ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: WE'RE HERE FOR A REASON BECAUSE GOD WANTS
TO TAKE US TO ANOTHER PLACE.
THE MORE TRUTH WE HEAR, THE MORE WE GROW, THE MORE WE LEARN.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: OFFENSES ARE EVERYWHERE.
IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN HAVE
IN ONE MONTH TO BE OFFENDED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OFFENSE THOUGH.
JUST BECAUSE IT'S OFFERED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT
AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GET SMART ENOUGH TO SAY,
"NO, THANK YOU, DEVIL.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT IN MY LIFE.
I THINK I'LL PASS THIS TIME.
I THINK I'LL JUST BELIEVE THE BEST AND GO ON
AND ENJOY MY LIFE."
WE GET OFFENDED AT PEOPLE.
WE OFFEND PEOPLE.
WE GET OFFENDED AT GOD.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT TODAY.
WE BECOME OFFENDED AT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE DON'T DO
WHAT WE WANT US TO DO.
THE GOVERNMENT, TROUBLE, STORES WHERE WE SHOP, TRAFFIC,
HIGH PRICES, EVEN GOD'S WORD CAN OFFEND PEOPLE
IF THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT.
GOD'S WORD IS TRUTH AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT TODAY IS HOW PEOPLE GET OFFENDED BY THE TRUTH.
IT'S ALL OVER THE BIBLE.
I SAID LAST NIGHT, I WANT TO SAY IT AGAIN TODAY, A LOT OF
THE STUFF THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY,
"WELL, IF YOU PRAY IN SCHOOL, THAT OFFENDS ME."
WELL, YOU KNOW, HOW LONG IS IT GONNA BE BEFORE SOMEBODY SAYS,
"WELL, IF YOU PRAY IN A RESTAURANT,
THAT OFFENDS ME"?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE ONLY REASON WHY GOD COULD EVER POSSIBLY OFFEND
ANYBODY IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO SUBMIT
THEIR LIVES TO HIM.
THEY WANT TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND ALL THEY WOULD REALLY
HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AND SEE THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING
SUCH A HOT JOB.
IT DOESN'T TAKE A, YOU KNOW, A SCIENTIST OR A REAL EXTREMELY
INTELLIGENT PERSON TO LOOK AT OUR SOCIETY TODAY AND SEE
THE MORE PEOPLE TRY TO GET RID OF GOD,
THE WORST CONDITION WE GET IN.
SO THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY ABOUT THAT.
THE WORD "OFFENSE" COMES FROM A GREEK WORD "SKANDALON"
WHICH LITERALLY MEANS THE PART OF THE ANIMAL TRAP
THAT THE BAIT HUNG ON THAT LURED THE VICTIM INTO THE TRAP.
SO IF YOU'RE GONNA BAIT A MOUSETRAP, YOU'LL PUT
A LITTLE CHEESE ON IT AND THEN THAT LITTLE SPRING THERE IN THAT
CHEESE BECOMES THE BAIT AND WHEN THE ANIMAL WANTS THE CHEESE
BAD ENOUGH, THEN HE GETS CAUGHT IN IT AND THAT'S THE END OF IT.
WELL, OFFENSE IS SATAN'S BAIT.
JOHN BEVERE WROTE A GREAT BOOK CALLED "THE BAIT OF SATAN."
I'VE GOT A BOOK ON LIVING CONFLICT FREE.
GET HIS BOOK ON DEALING WITH OFFENSES.
GET MY BOOK ON FORGIVENESS.
GET SOME MATERIAL AND READ UP ON IT AND STUDY UP ON IT EVERY ONCE
IN A WHILE BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TRIES TO GET
US EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND.
THE WORD ALSO MEANS A STUMBLING STONE OR A ROCK OF OFFENSE.
JESUS WAS ACTUALLY CALLED A ROCK OF OFFENSE BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE
GOING ALONG AND THEN THEY HEARD THE TRUTH AND THEY DIDN'T WANT
TO HEAR IT SO THEY STUMBLED OVER IT AND IT BECAME A PLACE
FOR THEM TO FALL AND NOT MAKE ANYMORE PROGRESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHURCH, GOT A GREAT CHURCH,
YOU'RE PART OF THE FAMILY THERE, YOU'RE GROWING, YOU'RE LEARNING,
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, SOMETHING HAPPENS, THE PREACHER DOESN'T DO
SOMETHING YOU LIKE OR SOMEBODY ELSE DOESN'T DO SOMETHING THAT
WE LIKE, AND SO WE GET OFFENDED.
