ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: FEAR CAUSES US TO SHRINK BACK.
THE MORE FEAR WE HAVE, THE SMALLER OUR SOUL BECOMES,
JUST BECOMES LIKE A LITTLE DRIED UP PRUNE INSIDE OF US INSTEAD
OF FEELING FULL OF COURAGE, AND LIFE, AND CREATIVITY.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: HAVE YOU SET YOURSELF TO BE CHRISTLIKE?
HAVE YOU SET YOURSELF TO LET GOD COMPLETELY CHANGE
AND TRANSFORM YOU?
HAVE YOU MADE A DECISION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO REALLY GET TO
KNOW GOD THROUGH STUDYING HIS WORD, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE
SATISFIED TO LIVE SOME KIND OF A MEDIOCRE, HALF-BAKED, BUMPER
STICKER, CHRISTIAN JEWELRY LIFE WITH NO FRUIT BEHIND IT TO
BACK IT UP?
COME ON, WE'RE THE ARMY OF GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE NEED TO BE WELL-TRAINED,
WELL-EXERCISED, WELL-PRACTICED, UP AND READY FOR ANYTHING.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: FEAR MEANS TO TAKE FLIGHT OR TO RUN AWAY FROM.
THAT'S WHAT THE WORD MEANS, TO TAKE FLIGHT OR TO RUN AWAY FROM.
SO ACTUALLY, EVERY TIME YOU SEE IN THE BIBLE "FEAR NOT," WHICH
IS ALL OVER THE BIBLE, "FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU.
FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU.
FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU.
FEAR NOT, FOR I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU."
THAT'S THE MAIN REASON THAT THE BIBLE GIVES FOR
US NOT FEARING IS TO KNOW THAT GOD IS WITH US.
AND THAT IF HE'S WITH US, HE LOVES US, AND HE WILL TAKE CARE
OF US, AMEN?
AND I'M TELLING YOU, NO MATTER WHAT COMES DOWN IN THE WORLD IN
THE YEARS AHEAD, GOD LOVES YOU, HE'S WITH YOU, AND HE WILL TAKE
CARE OF YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO HANG ONTO THIS
BECAUSE NONE OF US KNOW FOR SURE WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN IN SOCIETY.
WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT IN THIS COUNTRY CHRISTIANS COULD BE
PERSECUTED?
AND YET, WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY, AMEN?
I MEAN, A YOUNG PERSON IN COLLEGE TODAY, IF THEY STAND UP
AND DECLARE THAT THEY'RE A CHRISTIAN, THERE'S NO TELLING
US WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR.
AND SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE THEN WILL JUST SHRINK BACK IN FEAR
AND BE QUIET.
I AM NOT GOING TO SHUT UP BECAUSE THE DEVIL IS ON
A RAMPAGE.
JESUS SAID, "IF YOU CONFESS ME IN FRONT OF PEOPLE, I WILL
CONFESS YOU IN FRONT OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN."
LET'S DON'T GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND BE A CHRISTIAN,
AND THE REST OF THE WEEK LIVE IN THE CLOSET.
AMEN?
WE'RE BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
GOD IS GOOD.
HE'S ALIVE AND WELL.
AND WE DON'T NEED TO START ACTING DIFFERENT NOW JUST
BECAUSE THE WORLD SAYS THAT WE SHOULD.
IT'S NOT POLITICALLY CORRECT ANYMORE TO TALK ABOUT GOD
OUT LOUD.
FEAR PRODUCES FEELINGS OF SHAKINESS, DRY MOUTH,
HEART PALPITATIONS.
IT COMES WITH THOUGHTS OF DISASTER AND A FUTURE FILLED
WITH DREADFUL THINGS THAT GOD SAYS OVER AND OVER, "FEAR NOT,
FOR I AM WITH YOU."
REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT NOT HAVING THE FEELING OF
FEAR, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT LETTING IT STOP YOU.
GOD NEEDS FAITH TO WORK WITH.
WHEN FEAR KNOCKS ON YOUR DOOR, SEND FAITH TO ANSWER.
