MY HUSBAND DOESN’T HAVE TO WORK AS HARD AT HAVING A GOOD ATTITUDE AS I DO. I HAVE TO WORK AT IT HARDER BECAUSE MY PERSONALITY IS DIFFERENT THAN HIS BUT JOYCE MEYER IS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HAVE THE LIFE THAT JESUS DIED FOR ME TO HAVE. I SPENT ENOUGH YEARS OF MY LIFE UNHAPPY AND I DON’T WANT TO SPEND ANY MORE UNHAPPY DAYS. AMEN? (Amen!) HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE MADE YOUR MIND UP THAT YOU’RE GOING TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE? JESUS SAID: I CAME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE, TO THE FULL UNTIL IT OVERFLOWS. JESUS NOT ONLY DIED SO WE COULD HAVE LIFE BUT SO WE COULD ENJOY OUR LIFE. NOBODY WITH A BAD ATTITUDE ENJOYS THEIR LIFE.

JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES. IT’S NOT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAKE US SO UNHAPPY; IT’S REALLY NOT. I KNOW THAT’S HARD TO SWALLOW, BUT IT’S REALLY NOT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAKE US SO UNHAPPY; IT’S OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OUR CIRCUMSTANCES. DAVE AND I GO THROUGH THE SAME THINGS IN OUR LIFE AS FAR AS CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COME AGAINST US, AND I’VE WATCHED OVER AND OVER IN PAST YEARS HOW WE COULD HAVE A PROBLEM THAT WE BOTH HAD AND IT WOULDN’T BOTHER HIM AT ALL. HE WOULD GO ON AND ENJOY HIS LIFE AND DO WHAT HE NORMALLY DID AND JUST TRUST GOD TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, NOT HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE ABOUT IT.

JOYCE MEYER WOULD JUST BE STRUNG OUT, WORRIED, FRUSTRATED, UPSET FOR DAYS ON END. AND SOONER OR LATER WE GOT AN ANSWER, AND THE ONLY THING THAT HAPPENED WAS I WASTED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND HE HAD A GOOD TIME. I’VE SEEN US GO THROUGH THINGS WITH OUR KIDS. SOMETIMES IT TOOK EVEN A COUPLE OF YEARS TO WORK THROUGH. JOYCE MEYER ONLINE I’VE LOOKED BACK AT ALL THE DAYS THAT I WORRIED AND CRIED AND TRIED TO FIGURE THINGS OUT AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON. HE DIDN’T DO ANY OF THAT. HE JUST TRUSTED GOD AND WENT ON AND ENJOYED HIS LIFE. THEN WE’RE TWO YEARS LATER AND THE THING IS SOLVED AND WHAT DID I ACCOMPLISH?

JOYCE MEYER SAID ALMOST ANYBODY IS GOING TO LISTEN TO SOMEBODY BETTER IF THEY THINK THEY’VE HAD EXPERIENCE THAN SOMEBODY THAT THEY THINK JUST PUT TOGETHER A BUNCH OF STUFF OUT OF A BOOK. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO FEELS LIKE: “IT’S FINE FOR YOU TO STAND UP THERE AND TELL ME TO HAVE A GOOD POSITIVE ATTITUDE, BUT YOU HAVEN’T HAD MY LIFE; I’VE REALLY HAD IT ROUGH.” YOU KNOW WHAT? MAYBE YOU HAVE. JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES CAN’T EXPLAIN ALL THAT TO YOU WHY SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL LITTLE UPBRINGING AND LOVELY PARENTS AND THEY’RE TAUGHT EVERYTHING AND HAVE EVERY PRIVILEGE, THEN FOR OTHER PEOPLE IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS JUST HARD FOR THEM FROM THE GET-GO BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THIS: GOD IS JUST AND ALTHOUGH LIFE IS NOT FAIR, GOD IS FAIR. HE CAN TAKE WRONG THINGS AND MAKE THEM RIGHT.

