ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: I THINK THAT WE THINK ALL THIS HEARING FROM GOD
IS ALL THIS SUPERNATURAL WHOO, "GOD SAID AND I SAW ANGELS
AND--"
NO, IT'S JUST LIKE, "I NEED TO GO TO BED."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
GINGER: AS WE WALK THROUGH EACH NEW DAY,
WE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE JUST PART OF LIFE.
BUT DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE ANSWERS FOR YOU?
GOD SAYS WHEN WE LOOK, WE'LL FIND THEM.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
SO TOGETHER, WE ARE DISCOVERING LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS.
[MUSIC]
GINGER: HI, EVERYONE.
GREAT QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY ON "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
THIS IS A BIG ONE FOR NEW CHRISTIANS
AND THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR YEARS.
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IT'S DISCUSSED IN THE BIBLE, YOU HEAR ABOUT IT AT CHURCH,
BUT HAVE YOU EVER ASKED THE QUESTION, AS MANY OF US HAVE,
"WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?"
[MUSIC]
FEMALE: WELL, WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
IT WAS A NEBULOUS IDEA.
I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT WAS.
FEMALE: I WAS BROUGHT TO THE LORD BY MY HUSBAND
AND SO HE HAD SAID, "OH, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BEING
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT?"
AND I KNEW--I SAID, "WHY CAN'T I JUST BELIEVE
IN JESUS?"
MALE: I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A GHOST MADE OUT OF WATER
OR SOMETHING.
HOLY WATER OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT, BUT I THOUGHT
IT WAS SOMETHING WEIRD.
GINGER: LOVE THAT LITTLE GUY.
HE HAS SOME INTERESTING IDEAS.
SO RIGHT NOW, TO GET OUR ANSWERS,
LET'S JOIN JOYCE IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,
AS SHE ANSWERS OUR QUESTION TODAY,
"WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HOW DO I FOLLOW HIM?"
JOYCE: FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORD TONIGHT
AND THIS WEEKEND AND IN TEACHING ON THE AMAZING
WONDERFUL HOLY SPIRIT WE APPROACH THE SUBJECT
WITH REVERENTIAL FEAR, NOT WANTING TO MISREPRESENT
IN ANY WAY BUT TO JUST GIVE HONOR TO THE FATHER, THE SON,
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TONIGHT AND TO BRING A GREATER AWARENESS
OF HIS PRESENT-DAY MINISTRY IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
SO I ASK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND FOR PEOPLE TO LISTEN
AND EVEN IF THEY NEED TO BE, TO BE OPEN TO NEW THINKING
IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN.
WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST START WITH A SCRIPTURE, JOHN 15:26:
"BUT WHEN THE COMFORTER (THE COUNSELOR, THE HELPER,
THE ADVOCATE, THE INTERCESSOR, THE STRENGTHENER, THE STANDBY)
COMES, WHOM I WILL SEND TO YOU FROM THE FATHER,
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH WHO COMES (AND PROCEEDS)
FROM THE FATHER, HE [HIMSELF]
WILL TESTIFY REGARDING ME."
NOW IN THIS ONE SCRIPTURE WE SEE THE TRINITY AS WELL AS IN MANY,
MANY OTHER SCRIPTURES THROUGHOUT THE WORD OF GOD.
WE SEE THE TRINITY.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW WE SERVE A TRIUNE GOD: ONE GOD
BUT MANIFESTED IN THREE PERSONS OR PERSONALITIES.
THE TRINITY IS REALLY THE PERFECT EXAMPLE
OF TRUE UNITY BECAUSE IN THE TRINITY
THERE'S NO JEALOUSY, THERE'S NO COMPETITION,
THEY'RE ALL FOR EACH OTHER AND ALL ABOUT
GLORIFYING EACH OTHER.
SO IN HERE WE SEE THAT HE COMES FROM THE FATHER
AND HE'LL TESTIFY "REGARDING ME."
THE ME IS JESUS BECAUSE IT'S JESUS TALKING HERE.
AND IT'S TALKING ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS IT STARTS OUT
AT THE VERY BEGINNING AND SAYS: "LET US, FATHER, SON,
AND HOLY SPIRIT, MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE."
