ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, THERE REALLY IS NO PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE
THAT'S TOO BIG FOR GOD TO SOLVE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR US IN EVERY
SITUATION.
WE NEED TO BELIEVE THAT.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS TEACHING ON GRACE, AND THEN I'LL BE BACK
LATER WITH SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS ON THIS TOPIC.
JOYCE: WELL, HOW CAN I CHANGE?
I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE.
WE CAN'T--YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO JUST BE HAPPY
TO STAY THE WAY WE ARE.
"WELL, PRAISE GOD, JOYCE, THAT I CAN HAVE WEAKNESSES.
I JUST, WELL--" NO, EVERY TIME WE READ THE WORD,
WE PROBABLY SEE SOME AREA WHERE WE NEED TO COME UP
A LITTLE HIGHER.
I HOPE THAT YOU ARE CONVICTED OF SOMETHING THIS WEEKEND, BECAUSE
I WANT TO MOVE YOU ALONG.
I WANT THE WORD TO BE A PROD TO MOVE US ALL ALONG SO WE GLORIFY
GOD A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I WANT TO GLORIFY GOD A LITTLE MORE TOMORROW THAN I DID TODAY,
AMEN?
AND SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT GALATIANS 3:1-3.
HOW CAN I CHANGE?
WELL, LET'S FIRST LOOK AT HOW WE CANNOT CHANGE.
"YOU POOR, SILLY, THOUGHTLESS, UNREFLECTING,
SENSELESS," FLORIDIANS.
[LAUGHING]
JOYCE: JUST SO WE CAN TAKE THIS PERSONAL--OR WHEREVER
YOU'RE AT IN THE WORLD TODAY.
HE'S TALKING HERE TO THE GALATIAN CHURCH,
BUT WE NEED TO PERSONALIZE THIS.
"WHO HAS FASCINATED OR BEWITCHED OR CAST A SPELL OVER YOU, UNTO
WHOM--RIGHT BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES--JESUS CHRIST (THE MESSIAH)
WAS OPENLY AND GRAPHICALLY SET FORTH AND PORTRAYED
AS CRUCIFIED?
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION: DID YOU RECEIVE THE [HOLY] SPIRIT
AS THE RESULT OF OBEYING THE LAW AND DOING ITS WORKS,
OR WAS IT BY BELIEVING [THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL]?
[WAS IT FROM OBSERVING A LAW OF RITUALS OR WAS IT
FROM A MESSAGE OF FAITH?]"
NOW, LAST NIGHT, WE HAD 1083 PEOPLE STAND UP TO SAY THAT THEY
WANTED TO BE BORN AGAIN OR TO RENEW A BACKSLIDDEN
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, 1083.
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN TO THEM?
WAS IT BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THEY DID?
NO, WHAT THEY HAD BEEN DOING WAS SINNING.
SO, HERE'S WHAT THEY DID.
"I BELIEVE.
YEP, I HEARD YOU.
JESUS DIED FOR ME, HE FORGAVE MY SIN, HE LOVES ME.
I CAN HAVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
YES, I BELIEVE THAT."
SO, THEY RECEIVED IT BY FAITH.
AND THEN WE LOOKED AT A SCRIPTURE LAST NIGHT
IN COLOSSIANS 2:6 THAT SAYS, "THE SAME WAY THAT WE
RECEIVE CHRIST JESUS, THIS IS THE SAME WAY THAT
WE NOW MUST LIVE AND WALK."
SO, WE ARE BORN AGAIN BY FAITH, WE WALK BY FAITH.
HOW DO WE WALK?
WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
"I WALK BY FAITH. I WALK BY FAITH.
I WALK BY FAITH."
WELL, DO WE REALLY?
"I WALK BY FAITH" MEANS THAT I DON'T THINK THAT I'M GONNA
GET ANYTHING BY MY WORKS AND SELF-EFFORT, BECAUSE EVEN IF I
DO MANAGE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT MY PROBLEM, I COULD NOT BE
DOING IT IF GOD DIDN'T GIVE ME THE GRACE TO DO IT.
IF I HAVE ONE GOOD IDEA, IT'S NOT BECAUSE I'M SMART.
IT'S BECAUSE GOD GAVE ME THE GOOD IDEA.
MY ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE CAME FROM GOD.
I NEVER TOOK LESSONS ON HOW TO DO THIS.