FEAR CAUSES US TO SHRINK BACK.
THE MORE FEAR WE HAVE, THE SMALLER OUR SOUL BECOMES, JUST
BECOMES LIKE A LITTLE DRIED UP PRUNE INSIDE OF US INSTEAD OF
FEELING FULL OF COURAGE, AND LIFE, AND CREATIVITY.
SATAN WANTS US TO SHRINK BACK IN FEAR AND LIVE LITTLE, TINY,
USELESS LIVES.
BUT GOD WANTS US TO BE BRAVE AND BOLD.
AND IN HEBREWS 10:38, THE WORD ACTUALLY SAYS THAT IF YOU SHRINK
BACK IN FEAR, GOD'S SAYING, "IF YOU SHRINK BACK IN FEAR,
MY SOUL HAS NO DELIGHT IN YOU."
THAT'S NOT WHAT PLEASES GOD.
"BUT THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.
[MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT SHALL LIVE BY HIS CONVICTION RESPECTING
MAN'S RELATIONSHIP TO GOD AND DIVINE THINGS AND HOLY FERVOR
BORN OF FAITH AND CONJOINED WITH IT].
AND IF HE DRAWS BACK AND SHRINKS IN FEAR, MY SOUL HAS NO DELIGHT
OR PLEASURE IN HIM."
I TELL THE STORY SOMETIMES OF THE FIRST SIZABLE SPEAKING
ENGAGEMENT I EVER HAD.
AND THERE WERE ABOUT 900 PEOPLE THERE THAT NIGHT.
IT LOOKED LIKE 9 MILLION TO ME.
AND I'D BEEN INVITED KIND OF AS A FLUKY THING BECAUSE A SPEAKER
CANCELLED, AND SOMEBODY WHO KNEW SOMEBODY WHO KNEW SOMEBODY WHO
KNEW SOMEBODY KNEW ME.
SO, IT WASN'T LIKE I WAS ANYBODY'S FIRST CHOICE.
IT WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE, "WELL, JOYCE IS LEFT.
WE'LL BRING HER."
AND I WAS ONLY A WORKSHOP SPEAKER, I WASN'T DOING
A MAIN SESSION.
AND SO, THAT REALLY KIND OF MEANT I WASN'T ONE OF
THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE.
AND THEY HAD ALL THE SPEAKERS ON THE FRONT ROW, AND EVERYBODY
THERE WAS A DOCTOR AND A REVEREND AND A--THEY ALL HAVE
BIG TITLES, AND I WAS JUST JOYCE FROM FENTON.
YOU KNOW, LIKE NOBODY FROM NOWHERE, AMEN?
AND THEY WANTED US TO--THE WORKSHOP SPEAKERS TO GET UP
AND SHARE WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT DAY TO
ENCOURAGE--LET PEOPLE KIND OF DECIDE WHAT WORKSHOP THEY WANTED
TO COME TO.
AND WHEN I GOT UP TO TALK, I WAS SO SCARED THAT I COULDN'T GET
MY VOICE TO WORK.
I OPENED MY MOUTH AND A SQUEAK CAME OUT.
AND I'M TELLING YOU WHAT, RIGHT THEN I WANTED TO RUN.
I MEAN, THE DEVIL WAS SHOUTING IN MY EAR, "YOU NEED TO GO BACK
TO FENTON WHERE YOU CAME FROM, AND DON'T EVER COME OUT OF
THERE AGAIN."
AND I HAD A CHOICE TO MAKE.
AND ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BE FACED WITH CHOICES IN OUR LIFE
ON A REGULAR BASIS.
IF YOU WANT TO FULFILL YOUR DESTINY, IF YOU WANT TO BE ALL
THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO BE, THEN YOU HAVE TO STOP CARING WHAT
PEOPLE THINK.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO, THE DEVIL'S
GOING TO PROVIDE SOMEBODY THAT DON'T LIKE IT.
AND IT MAY VERY LIKELY BE SOMEBODY THAT MEANS A LOT TO YOU
BECAUSE IT REALLY DOESN'T BOTHER YOU MUCH IF IT'S SOMEBODY YOU
DON'T CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT.