SO WHETHER YOU UNDERSTAND THE TRINITY OR NOT,
WELL, LET'S JUST DON'T EVEN SAY IT LIKE THAT.
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE TRINITY.
SO--AND I WILL TELL YOU THE MORE THAT YOU WOULD TRY
TO FIGURE THAT OUT, THE MORE CONFUSED
YOU SHOULD GET.
SO THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THE WORD THAT WE MUST COME
LIKE A LITTLE CHILD AND I DO BELIEVE IT.
IT'S AMAZING TO ME THE THINGS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
CAN ENABLE US TO BELIEVE IN OUR HEART THAT IF YOU GOT
INTO YOUR MIND WITH IT, WOULDN'T MAKE ONE BIT
OF SENSE AT ALL.
YOU AGREE WITH THAT?
I MEAN, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT JESUS
ACTUALLY DIED ON A CROSS AND--
I MEAN, HOW DO WE KNOW?
WE DIDN'T SEE IT. WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT WE BELIEVE IT AND WE BELIEVE IT
STRONGLY ENOUGH THAT MOST OF US WOULD LAY DOWN OUR LIVES
FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE.
AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WE SERVE A TRIUNE GOD AND THAT WE NEED
TO BE AWARE OF EACH ONE.
WE NEED TO WORSHIP EACH ONE.
WE NEED TO FELLOWSHIP WITH EACH ONE,
AS WE'RE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE NEED TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A PERSON.
NOT A PERSON LIKE WE ARE BUT A PERSON.
AND I SAY THAT HE'S A PERSON BECAUSE HE HAS ALL THE TRAITS
OF PERSONALITY.
EVERYTHING THAT MAKES A PERSON A PERSON, HE HAS IT.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT AN "IT."
HE'S NOT AN INFLUENCE.
HE DOES INFLUENCE US BUT HE'S MUCH MORE
THAN AN INFLUENCE.
HE'S NOT JUST A POWER OR A PRESENCE ALTHOUGH
HE DOES ALL THOSE THINGS.
HE IS A PERSON.
HE HAS KNOWLEDGE, HE HAS A MIND.
HE THINKS, HE KNOWS THINGS.
HE HAS FEELING AND HE HAS WILL.
AND I WANNA JUST SHARE A COUPLE SCRIPTURES WITH YOU
JUST TO VERIFY MY POINT.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:11: "FOR WHAT PERSON PERCEIVES
(KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS) WHAT PASSES THROUGH
A MAN'S THOUGHTS EXCEPT THE MAN'S OWN SPIRIT
WITHIN HIM?"
SO I CAN LOOK AT YOU AND YOU CAN BE SITTING THERE
SMILING AT ME BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY
MEAN THAT YOU'RE PAYING ONE BIT OF ATTENTION
TO WHAT I'M SAYING.
YOU COULD BE THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW IT BUT YOUR SPIRIT KNOWS IT.
YOU--YOU KNOW.
THE INNER PART OF YOU KNOWS.
WELL, IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO FULLY KNOWS THE MIND OF GOD.
SO WHEN WE PRAY TO KNOW THE MIND OF GOD ON SOMETHING,
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS LIVING IN US AND HE'S THE ONE THAT WILL REVEAL
THE MIND OF GOD TO US.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO, QUOTE, "HEARING FROM GOD" OR BEING
"LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT," WE TALK A LOT ABOUT
THE STILL SMALL VOICE OR MANY TIMES
WHEN GOD SPEAKS TO YOU IT'S GONNA SOUND
LIKE YOUR OWN THOUGHTS.
BUT THERE'S A DIFFERENT UMPH ON IT.
THERE'S A DIFFERENT EMPHASIS ON IT.
WHEN YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT FILLING YOUR LIFE,
YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE A GREATER AND A DIFFERENT LEVEL
OF COMMUNICATION WITH GOD THAN WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE
WITHOUT THAT.
GINGER: NOW THAT WE'VE LEARNED WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS,
JOYCE IS GOING TO SHARE HOW WE CAN FOLLOW HIM.
BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE HERE
BECAUSE WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU.
YOU'VE ANSWERED THESE QUESTIONS FOR US.
