ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THE WORD THIS MORNING.
I THANK YOU, FATHER, THAT AS YOU ALLOW ME TO SHARE THIS WORD
TODAY THAT IT'S GONNA REALLY HELP PEOPLE LEARN BETTER HOW
TO BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHAT'S A PROMPTING?
IT'S A GENTLE REMINDER.
THAT'S HOW YOU LEARN HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD.
YOU LEARN HOW TO BE SENSITIVE ENOUGH TO WHAT'S GOING ON
IN YOUR INNER LIFE THAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE PEACE ABOUT
SOMETHING, THAT'S AN IMMEDIATE SIGNAL TO YOU THAT YOU NEED
TO BACK OFF OR YOU NEED TO WAIT OR YOU NEED TO GET
MORE INFORMATION FROM GOD.
OR IF SOMETHING DOESN'T FIT-- HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HAD ON
CLOTHING THAT WAS WAY TOO TIGHT?
OKAY, THAT'S BAD BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I REALLY HATE IS A PAIR
OF JEANS WITH A CROOKED LEG.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HAVE YOU EVER HAD ON A PAIR OF JEANS THAT ONE SEAM
WAS CROOKED AND I JUST MEAN ALL DAY YOU'RE LIKE--LIKE
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET SOMEWHERE AND GET THOSE THINGS OFF.
AND I TELL YOU IT'S INTERESTING TO ME BECAUSE THE OLDER
I'VE GOTTEN, THE LESS WILLING I AM TO WEAR ANYTHING
THAT'S UNCOMFORTABLE.
NOW I THINK THERE'S A CORRELATION.
THE OLDER THE MORE YOU MATURE IN GOD, THE LESS WILLING YOU ARE TO
KEEP DOING THINGS THAT MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE SPIRIT
BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT.
COME ON, GIVE GOD PRAISE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I WOULD RATHER HAVE A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE GET MAD
AT ME BECAUSE I SAY NO TO THEM IF THAT MEANS I GET TO SAY YES
TO GOD AND I GET TO HAVE PEACE AND BE COMFORTABLE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT OR NOT, AND I DON'T MEAN TO
BE MEAN ABOUT THIS OR RUDE ABOUT IT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME WHEN
PEOPLE WANT US TO DO SOMETHING, IT'S FOR THEIR BENEFIT
AND THEY'RE REALLY NOT ALL THAT CONCERNED ABOUT--
BUT GOD IS CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.
I MEAN, I HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HEAR FROM GOD ABOUT
WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "OH, SISTER, GOD TOLD US YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO COME
DO OUR CONFERENCE."
I SAID, "WELL, HE NEED TO TOLD ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR IT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I HEARD I'M SUPPOSED TO TEND TO MY BUSINESS, DO WHAT
HE'S CALLED ME TO DO AND WHAT I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR AND THEN
HAVE A SANE LIFE SO I CAN GET SOME REST AND LIVE A LONG TIME.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S TOLD ME.
"WELL, WE KNOW WE HEARD FROM GOD."
BUT SEE YOU--AND THAT USED TO PRESSURE ME BECAUSE I USED TO
THINK, WELL, MY GOODNESS, I MEAN WHAT IF THEY HEARD FROM GOD?
I MEAN, WHAT IF THEY HEARD FROM GOD?
I DON'T WANT TO BE MISSING GOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
GOD RARELY TELLS SOMEBODY ELSE WHAT YOU OUGHT TO BE DOING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO?"
NO, PLEASE DON'T ASK ME WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I'M DOING STILL.
NOW, THAT'S IMBALANCE, OF COURSE.
I MEAN, WE DO COUNSEL PEOPLE AND WITH WE DO GIVE PEOPLE A WORD
OF WISDOM OR A WORD OF ADVICE.
BUT WHEN IT GETS DOWN TO PERSONAL THINGS IN YOUR LIFE,
LIKE SOMEBODY ASKED ME SOMETHING THE OTHER DAY ABOUT SOME CALL ON
THEIR LIFE AND SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING TO
THEM AND THINGS THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE HEARING.
AND I MEAN I'D KNOWN THE PERSON 5 MINUTES AND I SAID, "I WOULD
BE DOING YOU AN INJUSTICE TRYING TO ANSWER THAT BECAUSE I DON'T
EVEN REALLY KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT YOU TO TRY TO GET INTO THAT."