I'VE NEVER TAKEN A LESSON HOW TO PUT TOGETHER A SERMON.
NOBODY'S EVER TAUGHT ME HOW TO PREACH.
I JUST SHOWED UP ON PLANET EARTH TALKING.
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I HAPPEN TO BE A GOOD COMMUNICATOR.
I DON'T JUST TALK, BUT I CAN GET MY POINT ACROSS.
THAT'S A GIFT.
THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT I DON'T DO.
I DON'T COOK VERY WELL.
I MEAN, I CAN KEEP YOU FROM STARVING, BUT YOU KNOW,
I DON'T--I MEAN, I WAS OKAY WHEN MY KIDS WERE LITTLE,
BUT I JUST--I DON'T WANT NO PART OF IT NOW.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M NOT SUSIE HOMEMAKER,
BUT I'M A GOOD WIFE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE NORMAL LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE TO BE GOOD
AT SOMETHING.
'CAUSE WHATEVER YOU CAN'T DO, THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE
YOU CAN DO, AMEN?
"LET ME ASK YOU ONE THING: HOW DID YOU RECEIVE
THE [HOLY] SPIRIT?
WAS IT BY WORKS OR WAS IT BY FAITH?"
VERSE 3, I LOVE THIS.
"ARE YOU SO FOOLISH AND SO SENSELESS AND SO SILLY?
HAVING BEGUN [YOUR NEW LIFE SPIRITUALLY]
WITH THE [HOLY] SPIRIT, ARE YOU NOW REACHING PERFECTION
[BY DEPENDENCE] ON THE FLESH?" WOW, WAS THAT FREEING TO ME
WHEN I FIRST SAW THAT ABOUT 25-30 YEARS AGO.
I WAS TRYING SO HARD TO BE GOOD, AND I WAS TRYING SO HARD TO NOT
HAVE WEAKNESSES, AND TO BE WHAT I THOUGHT THAT GOD EXPECTED ME
TO BE, AND I WAS JUST SO FRUSTRATED ALL THE TIME.
I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE MY KIDS, I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE MYSELF,
I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE DAVE, I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE
MY CIRCUMSTANCES, I WAS TRYING TO MAKE MY MINISTRY GROW.
I'VE SAID FOR YEARS I TRIED 'TIL I ALMOST DIED.
AND THEN I FOUND OUT THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE.
I KINDA SORTA KNEW THAT, BUT I WAS BYPASSING THAT.
I MEAN, I DID BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS MY SAVIOR, BUT THAT I GUESS
I KINDA FELT LIKE AFTER THAT, I HAD TO DO THE REST.
I KNEW ABOUT THIS GRACE THAT WOULD SAVE ME, BUT I DIDN'T
UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE GRACE THAT I COULD LIVE BY.
AND WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS THE SAME GRACE THAT
SAVED YOU IS THE SAME GRACE THAT WILL GET YOU THROUGH EVERY DAY,
THE SAME GRACE THAT WILL CHANGE YOU, THAT WILL HELP YOU
INTO NEW LEVELS OF HOLINESS, THAT WILL GIVE YOU FAVOR, THAT
WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO LIKE YOU, THAT WILL OPEN DOORS FOR YOU.
THAT SAME FAVOR IS WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE, THAT SAME GRACE IN
EVERY SINGLE AREA OF OUR LIFE, AND WE NEED TO LEARN HOW
TO LIVE BY GRACE, AND THEN LIFE GETS GOOD, WHOO!
AND JUST IN CASE YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE A SPECIAL CASE AND THIS
COULDN'T POSSIBLY WORK FOR YOU, WELL TONIGHT, I'M GONNA
TALK ABOUT A SPECIAL GRACE FOR A SPECIAL CASE.
'CAUSE YOU SEE, HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF A MESS WE'VE GOT, GOD'S GOT
MORE GRACE THAN OUR MESS.
"WHERE SIN DOES ABOUND, GRACE DOES MUCH MORE ABOUND."
YOU CANNOT--YOU JUST CANNOT HAVE A PROBLEM THAT GOD CAN'T SOLVE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME TODAY?
I SAID YOU CANNOT, YOU DO NOT, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE
A PROBLEM THAT GOD CANNOT SOLVE.
[APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HALLELUJAH!
PSALM 121--I MEAN, PSALM 127:1 SAYS, "UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS
THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VAIN."
NOW, LET'S NOT RUSH OVER THAT.
