>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES. >> JOYCE: IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, JESUS SAID, "I'M THE VINE. YOU'RE THE BRANCH. IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT." WELL, FRUIT JUST HANGS DOWN ON A BRANCH. ALL IT'S DOING IS RECEIVING LIFE THAT'S COMING THROUGH THE VINE AND OUT OF THE BRANCH, AND BY HANGING THERE AND BEING DEPENDENT ON THAT VINE, IT GROWS. >> [MUSIC] >> JOYCE: WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON, "ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE." JESUS SAID, IN JOHN 10:10, "THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO KILL, TO STEAL, AND DESTROY, BUT I CAME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE, TO THE FULL, UNTIL IT OVERFLOWS." SO, WE HOPE AND PRAY THAT EVERYDAY, HEARING THE WORD OF GOD, GIVES YOU MORE AND MORE JOY. WELL, TODAY, I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I'M SURE YOU WILL BE SO EXCITED ABOUT. I WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT HUMILITY. PROBABLY, ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT TO DEVELOP. BUT POSSIBLY, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ONES THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT ON. HUMILITY IS THE ONLY ANTIDOTE FOR PRIDE. WE CAN'T JUST MAKE PRIDE GO AWAY. WE HAVE TO LET GOD WORK HUMILITY IN OUR LIVES. AND HE SAYS, "HUMBLE YOURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD THAT IN DUE TIME, HE MIGHT EXALT YOU." BUT I'VE OFTEN SAID, "IF YOU WON'T HUMBLE YOURSELF THEN GOD WILL HAVE TO DO IT FOR YOU." OR I LIKE THIS: IF WE WILL LEARN TO RECEIVE CORRECTION IN PRIVATE, GOD WILL ALWAYS TRY TO CORRECT US. BUT IF WE DON'T LISTEN, WHEN HE DOES IT PRIVATELY THEN HE WILL HAVE TO DO IT PUBLICLY, AND THAT IS MUCH MORE PAINFUL. PRIDE IS THE ROOT OF ALL SIN. PRIDE IS THE SIN THAT SATAN COMMITTED WHEN HE WAS KICKED OUT OF HEAVEN. HE SAID, "I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE THRONE OF GOD." WELL, "NO, YOU WON'T." GOD IS IN CHARGE. HE'S ABOVE ALL. HE HAS A RIGHT TO BE OBEYED. HE EXPECTS US TO BE OBEYED--HE EXPECTS US TO OBEY HIM. AND IF WE DO, THINGS ARE GONNA GO GOOD IN OUR LIVES. THAT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE PERFECT. BUT IF WE DO WHAT GOD TELLS US TO DO, HE SAYS THAT YOU'RE LIFE WILL BE BLESSED. BUT IF WE DON'T DO WHAT HE TELLS US TO DO THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA LIKE THE WAY THINGS TURN OUT. IN PROVERBS, IT SAYS THAT PRIDE ALWAYS COMES BEFORE DESTRUCTION. AND IT SAYS, THAT IF THERE'S-- IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE STRIFE WITHOUT PRIDE. SO, WILL YOU JUST STOP AND THINK WITH ME FOR A MINUTE ABOUT ALL THE STRIFE IN OUR WORLD TODAY. IT IS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE, HOW MANY ANGRY PEOPLE THERE ARE. AND IT'S INCREASING, I MEAN, FAST. IT'S LIKE, EVERYBODY TODAY, THEY DON'T LIKE SOMETHIN' AND SO, THEY MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT AND COME AGAINST IT. WE NEED TO BE PRAYING THAT GOD WILL HELP US DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO, STAY UNDER WHAT HE WANTS US TO STAY UNDER, RESIST WHAT HE WANTS US TO RESIST, AND WE NEED TO WALK IN LOVE. IN MATTHEW 24, IT SAYS PLAINLY THAT ONE OF THE SIGNS OF THE END TIMES IS THAT