ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES. JOYCE: DEATH IS NOT ANYTHING
THAT WE NEED TO BE AFRAID OF. ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING
A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE
AFRAID OF DEATH. MATTER OF FACT,
THE OLDER YOU GET SOMETIMES, YOU'RE KINDA LIKE,
"OK LORD, I'M READY TO GET OUTTA HERE." [MUSIC] JOYCE: WELL, I'M SO GLAD
THAT YOU'VE JOINED US TODAY AND I BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD
IS GOING TO ENRICH YOUR LIVES. I HAVE A SUBJECT TODAY THAT
MIGHT SEEM A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE WHEN I FIRST GET STARTED,
BUT GOD PUT IT ON MY HEART AND I THINK IT'S GONNA REALLY
HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE. I WANNA TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO US WHEN WE DIE. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE
LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW, BUT TOMORROW ALWAYS COMES. AND DEATH IS SOMETHING THAT WE
ABSOLUTELY, NOT ONE OF US, CAN AVOID. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT
WE CAN AVOID IN LIFE, BUT WE'RE ALL GOING TO SOMEDAY DIE. SO, IT IS A VALID SUBJECT THAT
WE NEED TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITH BECAUSE WE WANNA
MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DIE THAT WE END UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE
AFTER THAT. AND DEATH REALLY IS JUST
DEATH HERE. IT'S NOT, LIKE,
YOU DON'T JUST STOP BEING. YOUR BODY HERE JUST
TURNS TO ASHES AND DUST, AND YOUR SOUL AND YOUR SPIRIT
GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND SO, WE ONLY HAVE
TWO CHOICES. AND TO PUT IT VERY BLUNTLY,
WE'RE EITHER GONNA GO TO HEAVEN OR WE'RE GONNA GO TO HELL. AND I THINK ANY SANE PERSON,
WITHOUT EVEN HAVING VERY MUCH OF A DESCRIPTION, WOULD CHOOSE
HEAVEN AND NOT HELL. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IN HELL
IT'S GONNA BE MISERABLE, WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH. NOW, OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE THAT
ARE NOT BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, MANY TIMES DON'T THINK ABOUT
THIS AT ALL. OR MAYBE YOU'VE EVEN COME UP
WITH SOME KIND OF A DOCTRINE WHERE YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA
GET TO BE REINCARNATED AND COME BACK AS SOMETHING ELSE. I GUESS, THAT'S COMFORTING,
BUT IT'S NOT BIBLICAL. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT,
IN HEBREWS 9:27, AND I LOVE THIS: "FOR IT IS
APPOINTED FOR [ALL] MEN ONCE TO DIE," NOT OVER AND OVER
AND COMING BACK AS SOMETHIN' ELSE, BUT ONCE TO DIE,
"AND AFTER THAT THE JUDGMENT." AND SO, WE'RE ALL GONNA
FACE GOD. I LOVE ROMANS 14:12 THAT SAYS
THAT "EVERY MAN," EVERY MAN, "WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT
OF HIMSELF TO GOD." SO, LET'S JUST THINK
FOR A MINUTE, THE DAY IS GONNA COME WE'RE ALL,
WHETHER YOU'RE BORN AGAIN OR NOT BORN AGAIN, WE'RE ALL GONNA
STAND BEFORE GOD AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF OUR LIVES. AND DEATH IS NOT ANYTHING
THAT WE NEED TO BE AFRAID OF. ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING A
BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID
OF DEATH. MATTER OF FACT, THE OLDER YOU
GET, SOMETIMES YOU'RE KINDA LIKE, "OKAY, LORD, I'M READY
TO GET OUTTA HERE. I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH."