YOU'VE SENT IN THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA SOME IDEAS
OF WHAT YOU FIRST THOUGHT ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT,
SO TAKE A LISTEN TO THIS.
ERIN FROM FLORIDA SAYS, "I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.
I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD IN KINDERGARTEN
AT A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.
ONE MORNING, THE TEACHER TOLD US TO LOOK UP AT A RED LANTERN
THAT HUNG FROM THE CEILING.
SHE TOLD US THAT WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND THAT HE WAS WATCHING US SO WE BETTER NOT MISBEHAVE.
I WAS TERRIFIED.
I'M 51 NOW AND I WILL CARRY THAT MEMORY WITH ME
MY ENTIRE LIFE."
WELL, I GUESS THAT'S ONE THING TO GET OVER FOR YOUR LIFE
SO THAT YOU DON'T CARRY THAT FOREVER.
NICOL FROM NORTH CAROLINA SAYS, "WHEN I DIDN'T KNOW ANY BETTER,
I THOUGHT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS A GHOST ENTERING PEOPLE
TO MAKE THEM LOOK, TALK, AND DANCE CRAZY.
UNTIL THAT ONE GREAT DAY WHEN GOD SAVED MY SOUL
AND TOUCHED ME WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT,"
AND THEN SHE UNDERSTOOD.
ONE MORE HERE FROM MEXICO.
IT SAYS: "I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE A FISH TANK.
THE FATHER BEING THE TANK THAT HOLDS EVERYTHING TOGETHER;
JESUS, THE WATER; AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE OXYGEN IN THE PUMP."
THAT'S REALLY KIND OF AN INTERESTING CONCEPT.
SHE SAYS SORRY, THAT SHE LOVED FISH
WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE BUT NOW THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS
THAT GOD'S PRESENCE IS THE BEAUTIFUL HOLY SPIRIT
IN HER LIFE, GUIDING HER.
SO WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN.
NO WORRIES THERE.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS VERY THING.
SO NOW, LET'S JOIN JOYCE IN ST. LOUIS AS SHE ANSWERS
THE SECOND PART OF OUR QUESTION: "HOW CAN WE BE LED
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT?"
JOYCE: IN 2 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 3, VERSE 8,
PAUL SAID THAT IT WAS HIS JOB AS A MINISTER TO CAUSE PEOPLE
TO OBTAIN AND BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
HE SAYS, "WHY SHOULD NOT THE DISPENSATION OF THE SPIRIT
[THIS SPIRITUAL MINISTRY WHOSE TASK IT IS TO CAUSE MEN
TO OBTAIN AND BE GOVERNED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT] BE ATTENDED
WITH MUCH GREATER GLORY THAN WHEN THE LAW WAS GIVEN?"
THINK ABOUT THAT.
IT'S MY JOB, AND I BELIEVE ANY MINISTER'S JOB,
TO TEACH PEOPLE, OF COURSE, ALL OF THE WORD OF GOD
BUT TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE A LIFE WHERE THEY'RE
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT ALL THE TIME.
LITERALLY, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT ALL THE TIME.
AND I WANNA ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU,
ALL THROUGHOUT THIS WEEKEND AND REALLY
EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE, TO PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE FILLED
TO OVERFLOWING WITH THE PRESENCE AND THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
LET ME TELL YOU THE WORLD IS IN DESPERATE SHAPE
AND WHEN PEOPLE GET AROUND A BELIEVER
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OVERFLOW COMING OUT OF OUR LIFE
THAT'S GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND I WANNA HAVE THAT OVERFLOW IN MY LIFE TO WHERE
I DON'T EVEN REALLY HAVE TO PREACH
TO ANYBODY NECESSARILY AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
LIKE I'M DOING TONIGHT BUT WHEN I GO TO THE DRUGSTORE
OR WHEN I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE,
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE.
AND I BELIEVE IT'S MY JOB, AS A MINISTER,
TO TEACH YOU THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF THE WORD OF GOD
BUT PARTICULARLY TO KNOW ABOUT THE WONDERFUL MINISTRY
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WHEN JESUS ASCENDED, HE SAID HE WAS GONNA SEND
THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HE SAID, "YOU'RE ACTUALLY
GONNA BE BETTER OFF IF I GO AWAY BECAUSE WHEN I GO AWAY
I'M GONNA SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT."