THEY LABOR, THEY WORK AT IT, THEY LABOR.
WHEN YOU LABOR, YOU'RE TIRED AND WORN OUT ALL THE TIME.
THEY LABOR AND THEIR LABOR IS IN VAIN.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I DON'T THINK IT'S POSSIBLE
TO BE A TRULY SUCCESSFUL PERSON IF YOU DON'T LEARN HOW TO
RECEIVE GOD'S GRACE AND LET HIM DO IT THROUGH YOU, AND THEN GIVE
HIM THE CREDIT AND THE GLORY.
YOU SAY, "WELL, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL AND
THEY'RE NOT EVEN BELIEVERS."
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY'RE NOT REALLY SUCCESSFUL.
I'LL TELL YOU WHY.
THEY MAY HAVE OUTWARD SUCCESS, BUT THEY HAVE NO PEACE.
THEY HAVE NO JOY.
THEY'RE PROBABLY TOTALLY SELFISH AND SELF-CENTERED.
THEY GIVE THEMSELVES ALL THE CREDIT.
THEY MAY HAVE NO FRIENDS.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THEY'RE LACKING.
JUST HAVING OUTWARD SUCCESS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE
A SUCCESSFUL PERSON.
AND I LEARNED THAT A LONG TIME AGO, THAT I WAS NOT A SUCCESSFUL
MINISTER IF ALL I HAD WAS A CROWD AND I HAD NO PEACE
AND NO JOY AT HOME.
I FOUND OUT NO MATTER WHAT I WAS ABLE TO SAY TO YOU AND NO MATTER
HOW MANY PEOPLE I COULD DRAW IN HERE, IF I WASN'T ENJOYING
MY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY,
THEN I DIDN'T HAVE A REAL LIFE.
AND I WANT TO BE TRULY SUCCESSFUL, AND ONLY GOD
CAN MAKE US TRULY SUCCESSFUL.
WE ARE TOTALLY BUILT FOR GOD AND WE ARE COMPLETELY INCAPABLE
OF FUNCTIONING RIGHT WITH ANYTHING ELSE.
WE ARE CREATED BY GOD, MADE FOR GOD, MADE FOR HIS GLORY, AND FOR
NOTHING ELSE, AND UNTIL WE LEARN THAT, WE'RE GONNA BE MISERABLE.
WELL, WHAT CAN I DO?
ALRIGHT, I KNOW, WE ALL WANT TO DO SOMETHING, SO LET ME GIVE
YOU FOUR THINGS YOU CAN DO.
NUMBER ONE, BELIEVE.
NOW, THAT'S SOMETHING TO DO BECAUSE
IT IS A SPIRITUAL ACTIVITY.
IT'S NOT A FLESHLY ACTIVITY.
I CAN'T CHANGE DAVE, BUT I CAN BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN CHANGE
DAVE IF DAVE IN FACT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
AND I NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT JUST 'CAUSE I THINK HE NEEDS TO
CHANGE DOESN'T MEAN HE REALLY NEEDS TO CHANGE, BECAUSE MAYBE
I'M THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE AND I JUST DON'T SEE IT.
SO, THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS TO COME TO GOD WITH HUMILITY.
BEFORE YOU START PRAYING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO CHANGE,
YOU BETTER SAY AN, "OH GOD, IN CASE."
I WAS READING OBADIAH 1:3 LAST WEEK, "THE PRIDE OF THINE HEART
HATH DECEIVED THEE."
BOY, WE CAN JUST THINK THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS,
THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS GOT ALL THE PROBLEMS, AND IT'S BECAUSE
WE JUST DON'T SEE OURSELVES.
WE LOOK AT EVERYBODY ELSE THROUGH A MAGNIFYING GLASS, BUT
WE HAVE THESE NICE ROSY-COLORED GLASSES WE LOOK AT OURSELVES
THROUGH, AMEN?
THE PRIDE OF OUR HEART CAN DECEIVE US, SO EVEN WHEN WE PRAY
FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO CHANGE, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE PRAY.
SO, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I DO.
ANY TIME THAT I PRAY FOR DAVE IN ANY AREA, I'LL ALWAYS PRAY
FOR MYSELF AT THE SAME TIME.
I JUST GO TO GOD AND TAKE US AS A GROUP, AMEN?
JOHN 6:28-29, "THEY THEN SAID," VERSE 28, "WHAT ARE WE TO DO?"
YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE DEMON
THAT'S SENT OUT FROM HELL.
WE EACH HAVE ONE, MAYBE ONE ON EACH SHOULDER, THIS LITTLE
QUIRKY, SQUIRRELY, UGLY, SLIMY, GOOFY CHARACTER THAT SITS RIGHT
ABOUT RIGHT HERE, AND HE JUST SCREAMS IN YOUR EAR ALL DAY,
"WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?" AND WE FEEL PRESSURED
TO DO SOMETHING.
"WELL, I HEARD ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?" AND WE ALMOST FEEL DUMB IF WE
SAY, "I DON'T KNOW," BUT WE NEED TO SAY, "NOTHING THAT I DO WOULD
MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE ANYWAY.
I'M WAITING ON GOD TO DO SOMETHING.
NOW, IF GOD SHOWS ME SOMETHING, I WILL DO IT.
BUT EVEN THEN, WHAT I DO I'LL HAVE TO DO BY HIS GRACE,
SO IT'S NOT MY DOING, IT'S HIM DOING IT THROUGH ME."
THIS IS JUST A NIGHTMARE FOR OUR FLESH BECAUSE
THE FLESH WANTS CREDIT.
THE FLESH WANTS TO BRAG AND GET A HAND CLAP.
"OH, WONDERFUL FLESH."
"WHAT ARE WE TO DO, THAT WE MIGHT BE WORKING
THE WORKS OF GOD?
[WHAT CAN WE DO TO CARRY OUT WHAT GOD REQUIRES?]
AND JESUS REPLIED," VERSE 29, "THIS IS THE WORK (THE SERVICE)
THAT GOD ASKS OF YOU: THAT YOU BELIEVE."
WELL, THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE THERE.
NOPE, SURE ENOUGH, THAT'S ALL IT SAYS.
"THAT YOU BELIEVE IN THE ONE WHOM HE HAS SENT
[THAT YOU CLEAVE TO, TRUST IN, RELY ON, AND HAVE FAITH
IN HIS MESSENGER]"
YOU'VE GOT TO LEAN INTO GOD.
"WELL, HOW CAN I TELL IF I'M BELIEVING?"
IT'S EXTREMELY SIMPLE.
YOU WANT TO SEE IT?
HEBREWS 4:3...
"FOR WE WHO HAVE BELIEVED DO ENTER THAT REST OF GOD."
HOW CAN I TELL IF I'M BELIEVING?
I'M NOT WORRIED, I'M NOT FRUSTRATED, I'M NOT UPSET.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GONNA HAPPEN, DON'T KNOW
THAT I CARE ALL THAT MUCH.
GOD'LL DO IT AT THE RIGHT TIME WHEN HE'S GOOD AND READY.
ME TRYING TO MAKE HIM HURRY WON'T WORK.
I'VE FOUND OUT GOD'S USUALLY NOT EARLY, BUT HE'S NEVER LATE.
WHEN WE HAVE BELIEVED, WE DO ENTER THE REST OF GOD.
JOYCE: WELL, WE ALL NEED TO LEARN HOW TO RECEIVE
THE GRACE OF GOD INTO OUR LIVES.
AND I HOPE THE TEACHING TODAY WAS HELPFUL TO YOU.
NOW, GINGER'S WITH ME AND SHE'S GONNA ASK SOME
OF THE QUESTIONS YOU'VE SENT IN.
AND I, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, AM GOING TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM.
GINGER: THAT'S THE WAY GRACE WORKS.
IT'S THERE FOR US WHEN WE NEED IT.
WELL, HERE'S A GREAT PLACE TO START.
AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS, BUT JUST THE BASICS.
JAMES ASKS: "CAN YOU EXPLAIN IN DETAIL WHAT THE GRACE OF GOD
ACTUALLY IS?" JOYCE: WELL, IF YOU LOOK UP
THE PROPER GREEK DEFINITION, IT'S GONNA SAY THAT
"IT'S UNDESERVED FAVOR."
IT'S GOD GIVING US, BY HIS GOODNESS, WHAT WE DON'T
AND NEVER COULD DESERVE.
BUT A DEEPER STUDY EVEN INTO THE FULL MEANING IN THE GREEK
BRINGS OUT THAT IT'S ALSO GOD'S ENABLING POWER.
