ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: AND SO IF YOU WANNA HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH
ANYBODY, YOU BETTER DECIDE WHAT IN THEIR LIFE IS REAL SIN THAT
YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT AND WHAT IS JUST YOUR OPINION OF WHAT YOU
WOULD PREFER THEM NOT TO DO AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TO ACCEPT PEOPLE THE WAY THEY ARE
AND IF GOD WANTS TO CHANGE THEM TRUST GOD TO CHANGE THEM,
BUT SPEND YOUR TIME LETTING GOD CHANGE YOU.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: THESE ARE, IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT THIS
AWFUL-LOOKING RED THING IS HERE, I ASKED THEM TO MAKE THESE FOR
ME AND THESE ARE MY FLAW-FINDER GLASSES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I THINK WE ALL HAVE A PAIR.
I JUST DON'T THINK YOURS MAYBE ARE QUITE AS OBNOXIOUS
AS MINE ARE.
OF COURSE, I HAD TO MAKE MY POINT.
YOU KNOW, DAVE HAS BINOCULARS AND SOMETIMES HE'LL SIT AT A
WINDOW AND HE'LL LOOK AT MAYBE A DEER THAT'S WAY OUT ACROSS
THE FIELD OR SOMETHING AND IT BRINGS IT IN REAL CLOSE.
AND SO I GOT THIS IDEA THAT I COULD DO A TAKE-OFF ON THAT AND
SAY WE ALL HAVE FLAW-FINDER OR FAULT-FINDER BINOCULARS WHERE WE
EXAMINE PEOPLE AND WE LOOK THEM OVER REAL GOOD.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE GOOD AT FINDING THE FLAWS IN PEOPLE?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: C'MON NOW, THIS TRUE CONFESSION SETS YOU FREE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DO YOU KNOW THAT BEFORE GOD REALLY GOT A HOLD OF
ME, I MEAN, BACK WHEN I WAS A SORT OF PRETEND-CHRISTIAN,
YOU KNOW?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I LOVED TO DO?
I LOVED TO GO OUT TO THE MALL BACK THEN AND SIT ON A BENCH
AND JUDGE PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: JUST BE A PEOPLE-WATCHER AND JUST,
YOU KNOW, "MAN, WHAT IS THAT GOOD-LOOKING GUY DOING
WITH HER?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "MAN, WHOO!
THAT'S THE CRAZIEST HAIRDO I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "HOO, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT OUTFIT SHE'S GOT ON?
MAN!" HOW MANY OF YOU THINK
YOU HAVE ENOUGH BUSINESS OF YOUR OWN TO MIND WITHOUT GETTING INTO
SOMEBODY ELSE'S?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I'M A REAL POSITIVE PERSON NOW BUT IT'S SOMETHING
I DO ON PURPOSE.
IT WOULDN'T BE MY NATURAL NATURE.
I COULD PROBABLY FIND A LITTLE SOMETHING WRONG WITH EVERYTHING
IF I DIDN'T JUST DECIDE NOT TO.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE THERE PROBABLY IS A LITTLE SOMETHING WRONG
WITH EVERYTHING.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT CHURCH,
THE PERFECT FRIEND, THE PERFECT JOB,
THE PERFECT PERSON TO BE MARRIED TO,
THE PERFECT TEENAGER, GUESS WHAT?
YOU'RE JUST GONNA BE DISAPPOINTED, DISAPPOINTED,
DISAPPOINTED.
SO WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT WE ARE
NOT TO BE JUDGMENTAL AND CRITICAL TOWARD PEOPLE.
AND ACTUALLY, THERE'S A SCRIPTURE THAT SAYS WE ARE TO
MIND OUR OWN BUSINESS, STAY BUSY WITH OUR OWN HANDS AND ACTUALLY
THERE'S EVIDENCE IN THE BIBLE THAT WE ARE TO JUST KEEP OUR
OPINIONS TO OURSELF.
I'M NOT GONNA STAND HERE AND TELL YOU NOT TO HAVE OPINIONS.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD AND NOT HAVE AN OPINION.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO GIVE OUR OPINION EVERY TIME WE TURN
AROUND.
BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE DON'T WANT IT AND USUALLY,
EVEN IF THEY ASK YOU FOR YOUR OPINION, IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH
WHAT THEY WANNA HEAR, THEY'RE GONNA REJECT IT ANYWAY, AMEN?
