THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS
IS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME
REALLY ENJOYING THEIR LIFE.
HOW MANY OF YOU COULD USE ENJOYING YOURS A WHOLE LOT
MORE THAN WHAT YOU DO?
AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE WAIT
FOR THE CONDITIONS IN OUR LIFE TO BECOME WHAT WE THINK
WOULD BE ENJOYABLE.
"IF I HAD MORE MONEY, I'D ENJOY MY LIFE."
"IF I DIDN'T HAVE TROUBLE WITH THIS KID,
I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE." "IF MY MARRIAGE WAS BETTER,
I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE." "IF I HAD A DIFFERENT JOB,
I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE." "IF I DIDN'T HAVE ALL THIS
HOUSEWORK TO DO ALL THE TIME, I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE."
"IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO MOW THE GRASS TODAY,
I COULD ENJOY MY LIFE." BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS,
IS WE SHOULD NOT PUT OFF ANOTHER MOMENT
ENJOYING OUR LIVES.
I SAID DO NOT PUT IT OFF ONE MORE MOMENT.
AND DON'T WAIT FOR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES TO DICTATE TO YOU
THAT YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR LIFE.
YOU MAKE A DECISION TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE REGARDLESS
OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL CHANGE.
THEY WILL.
IT'LL COME TO AN END.
AND I DON'T WANT TO BE DEPRESSING, BUT SOMETHING ELSE
WILL FOLLOW IT.
NOW, WE ALL HAVE LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO REALIZE THAT
THAT'S JUST KIND OF THE WAY IT IS.
YOU GO THROUGH SOMETHING, IT GETS OVER WITH,
YOU SETTLE DOWN, EVERYTHING'S GOOD
FOR A LITTLE PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN HERE COMES
SOMETHING ELSE.
AND THEN YOU GET THROUGH THAT, AND THEN EVERYTHING'S GOOD
FOR A LITTLE WHILE, AND THEN BOY,
MAYBE YOU HAVE TWO, THREE, FOUR THINGS COME AT ONCE.
THEN YOU SETTLE DOWN.
AND THE TRUTH IS IS WE JUST NEED TO BELIEVE
AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO
THROUGH CHRIST, WHO IS OUR STRENGTH.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
THE BIBLE SAYS IN ROMANS 8 THAT
WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR?
I BELIEVE THAT IT MEANS THAT YOU KNOW
YOU'VE GOT THE VICTORY BEFORE YOU EVER GET THE PROBLEM.
SO, THEREFORE WE DON'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF PROBLEMS.
"OH NO, NOT AGAIN." WELL, I MEAN, WHO LIKES IT?
I DON'T LIKE IT.
NOBODY LIKES IT.
BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS IS IT IS INEVITABLE.
NO LIFE IS GOING TO BE PERFECT AND WITHOUT SOME TROUBLE,
SOME TRIALS, AND SOME TRIBULATIONS.
IF WE HAVE PERFECT LIVES, WE WOULD NOT NEED ANY FAITH.
FAITH IS NOT TO GET US TO THE POINT
WHERE WE NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM.
FAITH IS TO ENABLE US TO STAND UP TO THINGS
AND TO KNOW THAT WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
AND THAT BECAUSE HE'S WITH US, WE CAN DO
WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO.
SO, I'M ONLY SAYING ALL THAT TO GET YOU TO REALIZE
THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE NO PROBLEMS
TO ENJOY LIFE, THEN I GUESS YOU'LL JUST
STILL BE WAITING WHEN JESUS COMES TO GET YOU
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS HAPPEN.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, EVERY STORM IS NOT
IN THE FORECAST, AMEN?
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, THE WEATHERMAN MAY EVEN SAY
IT'S GOING TO BE SUNNY TODAY.
YOU MAY BE FOLLOWING MY ADVICE AND GET UP AND SAY,
"SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME TODAY."
AND BOY, IT JUST TURNS OUT TO BE A BUMMER OF A DAY.
WELL, IF YOU'RE WISE, YOU'LL GET UP THE NEXT DAY
AND SAY, "SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING
TO HAPPEN TO ME TODAY," BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO GIVE UP.
SO, I'M NOT TRYING TO TEACH PEOPLE
HOW TO ENJOY HAVING A VACATION, OR GOING TO A PARTY,
OR GETTING A NEW OUTFIT, OR THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY.
NOT THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE, WHERE I'M JUST TRYING TO ENDURE
EVERYTHING ELSE SO I CAN GET TO THE FEW THINGS IN LIFE
THAT I LIKE.
BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT MIRACLE OF GOD WHEN WE CAN TAKE
ORDINARY, EVERYDAY, SOMETIMES HUMDRUM LIFE
AND ENJOY IT.
AND JUST SAY, "I AM GOING TO ENJOY THIS.
I'M GOING TO ENJOY MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY,
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, BACK TO MONDAY, TUESDAY,
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY.
HOW MANY OF YOU THINK THAT IF YOU MADE YOUR MIND
UP TO IT, YOU COULD JUST EVEN ENJOY
CLEANING YOUR HOUSE, OR CUTTING YOUR GRASS,
OR DRIVING IN TRAFFIC?
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW IT'S AN ATTITUDE?
OUR JOY IS NOT AROUND US, IT'S IN US.
IT'S HOW WE DECIDE TO LOOK AT THINGS.
SO, THREE THINGS.
WE WANT YOU TO ENJOY EVERYDAY LIFE, WANT TO TEACH YOU
TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE.
STOP WANTING SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE.
ENJOY YOUR LIFE.
AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO DO THE THINGS
THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO THAT ARE JUST COMMON,
ORDINARY, EVERYDAY THINGS THAT DON'T SEEM AT ALL SPIRITUAL
TO YOU, AND DO THEM AS A SERVICE
TO GOD.
IN OTHER WORDS, "GOD, I'M GOING TO DO MY GROCERY SHOPPING
WITH YOU, FOR YOUR HONOR
AND YOUR GLORY.
I'M GOING TO GO OUT WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S LIFE IF YOU GET YOUR MIND OFF
HOW MISERABLE YOU ARE ABOUT GOING, AND JUST DECIDE
YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH GOD AND SEE WHAT HE DOES.
I THINK IF YOU HANG OUT WITH GOD ALL DAY, EVERY SINGLE THING
THAT YOU DO COULD TURN OUT TO BE AN ADVENTURE.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT LEARNING
HOW TO RECEIVE FROM GOD.
BECAUSE WHAT WE USUALLY DO IS SPEND OUR TIME
TRYING TO GET THINGS.
"I'M GOING TO GET MY HEALING," "I'M GOING TO GET SAVED,"
"I'M GOING TO GET MY BREAKTHROUGH."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE THAT EVEN REALLY I DON'T KNOW
EVEN USES THAT WORD.
BUT THE WORD "RECEIVE" IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND THE WORD "RECEIVE" MEANS TO ACT LIKE A RECEPTACLE
AND JUST TAKE IN WHAT'S BEING OFFERED.
AHH.
DON'T YOU FEEL THE REST OF THAT ALREADY?
BUT GET MEANS TO OBTAIN BY STRUGGLE AND EFFORT.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MUST DO
IF WE WANT TO ENJOY OUR LIFE-- NOW, LISTEN TO ME,
IS STOP TRYING TO MAKE HAPPEN WHAT EITHER ONLY GOD
CAN MAKE HAPPEN OR WHAT HE HAS IN FACT
ALREADY MADE HAPPEN.
AND ALL WE NEED TO DO IS BELIEVE IT
AND RECEIVE IT BY FAITH.
I THINK WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME TRYING TO GET THINGS
WE'VE ALREADY GOT.
AND I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO YOU LATER.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE ARE TO ACCEPT AND WELCOME
AND RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A LITTLE CHILD,
OTHERWISE WE WILL IN NO WISE ENTER IN.
"TRULY I SAY TO YOU, WHOEVER DOES NOT ACCEPT AND RECEIVE--"
EVERYBODY SAY RECEIVE.
AUDIENCE: RECEIVE.
JOYCE: "AND WELCOME THE KINGDOM OF GOD
LIKE A LITTLE CHILD SHALL NOT IN ANY WAY
ENTER INTO IT [AT ALL]." SO, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU
A LITTLE EXAMPLE, AND IT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND.
KIDS, CAN YOU COME ON OUT, PLEASE?
I GOT ME SOME HELPERS TONIGHT.
OH, AREN'T THEY SWEET?
LET'S SEE, I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOU,
SO WHERE SHOULD I HAVE YOU STAND?
I GUESS WE'LL JUST GO RIGHT OVER HERE, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY, CAN YOU MAKE A STRAIGHT LINE FOR ME?
MICHAEL, COULD I HAVE MY MONEY, PLEASE?
DO YOU GUYS LIKE MONEY?
DO YOU, YOU LIKE MONEY?
WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF I JUST GAVE YOU SOME MONEY?
ALL RIGHT, YOU GET IT?
