ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: I'M TELLING YOU THAT YOU CAN SEE TREMENDOUS
BREAKTHROUGH IN YOUR LIFE JUST IF YOU WILL GIVE UP COMPLAINING.
LET'S GO ON A FAST.
LET'S FAST ALL COMPLAINING.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: HOW MANY OF OUR PROBLEMS ARE THE RESULT
OF OUR OWN WORDS?
DO YOU EVER REALLY LISTEN TO WHAT YOU SAY?
OR LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE SAY?
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WRITING ON THIS SUBJECT AND STUDYING IT
PRETTY INTENTLY FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, I'VE BEEN
PAYING A LOT MORE ATTENTION TO THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE SAY TO ME ALL THE TIME,
"JOYCE, I LOVE YOU TO DEATH."
WELL, IT'S LIKE, I'D REALLY RATHER YOU LOVE ME ALIVE.
I--YOU KNOW?
WHY ARE WE SO TRANSFIXED WITH
"I JUST ABOUT LAUGHED TO DEATH.
I LOVE YOU TO DEATH.
OH, I TELL YOU THAT JUST ABOUT KILLED ME."
WE DON'T NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT STUFF LIKE THAT.
IF WE BELIEVE OUR WORDS ARE IMPORTANT, THEN WE NEED TO
PAY ATTENTION.
SO, LET'S LOOK AT NUMBERS 21:4-7.
I WANT TO PUT A SMILE ON GOD'S FACE WITH MY CONVERSATION,
DON'T YOU?
"AND THEY JOURNEYED FROM MOUNT HOR BY THE WAY
TO THE RED SEA, TO GO AROUND THE LAND OF EDOM,
AND THE PEOPLE BECAME IMPATIENT (DEPRESSED, MUCH DISCOURAGED),
BECAUSE [OF THE TRIALS]
OF THE WAY."
WELL, YEAH, WE DO GET DISCOURAGED IN TRIALS.
YOUR EMOTIONS WANT TO SINK IN TRIALS, BUT ONE OF THE WAYS THAT
YOU CAN CHEER YOURSELF UP AND LIFT YOURSELF BACK UP IS
BY TALKING ABOUT RIGHT THINGS.
WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT IN TRIALS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.
"AND THE PEOPLE SPOKE AGAINST GOD AND AGAINST MOSES, WHY HAVE
YOU BROUGHT US OUT OF EGYPT TO DIE IN THE WILDERNESS?
THERE'S NO BREAD, NEITHER IS THERE ANY WATER, AND WE HATE
THIS LIGHT (CONTEMPTIBLE, UNSUBSTANTIAL) MANNA."
NOW HOW EXCITED WERE THEY ABOUT THAT MANNA WHEN IT FIRST
CAME DOWN?
"WHOA, CHECK IT OUT!
FOOD RAINED OUT OF THE SKY.
THIS IS AMAZING."
WE NEED TO STAY AMAZED, NOT JUST BE AMAZED FOR A FEW MINUTES
WHEN GOD DOES SOMETHING GREAT.
WE NEED TO STAY AMAZED AT THE GREAT THINGS
THAT GOD IS DOING.
THE MORE AMAZED YOU ARE, THE MORE HOPEFUL YOU WILL BE.
"THE PEOPLE SPOKE AGAINST GOD AND AGAINST MOSES,
WE HATE THIS BREAD.
WE'RE NOT HAPPY."
NOW WATCH WHAT HAPPENED.
"THEN THE LORD SENT FIERY (BURNING) SERPENTS AMONG THE
PEOPLE; AND THEY BIT THE PEOPLE, AND MANY OF THE ISRAELITES DIED.
AND THE PEOPLE CAME TO MOSES, AND SAID, WE HAVE SINNED."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, CAN WE BE A LITTLE SMARTER THAN THIS?
DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE SERPENT BITES US AND
WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF PROBLEMS IN OUR LIFE BECAUSE
WE KEEP OPENING A DOOR THROUGH MURMURING, COMPLAINING
AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS PRAISING AND GIVING THANKS?
COME ON, I WANT TO SEE SOME BIG SMILES OUT THERE.