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW
TO BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR OURSELVES.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
MOST OF THE TIME THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU LEARN HOW TO DO
WHAT'S RIGHT IS BY MAKING A FEW MISTAKES.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ALL RIGHT NOW, FAT HEADS AND LEAN SOULS.
A PROFESSOR AT ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLEGES IN AMERICA
ASKED WHY STUDENTS WOULD JAM INTO A ROOM TO HEAR A WONDERFUL
MAN OF GOD NAMED RAVI ZACHARIAS.
I KNOW THIS STORY BECAUSE HE WAS JUST RECENTLY ON MY TV PROGRAM.
AND HE SAID HE WENT TO THIS COLLEGE, ONE OF THE BIG IVY
LEAGUE COLLEGES, AND HE DOES THESE NIGHTS TEACHING WHY JESUS?
WHY DO WE NEED JESUS?
AND THE ROOM WAS JAM PACKED FULL OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM
THE COLLEGE.
THEY COULDN'T EVEN ALL GET IN THE ROOM.
THEY WERE OUT IN THE HALLS.
THEY WERE TRYING TO JUST GET CLOSE ENOUGH TO LISTEN.
AND ONE OF THE PROFESSORS WAS THERE AND HE SAID TO
DR. ZACHARIAS, "WHY--WE HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THESE KIDS
TO GET INTERESTED IN MUCH OF ANYTHING.
WHY WOULD THEY CRAM IN HERE TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT WHY JESUS?"
AND THIS WAS WHAT HE SAID AND I THOUGHT IT WAS PHENOMENAL.
"WELL, PERHAPS YOU FILLED THEIR MINDS BUT LEFT THEIR
SOULS EMPTY."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "A FAT HEAD IS CONSIDERED TO BE SOMEONE WHO
EITHER HAS OR THINKS THEY HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND THEN IT
BECOMES A POINT OF PRIDE FOR THEM AND OFTEN MAKES THEM THINK
THAT THEY ARE SUPERIOR TO OTHER PEOPLE."
AND SPIRITUAL PRIDE IS THE WORST KIND OF PRIDE
THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE.
"WELL, I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS BOOK AND DON'T YOU TRY
TO TELL ME ANYTHING."
THAT'S A BAD ATTITUDE.
ANYTIME THAT WE THINK THERE'S NOTHING ELSE FOR US TO LEARN
AND WE DON'T NEED TO EVER PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT ANYBODY
HAS TO SAY, THAT WE KNOW IT ALL, THERE'S NO MORE DANGEROUS PERSON
THAN A KNOW-IT-ALL, SOMEBODY WHO THINKS THEY KNOW EVERYTHING.
THEY'RE NEVER WRONG.
THEY CAN'T SAY, "I WAS WRONG."
THEY CAN'T LISTEN.
THEY CAN'T HUMBLE THEMSELVES.
IT'S NOT ONLY A PROBLEM, IT IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
YOU'RE PLACING YOURSELF IN A POSITION OF BEING UNTEACHABLE
IF YOU DO THAT AND THAT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE.
AMEN?
KNOWLEDGE SHOULD BE SOUGHT AFTER, BUT WHAT KIND OF
KNOWLEDGE SHOULD WE SEEK AFTER?
WELL, IN EPHESIANS 1, VERSES 17 THROUGH 19, I'M JUST GONNA
QUOTE THEM FOR YOU INSTEAD OF US GOING THROUGH THEM ALL.
PAUL PRAYED FOR THE CHURCH-- AND I LOVE THIS.
I'VE DONE A WHOLE SERIES OF TEACHINGS ON THIS.
AND HE SAID, HE PRAYED THREE SPECIFIC THINGS.
HE SAID, "I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD HAVE WISDOM AND INSIGHT,
REVELATION KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW GOD."
SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING, GET TO KNOW GOD.
KNOW GOD, NOT JUST ABOUT GOD, KNOW GOD.
KNOW HIM PERSONALLY.
THEN HE SAID, "AND I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD KNOW YOUR CALLING
AND THE INHERITANCE THAT YOU HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST."
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING, INHERITANCE MEANS THAT
SOMETHING IS JUST GIVEN TO YOU, IT'S WILLED TO YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WE HAVE BY THE UNDESERVED GRACE
AND FAVOR OF GOD?
OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
WE'RE GONNA LIVE ETERNALLY.
WE HAVE RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD.
