS."
NOW, WE'RE GONNA TALK HERE IN A MINUTE
ABOUT RUNNING FROM PROBLEMS RATHER THAN FACING THEM.
"THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID TO HER,"
IN VERSE 8 THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID TO HER,
'GO BACK TO YOUR MISTRESS, AND SUBMIT HUMBLY
TO HER AUTHORITY.'"
WELL, OUCH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WHY SHOULD I WANT TO DO THAT?
"BUT THE LORD SAID TO HER, 'I WILL GREATLY MULTIPLY
YOUR DESCENDANTS SO THAT THEY WILL BE TOO MANY
TO COUNT.'"
SO, HERE'S THE POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE,
RUNNING FROM YOUR PROBLEMS NEVER SOLVES THEM.
HIDDEN THINGS ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE US SICK,
THINGS THAT WE HIDE FROM PEOPLE, THINGS THAT WE DON'T WANT
ANYBODY TO KNOW.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING NOTHING SHOULD BE PRIVATE
BUT SOMETIMES ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
YOU CAN DO, IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING
INSIDE OF YOU THAT JUST KEEPS BOTHERING YOU
AND BOTHERING YOU AND BOTHERING YOU,
AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE SO AFRAID
THAT SOMEBODY'S GONNA FIND OUT ABOUT YOU,
YOU'D BE MUCH BETTER OFF TO TALK TO YOUR PASTOR
THAT YOU TRUST OR TO FIND ONE GOOD FRIEND.
IF YOU CAN FIND ONE GOOD FRIEND THAT KNOWS
HOW TO KEEP THEIR MOUTH SHUT, YOU'VE GOT A GOLD MINE, AMEN?
I MEAN, I HATE TO SOUND LIKE THIS,
BUT IT'S VERY HARD TO FIND PEOPLE TODAY
THAT WILL KEEP YOUR SECRETS AND THAT IS A SHAME.
WE NEED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL, AND WE NEED TO NOT TELL
OTHER PEOPLE'S SECRETS BUT TO KEEP THEM.
IF YOU CAN FIND SOMEBODY THAT YOU CAN TRUST,
SOMETIMES JUST SHARING WITH THEM.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT THIS.
IT'S INTERESTING HOW WHEN YOU GET SOMETHING
OUT OF YOU, IT TAKES THE POWER AWAY FROM IT.
WHEN SATAN THINKS IT'S HIDDEN IN SECRET,
THEN HE CAN KEEP TORMENTING YOU WITH IT.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE RUN FROM
BECAUSE GOD JUST KEEPS TRYING TO GET US TO DEAL WITH IT
AND WE JUST KEEP PUTTING IT OFF UNTIL ANOTHER DAY.
IT MIGHT BE FORGIVING SOMEBODY.
IT MIGHT BE CONFRONTING SOMEBODY.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMEBODY IN YOUR LIFE
THAT TAKES ADVANTAGE OF YOU AND DOESN'T TREAT YOU RIGHT.
MAYBE IT'S A PARENT WHO EXPECTS TOO MUCH OUT OF YOU.
THEY'RE NOT LETTING YOU GROW UP AND HAVE YOUR OWN LIFE,
AND SO YOU'VE KIND OF FORMED A DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH THEM AND YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO CONFRONT IT
BUT YOU DON'T SO YOU JUST KEEP STAYING
IN THE MESS AND HATING THE MESS WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE.
YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH STUFF, CONFRONT IT, GET IT OVER WITH,
GET YOUR BREAKTHROUGH, AND GET ON WITH THE REAL LIFE
THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
SOMETIMES THERE'S THINGS THAT MAYBE YOU'VE DONE IN LIFE
THAT YOU MAYBE NEED TO GO BACK AND FIX.
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GO BACK AND FIX EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE WRONG
BUT SOME THINGS YOU CAN AND SOME THINGS
GOD MAY WANT YOU TO DO SO I'M GONNA TELL YOU A STORY.