"AND THE PEOPLE CAME TO MOSES, AND SAID, WE HAVE SINNED FOR WE
HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST YOU; MOSES, PRAY TO
THE LORD, THAT HE MAY TAKE AWAY THE SERPENTS FROM US.
SO MOSES PRAYED FOR THE PEOPLE."
AND, OF COURSE, GOD BROUGHT A WAY FOR THEIR DELIVERANCE,
JUST LIKE HE ALWAYS DOES.
ANYTIME WE TURN BACK TO GOD SINCERELY, BEGIN TO DO
WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO, THE BLESSINGS COME BACK.
WHEN WE TURN AWAY FROM GOD AND WE'RE OPERATING AGAINST
HIS PRINCIPLES, THEN WE OPEN A DOOR FOR THE ENEMY TO COME IN.
I REALLY THINK THE MESSAGE HAS ONE BIBLE.
IT SAYS IT IN A HUNDRED DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT THE BIBLE
HAS ONE MESSAGE, "DO WHAT I TELL YOU TO, YOU'LL BE BLESSED.
DON'T DO WHAT I TELL YOU TO AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PROBLEMS."
IT'S NOT HARD, IS IT?
"I SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH,
CHOOSE LIFE THAT YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS MIGHT LIVE."
NOW, I WANT TO GO OVER TO 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 10.
I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED SEEING THESE THINGS IN THE WORD.
THEY JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZED ME.
I MEAN, I WAS SO AMAZED JUST AT WHAT I LEARNED
ABOUT COMPLAINING.
I THOUGHT, MY GOSH, IF EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD COULD KNOW THIS.
SO THAT STORY THAT WE JUST READ OUT OF NUMBERS IS REPEATED
OVER IN 1 CORINTHIANS, AND THIS SCRIPTURE'S GONNA
TELL YOU THAT IT'S REPEATED HERE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND
THE DANGERS OF MURMURING, GRUMBLING AND COMPLAINING.
VERSE 8, "WE MUST NOT GRATIFY EVIL DESIRE AND INDULGE IN
IMMORALITY AS SOME OF THEM DID."
HE CALLS THEIR COMPLAINING IMMORALITY.
"AS SOME OF THEM DID--AND TWENTY-THREE THOUSAND [SUDDENLY]
FELL DEAD IN A SINGLE DAY!
WE SHOULD NOT TEMPT THE LORD [TRY HIS PATIENCE, AND BECOME
A TRIAL TO HIM, NOR SHOULD WE CRITICALLY APPRAISE HIM,
AND EXPLOIT HIS GOODNESS]
AS SOME OF THEM DID--AND WERE KILLED BY POISONOUS SERPENTS;
NOR SHOULD WE DISCONTENTEDLY COMPLAIN
AS SOME OF THEM DID--AND WERE PUT OUT OF THE WAY ENTIRELY
BY THE DESTROYER.
NOW THESE THINGS BEFELL THEM BY WAY OF A FIGURE [AS AN EXAMPLE
AND WARNING TO US]; THEY WERE WRITTEN TO ADMONISH
US AND FIT US FOR RIGHT ACTION."
GOD HAS PUT A REVERENTIAL FEAR IN ME ABOUT COMPLAINING
AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I LIKE TO GET A GOOD REMINDER.
SOMETIMES I'LL OPEN UP THOSE SCRIPTURES IN PHILIPPIANS
AND JUST READ THEM.
"DON'T MURMUR, GRUMBLE AND COMPLAIN."
I'LL GO AND LOOK AT THOSE SCRIPTURES IN NUMBERS AND THEN
LOOK AT THESE SCRIPTURES IN 1 CORINTHIANS
BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY FOR US TO FORGET HOW GOOD GOD IS TO US
AND START COMPLAINING AND MURMURING ABOUT THINGS WHEN WE
REALLY TRULY HAVE NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ABOUT THE LORD?
PSALM 91:-1-2 SAYS, "HE THAT DWELLS IN THE SECRET
PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL REMAIN STABLE AND FIXED UNDER
THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY WHOSE POWER NO FOE CAN COME AGAINST."
"I WILL SAY OF THE LORD.
HE IS MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS, MY GOD.