SO IT'S NOT JUST HIM DOING SOMETHING FOR US, BUT IT'S HIM
ENABLING US TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
AND SO, REALLY, IF YOU THINK ABOUT HOW DEPENDENT GOD WANTS US
TO BE ON HIM, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
HE NOT ONLY WANTS US TO DEPEND ON HIM TO SHOW US WHAT TO DO,
BUT THEN HE WANTS US TO DEPEND ON HIM TO ENABLE US TO DO IT.
AND SO I LIKE TO SAY THIS, THAT GOD'S GRACE IS HIS POWER COMING
TO US FREE OF CHARGE THAT ENABLES US TO DO WHATEVER
WE NEED TO DO, AND THAT WE NEVER COULD DO WITHOUT HIS HELP.
IT'S JUST, IT'S HIS GOODNESS.
IT'S HIS POWER.
IT'S HIS ABILITY.
AND I WILL BE VERY HONEST WITH YA, HAD I NOT LEARNED WHAT THE
GRACE OF GOD WAS SOME 30 YEARS AGO, I THINK I PROBABLY WOULD
HAVE JUST DIED FROM FRUSTRATION.
BECAUSE I WAS JUST TRYING, TRYING, TRYING, AND FAILING
ALL THE TIME.
GINGER: WELL, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT
SO DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET.
BECAUSE IT DOES JUST SOUND SO GOOD.
HOW CAN IT BE TRUE?
BUT IT IS.
SO LET ME ASK YOU SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT GO ALONG
THOSE LINES.
LORAINA ASKS: "HOW DO I LET THE GRACE OF GOD CHANGE ME?
I CAN'T SEE BEYOND THE FACT THAT NOTHING IN MY LIFE IS WORKING,
SO RIGHT NOW, I CAN'T SEE GOD."
SO HOW DOES SHE GET THAT GRACE APPLIED TO HER SITUATION?
JOYCE: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, EVERYTHING THAT GOD OFFERS US
WE HAVE TO RECEIVE.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING.
AND "TO GET" MEANS "TO OBTAIN BY STRUGGLE AND EFFORT."
BUT "TO RECEIVE" MEANS "TO ACT AS A RECEPTACLE AND JUST TAKE
IN WHAT'S BEING OFFERED."
GINGER: IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
JOYCE: THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.
AND OUR FLESH IS SO FULL OF ENERGY.
AND WE ARE SO INDEPENDENT.
WE JUST SO MUCH WANNA THINK THAT WE CAN DO IT.
AND TO BE HONEST, IT'S A PRIDE FACTOR, BUT WE JUST WANNA
GET A LITTLE BIT OF THE CREDIT.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US, AS HUMAN BEINGS, AND THE STRONGER
YOUR PERSONALITY IS-- GINGER: YEAH, I KNOW I CAN BE
THAT WAY, YEAH.
JOYCE: THE MORE DIFFICULT THAT IT IS.
AND SO, ONCE WE LEARN THAT WE REALLY CANNOT DO ANYTHING APART
FROM HIM, AND WE START SAYIN', "OKAY, GOD, I CAN'T DO THIS.
ONLY YOU CAN DO THIS, AND I TRUST YOU."
NOW, THE SECOND PART OF HER QUESTION WAS, "I DON'T SEE
ANYTHING HAPPENING."
WELL, I JUST FINISHED A TEACHING ON THE LAW OF GRADUAL GROWTH
AND I'LL JUST SIMPLY SAY THAT EVERYTHING THAT'S ALIVE
IS GROWING.
AND WHEN WE'RE DEPENDING ON GOD TO HELP US GROW SPIRITUALLY,
WE ARE GROWING.
BUT YOU CAN'T WATCH A TREE GROW.
YOU CAN'T WATCH A FLOWER GROW.
SO EVERYTHING IS GROWING, BUT WE CAN'T SEE IT GROW.
YOU CAN GO BACK AFTER A WHILE AND SEE THE GROWTH,
BUT YOU CAN'T SEE IT GROW.
SO I JUST LOVE TO SAY GOD IS WORKING.
THE BIBLE SIMPLY SAYS THAT AS LONG AS WE'RE BELIEVING,
GOD IS WORKING.
SO WHAT WAS HER NAME?
GINGER: HER NAME WAS LORAINA.
JOYCE: LORAINA, YOU ARE GROWING.
GINGER: EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T SEE IT SOMETIMES.
JOYCE: EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN'T SEE IT.
GINGER: THAT'S GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, BRIAN.
