ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: THE MAIN REASON WHY WE DON'T REALLY WALK IN THIS
LOVE THAT WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AND PREACH ABOUT IS BECAUSE IT
ALWAYS COSTS US SOMETHING.
IT'S ALWAYS AN EFFORT.
THERE'S SOME ENERGY, SOME MONEY, SOME TIME, A LITTLE BIT OF
SUFFERING, A LITTLE BIT OF SELF-WILL THAT HAS TO GO BY
THE WAYSIDE IN ORDER FOR US TO WALK IN LOVE.
AND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT TONIGHT, THEN IT'S GONNA BE
A GREAT MESSAGE.
YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THE SEMINAR.
YOU'RE GONNA CLAP AND CHEER.
YOU MAY EVEN BUY THE BRACELET, BUT YOU WILL NOT GO HOME
AND DO IT.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: FATHER, THIS IS MY PLAN TODAY.
IF THIS AGREES WITH YOU, THEN BLESS IT AND MAKE IT WORK.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE FREE TO INTERRUPT ME IF
YOU WANT TO BECAUSE I WANT TO BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.
START SAYING THIS EVERY MORNING, "GOD, WHAT CAN I DO
FOR YOU TODAY?" INSTEAD OF GIVING GOD YOUR LIST
OF 20 THINGS THAT HE'S GOTTA DO FOR YOU TO KEEP YOU HAPPY AND
SAVED THAT DAY, HOW ABOUT ADDING TO YOUR PRAYER LIST, "GOD, WHAT
CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?" IT'S A SCARY THOUGHT BECAUSE WE
THINK HE MIGHT TELL US SOMETHING.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HERE'S A GOOD ONE TO PRAY, "WHAT DO I HAVE IN MY
POSSESSION THAT YOU'D LIKE ME TO GIVE AWAY?"
UH-OH.
UH-HUH.
LET'S JUST DON'T BE BUCKET PLUNKERS.
WHAT IS A BUCKET PLUNKER?
WELL, THAT'S THE PERSON WHO, YOU KNOW, THROWS A LITTLE SOMETHING
IN THE BUCKET WHEN THE PLATE PASSES THEM BY ON SUNDAY MORNING
AND MANY TIMES SOMETHING THAT'S NOT EVEN REALLY MEANINGFUL
TO THEM.
AND THEN THEY THINK BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE THAT,
THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
I THINK THAT OUR WHOLE LIFE NEEDS TO BE OPEN TO GOD.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY, GOD'S NOT EVER GONNA LEAVE YOU
WITHOUT ANYTHING.
THE MORE YOU BLESS OTHER PEOPLE, THE MORE YOU'LL HAVE.
BLESSINGS WILL CHASE YOU DOWN AND OVERTAKE YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I LOVE THIS STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
I SAID LAST NIGHT THAT WE--THERE'S A BOOK CALLED
"IN HIS STEPS," AND THAT'S BEEN A PRETTY POPULAR BOOK FOR A LOT
OF YEARS AND IT'S LIKE LEARNING HOW TO WALK AS JESUS WALKED.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A BOOK THAT STUDIES THE STOPS OF JESUS,
NOT JUST THE STEPS OF JESUS 'CAUSE I'LL TELL YA, HE WAS
INTERRUPTIBLE.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT SEVERAL PLACES WHERE HE WAS INTERRUPTED.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING HOW MANY TIMES JESUS GOT INTERRUPTED
IN ONE DAY.
MATTHEW 8:1 THROUGH 3, "WHEN JESUS CAME DOWN FROM
THE MOUNTAIN, GREAT THRONGS FOLLOWED HIM.
AND BEHOLD, A LEPER CAME TO HIM AND, PROSTRATING HIMSELF,
WORSHIPED HIM, AND SAYING, LORD, IF YOU'RE WILLING,
YOU'RE ABLE TO CLEANSE ME.
AND HE REACHED OUT HIS HAND AND TOUCHED HIM, AND SAID,
I AM WILLING; BE THOUGH CLEAN."
INTERRUPTION NUMBER ONE.
VERSE 5, "AS JESUS WENT INTO CAPERNAUM, A CENTURION CAME UP
TO HIM, AND SAID, LORD, MY SERVANT BOY IS LYING AT HOME
PARALYZED AND DISTRESSED WITH INTENSE PAIN.