NOW THAT BECOMES A PLACE TO STUMBLE OVER AND WE DON'T
MAKE PROGRESS ANYMORE.
WE STOP GROWING AT THE STUMBLING PLACES.
OFFENSES ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE
GONNA TALK ABOUT TODAY, THE DANGER OF OFFENSES.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT--TALK ABOUT
A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT FIRST I WANT TO TALK
TO YOU ABOUT NOT BEING OFFENDED BY THE TRUTH.
YOU SAY, "WELL, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I BE
OFFENDED BY THE TRUTH?" WELL, WE DO GET OFFENDED
BY THE TRUTH.
WE DON'T MIND IF IT'S THE TRUTH ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT
IF IT'S THE TRUTH ABOUT US, THEN IT'S ANOTHER STORY ALTOGETHER.
COME ON NOW, DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
I'M TALKING ABOUT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: JOHN 8:31 AND 32, THESE ARE SOME OF
THE FIRST SCRIPTURES THAT I LEARNED 37 YEARS AGO
WHEN GOD NABBED ME AND I STARTED STUDYING THE WORD.
AND BY THE WAY, I'D BEEN A CHRISTIAN A LONG TIME BEFORE
THAT BUT I WASN'T ONE THAT STUDIED THE WORD SO THEREFORE
I WAS LIVING A PITIFUL, PATHETIC, UNPRODUCTIVE,
NON-VICTORIOUS LIFE.
JESUS WAS MY SAVIOR, BUT I HAD NEVER INVITED HIM TO BE MY LORD.
THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE TWO THINGS.
"SO JESUS SAID TO THOSE JEWS WHO BELIEVED IN HIM, IF YOU
ABIDE IN MY WORD [HOLD FAST TO MY TEACHINGS AND LIVE IN THEM,
LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEM], YOU ARE TRULY MY DISCIPLES.
AND YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE."
AMEN.
THE TRUTH--NOW JUST HEARING THE TRUTH WON'T MAKE YOUR FREE.
IT'S APPLYING THE TRUTH IN OUR LIVES.
HE SAID, "IF YOU HEAR MY WORDS AND IF YOU LIVE IN THEM, IF WE
LET WHAT WE LEARN BE WORKED INTO OUR LIFE, THEN AND ONLY
THEN, IT WILL SET US FREE."
LET'S LOOK AT EPHESIANS 4:15.
WE CAN'T GROW WITHOUT THE TRUTH.
"RATHER, LET OUR LIVES LOVINGLY EXPRESS TRUTH
[IN ALL THINGS, LET US SPEAK TRULY, DEAL TRULY, LIVE TRULY].
ENFOLDED IN LOVE, LET US GROW UP--" CAN EVERYBODY SAY,
"WE NEED TO GROW UP."
"LET US GROW UP IN EVERY WAY AND IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM
WHO IS THE HEAD."
SO WHAT HE'S CLEARLY SAYING HERE IS WE CANNOT GROW WITHOUT TRUTH,
AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR ME TO SAY THAT
EVERYBODY IN HERE IS PROBABLY AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL
IN THEIR WALK WITH GOD, AND THAT'S TOTALLY RIGHT AND FINE.
ONE PERSON'S HERE.
ONE PERSON'S HERE.
ONE PERSON'S HERE.
ONE PERSON'S HERE.
THE ONLY WAY YOU GET TO THE NEXT PLACE THAT YOU WANT TO BE,
IT ALWAYS HAPPENS THIS WAY, GOD WILL DEAL WITH US ABOUT
SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
HAVE YOU REALIZED THAT YOU MAY--YOU MAY REALIZE BACK
IN JANUARY, "WELL, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THIS BEFORE
BUT NOW I SEE THIS IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WORD AND,
YOU KNOW, I NEED TO WORK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND LET HIM
CHANGE THAT IN ME."
AND THEN YOU GO ALONG AND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING'S FINE.
YOU DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYMORE PROBLEMS AT ALL,
NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IN FEBRUARY YOU SEE SOMETHING ELSE.
AND THEN YOU COME TO MY CONFERENCE, NOW, YOU KNOW,
YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH BEING OFFENDED SO YOU GOTTA GO HOME
AND GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN I FIRST STARTED STUDYING
THE WORD, I JUST THOUGHT, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I WANT
TO GO HEAR ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW THAT I'M GONNA
NEED IT, 'CAUSE THERE WAS NOT A MESSAGE THAT ANYBODY
PREACHED THAT I DIDN'T NEED.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BLIND SPOTS IN OUR LIFE.