BRIAN SAYS: "I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES I'M BEYOND GOD'S HELP,
FOR I'VE FALLEN INTO SIN SO MANY TIMES.
I ASK FORGIVENESS AND I TRY TO REPENT.
IS THERE SOMETHING I NEED TO DO BETTER THAN JUST STOP SINNING?
I WANT THE GRACE OF GOD."
JOYCE: WELL, I HAD HIS ANSWER WITH THE FIRST TWO WORDS
OF HIS QUESTION, "I FEEL."
SEE?
YOU'VE BEEN AROUND ME LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW.
IT'S LIKE WE HAVE FEELINGS AND THEY'RE NEVER GONNA GO AWAY, BUT
HONESTLY, WE DO HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THEM.
AND SO, HERE AGAIN, HE FEELS LIKE HE'S MAKING NO PROGRESS.
HE FEELS LIKE HE KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER
AND OVER.
SO THEN, THE SECOND PART OF THE PROBLEM COMES,
"SO WHAT CAN I DO?" AND THAT'S OUR--WE HAVE TO SAY,
"LORD, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.
I CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT YOU.
AND I DON'T CARE HOW I FEEL, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE WORKING
IN MY LIFE AND I BELIEVE THAT I AM CHANGING LITTLE BY LITTLE,
FROM GLORY TO GLORY, AND THAT I WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE
IF I DON'T QUIT AND GIVE UP."
GINGER: YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S VERY GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, THERE'S SO MANY GOOD QUESTIONS.
LESLIE ASKS: "JOYCE, YOU'VE TAUGHT ME SO MUCH
ABOUT GOD'S GRACE.
BUT," HERE AGAIN, "I ALWAYS AM LETTING HIM DOWN
AND I'M NOT FINISHING THE RACE HE WANTED FROM ME.
SO HOW DO YOU GET OVER GUILT WHEN YOU'VE TRIED YOUR BEST AND
YOUR BEST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH?" JOYCE: WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
SHE SAID, "I'M LETTING HIM DOWN."
AND THAT'S REALLY NOT TRUE BECAUSE GOD'S NOT SURPRISED
BY HER OR ME OR YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE.
I USED TO FEEL EXACTLY THE WAY SHE FEELS, AND I REMEMBER SAYIN'
THAT TO GOD, YOU KNOW, "I KNOW YOU'RE SO DISAPPOINTED IN ME."
I CONSTANTLY WAS APOLOGIZING.
"I'M SO SORRY THAT I'M SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT,
THAT I'M SUCH A FAILURE."
AND GOD PUT THAT IN MY HEART, "I'M NOT SURPRISED BY YOU.
I KNEW EVERYTHING THAT YOU WERE EVER GONNA DO WRONG BEFORE
YOU EVER DID IT, AND I KNOW EVERYTHING YOU'RE EVER GOING TO
DO WRONG THAT YOU HAVEN'T DONE YET, AND I STILL LOVE YOU
AND YOU'RE MY CHILD."
AND YOU SEE, THAT'S THE THING WE HAVE TO REALIZE, IS THAT GOD'S
NOT SURPRISED BY US.
THAT'S WHY JESUS DIED FOR US.
AND SO, THE GUILT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PRETTY BIG SUBJECT
THAT CAN TAKE WAY TOO LONG TO ANSWER.
BUT I SUFFERED WITH GUILT FOR SO LONG.
AND HERE AGAIN, THE THING IS, IS YOU HAVE TO START TO BELIEVE
THE WORD MORE THAN YOU BELIEVE YOUR FEELINGS.
JUST BECAUSE SHE FEELS GUILTY DOES NOT MEAN SHE IS GUILTY.
IF SHE HAS TRULY REPENTED, THEN SHE IS FORGIVEN AND THE FEELINGS
CANNOT DICTATE TO HER THE TRUTH.
SHE HAS TO LOOK TO THE WORD AND SAY, "I DON'T CARE HOW I FEEL.
I AM FORGIVEN."
AND WHEN I DID THAT LONG ENOUGH, THEN THE FEELINGS CHANGED.
I RARELY EVER FEEL GUILTY NOW.
AND IF I DO, I CAN WORK IT OUT WITH GOD IN JUST A VERY SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T FEEL BAD WHEN I MAKE MISTAKES.
BUT GOD HAS SO MUCH MORE FOR US TO DO THAN SIT AROUND
AND FEEL BAD ALL THE TIME.