BUT IF IT'S SOMEBODY YOU LOVE AND SOMEBODY WHOSE ADMIRATION
YOU WANT, THEN IT GETS REALLY HARD.
AND TO BE HONEST, WE GOT TO BE WILLING, IF NEED BE, TO WALK
AWAY FROM EVERY OTHER HUMAN BEING IN ORDER TO HAVE THE
FULLNESS OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.
JOHN 12:42 AND 43 SAYS THAT MANY OF THE JEWS BELIEVED IN JESUS,
BUT THEY WOULD NOT CONFESS IT FOR FEAR OF BEING PUT OUT OF
THE SYNAGOGUE.
ISN'T THAT PITIFUL?
I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE TODAY WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
A FULL ON, RADICAL, OUTRAGEOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: AND YET, IT MIGHT NOT BE POPULAR
IN THEIR RELIGIOUS CIRCLES, OR IT MIGHT NOT BE POPULAR WITH
THEIR FRIENDS, AND SO THEY CHOOSE TO KEEP THE PEOPLE HAPPY.
AND INSIDE, THEY'RE EMPTY THEMSELVES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A GOOD EXAMPLE ABOUT WHAT FEAR DOES TO US IN
THE STORY OF THE THREE STEWARDS WHO WERE GIVEN TALENTS FROM
THEIR MASTER.
IT'S IN MATTHEW 25, I'M NOT GOING TO TURN THERE,
I'LL JUST REMIND YOU OF IT.
AND THE THREE OF THESE MEN WERE EACH GIVEN DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF
TALENT ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITY TO HANDLE THEM.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT GOD NEVER GIVES US MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN
HANDLE, BUT HE DOES EXPECT US TO DO SOMETHING WITH WHAT HE HAS
GIVEN US, AMEN?
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALENTS I DIDN'T
HAVE, BUT I CAN TALK.
AND I'M MAXIMIZING THAT GIFT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SO, ONE MAN WAS GIVEN FIVE TALENTS, AND HE WENT
AND INVESTED THOSE FIVE.
AND WHEN THE MASTER CAME BACK TO TAKE AN ACCOUNTING, HE GAVE HIM
BACK HIS FIVE PLUS FIVE MORE, AND THE MASTER SAID, "WELL DONE,
THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD."
THE SECOND MAN RECEIVED TWO TALENTS.
HE INVESTED THEM AND BROUGHT THE MASTER BACK TWO MORE.
"WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT.
ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD."
BUT THE MAN WHO GOT ONE ACTUALLY PROVED THAT HE DIDN'T
EVEN--COULDN'T EVEN REALLY HANDLE THE ONE, ALTHOUGH GOD
GAVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE WHEN THE MASTER CAME BACK,
HE SAID, "I HID.
I WAS AFRAID AND I HID YOUR TALENT."
AND HE DIDN'T GET A PAT ON THE BACK, "OH, I'M SO SORRY YOU
HAD THAT FEAR IN YOUR LIFE."
I MEAN, HE WAS REBUKED BY JESUS.
"YOU WICKED, LAZY, IDLE SERVANT."
AND HE TOOK AWAY FROM HIM THE ONE THAT HE HAD AND GAVE IT
TO SOMEBODY ELSE.
SO, HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE, YOU USE IT OR YOU LOSE IT, AMEN?
AND SO, WE CAN'T LIVE OUR LIVES IN FEAR AND DREAD OF WHAT'S
GOING ON AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
NOW, THIS IS A TIME FOR US TO BEGIN TO USE OUR TALENTS.
BECAUSE EVERY ONE OF YOU, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS SOMETHING
TO CONTRIBUTE IN SOCIETY.
EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS A MINISTRY, EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS
AN ANOINTING FROM GOD.
I SAID EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS A MINISTRY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I JUST--I JUST LOVE TO THINK ABOUT
WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF EVERY BELIEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHO
THEY ARE IN CHRIST AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE, AND WE WOULD
STOP SHRINKING BACK IN FEAR.