WE HAVE PEACE.
WE HAVE JOY.
WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING ON THE INSIDE OF US DIRECTING
US AND GUIDING US.
I MEAN, I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON.
AND PAUL SAID, "YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR INHERITANCE."
YOU SEE, YOU CAN HAVE ALL KINDS OF HEAD KNOWLEDGE, BUT IF YOU
DON'T KNOW GOD AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, THEN
YOU CAN STILL BE A BRILLIANT, MISERABLE PERSON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
AND YOU KNOW EVERYBODY'S BIG ON EDUCATION AND
I THINK EDUCATION'S GREAT.
YOU CAN GET ALL OF IT THAT YOU WANT, BUT DON'T EVER LET IT BE
A POINT OF PRIDE IN YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU BEGIN TO THINK THAT
BECAUSE YOU KNOW THIS AND YOU KNOW THAT AND YOU'VE GOT TWO OR
THREE DEGREES AND, YOU KNOW, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, THAT NOW YOU
KNOW MORE THAN EVERYBODY ELSE AND SO THAT PUTS YOU IN
A POSITION WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO ANYBODY ELSE.
ACTUALLY, THE MORE YOU KNOW UP HERE, IF IT'S REAL
TRUE KNOWLEDGE, THE MORE HUMBLE IT'S GONNA MAKE YOU.
AND THEN THE THIRD THING THAT HE SAID WE SHOULD KNOW
IS THAT WE WOULD KNOW THE POWER THAT'S AVAILABLE TO US
AS BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO KNOW.
THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS WE WANT TO KNOW.
I LIKE TO LEARN NEW THINGS.
I LIKE TO WATCH DOCUMENTARIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT
THAT TEACH ME SOMETHING.
I LIKE TO WATCH DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
BECAUSE IT JUST--I'M SO AMAZED AT HOW GOD HAS PUT EVERYTHING
TOGETHER AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT HE'S DONE.
THERE'S SOMETHING IN US THAT WANTS TO GROW
AND WANTS TO LEARN.
BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LEARNING SOMETHING
THAT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP US IN THE LONG RUN
AND DO US SOME GOOD.
1 CORINTHIANS 8:1 AND 2.
WE HAVE TO ALWAYS DEPEND ON GOD'S ANOINTING RATHER THAN
DEPENDING ON WHAT WE KNOW.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW TO PREACH BY NOW.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 36 YEARS, BUT I DEPEND ON GOD'S ANOINTING
BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT I KNOW, IF HE'S NOT WITH ME, WHAT I KNOW
IS NOT GONNA MAKE ANY SENSE.
1 CORINTHIANS 8:1 AND 2, NOW THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT
A SPECIFIC SUBJECT THAT THEY ARGUED A LOT ABOUT IN PAUL'S DAY
WHICH WAS, COULD THEY EAT MEAT THAT WAS OFFERED TO IDOLS
OR SHOULD THEY NOT EAT MEAT THAT WAS OFFERED TO IDOLS?
PAUL WAS SAYING, "WELL, IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH FAITH THEN YOU KNOW
THE IDOL'S NOTHING BUT A DUMB HUNK OF WOOD, SO THEREFORE
ANY FOOD OFFERED TO THAT IDOL COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE TAINTED.
NONETHELESS," HE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE FAITH FOR THAT
THAN JUST DON'T EAT IT BECAUSE IT'S BETTER THAT YOU KEEP
A CLEAR CONSCIENCE THAN THAT YOU DO SOMETHING THAT'S
GONNA MAKE YOU FEEL GUILTY."
SO THEY'RE ARGUING AND HAVING ALL THEIR
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.
SO HERE'S WHAT PAUL SAYS, "NOW ABOUT FOOD OFFERED TO IDOLS:
OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT ALL OF US POSSESS KNOWLEDGE
[CONCERNING THESE MATTERS.
YET MERE] KNOWLEDGE CAUSES PEOPLE TO BE PUFFED UP--"
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT PUFFED UP IS?
"I'M BETTER THAN YOU.
I KNOW MORE THAN YOU.
DON'T TRY TO TELL ME ANYTHING.
IF YOU'RE NOT DOING IT MY WAY THEN YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG."
"IT LEAVES THEM TO BEAR THEMSELVES LOFTILY AND BE PROUD,
BUT LOVE (AFFECTION AND GOODWILL AND BENEVOLENCE) EDIFIES AND
BUILDS UP AND ENCOURAGES ONE TO GROW [TO HIS FULL STATURE]."