SATAN WANTS TO TRY TO BUILD A STRONGHOLD OF COLD LOVE. IT SAYS, "THE LOVE OF THE GREAT BODY," WHICH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST, "WILL GROW COLD BECAUSE OF MULTIPLIED WICKEDNESS AND LAWLESSNESS IN THE LAND AND MANY WILL BE OFFENDED." IT'S SO EASY TODAY, FOR PEOPLE TO GET OFFENDED AND TO GET ANGRY, AND THERE'S SO MUCH STRIFE. BUT JESUS HAS CALLED US TO PEACE, THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS US TO HAVE. AND WHERE THERE'S PEACE, THERE'S POWER. BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE PEACE WITHOUT HUMILITY, BECAUSE WHERE THERE'S PRIDE, THERE'S ALWAYS STRIFE. PRIDE SAYS, "I'M BETTER THAN YOU." PRIDE SAYS, "I'M RIGHT AND YOU'RE WRONG," AND PRIDE SAYS, "I KNOW MORE THAN YOU DO." BUT WE'RE TO HUMBLE OURSELVES UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD. YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK THAT YOU'RE LESS THAN OTHER PEOPLE, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT SUPPOSED TO THINK THAT WE'RE BETTER THAN OTHER PEOPLE. ALL JUDGEMENT COMES FROM PRIDE. WHEN WE CRITICIZE PEOPLE BEHIND THEIR BACK, IT COMES FROM PRIDE. SO, I HAVE TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF A HUMBLE PERSON. AND I'M GONNA DO AS MANY AS I CAN TODAY, AND IF I DON'T GET FINISHED, THEN I'LL FINISH IT TOMORROW. NOW, DON'T TURN THE TELEVISION OFF BECAUSE I SAID I'M TALKING ABOUT HUMILITY. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN LEARN. BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, A PERSON WHO IS A PROUD PERSON HAS MANY, MANY PROBLEMS IN THEIR LIFE. THE FIRST THING THAT A HUMBLE PERSON WILL DO IS ASK FOR HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT. BUT THE CARNAL AND THE PROUD PERSON WANTS TO DO IT THEMSELVES AND THEY WANT TO DO IT THEIR WAY BECAUSE THEY'RE SURE THAT THEIR WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY AND NOBODY ELSE'S WAY WOULD BE AS GOOD AS THEIRS. WHEN WE ASK OTHERS TO HELP US AND WE GIVE THEM A JOB TO DO, WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOME ROOM AND SOME LIBERTY TO DO IT BASED ON HOW THEY FEEL IN THEIR HEART IT SHOULD BE DONE. BUT A LEADER, OR A MANAGER, OR ANYBODY IN AUTHORITY, OR EVEN A PARENT OVER A CHILD, IF YOU HAVE TO MICROMANAGE EVERYTHING THEY DO AND IF YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO IT THE WAY YOU WOULD DO IT, BECAUSE NO OTHER WAY IS RIGHT, BUT YOURS, THEN YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO GET ANYBODY TO HELP YOU BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU OR FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, DAVID, THE PSALMIST DAVID, REALLY FELT IN HIS HEART THAT HE COULD DEFEAT GOLIATH, THE GIANT, THAT WAS COMING AGAINST THE ISRAELI ARMY. AND NOBODY BELIEVED THAT HE COULD DO IT, INCLUDING KING SAUL. BUT SAUL FINALLY SAID, "WELL, ALRIGHT, I'LL LET YOU TRY, BUT YOU HAVE TO WEAR MY ARMOR." IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE TO DO IT THE WAY I WOULD DO IT. AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT DAVID COULD NOT DEFEAT GOLIATH WITH SAUL'S ARMOR ON. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? NOBODY ELSE CAN DO ANYTHING EXACTLY THE WAY YOU DO IT. AND SO, HERE, AT THE MINISTRY, IN THE BEGINNING, I MADE DECISIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING. I MEAN, THE COLORS IN THE MAGAZINE, ALL THE RESOURCE COVERS. EVERYTHING, I MADE DECISIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING. BUT IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DRIVE MYSELF CRAZY TRYING TO HANDLE EVERYTHING MYSELF, AND I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO START DELEGATING TO OTHER PEOPLE. WELL, I WASN'T A GREAT DELEGATOR BECAUSE I WANTED THEM TO DO THE WORK, BUT I WANTED TO TELL THEM EXACTLY HOW TO DO IT. AND I HAD TO LEARN THAT IF I WAS GOING TO LET OTHER PEOPLE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY THAT I ALSO NEEDED TO GIVE THEM AUTHORITY. AND I HAD TO LEARN THAT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOMETIMES THEY WOULD DO IT BETTER THAN I WOULD HAVE DONE IT, IF I WOULD GIVE THEM THE SPACE TO DO IT. AND WE NEED TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, YOU'LL BREAK YOUR CHILD'S SPIRIT IF EVERY TIME THEY TRY TO STEP OUT AND DO SOMETHING FOR YOU, YOU FIND TEN THINGS WRONG WITH IT. LET THEM HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND LET THEM HAVE SOME AUTHORITY. OF COURSE, IT HAS TO BE AGE APPROPRIATE. GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO BE INDEPENDENT, HE WANTS US TO BE DEPENDENT ON HIM. DEPENDENT ON HIM. I THINK, IN OUR SOCIETY, WE THINK, "WELL, I'M AN INDEPENDENT PERSON. I DO WHAT I WANT TO." WELL, THAT'S NOT THE WAY GOD WANTS US TO BE. INDEPENDENT MEANS SELF-GOVERNING, FREE FROM INFLUENCE, FREE FROM GUIDANCE OR CONTROL, SELF-RELIANT; DOESN'T THAT SOUND PRETTY MUCH LIKE THE WAY MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WANNA BE? I THINK IT DOES. I USED TO BE THAT WAY. I DIDN'T-- NOBODY WAS GONNA TELL ME WHAT TO DO. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS STILL HOME BEING MISTREATED BY MY DAD AND CONTROLLED AND MANIPULATED, I REMEMBER MAKING VOWS TO MYSELF, "WHEN I GET OUTTA HERE, NOBODY'S EVER GONNA TELL ME WHAT TO DO AGAIN." WELL, WHEN I STARTED TRYING TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, I FOUND OUT PRETTY QUICK THAT WASN'T GONNA WORK, BECAUSE GOD WANTS US ALL TO BE ABLE TO COME UNDER AUTHORITY. FIRST, HIS AUTHORITY, AND THEN OTHER AUTHORITIES THAT HE PLACES IN OUR LIFE. IT MEANS INDEPENDENT-- NOT DEPENDENT, NOT AFFILIATED WITH A LARGER GROUP OUR SYSTEM. SOMETIMES, YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY, "WELL, THAT GUY'S JUST NOT A TEAM PLAYER," OR, "THAT WOMAN'S JUST NOT A TEAM PLAYER." WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT THEY CAN'T WORK WITH A GROUP OF OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE THEIR WAY IS THE ONLY WAY, AND THEY WON'T EVEN REALLY LISTEN TO ANYBODY ELSE'S THOUGHTS OR IDEAS. BUT THE WORD DEPENDENT, TO DEPEND MEANS-- NOW, THIS IS GONNA SOUND ODD, AT FIRST, IT MEANS TO HANG DOWN. BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, JESUS SAID, "I'M THE VINE, YOU'RE THE BRANCH. IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT." WELL, FRUIT JUST HANGS DOWN ON A BRANCH. ALL IT'S DOING IS RECEIVING LIFE THAT'S COMING THROUGH THE VINE AND OUT OF THE BRANCH. AND BY, HANGING THERE AND BEING DEPENDENT ON THAT VINE, IT GROWS. AND THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE TO BE WITH JESUS. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HANG ON TO HIM IN EVERY SINGLE SITUATION AND DEPEND ON HIM. IT MEANS BEING TOTALLY DEPENDENT. IT MEANS TO TRUST OR RELY ON FOR SUPPORT. WE NEED TO DEPEND ON GOD TO HELP US IN EVERY SITUATIONS. A PERSON, WHO IS HUMBLE, DOES NOT TAKE CREDIT THAT'S DUE TO GOD, NOR DO THEY TAKE CREDIT THAT ACTUALLY, IS DUE TO SOMEONE ELSE. JOHN 15:4 AND 5, SAYS, "REMAIN IN ME, AND I'LL REMAIN IN YOU. NO BRANCH CAN BEAR FRUIT BY ITSELF; IT MUST REMAIN ON THE VINE. NEITHER CAN YOU BEAR FRUIT UNLESS YOU REMAIN IN ME." NOW, LISTEN. "I AM THE VINE; YOU'RE THE BRANCH. IF YOU REMAIN IN ME AND I IN YOU, YOU WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; BUT APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING." YOU KNOW, BEFORE I CAME TO THE STUDIO THIS MORNING TO RECORD THESE TEACHINGS, I WAS PRAYING AT HOME AND I SAID, "GOD, I NEED YOU TO HELP ME TODAY." NOW, I'VE DONE THIS THOUSANDS OF TIMES BEFORE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I'M GONNA DO IT GOOD TODAY IF I DON'T GET GOD TO HELP ME, AND THE WAY YOU GET GOD'S HELP IS BY ASKING FOR IT. EVEN ASKING GOD FOR HELP SHOWS HUMILITY. "GOD, I NEED YOU TO HELP ME BECAUSE APART FROM YOU, I CAN DO NOTHING." AND I REMEMBERED WHAT PAUL SAID, "IN ME, THAT IS IN MY FLESH, DWELLS NO GOOD THING." I SAID THAT, "GOD, NOTHING GOOD IS GONNA COME THROUGH ME UNLESS YOU HELP ME TODAY." YOU KNOW WHAT? EVERY, SINGLE DAY BEFORE YOU DO VERY MUCH AT ALL, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PRAY LIKE THAT: "GOD, I NEED YOU. APART FROM YOU, I CAN DO NOTHING. I NEED YOU IN EVERY SITUATION, TODAY." WE NEED GOD AND HE WANTS US TO DEPEND ON HIM. ROMANS 12:3: "DON'T THINK OF YOURSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN YOU OUGHT TO. DON'T HAVE AN EXAGGERATED OPINION OF YOUR OWN IMPORTANCE." YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT'S SO GOOD, I GOTTA READ IT TO YOU AGAIN. "DO NOT THINK OF YOURSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN YOU OUGHT TO. DON'T HAVE AN EXAGGERATED OPINION OF YOUR OWN IMPORTANCE." NOW, YOU DON'T NEED TO THINK THAT YOU'RE BENEATH EVERYBODY ELSE. BUT WE DON'T NEED TO THINK THAT WERE ABOVE EVERYBODY ELSE EITHER. WE SHOULD NOT THINK THAT WE'VE GOT IT ALL TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS JUST A BIG MESS. NUMBER TWO: THE HUMBLE ARE QUICK TO FORGIVE, DIFFICULT TO OFFEND, AND THEY GLADLY WAIT ON GOD TO VINDICATE THEM. YOU KNOW, A PROUD PERSON IS ALWAYS, "I'M GONNA GET YOU BACK FOR THAT. I'M GONNA MAKE YOU SUFFER BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TREAT ME RIGHT." BUT A HUMBLE PERSON FORGIVES QUICKLY BECAUSE THEY REALIZE AND REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS TO GIVE--FORGIVE THEM FOR. AND THEY'RE NOT EASILY OFFENDED BECAUSE HUMBLE PEOPLE WALK IN LOVE, AND LOVE IS NOT EASILY OFFENDED. THE BIBLE SAYS, "LOVE IS NOT TOUCHY." ARE YOU A TOUCHY PERSON? GOD WANTS YOU TO GET OVER THAT. ARE YOU ABLE TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF OTHER PEOPLE OR ARE YOU SUSPICIOUS, AND EVERY TIME SOMEBODY HURTS YOUR FEELINGS, YOU THINK THEY DID IT ON PURPOSE? YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNOW THAT THERE'S TIMES WHEN I HURT PEOPLE AND I DON'T INTEND TO HURT THEM, THAT'S NOT WHAT I SET OUT TO DO. BUT I DO. MAYBE