WELL, JESUS COULD ONLY BE ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME
'CAUSE HE WAS IN A BODY LIKE WE ARE BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS IN ALL OF US, WORKING THROUGH ALL OF US
ALL THE TIME, EVERYWHERE, ALL OVER THE EARTH.
NO WONDER JESUS SAID, "YOU'LL DO THE THINGS
THAT I'VE DONE AND GREATER THINGS
THAN THESE SHALL YOU DO."
ONE OF US ALONE MAY NOT DO GREATER THINGS
BUT ALL OF US, WORKING TOGETHER, AS ONE CAN DO GREATER THINGS
THAN EVEN JESUS DID BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS IN ALL OF US, WORKING.
SO WE WANT TO OBTAIN AND BE FILLED WITH
AND LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
NOW, YOU KNOW THIS THING ABOUT BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS A PRETTY MAJOR THING.
AND I CAN TELL YOU, I WAS A CHRISTIAN
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND I MEAN, EVEN ONE
WHO LOVED GOD AND WENT TO CHURCH REGULARLY
AND I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BEING LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
NOBODY--I WAS LED BY ME.
I WAS LED BY JOYCE, WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
AND THAT'S CALLED CARNAL CHRISTIANITY.
THAT'S WHAT PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT
WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WERE CARNAL.
BUT WHEN WE LEARN HOW TO BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US OUT OF BONDAGE INTO VICTORY.
HE SHOWS US WHAT TO DO WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS AND SITUATIONS.
HE LEADS US IN GREAT BIG, SPIRITUAL, MAJOR,
LIFE-CHANGING DECISIONS AND HE LEADS US IN LITTLE TINY,
EVERYDAY THINGS THAT WOULDN'T PROBABLY
MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ANYBODY OTHER THAN YOU.
WE NEED TO HAVE THAT KIND OF A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
SO HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO BE FILLED AND LED
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT."
NOW, 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5, VERSES 22, 23, AND 24.
FIRST OF ALL, HE SAYS, "ABSTAIN FROM EVIL
[SHRINK FROM IT, KEEP ALOOF FROM IT]
IN WHATEVER FORM OR WHATEVER KIND IT MAY BE.
AND MAY THE GOD OF PEACE HIMSELF SANCTIFY YOU THROUGH AND THROUGH
[SEPARATE YOU FROM PROFANE THINGS,
MAKE YOU PURE AND WHOLLY CONSECRATED TO GOD];
AND MAY YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR SOUL AND YOUR BODY,"
NOW GET THAT.
MAY YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR SOUL AND YOUR BODY.
MAY YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR SOUL AND YOUR BODY.
ONE MORE TIME: MAY YOUR SPIRIT AND YOUR SOUL
AND YOUR BODY "BE PRESERVED SOUND AND COMPLETE
[AND FOUND] BLAMELESS AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
(THE MESSIAH)."
AND VERSE 24: "FAITHFUL IS HE WHO IS CALLING YOU [TO HIMSELF]
AND UTTERLY TRUSTWORTHY, AND HE WILL ALSO DO IT
[FULFILL HIS CALL BY HALLOWING AND KEEPING YOU]"
NOW, I THINK IF WE'RE EVER GONNA NOT BE MAD AT OURSELVES
MOST OF THE TIME, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND OURSELVES
A LITTLE BIT BETTER MAYBE THAN WHAT WE DO,
BECAUSE DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN WANT
TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE SAME TIME?
ONE OF 'EM RIGHT, AND ONE OF 'EM WRONG.
AND YOU THINK, "WHAT IN THE WORLD
IS MY PROBLEM?
I WANNA GET UP AND GO TO CHURCH TOMORROW.
I DON'T WANNA GET UP AND GO TO CHURCH TOMORROW."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "I DON'T WANNA EAT THAT HOT FUDGE SUNDAE.
I WANT TO EAT THAT HOT FUDGE SUNDAE.
I WANT TO FORGIVE YOU.
I WANT TO STAY MAD AT YOU THE REST OF MY LIFE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IS THIS.
