If we love the way God loves, we’ll love others when there’s nothing in it for us. Be encouraged by scriptures and stories about the importance of walking in love, on Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer.
ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: 2 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 3.
FATHER, WE’RE SO GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR WORD, AND I PRAY THAT EACH
OF US WILL APPROACH IT TONIGHT
WITH MEEKNESS, KNOWING THAT WE
NEED ALL OF IT, THAT IT’S JUST
FOR US, AND I PRAY THAT
YOUR WORD WOULD RENEW OUR MINDS
AND CHANGE OUR LIVES.
IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.
“BUT UNDERSTAND THIS,
THAT IN THE LAST DAYS WILL COME
(AND SET IN) PERILOUS TIMES OF
GREAT STRESS AND TROUBLE [HARD
TO DEAL WITH AND HARD TO BEAR].
FOR PEOPLE WILL BE
LOVERS OF SELF
AND [UTTERLY] SELF-CENTERED.”
NOW, I’D LIKE TO SAY THAT WE’RE
ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE WORLD OUT
THERE AND THAT WE’RE NOT TALKING
AT ALL ABOUT THE CHURCH
OR ANY CHRISTIANS, BUT I THINK
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL
A FEW SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED
CHRISTIANS HANGING AROUND, AMEN?
I KNOW IT’S NOT YOU.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I’M WELL AWARE THAT
IT’S NOT YOU, BUT WE JUST WANT
TO PRAY FOR ALL THOSE SELFISH,
SELF-CENTERED CHRISTIANS THAT
STILL NEED TO GET A REVELATION
ABOUT DYING TO SELF
AND LIVING FOR GOD.
“THEY’RE LOVERS OF MONEY AROUSED
BY AN INORDINATE [GREEDY]
DESIRE FOR WEALTH, PROUD AND
ARROGANT, CONTEMPTUOUS BOASTERS,
ABUSIVE, (BLASPHEMOUS,
SCOFFING), DISOBEDIENT
TO PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL,
UNHOLY AND PROFANE.
[THEY WILL BE] WITHOUT
NATURAL [HUMAN] AFFECTION
(CALLOUS AND INHUMAN).”
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?
WHEN PEOPLE ARE CALLOUS,
THEY CAN LOOK AT NEEDS AND NOT
FEEL AT ALL THAT THEY SHOULD
BE THE ONE THAT TRIES
TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SOMEBODY ELSE SHOULD ALWAYS
DO SOMETHING, BUT SOMEHOW
OR ANOTHER, IT’S NEVER THEM.
“THEY WILL (ADMIT TO NO TRUCE
OR APPEASEMENT); [THEY’RE]
SLANDERERS, (FALSE ACCUSERS,
TROUBLEMAKERS), INTEMPERATE,
LOOSE IN MORALS AND CONDUCT,
UNCONTROLLED AND FIERCE,
HATERS OF ALL THAT IS GOOD.”
NOW, THANKFULLY, THIS IS GONNA
BE OVER IN TWO MORE VERSES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ‘CAUSE I’LL
GUARANTEE YOU,
THIS IS NOT A VERY HAPPY WAY
TO START A CONFERENCE.
“[THEY WILL BE] TREACHEROUS
[BETRAYERS], RASH, [AND]
INFLATED WITH SELF-CONCEIT.
[THEY WILL BE] LOVERS
OF SENSUAL PLEASURES AND
VAIN AMUSEMENTS MORE THAN
AND RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD.
FOR [ALTHOUGH]
THEY HOLD A FORM OF PIETY
(TRUE RELIGION), THEY DENY
AND REJECT AND ARE STRANGERS
TO THE POWER OF IT.”
NOW, LET’S JUST STOP RIGHT
THERE, “FOR [ALTHOUGH]
THEY HOLD A FORM OF RELIGION,
THEY DENY THE POWER
OF THAT RELIGION.”
WELL, WHAT IS THE REAL POWER
OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE?
IT’S THE LOVE MESSAGE.
IT’S THE ONE THING THAT JESUS
SAID, “I’M GONNA GIVE YOU
AS A NEW COMMANDMENT, ONE NEW
COMMANDMENT, LOVE ONE ANOTHER
JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU.
BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW
THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES.”
YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN THINK WE NEED
SOMEBODY TO LOVE US, BUT REALLY
WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEBODY
TO LOVE, AND EVERYBODY
CAN FIND THAT.
THERE’S NOBODY IN THE WHOLE
WORLD THAT CAN’T FIND SOMEBODY
TO LOVE, BECAUSE THE WHOLE WORLD
IS DESPERATE TO BE LOVED.