DAVE AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 50, ALMOST 51, YEARS NOW AND SO,
YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME YOU'VE BEEN MARRIED
THAT LONG YOU GET THINGS WORKED OUT BETWEEN YOU AND WE
JUST HAVE THIS ONGOING THING AND IT HAPPENED TONIGHT.
HE CAME OUT AND HE ASKED ME ABOUT HIS SHIRT WITH HIS COAT
AND HIS COAT IS CHECKED AND HE HAD A SHIRT ON THAT HAD DOTS,
LITTLE DOTS, ON IT.
AND I SAID, "OH, NO, YOU CANNOT WEAR THAT."
NOW, I'M STILL LEARNING TO SAY THINGS A LITTLE BETTER,
YOU KNOW?
I DIDN'T SAY, "OH, HONEY, WELL, YOU LOOK GOOD IN ABSOLUTELY
ALMOST ANYTHING BUT THAT."
I JUST, "OH, YOU CAN'T WEAR THAT.
IT'S TERRIBLE.
YOU CAN'T WEAR THAT."
AND HE'S, LIKE, "WELL, WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?
A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE IT."
AND I'M, LIKE, "WHY DO YOU EVEN ASK ME WHAT I THINK BECAUSE
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO WANNA DO WHAT I TELL YOU?
I DON'T--" DON'T YOU GET IRRITATED
WITH PEOPLE WHO ASK YOU WHAT YOU THINK AND THEY
REALLY DON'T WANNA KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ANYWAY; THEY JUST WANT YOU
TO AGREE WITH THEM.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: MAN!
IF I GET UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY, "MAN, IT'S GONNA--SUN'S
GONNA SHINE ALL DAY."
"NO, NOPE.
FORECAST SAYS RAIN.
WE'RE GONNA GET RAIN."
IF I SAY IT'S GONNA RAIN, HE'S, "NO, WE'RE NOT, LOOK AT THAT SUN
OUTSIDE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND ACTUALLY, WE GET ALONG REALLY GOOD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: JUDGMENT AND CRITICISM.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IS ALL JUDGMENT WRONG?
WELL, I WANNA TELL YOU GOING INTO THIS THAT SOME OF YOU MAY
NOT CARE TOO MUCH FOR THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF THIS MESSAGE.
BUT WE NEED TO HEAR THIS SO HERE GOES.
FIRST OF ALL, UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT IS DEFINITELY ALWAYS
WRONG.
AND WHAT THAT IS, IS HASTY JUDGMENT BASED ON RUMOR OR
MERELY GLANCING AT A SITUATION WITHOUT KNOWING ALL THE FACTS.
IT'S WRONG AND IT'S CONDEMNED BY JESUS.
LET'S LOOK AT THIS SCRIPTURE, JOHN 7:24: "BE HONEST IN YOUR
JUDGMENT AND DO NOT DECIDE AT A GLANCE (SUPERFICIALLY AND BY
APPEARANCES); BUT JUDGE FAIRLY AND RIGHTEOUSLY."
IN OTHER WORDS, GET TO KNOW PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE BEFORE WE EVEN
VENTURE TO HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT WHAT THEY MIGHT BE DOING.
IT'S SO EASY TO JUST, LIKE THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, GLANCE AT
SOMETHING AND QUICKLY FORM AN OPINION.
HAVE YOU EVER MET SOMEBODY AND WITHIN THREE MINUTES YOU'VE
ALREADY DECIDED YOU DON'T LIKE 'EM?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I HAVE.
IT'S LIKE, "YEAH, I DON'T, NO.
I'M NOT GONNA LIKE YOU."
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
SOMETIMES, FOR A WOMAN, IT'S BECAUSE THAT WOMAN THAT YOU'RE
DECIDING YOU CAN'T LIKE IS BETTER LOOKING THAN YOU ARE OR
HAS THE FIGURE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OR MAYBE FOR A GUY,
THAT GUY'S GOT THE MUSCLES HE'D LIKE TO HAVE OR THE CAR HE'D
LIKE TO HAVE.
IT'S AMAZING WHAT WE COULD LEARN IF WE WOULD STOP LONG ENOUGH TO
SAY, "WHY DO I FEEL THAT WAY?
WHAT IS THE ROOT OF WHAT I'M FEELING?"