I THINK I'VE ONLY TOLD THIS MAYBE ONE OR TWO OTHER TIMES.
WELL, ACTUALLY, I MARRIED A GUY WHEN I WAS 18
JUST TO GET AWAY FROM MY DAD AND JUST I REALLY NEVER THOUGHT
ANYBODY WOULD EVER WANT ME BECAUSE I'D BEEN
SEXUALLY ABUSED.
AND SO, I KNEW WAY DOWN DEEP IN MY HEART
THAT I WAS MAKING MISTAKE BUT I WANTED SOMEBODY.
I WAS AFRAID I'D NEVER HAVE ANYBODY
SO I MARRIED THIS GUY AND IT WAS REALLY JUST ANOTHER
FIVE YEARS OF TORMENT.
AND HE WAS A CON MAN, COULD TALK YOU IN AND OUT
OF EVERYTHING, AND HE WAS A THIEF, PETTY THIEF.
AND SO, I WORKED FOR A COMPANY AND I DID THE PAYROLL
AND HE TALKED ME INTO WRITING SOME CHECKS
TO DIFFERENT RANDOM PEOPLE AND BACK THEN IT WAS PRETTY EASY
TO GO IN AND GET A CHECK CASHED ALMOST ANYWHERE.
I MEAN, YOU COULD JUST GO IN AND SAY,
"I WANT TO CASH THIS CHECK," AND THEY'D CASH IT FOR YOU.
SO, THE BOTTOM LINE WAS WAS HE TALKED ME INTO STEALING
SOME MONEY FROM THIS COMPANY THAT I WORKED FOR.
SO, HERE YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU A PREACHER WHO AT ONE TIME
WAS A THIEF.
THAT'S HOW MUCH GOD CAN CHANGE US AND--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, I DON'T KNOW, I THOUGHT MAYBE
IT'D MAKE SOMEBODY FEEL A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT THEIR SELF TO KNOW
WHO YOU'RE REALLY LISTENING TO TODAY.
I'M GLAD WE'RE PASSED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS,
THAT WAY I CAN'T GO TO JAIL.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO, I'M TEACHING MY LITTLE HOME BIBLE STUDY
AND I GOT ALL THESE BIG DREAMS AND PLANS FOR MY LIFE,
AND I STARTED FEELING LIKE I NEEDED TO FIND
THAT COMPANY AND GO TELL THEM WHAT I HAD DONE
AND PAY THE MONEY BACK.
WELL, YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW SCARED I WAS.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY MIGHT DO.
FOR ALL I KNEW THEY'D HAVE ME THROWN IN JAIL.
BUT I REALLY FELT LIKE IF I WAS GONNA GO ON WITH GOD
AND DO EVERYTHING GOD WANTED ME TO DO
THAT I COULDN'T KEEP HAVING THAT HANGING THERE.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT YOU NEED TO GO DO WHAT I DID.
I'M TELLING YOU THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING
THAT GOD TOLD ME TO DO, AND I NEEDED TO OBEY GOD,
OTHERWISE I'D STILL BE BACK THERE TEACHING
A LITTLE HOME BIBLE STUDY.
NOW, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME, GOD HAS BIG PLANS
FOR MANY OF YOUR LIVES BUT JUST BECAUSE GOD'S
PLANNED THEM DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GONNA HAPPEN.
THERE WILL BE THINGS THAT GOD WILL REQUIRE OF YOU.
THERE WILL BE HARD THINGS HE WILL ASK YOU TO DO.
THERE MAY BE SOME SACRIFICES THAT HE WILL ASK YOU TO MAKE,
IT MIGHT BE SOME SACRIFICIAL GIVING,
IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
HAPPENED TO ME IN MY LIFE, A TIME CAME WHERE GOD ASKED ME
AND MY HUSBAND TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOM AND DAD
UNTIL THEY DIED.
WELL, LET ME TELL YA THAT WAS THE LAST PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD I WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF.
THERE WAS NO REASON FOR ME TO DO IT.