AND WE WOULD JUST GET OUT IN THE MIDST OF OUR WORLD, YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE YOU GO TO THE MARKETPLACE, WHERE YOU SHOP,
WHERE YOU GO TO SCHOOL, WHERE YOU GO TO CHURCH, AND WE WOULD
SIMPLY DO WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE."
WHATEVER--STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN'T DO, AND START
USING WHAT YOU CAN DO.
COME ON, THINK, THINK, THINK, AND GET A LITTLE BIT CREATIVE
ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE.
EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE, I PRAY TO GOD WILL USE ME TO MAKE
SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE BETTER.
EVERY MORNING, I PRAY THAT GOD WILL PUT SOMEBODY IN FRONT OF ME
THAT I CAN HELP, SOMEBODY THAT I CAN BE A BLESSING TO, AND I'M
NOT TALKING ABOUT ON TV OR IN THE PULPIT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ME PERSONALLY AS I'M OUT AND ABOUT IN MY
WORLD, WHO CAN I HELP AND WHO CAN I BLESS?
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MIGHT SEE YOUR
GOOD WORKS AND WHAT?
GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.
THE REASON WHY PEOPLE DISRESPECT CHRISTIANITY AND WHY SO MANY
PEOPLE ARE FALLING AWAY FROM GOD IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T SEE
CHRISTIANS BEHAVING LIKE CHRISTIANS.
AMEN?
AND WE ARE IN DESPERATE TIMES.
DESPERATE TIMES.
THE TIME IS SHORT, THE HOUR IS LATE.
AND JESUS SAID WE MUST BE WORKING THE WORKS OF GOD
WHILE THERE'S STILL DAYLIGHT AND WE CAN, AMEN?
YOU'RE THE SALT OF THE EARTH, BUT IF SALT HAS LOST ITS FLAVOR,
HOW CAN ITS SALTINESS BE RESTORED?
IT'S GOOD FOR NOTHING BUT TO BE THROWN OUT AND TRODDEN
UNDERFOOT.
I DON'T WANT TO BE A GOOD FOR NOTHING CHRISTIAN.
I DON'T WANT TO JUST HAVE A BUMPER STICKER ON MY CAR AND
WHILE I SPEED DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
"YOU'RE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
A CITY SET ON A HILL CANNOT BE HIDDEN.
NOR DO MEN LIGHT A LAMP AND PUT IT UNDER A PECK-MEASURE, BUT ON
A LAMPSTAND AND IT GIVES LIGHT TO EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE."
VERSE 16, "LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY
SEE YOUR MORAL EXCELLENCE AND YOUR PRAISE WORTHY NOBLE
AND GOOD DEEDS, AND RECOGNIZE AND HONOR
AND PRAISE AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN."
BUT YOU KNOW THE THING I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THOSE VERSES
RIGHT BEFORE THAT?
THE 2 VERSES BEFORE I STARTED IN 13, THEY'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT
HOW WE'RE BLESSED WHEN WE'RE PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.
SO, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY FOR
THE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST'S SAKE,
FOR GREAT IS THEIR REWARD IN HEAVEN.
OH, AND BY THE WAY, REMEMBER, YOU'RE THE SALT OF THE EARTH,
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
SO, GET OUT THERE AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE, EVEN IN THE MIDST
OF PERSECUTION.
AND YOU KNOW, FOR SOME OF YOU, PERSECUTION JUST AMOUNTS TO
MAYBE YOUR FRIENDS NOT WANTING TO HANG OUT WITH YOU ANYMORE
BECAUSE YOU BECOME A RADICAL, ON FIRE CHRISTIAN.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE FOUND THAT YOUR FRIENDS ARE NOT ALL HAPPY
FOR YOU WHEN YOU GET HOOKED UP WITH JESUS?
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY'S
EXPERIENCE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THE ENEMY USES.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT HEBREWS 13, VERSES 5 AND 6.