JUST LIKE YOU HAVE BLIND SPOTS IN YOUR SIDE MIRRORS ON YOUR
CAR, YOU THINK YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING BUT THEN ALL OF
A SUDDEN, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T SEE AT ALL.
THAT'S WHY IT'S GOOD TO SEE ALL THREE OF THOSE MIRRORS,
THE ONE UP HERE, THE ONE OVER HERE AND THE ONE OVER HERE.
AND WE HAVE BLIND SPOTS IN OUR LIVES.
IT'S VERY EASY TO BE BLIND ABOUT OURSELVES.
WE'RE DOING SOMETHING, AND WE DON'T EVEN REALLY REALIZE
HOW IT'S AFFECTING SOMEBODY ELSE AND SO GOD WILL TRY TO GET TO US
HIMSELF.
HE'LL TRY TO CONVICT US THROUGH THE WORD.
HE'LL TRY TO PUT US IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO HEAR THE RIGHT MESSAGE
AND HOPE WE REALIZE IT'S FOR US AND NOT SOMEBODY ELSE.
SEE, YOU DON'T NEED TO SIT HERE TODAY AND THINK ABOUT ALL
THE PEOPLE YOU WISH WOULD HAVE CAME WITH YOU BECAUSE OF
HOW BAD THEY NEED THIS MESSAGE.
AND ALL THE PEOPLE YOU'RE GONNA BUY THE CD FOR AND THE DVD FOR,
THAT FORGIVENESS BOOK FOR, THAT'S GREAT.
GET IT ALL FOR EVERYBODY BUT MAKE SURE YOU REALIZE GOD
GOT YOU HERE FOR A REASON.
I'M GLAD I GET TO PREACH THIS STUFF 'CAUSE I JUST GET LESSONS
ALL THE TIME.
IT JUST KEEPS ME FRESH AND SHARP.
AND SO WE'RE HERE FOR A REASON BECAUSE GOD WANTS TO TAKE US
TO ANOTHER PLACE.
THE MORE TRUTH WE HEAR, THE MORE WE GROW, THE MORE WE LEARN.
AND SO WE HAVE BLIND SPOTS IN OUR LIFE,
THINGS THAT WE DON'T SEE.
IT'S BETTER IF WE CAN GET IT FROM GOD.
IT'S LESS EMBARRASSING IF WE CAN GET IT FROM GOD.
IT'S NOT TOO BAD IF YOU'RE SITTING OUT THERE IN
A CONGREGATION AND YOU JUST GET IT FROM SOME PREACHER,
STILL NOBODY ELSE REALLY KNOWS THAT YOU GOT THAT PROBLEM.
IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE THAT SECRET THING.
"WELL, I'M NOT GONNA TELL ANYBODY, BUT YEAH,
I NEEDED THAT.
OH, BOY, I NEEDED THAT AND I NEEDED THAT."
BUT I FOUND OUT IN MY LIFE, IF I DON'T GET IT FROM GOD OR I DON'T
GET IT FROM THE MESSAGES, THEN GOD WILL, IN HIS LOVING MERCY,
SEND SOMEBODY TO TELL ME.
AND THAT IS THE NOT SO FUN PART BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE RIGHT IN MY
FACE PRESENTING SOME TRUTH TO ME ABOUT A BLIND SPOT IN MY LIFE
AND OUR FIRST IMPULSE IS TO ATTACK.
"YEAH, WELL YOU GOT SOME PROBLEMS YOURSELF, BUDDY."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW SEE, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DO THAT,
HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS.
OKAY, WE'RE OVER HERE AND REALLY WE'VE ALREADY TOLD GOD WE WANT
TO BE OVER THERE.
"THERE'S SOMETHING OVER THERE, GOD.
OH, MAN, I SEE THAT PROMISE.
YES, GOD.
I WANT TO GET THERE.
I WANT A PROMOTION ON MY JOB.
GOD, YOU KNOW, I WANT THIS.
I WANT THAT.
I WANT SOMETHING ELSE."
AND SO GOD IS GONNA REVEAL THE THINGS TO US THAT NEED
TO BE REVEALED AND GOTTEN OUT OF OUR WAY SO WE CAN GET TO
WHERE WE SAY THAT WE WANT TO BE.
SO NOW WE'RE NOT HEARING THE MESSAGES.