THEY HAD MISTREATED ME.
THEY HAD ABUSED ME.
THEY HAD DONE NOTHING FOR ME AND YET I KNEW THAT
IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT WASN'T A FUN THING TO DO BUT I KNEW THAT IT WAS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
NOW, LISTEN TO WHAT I'M GONNA TELL YA.
JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE HAS TREATED YOU BADLY,
THAT DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE AUTHORITY
TO DO SOMETHING WRONG.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: FOR SOMEBODY HERE TODAY COMING TO HEAR
THAT ONE STATEMENT WAS WHY GOD SENT YOU HERE.
I'M SERIOUS BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE THINK
IF SOMEBODY HAS MISTREATED US, THAT WE ARE THEN JUSTIFIED
IN NOT LOVING THEM, OR NOT TREATING THEM GOOD,
OR NOT HELPING THEM WHEN THEY NEED IT.
"WELL, WHY SHOULD I HELP YOU AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME?"
WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT GOD DOES AND YOU'RE LIKE GOD.
THAT'S WHY HE SAYS LOVE YOUR ENEMIES,
BLESS YOUR ENEMIES, TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE LIKE
YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
IF WE ARE GOING TO BE IN THE WORLD AND REPRESENT GOD,
THEN WE DO NOT GET TO LIVE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE
TO THE WORLD OR THE NATURAL MIND,
BUT WE DO IT BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
MY PARENTS LIVED A LONG TIME.
I MEAN, IT WAS A LONG TIME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: LONG TIME.
AND COST A LOT OF MONEY TO KEEP THEM
IN A GOOD NURSING HOME.
I HAD TO FINALLY HIRE SOMEBODY TO HELP ME RUN THEIR ERRANDS
AND DO THESE DIFFERENT THINGS, AND THERE WAS NO SANE REASON
FOR ME TO DO IT BUT I CAN TELL YOU
IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE SINGLE
MOST POWERFUL THINGS THAT I EVER DID THAT AFFECTED ME
IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.
IT GAVE ME SPIRITUAL POWER AND IT TOOK SATAN'S POWER
AWAY FROM HIM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, DON'T THINK THAT YOU GET TO BE NASTY
TO SOMEBODY JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE NASTY TO YOU.
SEE, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, BEING A POWERFUL CHRISTIAN,
I MEAN A RIGHT CHRISTIAN, A BIBLE CHRISTIAN,
IT'S NOT FOR WIMPY PEOPLE.
I MEAN, THERE'S GONNA BE SOME THINGS
GOD'S GONNA ASK YOU TO DO, CERTAINLY NOTHING ANYMORE
THAN WHAT HE DID FOR US, BUT HE'LL ASK YOU
TO DO SOME THINGS AND ALONG THE WAY
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONFRONT THINGS THAT YOU MAY NOT
WANT TO CONFRONT.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE WANT TO FORGET THINGS
AND JUST GO ON AND THERE ARE THINGS
THAT WE GET TO DO LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND TRY TO PAY FOR OUR SINS
BUT IN THIS INSTANCE FOR WHATEVER GOD'S REASON WAS,
HE WANTED ME TO GO TAKE CARE OF THIS EVEN THOUGH
IT JUST FRIGHTENED THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME.
SO, I HAD TO FIND THIS COMPANY, WHICH, OF COURSE, HAD MOVED
AND THEN I WENT AND TALKED TO THE SON
WHO WAS NOW RUNNING THE COMPANY.
I MEAN, I'M SURE I WAS SHAKING.
I SAID, "DO YOU REMEMBER A TIME WHEN AN EMPLOYEE
STOLE SOME MONEY FROM YOU THROUGH THE PAYROLL,"
AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
AND HE SAID, "YEAH."
I SAID, "WELL, I'M THE ONE WHO STOLE IT."
AND I SAID, "I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU
THAT I'M A CHRISTIAN NOW AND I KNOW THAT WHAT I DID
WAS WRONG, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PAY
THE MONEY BACK."