NOW LET'S LOOK AT VERSE 2.
"IF ANYONE IMAGINES THAT HE'S COME TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND
MUCH [OF DIVINE THINGS, WITHOUT LOVE], HE DOES NOT YET PERCEIVE
AND RECOGNIZE AND UNDERSTAND AS STRONGLY AND CLEARLY
AS HE OUGHT TO."
YOU KNOW WHAT PAUL'S SAYING?
NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU THINK YOU KNOW--NOW THIS IS GOOD
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE THINK WE KNOW--AND YES, I'M TALKING TO
ALL THE PEOPLE WATCHING BY TV.
I'M NOT JUST TALKING TO ALL THE PEOPLE IN HERE.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU THINK YOU KNOW--YES, I'M TALKING TO YOU.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU THINK YOU KNOW--DO YOU KNOW HOW WE LOVE
TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT WE KNOW?
"WELL, I THINK, I THINK, I THINK."
HALF THE TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING, WE'RE WANTING THEM TO
SHUT UP SO WE CAN TELL THEM WHAT WE THINK.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW,
I THINK, I THINK, I THINK."
SO NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW, ARE YOU READY?
IF YOU'RE NOT WALKING IN LOVE, THEN THE BIBLE SAYS
YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I LOVE IT.
I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT.
I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT.
I LOVE IT.
SO GET ALL THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU WANT TO BUT MAKE SURE
THAT YOU ALWAYS DEPEND ON GOD.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF EMPLOYEES AT
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRY AND THEY'RE EDUCATED.
THEY'RE SMART.
ALL THIS COMPUTER STUFF TODAY AND THE TECHNOLOGY,
IT JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZES ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'D DO IF WE DIDN'T HAVE AN I-T DEPARTMENT
TO CALL WHEN EVERYTHING CRASHES AND GOES DOWN.
AND WE NEED PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
WE NEED PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
AND I'VE TALKED TO OUR WHOLE STAFF ABOUT THIS.
I DON'T WANT THEM DEPENDING ON THE TECHNOLOGY.
I WANT THEM DEPENDING ON THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO HELP THEM KNOW HOW TO WORK THE TECHNOLOGY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE NOW AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW
THIS IS LAKEWOOD CHURCH AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL IN ITSELF.
BUT EVEN WHEN WE GO OUT ON THE ROAD, I MEAN,
WE CAN TRANSFORM JUST A PLAIN, NOT-SO-PLEASANT-LOOKING ARENA
INTO A BEAUTIFUL PLACE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL SET.
WE'VE GOT BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS.
I MEAN WE GOT IT ALL.
WE GOT SMOKE MACHINES.
WE GOT THE WHOLE THING.
WE GOT IT.
WE GOT FLASHING LIGHTS, FLASHING COLORED LIGHTS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S ALL NICE.
WE HAVE A GREAT MAGAZINE.
WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL WEBSITE.
WE'VE GOT CLASSY TV PROGRAM.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF WE DON'T HAVE GOD'S ANOINTING THEN NONE OF THAT
IS WORTH ANYTHING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT GOOD TO DO THAT.
WE WANT TO PRESENT OURSELVES IN A WAY THAT'S GONNA CAUSE
THE WORLD TO TAKE A LOOK.
AND SO I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO JUST DEPEND ON "WELL,
I'M ANOINTED SO IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT EVERYTHING
ELSE LOOKS LIKE."
NO, I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS WE
CAN'T DEPEND ON THAT.
YOU KNOW HOW I STARTED?
MY FIRST TV SHOW THAT WAS RECORDED, YOU WOULD LAUGH YOUR
HEAD OFF IF YOU COULD SEE IT NOW.
YOU KNOW WHAT OUR BACKDROP WAS?
IT WAS A BLUE SHOWER CURTAIN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE HAD ONE CAMERA AND NOW I HAVE NO IDEA
HOW MANY CAMERAS ARE IN HERE.
I MEAN WE GOT THEM ON RODS AND POLES AND SWINGING
AND HANGING AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.
WE HAD ONE CAMERA AND WE WERE IN A ROOM THAT HAD A VERY LOW
CEILING AND SOME OF THE CEILING TILES WERE FALLING DOWN.