WE'RE NOT HEARING FROM GOD SO HE SENDS SOMEBODY TO CONFRONT US
AND WE LIKE...AND THEN SOMETIMES IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, YOU HAVE
GO BACK A FEW PACES AND HEAR A FEW THINGS ALL OVER AGAIN.
BUT ULTIMATELY, WE'RE GONNA COME UP TO THAT SAME THING THAT HAS
TO BE DEALT WITH IN OUR LIFE.
IS ANYBODY WITH ME TODAY?
WE HAVE TO COME TO THAT THING THAT WE'RE RUNNING FROM, THAT
WE'RE DANCING AROUND, THAT WE'RE AVOIDING AND WE'RE EVADING AND
WE DON'T REALIZE THAT GOD NEVER TELLS US ANYTHING TO MAKE
US FEEL BAD ABOUT OURSELVES.
THAT'S THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD HE WANTS TO DO.
NONE OF IT IS FOR CONDEMNATION.
HE WANTS TO HELP US DEAL WITH THINGS, GET THEM OUT OF OUR WAY
SO WE CAN HAVE WHAT WE SAY THAT WE WANT TO HAVE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
SO ALWAYS REMEMBER IT'S BEST TO GET IT FROM GOD.
IF YOU CAN'T GET IT STRAIGHT FROM HIM, TRY TO LISTEN TO
THE PREACHER OR THE TEACHER.
IF THAT DON'T WORK, GOD WILL BLESS YOU ENOUGH
TO SEND SOMEBODY ELSE--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: TO BRING YOU SOME TRUTH.
AND I CAN TELL YOU PROBABLY A LOT OF THE THINGS EVEN YOU
TURN THE TV ON IN THE MORNING AND I'M SAYING SOMETHING GOD'S
ALREADY TOLD YOU THREE TIMES.
AND YOU'RE LIKE, "HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT, JOYCE?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: JOHN 16:13, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.
NOW, LET'S GET AHOLD OF THIS.
"THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH," AND HE HAS BEEN SENT
BY JESUS WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH TO GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH.
I'M GLAD HE GUIDES US AND DOESN'T JUST THROW US IN IT
BECAUSE IF WE GOT THROWN INTO ALL THE TRUTH THAT WE NEED TO
SEE IN OUR LIVES RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD ALL JUST FALL OUT
IN A DEAD FAINT AND FORGET IT, BUT HE GUIDES US.
HE GENTLY, LOVINGLY LEADS US AND GUIDES US.
HE PREPARES US TO SEE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SEE, AND HE'S
ALWAYS THERE READY TO HELP US WALK THROUGH THOSE THINGS SO
WE CAN HAVE THE BETTER LIFE THAT WE SAY THAT WE WANT TO HAVE.
GOD WANTS TO LEAD US, NOT INTO A LITTLE BIT OF A TRUTH,
BUT INTO THE WHOLE, FULL TRUTH.
AND I COULD PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE YOU THAT THERE IS NOT
VERY MANY PEOPLE SITTING HERE THIS MORNING THAT IF YOU WERE
HONEST ABOUT IT, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO TELL ME SOMETHING THAT
GOD IS DEALING WITH YOU ABOUT RIGHT NOW THAT WHEN YOU FULLY
SUBMIT TO GOD IN THAT AREA, IT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PERSON.
MAYBE NOT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU BECAUSE THANK GOD,
WE HAVE RESTING POINTS BETWEEN OUR CONFRONTATIONS.
AMEN?
SO MAYBE YOU'RE ONE OF THE BLESSED ONES RIGHT NOW
THAT'S IN A RESTING POINT.
MAYBE YOU'RE IN BETWEEN GLORIES AND YOU'RE JUST GLORYING
AND ENJOYING YOUR GLORYING, YOU KNOW?
I CAN'T SAY THAT ALWAYS, EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE, THERE'S
SOMETHING THAT GOD'S DEALING WITH ME ABOUT, BUT
A LOT OF THE TIME I CAN SAY-- AND IT'S NOT--I LIKE IT.
I DON'T DISLIKE IT.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL BAD.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL CONDEMNED.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, THE BIBLE SAYS, "WHOM
THE LORD LOVES, HE CHASTISES."
IF HE LEAVES US ALONE, WE OUGHT TO GET MORE CONCERNED
THAN IF HE'S DEALING WITH US.
IT'S A SIGN OF HIS LOVE.
SEE, THE WHOLE THING IS IS IT REALLY--WE JUST
MAKE IT SUCH A BAD THING.
"OH, NOW I GOT THIS WRONG WITH ME AND NOW I GOT
THAT WRONG WITH ME."