THESE ARE OUR LITTLE FRIENDS THIS WEEKEND.
BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT.
AIN'T THAT CUTE?
WE GOT A LITTLE LIGHT IN THE SPIRIT.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF SWEET.
SO WHEN WE'RE BORN AGAIN, THIS PART OF US,
THE SPIRIT PART OF US, WHICH IS THE DEEPEST PART
OF OUR BEING, IS MADE HOLY.
WE'RE ALL CLEANED UP INSIDE BECAUSE GOD CAN'T BE ANYWHERE
THAT'S NOT HOLY.
SO IN ORDER FOR HIM TO COME AND LIVE IN US,
HE HAS TO CLEAN THE PLACE UP BEFORE HE CAN COME
AND LIVE IN THERE.
I LIKE TO SAY IT LIKE THIS.
I LIKE TO SAY THAT WHEN WE'RE BORN AGAIN,
WE BECOME PREGNANT WITH A SEED OF EVERYTHING THAT GOD IS.
WE GET A NEW NATURE.
GOD COMES TO LIVE IN US AND WE LITERALLY HAVE EVERYTHING
THAT WE NEED SPIRITUALLY TO GROW AND MATURE AND BE
ALL THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE.
SO HE SAYS, "I'LL SANCTIFY YOU, SPIRIT, BUT WHAT ABOUT
THIS GUY HERE, THE SOUL?
AND THEN WHAT ABOUT--
SEE, WE DECKED HER ALL OUT.
ISN'T THAT GREAT?
THE BODY.
AND WE DIDN'T--COULDN'T FIND A WAY TO DO IT
BUT ACTUALLY THE BODY JUST LOVES TO DO--
GET ALL THIS ON AND THEN LOOK AT ITSELF.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: JUST--DON'T YOU LOVE IT?
BUT THIS SOUL--
I'M TELLING YOU WHAT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME
IF I WOULDN'T HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND MY SOUL
AND THE WAY I WAS PUT TOGETHER.
I WAS BEING TOLD EVERYTHING THAT I HAD
AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS AVAILABLE TO ME BUT NONE OF IT
SEEMED TO BE WORKING IN MY LIFE AND I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS WRONG.
I WAS HEARING ABOUT THE PROMISES OF GOD
AND HOW I COULD HAVE ALL THESE THINGS BY FAITH
AND I WAS JUST STRUGGLING SO HARD TO TRY TO DO
EVERY MESSAGE THAT I WOULD HEAR WHEN I WAS OUT
HEARING TEACHINGS.
AND FINALLY, I UNDERSTOOD THAT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
IS MINE INITIALLY IS WHAT I HAVE IN CHRIST.
BUT IF IT NEVER GETS OUT OF MY SPIRIT
INTO MY SOUL, AND ULTIMATELY MAKES IT ALL THE WAY
THROUGH MY BODY TO WHERE PEOPLE CAN SEE IT,
THEN I MAY BE OKAY BUT I'M NOT GONNA HELP
ANYBODY ELSE.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR ANYBODY ELSE.
AND SO IT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO ME IN UNDERSTANDING MYSELF
TO REALIZE THAT MY SOUL, AND WE ALL HAVE ONE, IS MY MIND,
MY WILL, AND MY EMOTIONS.
YOUR SOUL TELLS YOU WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT YOU THINK,
AND HOW YOU FEEL.
IT DOESN'T TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT GOD.
IT TELLS YOU ALL ABOUT YOU.
SO YOUR SPIRIT CAN BE LEADING YOU, SAY,
TO GET UP AND GO TO CHURCH OR TO GIVE AWAY SOMETHING
OR TO APOLOGIZE TO SOMEBODY OR DO A FAVOR FOR SOMEBODY.
AND SO IN THIS PART OF YOU, THE NEW NATURE PART OF YOU,
YOU REALLY DO WANNA DO IT.
YOU LOVE GOD AND YOU WANNA DO IT.
BUT THEN YOUR SOUL SAYS, "I DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO AND, FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
AFTER ALL, THEY REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN VERY NICE TO YOU.
WHY SHOULD YOU DO THAT?"