AND WE HAD THIS WIRE POLE AND HAD THIS BLUE CURTAIN HUNG
ON THE BACK OF IT, AND IT WAS A TWO-PIECE CURTAIN AND IT KEPT
DIVIDING IN THE MIDDLE AND SO WE HAD TO PAPER CLIP THAT TOGETHER
OR SOMETHING TO HOLD IT.
AND I STILL REMEMBER WHAT I WAS TEACHING ON.
AND WHEN WE WENT ON TELEVISION, THAT WAS ONE OF OUR
FIRST PROGRAMS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE GOT 125 PHONE CALLS THAT DAY AND I THOUGHT I HAD DIED
AND GONE TO HEAVEN.
I WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT THE LIGHTS OR THE BACKDROP
OR ANYTHING ELSE.
I JUST KNEW GOD HAD ANOINTED IT AND HE HAD CALLED ME,
AND WE WERE GONNA HELP PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD BY TV.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO NOW LOOK AT ME BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP YOU.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE,
IF YOU DO HAVE GOD, YOU'VE GOT MORE THAN ENOUGH.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S SO--AND GOD WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE THAT.
AND WHEN YOU REALLY BELIEVE IT, THEN YOU'LL STEP OUT INTO THINGS
AND NOT BE ALWAYS PETRIFIED THAT YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A MISTAKE.
LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET OVER
THIS STUFF.
BUSY?
YEAH, GOD, IT'S JOYCE AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, I TRIED THAT THING THAT YOU TOLD ME ABOUT
AND IT JUST-- THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT GOOD.
I MEAN I STEPPED OUT AND TRIED TO DO SOMETHING, MAN,
IT WASN'T THE RIGHT--OH.
OH, HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY, HUH?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OH, EVERYBODY BUT YOU, OF COURSE.
YEAH, I KNOW YOU DON'T MAKE MISTAKES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO--OH, OKAY.
SO I DID HAVE PART OF IT RIGHT, HUH?
I JUST KIND OF GOT MY HEAD IN THE WAY AND GOT--OH.
OKAY.
OH, SO YOU WANT ME TO TRY THAT AGAIN BUT THIS TIME KEEP
MY HEAD OUT OF IT.
OH.
OH, YOU GOTTA GO NOW.
I KNOW YOU--OKAY, BYE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: COME ON, DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "LEAN NOT TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING."
PROVERBS 3:5 THROUGH 7, I LOVE IT.
"TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND MIND AND LEAN NOT
TO YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.
IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL DIRECT
YOUR PATH."
BUT THE FIRST LINE OF VERSE 7 IS MY FAVORITE,
"BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES."
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF WE ALREADY THINK THAT WE KNOW EVERYTHING, THEN WE'RE NOT
GONNA ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING.
LET'S DON'T HAVE FAT HEADS AND LEAN SOULS.
GOD WANTS YOU TO HAVE A FAT SOUL, AND I'VE GOT SCRIPTURE
AFTER SCRIPTURE AFTER SCRIPTURE THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL
IT IS TO HAVE A FAT SOUL.
COME ON, STICK WITH ME HERE A FEW MINUTES.
PSALM 106:9, "HE REBUKED THE RED SEA ALSO,
AND HE IT DRIED UP; SO HE LED THEM THROUGH THE DEPTHS
AS THROUGH A PASTURELAND.
HE SAVED THEM FROM THE HAND OF THEM THAT HATED THEM, AND
HE REDEEMED THEM FROM THE HAND OF THE [EGYPTIAN] ENEMY.
AND THE WATERS COVERED THEIR ADVERSARIES; AND NOT ONE
OF THEM WAS LEFT."
WHAT A GREAT VICTORY.
"THEN [ISRAEL] BELIEVED HIS WORDS
[TRUSTING IN, RELYING ON THEM]; THEY SANG HIS PRAISE.
BUT THEY HASTILY FORGOT HIS WORKS."
HOW OFTEN DO WE DO THAT?
"AND THEY DID NOT [REMEMBER]
AND WAIT FOR HIS PLANS [TO DEVELOP] REGARDING THEM."
WHEN WE DON'T WAIT FOR GOD'S PLANS TO DEVELOP REGARDING US,
WE GET INTO WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT, DOING WORKS OF
THE FLESH RATHER THAN WORKING THE WORKS OF GOD.
WE DON'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD SAYS AND THEN DO WHAT HE SAYS.