ON HIM I LEAN AND RELY AND IN HIM,
I CONFIDENTLY PLACE MY TRUST."
WHAT ARE YOU SAYING OF THE LORD?
YOU KNOW, OVER IN MALACHI, GOD CORRECTED SOME PEOPLE PRETTY
STERNLY BECAUSE HE SAID, "YOU'RE NOT SAYING
THE RIGHT THING ABOUT ME.
YOU'RE SAYING IT'S USELESS TO SERVE GOD, THERE'S
NO PROFIT IN SERVING GOD."
AND THESE WERE PEOPLE THAT GOD HAD DONE GREAT THINGS IN THEIR
LIFE, BUT NOW GOD WASN'T MOVING FAST ENOUGH FOR THEM
SO THEY WERE GETTING GRUMPY.
"WELL, THIS IS NOT DOING ANY GOOD.
THIS IS NOT DOING ANY GOOD.
I GIVE MY MONEY.
I'VE BEEN FAITHFUL IN TITHING AND GIVING AND STILL NOTHING
GOOD IS HAPPENING TO ME."
NO, WHAT WE SHOULD SAY IS "GIVING IS A PRIVILEGE, GOD,
AND I'M GONNA KEEP DOING IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE
IF I NEVER SEE A RESULT."
AND WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT, THEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE RESULTS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD JUST DO THE RIGHT
THING JUST TO GET A RESULT.
I THINK WE SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT.
AND WHEN YOUR HEART IS RIGHT AND YOU'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT
BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT, THEN YOU ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO GET A RIGHT
RESULT, BUT IT WILL COME AT THE RIGHT TIME, NOT MY TIME, NOT
YOUR TIME, BUT THE RIGHT TIME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO WHILE WE'RE WAITING IS, WHAT?
NOT COMPLAIN.
WE NEED TO KEEP GIVING THANKS TO GOD AND DO, WHAT?
THANK HIM THAT GOD IS WORKING IN OUR LIVES.
GOD, I THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE WORKING IN OUR LIVES.
DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD KEEPS A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE,
ACCORDING TO MALACHI?
AND HE LISTENS WHEN PEOPLE TALK AND HE RECORDS THE CONVERSATIONS
THAT HE LIKES.
I'M GONNA SHOW IT TO YOU, MALACHI 3.
HAS GOD BEEN ABLE TO RECORD YOUR CONVERSATIONS TODAY?
WHAT ABOUT AT LUNCH TODAY?
WELL, YOU PROBABLY BEHAVED PRETTY GOOD AT LUNCH TODAY,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU WERE HERE THIS MORNING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, WHAT ABOUT LUNCH A WEEK AGO, HOW WAS THAT ONE?
MALACHI 3:13, "YOUR WORDS HAVE BEEN STRONG AND HARD
AGAINST ME, SAYS THE LORD.
YET YOU SAY, WHAT HAVE WE SPOKEN AGAINST YOU?
WELL, YOU HAVE SAID, IT IS USELESS TO SERVE GOD,
AND WHAT PROFIT IS IT IF WE KEEP HIS ORDINANCES
AND WALK GLOOMILY BEFORE HIM?" VERSE 16, "THEN THOSE WHO FEARED
THE LORD TALKED OFTEN ONE TO ANOTHER--" DO YOU KNOW PEOPLE
WHO HAVE A REVERENTIAL FEAR OF GOD TALK DIFFERENTLY
THAN PEOPLE WHO DON'T?
LOOK AT ME FOR A MINUTE.
I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
GOD HEARS EVERY WORD WE SAY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: MATTER OF FACT, HE EVEN KNOWS WHAT WE'RE GONNA
SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T SAID YET.
HE KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
I REMEMBER A PROCESS THAT I WENT THROUGH AT A JOB THAT I HAD
IN MINISTRY WHERE I FELT LIKE I WASN'T BEING TREATED RIGHT.
AND LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE, THERE WAS A LOT
OF MURMURING AND GRUMBLING AND GOSSIPING GOING ON
BEHIND THE SCENES, AND SO GOD REALLY DEALT WITH ME ABOUT
THAT AND I STOPPED THAT.
I LEARNED THAT THAT WAS WRONG AND I STOPPED THAT.