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I HAVE BEEN FALSELY JUDGED BY
PEOPLE MORE TIMES THAN I'D LIKE TO REMEMBER.
AND IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL THINGS THAT YOU CAN EVER
GO THROUGH.
IT'S AMAZING HOW PEOPLE WILL JUDGE WHAT THEY KNOW ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING ABOUT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND A LOT OF CRITICISM AND JUDGMENT IS DONE OUT OF
JEALOUSY AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE JUDGE YOU FOR WHAT YOU
HAVE OR WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND IT'S ALL BASED OUT OF JEALOUSY
AND I JUST TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, "DON'T JUDGE ME FOR WHAT I
HAVE IF YOU DON'T WANNA DO WHAT I DID TO GET IT," AMEN.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO THAT KIND OF JUDGMENT IS ALWAYS WRONG.
IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT ANYTHING IT NEEDS TO BE
A WELL-INFORMED OPINION AND THAT TAKES TIME.
TIME.
BUT IF WE SEE A CHRISTIAN SINNING--I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THE WORLD.
IF WE SEE A CHRISTIAN SINNING, WE ARE TO GO TO HIM AND CONFRONT
THE SITUATION IN HOPES OF BRINGING HIM TO A PLACE OF
REPENTANCE.
NOW, ACTUALLY, PAUL SAID IN 1 CORINTHIANS 5 AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW MUCH YOU'RE AWARE OF THESE SCRIPTURES 'CAUSE THEY'RE
PROBABLY ONES THAT AREN'T TAUGHT ON VERY MUCH.
BUT HE SAID IT'S NOT OUR PLACE TO JUDGE THE WORLD.
THAT WILL BE LEFT UP TO GOD.
BUT IT IS OUR PLACE TO JUDGE CHRISTIANS IN THE CHURCH WHO ARE
LIVING IN SIN IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT REPENT AND NOT LOSE
THEIR SOUL.
WE STAY BUSY, I THINK, AT THIS POINT JUDGING UNBELIEVERS WHO
DON'T KNOW GOD AT ALL AND WE'RE IGNORING A LOT OF SIN IN
THE CHURCH UNDER THE GUISE OF WANTING TO WALK IN LOVE
AND NOT HURT ANYBODY'S FEELINGS.
I'M SORRY BUT I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE SAID AND SO I'M GONNA
SAY IT.
AND WHEN I SAY IN THE CHURCH I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR CHURCH
OR MY CHURCH.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CHURCH AT LARGE.
AND SO THE CHURCH IS INTENDED TO BE A HOLY PLACE WHERE HURTING
PEOPLE THAT ARE BROKEN AND WOUNDED AND, YES, HAVE SIN IN
THEIR LIFE AND A LOT OF IT, CAN COME IN AND BE REPENTANT AND BE
RESTORED AND BE NURTURED AND WE CAN BE PATIENT WITH THEM AND WE
CAN LOVE THEM.
BUT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A PLACE WHERE SOMEBODY COMES IN
WHO'S LIVING IN OPEN SIN AND THEY DON'T INTEND TO CHANGE IT,
THEY DON'T WANNA CHANGE IT, AND THEY JUST WANT TO BE THERE AND
HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS OF BEING THERE AND EVERYBODY JUST LEAVES
THEM ALONE AND PATS THEM ON THE HEAD BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO
HURT THEIR FEELINGS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU, HERE'S THE REASON WHY PAUL SAID THIS.
AND I--TRUST ME, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS MESSAGE WILL GO ON
TELEVISION ALL OVER THE PLACE, I THOUGHT I'D BETTER KNOW WHAT
I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE I GOT UP HERE TO DO THIS, SO.
THE REASON WHY PAUL TOLD PEOPLE, HE EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY,
"PUT THEM OUT OF THE CHURCH, EXCOMMUNICATE THEM," AND THE
REASON WHY HE DID IT IS BECAUSE WHATEVER YOU'RE AROUND YOU'RE IN
DANGER OF BECOMING LIKE THAT.
LET'S JUST LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS.
YOU CANNOT CATCH HOLINESS BUT YOU CAN CATCH UNHOLINESS.
YOU CAN'T CATCH HEALTH, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GOTTA CHOOSE,
BUT YOU CAN CATCH DISEASE.