NOW, YOU KNOW, I ENJOY MY LIFE. I'VE GOT A GREAT LIFE, BUT YOU
KNOW, LIVING IN THE WORLD IS-- IT CAN GET, TO SAY THE LEAST,
A LITTLE BIT ANNOYING SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA PUT UP WITH
A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T VERY PLEASANT TO PUT UP WITH. AND YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM LINE
IS, IS THIS IS NOT OUR HOME, WE WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE HERE
FOR ETERNITY AND SO, THE LONGER YOU'VE BEEN HERE, THE MORE
YOU'RE THINKING, YOU KNOW, "I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING
THE LORD FACE TO FACE." THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE'VE BEEN DELIVERED FROM
THE FEAR OF DEATH. AND SO, I HAVE TO WONDER HOW
MANY PEOPLE ARE WATCHING TODAY THAT THE VERY THOUGHTS OF DEATH
OR EVEN THE SUBJECT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT TODAY, JUST REALLY
FRIGHTENS YOU. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID
OF NO LONGER BEING HERE IN THE EARTH AND BEING SOMEWHERE ELSE
IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE GONNA BE GOIN' TO THE RIGHT PLACE. AND--BUT SADLY, THERE ARE EVEN
BELIEVERS IN CHRIST WHO STILL AREN'T SURE WHERE THEY'RE GONNA
END UP. AND IT REALLY MAKES ME SAD WHEN
I SAY TO SOMEBODY, "WELL, DO YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE GONNA
GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE?" AND THEY SAY, "I HOPE SO."
NO CHRISTIAN HAS TO HOPE SO. IF WE REALLY BELIEVE
THE WORD OF GOD, THEN WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA LIVE FOREVER IN HIS PRESENCE. REVELATION 22:12:
"BEHOLD, I'M COMING SOON." LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN. "BEHOLD," JESUS SAID,
"I AM COMING SOON." NOW, YOU KNOW, MY SOON AND
GOD'S SOON, I'VE FOUND OUT, ARE SOMETIMES NOT THE SAME THING. BUT IN THIS INSTANCE, I DON'T
WANT TO ASSUME THAT IT'S SOMETHING HE'S GONNA PUT OFF. "AND I SHALL BRING MY WAGES
AND MY REWARDS WITH ME, TO REPAY AND RENDER TO EACH ONE
JUST WHAT HIS OWN ACTIONS AND HIS OWN WORK MERIT."
NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT
BECAUSE, AS A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE NOT
GONNA BE JUDGED ON OUR SALVATION AS FAR AS I DON'T--I CAN'T WORK
MY WAY INTO HEAVEN. THAT'S A GIFT OF GOD THAT'S
RECEIVED ONLY BY FAITH, EPHESIANS 2:8 AND 9,
BEAUTIFUL SCRIPTURES. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE NOT
RECEIVED CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, THIS SHOULD BRING YOU GREAT
COMFORT TODAY, AND IT SHOULD HELP YOU MAKE A DECISION
TODAY THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA PUT IT OFF ANY LONGER. "FOR IT IS BY FREE GRACE (GOD'S
UNMERITED FAVOR) THAT YOU ARE SAVED (DELIVERED FROM JUDGMENT
AND MADE A PARTAKER OF CHRIST'S SALVATION) AND IT'S THROUGH
[YOUR] FAITH." SO, GOD IS JUST ASKING US
TO BELIEVE. BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOU,
BELIEVE THAT HE PAID FOR YOUR SINS, BELIEVE THAT HE ROSE FROM
THE DEAD, THAT HE IS NOW SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER,
THAT HE LOVES YOU, HE CARES ABOUT YOU, AND THAT BY SIMPLE
FAITH IN HIM, YOUR SINS CAN BE FORGIVEN AND YOUR NAME CAN BE
WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT
I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A BREAK RIGHT HERE AND GIVE A BIG
SHOUT-OUT TO GOD, AMEN? WHAT GOOD NEWS IS THAT. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: "AND IT IS NOT OF
YOURSELVES [IT'S NOT OF YOUR OWN DOING, IT CAME NOT THROUGH
YOUR OWN STRIVING], BUT IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD."
IN OTHER WORDS, WE CAN'T EARN IT, WE CAN'T DESERVE IT. THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF GOOD WORKS
ON MY PART OR YOUR PART THAT COULD EVER MAKE ME GOOD ENOUGH
FOR GOD TO SAY, "OKAY, NOW YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH,
I'LL RECEIVE YOU." IT'S ALWAYS THROUGH CHRIST. HE CAME AND DID FOR US WHAT WE
COULD NEVER DO FOR OURSELF. HE CAME AND HE LIVED A PERFECT,
SINLESS LIFE IN A HUMAN BODY AND HE TOOK OUR SINS TO THE CROSS
WITH HIM. "NOT BECAUSE OF ANY WORKS
[OR ANY FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW], LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST."
IN OTHER WORDS, GOD DOESN'T WANT US TO SAY,
"WELL, I DESERVE THAT," OR "I'VE EARNED THAT."