AND IT REALLY HELPED ME TO REALIZE GOD'S NOT SURPRISED
BY ME.
HE KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE GONNA DO WRONG BEFORE
WE EVER DO IT.
GINGER: YEAH, AND THAT'S SO GOOD BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE THOSE
TRUTHS IN GOD'S WORD AND FIGHT THOSE LIES THAT WE'RE BELIEVING
WITH THE TRUTH THAT GOD IS TELLING US, EXACTLY.
AND YET, AT THE SAME TIME, GRACE DOESN'T MEAN WE JUST
KEEP ON SINNING BECAUSE IT'LL BE COVERED.
AND IT WILL, BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING
PROCESS, HOW GOD KNOWS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
HE'S GONNA LOVE US THROUGH ALL OF IT ANYWAY.
AND HIS GRACE IS BIG ENOUGH FOR WHATEVER WE PUT IN FRONT OF HIM.
JOYCE: YOU SEE, WHAT HAPPENS IS IF YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND
GRACE, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE TO SIN AND GET BY
WITH IT.
YOU KNOW THAT IT'S GOD'S POWER TO HELP YOU KEEP IMPROVING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE GONNA
KEEP MAKING MISTAKES.
BUT THE THING IS, IS THE MORE YOU KNOW GOD'S CHARACTER,
THE MORE YOU SEE THE BEAUTY OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU,
THE LESS YOU WANNA SIN.
IT'S NOT LIKE, "OH, BOY, NOW I UNDERSTAND GRACE.
I CAN DO WHAT I WANT TO AND GET BY WITH IT."
I MEAN, IF THAT WAS ANYBODY'S ATTITUDE, THEN THEY REALLY DON'T
UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE THING.
THEY'VE MISSED THE WHOLE POINT OF WHO JESUS IS.
SO WE CAN'T BE AFRAID TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT GOD'S GRACE,
BUT PEOPLE DO NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE YOU CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF IT.
GINGER: YEAH, ALL RIGHT, HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION FROM
RUCIO: "GOD HAS CHANGED MY HEART THROUGH HIS GRACE.
HOW DO I GIVE THAT AWAY TO OTHERS WHO DESPERATELY
NEED GRACE FROM ME?
SOME HAVE HURT ME, BUT GOD FORGAVE ME AND SHOWED ME
HIS GRACE.
NOW, HOW DO I SHOW IT TO OTHERS?'
JOYCE: I MEAN, I THINK IT'S JUST A SIMPLE MATTER OF WALKING
IT OUT IN FAITH AND REALIZING THAT EVERYTHING THAT GOD
GIVES TO US HE EXPECTS US TO GIVE TO OTHERS.
AND SHE'S WANTING TO KNOW HOW SHE CAN GIVE GRACE TO OTHERS.
WELL, YOU GIVE IT TO THEM BY GRACE.
IN OTHER WORDS, "I'VE RECEIVED GRACE.
NOW, GOD, I WANT TO GIVE THAT AWAY.
BUT NOW I NEED YOUR GRACE TO ENABLE ME TO GIVE AWAY
THE GRACE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME."
THAT'S WHAT I MEANT IN THE BEGINNING WHEN I SAID, "THIS
LEANING ON GOD THING GOES FAR BEYOND, 'SHOW ME WHAT TO DO
AND I'LL GO DO IT.'" NO, YOU WON'T.
THAT'S THE THING.
WE LEAN ON GOD FOR EVERY SINGLE THING, AND HE LIKES IT.
HE LOVES US BEING TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON HIM.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE DON'T DO THINGS.
WE DO THINGS, BUT THERE'S NO GOOD THING THAT CAN HAPPEN
THROUGH ME OR YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE IF IT'S NOT GOD WORKING
THROUGH THEM.
GINGER: YEAH, THAT'S WHERE HE WANTS US.
JOYCE: THAT'S RIGHT.
GINGER: YEAH, THANK YOU, JOYCE, VERY HELPFUL.
JOYCE: WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME.
WELL, TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU MORE TEACHING ABOUT GRACE,
AND WE JUST SIMPLY CALLED IT, "AMAZING GRACE,"
WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL TITLE.
IT'S A FOUR-CD SERIES, AND WE'RE OFFERING YOU A "GOOD MORNING"
MUG.
YOU CAN GET A GOOD SCRIPTURE WHILE YOU'RE DRINKIN'
YOUR COFFEE.