NOW, YOU’RE LOOKING AT ME
KIND OF, LIKE, “HMM,
WONDER WHERE THIS IS GOING?”
SO LET ME JUST TELL
YOU SOMETHING.
I WROTE A BOOK 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO,
I DON’T KNOW WHEN IT WAS,
CALLED, “THE LOVE REVOLUTION,”
AND…
THIS IS THE WORST-SELLING
BOOK I EVER WROTE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, THE SALES
WERE BAD.
I MEAN, REALLY BAD, AND
THE MOST WE’VE EVER SOLD AT ANY
CONFERENCE IS 112, THEY TOLD ME
TONIGHT, AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE,
YOU KNOW, 7- 8- 9- 10,000 PEOPLE
IN THE BUILDING, THAT’S JUST
NOT REALLY VERY IMPRESSIVE.
AND YOU SAY, “WELL, THAT
MUST REALLY BE A BAD BOOK.
WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME
ABOUT IT?”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL,
BECAUSE IT DIDN’T
NOT SELL BECAUSE IT’S BAD.
IT DIDN’T SELL BECAUSE
PEOPLE FRANKLY DON’T THINK THAT
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE.
OR THEY THINK THEY ALREADY KNOW
ALL ABOUT LOVE, BUT REALLY,
IF WE DID, IF WE REALLY–
IF EVERY BELIEVER, IF EVERYONE
WHO CONSIDERS THEM SELF TO BE
A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST WAS REALLY
OUT IN THEIR PART OF THE WORLD
WALKING IN LOVE, I WOULD VENTURE
TO SAY THAT MOST OF THE WORLD
WOULD ALREADY BE SAVED,
AND WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT
HAVE THE MESS IN OUR SOCIETY
THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND MANY PEOPLE TODAY
ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT
THE ANSWER IS TO OUR DILEMMA IN
THE WORLD, AND FROM A SPIRITUAL
STANDPOINT, I BELIEVE THAT
THE ANSWER TO THAT DILEMMA IS
REALLY GETTING OUT IN SOCIETY
AND REPRESENTING CHRIST,
NOT JUST HAVING A BUNCH OF DEAD,
DRY RELIGION, BUT REALLY HAVING
THE CHARACTER OF GOD DEVELOPED
IN OUR LIFE, WALKING IN
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT,
WHICH THE BIBLE SAYS THERE’S
NO LAW THAT CAN COME AGAINST
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
YOU SEE, WHEN WE WALK IN LOVE,
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE
TO REALLY FIND ANYTHING
WRONG WITH YOU.
THEY MAY TRY FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME, BUT LOVE WILL MELT
THE HARDEST, COLDEST HEART.
BUT IT HAS TO BE REAL LOVE,
SO I’M CALLING THIS TONIGHT,
“WHAT IS TRUE LOVE?”
YOU KNOW, THERE’S MAGAZINES,
“TRUE LOVE,” “TRUE ROMANCE,”
SO I GUESS IF THERE’S TRUE LOVE,
THEN THERE MUST BE
AN UNTRUE LOVE,
AND IF THERE’S TRUE ROMANCE,
THERE MUST BE AN UNTRUE ROMANCE.
SO THE KIND OF LOVE THAT IS NO
GOOD IS THE KIND WE TALK ABOUT
THAT HAS NO ACTION TO IT AT ALL.
IT’S JUST A CONVERSATION.
IT’S JUST A SERMON, BUT WHEN IT
COMES DOWN TO REALLY PUTTING IT
TO WORK IN OUR DAILY LIVES,
THEN WE BACK OFF FROM THAT.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT?
I’M JUST MAD AT THE DEVIL, AND
SO I’M JUST GONNA PREACH ON LOVE
UNTIL PEOPLE EITHER GET SO TIRED
OF HEARING ME PREACH ON IT
THAT THEY WILL DO IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ‘CAUSE YOU KNOW,
IT REALLY IS PITIFUL HOW MUCH
WE TALK ABOUT LOVE IN CHURCH
AND REALLY HOW LITTLE OF IT
THERE ACTUALLY IS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE MAY GET
TOGETHER IN CHURCH AND HUG
EACH OTHER AND SAY, “I LOVE YOU
WITH THE LOVE OF THE LORD.
I TELL YOU, SISTER,
I JUST LOVE YOU TO DEATH.”
I’M LIKE,
“PLEASE DON’T LOVE ME TO DEATH.
I’M TRYING TO LIVE, THANK YOU.”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: “I TELL YOU, SISTER,
I JUST LOVE YOU TO DEATH.”
WE JUST SAY SOME OF
THE GOOFIEST THINGS.