BUT THEN I WOULD STILL TALK TO DAVE AT HOME ABOUT
THIS THING AND THAT THING.
"YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED.
YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT THIS AND THAT AND SOMETHING ELSE."
AND THEN THE LORD TOOK ME TO A LITTLE DEEPER LEVEL
AND HE SAID, "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO,
IT'S THE WORDS YOU'RE SPEAKING THAT ARE DOING THE DAMAGE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, SOME PEOPLE ARE GETTING THAT.
"WELL, SURELY, I CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY IN MY FAMILY."
WELL, IS IT ANY MORE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN TO SOMEBODY IN YOUR
FAMILY THAN IT IS TO SOMEBODY AT WORK?
"WELL, ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT I CAN'T TALK TO ANYBODY?"
YEAH, YOU CAN TALK TO WHOEVER YOU WANT TO, BUT I'M JUST
SAYING, YOU BETTER FIND SOMETHING DECENT TO SAY IF YOU
WANT YOUR LIFE TO BE BLESSED.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S EVEN A WAY TO TALK ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS
IN A POSITIVE MANNER.
WE CAN LEARN HOW TO SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
THIS IS NOT EASY FOR ME AND IT'S CHALLENGING,
BUT I BELIEVE THAT GOD'S WORKING AND I BELIEVE HE'S GOT A PURPOSE
IN EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS AND KEEP
A GOOD ATTITUDE AND WATCH WHAT GOD WILL DO."
I DON'T WANT TO COMPLAIN AND REMAIN.
I WANT TO PRAISE AND MAKE PROGRESS.
AT MIDNIGHT WHEN PAUL AND SILAS WERE IN JAIL, THEY WEREN'T
COMPLAINING AT MIDNIGHT.
THEY WERE PRAISING GOD AT MIDNIGHT.
AND, PROBABLY, AT MIDNIGHT, THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING
THE JAIL DOORS TO FLY OPEN.
THEY PROBABLY THOUGHT, IN THEIR NATURAL,
"WELL, IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT.
WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST PRAISE GOD ALL NIGHT."
AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY GOT A BREAKTHROUGH.
I BELIEVE A LOT MORE PRAISE, AND MAYBE A LITTLE LESS PETITION,
WILL GET US A LOT MORE ACTIVITY IN OUR LIVES.
"THOSE WHO FEARED THE LORD TALKED OFTEN ONE TO ANOTHER; AND
THE LORD LISTENED AND HEARD IT," I'M IN MALACHI 3:16, "AND A BOOK
OF REMEMBRANCE WAS WRITTEN BEFORE HIM OF THOSE WHO
REVERENCED AND WORSHIPFULLY FEARED THE LORD
AND WHO THOUGHT ON HIS NAME."
BEAUTIFUL.
"IN ALL THINGS GIVE THANKS, FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS."
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO ON PURPOSE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WAIT TO FEEL LIKE IT.
EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE THINGS HAPPEN IN THEIR LIFE
THAT THEY DON'T LIKE AND THAT'S NOT COMFORTABLE, EVERYBODY.
YOU MAY HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN YET TONIGHT THAT YOU'RE
NOT GONNA LIKE AND EVEN THOUGH YOU HEAR THIS MESSAGE, YOU'RE
GONNA BE TEMPTED TO MURMUR.
WELL, I'M TELLING YOU, INSTEAD, OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SAY,
"GOD, I GOT IT.
I WANT TO PASS THIS TEST.
I'M GONNA PASS THIS TEST BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT
AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT, I'M SURE,
THAT IF YOU WERE TRUTHFUL WITH YOURSELF, YOU HAVE DONE
GREAT DAMAGE TO YOUR LIFE, NOT THAT YOU CAN'T RECOVER,
BECAUSE YOU CAN.
BUT YOU'VE DONE GREAT DAMAGE TO RELATIONSHIPS, TO YOUR LIFE.
YOU'VE LOST FRIENDS.
YOU'VE LOST RELATIONSHIPS.
YOU'VE LOST JOBS SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU WOULD NOT CONTROL YOUR WORDS
AND IT'S TIME FOR A TURNAROUND.