JOYCE MEYER ONLINE STATES THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE. HE WILL USE EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE. NOTHING WILL BE WASTED IF YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN HIM. THE POSTURE THAT YOU TAKE… I MEAN I’VE SEEN IT JUST IN DAVE AND MYSELF. NATURALLY SPEAKING, DAVE IS MORE POSITIVE THAN I AM. EVEN OUR OWN PERSONALITIES HAVE A PART IN THIS. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK HARDER AT BEING POSITIVE BECAUSE THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE A LITTLE MORE MELANCHOLY. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE THEIR GIFT IS TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG WITH EVERYTHING. (laughing) HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TELLING YOU? IN SOME WAYS — JOYCE MEYER DON’T WANT TO SAY THIS WRONG — BUT IN SOME WAYS IT IS A GIFT IF THEY DON’T LET THE DEVIL USE IT.

IT’S GOOD TO SEE WHAT’S WRONG WITH SOMETHING IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO’S GOING TO HELP FIX IT AND TURN IT AROUND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. PEOPLE WHO AREN’T FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND HAVE THAT — I GUESS WE’LL CALL IT A GIFT, FOR A MINUTE ANYWAY — JOYCE MEYER ONLINE STATES THAT THEY JUST MAKE THINGS WORSE EVERYWHERE THEY GO. I USED TO BE THE TYPE WHO COULD WALK INTO A BRAND-NEW, NEWLY DECORATED ROOM AND SOMEONE COULD SAY: WELL, HOW DO YOU LIKE MY NEW DECORATIONS? I WOULD SAY: IT LOOKS NICE BUT YOU’VE GOT A PIECE OF WALLPAPER LOOSE UP THERE IN THE CORNER. I’VE LEARNED THAT TO BE NEGATIVE AND CRITICAL REALLY PULLS PEOPLE DOWN, AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO BE DOING. WHEN I SAY CHOOSE TO HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE, I KNOW WHEN I SAY THAT FOR SOME OF YOU IT’S GOING TO BE EASIER THAN FOR OTHERS.

(Joyce Meyer) SOMETIMES IT’S A LOT EASIER TO GIVE NEGATIVE CRITICISM THAN POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT, SO STAY WITH ME AND DISCOVER THAT HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE WILL MAKE YOU AND EVERYBODY AROUND YOU A LOT HAPPIER. (music)

(Joyce Meyer Online) OUR ATTITUDE IS OUR THOUGHT LIFE TURNED INSIDE OUT. AS CHRISTIANS WE HEAR QUITE A BIT ABOUT OUR THOUGHTS. WE KNOW THAT THE MIND HAS TO BE RENEWED IN ORDER FOR US TO HAVE THE GOOD PLAN MANIFEST IN OUR LIFE THAT JESUS DIED FOR US TO HAVE. WE’LL LOOK AT THAT SCRIPTURE PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT LATER. YOU CAN’T ALWAYS SEE SOMEBODY’S THOUGHTS BUT YOU CAN SEE THEIR ATTITUDE. AN ATTITUDE SHOWS UP IN BODY LANGUAGE. IT SHOWS UP IN FACIAL EXPRESSIONS. OUR ATTITUDE IS THE POSTURE WE TAKE TOWARD THE LIFE WE HAVE. I’M GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN: OUR ATTITUDE IS THE POSTURE WE TAKE TOWARD THE LIFE WE HAVE. NOT EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME LIFE.

I’LL BE HONEST WITH YOU: SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER THAN OTHER PEOPLE. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE A ROUGHER WAY TO GO IN LIFE THAN OTHERS. JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES CAN’T EXPLAIN THAT BUT I DO KNOW THAT GOD’S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT. I DO KNOW THAT IF SOMEONE ADOPTS A SELF-PITYING ATTITUDE OR A RESENTFUL ATTITUDE TOWARD THE LIFE THEY HAVE, IT’S ONLY GOING TO MAKE THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES WORSE BUT IF THEY KEEP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE, THOSE THINGS THAT SATAN MEANT FOR HARM CAN WORK OUT FOR NOT ONLY YOUR GOOD BUT FOR THE GOOD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE BESIDES. I BELIEVE SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE DO SEEM TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IN LIFE WHO GO THROUGH A MUCH ROUGHER TIME THAN OTHER PEOPLE, I THINK SOMETIMES IT’S BECAUSE GOD WANTS TO USE THOSE PEOPLE IN A REAL POWERFUL WAY TO HELP A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING.