“WELL, WHERE WERE YOU
WHEN I NEEDED A BABY SITTER?”
“WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I NEEDED
SOMEBODY TO HELP ME MOVE?”
“WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SOMEBODY
ELSE WAS TRYING TO RUIN MY
REPUTATION AND YOU COULD HAVE
TALKED UP FOR ME AND SAID, ‘NO,
YOU’RE NOT RIGHT ABOUT THAT.'”
COME ON, I’M GLAD THAT YOU LOVE
ME WITH THE LOVE OF THE LORD,
BUT WHATEVER THAT IS, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, IF WE REALLY LOVED EACH
OTHER WITH THE LOVE OF THE LORD,
THE KIND OF LOVE THAT JESUS
LOVED WITH, OH, MY GOSH.
I MEAN, IF THE CHURCH WAS THAT
LOVING, YOU COULDN’T GET ALL
THE PEOPLE IN, AND I HAVE FOUND
OUT AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ONLY
WAY THAT I CAN WALK IN LOVE
IS TO DO IT ON PURPOSE.
I CAN’T WAIT TO FEEL LIKE IT.
I CAN’T WAIT TO WANT TO.
I CAN’T WAIT TO THINK IT’S FAIR,
AND I HAVE TO STUDY IT, STUDY
IT, STUDY IT, STUDY IT, KEEP IT
IN FRONT OF ME ALL THE TIME,
BECAUSE OUR FLESH IS INHERENTLY
SELFISH AND SELF-CENTERED,
AND WE HAVE TO START A WAR
WITH SELFISHNESS AND SAY, “I
AM NOT GONNA LIVE A LIFE WHERE
I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN IT.”
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE BIBLE SAYS
THAT LOVE IS THE MOST EXCELLENT
THING THAT WE CAN DO.
LET’S LOOK AT
1 CORINTHIANS 12:31.
NOW SEE, I KNOW A LOT OF YOU
CAME TONIGHT THINKING, HOPING
I WOULD SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.
WELL, I AM.
THIS IS THE ANSWER
TO ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS,
BECAUSE HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS.
LET ME TELL YOU GOD’S FORMULA
FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS.
YOU HAVE A PROBLEM,
YOU CANNOT HELP YOURSELF.
HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME
YOU CANNOT HELP YOURSELF,
GOD WILL ENABLE YOU TO REACH OUT
AND HELP SOMEBODY ELSE.
NOW, WHEN YOU REACH OUT
AND HELP SOMEBODY ELSE,
YOU’RE SOWING A SEED.
NOW GOD CAN BRING A HARVEST
IN YOUR LIFE.
IT USED TO JUST AGGRAVATE ME
THAT I COULDN’T HELP MYSELF,
BUT I COULD HELP SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND THEN FINALLY, I SAW IT.
THAT’S WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO.
WE’RE NOT CALLED TO INREACH.
WE’RE CALLED TO OUTREACH.
WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO REACH
IN AND FIX OURSELVES OR REACH
IN AND BLESS OURSELVES.
WE’RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT?
FORGET YOURSELF, LOSE SIGHT OF
YOURSELF, GET YOURSELF OFF YOUR
MIND, AND LIVE EVERY DAY
OF YOUR LIFE TO MAKE SOMEBODY
ELSE HAPPY, STARTING AT HOME.
UH-OH, STARTING AT HOME,
HALLELUJAH.
YOU KNOW, IF I DRANK ALL MY
WATER AND SAID, “WOULD SOMEBODY
HERE BE WILLING TO GET
ME A GLASS OF WATER?”
I MEAN, THERE WOULD BE
500 PEOPLE BOLT
FOR THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN
TO BRING ME A GLASS OF WATER.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT WAS
THE COOLEST THING EVER,
“OH, I GAVE JOYCE SOME WATER.”
BUT IF YOUR HUSBAND ASKS YOU AT
HOME FOR A GLASS OF WATER…
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WHY IS IT THAT
WE’RE WILLING
TO DO AS A “MINISTRY–”
WELL–
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND LET ME TELL
YOU SOMETHING.
I’M NOT SAYING ANYTHING TO YOU
THAT GOD HASN’T MADE ME EAT.
I MEAN, I DIDN’T GO BUY A SERMON
BOOK AND GET MY MESSAGES.
I’VE HAD TO LIVE THIS, AND
I DON’T PREACH ANYTHING THAT
I HAVEN’T LIVED AND THAT I DON’T
KNOW FOR SURE WORKS, AND I’M
TELLING YOU, IF YOU WANT TO BE
HAPPY, FORGET ABOUT YOURSELF
AND START LIVING TO MAKE
SOMEBODY ELSE HAPPY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
1 CORINTHIANS 12:31, “BUT
EARNESTLY DESIRE AND ZEALOUSLY
CULTIVATE THE GREATEST
AND THE BEST GIFTS AND GRACES
(THE HIGHER GIFTS
AND THE CHOICEST GRACES).