YOU KNOW, NO MATTER HOW GOOD ANY ONE OF US MIGHT BE, WE STILL
CAN'T SAY THAT WE DESERVE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD BECAUSE HIS HOLINESS AND GREATNESS IS SO FAR REMOVED
FROM ANY AMOUNT OF GOODNESS THAT WE COULD EVER DO. AND SO, EVEN PEOPLE THAT ARE
WATCHING TODAY AND YOU JUST THINK, "WELL, I'M A GOOD
PERSON," YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU MIGHT BE, BUT THAT'S STILL
NOT GONNA GET YOU INTO HEAVEN. BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW GOOD WE
ARE, THE BIBLE SAYS IF WE LIVE ACCORDING TO THE LAW,
IF WE DO ONE THING WRONG, THEN WE'RE GUILTY OF DOING
EVERYTHING WRONG. THAT'S WHY WE NEED JESUS. WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY,
WHETHER YOU'RE BORN AGAIN OR YOU'RE NOT BORN AGAIN,
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY. YOU SEE, IT'S VERY PLAIN THAT A
BELIEVER IS NOT GONNA BE JUDGED ON WHETHER THEY'RE SAVED OR NOT. WHEN YOU STAND BEFORE GOD,
IF HE WERE TO SAY, "WHY SHOULD I LET YOU IN," YOU SIMPLY SAY,
"BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN JESUS," AND THAT'S THE END OF IT. YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE JUDGED
AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GONNA BE SAVED, BUT, AND THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF BELIEVERS REALLY DON'T PONDER
ENOUGH, WE WILL BE JUDGED FOR AND RECEIVE OR LOSE REWARDS
FOR THE WORKS THAT WE HAVE OR HAVE NOT DONE WHILE WE'RE HERE. LET ME SAY IT AGAIN. WE WILL BE JUDGED FOR THE WORKS
THAT WE'VE DONE HERE. AND THE BIBLE ACTUALLY SAYS THAT
ANY WORK THAT WE'VE DONE THAT IS NOT DONE WITH A PURE MOTIVE WILL
BE BURNED UP AND WE WILL LOSE THE REWARD OF IT, EVEN THOUGH
WE OURSELVES WILL BE SAVED. SO I CAN DO ALL KINDS OF GOOD
WORKS THAT'S WHY, SEE, YOU MIGHT THINK YOU'RE A REALLY
GOOD PERSON. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU'RE NOT IN CHRIST,
IF YOU'RE NOT A BELIEVER IN CHRIST, NONE OF THAT GOODNESS
IS GONNA COUNT FOR ANYTHING WHEN YOU STAND BEFORE GOD. AND--BUT IT'S COMFORTING FOR ME
TO KNOW THAT I MAY PUT OUT A LOT OF EFFORT HERE AND MAYBE
I LOVE MY ENEMIES AND I'M GOOD TO PEOPLE THAT REALLY AREN'T
VERY EASY TO BE GOOD TO AND, YOU KNOW, I GIVE FINANCIALLY
INTO THE KINGDOM AND, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE WE SEE REWARDS HERE. BUT IF WE DON'T SEE HERE WHAT
WE THINK WE SHOULD SEE, THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS WE ARE GOING
TO SEE IT WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL HAVE
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WONDERFUL REWARD STORED UP FOR US AND, TO
BE HONEST, I DON'T WANNA GET TO HEAVEN AND FIND OUT THAT I HAD
ALL THIS STUFF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BENEFIT TO ME BUT I JUST
LOST OUT BECAUSE I WASTED MY TIME OR I'M A BELIEVER IN CHRIST
BUT I SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE BEING ANGRY AT SOMEBODY THAT DID
SOMETHING WRONG TO ME WHEN I WAS A CHILD. SO, FOR A BELIEVER, IT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF OBEDIENCE AND HOW EACH
ONE OF US NEEDS TO WORK WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO STRIVE TO DO
EVERYTHING THAT GOD WANTS US TO DO AND TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE
PROMPTINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. I READ A STATEMENT RECENTLY
AND I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LIKE THIS. IT SAID, "NOBODY NEEDS TO BE
AFRAID OF FAILURE, WHAT WE NEED TO BE MORE AFRAID OF IS THAT
WE MIGHT SUCCEED AT DOING SOMETHING USELESS."