THAT'S NOT EVEN WHAT IT'S ABOUT AT ALL.
IT'S SIMPLY GOD TRYING TO GUIDE US INTO THINGS THAT ARE GONNA
PUT US IN A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE MORE PEACE, MORE JOY,
WHERE OUR CONSCIOUS IS NOT GONNA BOTHER US.
DO YOU KNOW THAT SUBMITTING TO AUTHORITY--WELL, LET'S PUT
IT LIKE THIS, NOT SUBMITTING TO AUTHORITY IS A HUGE PROBLEM
IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY.
I MEAN, LIKE THE SPIRIT OF REBELLION, THE BIBLE SAYS,
IS THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST.
AND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IT SAYS REBELLION IS LIKE WITCHCRAFT.
AND WE DON'T--WE DON'T THINK ANYTHING AT ALL ABOUT, "WELL,
IF I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT, I AIN'T GONNA DO IT."
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE GET OFFENDED BECAUSE WE ASK THEM NOT
TO SIT IN A CERTAIN SEAT.
"THIS SECTION'S RESERVED FOR A GROUP COMING IN, YOU KNOW,
WOULD YOU MIND TO MOVE?" "WELL..."
AND THEN WONDER WHY THEY DON'T GET ANYTHING
OUT OF THE SERVICE THAT DAY.
THE TRUTH WILL MAKE US FREE.
EVERY TIME THAT GOD DEALS WITH US ABOUT SOMETHING, WE SHOULD
JUST JUMP UP AND DOWN FOR JOY SAY, "THANK YOU, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, GOD."
AND DON'T LET THE DEVIL TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE
BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE.
GOD DEALS WITH ME ABOUT STUFF ALL THE TIME, AND I'VE BEEN
37 YEARS A SERIOUS STUDENT OF THE WORD OF GOD
AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT I CAN EVERY SINGLE DAY
TO LIVE IN AGREEMENT WITH GOD AND HE STILL IS DEALING WITH ME
ABOUT STUFF ALL THE TIME.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF I JUST GOT THIS UNIQUE PROBLEM, BUT MAYBE
THERE'S A FEW OTHER--I MEAN, CAN ANY OF YOU KIND OF RELATE
TO WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE?
THAT'S GOOD.
SO I'VE KIND OF COME TO THE POINT WHERE I'D BE MORE
CONCERNED IF GOD NEVER DID DEAL WITH ME.
LET'S LOOK AT 2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 7, BEGINNING IN VERSE 8.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING THAT I JUST REALLY
PAID ATTENTION TO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHEN I WAS READING IT
AND I GOT SOMETHING REALLY GOOD OUT OF THIS.
2 CORINTHIANS...
CHAPTER 7, VERSE 8.
NOW PAUL HAD WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS CORRECTING THEM
BECAUSE THERE HAD BEEN SOME INCEST IN THE CONGREGATION
AND THEY HAD BEEN ALLOWING IT AND NOT DEALING WITH IT.
DO YOU KNOW SOMETIMES GOD WILL DEAL WITH US
IF WE DON'T DEAL WITH THINGS?
SOMETIMES GOD JUST WANTS US TO GO CONFRONT A SITUATION.
IT COULD EVEN BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS YOU LETTING SOMEBODY
ELSE CONTROL YOU AND GOD IS WANTING YOU TO CONFRONT THEM.
AND IF YOU DON'T CONFRONT THEM, THEN GOD WILL CONFRONT YOU
TO GET YOU TO GO CONFRONT THEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE
EVER GONNA HAVE THE FREEDOM YOU SAY YOU WANT IF YOU KEEP LETTING
PEOPLE WALK ALL OVER YA ALL THE TIME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO CONFRONT THINGS.
AND SO PAUL SAID, "FOR EVEN THOUGH I DID GRIEVE YOU WITH
MY LETTER, I DO NOT REGRET [IT NOW], THOUGH I DID REGRET IT."
SEE SOMETIMES WHEN-- LIKE EVEN AS AN EMPLOYER,
WHEN I HAVE TO CORRECT SOMEBODY, I DON'T LIKE HURTING PEOPLE.
THAT'S THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD THAT
I WANT TO DO IS HURT SOMEBODY.
AND SOMETIMES WE PUT IT OFF AND WE PUT IT OFF, SOMETIMES
YOU EVEN PUT OFF CORRECTING YOUR CHILDREN BECAUSE
YOU DON'T WANT TO HURT THEM.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TAKE A PRIVILEGE AWAY FROM THEM.