AND YET I WILL SHOW YOU STILL
A MORE EXCELLENT WAY [ONE THAT
IS BETTER BY FAR AND THE HIGHEST
OF THEM ALL–AND THAT IS LOVE].”
WE CAN SEE IT IN MATTHEW 5:44.
LET’S GO THERE.
HOW MANY OF YOU THINK
YOU NEED THIS?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU’VE ALREADY
THOUGHT OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU
WISH WERE HERE THAT AREN’T.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: “MAN, I WISH MY
HUSBAND WOULD HAVE
COME WITH ME TONIGHT.
BOY, DOES HE NEED THIS MESSAGE.”
COME ON, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE
ALREADY THOUGHT OF SOMEBODY
THAT YOU WISH WAS HERE TONIGHT?
SEE?
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WISH THEY WERE, TOO, BUT
THE THING IS, YOU’RE HERE AND
I’M HERE, SO WE MUST NEED IT.
MATTHEW 5:44-47…
“BUT I TELL YOU, LOVE YOUR
ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE
WHO PERSECUTE YOU, TO SHOW
THAT YOU ARE THE CHILDREN OF
YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”
WHY DOES GOD ASK US TO DO THAT?
TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT WE’RE NOT
NORMAL LIKE ALL OTHER PEOPLE,
BUT WE’VE GOT SOMETHING WORKING
IN US THAT ENABLES US
TO DO THINGS THAT ARE
WAY BEYOND THE ORDINARY.
“FOR HE MAKES HIS SUN TO RISE
ON THE WICKED AND ON THE GOOD,
AND HE MAKES THE RAIN
TO FALL ON THE UPRIGHT
AND THE WRONGDOERS [ALIKE].”
AND I LOVE THIS, “FOR
IF YOU LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU,
WHAT REWARD CAN YOU HAVE?
DO NOT EVEN THE TAX COLLECTORS
DO THAT?
AND IF YOU GREET ONLY YOUR
BROTHERS, THEN WHAT MORE
THAN OTHERS ARE YOU DOING?
DO NOT EVEN THE GENTILES
(THE HEATHEN) DO THAT?”
SO HERE’S MY QUESTION TONIGHT;
ARE WE ABLE, ARE WE WILLING TO
EVEN ASK GOD TO TEACH US HOW TO
LOVE THE WAY HE LOVES, BECAUSE
IF WE LOVE THE WAY GOD LOVES,
THAT MEANS THAT WE’RE GONNA
LOVE WHEN THERE’S NOTHING
IN IT FOR US.
HI, EVERYBODY.
WE’RE GONNA LOVE WHEN THERE’S
NOTHING IN IT FOR US, WHEN
IT’S JUST AN ALL GIVING OUT, AND
I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE,
I KNOW THAT IT WILL WIN PEOPLE
TO CHRIST, AND IT WILL
WIN SOME OF THE HARDEST PEOPLE
TO CHRIST THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE.
I’M SURE IF YOU WATCH MY TV
PROGRAM MUCH, YOU’VE HEARD MY
STORY ABOUT MY DAD, SEXUALLY
ABUSED ME FOR MANY, MANY,
MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.
MY MOTHER KNEW WHAT
WAS HAPPENING.
SHE JUST WAS A VERY FEARFUL
WOMAN WHO DIDN’T KNOW
HOW TO DEAL WITH HIM, AND
SO SHE JUST LET IT HAPPEN, AND
SO I WAS ABUSED AND ABANDONED.
LATER ON, MANY YEARS LATER,
AFTER I THOUGHT THAT I HAD
TOTALLY FORGIVEN, GOD PUT IT
IN MY HEART THAT AS THEY WERE
GETTING OLDER, THAT I NEEDED TO
BUY THEM A BETTER HOUSE TO LIVE
IN AND TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE
OF THEM UNTIL THEY DIED.
WELL, THAT WAS THE LAST THING
IN THE WORLD I WANTED TO DO,
BECAUSE THE FIRST THING
THAT I SAID TO GOD IS, “WELL,
WHAT’D THEY EVER DO FOR ME?”
HE SAID, “WELL, YOU’RE
BREATHING, AREN’T YOU?”
SO THE POINT IS IS GOD WANTS US
TO BE GOOD TO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN’T
DONE ANYTHING FOR US,
BECAUSE THAT IS THE BEST WAY IN
THE WORLD THAT YOU CAN DO
SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND KEEP
THE DEVIL UNDER YOUR FEET.