"LET YOUR CHARACTER OR YOUR MORAL DISPOSITION BE FREE FROM
THE LOVE OF MONEY [INCLUDING GREED, AVARICE, LUST,
AND CRAVING AFTER EARTHLY POSSESSIONS] AND BE SATISFIED
WITH YOUR PRESENT [CIRCUMSTANCES AND WITH WHAT YOU HAVE];
FOR HE [GOD] HIMSELF HAS SAID," ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?
"I WILL NOT IN ANY WAY FAIL YOU NOR GIVE YOU UP NOR LEAVE YOU
WITHOUT SUPPORT.
[I WILL NOT, I WILL NOT, I WILL NOT, I WILL NOT] IN ANY DEGREE
LEAVE YOU HELPLESS.
I WILL NOT FORSAKE NOR LET [YOU]
DOWN.
I WILL NOT RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU, [MOST ASSUREDLY NOT]."
AND VERSE 6, "SO WE TAKE COURAGE, AND WE ARE ENCOURAGED,
AND WE CONFIDENTLY AND BOLDLY SAY, 'THE LORD IS MY HELPER;
I WILL NOT BE SEIZED WITH ALARM [I WILL NOT FEAR OR DREAD
OR BE TERRIFIED].
WHAT CAN MAN DO UNTO ME?'" AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: CAN I TELL YOU, IF YOU LOSE A FRIEND
OVER YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, YOU'LL SURVIVE.
NOW, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT CONFRONTATION.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IF WE'RE GOING TO
LIVE BOLD, COURAGEOUS LIVES IS BE WILLING TO CONFRONT THE
THINGS THAT WE NEED TO CONFRONT.
IF I SAID TO YOU TODAY, HOW MANY OF YOU DON'T LIKE CONFRONTATION,
WHO WOULD PUT THEIR HAND UP?
WELL, I MEAN, WHO REALLY DOES?
YOU KNOW?
I MEAN I'M KIND OF A BULLDOG, AND IT MIGHT BE EASIER FOR ME
THAN SOME PEOPLE, BUT I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER.
I DON'T LIKE MAKING PEOPLE MAD.
I DON'T LIKE HURTING PEOPLE, AND I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE
DON'T LIKE ME, NONE OF US DO.
AND SO REALLY, FOR ALL INTENT AND PURPOSES, I DON'T THINK ANY
OF US ARE IN LOVE WITH CONFRONTATION.
IT SEEMS LIKE PEOPLE THAT CONFRONT TOO QUICKLY WITHOUT
EVEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, HOW MANY HAVE THAT
PROBLEM?
OR WE JUST DON'T CONFRONT AT ALL.
AND SO, JUST A FEW THINGS I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF.
ALWAYS BE WILLING TO CONFRONT PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO
CONTROL YOU OR MANIPULATE YOU.
AND THE WORLD'S FULL OF THEM.
ALL THE ENEMY HAS TO FIND IS SOMEBODY THAT HE COULD WORK
THROUGH BECAUSE HE IS A CONTROLLER AND A MANIPULATOR.
MY FATHER WAS A CONTROLLER AND A MANIPULATOR.
THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN HAVING SOMEBODY ALWAYS TRYING TO
RUN YOUR LIFE FOR YOU, WHERE YOU NEVER HAVE ANY FREEDOM, AND
YOU'RE CONSTANTLY BEING TOLD HOW TO ACT, WHAT TO SAY, WHAT TO DO.
AND THE LONGER YOU LET A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THAT GO ON,
THE HARDER IT IS TO GET OUT OF IT.
AND SOME OF YOU ALREADY GOT A PRETTY BIG PROBLEM.
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE
A CHANGE, AND YOU HAVE TO START CONFRONTING THINGS BECAUSE
JESUS DIED TO MAKE US FREE.
HE WHOM THE SON HAS SET FREE IS REALLY, TRULY, AND GENUINELY
FREE.
AND THE ONLY PERSON THAT SHOULD BE CONTROLLING US IS
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
NOW, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT BEING REBELLIOUS AND NOT SUBMITTING TO
AUTHORITY.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEAN.
WE ALL NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SUBMIT TO THE RIGHT AUTHORITY
THAT GOD PUTS OVER US.
BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT WHEN SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO MANIPULATE
YOU AND CONTROL YOU, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE YOU DO
WHAT THEY THINK YOU SHOULD DO.
GALATIANS 1:10, PAUL SAID, "IF I WERE TRYING TO BE POPULAR WITH
PEOPLE, I WOULD NOT NOW BE AN APOSTLE OF
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST."
THAT IS SO GOOD.
AND I CAN ACTUALLY SAY IF I WERE JUST--ONLY CARED ABOUT BEING
POPULAR WITH PEOPLE, WHICH I DO WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE ME, BUT IF
THAT WAS ALL THAT CONCERNED ME, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
AND MANY OF YOU ARE BORDERLINE ON MISSING YOUR DESTINY BECAUSE
YOU'RE OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE THINK.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
HATERS ARE GOING TO HATE, AND COMPLAINERS ARE GOING TO
COMPLAIN.
AND IF THEY'RE PICKING ON YOU, AT LEAST THEY'RE LEAVING
SOMEBODY ELSE ALONE.
JESUS MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION.
HE GOT THAT OVER WITH QUICK SO HE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT
GOD SENT HIM TO DO.
AND THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME PHARISEE WATCHING TO ACCUSE.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, THEN YOU
DON'T HAVE TO BE OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ACCUSATIONS
OF OTHER PEOPLE.
THAT'S PART OF BEING COURAGEOUS.
IN ACTS 5:29, I WENT TO A CHURCH ONE TIME, AND THE PASTOR I THINK
PREACHED ON THIS FOR 3 MONTHS, AND SO I'LL NEVER FORGET
ACTS 5:29.
"WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MAN."
AND THESE APOSTLES WERE BEING THREATENED WITH JAIL, AND THEY'D
BEEN TOLD NOT TO PREACH IN THAT NAME.
AND IF YOU DO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BEATEN, AND YOU'RE GOING TO
BE PUT IN JAIL.
AND HERE THEY ARE OUT PREACHING.
AND WHEN THEY CAME TO THEM AND SAID, "WE TOLD YOU NOT TO DO
THAT," THEY SAID, "WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MAN."
COME ON, THAT'S A GOOD SCRIPTURE FOR YOU TO HANG ONTO.
WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MAN.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF YOU'RE LEFT WITH NOBODY BUT GOD,
YOU STILL GOT THE BEST DEAL.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DON'T GIVE UP YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
TO KEEP A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT PROBABLY DON'T CARE
ANYTHING ABOUT YOU ANYWAY.
CONFRONT YOUR PAST.
MY FATHER SEXUALLY ABUSED ME, AND IT WAS LIKE THE BIG SECRET
IN THE HOUSE.
IT WAS LIKE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
IT WAS LIKE EVERYBODY KNEW, BUT NOBODY TALKED.
MY MOTHER KNEW BECAUSE SHE HAD CAUGHT HIM AT ONE TIME.
I TOLD HER WHEN I WAS NINE, BUT SHE WAS COWARDLY.
SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FACE THE SCANDAL.
NOBODY TALKED ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT MANY YEARS AGO.
AND OF COURSE, HE LIED TO HER, AND SHE WAS AFRAID OF HIM 'CAUSE
HE WAS VIOLENT.
BOTTOM LINE IS HER FEAR DESTROYED HER LIFE, REALLY HURT
MINE, DESTROYED MY BROTHER'S LIFE, AND ACTUALLY DID NOT HELP
MY FATHER.
SOMETIMES, YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE BE FREE FROM SOMETHING IF YOU'LL
CONFRONT THEM AND NOT JUST LET THEM KEEP GETTING BY WITH IT.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT WAS JUST LIKE WE DIDN'T TALK
ABOUT IT.
WELL, I LEFT HOME WHEN I WAS 18, THINKING THAT I WAS GOING TO GET
AWAY FROM THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS I TOOK THE PROBLEM
WITH ME, IT WAS JUST IN MY SOUL.