SO WE ALWAYS HOPE WE CAN PRAY EVERYTHING AWAY, BUT
A LOT OF TIMES THAT DON'T WORK.
MANY TIMES YOU HAVE TO JUST GO AND CONFRONT THE SITUATION.
AND SO PAUL'S SAYING, "YOU KNOW, I DID REGRET IT AT FIRST BECAUSE
I SAW THAT IT PAINED YOU, BUT ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE,"
HE SAYS.
"MY LETTER DID PAIN YOU, THOUGH ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE;
YET I AM GLAD NOW," VERSE 9, "NOT BECAUSE YOU WERE PAINED,
BUT BECAUSE YOU WERE PAINED INTO REPENTANCE
[THAT TURNED YOU 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.
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."
I LOVE THAT.
BUT YOU SEE THAT IT HURTS OUR FEELINGS WHEN WE GET CONFRONTED.
HELLO?
OKAY, I'LL SIT DOWN.
WE'LL TAKE OUR TIME.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SEE, TODAY WE DON'T HAVE THE RESPECT FOR SPIRITUAL
AUTHORITY THAT WE SHOULD HAVE AND IF--MORE THAN LIKELY
IF THE PASTOR GOES AND CONFRONTS SOMEBODY IN THE CONGREGATION,
I MEAN, IN LOVE, LOVINGLY ABOUT WHATEVER-- "YOU KNOW, I REALLY
NEED YOU TO STOP GETTING TO CHURCH LATE ALL THE TIME,
YOU KNOW, OR IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET HERE ON TIME,
THEN SIT IN THE BACK.
DON'T COME MARCHING ALL THE WAY DOWN THE FRONT AND EXCUSE
YOURSELF THROUGH FIVE PEOPLE, INTERRUPT THE WHOLE SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST-- IT'S KIND OF DISTRACTING."
"WELL...
BLESS GOD I'M NOT STAYING HERE.
I'M GOING TO ANOTHER CHURCH."
SEE, WE DON'T WANT-- WE DON'T LIKE THAT.
AND YOU KNEW.
THE PERSON KNEW ALREADY THAT WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS WRONG.
THEY ALREADY KNEW AND THEY WEREN'T LISTENING TO GOD.
THEY WERE CONVICTED EVERY TIME THEY DID IT.
THE PROBLEM IS IS IF YOU DO IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER, THEN
OUR HEART CAN BECOME HARDENED.
YOU BECOME CALLOUS TO IT AND SO YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT.
SO OUT OF LOVE, NOT ONLY FOR YOU, BUT LOVE FOR THE OTHER
PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING DISTURBED, GOD MAY SEND SOMEBODY TO JUST
GENTLY SAY, "YOU KNOW, I REALLY NEED YOU NOT TO DO THIS."
AND WE NEED TO SAY, "OH, MAN, I DIDN'T--YOU KNOW?
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS SUCH A PROBLEM.
FORGIVE ME.
I'LL MAKE SURE THAT I'M EITHER ON TIME OR IF I CAN'T BE,
I'LL SIT SOMEWHERE WHERE I'M NOT BRINGING A DISTURBANCE."
EVEN LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT ANYMORE, WE--THE SOCIETY TODAY
HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TELLING US
ANYTHING.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY BUT YOU, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT LIKE THAT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I CAN ALREADY TELL THAT I'VE GOT THE WRONG MESSAGE
FOR THE--FOR THE GROUP.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ALL OVER THE BIBLE, THE BIBLE IS--THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS CALLED THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH.
WE CAN'T GO THE NEXT LEVEL UNLESS WE RECEIVE TRUTH
ABOUT THE LEVEL THAT WE'RE ON.
I SHARED LAST NIGHT THAT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR,
I FELT LIKE THAT GOD PUT A REALLY STRONG THING
IN MY HEART.
"JOYCE, IF YOU'RE GONNA COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING, THEN DON'T
BOTHER TO PRAY ABOUT IT."
NOW, THAT WASN'T GOD JUST TRYING TO BE MEAN TO ME.
I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS GOT SOME GREATER THINGS
FOR THIS MINISTRY TO DO.
I BELIEVE THAT GOD'S GOT A GREATER STILL ANOINTING,
MORE PEOPLE TO BE REACHED IN PLACES MAYBE WHERE THE GOSPEL
HAS NOT EVEN BEEN YET.
LISTEN, I HAVE NOT GOTTEN TOO OLD TO STOP DREAMING.