I WAS TEASIN' THEM EARLIER.
I SAID, "I REMEMBER ONE TIME SAYING I WAS NEVER EVER GOING
TO SELL COFFEE CUPS THROUGH THIS MINISTRY."
AND THEN I BEGAN TO REALIZE, "WELL, YOU'RE GONNA DRINK COFFEE
OUT OF SOMETHIN'.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL PUT THE MONEY INTO THE GOSPEL WHILE
YOU DRINK IT."
GINGER: THAT'S RIGHT, AND GET ENCOURAGED BY IT.
JOYCE: SO THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO SUPPORT THE GOSPEL
AND HAVE YOUR COFFEE CUP TOO.
BUT THE TEACHING IS THE MAIN THING THAT I WANNA GET INTO
YOUR HANDS.
BECAUSE TRULY, NOW LISTEN TO ME, TRULY, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY
NOTHING THAT I THINK IS MORE AMAZING THAN THE GRACE OF GOD.
AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT CAN BRING MORE
PEACE AND MORE JOY AND MORE SUCCESS INTO YOUR LIFE THAN
THE GRACE OF GOD.
AND WHEN I SAY, "SUCCESS," I'M NOT TALKIN' ABOUT YOUR PAYCHECK.
I'M TALKIN' ABOUT BEING SUCCESSFUL AT BEING THE PERSON
THAT YOU KNOW THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO BE.
AND SO I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THIS TEACHING WILL BE A GREAT
BENEFIT TO YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEIN' WITH US TODAY, AND GOD BLESS YOU.
ANNOUNCER: LEARN HOW TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF GOD'S
GRACE IN YOUR LIFE WITH JOYCE'S FOUR-CD SERIES "AMAZING GRACE."
JOYCE: THE SAME GRACE THAT SAVED YOU IS THE SAME GRACE THAT
WILL GET YOU THROUGH EVERY DAY, THE SAME GRACE THAT WILL CHANGE
YOU, THAT WILL HELP YOU INTO NEW LEVELS OF HOLINESS,
THAT WILL GIVE YOU FAVOR, THAT WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO LIKE
YOU, THAT WILL OPEN DOORS FOR YOU.
THAT SAME FAVOR IS WHAT WE HAVE TO HAVE, THAT SAME GRACE, IN
EVERY SINGLE AREA OF OUR LIFE.
AND WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE BY GRACE.
ANNOUNCER: THIS POWERFUL RESOURCE, ALONG WITH
THIS MUG INSCRIBED WITH: "GOOD MORNING, THIS IS GOD!"
FEATURING A FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL,
IS AVAILABLE TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT OF JUST...
TO ORDER, CALL US TOLL FREE AT...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: IN MY PAST, I WAS SO CONTROLLED BY MY CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT EVERY DAY FELT LIKE AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER.
BUT GOD'S WORD CHANGED ME AND I'VE LEARNED THAT I DON'T HAVE
TO SETTLE FOR A BAD DAY.
YOU CAN CHOOSE TO IMPROVE YOUR DAY, SO WHY NOT DO IT?
IN "20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER," YOU'LL LEARN SIMPLE,
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO EXPERIENCE A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF JOY,
CONTENTMENT, AND EXCITEMENT ABOUT EACH DAY OF YOUR LIFE.
"20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER,"
PICK UP YOUR COPY TODAY.
GINGER: WE ALL GO THROUGH TIMES WHEN THE QUESTIONS
IN OUR LIFE SEEM TO OUTWEIGH THE ANSWERS.
JOYCE MEYER WANTS TO HELP WITH THAT.
CHECK OUT HER NEW SHOW, "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS AND JOIN US AS WE DISCOVER LIFE'S
EVERYDAY ANSWERS TOGETHER.
ANNOUNCER: YOU MEAN MORE TO US AT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
THAN YOU MAY EVER KNOW.
WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND WE THANK OUR FRIENDS
AND PARTNERS FOR MAKING THIS WORLDWIDE MINISTRY POSSIBLE.
TOGETHER, WE'RE FEEDING THE HUNGRY, CLOTHING THE POOR,
AND PRESENTING THE GOSPEL TO THE NATIONS.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG TODAY
TO SHARE YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS, FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
OUR RESOURCES, SEE JOYCE'S CONFERENCE SCHEDULE,
AND TO JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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