SO THEN ALL THE REASONING KICKS IN
ABOUT WHY YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO DO THAT
AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOUR BODY JUST WANTS TO LAY DOWN
AND HAVE A NAP OR WATCH A SOAP OPERA
OR EAT A DOUGHNUT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO YOU'VE GOTTA UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY IS ONLY ABLE TO DO
WHAT YOU TRAIN IT TO DO.
IT CAN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE.
IT'S JUST REALLY KIND OF, TO BE HONEST, KIND OF STUPID
UNLESS YOU TRAIN IT AND KEEP IT UNDER ALL THE TIME.
NO WONDER PAUL SAID, "I BUFFET MY BODY,"
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, SISTERS, HE DID NOT SAY,
"I BUFFET MY BODY."
HE SAID, "I BUFFET MY BODY."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SAME SPELLING, EMPHASIS IN A DIFFERENT PLACE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT OUR PART
IS TO LEARN HOW TO LET THE HOLY SPIRIT LEAD US AND
WHEN WE SENSE THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADING US TO DO
OR NOT TO DO SOMETHING, WE DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT WITH IT.
WE JUST SIMPLY NEED TO YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE JUST SIMPLY NEED TO SAY, "PHEW, OKAY, YOU'RE SMARTER
THAN I AM, BEEN AROUND THIS MOUNTAIN
100 TIMES.
WHY DO I WANNA JUST INSIST ON HAVING MY WAY
AND GO AROUND THE MOUNTAIN ONE MORE TIME?
WHY NOT JUST BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE SMARTER THAN I AM,
THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND JUST LET IT GO?"
BUT WE'RE A BIT STUBBORN, AREN'T WE, SOMETIMES?
AREN'T WE JUST A LITTLE BIT STUBBORN SOMETIMES?
MAYBE NONE OF YOU, BUT I KNOW I'M STUBBORN SOMETIMES.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE AGENT IN SANCTIFICATION.
AND WHEN THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT SANCTIFICATION,
ALTHOUGH WE ARE ALREADY SANCTIFIED IN SPIRIT,
IT'S TALKING ABOUT OUR COMPLETE SANCTIFICATION: SPIRIT--
IN OTHER WORDS, GOD WANTS TO, IF I CAN JUST PUT IT LIKE THIS.
HE DOESN'T WANNA JUST BE KEPT IN THIS LITTLE SPIRITUAL BOX.
HE DOESN'T WANNA JUST LIVE IN THIS LITTLE SUNDAY MORNING,
SPIRITUAL BOX WHERE WE LET HIM OUT
ON SUNDAY MORNING FOR 45 MINUTES AND THEN WALK AWAY
AND THE REST OF THE WEEK WE'VE GOT A BUMPER STICKER
ON OUR CAR AND A CROSS AROUND OUR NECK
BUT WE DO EXACTLY WHAT WE PLEASE AND WHAT WE FEEL LIKE
ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S NOT GOD'S GOAL FOR OUR LIFE.
HIS GOAL IS THAT WE FEED OUR SPIRIT MAN
WITH THE WORD OF GOD WHICH THEN BEGINS
TO RENEW OUR MIND AND THEN THAT WORD
BEGINS TO ACT IN OUR LIVES.
IT CHANGES OUR MIND.
IT CHANGES OUR WILL AND IT BEGINS TO CONTROL
OUR EMOTIONS.
BUT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT US SAYING, "YES, LORD,
THAT'S WHAT I WANT IN MY LIFE."
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US IN SO MANY THINGS.
MANY OF YOU THAT ARE SICK AND DON'T FEEL GOOD,
IF YOU WOULD JUST LISTEN TO WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
TELLS YOU, THERE ARE PROBABLY A DOZEN SIMPLE FIXES
IN YOUR LIFE: QUIT DRINKING COLA ALL THE TIME,
START DRINKING WATER.
"WELL, BLEH, I DON'T WANNA DO THAT."
WELL THEN, KEEP FEELING BAD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HEARING FROM GOD MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A KNOWING
ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T DO.