HE SAYS, "I'LL TAKE IT." BOY, GOD WISHES
WE WERE THAT WAY.
YOU MEAN, YOU THINK I WOULD JUST GIVE YOU MONEY FOR NO REASON?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WHAT IF I JUST GAVE IT TO YOU AND SAID, "YOU DON'T HAVE
TO DO ANYTHING FOR IT EXCEPT JUST BELIEVE
I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU"?
THERE'S SOME FOR YOU, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
HOW ABOUT YOU?
OOH, OH MY GOSH, DON'T LET ANYBODY ELSE GET IT.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
OH, YOU'RE A SWEET RECEIVER.
THERE, HOW ABOUT THAT?
MAYBE I'LL HAVE SOME LEFT AND SOMEBODY WILL GET SOME MORE,
I DON'T KNOW.
FEMALE: THANK YOU.
JOYCE: OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.
ONE OUT OF THE FIVE SO FAR SAID THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, YOU'RE A GOOD LOOKING GUY.
OH, I GOT--HOW ABOUT YOU?
FEMALE: THANK YOU.
JOYCE: YOU'RE SO SWEET.
I GOT A LITTLE BIT LEFT.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY, SHOULD I TEAR THEM IN
HALF AND START GIVING THEM AWAY?
I DON'T KNOW.
WHO REALLY WANTS TO HAVE MORE?
ALL RIGHT, THERE YOU GO.
THERE YOU GO.
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO GIVE IT TO EVERYBODY.
YOU'RE THE LITTLEST, THERE YOU ARE.
YOU'RE THE BIGGEST, THERE YOU ARE.
ALL RIGHT, GIVE THEM--GIVE THEM A CLAP THERE.
THANK YOU, YOU CAN GO BACK.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, I WANT YOU TO NOTICE THAT THEY
RECEIVED WHAT I OFFERED WITHOUT QUESTION.
THEY DIDN'T TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY I WOULD GIVE IT TO THEM.
THEY DIDN'T SAY, "OH NO, NO, NO, NO, I DON'T DESERVE THAT."
THEY DIDN'T EVEN DO WHAT MOST ADULTS DO.
DO YOU KNOW MOST ADULTS, WHEN YOU TRY TO BLESS THEM,
EVEN CHRISTIANS, THE FIRST THING THEY SAY IS,
"OH NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT"?
STOP THAT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO PRAY FOR GOD TO BLESS YOU,
WHEN SOMEBODY TRIES TO BLESS YOU, JUST SAY,
"THAT IS AWESOME.
PRAISE GOD, THANK YOU." I DON'T LIKE THAT,
"OH NO, NO, NO." YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU JUST GOING TO MAKE SOMEBODY TRY
TO PUSH IT OFF ON YOU.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT GOD HAS FOR US,
SO MANY THINGS THAT HE WANTS TO DO FOR US.
AND WE KEEP TRYING TO EARN AND DESERVE
WHAT GOD IS GIVING US FREELY.
AND WE NEED TO STOP IT.
NOW, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO WORK, BUT WE ARE SUPPOSED
TO AVOID WORKS.
YOU SAY, "HUH?" THAT'S A BRAIN TWISTER.
JESUS SAID WE MUST WORK THE WORKS OF HIM
WHO SENT ME.
SO, HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO WORK, BUT IT'S NOT GOING
TO BE OUR WORKS, IT'S GOING TO BE HIS WORKS.
OUR WORKS--NOW LISTEN, I GOT A BUNCH OF SCRIPTURE,
AND I REALLY WANT YOU TO GET THIS.
OUR WORKS THE BIBLE CALLS WORKS OF THE FLESH.
AND IT'S OUR ENERGY TRYING TO BUY FROM GOD
WHAT HE HAS ALREADY GIVEN FREELY OR WANTS TO GIVE US FREELY.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T--YOU CAN NEVER EARN FORGIVENESS.
YOU CANNOT DESERVE FORGIVENESS, YOU CANNOT EARN FORGIVENESS,
YOU CANNOT BUY FORGIVENESS WITH HOURS OF PRAYER
OR HOURS OF BIBLE READING.
THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT FORGIVENESS
WHEN YOU SIN IS ASK FOR IT, RECEIVE IT, AND BE AMAZED.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
ASK FOR IT, RECEIVE IT, AND BE AMAZED.
AND I THINK IF WE WOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT JUST RECEIVING
THE GOODNESS OF GOD, WE WOULD LIVE MORE AMAZED.
AND I THINK WE WOULD BE A LOT HAPPIER
THAN WHAT WE ARE RIGHT NOW.