IS THAT NOT GOOD? MATTER OF FACT, I THINK THAT
BEARS REPEATING. WE DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID
OF FAILURE. WHAT WE NEED TO FEAR IS SPENDING
OUR LIVES DOING SOMETHING, SUCCEEDING AT DOING
SOMETHING USELESS. BOY, I LOVE THAT. DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE
HERE ON THE EARTH. PSALM 119:19: "I AM A STRANGER
AND A TEMPORARY RESIDENT ON THE EARTH; HIDE NOT YOUR
COMMANDMENTS FROM ME." YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT OUR HOME. IF YOU'RE NOT REAL COMFORTABLE
HERE, IT STANDS TO REASON THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE. MATTER OF FACT, I THINK IF
YOU'RE TOO COMFORTABLE HERE, THAT INDICATES THAT THERE MIGHT
BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM. WE'RE MERELY PASSING THROUGH. THIS IS NOT OUR HOME. WE'RE PASSING THROUGH. WE HAVE A JOB TO DO WHILE WE'RE
HERE AND THAT'S TO REPRESENT CHRIST IN THE EARTH, SO PEOPLE
MIGHT SEE HIM THROUGH US. I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE, "IF GOD
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR US TO DO AFTER WE'RE BORN AGAIN,
HE WOULD JUST SAY, 'WELL, COME ON HOME NOW,'
AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THIS STUFF HERE."
BUT HE LEAVES US HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A JOB TO DO FOR HIM. WE'RE PARTNERS WITH GOD AND
WE'RE PARTNERING WITH HIM IN THE EARTH, DOING HIS WILL, LETTING
PEOPLE SEE JESUS THROUGH US. AND SO I BELIEVE, THIS IS
SOMETHING I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR THE LAST YEAR, WE NEED TO SPEND
MOST OF OUR HERE TIME GETTING READY FOR THERE. BUT YOU KNOW, EVEN AS BELIEVERS,
I THINK IF WE'RE HONEST ABOUT IT, HOW MUCH TIME DO WE EVEN
SPEND THINKING ABOUT ETERNITY? HOW MUCH TIME DO WE REALLY EVEN
SPEND THINKING ABOUT, "I'M GONNA MEET THE LORD FACE TO FACE
SOME DAY, AND HE'S GONNA ASK FOR AN ACCOUNTING OF MY LIFE"? AND NONE OF US ARE GONNA GIVE
A PERFECT ACCOUNTING, BUT IT DOESN'T NEED TO FRIGHTEN US
BECAUSE IF WE'VE JUST DONE THE BEST WE COULD FOR THE GLORY
OF GOD, THEN THAT'S GONNA COUNT FOR EVERYTHING. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I HAD
TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING IN MYSELF AND I REALLY GOT AN ANSWER
ONLY ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. AND THAT IS, IS THAT IT SEEMS
LIKE I FIND THIS LOW-LEVEL DISCONTENT IN ME SOMETIMES. NO MATTER WHAT I HAVE,
NO MATTER WHAT I'M DOIN', NO MATTER HOW GOOD LIFE IS,
THERE'S STILL, KIND OF LIKE, THIS "THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE
THAT I WANT AND I DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHAT IT IS."
AND YOU KNOW, PAUL SAID, "I'VE LEARNED TO BE CONTENT IN ALL
THINGS," AND SO I GOT A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED WITH MYSELF
BECAUSE I THOUGHT, "NOW, I SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE THAT. I'VE GOT A GREAT LIFE,
GREAT FAMILY, PEOPLE THAT LOVE ME, NICE HOME. WHY WOULD I FEEL LIKE THIS?"
WELL, THE ANSWER IS IN THE BIBLE. IN ECCLESIASTES 3:11,
"HE HAS MADE EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME. AND HE HAS PLANTED ETERNITY
IN MEN'S HEARTS AND MINDS," NOW LISTEN TO THIS, "[A DIVINELY
IMPLANTED SENSE OF A PURPOSE WORKING THROUGH THE AGES WHICH
NOTHING UNDER THE SUN BUT GOD ALONE CAN SATISFY]."
IS THAT NOT BEAUTIFUL? SO, IN OTHER WORDS, TO BE VERY
HONEST, GETTING A NEW CAR SHOULDN'T TOTALLY SATISFY US. GETTING THE JOB OF OUR DREAMS
SHOULD NOT TOTALLY SATISFY US. MARRYING THE BEST-LOOKING MAN
ON THE PLANET SHOULD NOT TOTALLY SATISFY US. BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING DEEP
IN OUR HEARTS THAT WE KNOW WE STILL CAN NEVER HAVE HERE, AND
THAT'S SEEING JESUS FACE TO FACE AND LIVING IN HIS PRESENCE,
AMEN? SO, I WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT YOU IF YOU SAID, "MAN, I AM TOTALLY SATISFIED HERE. LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE
THE EARTH, LOVE THE WORLD, LOVE MY STUFF."