LOVE IS THE HIGHEST FORM
OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE.
IF WE THINK THAT WE’RE DOING
SOMETHING SMART TO STAY MAD AT
SOMEBODY AND TRY TO GET REVENGE
ON THEM, IT’S THE ABSOLUTE
WORST THING THAT WE CAN DO
FOR OUR OWN SELVES.
IT POISONS OUR LIVES WHEN WE
DO THAT, AND IT’S ALL BASED ON
FEELINGS, “WELL, I FEEL, I FEEL,
I FEEL, I FEEL, I FEEL, I FEEL.”
WELL, I CAN TELL YOU, I DIDN’T
FEEL LIKE BUYING MY MOM AND
DAD A HOUSE, AND I STARTED OUT
TRYING TO BUY A CHEAP HOUSE,
AND GOD SAID, “NO,
YOU’RE GONNA BUY A NICE HOUSE.”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND IT’S NOT LIKE
WE JUST HAD A BUNCH
OF MONEY LAYING AROUND
TO GO BUY PEOPLE HOUSES.
IT WAS GONNA TAKE EVERYTHING
THAT WE HAD.
AND SO I THOUGHT, “WELL,
SURELY DAVE WOULD TELL ME NO.”
THAT WAS GONNA BE MY OUT.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
“WELL, IF YOU THINK IT’S GOD,
YOU BETTER OBEY.”
AND I WAS LIKE,
“I DON’T WANT TO OBEY.”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: FAST FORWARD
THE STORY TO THE END,
TOOK 3 YEARS,
TAKING ‘EM TO THE DOCTORS,
MAKING SURE THE BILLS
ALL GOT PAID, MAKING SURE
THE GRASS GOT CUT, MAKING SURE
SOMEBODY GOT THEIR GROCERIES,
TAKING ‘EM TO THE DOCTOR,
ON AND ON AND ON.
AND FINALLY, ONE MORNING,
MY DAD–
MY MOTHER SAID, “YOUR DAD’S
BEEN CRYING ALL WEEK.
HE WANTS YOU TO COME OVER.
WANTS TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.”
ALL THESE YEARS, MY FATHER
HAD NEVER APOLOGIZED TO ME,
NEVER EVEN ADMITTED WHAT HE DID.
AND ON THAT DAY, WITH TEARS HE
SAID, “I’M SO SORRY FOR WHAT I
DID TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE A KID.”
HE ASKED IF WE WOULD
PRAY WITH HIM.
HE RECEIVED CHRIST.
WE BAPTIZED HIM 10 DAYS LATER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I ALWAYS SAY THIS,
I THOUGHT I WAS
BUYING A HOUSE, BUT
ACTUALLY I WAS BUYING A SOUL,
AND I DON’T MEAN THAT
IN A WRONG WAY.
WE KNOW THAT CHRIST PAID
FOR OUR SALVATION,
BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES–
WELL, LET’S PUT IT LIKE THIS.
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WHY
PEOPLE DON’T WALK IN LOVE
IS BECAUSE LOVE IS AN EFFORT.
AND IT WILL ALWAYS–NOW,
GET THIS, IT WILL ALWAYS
COST YOU SOMETHING.
IF IT’S REAL LOVE, IT’S ALWAYS
GONNA COST SOMETHING.
IT’S GONNA COST SOME TIME,
SOME EFFORT, EVEN TO NOT START
A FIGHT IN YOUR HOME.
IT’S GONNA COST YOU SOME PRIDE.
YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO BE WILLING
TO SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE AND
LET SOMEBODY ELSE THINK THEY’RE
RIGHT, WHEN YOU’RE PRETTY SURE
YOU’RE RIGHT, BUT YOU DON’T
THINK IT’S WORTH STARTING
A FIGHT OVER BECAUSE
YOU KNOW THAT GOD HAS SAID
TO KEEP THE PEACE.
COME ON, NOW.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OH, THIS
IS GONNA GET BETTER
AS THE SESSIONS GO BY.
AND IT’S NOT THAT YOU BECOME
A DOORMAT.
LOVE DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU
JUST LET EVERYBODY WALK ALL
OVER AND YOU LET EVERYBODY
PUSH YOU AROUND,
BUT HERE’S WHAT IT DOES MEAN.
YOU CONFRONT WHEN GOD SHOWS YOU
TO CONFRONT, AND YOU WAIT ON
HIM WHEN HE TELLS YOU
TO WAIT ON HIM.