AND JESUS SAID, I'LL COME AND RESTORE HIM.
BUT THE CENTURION REPLIED TO HIM, LORD, I'M NOT WORTHY OR FIT
TO HAVE YOU COME UNDER MY ROOF; BUT ONLY SPEAK THE WORD, AND MY
SERVANT BOY WILL BE CURED."
THIS IS ONE OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT I LEAN ON AND I HAVE A
PRAYER BEFORE GOD THAT I'VE HAD BEFORE HIM FOR YEARS THAT WHEN I
PREACH THE GOSPEL, PEOPLE WILL BE HEALED PHYSICALLY.
I BELIEVE THERE'S AN ANOINTING IN THE WORD OF GOD THAT BRINGS
HEALING TO OUR LIVES.
JESUS DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO GO AND LAY HANDS ON HIM.
THE GUY SAID, "SPEAK THE WORD ONLY AND MY SERVANT BOY
WILL BE HEALED."
VERSE 14 THROUGH 16, "AND WHEN JESUS WENT INTO PETER'S HOUSE,
HE SAW HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW LYING THERE ILL WITH A FEVER.
AND HE TOUCHED HER AND THE FEVER LEFT HER; AND SHE GOT UP
AND BEGAN TO WAIT ON THEM.
AND THEN WHEN EVENING CAME, THEY BROUGHT TO HIM MANY WHO WERE
UNDER THE POWER OF DEMONS, AND HE DROVE OUT THE SPIRITS
WITH A WORD AND RESTORED ALL TO HEALTH WHO WERE SICK."
AND THEN IN VERSE 16 IT SAYS, "NOW IT WAS EVENING,"
SO WE'RE GETTING TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY.
THEY GET IN A BOAT TO CROSS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE.
AND IN VERSE 24, "SUDDENLY, BEHOLD, THERE AROSE A VIOLENT
STORM ON THE SEA, SO THAT THE BOAT WAS BEING COVERED UP BY
THE WAVES; AND JESUS WAS HAVING A LITTLE NAP."
I GUESS AFTER A DAY LIKE THAT, I'D WANT A NAP TOO,
HOW ABOUT YOU?
"AND THE DISCIPLES WENT AND WOKE HIM UP, SAYING, LORD, RESCUE US!
WE'RE DROWNING!
O YE OF LITTLE FAITH?" AND IT JUST GOES ON AND ON.
IT GOES ALL THE WAY THROUGH CHAPTER 9, ONE THING AFTER
ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.
HE'D TAKE A FEW STEPS AND GET INTERRUPTED.
HE'D TAKE A FEW STEPS AND GET INTERRUPTED.
HE WOULD TAKE A FEW STEPS AND GET INTERRUPTED.
NOW I DON'T IMAGINE IT'S GONNA BE TO THAT DEGREE IN ANY OF OUR
LIVES, BUT THE POINT IS MADE THAT JESUS WAS INTERRUPTIBLE.
AND HE STOPPED FOR HURTING PEOPLE.
HE STOPPED FOR HURTING PEOPLE.
HE LISTENED TO HURTING PEOPLE.
AMEN?
THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD IS LOVE.
"ONE NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER
JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU."
NOW, TO LOVE PEOPLE TAKES A SACRIFICE.
ROMANS 8:17-18 SAYS IF WE WANT TO SHARE HIS GLORY, WE HAVE
TO BE WILLING TO SHARE HIS SUFFERING.
NOW DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT GONNA TALK ABOUT SUFFERING TOO LONG
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S NOT A VERY PLEASANT SUBJECT BUT SUFFERING
ALMOST ALWAYS COMES BEFORE REWARD.
YOU MIGHT SAY NOW THAT I'M LIVING IN THE GLORY DAYS
OF MY MINISTRY.
WHO WOULD NOT WANT TO DO WHAT I'M DOING?
BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET HERE.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF PAIN AND A LOT OF TEARS AND A LOT OF
REJECTION AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO CAME AGAINST ME.
I'M NOT PREACHING ON THAT TONIGHT SO I WON'T BEGIN TO TELL
YA, BUT I'LL TELL YA THERE IS SUFFERING BEFORE THERE'S GLORY.
YOU SAY, "WELL, I THOUGHT JESUS BORE ALL MY SUFFERING."