ANYBODY CAN BE FORGIVEN BUT ONCE WE HAVE IT
STRAIGHT AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING IS WRONG--I CAN TELL YOU
THE TRUTH, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DANGER IN COMING
TO A MEETING LIKE THIS.
YOU SAY...WHY?
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE IGNORANT, YOU GET A DIFFERENT KIND OF
GRACE THAN WHEN YOU HAVE FULL KNOWLEDGE AND YOU DO IT ANYWAY.
HE WHO KNOWS WHAT IS RIGHT TO DO AND DOES IT NOT, TO HIM,
IT IS SIN.
SO MAYBE BEFORE YOU WERE KIND OF LIKE FOGGY IN THIS AREA.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WELL, I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THAT WAS A BIG PROBLEM."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, I'M DECLARING TO YOU, IT IS A BIG PROBLEM,
A HUGE-O, BIG, NUMBER-ONE PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE'RE LOOKING FOR ALL THESE MEAN,
BIG, BAD DEMONS IN OUR LIFE.
"WELL, THE DEVIL'S THIS AND THE DEVIL'S THAT."
I'M TELLING YOU THAT YOU CAN SEE TREMENDOUS BREAKTHROUGH
IN YOUR LIFE JUST IF YOU WILL GIVE UP COMPLAINING.
LET'S GO ON A FAST.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: LET'S FAST ALL COMPLAINING.
LET'S COMMIT TO A 30-DAY FAST AND HAVE NO COMPLAINING AT
ALL FOR 30 DAYS AND MAYBE AT THE END OF THAT 30 DAYS,
WE'LL HAVE A NEW HABIT.
THEY SAY THAT IT TAKES 21 TO 30 DAYS
TO BREAK OR MAKE A HABIT.
SO HOW ABOUT A WORD FAST?
HOW ABOUT FASTING COMPLAINING?
OH, YOU'LL MAKE MISTAKES.
I'LL MAKE MISTAKES BUT GOD IS SO GOOD.
WE SAY, "GOD, I'M SORRY, HELP ME.
I'M ON A JOURNEY TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO GET THIS MOUTH
IN LINE WITH YOUR WORD.
HELP ME, GOD, PUT A WATCH OVER MY MOUTH LEST I SIN
AGAINST YOU WITH MY TONGUE.
HELP ME, GOD.
LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART
BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT.
AND ABOVE ALL THINGS, GOD, HELP ME NOT TO MURMUR AND COMPLAIN,
BUT TO BE GRATEFUL AND TO BE THANKFUL."
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FIRST CHANGE, PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY GONNA THINK
SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH YOU.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
PEOPLE, GROUCHY, CRANKY, MURMURY, GRUMBLY PEOPLE
ARE DRAWN TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY KNOW
THEY CAN SUCK INTO THEIR NET.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND YOU NEED TO BE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT PEOPLE
WON'T EVEN BOTHER COMING TO YOU.
THEY WON'T EVEN BOTHER COMING TO YOU FOR GOSSIP BECAUSE
THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOUR ATTITUDE'S GONNA BE.
THEY WON'T EVEN BOTHER COMING TO YOU WHEN THEY WANT TO TELL
SOME KIND OF A TALE OR BE IN A ROTTEN MOOD AND COMPLAIN
AND MURMUR ABOUT EVERYTHING.
LET THEM COME TO YOU WHEN THEY WANT TO BE ENCOURAGED.
LET THEM COME TO YOU WHEN THEY WANT TO BE LIFTED UP
AND EDIFIED.
LET THEM COME TO YOU WHEN THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DOWN
AND THEY WANT SOMEBODY TO CHEER THEM UP.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: LET'S BE BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINING OUT CLEARLY
IN A DARK WORLD.
MAKE A DECISION THAT EVERYWHERE YOU GO EVERY DAY, YOU'RE
GONNA SHED A LITTLE BIT OF JOY.
AND I'M NOT SAYING YOU GOTTA BE SOME HAPPY, SLAPPY, GOOFY,
YOU KNOW, "OH, PRAISE THE LORD.
EVERYTHING'S WONDERFUL.
NOTHING'S A PROBLEM.
YEA, YEA, PRAISE THE LORD."