YOU JUST GO SIT WITH SOMEBODY, FACE TO FACE, THAT'S GOT A BAD
CASE OF THE FLU AND UNLESS YOU GOT A REALLY GOOD SYSTEM GOING
ON IN YOUR BODY, YOU COULD CATCH IT.
YOU MAY NOT BUT YOU COULD.
BUT YOU CAN GO SIT ALL DAY WITH A HEALTHY PERSON AND YOU'LL
STILL HAVE TO CHOOSE THEIR HEALTH.
AND SO PAUL WAS SAYING NOT ONLY DO WE WANT THEM TO REALIZE WHAT
THEY'RE DOING SO THEY CAN REPENT AND COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE
TRUTH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM LOST, BUT WE DON'T WANT
THEM TO INFECT THE CHURCH AND START DOING DAMAGE
BECAUSE HERE'S THE THING.
IF--LET'S JUST USE THE WORD LOOSELY, "LEADERSHIP."
IF LEADERSHIP PUTS UP WITH THAT, WHAT DOES IT SAY TO THE PEOPLE
OTHER THAN, "WELL, I GUESS IT'S OKAY TO DO THIS," SO THEN THEY
JUST DECIDE TO DO THE SAME THING AND, BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU'VE
GOT A RAMPANT MESS GOING ON AND THE CHURCH NO LONGER BECOMES
WHAT GOD WANTS IT TO BE.
NOW I AM NOT AT ALL SAYING, AND THIS IS WHERE THIS MESSAGE,
THIS PART OF THE MESSAGE, CAN GET A LITTLE TRICKY.
I'M NOT AT ALL SAYING THAT WE DON'T WORK WITH PEOPLE
FOR RESTORATION.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WANNA CHANGE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS SUCH A MESS AFTER I GOT AWAY FROM MY DAD
AND THEN A BAD MARRIAGE FROM THE TIME I WAS 18 TO 23.
I'D BEEN HURT SO BAD, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HAVE ANY KIND OF
RELATIONSHIP.
I HAD A BAD TEMPER, I WAS MANIPULATIVE, CONTROLLING.
I MEAN, YOU NAME IT, I HAD THE PROBLEM.
AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT DAVE WAS PATIENT WITH ME AND
LONG-SUFFERING AND KIND AND THAT HE CONTINUED TO LOVE ME AND LOVE
ME AND LOVE ME.
AND I WAS NOT YOUR PERFECT SPECIMEN BY ANY STRETCH
OF THE IMAGINATION.
AND HE WOULD DEAL WITH MY BEHAVIOR WHEN MY BEHAVIOR GOT
BAD ENOUGH, BUT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER HE KNEW MY HEART.
HE KNEW THAT I WANTED TO CHANGE.
HE KNEW THAT I WANTED TO GROW AND DO BETTER.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR IN PEOPLE.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO HELP SOMEBODY THAT JUST HAS GOT
A MESS OF PROBLEMS IN THEIR LIFE AND THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME
GETTING OVER IT, BE PATIENT WITH THEM IF THEY'RE WANTING TO
CHANGE, IF THEY'RE WANTING TO GROW.
BUT YOU CAN'T JUST NOT CALL SIN WHAT IT IS.
WE CAN JUDGE SIN WITHOUT JUDGING THE PERSON, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, MATTHEW 18:15: "IF YOUR BROTHER WRONGS YOU,
GO AND SHOW HIM HIS FAULT," AND, BOY, WE LIKE THAT PART,
DON'T WE?
"BETWEEN YOU AND HIM PRIVATELY."
UH-OH.
I DON'T GET TO GO TELL ANYBODY ELSE.
C'MON, I SAID, "I DON'T GET TO GO TELL ANYBODY ELSE."
I SAID, "I DON'T GET TO GO TELL ANYBODY ELSE."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: WELL, WE'VE GOTTA PRESS THAT POINT.
D'YOU KNOW HOW MUCH EASIER LEADERSHIP WOULD BE IF WHEN
PEOPLE WORK FOR YOU AND THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EACH OTHER
THEY WOULD GO TO EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF TO EVERYBODY ELSE?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT IT DOES WHEN YOU START
GOSSIPING?
IT CAUSES STRIFE.
"GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT, BETWEEN YOU AND HIM PRIVATELY.
IF HE LISTENS, YOU'VE WON BACK YOUR BROTHER.