YES, HE DID BEAR A LOT OF OUR SUFFERING, BUT THERE'S CERTAIN
THINGS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND THEY HELP US,
THEY MATURE US.
SO LET ME JUST GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF SOME SUFFERING THAT
YOU MIGHT EXPERIENCE SO NOBODY TAKES IT OUT OF CONTEXT.
FORGIVING SOMEONE IS A PAINFUL THING TO DO.
WHEN SOMEBODY HAS HURT YOU REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BAD, TO
BE GOOD TO THEM AFTER THEY'VE HURT YOU, TO EVEN TALK TO THEM
AFTER THEY'VE HURT YOU, TO EVEN BE IN THEIR AIRSPACE AFTER THEY
HAVE HURT YOU IS PAINFUL.
HOW MANY OF YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
ALL RIGHT, BEING PATIENT WITH AN ANNOYING PERSON MAKES ME SUFFER.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BECAUSE TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT IS SUFFERING FOR ME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: CONTINUING TO GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO NEVER DOES ANYTHING
FOR ME, THAT'S SUFFERING.
TAKING CARE OF ELDERLY PARENTS WHO MISTREATED YOU IN YOUR
CHILDHOOD, THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO, BUT GOD EXPECTS US TO DO IT.
"HE DOES?" YES, HE DOES.
GO READ YOUR BIBLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DOING A FAVOR FOR SOMEONE THAT'S GONNA
CAUSE YOU TO SACRIFICE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO IS
A TYPE OF SUFFERING.
NOW THESE ARE ALL NOT HORRIBLE THINGS, BUT THEY ARE THINGS THAT
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH IF WE WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS.
THE MAIN REASON WHY WE DON'T REALLY WALK IN THIS LOVE THAT WE
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT AND PREACH ABOUT IS BECAUSE IT ALWAYS COSTS
US SOMETHING.
IT'S ALWAYS AN EFFORT.
THERE'S SOME ENERGY, SOME MONEY, SOME TIME, A LITTLE BIT OF
SUFFERING, A LITTLE BIT OF SELF-WILL THAT HAS TO GO BY
THE WAYSIDE IN ORDER FOR US TO WALK IN LOVE.
AND IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT TONIGHT, THEN IT'S GONNA BE A
GREAT MESSAGE, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THE SEMINAR, YOU'RE GONNA CLAP
AND CHEER, YOU MAY EVEN BUY THE BRACELET, BUT YOU WILL NOT
GO HOME AND DO IT.
THAT'S WHY I NEED FOUR SESSIONS TO KEEP AT IT OVER AND OVER AND
OVER BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED IF I DON'T JUST KEEP POUNDING IT,
THAT YOU'LL GO HOME AND FORGET IT AND THAT'S NOT GONNA BE WHAT
WE WANT TO HAPPEN.
WE WANT YOU TO GO HOME AND LIVE THIS OUT IN YOUR SCHOOLS,
IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, AT YOUR JOBS.
THOSE ARE WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE THAT NEED HELP.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HERE'S AN EXAMPLE I LIKE TO USE,
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A CERTAIN EMPLOYEE HAD REALLY MISTREATED
YOU, GOSSIPED ABOUT YOU, MADE FUN OF YOU BECAUSE YOU
WERE A BELIEVER, THEN GOT THE PROMOTION THAT YOU DESERVED,
HAS NEVER EVEN SO MUCH AS GIVEN YOU A KIND WORD.
AND NOW YOU HAPPEN TO HEAR THAT THEIR CAR IS BROKEN DOWN, AND
IT'S SO BAD THAT IT'S GONNA TAKE A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT
AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX IT.
AND YOU KIND OF FEEL LIKE GOD IS KIND OF RUMBLING AROUND IN THERE
SAYING, "WHY DON'T YOU OFFER TO PICK THEM UP AND TAKE THEM HOME
FROM WORK EVERY DAY TILL THIS GET THIS SITUATION FIXED?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW HOW I RESPOND TO THAT OR HOW I USED TO?
I DON'T ANYMORE.
THAT CANNOT BE GOD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THAT IS NOT GOD.
I MEAN SOMETIMES WE'RE TRYING TO REBUKE THE DEVIL AND IT'S GOD
TRYING TO DO SOMETHING IN OUR LIFE.
WHERE DID WE GET THE IDEA THAT GOD'S NEVER GONNA ASK US TO DO
ANYTHING HARD OR ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA COST US?