JUST GETTING AWAY FROM SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN IT'S OVER, YOU GOT
TO DEAL WITH IT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO CONFRONT
THAT PLACE OF FEAR IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I HAD LIVED MY
WHOLE LIFE IN FEAR OF HIM.
AND DAVE WOULD EVEN TELL ME AFTER WE GOT MARRIED AND BEEN
MARRIED A FEW YEARS, HE SAID, "WHEN YOU'RE--WHEN YOU'RE--WHEN
WE GO TO YOUR MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE OR YOUR DAD COMES AROUND,"
HE SAID, "YOU BECOME LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON.
YOU ACT DIFFERENT."
WELL, WHEN YOU DON'T DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS THAT ARE IN YOUR
SOUL, YOU DO ACT DIFFERENT.
AND FOR SOME OF YOU, CONFRONTING YOUR PAST MAY BE AS SIMPLE AS
SITTING DOWN WITH A TRUSTED FRIEND AND TALKING ABOUT
SOMETHING THAT YOU DID A LONG TIME AGO THAT STILL BOTHERS YOU,
OR TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY DID TO YOU A LONG TIME
AGO THAT STILL BOTHERS YOU.
YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE THAT WERE ABUSED IN THEIR
CHILDHOOD THAT ARE 50, AND 60, AND 70 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER
TOLD ANYBODY?
AND IF YOU BELIEVE YOU'RE TOTALLY FREE FROM IT, I'M NOT
TELLING YOU YOU HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, BUT I'M JUST SAYING WE
NEED TO HAVE SAFE FRIENDS THAT WILL KEEP OUR SECRETS THAT WE
CAN TALK TO BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED TO VENT.
COME ON, WE JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO TELL SOMEBODY THIS, THIS,
THAT, AND SOMETHING ELSE.
AND THEN WE NEED TO LEARN HOW TO CONFRONT PROBLEMS BETWEEN US
AND OTHER PEOPLE, AND DO IT IN A BIBLICAL, GODLY WAY.
DO YOU KNOW THAT ONE OR TWO SENTENCES OF STRAIGHTFORWARD
COMMUNICATION CAN SOLVE SO MANY PROBLEMS?
BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, WE'RE THINKING THAT THEY'RE THINKING,
AND THEY'RE NOT THINKING AT ALL, SO WE'RE ACTING WEIRD TOWARD
THEM BECAUSE WE THINK THEY'RE THINKING.
AND SO, IT'S BETTER JUST TO SAY, "ARE YOU THINKING?"
"HUH, NO."
AND YOU KNOW WHY WE DON'T DO THAT?
WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK WE'RE SILLY.
AND SO, DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK.
WHO CARES IF THEY THINK YOU'RE SILLY?
MOST OF THE TIME, IT REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU AT ALL.
SO MANY PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH SOMEONE, INSTEAD OF GOING TO THEM, YOU GOT TO A BUNCH
OF OTHER PEOPLE.
WHICH THEN BECOMES GOSSIP, AND IT SPREADS STRIFE.
WE TRY TO TEACH PEOPLE IN OUR OFFICE THIS.
IF YOU'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SOMEBODY IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, DO
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS AND GO FIRST TO YOUR BROTHER PRIVATELY.
IF YOUR BROTHER WRONGS YOU, GO AND SHOW HIM HIS FAULT BETWEEN
YOU AND HIM PRIVATELY.
PRIVATELY, COME ON.
AND IF HE LISTENS, YOU WON BACK YOUR BROTHER.
AND THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY IF HE DOESN'T LISTEN, THEN YOU CAN
TAKE A COUPLE OF OTHERS WITH YOU.
THE WHOLE POINT IS YOU'RE TRYING TO RESTORE HIM, NOT RUIN HIS
REPUTATION.
BUT INVARIABLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO
CONFRONT, COME ON, THIS IS GOOD, THEY'LL GO TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND
ACTUALLY MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE.
AND BOY, WE NEED TO STOP DOING THAT.
DON'T BE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT'S AFRAID TO CONFRONT
THINGS.
DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, AND LET GOD GIVE YOU VICTORY
IN YOUR LIFE.
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