SOMETIMES PEOPLE LIKE THAT GET ON MY NERVES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT IF IT'S REAL AND IT'S GENUINE, IF YOU'RE
SINCERE--IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO TELL YOU A PROBLEM, DON'T SAY,
"OH, DON'T TELL ME THAT, YOU'RE BEING NEGATIVE."
LISTEN TO 'EM, BUT THEN COME BACK WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE.
LISTEN TO 'EM AND THEN SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I KNOW YOU'RE HURTING AND I KNOW IT'S HARD, BUT LET ME TELL YA,
LET ME JUST TELL YA ABOUT SOMETHING GOD DID FOR ME
ONE TIME WHEN I WAS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL DO THE SAME THING FOR YOU.
LET'S PRAY THAT GOD'S GONNA GIVE A BREAKTHROUGH IN YOUR LIFE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD START TO
HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT
WE CAN ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.
SO DON'T GO ABOUT IT THE WRONG WAY, BUT WE NEED TO START
MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES.
COMPLAINING WEAKENS, PRAISE STRENGTHENS.
PRAISE CONFUSES THE DEVIL.
WHEN HE THROWS HIS BEST SHOT AT YOU, AND BY ALL NATURAL
HUMAN REASONING, YOU SHOULD BE MURMURING AND COMPLAINING AND,
INSTEAD, YOU'RE GIVING THANKS AND PRAISING, HE GETS CONFUSED.
I'LL PROVE IT.
2 CHRONICLES 20:22.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING HARD ABOUT THIS MESSAGE TONIGHT.
YOU MAY NOT LOVE IT, BUT YOU DO UNDERSTAND IT
AND YOU WON'T FORGET IT.
2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 20, VERSE 22,
I USE THIS A LOT IN DIFFERENT MESSAGES.
A LITTLE TINY BIT OF BACKGROUND, JEHOSHAPHAT AND HIS PEOPLE
WERE IN THE MIDST OF A BATTLE, A MIGHTY BATTLE, AND GOD
HAD TOLD THEM, "THE BATTLE'S NOT YOURS, IT'S MINE.
STAND STILL AND YOU'LL SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD."
JEHOSHAPHAT BOWED DOWN TO WORSHIP AND HE SENT SINGERS
OUT TO SING AND PRAISERS OUT TO PRAISE.
NOW LOOK AT VERSE 22.
WE'LL JUST READ VERSE 22.
"AND WHEN THEY BEGAN TO SING AND TO PRAISE," NOT WHEN THEY BEGAN
TO MURMUR AND COMPLAIN, BUT "WHEN THEY BEGAN TO SING AND TO
PRAISE, THE LORD SET AMBUSHMENTS AGAINST THE MEN OF AMMON, MOAB,
AND MOUNT SEIR WHO HAD COME AGAINST JUDAH, AND THEY WERE
[SELF-] SLAUGHTERED."
DO YOU SEE THAT?
THE ENEMY GOT SO CONFUSED, THEY KILLED EACH OTHER,
AND GOD'S PEOPLE WENT FREE.
YOU SEE HOW POWERFUL THAT IS?
PRAISE CONFUSES THE ENEMY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ABSOLUTELY CONFUSES THE ENEMY.
THERE'S SO MANY WONDERFUL SCRIPTURES ABOUT
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE.
DO A BIBLE STUDY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE ABOUT
THE POWER OF THANKSGIVING.
NEVER RUN AT YOUR ENEMIES WITH THE WRONG THING IN YOUR MOUTH.
WHEN YOU'VE GOT GIANTS IN YOUR LIFE, BE SURE YOU HANDLE THEM
THE WAY DAVID HANDLED HIS GIANTS.
WHEN DAVID WANTED TO SLAY GOLIATH, AND EVERYBODY AROUND
HIM STARTED GIVING HIM BAD REPORTS, HE DID EXACTLY
WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE.
KING SAUL SAID, "OH, YOU'RE TOO YOUNG.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT."
EVERYBODY ELSE SAID, "YOU DON'T HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT."
PEOPLE LOVE TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN'T DO.
AMEN?