SO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THAT EMPLOYEE WHO'S LOST AND GOING TO
HELL, BY THE WAY, AND THEY'VE BEEN MAKING FUN OF YOU BECAUSE
YOU ARE THE COMPANY CHRISTIAN?
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WHEN YOU GO TO THEM AND SAY, "I HEARD YOU
WERE HAVING CAR TROUBLE, AND I JUST WANT YOU KNOW THAT I WOULD
BE HAPPY TO PICK YOU UP EVERY MORNING AND TAKE YOU HOME
EVERY NIGHT.
"WELL, ARE YOU SURE?" "OH YEAH, IT'S NO PROBLEM."
"WELL, WHERE DO YOU LIVE?" "OVER HERE."
"WELL, I LIVE WAY OVER HERE."
"WELL, THAT'S NO PROBLEM.
I DON'T MIND GOING OUT OF MY WAY FOR YOU.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU."
NOW, NOW, NOW YOU'VE JUST HAD A WITNESS.
NOW YOU HAVE ADDED SOME FRUIT TO YOUR JESUS PIN AND YOUR TAPE
RECORDER AND YOUR BUMPER STICKER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T NEED.
WE DON'T JUST NEED A BUNCH OF RELIGION, WE NEED REAL STUFF
THAT WE TAKE OUT OF THE CHURCH WITH US INTO THE WORLD.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND, YOU KNOW, JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING
ABOUT, JESUS DIDN'T DIE SO WE COULD HAVE A RELIGION.
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S CATHOLIC OR BAPTIST OR METHODIST OR
PRESBYTERIAN OR PENTECOSTAL OR CHARISMATIC OR WHATEVER IT IS,
WHICH EVEN ALL THAT REALLY IS SILLY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO BE DIVIDED UP IN A BUNCH OF
GROUPS WITH ALL OF OUR OWN LITTLE SPECIAL NAMES ON IT.
I MEAN WE'RE THE BODY OF CHRIST.
WE'RE BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "WELL, YOU KNOW SISTER JOYCE, I HEARD YOU'RE ONE
OF THOSE CHARISMATIC FOLKS AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY YOU
SPEAK IN TONGUES AND I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH THAT."
WELL THEN FINE, JUST DON'T DO IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE CAN LOVE EACH OTHER ANYWAY.
NONE OF THEM ARE 100% RIGHT, NOT MINE, NOT YOURS,
NOT ANYBODY ELSE'S.
WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO UNDERSTAND THE BEST THAT WE CAN
AND AS LONG AS WE'VE GOT THE IMPORTANT STUFF RIGHT--AMEN?
PEOPLE ARGUE OVER STUFF THAT DON'T EVEN MAKE ANY SENSE
AND YOU DON'T EVEN WANT ME TO GET OFF ON THAT.
JESUS DIDN'T DIE SO WE COULD ALL HAVE A RELIGION.
HE DIED SO WE COULD HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
THROUGH CHRIST, AND SO HE COULD TEACH US HOW TO LOVE.
SO RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS, BUT
IT'S JUST ALL OUTWARD STUFF.
SO IN MATTHEW 23, THIS IS WHAT JESUS SAID ABOUT
RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.
"RELIGIOUS PEOPLE TELL OTHER PEOPLE WHAT TO DO BUT THEY DON'T
DO IT THEMSELVES.
THEY PLACE HEAVY BURDENS ON OTHER PEOPLE AND WON'T LIFT
A FINGER TO HELP THEM.
THEY DO ALL THEIR WORKS TO BE SEEN AND ADMIRED AND THEY DON'T
DO THEM OUT OF LOVE.
THEY LOVE PLACES OF HONOR, THE BEST SEATS IN CHURCH, TITLES
AND POSITIONS."
VERSE 11 HOWEVER IN MATTHEW 23 SAYS, "HE WHO IS GREATEST AMONG
YOU MUST BE YOUR SERVANT."
JESUS GOES ON IN MATTHEW 23 TO SAY, "THEY ARE PRETENDERS, THEY
MISTREAT WIDOWS AND PRAY LONG PRAYERS WHILE THEY'RE DOING IT."
THEIR TERRIBLE EXAMPLE LEADS OTHERS INTO THE SAME BEHAVIOR.
THEY TITHE ON EVERY TINY LITTLE THING THAT THEY HAVE."