AND I’VE FOUND THAT WHEN I DO
IT LIKE THAT, MOST OF THE TIME,
WHEN GOD TELLS ME TO CONFRONT,
I’D JUST AS SOON LEAVE IT ALONE,
AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I WANT
TO CONFRONT, HE’S TELLING ME
TO LEAVE IT ALONE.
WHEN SOMEBODY HAS HURT US,
ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS
IN THE WORLD IS TO WAIT AND
LET GOD BRING OUR VINDICATION.
WE WANT TO TAKE UP
FOR OURSELVES; DON’T WE?
HAS ANYBODY GOTTEN ANYTHING
OUT OF THIS YET?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, SEE, IF YOU’RE
WAITING FOR THE OTHER PERSON
TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT, I HAVE
AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE TONIGHT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU’RE THE ONE HEARING
THIS MESSAGE, SO GUESS WHAT?
YOU GET TO START FIRST.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, IF YOU’RE
THE CHRISTIAN IN YOUR HOUSE,
THEN YOU OUGHT TO BE
THE ONE TO START FIRST.
YOU CAN’T EXPECT PEOPLE
THAT DON’T KNOW THE WORD
TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT.
THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW
WHAT RIGHT IS.
SO, WE HAVE
TO DO IT AS AN EXAMPLE.
GINGER: NOW, THAT WE
KNOW WHAT TRUE LOVE IS,
WHAT’S NEXT?
WELL, WE HAVE TO BEGIN CHOOSING
TO LOVE LIKE THIS ON PURPOSE,
ASKING GOD TO SHOW
US WHO WE CAN REACH
OUT TO AND WATCH IT MAKE
A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIFE.
AND YOU KNOW,
WHAT I FIND IS REALLY FUN?
SOMETIMES THOSE DIFFICULT
PEOPLE ARE THE MOST
FUN TO LOVE BECAUSE
IT JUST SHOCKS THEM.
IT KIND OF THROWS THEM
OFF THEIR GAME.
WELL, AS JOYCE ENCOURAGED US,
WE MAY HAVE THOSE DIFFICULT
RELATIONSHIPS, BUT WE CAN
STILL BE AN EXAMPLE
OF TRUE LOVE TOWARD THEM.
AND SHE HAS WRITTEN
A NEW BOOK TO HELP
US TAKE THAT FIRST STEP.
IT’S CALLED, “LOVING PEOPLE
WHO ARE HARD TO LOVE.”
AND THIS BOOK
IS REALLY ENCOURAGING.
IF YOU’RE WALKING THROUGH
A DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIP,
IT GIVES YOU SOME HOW-TO’S.
IF YOU’RE FINDING THE WORLD
JUST TO BE A DIFFICULT
PLACE TO LOVE RIGHT NOW,
IT TALKS ABOUT THAT.
AND WE ARE GIVING IT TO YOU
FOR ANY AMOUNT THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TODAY.
IT’S THAT IMPORTANT.
LOVE WILL CHANGE THE WORLD.
BUT LET’S TAKE
IT A STEP FURTHER.
THE LOVE OF CHRIST IS MORE
POWERFUL THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
SO, GET THE HELP THAT YOU
NEED TO SHOW THAT LOVE
TO THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
JUST LET US KNOW THAT YOU
WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS BOOK
AND BEGIN CHOOSING TO LOVE.
NOW, PLEASE STAY WITH
US AND SEE HOW YOU ARE
REACHING OUT IN LOVE
AND BRINGING HOPE
TO A COMMUNITY TRAPPED
IN ISOLATION, RIGHT HERE,
IN THE UNITED STATES.
GINGER: A CELEBRATION
40 YEARS IN THE MAKING.
REGISTER NOW
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG
FOR THE LOVE LIFE
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE,
SEPTEMBER 22nd-24th,
IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.
REGISTER NOW
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: GET YOUR DAILY
DOSE OF ENCOURAGEMENT WITH
THE JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES APP.
CATCH UP ON SEVEN DAYS
OF “ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE”
EPISODES.
GROW DEEPER IN GOD’S WORD
WITH THE DAILY DEVOTIONAL
AND QUESTION OF THE DAY.
AND ENJOY ALL YOUR FAVORITE
TEACHINGS FROM JOYCE
IN YOUR DIGITAL LIBRARY.
FIND ALL THIS AND MORE WITH
THE JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES APP.
SEARCH JOYCE MEYER IN YOUR APP
STORE AND DOWNLOAD IT TODAY.
GINGER: CONTROL.
ABUSE.
ISOLATION.
FOR ONE COMMUNITY
ON THE ARIZONA-UTAH BORDER,
THIS WAS ALL THE PEOPLE KNEW.