EVERYBODY TOLD ME I COULDN'T DO THIS.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED SOME OF THE STUFF THE PEOPLE
SAID TO ME IN THE BEGINNING AND I REALLY, LOOKING AT IT
IN THE NATURAL, I COULDN'T BLAME THEM.
BUT I'D HEARD FROM GOD AND WHEN YOU HEAR FROM GOD, YOU CAN
DO THINGS THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY ASTONISH YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO DAVID HAD A DEEP RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FROM BEING
OUT AND SHEPHERDING THOSE SHEEP.
AND HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ALONE.
DON'T FEEL SO BAD IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF ALONE TIME
IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW.
DON'T BE TOO QUICK TO WANT TOO MANY FRIENDS.
MAYBE GOD'S GOT YOU IN THAT PLACE BECAUSE HE'S TRAINING YOU
FOR SOMETHING GREAT LATER ON AND YOU NEED TO HAVE THIS TIME
TO GET REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY,
REALLY CLOSE TO HIM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO DAVID HAD GOTTEN CLOSE ENOUGH TO GOD
THAT HE BELIEVED THAT HE COULD SLAY THE GIANT.
AND EVERYBODY SAID, "YOU CAN'T DO THAT."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT DAVID DID RIGHT AWAY?
IT'S IN 1 SAMUEL 17.
HE SAID, "WELL, YOU KNOW ONCE WHEN I WAS OUT, I KILLED A BEAR.
AND ANOTHER TIME, I TOOK HOLD OF A LION BY THE BEARD
AND I KILLED THAT LION.
AND IF I CAN KILL THAT BEAR AND I CAN KILL THAT LION, GOD IS
GONNA HELP ME SLAY THIS GIANT."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE WAY WE NEED TO BEHAVE.
JOYCE: WELL, SOMETIMES WE NEED A REAL BREAKTHROUGH IN OUR
LIFE BUT NOTHING IS MOVING, NOTHING IS HAPPENING AND WE
DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
WELL, OF COURSE, THERE CAN BE A LOT OF THINGS INVOLVED BUT JUST
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER TODAY IS MAYBE YOU'RE COMPLAINING TOO
MUCH AND YOU NEED TO START BEING MORE THANKFUL.
I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF OF THIS ALL THE TIME.
I THINK COMPLAINING IS THE EASIEST THING TO DO.
I SOMETIMES SAY IF I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH ONE DAY WITHOUT
A COMPLAINT, THAT'S GONNA BE A MIRACLE.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR AND I'M TELLING YOU,
GRATITUDE IS POWER, COMPLAINING MAKES YOU WEAKER AND WEAKER.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU SOME GREAT RESOURCES ON THE POWER OF
WORDS, THE "POWER WORDS" BOOK, AND "CHANGE YOUR WORDS, CHANGE
YOUR LIFE" FOUR TEACHINGS ON CD.
I DON'T THINK WE COULD EVER HAVE TOO MUCH TEACHING ABOUT
THE POWER OF OUR WORDS.
AND MAYBE YOU'RE SOMEONE THAT'S NEVER EVEN HEARD HOW POWERFUL
YOUR WORDS ARE.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH
IS IN THE TONGUE AND THOSE WHO INDULGE IT MUST EAT THE FRUIT OF
IT RATHER FOR LIFE OR DEATH.
SO, THAT MEANS THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE SAY, WE ARE MINISTERING
EITHER LIFE OR DEATH, NOT ONLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO HEAR US,
BUT TO OURSELVES AS WELL.
SO REMEMBER, PRAISE IS GONNA RELEASE MORE OF GOD'S BLESSINGS
IN YOUR LIFE.
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.
ANNOUNCER: YOUR WORDS HAVE POWER.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING JOYCE'S SERMON SERIES, "CHANGE YOUR
WORDS, CHANGE YOUR LIFE."
IN 4 HOURS OF TEACHING, JOYCE EXPLAINS HOW DECLARING GOD'S
WORD CAN CHANGE EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
WE'RE ALSO OFFERING JOYCE'S BOOK, "POWER WORDS."
JOYCE SHARES PERSONAL STORIES AND SCRIPTURES TO EXPLAIN HOW
PRAYER AND CHRIST-CENTERED WORDS CAN LEAD TO A JOYFUL LIFE.
THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT OF...OR MORE.
CALL US...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: WELL, THERE'S REALLY NO SPECIAL FORMULA TO SPENDING
TIME WITH GOD.
IT'S JUST VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO IT.
MAKING THIS A PRIORITY WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE LIKE NOTHING
ELSE.
I KNOW IT HAS MINE AND NOW I WANT TO HELP YOU ENRICH YOUR
TIME WITH GOD BY SHARING SOME THOUGHTS AND INSIGHTS FROM MY
OWN LIFE IN MY BRAND-NEW DEVOTIONAL CALLED
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
LET'S FOCUS ON HIM TOGETHER AND MY PRAYER IS THAT THESE
SCRIPTURES AND DECLARATIONS OF FAITH WILL HELP YOU GROW DEEPER
IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST A LITTLE BIT MORE
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ANNOUNCER: ORDER YOUR COPY OF JOYCE'S NEW DEVOTIONAL,
"MY TIME WITH GOD."
CALL...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, DURING THIS SPECIAL SEASON OF THANKFULNESS,
I'D LIKE TO SAY A VERY HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU, OUR FRIENDS
AND PARTNERS.
BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT IN 2017, TOGETHER, WE WERE ABLE
TO HELP PEOPLE IN DESPERATE NEED AND SHARE CHRIST ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
WELL, THIS YEAR, GOD USED YOUR GENEROSITY TO BUILD WATER WELLS
AND CHURCHES IN INDIA AND AFRICA, PROVIDE MILLIONS OF
MEALS AT FEEDING CENTERS IN MANY NATIONS, AND YOU'VE HELPED US
EXPAND OUR CLASSROOMS OF HOPE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND INTO ZAMBIA.
MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, THAT ONCE LIVED IN DEVASTATION NOW
LAUGH AND DANCE BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED CLEAN WATER, NOURISHING
FOOD, AND AN EDUCATION.
TOGETHER THROUGH OUR PROJECT GIRL INITIATIVE,
WE HAVE HELPED WOMEN AND GIRLS UNDERSTAND THEIR
VALUE IN CHRIST AND BUILD NEW LIVES AFTER THE HORRORS OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD WITHOUT ACCESS TO BASIC MEDICAL
CARE RECEIVED HEALING OF THEIR BODY AND SOUL.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO EQUIP AND ENCOURAGE PASTORS IN CHINA,
SHARING THE GOSPEL IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTION.
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES HAND OF HOPE PARTNERED
WITH EAST COAST CHURCHES TO HOLD COMMUNITY OUTREACHES
FOR FAMILIES OF SPECIAL NEEDS, THOSE DEVASTATED
BY TRAGIC FLOODS, RECEIVING HELP REBUILDING, GIVING THEM
MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES.
AND ALSO, PRISONERS RECEIVED BIBLICALLY BASED
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRY RESOURCES REMINDING THEM
THAT THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN AND THAT GOD STILL LOVES
AND CARES FOR THEM.
YOUR SUPPORT HELPS SPREAD THE GOSPEL IN MORE THAN 90 LANGUAGES
AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH OUR MEDIA AND ONLINE CHANNELS.
THOSE DISTANT FROM GOD WILL REMIND YOU THAT GOD STILL HAS
A PLAN FOR THEIR LIFE AND THAT THEY COULD COME BACK HOME
TO HIM.
YOU KNOW, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR ALL THAT HE ALLOWS US TO
BE PART OF AND WE REALIZE THAT WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE ANY OF
THIS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT.
REALLY, THE ONES THAT ARE MOST THANKFUL ARE THE ONES THAT HAD
THEIR BASIC EVERYDAY AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS MET.
SO, ON THEIR BEHALF, I ALSO WANT TO SAY A VERY HEARTFELT THANK
YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND WE THANK GOD FOR EVERY DAY
AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR US TOGETHER AS WE
CONTINUE SHARING CHRIST AND LOVING PEOPLE.
YOU'RE RIGHT THERE WITH US EVERYWHERE THAT WE GO.
GOD BLESS YOU.
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU, FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
TOGETHER, WE'RE SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST AROUND THE WORLD.
TO FIND OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT US ONLINE AT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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