I'D BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT YOU IF YOU SAID THAT TO ME THAN
IF YOU SAID, "YOU KNOW, JOYCE, I'VE GOT A GREAT LIFE. I MEAN, GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD
TO ME, BUT THERE'S STILL JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING THERE THAT
I FEEL LIKE I'M MISSING." DO ANY OF YOU EVER
FEEL THAT WAY? DO YOU JUST WONDER WHY IS
IT THAT NO MATTER WHAT I GET, IT CAN'T SATISFY ME FOR VERY LONG? AND SEE, THE THING THAT
THE ENEMY HOLDS UP IN FRONT OF PEOPLE AND IT HAPPENS TO
BELIEVERS, BUT IT REALLY HAPPENS TO UNBELIEVERS, IS IF THEY'RE
UNHAPPY, THEY THINK, "JUST THIS ONE MORE THING."
IF THEY CAN GET THIS ONE MORE THING, THEN THEY'RE GONNA
BE HAPPY. BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME LOUD
AND CLEAR TODAY. THINGS, SUCCESS, FAME, FORTUNE,
THEY DO NOT AND NEVER WILL HAVE AN ABILITY TO KEEP YOU HAPPY
LONG-TERM. BECAUSE THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING
FOR OUR SPIRIT. THEY MAY GET MY FLESH EXCITED. I MEAN, I CAN SEE SOMETHING NEW,
A NEW OUTFIT. IT'S, LIKE, WHOO! I CAN GET GOOSEBUMPS AND GET ALL
EXCITED, LIKE ANY OTHER WOMAN, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S GONNA WEAR OUT. AND ACTUALLY, THE TRUTH IS,
NOW LISTEN TO THIS, EVERYTHING THAT WE BUY AND BRING HOME, IT'S
ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF DECAY WHEN YOU BRING IT IN YOUR HOUSE. AND IT HAS NO REAL LIFE IN IT. IT DOESN'T HAVE LIFE IN IT. LIFE COMES FROM GOD
AND GOD ALONE. HE IS LIFE AND, IN HIM,
IS THE LIFE THAT WE NEED. AND IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT
THINGS WEAR OUT, JUST GO TO A NICE JUNKYARD. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: SEE, I'VE DONE THIS. GO SIT, PARK YOUR CAR,
LOOK AT A JUNKYARD AND JUST SAY, "THAT WAS SOMEBODY'S DREAM
AT ONE TIME. SOMEBODY MAY HAVE LOST
THEIR FAMILY OVER THAT. SOMEBODY MAY HAVE LOST
THEIR SALVATION OVER THAT." THINGS ARE NOT NEARLY WHAT
THE ENEMY WANTS US TO THINK THAT THEY ARE. AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER
SCRIPTURE IN PHILIPPIANS 3:20: "WE ARE CITIZENS OF THE STATE
(AND THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE HOMELAND) WHICH IS HEAVEN, AND
FROM IT ALSO WE EARNESTLY AND PATIENTLY AWAIT [THE COMING OF]
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO IS OUR SAVIOR."
WE'RE CREATED FOR GOD, FOR GOD ALONE, AND NOTHING IN ALL
OF THIS WORLD COULD EVER SATISFY US TOTALLY EXCEPT HIM. NOW, WELL, WHAT SHOULD
OUR ATTITUDE BE TOWARD MATERIAL THINGS? YOU KNOW, THINGS, RIGHT NOW,
I KNOW THAT I'M TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IF YOU'VE LEFT
THE TV ON LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR ALL THIS MESSAGE,
I'M TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE LETTING THINGS
KEEP YOU AWAY FROM GOD. AND TO BE HONEST,
THERE'S EVEN BELIEVERS LISTENING, PEOPLE WHO
HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, YOU'RE BORN AGAIN, BUT
YOU'RE TOO BUSY CHASING AFTER THINGS OR PROMOTION AT WORK
OR MORE OF THIS OR MORE OF THAT, TOO BUSY TO GIVE GOD THE TIME
THAT HE REALLY DESERVES, BECAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE
IS TO BE FIRST IN ALL THINGS. AND I WAS JUST LOOKING AT
1 JOHN 5:21 YESTERDAY WHERE IT SAYS WE ARE TO
"KEEP OURSELVES FROM IDOLS." WE KEEP OURSELVES FROM
LETTING ANYTHING ELSE GET IN FRONT OF GOD. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
ALL HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES OR MAYBE EVEN WORK AT A LITTLE BIT. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ASK ME QUITE
FREQUENTLY, "HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES IN YOUR LIFE
STRAIGHT, WITH ALL YOU HAVE TO DO?"