IT’S HOME TO THE CULT,
THE FLDS, FUNDAMENTALIST
LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
THEIR FORMER LEADER
WAS IMPRISONED,
LEAVING THE COMMUNITY
DEVASTATED,
WITH LITTLE TO BUILD FROM,
AFTER EVERYTHING THAT HE DID
TO THEM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
WELL, TODAY, WITH THE HELP
OF THE SHORT CREEK DREAM CENTER,
HOPE IS BEING RESTORED.
WATCH HOW YOU ARE
SHOWING LOVE IN ACTION.
[CARS DRIVING BY]
GINGER: TRAVELING NEAR
THE UTAH-ARIZONA BORDER,
YOU CAN’T HELP BUT NOTICE
THE SPECTACULAR SCENERY.
THE EXPANSIVE LANDSCAPE
AND LOFTY MOUNTAINS
EMBODY FREEDOM.
IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THIS
AREA HAS BEEN A PRISON
FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
COLORADO CITY, ARIZONA,
AND THE NEIGHBORING TOWN,
HILDALE, UTAH ARE HOME
TO A POLYGAMIST CULT KNOWN
AS THE FLDS, THE FUNDAMENTALIST
LATTER-DAY SAINTS.
THEIR INFAMOUS LEADER,
WARREN JEFFS, HAD MORE
THAN 75 WIVES, SOME AS YOUNG
AS TWELVE YEARS OLD.
HE ISOLATED THE COMMUNITY
AND CONTROLLED EVERY
ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES.
TODAY, JEFFS IS SERVING
A LIFE SENTENCE FOR CHILD
SEXUAL ASSAULT, BUT THE CULT
AND THE DEVASTATION REMAIN.
LUKE: WHEN ALL THE HIGHER-UPS
IN THE CHURCH LEFT,
THEY TOOK A LOT
OF THE PROSPERITY
THEY HAD BUILT WITH THEM.
AND SO, THE LATEST CENSUS
BUREAU INFORMATION IS THAT
COLORADO CITY PROPER SUFFERS
A 49.9% POVERTY RATE.
IT’S 11.2% AVERAGE NATIONALLY,
AND SO, THERE’S A LOT
OF NEED HERE.
GINGER: ONE OF THIS
COMMUNITY’S GREATEST
NEEDS IS FOOD.
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
IS HONORED TO SUPPORT
THE SHORT CREEK DREAM CENTER,
WHICH FEEDS OVER
1,500 PEOPLE THROUGH
THE CITY HELP FOOD BANK.
LUKE: AND WE GIVE OUT
AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF FOOD.
LIKE I SAID, THERE’S A LARGE
PERCENTAGE OF POVERTY RATE HERE.
AND SO, WE DO ALMOST
100,000 POUNDS OF FOOD,
AVERAGE A MONTH,
WHICH IS A CRAZY AMOUNT
FOR A SINGLE FOOD BANK.
RICHARD: SORRY, WE STARTED
A LITTLE LATE, WE GOT
A LITTLE BUSY TODAY.
MALE: IT’S RIGHT.
FEMALE: WE ARE SO GRATEFUL.
MALE: WE APPRECIATE
YOUR SERVICE.
RICHARD: AWW…
YOU GUYS ARE A BLESSING.
GINGER: RICHARD BROWN
IS THE MANAGER HERE.
RICHARD: MOST OF THE FAMILIES
ARE SINGLE PARENTS
WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
WITHOUT THIS, THEY WOULDN’T
HAVE NO PLACE TO GET FOOD.
GINGER: THIS FOOD BANK FEEDS
MORE THAN 60% OF THE COMMUNITY.
ANYONE WHO NEEDS
FOOD CAN SIMPLY DRIVE
UP AND GET ALL THE ESSENTIALS
LOADED INTO THEIR CAR.
ROSE: I AM HERE BECAUSE
I UTILIZE THIS, AS WELL AS MY–
YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC TOOK
A TOLL ON SOME OF OUR INCOME.
I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WHO’S
PRETTY MUCH HOUSEBOUND
THAT I PICK UP STUFF FOR
HER AND HER FAMILY.
GINGER: IF SOMEONE CAN’T
MAKE IT TO THE FOOD BANK,
RICHARD AND HIS TEAM WILL
MAKE A SPECIAL DELIVERY.
RICHARD: AND THAT’S WHY
WE HAVE A BOX TRUCK.
WE TAKE IT TO 20 FAMILIES,
FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS.
AND THE KIDS–JUST SEEING
THE KIDS WHEN WE DROP
‘EM OFF AT THEIR DOORS THAT
THEY JUST SAY, “THANK YOU.”