GOD IS LOOKING FOR NOT JUST WORKERS IN HIS KINGDOM BUT EXPERIENCED WORKERS. WHEN JOYCE MEYER TALK TO YOU ABOUT OVERCOMING ABUSE, I TALK TO YOU FROM EXPERIENCE. WHEN I TALK TO YOU ABOUT FORGIVING PEOPLE WHO HAVE HURT YOU, I TALK FROM EXPERIENCE. WHEN I TALK ABOUT BREAKING ADDICTIONS, I TALK FROM EXPERIENCE.

(John Bevere) YOU WILL SEE PROVISION FROM GOD WHEN YOU RESPECT HIS AUTHORITY. YOU WILL SEE PROTECTION FROM GOD WHEN YOU RESPECT HIS AUTHORITY. (music)

(Joyce Meyer) THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH ME TODAY. I’M GOING TO CONTINUE MY DISCUSSION WITH JOHN BEVERE ON HOW TO STAY UNDER GOD’S COVERING AND HOW WE CAN AVOID DECEPTION WHICH OFTEN COMES THROUGH REBELLION TOWARD AUTHORITY. A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO DO THEIR OWN THING ALL THE TIME CAN GET OFF INTO ERROR, AND THEY DON’T HAVE ANY GODLY PEOPLE AROUND THEM TO CHALLENGE THEIR BEHAVIOR. ALTHOUGH OFTEN WE’D LIKE TO JUST DO OUR OWN THING, IT’S REALLY NOT THE SAFEST WAY TO LIVE. JOHN, THANK YOU FOR BEING BACK WITH US AGAIN TODAY.

(John Bevere) IT’S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, JOYCE.

(Joyce Meyer Online) WE HAD A GOOD TIME YESTERDAY. I’M SURE WE STIRRED UP A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS TOO.

(John) I KNOW WE DID.

(Joyce Meyer Ministries) ACTUALLY WHEN WE CLOSED THE PROGRAM YESTERDAY, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COMING UNDER AUTHORITY AND WHAT IF THAT AUTHORITY MISTREATS YOU, AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBEDIENCE AND SUBMISSION. CAN YOU JUST KIND OF GIVE US A NUTSHELL THING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WEREN’T WATCHING YESTERDAY?

(John) WE’VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE AUTHORITY COMES FROM. ALL AUTHORITY, THE BIBLE VERY CLEARLY SAYS, COMES FROM GOD — ALL AUTHORITY. THEREFORE, A PERSON WHO COMES TO KNOW GOD, COMES TO KNOW AUTHORITY BECAUSE GOD AND HIS AUTHORITY ARE INSEPARABLE. SHOW ME A TRUE BELIEVER AND I WILL SHOW YOU SOMEBODY WHO HAS AN AWARENESS OF AUTHORITY AND A RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY. NOW SAYING THAT, THE BIBLE CONTINUES TO SAY THE OFFICES OF AUTHORITY ARE OF GOD. WE TALKED ABOUT THE FOUR DIFFERENT AREAS THE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAKS OF: CIVIL AUTHORITY WHICH IS GOVERNMENT LEADERS; FAMILY AUTHORITY WHICH IS DOMESTIC; CHURCH AUTHORITY, AND WE ALSO HAVE SOCIAL AUTHORITY WHICH IS OUR BOSSES, OUR COACHES, OUR TEACHERS, ETC. THE BIBLE IS VERY CLEAR THAT THE SOURCE OF AUTHORITY FLOWS DOWN FROM HEAVEN. BUT WHAT WE SAID YESTERDAY AND WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER IS ALL AUTHORITY IS OF GOD BUT NOT NECESSARILY ALL AUTHORITY IS GODLY. THERE ARE UNGODLY AUTHORITIES IN THE BIBLE. IF YOU LOOK AT DAVID… LET ME TELL YOU HOW THIS ALL REALLY GOT STIRRED UP IN ME WHERE I GOT SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT BECAUSE, JOYCE, I FEEL LIKE YOU DO — I KNOW THAT GOD IS PURE LOVE AND HE WANTS PEOPLE TO BE BLESSED. THAT’S HIS DESIRE FOR EVERYBODY TO BE BLESSED. I BEGAN TO SEE IN THE BIBLE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE THE CLOSEST TO GOD AND THE PEOPLE THAT HAD THE MOST BLESSED LIVES WERE THE PEOPLE WHO SUBMITTED TO AUTHORITY — PEOPLE LIKE DAVID. DAVID WAS PLACED UNDER SAUL’S AUTHORITY. SAUL WAS A VERY WICKED MAN, AND DAVID COULD NOT STAND THAT ABUSE. WE TALKED YESTERDAY ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBEDIENCE AND SUBMISSION. OBEDIENCE IS OUR ACTIONS, WHEN WE OBEY. SUBMISSION DEALS WITH OUR ATTITUDE. DAVID HAD TO GET OUT OF THE PALACE. HE COULDN’T OBEY SAUL AT TIMES.