IF HE DOESN'T LISTEN, TAKE ALONG WITH YOU ONE OR TWO OTHERS,
SO THAT EVERY WORD MIGHT BE CONFIRMED AND UPHELD BY
THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.
IF HE STILL PAYS NO ATTENTION [REFUSING TO LISTEN], TELL IT TO
THE CHURCH; AND IF HE REFUSES TO LISTEN EVEN TO THE CHURCH, THEN
LET HIM BE TO YOU AS A PAGAN AND A TAX COLLECTOR."
AND BELIEVE ME, THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH
PAGANS AND TAX COLLECTORS.
NOW, IN 1 CORINTHIANS 5:1-2 PAUL WROTE AND HE SAID, "IT IS
ACTUALLY REPORTED THERE'S SEXUAL IMMORALITY AMONG YOU, IMPURITY
OF A SORT THAT IS CONDEMNED AND DOES NOT OCCUR EVEN AMONG THE
HEATHEN; FOR A MAN HAS [HIS OWN]
FATHER'S WIFE."
SO THIS WAS A SITUATION OF INCEST AND PAUL HAD HEARD ABOUT
THIS AND THE CHURCH APPARENTLY, VERSE 2 SAYS: "AND YOU'RE PROUD
AND ARROGANT!
AND YOU OUGHT RATHER TO MOURN (AND BOW IN SORROW AND SHAME)
UNTIL THE PERSON WHO'S DONE THIS [SHAMEFUL] THING IS REMOVED FROM
YOUR FELLOWSHIP AND YOUR MIDST!" SO HERE WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S
IN AN INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP AND THEY'RE PART OF THE CHURCH
AND THEY'RE FUNCTIONING AS A PART OF THE CHURCH
AND THE CHURCH IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NOBODY'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
AND SO PAUL WROTE TO THEM AND HE SAID, "SHAME ON YOU.
YOU'RE SO PROUD OF YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR CHURCH."
MAYBE THEIR CHURCH WAS GROWING, MAYBE THEY HAVE A GREAT
WORSHIP TEAM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL WAS.
BUT THEY WERE SO PROUD OF THEIR CHURCH.
HE SAID, "YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF UNTIL YOU DEAL WITH
THIS SITUATION IN YOUR CHURCH.
IT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH."
NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT?
TODAY WE DON'T SEE THE CHURCH OF A PLACE--AS A PLACE TO HAVE
AUTHORITY OVER OUR LIFE.
BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT IT WAS REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE.
ORIGINALLY, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LOVING LEADERS WITH PEOPLE
WHO WANTED TO GROW AND CHANGE WHO WOULD CONFRONT AND DEAL WITH
ISSUES OUT OF LOVE AND CARE AND I REALIZE THERE ARE SO MANY
MESSED UP PEOPLE OUT IN THE WORLD TODAY, IT DOESN'T
ALWAYS WORK OUT LIKE THAT AND PEOPLE GET HURT.
BUT WE STILL HAVE TO BE WILLING TO RECEIVE CORRECTION IF IT
COMES TO US WITH THE RIGHT SPIRIT AND WE HAVE TO BE
WILLING--NOW PLEASE LISTEN TO ME.
WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO NOT THINK ABOUT HOW WE FEEL OR WHAT
WE WANT BUT WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS.
THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.
IT'S NOT ABOUT HOW I FEEL OR WHAT I WANT.
IT'S WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY.
AND IF THE WORD SAYS IT, THEN I DON'T NEED TO TRY TO WORK
AROUND IT TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY THAT I CAN GET IT TO SAY
SOMETHING ELSE.
IT JUST SAYS WHAT IT SAYS.
AND HERE'S THE THING, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE SPOOKY.
THE LORD IS COMING BACK AND EVERY ONE OF US WILL GIVE AN
ACCOUNT FOR OUR LIVES AND IT'S OUR JOB IN LEADERSHIP TO MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE READY, AMEN?
NOW, WHAT CAUSES SO MUCH JUDGMENT AND CRITICISM?
I BET SOME OF YOU WOULD KNOW THE ANSWER.
STARTS WITH A CAPITAL "P."
PRIDE, YOU GOT IT.
PRIDE.
THE ONLY REASON WHY WE JUDGE OTHER PEOPLE IS BECAUSE WE THINK
THAT WE'RE BETTER.