HE SAYS, "EVERY LEAF AND MINT.
BUT THEY NEGLECT TO DO RIGHT.
THEY NEGLECT MERCY AND THEY NEGLECT JUSTICE.
THEY LOOK GOOD ON THE OUTSIDE," JESUS SAID, "BUT ON THE INSIDE,
THEY'LL FILLED WITH GRASPING SELF-INDULGENCE."
I WOULD HAVE MADE A CHIEF PHARISEE BACK IN MY
RELIGIOUS DAYS.
OH, MY GOSH, I WAS SO STINKIN' RELIGIOUS AND I HAD AN ATTITUDE
ABOUT EVERYBODY.
I WOULD GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND THEN ME AND MY OTHER
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS WOULD GO AND HAVE BREAKFAST AND SIT THERE
AND GOSSIP ABOUT THE PASTOR.
OOH, I SUPPOSE YOU'VE NEVER DONE THAT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WELL, MABEL, DID YOU SEE THAT HE'S GOT A NEW CAR?
WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT, I'M JUST--I JUST THINK THAT'S
JUST NOT RIGHT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DON'T BE JEALOUS OF WHAT ANYBODY'S GOT IF YOU
DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT THEY DID TO GET IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
AND THEN--I KEEP SAYING JESUS SAID 'CAUSE THIS ISN'T MY
OPINION, THIS IS WHAT HE SAID.
"THEY LOOK GOOD ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT INSIDE THEY'RE FILLED WITH
GRASPING SELF-INDULGENCE.
THEY FOCUS ON GNATS AND SWALLOW CAMELS.
THEIR WHITEWASHED TOMB IS FULL OF DEAD MEN'S BONES.
OUTWARDLY, THEY SEEM TO BE JUST AND UPRIGHT, BUT INWARDLY
THEY'RE FILLED WITH PRETENSE."
NOW, I REFUSE TO BE A PHONY CHRISTIAN AND THE ONLY WAY THAT
I KNOW TO ACTIVELY AGGRESSIVELY COME AGAINST THIS IS TO MAKE
SURE THAT I AM WALKING IN LOVE AND DISPLAYING THE FRUIT OF
THE SPIRIT.
I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE KNOWN BY OUR FRUIT, NOT JUST BY OUR
CHURCH ATTENDANCE, BUT WE ARE KNOWN BY OUR FRUIT.
AND WHEN PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU CLAIM TO BE A CHRISTIAN, THEY
ARE GONNA WATCH YOU TO SEE IF YOU'VE GOT THE GOODS.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YEAH, YOU'RE STILL NOT SURE HOW HAPPY YOU ARE ABOUT
THIS, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
I KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING INTO EVERY TIME I TEACH THIS
MESSAGE SO.
AMEN.
OKAY, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THE FIRST TIME I TAUGHT ON LOVE, I WAS TEACHING A LONG 8-PART
SERIES ON LOVE.
I WAS GONNA TAKE 1 CORINTHIANS 13 APART,
TEACH ONE ON PATIENCE, ONE ON GOODNESS,
ONE ON KINDNESS.
I WAS NOW THE NEW LOVE GURU AND I WAS GONNA TEACH ON LOVE.
SO I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF MY 8-PART SERIES ON LOVE.
DAVE LETS ME OFF ONE DAY AT THE MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT.
WE'D COME BACK FROM TRAVELING.
I WAS GONNA GO IN AND GET US A BOOTH.
THERE WERE ONLY BOOTHS ON THE PERIMETER OF MCDONALD'S, SO
THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN OF THEM AND WE LIKE TO SIT
IN THE BOOTH, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE THEY'RE MORE CUSHY ON YOUR
TUSHY.
SO WE WANTED TO SIT THERE AND WE'D JUST COME BACK FROM
TRAVELING AND I LOVE FOR THE SUN--YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WHEN
I'M TIRED, I LIKE THE SUN.
AND WE WOULD GO TO THE POST OFFICE, PICK UP OUR FIVE OR SIX
PIECES OF MAIL, HOWEVER MUCH WE HAD BACK THEN, YOU KNOW, WANTING
TO GET SOME KIND OF ENCOURAGEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT WE WERE DOING MADE ANY SENSE AT ALL.
AND SO THERE WAS A CROWD GOING INTO MCDONALD'S.