(Joyce Meyer) SAUL WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM.

(John) IT WAS LIFE-THREATENING. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT THEIR AUTHORITIES ARE SO WICKED IT IS LIFE-THREATENING. GET OUT FROM UNDERNEATH IT. DON’T OBEY WHEN THEY’RE TELLING YOU TO SIN. BUT SUBMISSION DEALS WITH THE ATTITUDE. DAVID NEVER EVER LOST HIS RESPECTFUL, HONORING ATTITUDE TOWARDS SAUL, NO MATTER WHAT SAUL DID. THINK ABOUT IT: YOU’RE A YOUNG MAN AND YOUR BOSS HAS CAUSED YOU TO LIVE IN DESERTS FOR FOURTEEN YEARS AND YOU CAN’T EVEN GO SEE YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE YOU’LL GET CAPTURED. HE CAN’T SEE HIS FAMILY OR HIS FRIENDS FOR FOURTEEN YEARS BUT YET EVEN AFTER GOD JUDGED SAUL, AND HE USED THE PHILISTINES TO DO IT, DAVID STILL SANG HIM A LOVE SONG AND HONORED HIM BECAUSE HE NEVER LOST HIS SUBMITTED HEART, WHICH IS ATTITUDE TOWARD SAUL’S AUTHORITY.

(Joyce Meyer) I THINK HE WAS HONORING THE OFFICE OF KING THAT GOD HAD INSTALLED. I THINK EVEN THOUGH HE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT WHAT SAUL WAS DOING WAS WRONG, GOD HAD NOT REMOVED SAUL FROM THAT POSITION YET. SO DAVID STILL SAW SAUL AS GOD’S ANOINTED AND HE SAID, “I WILL NOT TOUCH GOD’S ANOINTED.” EVEN WHEN HIS MEN ENCOURAGED HIM TO, HE WOULD NOT EVEN LET THEM TALK BADLY ABOUT SAUL. OF COURSE, WE SEE THE BLESSINGS ON DAVID’S LIFE. THE GREAT RULER THAT HE BECAME AND JUST WHAT GOD DID WITH HIS BLOODLINE AFTER THAT. THERE ARE MANY BLESSINGS FOR THOSE WHO WILL MAKE A DECISION TO COME UNDER THIS AUTHORITY. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT TODAY, BUT FIRST WE HAVE A GREAT STORY THAT WE WANT TO TELL. THE COUPLE THAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO MEET FOUND THAT IF YOU’RE WILLING TO BELIEVE GOD’S WORD AND OBEY WHAT HE SAYS, HE REALLY CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. ENJOY THIS.

(Joyce Meyer Ministries) LARRY AND CATHY TODD HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER AND GOD. CATHY WAS RAISED IN A CHRISTIAN HOME BUT WAS BACKSLIDDEN WHEN SHE MET AND MARRIED LARRY WHO HAD NEVER KNOWN THE LORD. THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF THEIR MARRIAGE WERE FILLED WITH TURMOIL.

(Cathy Todd) WE WOULD FIGHT AND ARGUE ABOUT LITTLE THINGS ALL THE TIME, AND DIVORCE WOULD BE THROWN BACK AND FORTH. WE WERE VERY IMMATURE. WE WEREN’T EITHER ONE LIVING FOR THE LORD.