BECAUSE I'M BEING THOUGHTLESS, OR YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M BEING FUNNY, BUT THEY DON'T THINK WHAT I SAID IS FUNNY. AND I AM REALLY GRATEFUL WHEN PEOPLE FORGIVE ME AND LOOK OVER MY WEAKNESSES. WELL, ONE OF THE BEST WAYS THAT I CAN REAP THAT IN MY LIFE IS BY SOWING IT INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES. TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. COLOSSIANS 3:13 SAYS, "BEAR WITH EACH OTHER AND FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER IF ANY OF YOU HAS A GRIEVANCE AGAINST SOMEONE. FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU." SO, I JUST WANNA ASK YOU A QUESTION, RIGHT NOW. WHO ARE YOU MAD AT? HOPEFULLY AND PRAYERFULLY, YOU CAN SAY NOBODY. BUT IF YOU ARE MAD AT ANYBODY, GOD WANTS YOU TO FORGIVE THEM. YOU SAY, "WELL, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID TO ME." WELL, NOBODY CAN DO ANY MORE TO ME THAN WHAT I'VE DONE AGAINST GOD IN MY LIFETIME, AND HE FORGIVES ME, FORGETS MY SINS. HE FORGIVES YOU, FORGET YOUR SINS, AND REMOVES THEM AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST. A HUMBLE PERSON IS LONG-SUFFERING WITH THE WEAKNESSES OF OTHER PEOPLE. THESE SCRIPTURES IN GALATIANS ARE SO GOOD, PLEASE LISTEN. "BRETHREN, IF ANY PERSON IS OVERTAKEN IN MISCONDUCT OR SIN OF ANY SORT, YOU WHO ARE SPIRITUAL--" AND OF COURSE, I KNOW WE'RE, "WELL, THAT'S ME. I'M SPIRITUAL." WELL, HERE'S WHAT A PERSON IS. "[SOMEONE THAT'S RESPONSIVE TO AND CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT]." WELL, IF WE'RE CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE WILL BE QUICK TO FORGIVE. YOU THAT ARE SPIRITUAL, "SHOULD SET HIM RIGHT--" WELL, I KNOW WE LIKE THAT PART. "RESTORE HIM, REINSTATE HIM, WITHOUT ANY SENSE OF SUPERIORITY AND WITH ALL GENTLENESS, KEEPING AN ATTENTIVE EYE ON YOURSELF, LEST YOU SHOULD ALSO BE TEMPTED." OH, MY GOODNESS, IS THAT SO GOOD? IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE HAS A FAILURE IN THEIR LIFE, A MORAL FAILURE, OR THEY SIN, OR THEY DO SOMETHING WRONG, NUMBER ONE, YOU SHOULD NOT SEE HOW FAST YOU CAN GO TELL IT TO A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE. LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS. IT DOESN'T REHEARSE THEM AND SPREAD BAD NEWS. BUT ANOTHER THING WE SHOULD NOT DO IS SAY, "WELL, I WOULD NEVER DO THAT." THAT'S ABOUT ONE OF THE SILLIEST THINGS WE CAN SAY BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE WEAKNESSES, AND PUT IN THE SAME SITUATION THAT THEY'RE PUT IN, YOU DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD DO. I REMEMBER A WOMAN THAT I WORKED WITH ONE TIME-- THERE WAS ANOTHER GIRL AT OUR COMPANY WHOSE HUSBAND CHEATED ON HER, AND SHE TOOK HIM BACK. SHE FORGAVE HIM AND TOOK HIM BACK. AND THIS WOMAN TOLD ME, SHE SAID, "I WOULD NEVER DO THAT. IF MY HUSBAND EVER CHEATED ON ME, THAT WOULD BE IT. I WOULD NEVER TAKE HIM BACK." WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? A FEW YEARS AFTER THAT, HER HUSBAND CHEATED ON HER. HER CHRISTIAN HUSBAND CHEATED ON HER WITH ANOTHER WOMAN IN THE CHURCH. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? SHE DID EVERYTHING THAT SHE COULD TO KEEP HER MARRIAGE TOGETHER, AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, SHE WAS READY TO TAKE HIM BACK. SO, THE VERY THING SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD NEVER DO, SHE TURNED AROUND AND DID. AND HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SAID, "I WOULD NEVER DO THAT," AND THEN FOUND OURSELVES LATER, DOING THE EXACT THING THAT WE SAID WE WOULD NEVER DO. "BEAR, ENDURE, AND CARRY ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS AND TROUBLESOME, MORAL FAULTS." YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? IF I JUST PUT IT A LITTLE PLAINER: PUT UP WITH PEOPLE. I THINK PEOPLE SOMETIMES HAVE TO PUT UP WITH MY WEAKNESSES. AND IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE GOOD, LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ANYBODY-- I DON'T KNOW OF ANY PERSON THAT'S PERFECT. I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT YOU CAN BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT IS PERFECT, THAT IS NEVER GOING TO DO ANYTHING THAT YOU DON'T LIKE. AND IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN LIFE, YOU PROBABLY GONNA BE DISAPPOINTED OVER, AND OVER, AND OVER AGAIN. BUT REMEMBER THAT YOU'RE NOT PERFECT AND NEITHER AM I. I HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT. AND SO, HERE AGAIN, REMEMBERING THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT PEOPLE CAN HELP YOU RATHER THAN JUST SITTING AROUND THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S WRONG WITH THEM ALL THE TIME. SO, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO ENDURE, AND BURY, AND CARRY OTHER PEOPLE'S TROUBLESOME, MORAL FAULTS. WOW, THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO IS IT? BUT WE CAN DO IT IF WE HAVE A HUMBLE MIND AND WE REALIZE, "WELL GOD, I'VE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES MYSELF AND PEOPLE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ME. LORD, YOU PUT UP WITH ME." THINK ABOUT ALL THE YEARS THE HOLY SPIRIT FOLLOWED YOU AROUND AND TRIED TO CONVICT YOU AND CONVINCE YOU TO TURN TO GOD, AND EVERYTHING YOU DID WAS AGAINST GOD'S WILL, BUT HE DIDN'T GIVE UP ON YOU, HE STUCK WITH YOU. AND NOW, YOU LOVE HIM, AND YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER LIFE. "BEAR (ENDURE, AND CARRY) ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS AND TROUBLESOME MORAL FAULTS, AND IN THIS WAY YOU WILL FULFILL AND OBSERVE PERFECTLY THE LAW OF CHRIST (THE MESSIAH)," WHICH IS THE LAW OF LOVE. "AND COMPLETE WHAT IS LACKING [IN YOUR OBEDIENCE TO IT]. FOR AS ANY PERSON THINKS HIMSELF TO BE SOMEBODY [TOO IMPORTANT TO CONDESCEND TO SHOULDER ANOTHER'S LOAD] WHEN HE IS NOBODY [OF SUPERIORITY EXCEPT IN HIS OWN ESTIMATION], HE DECEIVES AND DELUDES AND CHEATS HIMSELF." UH-OH, I'M NO BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE AND NEITHER ARE YOU. NUMBER THREE: A PERSON WHO'S HUMBLE IS A PEACEMAKER AND A PEACE LOVER. THEY ENJOY A LIFE OF PEACE. REMEMBER, WE SAID IN THE BEGINNING THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE STRIFE WITHOUT PRIDE? WELL, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE PEACE WITHOUT HUMILITY. LET'S JUST SAY, WHEN YOU HAVE A DISAGREEMENT WITH SOMEBODY, AND MAYBE, YOU GET INTO AN ARGUMENT AND YOU BOTH SAY THINGS THAT YOU SHOULDN'T SAY, ARE YOU WILLING TO ALWAYS BE THE FIRST ONE TO APOLOGIZE? ARE YOU QUICK TO GO AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT? OR