HE SAID, "YOU RUN ON IN THERE AND GET US A SEAT."
SO I STARTED IN AND I SAW ONE BOOTH OVER HERE
AND OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE, I SAW ANOTHER GUY
HEADED FOR THAT SAME BOOTH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND SO I HAD A SPLIT SECOND,
I MEAN JUST A SPLIT SECOND TO FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO WAS
TELLING ME, "LET HIM HAVE IT.
LOVE PREFERS OTHERS."
BUT I WANTED IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND SAD TO SAY, I WAS PREACHING ON LOVE
BUT NOT WALKING IN IT YET SO I PUT IT IN HIGH GEAR.
GOT THE BOOTH, SAT DOWN AND THE GUY CAME OVER TO THE LADY THAT
WAS SITTING AT THIS VERY BOOTH RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND HE KNEW
HER AND HE SAID TO HER, "THERE'S NO PLACES LEFT TO SIT,
CAN I SIT WITH YOU?" AND SHE SAID, "YEAH, SHE BEAT
YA, DIDN'T SHE?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OH, MY GOSH.
OKAY, NOW HERE'S THE REALLY BAD PART.
AND SOME OF YOU SEEN ME TELL THIS ON TV, BUT THE REALLY BAD
PART WAS THE MAN WAS CRIPPLED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HE WAS WALKING WITH A CANE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO I WAS PREACHING MY 8-PART SERIES ON LOVE, RACING
A CRIPPLED MAN IN MCDONALD'S.
OKAY NOW COME ON, NOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I CAN'T GET YOU GUYS TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING IF I DON'T
TELL STORIES ON MYSELF.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW THE BIBLE SAYS THAT LOVE PREFERS OTHER PEOPLE.
I WASN'T PREFERRING HIM.
I WAS RACING THE POOR CRIPPLED GUY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THE THING THAT WAS AMAZING WAS THE WOMAN KNEW IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SHE SAW ME DOING IT.
OH, MY GOSH.
LET ME TELL YA, I'VE DONE SOME STUFF THAT I'M NOT REAL
PROUD OF.
AND IT'S--A LOT OF IT'S JUST LITTLE STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT SEE HERE'S THE THING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME, YES, I WANT
YOU TO GO TO CHURCH AND I WANT YOU TO BEHAVE IN CHURCH.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, I WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT IN THE WORLD
AND SHOW THE WORLD JESUS BY BEING KIND AND BEING PATIENT AND
BEING LOVING AND DOING THINGS FOR PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY DOING
THINGS FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T DESERVE IT AND WON'T
UNDERSTAND IT.
THEY JUST WON'T GET IT AND IF YOU KEEP IT UP LONG ENOUGH,
THEY'LL BEGIN TO BELIEVE THAT MAYBE YOU DO HAVE SOMETHING
AFTER ALL THAT'S REAL AND GENUINE AND THAT THEY NEED.
THAT'S THE PRICE WE PAY.
THAT'S THE PRICE WE PAY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S WHY WHEN THE MOTHER OF ZEBEDEE'S SON SAID, "I
WANT MY TWO SONS TO SIT ONE ON YOUR RIGHT HAND AND ONE ON YOUR
LEFT WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM," HE SAID, "YOU DON'T
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.
ARE YOU WILLING TO DRINK THE CUP THAT I DRINK?
ARE YOU WILLING TO BE BAPTIZED WITH THE BAPTISM
WITH WHICH I'M BAPTIZED?" I BELIEVE THAT GOD WANTS TO
BAPTIZE PEOPLE IN LOVE.
I THINK THAT HE WANTS US TO BE WALKING, TALKING, BREATHING LOVE
AND THAT HAS NOTHING DO WITH BEING SELFISH AND SELF-CENTERED.
AMEN?
NOW, EXAMPLES OF POSITIVE RECORDKEEPING.
DAVE IS ALWAYS WILLING TO QUICKLY FORGIVE ME WHEN I HAVE
DONE SOMETHING WRONG TOWARD HIM.
DAVE IS VERY PATIENT WHEN I'M LATE.
DAVE PICKS UP AFTER HIMSELF, DOES THE DISHES AT NIGHT,
TELLS ME TO REST.
HE TELLS ME EVERY DAY THAT HE LOVES ME.
HE HUGS ME AND COMPLIMENTS ME ON MY CLOTHES OR THE WAY THAT
I LOOK.