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I FINALLY-- I FINALLY JUST GOT THE GREAT
ANSWER FROM GOD, "I DON'T KEEP 'EM STRAIGHT,
I'M ALWAYS STRAIGHTENING THEM OUT."
IN OTHER WORDS, WE HAVE TO PRETTY CONSTANTLY MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS SO I CAN--IF I FIND MYSELF UNHAPPY AND THERE DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE REALLY ANY REASON FOR ME TO BE UNHAPPY, USUALLY
IT'S BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN MY PRIORITIES OUT OF LINE. IF I FIND MYSELF EXHAUSTED ALL
THE TIME, AND IF I HEAR MYSELF COMPLAINING ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HEAR OURSELVES
COMPLAINING ALL THE TIME AS BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST,
WE NEED TO SAY, "NOW, WHAT IS THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM?"
AND A LOT OF TIMES, THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT WE NEED
MORE OF SOMETHING ELSE, IT'S MAYBE THAT WE'VE LET
THE SOMETHING ELSE BECOME MORE IMPORTANT TO US THAN
WHAT IT SHOULD BE. MATTHEW 6:33: "SEEK FIRST
THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND WHAT--ALL
OF THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO US."
NOW, GOD'S NOT AGAINST US HAVING THINGS. HE CREATED BEAUTY. HE WANTS US TO HAVE
BEAUTIFUL THINGS. HE WANTS HIS CHILDREN
TO BE BLESSED. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN
TRUST GOD TO DO IS NOT GIVE US MORE AT ANY SEASON IN OUR LIFE
THAN WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO HANDLE AND KEEP HIM FIRST. SO IF YOU'RE BELIEVING GOD
FOR SOMETHING AND IT'S NOT COME YOUR WAY YET, TRUST GOD THAT HIS
TIMING IS PERFECT IN YOUR LIFE AND BELIEVE THAT HE NOT ONLY
WATCHES OVER US IN OUR LIVES, BUT HE KNOWS WHAT WE CAN HANDLE
AND WHAT WE CAN'T HANDLE AND THANK GOD HE'S NOT GONNA
GIVE US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE. AND I'VE LEARNED TO PRAY
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. I DON'T PRAY, "GOD,
GIVE ME THIS, GIVE ME THAT, GIVE ME SOMETHING ELSE."
I ALWAYS SAY, "GOD, THIS IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE, BUT PLEASE
DON'T GIVE ME ANY MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE
AND KEEP YOU FIRST IN MY LIFE." SEE, I LOVE THAT BECAUSE
I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO COME BEFORE GOD. YOU KNOW WHY I DON'T? BECAUSE THIS IS NOT
MY FINAL HOME. I'M GONNA FACE GOD SOME DAY AND
I DON'T WANNA HAVE TO BE ASHAMED BECAUSE I LET EVERYTHING
HERE BE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN HE WAS, AMEN? AUDIENCE: AMEN. JOYCE: I DON'T THINK GOD
CARES HOW MUCH WE HAVE AS LONG AS WE CAN KEEP HIM FIRST. I MEAN THAT. I THINK ANYBODY THAT CAN KEEP
GOD FIRST IN THEIR LIFE, YOU MIGHT BE AMAZED, GOD WILL
JUST PROBABLY, AS WE SAY, BLESS YOUR SOCKS OFF. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: LUKE 12:15: "AND HE
SAID TO THEM, GUARD YOURSELVES," SEE, HERE WE'RE GETTING
A JOB AGAIN. "GUARD YOURSELVES AND KEEP FREE
FROM ALL COVETOUSNESS (THE IMMODERATE DESIRE FOR WEALTH,
AND THE GREEDY LONGINGS TO HAVE MORE); FOR A MAN'S LIFE DOES NOT
CONSIST IN AND IT IS NOT DERIVED FROM POSSESSING OVERFLOWING
ABUNDANCE OR THAT WHICH IS OVER AND ABOVE HIS NEEDS."