(Joyce Meyer Online) WITHIN A FEW YEARS, THE COUPLE HAD THEIR FIRST CHILD AND CATHY WAS A STAY-AT-HOME MOM. OVERWHELMED BY MOTHERHOOD AT FIRST, SHE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO TAKE A BREAK EVEN IF IT MEANT ATTENDING A WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY.

(Cathy) AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, THEY ASKED IF ANYONE NEEDED PRAYER FOR ANYTHING AND I FELT THIS HUGE BURDEN ON ME AND I JUST JUMPED UP AND STARTED CRYING AND I SAID, “I NEED TO BE CLOSER TO GOD.”

(Joyce Meyer) GOD HELPED CATHY MAKE SOME IMMEDIATE CHANGES IN HER ATTITUDE WHICH DID NOT GO UNNOTICED BY LARRY. SHE ALWAYS USED TO HAVE THE LAST WORD IN ANY ARGUMENT. AS HER ATTITUDE CHANGED, LARRY WONDERED WHY.

(Cathy) I REMEMBERED ONE PARTICULAR NIGHT, HE WAS REALLY TRYING TO START AN ARGUMENT ABOUT SOMETHING AND I HAD REALLY GOOD COMEBACKS, AND EVERY TIME I WENT TO SAY ONE, GOD WOULD SAY, “I WANT YOU TO BE QUIET. I WANT YOU TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.” AND I JUST SAT THERE QUIET AND HE WENT ON TO WORK. LATER THAT NIGHT ON HIS BREAK HE CALLED ME AND APOLOGIZED. MY HUSBAND WOULD NEVER APOLOGIZE. SO SLOWLY GOD STARTED USING ME TO SHOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST. THIS WAS THROUGH ACTIONS INSTEAD OF WORDS, INSTEAD OF NAGGING HIM. “I’M SORRY TOO.”

(Joyce Meyer Ministries) LARRY REMEMBERS THAT WHEN CATHY REDEDICATED HER LIFE AND BEGAN GOING BACK TO CHURCH SHE WOULD INVITE HIM EVERY SUNDAY, BUT KEPT A GOOD ATTITUDE EVEN WHEN HE TURNED HER DOWN.

(Larry Todd) WE’D GET UP FOR SUNDAY AND SHE WOULD GO TO CHURCH AND SHE WOULD SAY, “ARE YOU GOING TO CHURCH?” I’D SAY, “NO, I’M GOING TO PLAY GOLF,” AND SHE WOULD JUST BE FINE WITH THAT INSTEAD OF BEING ANGRY OR JUDGING ME FOR WHAT I WAS DOING AND NOT GOING TO CHURCH AND I JUST KIND OF SAW A DIFFERENCE. AND OVER TIME I WAS CURIOUS WHY SHE’S SO NICE, AND IT WAS LIKE SHE HAD SOMETHING THAT I WANTED.

(Cathy) RAINY SUNDAYS HE WOULD GO WITH ME SO I WOULD PRAY THAT IT WOULD RAIN. WELL THIS SUNDAY WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE SUN WAS SHINING. I SAID, “GOD, PLEASE I WANT LARRY IN CHURCH WITH ME. I KNOW YOU WANT HIM IN CHURCH WITH ME. PLEASE DO A MIRACLE.” SO HE LEFT IN ONE CAR AND WENT TO PLAY GOLF, AND I LEFT IN THE OTHER. JOYCE MEYER ONLINE. LOADED UP THE BABY, WE WENT TO CHURCH. WE WERE IN CHURCH ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THE DOOR OPENED AND I LOOKED OVER AND IT WAS LARRY WALKING IN AND I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH! I WAS SO EXCITED. SO, SLOWLY GOD WAS USING ME TO DRAW MY HUSBAND, AND I DON’T EVEN THINK I REALIZED IT.

(narrator) OVER TIME LARRY DID GIVE HIS LIFE TO THE LORD AND DECIDED TO LIVE FOR HIM.