WE'RE DOING OUR OWN THING EXPECTING GOD TO BLESS IT
AND MAKE IT WORK.
"BUT THEY LUSTED EXCEEDINGLY IN THE WILDERNESS AND TEMPTED
AND TRIED TO RESTRAIN GOD [WITH THEIR INSISTENT DESIRES]
IN THE DESERT."
I LOVE THIS.
AND HE GAVE THEM THEIR REQUEST, BUT SENT LEANNESS
INTO THEIR SOULS."
THEY DIDN'T HAVE FAT SOULS, THEY HAD LEAN SOULS.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY WANTED SOMETHING, AND THEY KEPT
IT UP AND KEPT IT UP AND KEPT IT UP UNTIL GOD FINALLY GAVE IT
TO THEM AND AFTER THEY HAD IT, THEY REALIZED, "THIS
IS NOT WHAT I WANTED AT ALL."
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE WHO WAS EVER JUST PUSHED AND FINAGLED
AND MANEUVERED AND MANIPULATED UNTIL YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED,
A FLESHLY WAY, WASN'T THAT GOD GAVE IT.
YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED AND AFTER YOU GOT IT YOU THOUGHT,
"BOY, I WISH I WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO GOD."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO WHAT DID YOU END UP WITH?
NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE, BUT YOU HAD A FAT HEAD AND A LEAN SOUL.
YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW WHAT WAS RIGHT, DIDN'T LISTEN TO GOD.
AND WHEN I SAY YOU, I'VE DONE THE SAME THING.
WE THINK THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM GOD; WHY?
BECAUSE WE WANT IT.
WE WANT IT. WE WANT IT.
WE WANT IT. WE WANT IT.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT PSALM 17:15 SAYS?
LET'S PUT IT UP AND LOOK AT IT.
IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.
I LOVE THIS SCRIPTURE.
PSALM CHAPTER 17, VERSE 15.
"AND AS FOR ME, I WILL CONTINUE BEHOLDING YOUR FACE
IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (RIGHTNESS, JUSTICE, AND RIGHT STANDING
WITH YOU); I SHALL BE FULLY SATISFIED, WHEN I AWAKE
[TO FIND MYSELF] BEHOLDING YOUR FORM [AND HAVING
SWEET COMMUNION WITH YOU]."
YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A FAT SOUL?
YOU'RE FULLY SATISFIED.
YOU'RE CONTENT.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE GOT INSIDE.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DO OR DON'T HAVE IN THE NATURAL.
IT'S BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT WHAT YOU NEED INSIDE.
YOU GOT A FAT SOUL.
ACTUALLY, THERE'S--I'M GONNA READ YOU JUST A COUPLE OF
SCRIPTURES, PSALM 63:5, "MY WHOLE BEING SHALL BE SATISFIED
AS WITH MARROW AND FATNESS; AND MY MOUTH SHALL PRAISE
YOU WITH JOYFUL LIPS."
YOU KNOW WHEN A PERSON HAS A FAT SOUL, YOU CAN HEAR IT
COME OUT OF THEIR MOUTH BECAUSE THEY DON'T MURMUR
AND COMPLAIN ALL THE TIME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "AND I DON'T LIKE THAT AND..." YOU KNOW, I WENT THROUGH
PERIODS OF TIME IN MY LIFE WHERE I DON'T CARE WHAT WAS GOING ON,
I WAS NOT SATISFIED.
LONG PERIODS OF TIME, LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
BACK WHEN DAVE AND I WERE FIRST MARRIED, I WORKED A JOB AND
SO THEN I WASN'T HAPPY.
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, IF I JUST DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK.
AND SO THEN I QUIT WORK AND THEN I THOUGHT, WELL, I'M BORED, SO I
WENT TO WORK PART TIME AND THEN THAT DIDN'T WORK AND--YOU KNOW
WHAT THE BOTTOM LINE WAS?
NOTHING WAS GONNA SATISFY ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE
A FAT SOUL.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU'RE STILL TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF THE FAT THING,
AREN'T YOU?
"WHY DO YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY--" ISAIAH 55:2, "WHY DO YOU SPEND
YOUR MONEY FOR THAT WHICH IS NOT BREAD, AND YOUR EARNINGS
FOR WHAT DOES NOT SATISFY?