NOW, HE WASN'T A CHRISTIAN.
HE HAPPENED TO A JEWISH MAN.
IT WAS A JEWISH FAMILY, BUT I THINK THAT PEOPLE
EVERYWHERE ARE ALWAYS IMPRESSED, NOT THAT I WAS TRYING
TO BE IMPRESSIVE.
BUT THEY'RE IMPRESSED WITH THE GENUINENESS
OF OUR FAITH IN GOD WHEN WE DO RIGHT THINGS.
HE HAD TO KNOW THAT WAS HARD FOR ME.
AND SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT MAY HAVE AFFECTED
HIS LIFE LATER ON, BUT I DEFINITELY KNOW
THAT IF I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT, I'D STILL BE
BACK THERE SOMEWHERE.
I WOULDN'T BE HERE GETTING TO TELL YOU THIS STORY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SO, HERE AGAIN I'M NOT TELLING YOU
THAT HAVE TO GO BACK AND DO THAT.
THAT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE YOU DO,
BUT HERE'S WHAT I AM TELLING YOU,
WHATEVER GOD ASKS YOU TO DO, WHATEVER GOD IS ASKING YOU TO DO
THAT YOU HAVEN'T DONE, WHATEVER GOD MAY ASK YOU TO DO
IN THE FUTURE, NO MATTER HOW HARD IT MAY SEEM,
DON'T RUN FROM WHAT GOD TELLS YOU TO DO,
RUN STRAIGHT TO IT AND GET IT OVER WITH
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE HARDER IT IS, THE MORE POWER
THERE'S GOING TO BE IN IT FOR YOU
IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, DON'T EVER RUN FROM WHAT GOD
IS ASKING YOU DO IT, RUN TO IT.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND WORK WITH GOD THAT FIX IT.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT KEYS
TO A BREAKTHROUGH IN YOUR LIFE.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU A BOOK FOR YOUR GIFT
TO THE MINISTRY OF ANY AMOUNT, A BOOK THAT I REALLY AM FOND OF
CALLED "NEVER GIVE UP," AND I NOT ONLY LIKE IT
BECAUSE I WROTE IT, BUT I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE EMBEDDED
IN OUR THINKING.
SO NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, I AM NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP.
SO REMEMBER, WE'RE PARTNERS WITH GOD
AND LEARN TO WORK WITH HIM AND YOU'LL SEE REAL CHANGE
IN YOUR LIFE.
FEMALE: THIS BOOK HELPED ME OVERCOME SO MANY OBSTACLES.
IT ALSO INSPIRED ME TO RUN MY FIRST MARATHON.
FEMALE: I GOT THIS BOOK IN THE BEGINNING OF MY JOURNEY
INTO RECOVERY.
IT HELD ME UP AND HELPED ME PERSEVERE THROUGH THE STRUGGLE
OF STAYING CLEAN.
FEMALE: THIS BOOK HELPED ME THROUGH SO MUCH
AND WHENEVER I START TO GIVE UP, I READ IT AGAIN.
ANNOUNCER: "NEVER GIVE UP" PROVIDES SOLID BIBLICAL TOOLS
TO HELP YOU FACE ALL OF LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
PACKED WITH EXAMPLES OF REAL LIFE PEOPLE
WHO PREVAILED IN THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES,
THIS INSPIRING BOOK WILL ENCOURAGE YOU
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE ALL THE ODDS ARE AGAINST YOU.
IT'S A BOOK YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF TURNING TO AGAIN AND AGAIN
AND IT'S AVAILABLE TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT.
TO ORDER, CALL US TOLL FREE...
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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.
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OR CALL...
ANNOUNCER: YOUR SUMMER MAKEOVER CONTINUES RIGHT HERE
ON "ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE."
TUNE IN THROUGH THE MONTH OF AUGUST
FOR SHOWS DESIGNED TO BRING OUT THE NEW YOU.
THE SUMMER MAKEOVER, SIGN UP TODAY AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG
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