(Larry) I THINK BOTH OF US AGREE THAT IF IT HADN’T BEEN FOR GOD, WE PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE STAYED TOGETHER. I THINK, AT TIMES, SHE WANTED TO SAY THINGS TO ME AND GOD KIND OF QUIETED HER AND JUST BASICALLY WAS TELLING HER, “SHOW HIM WHAT I’M LIKE AND NOT TELL HIM.” I MEAN, IF IT WEREN’T FOR CATHY, I PROBABLY WOULDN’T EVEN BE A CHRISTIAN TODAY.

(narrator) TOGETHER, THE COUPLE REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF HONORING EACH OTHER AND HOW THEIR ACTIONS SPEAK SO MUCH LOUDER THAN WORDS.

(Cathy) IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO HONOR YOUR SPOUSE EVEN IF THEY AREN’T LIVING FOR THE LORD YET. SOMETIMES IT IS HARD, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL STRENGTHEN YOU. HE WILL GIVE YOU THE WORDS TO SAY IN SITUATIONS – HE DID ME WITH MY HUSBAND. I DO LOVE AND HONOR HIM. I JUST THANK GOD FOR ALL THAT HE’S DOING IN OUR MARRIAGE — AND IT’S DAILY.

(Joyce Meyer) WELL, JOHN, THAT’S A GREAT STORY, ISN’T IT?

(John) IT’S AN AMAZING STORY. I LOVE IT!

(Joyce Meyer Ministries) SO MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE A LOT MORE VICTORY IN SEEING SOME OF THEIR LOVED ONES COME TO CHRIST IF THEY WOULD PERHAPS DO A LITTLE LESS PREACHING AND A LOT MORE JUST LIVING THE LIFE IN FRONT OF THEM.

(John) THAT REMINDS ME OF A STORY. I HAVE A FRIEND. SHE’S BEEN MARRIED FOR YEARS NOW TO THIS GENTLEMAN. FOR YEARS HE WASN’T SAVED. SHE USED TO PUT CHRISTIAN MAGAZINES ON HIS WORKBENCH, TRACTS IN HIS DRAWERS. SHE WOULD INVITE OVER COUPLES THAT SHE KNEW THAT THE MAN WAS A REAL STRONG GUY IN THE LORD AND HE WOULD PREACH TO HER HUSBAND — JUST THINKING HE WOULD PREACH TO HIM. SHE WAS DOING ALL THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS. ONE DAY SHE WAS IN PRAYER AND THE LORD SPOKE TO HER AND HE SAID, “HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO HINDER YOUR HUSBAND’S SALVATION?” SHE WENT, “WHAT?” HE SAID, “YOU ARE HINDERING YOUR HUSBAND’S SALVATION. JOYCE MEYER ONLINE. STOP PUTTING MAGAZINES IN HIS WORKBENCH, STOP PUTTING TRACTS, STOP DOING THIS…” SO SHE STOPPED IT ALL. TWO MONTHS LATER THE GUY GOT SAVED! LET ME TELL YOU, JOYCE, THE GUY IS SAVED. I STAYED IN THEIR HOUSE. HE IS REALLY GENUINELY SAVED. ISN’T IT INTERESTING FOR YEARS SHE TRIED TO PREACH TO HIM, LEAVE TRACTS, DO ALL OF THIS AND THEN SHE JUST STARTED HONORING AND SUBMITTING TO HIS AUTHORITY AND WITHIN TWO MONTHS HE GOT SAVED.

(Joyce Meyer) GOD DOESN’T MOVE WHEN WE’RE INTO WORKS OF THE FLESH. HE HAD TO TEACH ME THAT EVEN IN SOME AREAS WITH MY OWN HUSBAND THAT, “WHEN YOU GET FINISHED, JOYCE, MESSING AROUND, YOU LET ME KNOW AND THEN I CAN DO SOMETHING.” IT’S SO HARD FOR US SOMETIMES TO GIVE UP OUR OWN EFFORTS OF TRYING TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN AND JUST REALLY HONOR GODLY PRINCIPLES. JOHN, WE KNOW FROM THIS STORY THAT WE JUST SAW AND EVEN WHAT THE WORD TELLS US THAT IF WE WILL HONOR AUTHORITY THERE WILL BE BLESSINGS.