WE LOOK AT WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WE THINK WE WOULD NEVER
DO THAT.
OR WE THINK WE KNOW MORE THAN THEY DO.
PRIDE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT AND I LOVE
WHAT PAUL SAID IN ROMANS 2:1.
HE SAID, "WHEN YOU JUDGE YOU DO THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU JUDGE
OTHER PEOPLE FOR."
WHAT'S WITH THAT?
I MEAN, YOU JUDGE PEOPLE FOR THE SAME THINGS THAT YOU DO.
YOU KNOW WHY?
WE LOOK AT THEM THROUGH OUR MAGNIFYING GLASSES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT THERE'S ALWAYS AN EXCUSE FOR US, ISN'T THERE?
IF I DO IT, BOY, THERE'S A GOOD REASON.
BUT IF YOU DO IT, THERE'S NO REASON.
THERE IS NO REASON FOR YOU TO ACT LIKE THAT.
BUT IF I ACT LIKE THAT IT'S BECAUSE I HAD A BAD DAY AT WORK
OR TRAFFIC WAS BAD.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR YOU TO ACT THAT WAY BUT HERE'S MY EXCUSE
FOR ACTING THAT WAY.
WE NEED TO BE AS KIND TO OTHER PEOPLE AS WE ARE TO OURSELVES.
IN ROMANS 12:3 PAUL REALLY LAID THIS THING OUT VERY WELL.
HE SAID: "FOR BY THE GRACE (THE UNMERITED FAVOR OF GOD) GIVEN TO
ME I WARN EVERYONE AMONG YOU NOT TO ESTIMATE OR THINK OF HIMSELF
MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO [DON'T HAVE AN EXAGGERATED
OPINION OF YOUR OWN IMPORTANCE]."
YOU KNOW, I TELL MYSELF ABOUT TEN TIMES A DAY, "JOYCE, YOU ARE
NOTHING WITHOUT GOD."
WE'VE GOT TO REMIND OURSELVES 'CAUSE THE FLESH CAN REALLY
START TO THINK IT'S, "OH, THIS--I AM IT, MAN.
I AM IT."
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A FEW VICTORIES UNDER YOUR BELT.
C'MON, WHEN YOU'VE HAD A VICTORY IN SOMETHING, DON'T YOU LIKE TO
GIVE EVERYBODY ELSE VICTORY LESSONS?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: C'MON, IF THE DIET WORKED FOR YOU, EVERYBODY IN
THE WORLD SHOULD BE ON THE DIET.
IF YOU GAVE UP SUGAR, EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD SHOULD GIVE UP
SUGAR, C'MON.
WE LOVE TO GET A LITTLE VICTORY UNDER OUR BELT
AND THEN FORGET THAT GOD GAVE IT TO US AND START TAKING
THE CREDIT FOR IT, AND THEN START GIVING EVERYBODY
ELSE VICTORY LESSONS.
"THIS IS WHAT--WELL, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD
HAVE--BE STILL HAVE--HOW COULD YOU STILL BE HAVING A PROBLEM
WITH THAT?
I MEAN, STILL?
YOU'RE STILL HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THAT?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WHAT?
YOU ONLY PRAY TEN MINUTES A DAY?
WHAT?" "WELL, HOW LONG DO YOU PRAY?"
"WELL, I GET UP EVERY MORNING AT 5 AND I PRAY UNTIL 9."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OH, DON'T BE SO FULL OF YOURSELF.
IF GOD DIDN'T GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO GET UP AT 5 AND PRAY 'TIL 9,
YOU'D BE IN BED SLEEPING WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO QUIT TAKING THE CREDIT FOR WHAT GOD'S DOING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: PAUL SAID, "I WARN EVERYONE AMONG YOU NOT TO
ESTIMATE AND THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO
[DON'T HAVE AN EXAGGERATED OPINION OF YOUR OWN IMPORTANCE],
BUT RATE YOUR ABILITY WITH SOBER JUDGMENT, EACH ACCORDING TO
THE DEGREE OF FAITH APPORTIONED BY GOD TO HIM."
NOW, AFTER ROMANS 12:3 I'M NOT GONNA GO READ IT ALL.
ACTUALLY, THE WHOLE CHAPTER OF ROMANS 12 IS A PHENOMENAL
CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE.