NOW, THAT SCRIPTURE'S NOT SAYING IT'S WRONG TO HAVE IT. DON'T MISINTERPRET IT, BUT HE
SAYS, "YOUR LIFE IS NOT IN THAT. YOU CAN DO WITHOUT THAT."
SEE, WE HAVE TO LEARN THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CAN DO
WITHOUT BUT THE ONE THING WE CANNOT DO WITHOUT IS HAVING
A RICH, WONDERFUL, SATISFYING RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
IN OUR LIVES. YOU CAN DO WITHOUT THAT NEW
HOUSE THAT YOU WANT THAT YOU SEEM TO BE UNHAPPY RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE, BUT YOU CAN'T DO WITHOUT GOD. SO WE ARE TO KEEP HIM FIRST. A SCRIPTURE THAT IS OFTEN
MISUNDERSTOOD IS 1 TIMOTHY 6:10: "FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY
IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL." IT DOES NOT SAY THAT MONEY
IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. MONEY IS NOT EVIL. WE NEED MONEY TO LIVE
IN THIS EARTH. WE NEED MONEY TO PAY OUR BILLS. AND TO BE HONEST, WE CANNOT EVEN
BE A BLESSING TO THE POOR OR OTHER PEOPLE IF WE DON'T HAVE
MONEY TO DO IT WITH. SO, GOD WANTS US TO HAVE OUR
NEEDS MET, AND HE WANTS US TO HAVE AN ABUNDANCE BESIDES
THAT AS LONG AS WE CAN HANDLE IT FAITHFULLY. AND THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED
TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE OWNERS OF NOTHING AND STEWARDS
OF EVERYTHING, AMEN? WE DON'T OWN ANYTHING. IT'S NOT MY THIS, MY THAT,
MY SOMETHING ELSE. I WOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY ZERO,
NOTHING, EXCEPT THAT GOD GRACIOUSLY GAVE ME SOMETHING. BUT HE'S GIVING IT TO US
AS A STEWARD TO WATCH OVER UNTIL HE CALLS US HOME. THE BIBLE TELLS US VERY PLAINLY,
"DON'T LOVE OR CHERISH THE WORLD, NOR THE THINGS
THAT ARE IN THE WORLD. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD,
THE CRAVINGS OF THE FLESH, LUSTFUL LONGINGS,"
IT ALL BELONGS TO THE EARTH. "THESE THINGS DO NOT COME
FROM THE FATHER BUT THEY COME FROM THE WORLD [ITSELF]."
YOU KNOW, JESUS IS COMING SOON AND I WANNA LEAVE YOU
WITH THAT THOUGHT TODAY. BUT I DON'T WANNA LEAVE YOU THE
WAY I FOUND YOU IF YOU'RE NOT IN A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. JESUS IS COMING SOON, AND THERE
WILL BE A TIME WHEN YOU WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNTING
FOR YOUR LIFE. I ALREADY READ YOU A SCRIPTURE
THAT SAID WE'RE SAVED BY GRACE, NOT BY WORKS. THERE IS NO PIT SO DEEP
THAT GOD CAN'T REACH DOWN IN IT AND LIFT YOU OUT TODAY. HE LOVES YOU, HE'S LONGING FOR
A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU, AND IF YOU'RE TIRED, YOU'RE WEARY,
YOU'RE WORN OUT, YOU FEEL HOPELESS, TODAY CAN BE A
COMPLETE TURNAROUND DAY FOR YOU. TODAY, ACTUALLY, IS THE
BEGINNING OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE AND YOU CAN LIVE IT IN A
BRAND NEW WAY AND LIVE IT FOR GOD. IF YOU'RE ALREADY A BELIEVER
IN CHRIST, BUT YOU JUST KIND OF HAVE GOD IN A LITTLE SUNDAY
MORNING BOX AND YOU GO TO CHURCH ONCE A WEEK AND YOU PRAY
WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS, THERE'S SOMETHING SO MUCH
BETTER FOR YOU THAN THAT. WHY NOT MAKE A DECISION TODAY
THAT YOU'RE GONNA LIVE LIKE YOU REALLY BELIEVE YOU'RE GONNA
STAND BEFORE GOD SOMEDAY AND GIVE AN ACCOUNTING
FOR YOUR LIFE? IF YOU NEED TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS,
TODAY IS THE DAY TO DO IT. IF YOU'RE NOT BORN AGAIN,
IF YOU'VE NOT RECEIVED JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR, FIRST OF ALL I'M
GONNA PRAY WITH YOU BUT THERE IS A NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN. WE'D LIKE YOU TO CALL IT. WE HAVE A BOOK THAT WE'D LIKE
TO GIVE YOU CALLED "A NEW WAY OF LIVING."