(John) THERE WILL BE BLESSINGS.

(Joyce Meyer Online) WE ALL DO LIKE OUR REWARDS. IT KIND OF MAKES IT EASIER TO DO THE HARD STUFF IF WE KNOW THERE’S A REWARD COMING. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE COULD EXPECT AS REWARDS IF THEY ARE WILLING TO DO THINGS GOD’S WAY?

(John) THERE ARE SO MANY YOU CAN SEE IN THE BIBLE, BUT TO ME THE GREATEST REWARD WE HAVEN’T EVEN MENTIONED YET. IF YOU LOOK AT DAVID, DAVID KEPT A RIGHT HEART TOWARD SAUL AND THAT’S THE KEY. WE’RE TRYING TO HONE IN ON PEOPLE EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT BE TREATED RIGHT BY AUTHORITY, WE’RE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR HEARTS RIGHT SO THEY CAN KEEP GETTING THE BLESSINGS, THE REWARDS. BUT DAVID’S NUMBER ONE REWARD WAS HIS INTIMACY WITH GOD. THE PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO UNDERSTOOD AUTHORITY… LOOK AT DANIEL. JOYCE MEYER ONLINE. DANIEL DIDN’T OBEY WHEN THEY SAID, “DON’T PRAY.” HE DIDN’T OBEY IT BUT HE KEPT A SUBMITTED HEART. HE KEPT A RESPECTFUL ATTITUDE TOWARD NEBUCHADNEZZAR AND OTHER LEADERS. DANIEL –  WOW! WHAT INTIMACY HE HAD WITH GOD. GOD LOVED THAT GUY SO MUCH HE WAS SENDING ANGELS TO HIM. YOU LOOK AT DAVID — DAVID WENT BEYOND BEING A KING AND HE WENT INTO THE PROPHETIC.

(Joyce Meyer) YOU HAVE TO PRAY THAT YOU DON’T COME UNDER DECEPTION AND YOU HAVE TO BE OPEN-MINDED ENOUGH NOT TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING EVERYBODY ELSE SAYS, BUT IF YOU’VE GOT SIX PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE TELLING YOU, “YOU ARE WRONG, YOU ARE WRONG,” THEN YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THAT AND NOT BE, “WELL, NOBODY IS GOING TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO.” MY SECOND THING THAT I WANT TO COVER BECAUSE I WANT TO BE FAITHFUL TO OUR VIEWERS TO GET AROUND TO EVERYTHING: WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN SHOW RESPECT TO AUTHORITY?

(John) I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PRACTICAL WAYS. DON’T EVER LISTEN TO GOSSIP. WHAT IS GOSSIP? THE BIBLE SAYS DON’T RECEIVE AN ACCUSATION AGAINST AN ELDER EXCEPT BY TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. THAT WORD “WITNESSES” MEANS SOMEONE WHO HAS LITERAL EVIDENCE, PROOF. DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR AND DON’T PROPAGATE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR. BE SURE WHEN YOU’RE SPEAKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY OVER YOU, TO SPEAK WELL OF THEM. IF SOMETHING DOES GO WRONG, DON’T BLAB IT; SEEK TO COVER THEM BECAUSE GOD IS THE ONE WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM — THEIR AUTHORITY. IF YOU LOOK AT NOAH, NOAH GOT DRUNK, COMPLETELY DRUNK AND UNCOVERED HIMSELF IN HIS TENT. HIS YOUNGEST SON, HAM, COMES WALKING IN AND SEES HIS DAD DRUNK AS A SKUNK AND NAKED AS A JAYBIRD. AND HAM GOES: UHHH! AND TURNS AROUND AND WALKS OUT AND TELLS EVERYBODY. EVERYBODY AT THAT TIME IS JUST SHEM AND JAPHETH BUT HE GOES: GUYS, DAD IS DRUNK AS A SKUNK AND NAKED AS A JAYBIRD.