I THINK THAT WE THINK ALL THIS HEARING FROM GOD
IS ALL THIS SUPERNATURAL WHOO, "GOD SAID AND I SAW ANGELS
AND--"
NO, IT'S JUST LIKE, "I NEED TO GO TO BED."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU GUYS ARE GETTING A LITTLE SQUIRMY IN YOUR SEATS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HERE'S THE THING.
MAN, IF GOD WOULD GIVE ME THE GRACE TO SOME WAY, SOMEHOW,
BE ABLE TO PUSH ALL OF YOU THIS WEEKEND
TO REALLY MAKE A COMMITMENT TO LEAVE HERE
AND BE LED BY THE SPIRIT.
MAN, IF I COULD JUST GET YOU TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WOW, TO JUST LEAVE HERE AND SAY,
"MAN, GOD, I BELONG TO YOU.
BOY, YOU PAID A TREMENDOUS PRICE FOR ME, AND I'VE GOT EVERYTHING
I NEED IN MY SPIRIT.
I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED INSIDE OF ME FOR A GREAT LIFE.
I'VE GOT ALL THESE WONDERFUL PROMISES.
NOW, I JUST--I WANNA GROW IN HEARING FROM YOU."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
AS YOU GROW IN HEARING FROM GOD, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE SOME MISTAKES.
THAT'S PART OF HOW YOU LEARN.
SOMETIMES YOU THINK YOU'RE HEARING SOMETHING FROM GOD
AND IT'S NOT GOD AND YOU GO DO SOME DUMB THING,
GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE.
BUT YOU'RE JUST, LIKE, "WELL, GOD, THAT WASN'T YOU.
I WON'T DO THAT AGAIN."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
THE HOLY SPIRIT CARES ABOUT EVERY--TO ME,
THIS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS INTIMATE
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, IS THAT HE CARES ABOUT
EVERYTHING THAT CONCERNS YOU, EVERYTHING.
MY DAUGHTER MAKES THIS CHILI THAT I REALLY LIKE
AND SO I THOUGHT, "MAN, I WONDER IF LAURIE
WOULD MAKE ME SOME CHILI TODAY?"
WELL, SHE'S GOT FOUR TEENAGERS AND I'M THINKING,
"I DON'T NEED TO BE CALLING HER ASKING HER TO MAKE ME CHILI.
SHE'S GOT ENOUGH GOING ON IN HER LIFE SO, NO,
I'LL JUST--
I'D SURE LIKE TO HAVE IT, LORD, BUT I DON'T WANNA BOTHER HER."
THIRTY MINUTES LATER, SHE CALLED.
"I WAS JUST WONDERING THIS MORNING,
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO MAKE YOU SOME CHILI TODAY?"
WHOA, HOLY GHOST, YES, HALLELUJAH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU CAN THINK WHAT YOU WANT TO.
THAT KIND OF STUFF SOMETIMES MEANS MORE TO ME
BECAUSE THAT LETS ME KNOW THAT GOD CARES ABOUT
EVERY LITTLE THING THAT CONCERNS ME.
EVERY LITTLE THING THAT CONCERNS ME.
GOD CARES ABOUT EVERY LITTLE THING THAT CONCERNS YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OKAY, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE
YOU WALKED IN HERE WITH IT, BEEN HANGING ON TO IT
A LONG TIME AND YOU KNOW THAT GOD
IS TALKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE READY TO SAY
IT'S TIME FOR ME TO YIELD AND SURRENDER THAT THING TO GOD.
I DON'T WANNA TAKE IT HOME, JOYCE.
I WANNA GIVE IT TO GOD BEFORE I LEAVE HERE?
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD SAY THAT'S YOU?
WELL THEN, I GOT THE RIGHT CROWD AT THE RIGHT TIME, DON'T I?
IF THAT'S YOU, LET'S STAND UP.
WE'RE GONNA PRAY RIGHT NOW A PRAYER OF SURRENDER.
THIS IS ACTUALLY QUITE BEAUTIFUL 'CAUSE YOU KNOW
WHAT THIS SAYS TO ME?
PROGRESS.
GOD THINKS THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
HE'S NOT MAD AT US BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING
WE NEED TO YIELD.
HE THINKS IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
SO NOW I'M GONNA PRAY A PRAYER AND I WANT YOU TO JUST AGREE
WITH ME FOR YOUR OWN LIFE.