DO YOU STUBBORNLY SIT BACK AND THINK, "THEY NEED TO APOLOGIZE TO ME BECAUSE THEY WERE WRONG AND I WAS RIGHT." YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT FOR SOME REASON MY HUSBAND DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK THAT HE NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE VERY OFTEN. AND I'M SURE, A LOT OF YOU ARE LIKE THAT. IF YOU'RE A WOMAN MARRIED TO SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T SEEM TO GET IT. MY HUSBAND NEVER MEANS TO HURT ME, BUT SOMETIMES HE DOES. AND IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF OUR MARRIAGE, I JUST FELT LIKE THAT GOD WAS ALWAYS NAGGING ME TO GO AND APOLOGIZE TO DAVE AND MAKE THINGS RIGHT. AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO THE LORD ONE TIME, "IT'S NOT MY TURN. I APOLOGIZED TO DAVE LAST." WELL, WHERE CAN YOU FIND IN THE BIBLE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO APOLOGIZE IF IT'S YOUR TURN. ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE, THE FIRST ONE TO APOLOGIZE IS THE ONE THAT IS MORE SPIRITUALLY MATURE. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY DAVE DOESN'T SEE THE NEED TO APOLOGIZE IS BECAUSE HE LETS THINGS GO REALLY FAST, WHERE I WOULD HANG ON TO THINGS AND MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF IT. MANY TIMES, I WAS SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR HIM TO COME AND TELL ME HOW SORRY HE WAS ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE HE DID, BECAUSE MEN AND WOMEN ARE JUST DIFFERENT. MAYBE IT WAS A DAY WHERE I WAS WEARING MY EMOTIONS ON MY SLEEVE AND HE DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE IT. SO, DON'T BE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT ALWAYS SITS AROUND AND WAITS FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO APOLOGIZE, DO IT QUICK. GO MAKE PEACE WITH PEOPLE QUICK, AND JUST SAY, "LOOK, I DON'T EVEN CARE WHO WAS RIGHT OR WHO WAS WRONG. I JUST WANT US TO HAVE PEACE. I'M SORRY, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, AND LET'S GET ALONG AND BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER." I'VE YET TO SAY THAT TO ANYBODY AND HAVE THEM REFUSE TO FORGIVE ME. YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GOD THAT WE GET ALONG. PHILIPPIANS 2:2-5 SAYS, "FILL UP AND COMPLETE MY JOY BY LIVING IN HARMONY AND BEING OF THE SAME MIND AND ONE IN PURPOSE, HAVING THE SAME LOVE, BEING IN FULL ACCORD AND OF ONE HARMONIOUS MIND AND INTENTION." WOW. YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR PEOPLE TO GET ALONG THESE DAYS? BUT PAUL SAID, "YOU CAN COMPLETE MY JOY," AND HE WROTE THIS INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. "YOU CAN COMPLETE MY JOY BY GETTING ALONG." I DON'T LIKE IT-- I HAVE FOUR GROWN CHILDREN. I DON'T LIKE IT IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING ALONG. I HAVE 12 GRANDCHILDREN. I DON'T LIKE IT IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING ALONG. IT MAKES ME SAD WHEN THEY'RE NOT GETTING ALONG. WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW, 450 EMPLOYEES AT THE MINISTRY. I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN I HEAR THAT PEOPLE IN DEPARTMENTS CAN'T GET ALONG OR THAT DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT GETTING ALONG. I WANT PEACE, BECAUSE WHERE PEACE IS THERE'S POWER. WHERE PEACE IS GOD'S ANOINTING ABIDES THERE. AND I WANT OUR MINISTRY TO BE POWERFUL. SO, WE WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP THE STRIFE OUT OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES. ROMANS 12:16-18 SAYS, "LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER. DO NOT BE PROUD, BUT BE WILLING TO ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE OF LOW POSITION. AND DO NOT BE CONCEITED." LET'S JUST THINK ABOUT JESUS AS WE FINISH OFF THIS TEACHING TODAY. AND YES, I HAVE SEVEN MORE POINTS TO GET THROUGH, AND I WILL DO ALL SEVEN OF THEM TOMORROW. WHEN JESUS WAS ACCUSED, HE DIDN'T GET DEFENSIVE. HE WASHED HIS DISCIPLES FEET. AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, AFTER HE DIED AND RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD, HE COOKED THE DISCIPLES BREAKFAST. HE RODE INTO JERUSALEM ON A DONKEY. I PERSONALLY THINK, I WOULD HAVE COME IN ON A WHITE CHARGER. HE DID THINGS SO DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO. WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM JESUS. HE SAID, "TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN OF ME FOR I'M HUMBLE, GENTLE, MEEK, AND LOWLY." NOW, YOU KNOW TODAY, I ALWAYS LIKE TO OFFER YOU MORE TEACHING BECAUSE JUST THIS 25 MINUTES THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. WE ALWAYS NEED MORE WORD. SO TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU A BOOK ENTITLED, "MAKING GOOD HABITS AND BREAKING BAD HABITS." YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES JUST THIS PRIDE THING CAN BECOME A BAD HABIT. AND ALONG WITH IT, WE WANNA SEND YOU THE, "GOOD MORNING, THIS IS GOD" MUG. IT'S A COFFEE MUG, OR TEA, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DRINK OUT OF IT. AND IT SAYS, "GOOD MORNING, THIS IS GOD. I'LL BE TAKING CARE OF THINGS TODAY, AND I WON'T NEED YOUR HELP." IT'S A GOOD REMINDER TO START YOUR DAY BEING DEPENDENT UPON GOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. WE LOVE YOU, AND I PRAY THAT YOU'LL COME BACK AGAIN TOMORROW, SO YOU CAN HEAR THE REST OF THIS TEACHING ON HUMILITY. >> ANNOUNCER: WE'D LIKE TO MAKE THIS BOOK AVAILABLE TO YOU, SO YOU CAN BEGIN TO ENERGIZE YOUR LIFE WITH A SINGLE BELIEF THAT YOU CAN CHANGE. WITH GOD'S HELP, YOU CAN, "MAKE GOOD HABITS AND BREAK BAD ONES." ALSO, YOU'LL GET THIS MUG FOR YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE DRINK, REMINDING YOU THAT GOD WILL BE HANDLING EVERYTHING FOR YOU TODAY. FOR DONATION OF... OR MORE, WE'LL RUSH YOU THIS GIFT SET. >> ANNOUNCER: THIS IS THE JOYCE MEYER MASTERCLASS. JUST YOU, AND JOYCE, EXPLORING LIFE AND GOD'S WORD TOGETHER. ONE ON ONE TIME, YOU CAN'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE, IN A WAY LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN. EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, STUDY TOOLS, AND SPECIAL FEATURES, YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AT YOUR OWN PACE, WITH YOUR OWN INSTRUCTOR. >> JOYCE: AND THAT WOULD BE ME. GRAB A PEN. >> ANNOUNCER: DEEPEN YOUR FAITH IN GOD AND GROW IN HIS WORD. THE JOYCE MEYER MASTERCLASS, SIGN UP NOW, AT JOYCEMEYERMASTERCLASS.COM. >> 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.