(Joyce Meyer Online) WHAT DO SHEM AND JAPHETH DO? THEY WALK IN BACKWARD WITH A GARMENT OVER THEIR SHOULDERS AND THEY COVER THE NAKEDNESS OF THEIR FATHER AND THEY WALK OUT. THEY DIDN’T EVEN WANT TO SEE THEIR FATHER’S SHAME. RIGHT? WHAT HAPPENS? A CURSE COMES ON HAM’S YOUNGEST SON, CANAAN, THAT GOES FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION TO GENERATION. DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S INTERESTING? IF YOU COME INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT, GOD BRAGS ABOUT NOAH WHEN HE’S BRAGGING ABOUT THE PATRIARCHS — THE GUY THAT WAS DRUNK! OBVIOUSLY NOAH REPENTED. HE BRAGS ON NOAH BUT YOU NEVER HEAR ABOUT HAM BRAGGED ABOUT AGAIN BECAUSE I ACTUALLY SEE SOMETHING IN THE SCRIPTURES. I SEE TWO TYPES OF SINS IN THE SCRIPTURES: SINS AGAINST GOD’S HOLINESS AND MORAL SINS, AND SINS AGAINST HIS AUTHORITY. SINS AGAINST HIS HOLINESS AND MORAL SINS, AS BAD AS THEY ARE, THEY’RE NOT AS SEVERELY JUDGED AS SINS AGAINST HIS AUTHORITY. JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES. DAVID COMMITS ADULTERY, HE’S PUT BACK ON THE THRONE. SAUL DISOBEYS GOD, HE LOSES HIS KINGDOM FOREVER. NOAH’S DRUNK, THERE’S AN IMMORAL SIN, BUT HE REPENTS. THANK GOD HE REPENTS. HAM DISHONORS HIS AUTHORITY AND YOU NEVER HEAR HIS NAME AGAIN. HE’S CURSED.

HE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE PROPHETIC. PROPHETS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PROPHETS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. DAVID WAS THE ONLY KING WHO BECAME PROPHETIC. IT WAS OUT OF HIS INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BECAUSE OF HIS EXTREME UNDERSTANDING OF AUTHORITY. THE OTHER THING THAT SUBMITTING TO AUTHORITY DOES IS… JOYCE MEYER, I’M GOING TO SPEAK MORE OUT OF EXPERIENCE BECAUSE I’VE BEEN IN THE MINISTRY NOW FOR 25 YEARS. I’VE WATCHED PEOPLE OVER THE LONG RUN THAT HAVE KEPT GOOD ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTHORITY EVEN WHEN THEY WERE MISTREATED. OKAY?

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT SUBMISSION AGAIN; NOT OBEYING COMMANDS TO SIN. I’VE WATCHED THEM. THEIR FINANCES HAVE BEEN UNBELIEVABLY BLESSED; THEY HAVE BEEN PROMOTED; THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE. YOU WILL SEE PROVISION FROM GOD WHEN YOU RESPECT HIS AUTHORITY. YOU WILL SEE PROTECTION FROM GOD WHEN YOU RESPECT HIS AUTHORITY. JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES STATES THAT NOW SOMETIMES IT LOOKS LIKE THE VERY OPPOSITE. YOU THINK: IF I HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE TOWARDS THIS JERK OF A LEADER, AM I GOING TO GET PROTECTED?  YES, YOU ARE. THIS IS THE THING. GOD SAYS, “MY WAYS AREN’T YOUR WAYS. MY WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS.” THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WITH TODAY, JOYCE.

(Joyce Meyer Online) WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME MORE ANSWERS FOR THEM IN JUST A MINUTE. STAY WITH US AND WHEN WE COME BACK WE’RE GOING TO TALK SOME MORE ABOUT THE PRACTICAL WAYS THAT YOU CAN MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS STAY UNDER GOD’S COVERING.

(man) I’VE WALKED THIS SIDEWALK FOR YEARS, SEEN A MILLION FACES, A MILLION LIVES, AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WANTS SOMETHING: WANT TO BE RICH, THEY WANT TO BE FAMOUS, WANT A BIGGER HOUSE OR A FASTER CAR. IT’S NOT UNTIL WE WISE UP AND REALIZE THAT TRUE HAPPINESS, TRUE FULFILLMENT ONLY COMES WHEN WE’RE LIVING UNDER THE BLESSINGS OF GOD.