"FATHER, WE BRING WHATEVER THESE SITUATIONS ARE TO YOU TONIGHT.
WE CAN'T FIX OUR OWN PROBLEMS.
WE CAN'T FIND ENOUGH METHODS.
WE CAN'T FIND ENOUGH PLANS.
WE CAN'T MAKE UP ENOUGH STRATEGIES
TO EVER SET OURSELVES FREE.
BUT IF WE WILL JUST SURRENDER TO YOU AND YIELD, SIMPLY LET IT GO,
AND YIELD TO YOU.
ALTHOUGH THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WON'T FEEL ANY PAIN
IN OUR SOUL, IT DOES MEAN THAT YOU'LL HAVE
ANOTHER LITTLE PART OF US THAT YOU CAN WORK THROUGH.
SO GOD, WE CHOOSE TONIGHT TO SURRENDER, TO YIELD.
WE LEAVE IT, WE LET IT GO.
NOW GIVE US THE GRACE, GOD, TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH
WITH THIS THING AND DO IT YOUR WAY,
IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN."
EVERYBODY GIVE GOD A BIG PRAISE.
[MUSIC]
GINGER: WELL, WE'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF YOU
WHAT YOU THOUGHT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS ALL ABOUT SO WE DECIDED NEXT
TO ASK SOME OF YOU HOW HAS FOLLOWING HIM
CHANGED YOUR LIFE.
MALE: WELL, I FEEL LIKE THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US WISDOM
BECAUSE HE, LIKE--IT'S LIKE, I KNOW, LIKE, SOMETIMES
HE GOES INTO YOU AND SPEAKS FOR YOU.
SO HE GIVES YOU ALL THE WISDOM 'CAUSE HE IS WISDOM.
MALE: IT'S HELPED ME BE MORE PATIENT,
ESPECIALLY IN WHAT JOYCE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THIS WEEKEND, STRESSFUL SITUATIONS.
FEMALE: I HAVE TASTED THE PEACE THAT REALLY DOES COME
AS A REWARD OF ALLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FLOW
AND LEAD ME AND FOR ME TO CHOOSE TO FOLLOW HIS DIRECTION
AND PURPOSE MORE SO TO DO WHAT HE WANTS ME TO DO SO THAT
I CAN CONTINUE TO WALK IN AND LIVE AND ENJOY
IN THAT PERPETUAL PEACE.
GINGER: KNOWING WHO THE HOLY SPIRIT IS
AND LISTENING TO HIM.
AND THE NEXT STEP, OF COURSE, BEING OBEDIENT, IS REALLY KEY
TO OUR WALK WITH CHRIST.
OUR RELATIONSHIP IS REALLY TRANSFORMED WHEN WE ALLOW THE
HOLY SPIRIT TO BE PART OF IT.
I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU WHAT IT'S DONE IN MY LIFE
PERSONALLY AND THIS TEACHING IS SO HELPFUL BY JOYCE.
IT'S CALLED "LEARNING TO BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT."
IT'S A FOUR-CD SET OR YOU CAN GET THE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD
AND GOD'S WORD TELLS US HOW WE CAN HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
BE A PART OF OUR LIFE EVERY DAY, HOW WE CAN HEAR HIS VOICE,
LISTEN, AND OBEY.
SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PICK THIS UP TODAY.
SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE AND ALSO, WHEN YOU DO,
WE SAY THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE HELPING OUT
THE MINISTRY OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOIN IN THE CONVERSATION AND SHARE WITH US
THE MOST INTERESTING STORY ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT'S
LEADERSHIP IN YOUR LIFE NEXT.
SO MAKE SURE YOU GO ONLINE, GO TO JOYCE MEYER'S
FACEBOOK PAGE WHICH IS JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
OR USE THE #EA AND LET US KNOW HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS HELPING YOU.
WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, CHECK OUT JOYCE'S ARTICLE, IT'S FREE,
ABOUT FOLLOWING THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IT'S ON OUR "EVERYDAY ANSWERS" PAGE.
AND, OF COURSE, JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE DISCOVER
THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION: "HOW CAN I HAVE MORE PEACE
AND BE MORE PATIENT?"
WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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