IT'LL HELP YOU GET YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD STARTED
RIGHT, AND IT'LL KEEP YOU ON TRACK AND IT'S FREE. WE'RE JUST GONNA GIVE IT TO
YOU TODAY. TODAY'S PROGRAM IS ABOUT YOU AND
MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE GONNA BE IN HEAVEN AND NOT IN HELL
WHEN YOUR TIME HERE IS UP. SO IF YOU WANNA
RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, IF YOU'RE SERIOUS AND
YOU MEAN IT, PRAY THIS SIMPLE LITTLE PRAYER WITH ME. I'LL PRAY A LINE,
YOU PRAY OUT AFTER ME. "FATHER, I LOVE YOU. JESUS, I BELIEVE THAT
YOU'RE THE SON OF GOD. YOU ARE GOD YOURSELF. YOU DIED FOR ME,
YOU PAID FOR MY SIN. YOU ROSE FROM THE DEAD,
AND YOU'RE ALIVE RIGHT NOW. I GIVE MYSELF TO YOU. TAKE ME JUST THE WAY I AM AND
MAKE ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE. I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN,
AND TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE, AMEN."
NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE QUESTIONS. THAT'S WHY THAT NUMBER'S
ON YOUR SCREEN. YOU CAN CALL AND OUR PEOPLE
ARE STANDING BY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. IF YOU NEED MORE PRAYER, WE'D
BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PRAY WITH YOU ABOUT ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE. AND I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER
THAT GOD LOVES YOU SO MUCH, SO MUCH THAT HE SENT
HIS ONLY SON TO DIE FOR YOU. AND IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE
GIVE HIM THE ATTENTION THAT HE DESERVES. MAKE SURE WHEN JESUS COMES THAT
YOU'RE GONNA BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THE REST OF ETERNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
WITH US AND GOD BLESS YOU. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] MALE: I GET TO HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM, NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING
I'VE DONE OR WHO I AM, BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS. FEMALE: I'M STARTING
TO EXPERIENCE ALL THE THINGS HE DIED FOR. MALE: IT'S SOMETHING REALLY
THAT YOU FEEL AND IT'S IN YOUR HEART. AND WHEN YOU DO, IT'S AMAZING. ANNOUNCER: BEGIN YOUR NEW WAY
OF LIVING WITH THIS FREE BOOK FROM JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
AND GAIN CONFIDENCE AND UNDERSTANDING
OF YOUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST. SIMPLY CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE. IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE
AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD. GINGER: HEY FRIENDS,
GRAB YOUR FUZZY SLIPPERS, YOUR COZY LOUNGEWEAR,
AND YOUR BEST GIRLS FOR A NIGHT OF FUN AND ENCOURAGEMENT
AT OUR, FIRST EVER, LOVE LIFE GIRLS' NIGHT
IN WITH JOYCE. IT'S AN INTERACTIVE LIVE
STREAMING EVENT WITH SWEET WORSHIP FROM KARI JOBE
AND CODY CARNES, A LIVE TALK IT OUT PODCAST,
AND JOYCE IS TEACHING US TO OVERCOME FEAR. ALL WE NEED NOW, IS YOU. JOIN US FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 11th AT 7PM CENTRAL TIME. CALL YOUR GIRLFRIENDS
AND REGISTER TODAY. IT'S ONLY $10 WITH PROCEEDS
GOING TO PROJECTGRL. JOYCE: JUST TO HAVE SOME
HONEST, OPEN DISCUSSION WITH FRIENDS. GINGER: YOU'RE PART OF THIS
GROUP TOO, SO THERE'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. [CHATTING & LAUGHING]
JOYCE: JUST GIVE ME A CALL AND WE'LL TALK IT OUT. GINGER: CHECK OUT
JOYCE'S NEWEST PODCAST AND TALK IT OUT. JOYCEMEYER.ORG/TALKITOUT. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU
ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE
POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER
MINISTRIES.