I NEVER PREACH A MESSAGE THAT HE DOESN'T TELL ME,
"THAT WAS A GREAT MESSAGE."
HE IS VERY STABLE EMOTIONALLY, HE IS NEVER, ALMOST NEVER
GROUCHY, TAKES GOOD CARE OF HIMSELF PHYSICALLY.
DAVE STILL LOOKS JUST LIKE HE DID WHEN WE GOT MARRIED EXCEPT
BACK THEN HE WORKED OUT EVEN HARDER AND HAD A LOT MORE
MUSCLE, BUT HE'S--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HE'S VERY PROTECTIVE OF ME.
I ALWAYS FEEL SAFE WHEN I'M WITH DAVE.
HE'LL BUY ME ANYTHING I WANT THAT WE CAN AFFORD.
IN EVERY SITUATION IN LIFE, THERE'S GOOD THINGS THAT PEOPLE
DO AND THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE.
AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN DISPLAY LOVE IS BY KEEPING
A RECORD OF THE GOOD THINGS AND NOT KEEPING A RECORD OF
THE BAD THINGS.
LOVE TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF THE EVIL DONE TO IT.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO VALUE OTHER PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO BE COMMITTED.
LOVE IS COMMITTED FOR THE LONG HAUL.
IT'S NOT JUST IN IT FOR A FEW SHORT MINUTES.
AND THEN LASTLY I WANT TO SAY THIS TONIGHT BECAUSE I THINK IT
IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF LOVE AND SOME YOU WILL BE VERY HAPPY
THAT I'M SAYING THIS.
THERE'S ALSO A TOUGH SIDE TO LOVE.
THERE'S ALSO A TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO CONFRONT PEOPLE.
THERE'S ALSO A TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO TELL THEM, "I DON'T
APPRECIATE THE WAY YOU'RE TREATING ME AND I'M NOT GONNA
PUT UP WITH IT."
THERE'S TIME WHEN WE SAY TO PEOPLE, "NO, I'M NOT GONNA DO
THAT FOR YOU ANYMORE BECAUSE I'M JUST ENABLING YOU TO KEEP YOUR
PROBLEM."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THERE'S ALWAYS ANOTHER SIDE TO IT.
AND I LOVE WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID IN 2 CORINTHIANS 7:8-10
IF WE CAN JUST CLOSE WITH THESE.
HE ACTUALLY WROTE THE CHURCH THERE A LETTER THAT WAS QUITE
PAINFUL TO THEM.
2 CORINTHIANS 7:8-10, "FOR EVEN THOUGH I DID GRIEVE
YOU WITH MY LETTER, I DON'T REGRET [IT NOW], THOUGH I DID
REGRET IT; FOR I SEE THAT THAT LETTER DID PAIN YOU, THOUGH ONLY
FOR A LITTLE WHILE; YES I'M GLAD NOW, NOT BECAUSE YOU WERE
PAINED, BUT BECAUSE YOU WERE PAINED INTO REPENTANCE [AND SO
YOU WERE TURNED BACK TO GOD]; FOR YOU FELT A GRIEF SUCH AS GOD
MEANT YOU TO FEEL, SO THAT IN NOTHING YOU MIGHT SUFFER LOSS
THROUGH US OR HARM FOR WHAT WE DID."
VERSE 10, "FOR GODLY GRIEF AND THE PAIN THAT GOD IS PERMITTED
TO DIRECT, PRODUCE A REPENTANCE THAT LEADS AND CONTRIBUTES TO
SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL, AND IT NEVER BRINGS
REGRET."
I THINK THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT SOMETIMES THE BEST
THING YOU CAN SAY TO SOMEBODY IS, "NO, I WON'T DO THAT FOR YOU
BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND YOU NEED TO
BE TAKING THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND DOING IT.
NO, I WON'T CONTINUE TO ENABLE YOU TO HAVE THE PROBLEM
THAT YOU HAVE."
AND EVEN IN NOT LETTING PEOPLE MISTREAT YOU, SOMETIMES YOU NEED
TO JUST SAY, "I'M NOT GONNA JUST KEEP ENABLING YOU TO TREAT ME
THAT WAY."
SO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE LED BY THE SPIRIT IN THESE THINGS.