HEARKEN DILIGENTLY TO ME, AND EAT WHAT IS GOOD,
AND LET YOUR SOUL DELIGHT ITSELF IN FATNESS [THE PROFUSENESS
OF SPIRITUAL JOY]."
LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
I MIGHT SAY TO YOU, OKAY, I'VE GOT THIS SET OF TEACHINGS
OUT THERE THAT'S GOT CDs AND THE DVDs AND
THE BOOK AND A WORKBOOK AND YOU KNOW, $45, WHATEVER.
WELL, SOME OF YOU IMMEDIATELY WOULD THINK, "I CAN'T SPEND
$45 FOR THAT."
AND YET YOU'LL GO TO LUNCH AND GET A GREASY HAMBURGER
WITH CHEESE ALL OVER IT AND A CHOCOLATE MILK SHAKE
AND CHUNK THAT DOWN.
AND THEN YOU'LL GO OUT AND GET ANOTHER PAIR OF EARRINGS
OR ANOTHER SCREWDRIVER OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT
YOU REALLY DON'T NEED.
YOU KNOW, WE DON'T--WE SPEND OUR MONEY, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO
SPEND IT SOMETIMES ON THE STUFF THAT'S REALLY GONNA MAKE
A BIG DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YEA, THINK I'LL CLICK MY HEELS TOGETHER.
I MEAN, ISN'T IT TRUE?
OUR TIME, WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR TIME?
SOMETIMES WE JUST WASTE OUR TIME.
AND IF WE WOULD JUST PUT IT INTO SOMETHING THAT BEARS
A LITTLE MORE FRUIT.
DO THINGS FOR YOURSELF.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
CELEBRATE YOUR LIFE BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
DO THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS?
WHEN YOU MAKE OTHER PEOPLE HAPPY, YOU GET A FAT SOUL.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU REALLY DO.
THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS ON THE INSIDE OF YOU
WHEN YOU BLESS OTHER PEOPLE THAT JUST GIVES YOU A FAT SOUL.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT BLESSES THEM, TO BE HONEST, IT DOES SOMETHING
SPIRITUAL FOR YOU THAT YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY FULLY
AND COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
SELFISH PEOPLE HAVE LEAN SOULS.
AND ISAIAH 10:27, OH, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS.
PUT THIS UP.
THIS IS ABOUT THE ANOINTING, HOW THE ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THE AMPLIFIED CALLS
THE ANOINTING?
FATNESS.
"AND IT SHALL BE IN THAT DAY THAT THE BURDEN OF
[THE ASSYRIAN] SHALL DEPART FROM YOUR SHOULDERS,
AND HIS YOKE FROM OFF YOUR NECK.
THE YOKE SHALL BE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF--"
THIS SAYS, "FATNESS."
SOME OTHER TRANSLATIONS SAY, "BECAUSE OF THE ANOINTING."
SO WE TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME EVEN AS YOU SIT HERE TONIGHT
IN THIS ANOINTED ATMOSPHERE, YOKES OF BONDAGE
ARE BROKEN OFF OF YOU.
WELL, THIS SAYS YOKES ARE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF FATNESS,
FATNESS OF SOULS.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY?
WE SHOULD HAVE SUCH FAT SOULS THAT THE DEVIL
DOES NOT HAVE A BONDAGE THAT WILL FIT AROUND IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ONE THAT HE CAN PUT AROUND US
BECAUSE OUR SOULS ARE TOO FAT AND WE--YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF YOU GOT ALL KINDS OF CHAINS IN YOUR LIFE, YOU JUST KEEP
LETTING YOUR SOUL GET FATTER AND FATTER AND FATTER AND FATTER
WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD
AND DOING THE THINGS THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO,
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH THOSE BONDAGES.
PRETTY SOON THEY'RE JUST GONNA GO BOOP, BOOP, BOOP...
AND IT WILL ALL JUST BE GONE BECAUSE THE DEVIL
JUST CANNOT HOLD YOU.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, YOUR MIND WILL OFTEN LEAD YOU
AWAY FROM THE THINGS OF GOD.
SO WE NEED TO ASK HIM TO HELP US BE LED BY THE SPIRIT INSTEAD OF
BEING LED BY EVERY THOUGHT THAT FALLS INTO OUR OWN HEAD.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON FILLING UP OUR SOUL AS OPPOSED
TO JUST BEING LED BY EVERY THOUGHT THAT WE THINK.