THERE'S 12 DIFFERENT LESSONS IN THAT ONE CHAPTER.
AND HE GOES INTO THIS DISCOURSE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT GIFTS THAT
WE HAVE AND THE DIFFERENT ABILITIES THAT WE HAVE, EACH OF
THEM GIVEN TO US BY GOD'S GRACE.
SO WE UNDERSTAND THIS EASILY, LIKE YOU ALL KNOW IT'S NOT MY
FAULT THAT I CAN'T SING.
GOD DIDN'T GIVE ME THE ABILITY TO SING SO I CAN'T SING.
AND SO NO SINGER IS GONNA JUDGE ME BECAUSE THEY CAN SING
AND I CAN'T SING.
THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO JUDGE PEOPLE FOR THAT THEY
CAN'T DO BECAUSE WE'RE GOOD AT THAT AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY
THEY'RE NOT GOOD AT THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY WHO DOES THINGS VERY QUICKLY HAS A VERY
HARD TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO DO THINGS VERY SLOWLY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY QUICK PEOPLE DO WE HAVE HERE?
OKAY, YOU MAKE QUICK DECISIONS.
I MEAN, I'M A GUT PERSON.
I JUST...I GOT A DECISION.
AND USUALLY, I'M PRETTY RIGHT ON.
THAT'S JUST THE GIFT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME FOR WHAT I DO.
BUT THEN, THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE THAT I KNOW THAT I CAN ASK THEM
SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO EAT TONIGHT?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: UM.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW YOU GUYS ARE POINTING AT EACH OTHER.
THIS IS-- C'MON, HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT
GOD ALWAYS PUTS YOU WITH SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT LIKE YOU?
WHY?
NOT SO YOU CAN FIGHT.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE AND YOU HAVE
SOMETHING THEY DON'T HAVE AND WHEN WE LEARN HOW TO WALK
TOGETHER IN LOVE, THEN WE BUILD ONE ANOTHER UP AND WE DON'T HAVE
TO JUDGE AND CRITICIZE EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD CONFRONT PEOPLE
ON, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
BUT IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE THINGS THAT WE CAN PLAINLY SEE IN
SCRIPTURE ARE SIN, NOT JUST OUR OPINION OF WHAT SOMEBODY SHOULD
OR SHOULDN'T DO.
YOU KNOW, I PERSONALLY WOULD BE VERY CAREFUL BEFORE I WENT TO
SOMEBODY AND TOLD THEM HOW THEY SHOULD PARENT THEIR CHILDREN.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY'RE NOT MY KIDS.
THEY'RE THEIR KIDS.
AND SECOND OF ALL, I MEAN, MINE ALL SURVIVED AND THEY'RE ALL
SERVING GOD BUT I DIDN'T DO THAT GREAT OF A JOB.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT I LOOK BACK NOW AND I MEAN, NOBODY READ
TO ME WHEN I WAS GROWING UP SO I DIDN'T KNOW TO READ TO MY KIDS
AND NOW I SEE ALL MY KIDS READING TO THEIR KIDS AND I WISH
I WOULD HAVE READ TO MY KIDS.
I WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE THAT 'CAUSE I'VE GOT SOME KIDS THAT
JUST DO NOT LIKE TO READ.
AND MAYBE IF I WOULD HAVE READ TO THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE
LIKED IT.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I CAN'T--I CAN'T GO BACK AND UNDO WHAT I DID.
I CAN ASK GOD TO CORRECT IT AND HE DOES BUT I THINK BEFORE
WE START GIVING EVERYBODY ELSE LESSONS, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT WE'RE NOT SO GOOD AT.
AND EVERYBODY'S GOOD AT A BUNCH OF STUFF AND EVERYBODY IS NOT
GOOD AT A BUNCH OF STUFF, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, WHEN DAVE AND I GOT MARRIED AND,
OF COURSE, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS
DOING IT BUT I SET OUT TO CHANGE HIM.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND I JUST WANNA SPEAK A WORD TO YOU LOVELY PEOPLE THAT
ARE STILL IN THAT PLACE OF TRYING TO CHANGE THE PERSON THAT
YOU'RE MARRIED TO OR THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE MARRIED TO.
IT WON'T WORK.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF HEARTACHE
BY JUST TELLING YOU THAT IT JUST WON'T WORK.