THERE'S A TIME TO JUST PUT UP WITH IT AND PUT UP WITH IT
AND PUT UP WITH IT.
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ABUSE OR WHAT SOMEBODY IS DOING TO YOU,
THEY'RE ACTUALLY HURTING THEMSELVES BY YOU CONTINUING TO
LET THEM DO IT, THEN FOR THEIR SAKE, THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO
PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN AND SAY, "NO MORE."
AMEN?
ALL RIGHT, COME ON, GIVE GOD A BIG PRAISE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DO YOU HAVE AN INVISIBLE "DO NOT DISTURB" SIGN
HANGING ACROSS YOUR LIFE?
YOU KNOW, YOUR JOY WILL INCREASE WHEN YOU LET THE LORD INTERRUPT
YOUR PLANS AND TAKE TIME TO LOVE OTHER PEOPLE.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU FOUR TEACHINGS
CALLED "LIVE 2 LOVE."
I THINK THEY'RE AWESOME TEACHINGS.
BOY, WHEN WE CAN STOP BEING SELFISH AND LIVE TO LOVE OTHER
PEOPLE EVERY DAY, LIFE GETS SO GOOD.
PLUS, WE'RE GONNA SEND YOU A BRACELET AS A FREE GIFT THAT
HAS JOHN 13:34 ON IT TO REMIND YOU TO LIVE EVERY DAY
TO LOVE OTHER PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, AND GOD BLESS YOU.
JOYCE: MORE THAN ANYTHING, I WANT PEOPLE TO GET OUT IN THE
WORLD AND SHOW THE WORLD JESUS.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: BY BEING KIND AND BEING PATIENT AND BEING LOVING
AND DOING THINGS FOR PEOPLE, AND ESPECIALLY DOING THINGS FOR
PEOPLE THAT WON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: AND WHEN PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU CLAIM TO BE
A CHRISTIAN, THEY ARE GONNA WATCH YOU TO SEE IF YOU'VE
GOT THE GOODS.
ANNOUNCER: DISCOVER WHAT IT MEANS TO WALK IN LOVE, AND HOW
YOU CAN TURN THE HEARING OF GOD'S WORD INTO ACTION WHEN YOU
ORDER JOYCE'S FOUR-PART CD SERIES, "LIVE 2 LOVE."
WE'LL EVEN SEND YOU THIS "LIVE 2 LOVE" BRACELET
FOR FREE.
IT'S AVAILABLE FOR A DONATION OF...OR MORE.
CALL US TOLL FREE AT...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
[MUSIC]
BRANDON: WE'RE HAVIN' A CAR-PREP DAY FOR WIDOWS
AND SINGLE MOMS IN THE COMMUNITY JUST TRYIN' TO FILL BOTH ROLE OF
PROVIDER AND CARETAKER.
AND WE JUST WANTED TO COME ALONGSIDE THEM AND TRY TO HELP
EASE THAT IN ANY WAY THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY COULD.
FEMALE: WELL, I KNEW THE CHURCH WAS GOIN' TO DO
THE OUTREACH, AND MY JEEP HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS,
BUT IT'S ALL I HAVE TO DRIVE ME AND HER TO SCHOOL
AND TO WORK.
AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE IT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.
THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD DO, LIKE, OIL CHANGES, AND THEY
WOULD DETAIL THE CAR AND STUFF, BUT I WASN'T EXPECTIN'
FOUR NEW TIRES.
I FEEL UNDESERVING 'CAUSE I'M NOBODY.
TO THINK THAT ANYBODY WOULD DO THAT, I CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS
WHAT IT MEANS.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: IF I WERE TO ASK YOU IF YOU LOVE YOUR LIFE, WHAT
WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE?
I BELIEVE THAT JESUS WANTS US TO LOVE OUR LIVES.
BUT IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU'VE GOT, CONTINUING TO DO THE
SAME THING IS NOT GONNA GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY TO GET MY NEW BOOK CALLED,
"LIVING A LIFE THAT YOU LOVE," AND SEE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE
THAT YOU CAN MAKE THAT WILL START TO GIVE YOU WONDERFUL
RESULTS IN YOUR LIFE.
WHY NOT GET YOUR COPY TODAY?
FEMALE: 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.
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG TO SHARE YOUR
PRAYER REQUESTS, SEE THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
OR PARTNER WITH US IN SHARING CHRIST AND LOVING PEOPLE
ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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