WE HAVE THIN MINTS RIGHT THERE,
SO WE LIKE TO GIVE
THEM LITTLE SNACKS.
GINGER: A WAY TO EVERYONE’S
HEART, THIN MINTS.
RICHARD: YEAH, EXACTLY,
IT’S THE SWEETS.
I GIVE THEM SWEETS.
I STARTED OFF JUST GIVING THEM
CANDY AND IT’S JUST BEEN
A ROUTINE NOW.
THEY COME BY AND SAID,
“WE HEARD YOU GUYS
GIVE OUT CANDY.”
AND SO, JUST A SMILE
ON THEIR FACES THAT
REALLY MAKES US HAPPY.
GINGER: SPREADING THE JOY
AND LOVE OF JESUS
IN SUCH A PRACTICAL WAY,
PAVES THE WAY FOR PEOPLE
TO FIND FREEDOM IN CHRIST.
ANGEL: LIKE JESUS TELLS
US TO DO, FEED THE HUNGRY
AND CLOTHE THE NAKED,
AND YOU BUILD THEIR TRUST.
AND REALLY THE ANSWER
IS JESUS IN PEOPLE’S LIVES,
THAT’S FREEDOM.
BUT BEFORE WE CAN GET
TO THAT TOPIC, BECAUSE RELIGION
WAS PART OF THE ABUSE,
WE HAVE TO BE VERY GENTLE
AND JUST REALLY LET
THE HOLY SPIRIT GO AHEAD OF US,
BECAUSE THESE ARE HIS PEOPLE.
ROSE: THIS DEFINITELY
IS PROVIDING A GOOD THING.
IT REPRESENTS HOPE.
IT REPRESENTS A BRIDGE
TO GET FROM WHERE THEY ARE
TO WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.
GINGER: IF YOU’D LIKE
TO BE PART OF THAT BRIDGE,
I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US.
WITH YOUR SPECIAL GIFT,
WE CAN FEED HUNGRY
CHILDREN AND THEIR
FAMILIES IN THIS COMMUNITY
AND ALL OVER THE WORLD.
CALL OR CLICK TODAY,
AND TOGETHER,
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
[♪♪]
GINGER: WE LOVED
BEING THERE AND SEEING
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
IT’S SO ENCOURAGING
AND INSPIRING AND TO SEE HOW
WHEN A PRACTICAL NEED IS MET,
LIKE PROVIDING FOOD,
IT’S ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE.
AS YOU SAW FOR THE PEOPLE
IN THIS COMMUNITY,
RECEIVING A BOX OF FOOD
IS RECEIVING HOPE
FOR THE FUTURE.
IT’S SOMEONE TELLING,
“WE LOVE YOU, WE CARE ABOUT YOU,
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, GOD DOES,
AND HE SEES YOUR NEED.”
AND IT’S NOT JUST ONLY THERE
AT THE CITY HELP FOOD BANK,
BUT WE’RE ALSO HELPING
TO PROVIDE FOOD IN A LOT
OF OTHER CITIES IN THE U.S.
AND AROUND THE WORLD.
WE’RE ALSO PROVIDING
MEDICAL CARE,
CLEAN WATER,
ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL
NEEDS THAT REALLY MAKE
A PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE
IN PEOPLE’S LIVES AND SHARE
THE LOVE OF GOD.
AS I SAID EARLIER,
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN
US WITH YOUR SPECIAL
GIFT TO CONTINUE HELPING
THESE PRECIOUS LIVES.
SHORT CREEK DREAM CENTER
IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PLACE,
AND WE LOVE BEING
INVOLVED THERE,
BUT IT WILL ALSO HELP PEOPLE
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
YOU CAN GIVE A GIFT TOWARD
ALL OF OUR MISSIONS’ OUTREACHES
RIGHT NOW AND SEE THE DIFFERENCE
THAT IT MAKES IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.
AND I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING
ELSE THAT’S IMPORTANT.
I BELIEVE YOU’LL ALSO
SEE THE DIFFERENCE
IT MAKES IN YOUR LIFE.
WHEN WE REACH OUT
BEYOND OURSELVES,
GOD DOES SOMETHING IN OUR
HEARTS THAT CANNOT BE BEAT.
YOU CAN HELP
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
YOUR SPECIAL GIFT, TODAY,
WILL FEED PEOPLE
AND DO SO MUCH MORE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU HAVE
ENJOYED TODAY’S PROGRAM.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG TO SHARE
YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS,
OR PARTNER WITH US IN SHARING
CHRIST AND LOVING PEOPLE
ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THIS PROGRAM HAS
BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.