LET'S LEARN HOW TO THINK WITH THE MIND OF CHRIST.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO REALLY STUDY
THE WORD OF GOD.
WELL, TODAY WE'RE OFFERING SOME RESOURCES THAT I THINK
ARE GONNA HELP YOU REALLY STUDY GOD'S WORD.
IT'S "THE EVERYDAY LIFE STUDY BIBLE" AND A DVD CALLED
"HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE."
YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING THIS
STUDY BIBLE, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP YOU TOO.
IT'S THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE WITH A LOT OF
MY TEACHING NOTES IN IT, OUTLINES FROM MESSAGES THAT
I'VE DONE, DIFFERENT LIFE POINTS THAT WE WANT YOU TO HAVE.
I REALLY BELIEVE IT'S GONNA HELP YOU SEE THE WORD OF GOD
IN A MORE PRACTICAL WAY.
AND THEN THE DVD WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE STEPS OF HOW TO
ACTUALLY STUDY THE WORD OF GOD.
AND SO WE WANT YOU TO GET THESE RESOURCES.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO HELP YOU.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE WORD OF GOD IS ALWAYS A GREAT GIFT TO GIVE
ANYBODY SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BIRTHDAY GIFT OR SOME SPECIAL
GIFT FOR A FRIEND OF YOURS, WHY NOT GIVE THEM
THE BEST GIFT OF ALL?
GIVE THEM THE WORD.
ANNOUNCER: READING THE WORD OF GOD CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE,
BUT FOR MANY, FINDING A STARTING POINT IS OFTEN
DISCOURAGING AND THAT'S WHERE TODAY'S RESOURCES CAN HELP.
"THE EVERYDAY LIFE BIBLE," WHICH INCLUDES NOTES FROM JOYCE'S
PERSONAL JOURNEY AND THE DVD "HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE" WILL
PROVIDE DIRECTION AND STABILITY IN YOUR TIME WITH GOD.
BOTH ARE AVAILABLE FOR A DONATION OF...
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS CALL US TOLL FREE AT...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: TRUST HIM ALL THE TIME.
YOUR WALK WITH GOD IS NOT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE.
IF YOU WANNA 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.
GINGER: YOU KNOW, I'VE JUST BEEN WONDERING LATELY, WHAT IS
IT THAT MAKES A PERSON WANT TO LEAVE THE COMFORT AND MONOTONY
OF HOME TO COME SOMEPLACE CRAZY LIKE THIS AND DO
A MEDICAL CLINIC?
WELL, LET'S ASK THE VOLUNTEER DOCTORS AND NURSES WHO DO
IT ALL THE TIME.
MALE: SEEING THE WORLD IS AWESOME.
IT'S ALWAYS A GREAT ADVENTURE.
FEMALE: BECAUSE THE KIDS ARE SO AMAZING.
FEMALE: I DO THIS BECAUSE GOD PUT IT IN MY HEART TO HELP
OTHERS.
FEMALE: BECAUSE IT'S LIFE CHANGING.
MALE: WE LOVE IT, IT'S AWESOME.
FEMALE: 'CAUSE IT'S REALLY FUN.
GINGER: SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IT CAN'T HURT TO AT LEAST CHECK IT OUT, RIGHT?
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS GO TO OUR WEBSITE, JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE FOR YOU, AND JUST THINK, YOUR
ADVENTURE MAY BEGIN TODAY.
FEMALE: AND I LOVE THAT MAGAZINE SHE SENDS OUT.
FEMALE: THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE FOR EVERYBODY.
FEMALE: IT'S JUST BROUGHT ABOUT SO MUCH CHANGE IN MY
LIFE PERSONALLY.
FEMALE: IT'S ALWAYS AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU TO
WANT TO DO MORE MINISTRY.
ANNOUNCER: GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO
"ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE" MAGAZINE TODAY
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
READ ENCOURAGING ARTICLES FROM JOYCE, UPDATES FROM
HAND OF HOPE, AND MUCH MORE.
FEMALE: READING THROUGH THE MAGAZINE CONFIRMS FOR ME
THAT GOD'S AT WORK.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, WHEN WE ARE CONFIDENT IN WHO WE ARE IN
CHRIST, IT ALLOWS US TO FACE LIFE WITH BOLDNESS, AND IT
RELEASES US FROM JEALOUSY AND ENVY TOWARD OTHER PEOPLE.
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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