YOU KNOW, DAVE LOVES EVERY SPORT.
IF IT BOUNCES, DAVE LIKES IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND I USED TO--I DON'T CARE FOR ANY OF 'EM.
I'M FOCUSED ON SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW?
AND I MEAN, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR DAVE TO WATCH ONE GAME,
LISTEN TO ANOTHER ONE, AND BE CLEANING HIS GOLF CLUBS
AT THE SAME TIME.
AND I TRIED SO HARD TO CHANGE HIM, TO GET HIM NOT TO LIKE THAT
STUFF AND TO BE LIKE ME.
AND IT WAS REALLY ALL JUST BASED OUT OF SELFISHNESS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
UNTIL YOU CAN LEARN TO BE OUT OF CONTROL AND LOVE IT, C'MON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S A NEW MESSAGE I HAVEN'T PREACHED YET BUT I LIKE
THAT TITLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: LEARN TO BE OUT OF CONTROL AND LOVE IT.
THE ONLY THING THAT GOD HAS TOLD US TO CONTROL IS OURSELVES.
HE HASN'T TOLD US TO GO CONTROL ANYBODY ELSE.
HE'S TOLD US TO CONTROL OURSELVES.
AND SO IF YOU WANNA HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYBODY, YOU
BETTER DECIDE WHAT IN THEIR LIFE IS REAL SIN THAT YOU NEED TO
TALK ABOUT AND WHAT IS JUST YOUR OPINION OF WHAT YOU WOULD PREFER
THEM NOT TO DO AND A LOT OF THOSE THINGS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO MAKE A DECISION TO ACCEPT PEOPLE THE WAY THEY ARE AND IF
GOD WANTS TO CHANGE THEM TRUST GOD TO CHANGE THEM, BUT SPEND
YOUR TIME LETTING GOD CHANGE YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF YOUR FAULT-FINDING
BINOCULARS AND TO STOP JUDGING OTHER PEOPLE.
AND IF YOU'RE THE ONE BEING CRITICIZED, THEN DON'T CRITICIZE
IN RETURN.
LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS, TRUST EVERYTHING TO HIM WHO JUDGES
FAIRLY.
TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU PSALMS AND PROVERBS TAKEN FROM
THE "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND" BIBLE.
WE RELEASED THAT BIBLE NOT TOO LONG AGO AND PSALMS AND PROVERBS
HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF IT AND PUT INTO A SPECIAL BOOK ALL OF ITS
OWN, AND PEOPLE ARE JUST LOVING IT.
SO WE THINK YOU'RE GONNA ENJOY IT.
AND ALSO A CD CALLED "GOD'S WORD FOR YOUR LIFE."
IT'S A GOOD THING TO JUST LISTEN TO OVER AND OVER.
IT'S GREAT TO KEEP IN MIND THE PROMISES OF GOD.
NOW, YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AND REMEMBER GOD LOVES YOU
UNCONDITIONALLY.
ANNOUNCER: TODAY WE'RE OFFERING TWO RESOURCES THAT WILL
SHOW YOU HOW GOD'S WORD CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
IN THIS PSALMS AND PROVERBS EDITION OF
THE "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND" BIBLE, JOYCE COMBINES HER
INSIGHTS WITH THE POETIC WISDOM OF PSALMS AND PROVERBS TO
HELP YOU APPLY SCRIPTURE IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING A "GOD'S WORD FOR YOUR LIFE" CD.
JOIN JOYCE AS SHE READS MORE THAN 100 BIBLE VERSES ON
25 TOPICS THAT WILL COMFORT AND STRENGTHEN YOUR SOUL.
THIS PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT OF...OR MORE.
CALL US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: THE LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IS SOLD OUT
BUT DON'T WORRY, YOU CAN STILL JOIN US AND FROM THE COMFORT
OF YOUR OWN HOME.
SIGN UP FOR THE 2018 LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE LIVE STREAM.
HEAR POWERFUL MESSAGES BY JOYCE MEYER, PRISCILLA SHIRER,
LISA HARPER, AND SARAH JAKES ROBERTS.
WORSHIP WITH ELEVATION WORSHIP AND NATALIE GRANT.
REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2018 LOVE LIFE
WOMEN'S CONFERENCE LIVE STREAM.
VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/WCLIVE.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU 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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