I MEAN, I'M STILL DREAMING DREAMS AND SEEING VISIONS AND
WANTING TO HELP HURTING PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING, EVERY TIME YOU WANT
TO COME UP HIGHER, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF YOUR FLESH HAS GOT
TO GO DOWN LOWER.
OKAY, SO NOW, IF I WANT TO GO TO THIS LEVEL, THEN--I ALWAYS SAY,
"NEW LEVEL, NEW DEVIL."
DOES ANYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT?
OKAY, HOW MANY OF YOU REALIZE WHEN YOU RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR
SAVIOR AND STARTED REALLY TRYING TO WALK WITH GOD, THE DEVIL
DIDN'T ROLL OUT A RED CARPET FOR YOU AND SAY,
"I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU"?
I MEAN, HOW MANY OF YOU JUST HAD STUFF START TO HAPPEN?
YOU KNOW, WE'LL JUST CALL IT STUFF.
I MEAN, ANYTHING COMES UNDER THAT CATEGORY, BUT JUST STUFF.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE ENEMY WILL COME AND TRY TO TAKE
THE WORD AWAY FROM US AND HE DOES IT THROUGH
STIRRING UP TROUBLE IN OUR LIFE.
HE WANTS US TO FOCUS ON THAT TROUBLE, RATHER THAN FOCUSING
ON WHAT GOD IS ASKING US TO DO.
BUT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN GOD IS PUTTING HIS FINGER
ON SOMETHING IN OUR LIFE, IT'S BECAUSE HE'S TRYING
TO GET US READY FOR THE THING THAT WE'VE ASKED HIM TO DO.
BUT, IN FACT, IF WE DON'T LET HIM DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IN
US, WE WOULD NEVER BE PREPARED TO GO TO THAT LEVEL.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HERE'S THE WAY I LIKE TO SAY IT, GOD HAS GOT
AN AMAZING PLACE PREPARED FOR YOU.
YOU SAY, "WELL, THEN WHAT IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE?"
HE'S PREPARING YOU FOR THE THING HE HAS PREPARED FOR YOU.
JOYCE: WELL, LET ME ASK A QUESTION.
IS GOD DEALING WITH YOU ABOUT ANYTHING?
YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH CAN OFTEN BE VERY HARD TO HEAR AND ACCEPT.
BUT WHEN GOD CORRECTS US, WE DON'T NEED TO GET OUR
FEELINGS HURT.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT HE DOES IT BECAUSE HE LOVES US AND HE
WANTS TO TAKE US TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
GOD'S TRUTH SETS US FREE.
SO, TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING SOME WORD THAT SPECIFICALLY COVERS
THIS AREA OF TRUTH: "OVERCOMING THE ENEMY WITH GOD'S TRUTH,"
FOUR TEACHINGS, FOUR HOURS OF TEACHING, "OVERCOMING THE ENEMY
WITH GOD'S TRUTH."
SATAN IS A LIAR, BUT JESUS SAID HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH,
AND THE LIFE.
AND THEN ALSO, A LITTLE BOOKLET THAT I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY CALLED
"TEACHING AND FACING TRUTH," "FACING TRUTH."
NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO, BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
THESE RESOURCES WILL ARM YOU WITH GOD'S TRUTH SO YOU CAN
OVERCOME OFFENSE OR ANYTHING ELSE THE ENEMY THROWS AT YOU.
AND REMEMBER, AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR DAY, GOD LOVES YOU.
HE LOVES YOU. HE LOVES YOU.
AND WITH THAT, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.
ANNOUNCER: GOD'S TRUTH CAN SET YOU FREE IN EVERY AREA OF
YOUR LIFE, AND JOYCE WANTS TO TEACH YOU HOW.
JOYCE: WE'RE HERE FOR A REASON BECAUSE GOD WANTS TO
TAKE US TO ANOTHER PLACE.
THE MORE TRUTH WE HEAR, THE MORE WE GROW, THE MORE WE LEARN.
ANNOUNCER: TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING HER FOUR-TEACHING SET,
"OVERCOME THE ENEMY WITH GOD'S TRUTH."
IN THIS COLLECTION OF TEACHINGS, JOYCE WILL HELP YOU APPLY GOD'S
TRUTH, AND IDENTIFY THE LIES YOU'RE BELIEVING SO YOU CAN LIVE
FREE FROM OFFENSE.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING A "FACING TRUTH" BOOKLET.
JOYCE EXPLAINS HOW YOU CAN EXPERIENCE POSITIVE CHANGE IN
YOUR LIFE AND RELATIONSHIPS BY KNOWING AND ACTING ON
GOD'S TRUTH.
THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR A GIFT OF...OR MORE.
CALL US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: WELL, IT'S AN EXCITING TIME HERE AT
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES BECAUSE WE ARE
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF SHARING THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST
ON TELEVISION.
WHAT A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
THANK YOU, OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS, BECAUSE THIS IS
YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENT TOO.
YOU SPREAD GOD'S LOVE AND THE LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE
OF THE BIBLE WITH THE WORLD.
IT AMAZES ME WHAT GOD CAN DO WHEN WE JOIN TOGETHER
AND WORK WITH HIM.
WE'RE HONORED THAT GOD HAS ALLOWED US TO SHARE CHRIST WITH
2/3 OF THE WORLD IN MORE THAN 90 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, AND HE
OPPORTUNITIES JUST CONTINUE TO GROW.
I'M SO THANKFUL TO BE PART OF WHAT HE'S DOING IN THE WORLD
TODAY, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOUR HELP, YOUR PRAYERS, THEY INSPIRE
US TO CONTINUE TO FIND CREATIVE AND POWERFUL WAYS TO SHARE
CHRIST AND LOVE PEOPLE.
I THANK GOD FOR YOU EVERY DAY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT HE
HAS IN STORE FOR US TO DO TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE AS HE
CONTINUES TO USE THIS PROGRAM TO TOUCH PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU.
GINGER: THERE ARE MANY, MANY PLACES IN OUR WORLD WHERE IT IS
INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO BE A GIRL, AND HERE IN RURAL ZAMBIA
IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THEM.
IF YOU LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER, YOU'LL SEE A FLAG FLYING IN
THE VILLAGE OVER THE HOME.
THAT FLAG REPRESENTS THE FACT THAT A VERY YOUNG GIRL HAS
REACHED PUBERTY.
THEY PUT THE FLAG OUT TO LET THE MEN IN THE AREA,
AND EVEN FAR BEYOND, KNOW THAT SHE IS NOW AVAILABLE,
ESSENTIALLY, ON THE MARKET TO BE SOLD INTO MARRIAGE.
AND THE SITUATIONS THAT THESE YOUNG GIRLS GO IN ARE JUST
PREPOSTEROUS.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S SO MUCH JUST BECAUSE WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE
VERY LITTLE VALUE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN
HELP CHANGE.
THEY HAVE LITTLE VALUE IN THE EYES OF SOME PEOPLE, BUT IN
GOD'S EYES, THEY HAVE SO MUCH.
THAT'S WHY, THROUGH PROJECT GRL,
WE ARE REACHING TO GUIDE, RESTORE, AND LOVE WOMEN
AND GIRLS ALL OVER THE WORLD.
HERE IN ZAMBIA, WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE THOSE GIRLS AND TO TEACH
THEM WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS ABOUT THEM, TO OFFER THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR AN EDUCATION, TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE SITUATIONS
BEFORE THEY ARE GIVEN INTO MARRIAGE, AND TO CHANGE
THEIR LIVES.
AND THEN, IN TURN, CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE ENTIRE VILLAGE.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, BUT WITH YOUR HELP,
WE CAN DO EVEN MORE.
SO, WE ASK YOU TODAY TO CONSIDER GIVING A SPECIAL GIFT.
CALL THAT PHONE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, GO THE WEBSITE,
AND DO WHAT YOU CAN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD
FOR CHRIST.
♪ THERE IS POWER ♪ ♪ POWER ♪
♪ WONDER-WORKING POWER IN ♪ ♪ THE BLOOD OF THE LORD ♪
♪ THERE IS POWER, POWER ♪ ♪ WONDER-WORKING POWER ♪♪
FEMALE: GOD DESIRES FOR ALL OF OUR CONFIDENCE TO BE IN HIM.
ANNOUNCER: LET EACH DAY TAKE YOU DEEPER INTO A LIFE OF
CONFIDENCE WITH JOYCE'S NEW DEVOTIONAL,
"THE CONFIDENT WOMAN."
FEMALE: THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GIVE ME STRENGTH TO DO INSPIRING
THINGS.
TRUE CONFIDENCE IS UNDERSTANDING MY TREMENDOUS VALUE IN HIM.
ANNOUNCER: ORDER YOUR COPY OF JOYCE'S NEW DEVOTIONAL,
"THE CONFIDENT WOMAN," TODAY.
CALL...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
[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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