Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: Textual Sermons Of Famous Preaachers: Joyce Meyer, Joseph Prince

Full Sermon

Ginger: as we walk through each new day, we all have questions. They're just part of life, but did you know there are answers for you? God says when we look, we'll find him. He's not trying to hide anything. So together, we are discovering life's everyday answers. Well, we have all had times when we've wondered if God is hearing our prayers, especially when we aren't seeing results or we aren't hearing his voice, it just seems like he's quiet. Here's a question from our everyday answers page. This is from kathy, she says, "I pray all day. I know God's timing belongs to him, but how long will he remain silent?" Kathy, great question and one that many people ask. Joyce Meyer explains why we may not hear God when we are waiting on an answer, and it's something we don't often think about.

Joyce Meyer: if there are things in your life that you know that God has put on your heart to do and you have not done them, anybody? Then go home and get busy and stop complaining about why God's not speaking to you because he's probably not gonna say anything else until you do the last thing he told you to do. If you knew how many years it took me to learn all this stuff that you get downloaded in about an hour here. "be doers of the word [obey the message], not just a listener to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the truth]." Now, you know, these verses are so important, and I don't want to just get in too big of a hurry here to get to the end of the chapter 2 that I miss some of the really important things that I think that need to be said. So, let's look at this. Be a doer of the word, obey the message, not just a listener to it. Then he says, "betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning which is contrary to the truth]." Now, that's kind of a mouthful and we can miss what he's trying to say, so let's just slow down and take it apart. If i--i can go to church three times a week, and I can watch christian tv every morning, and I can listen to teaching cds on the way to work, but if I don't do then what i've heard, it does me nor anybody else any good at all because the bible does not say that we're blessed in our hearing, it says we're blessed in our doing.

Joyce Meyer: when we do, and I really think that because there's so much available to us today, I really think that sometimes we get so proud of what we know. "well, Joyce Meyer, I've got all your books." Well, then why are you still acting the way you do? [audience laughing] Joyce Meyer: I mean, people love to tell me they've got all my books. "i've got all your books." And, you know, we like to display them on our shelves because when our friends come, we look so spiritual. But it's in the doing. Now, let's just assume that we all want to obey God and so we don't want to just hear, we want to do. And now, let's just take this a step further and say we're not just hearing somebody preach the word, but now, God is trying to say something to us 'cause we can hear from him too. And a large part of our walk with God is not just going to church and hearing messages, but it's letting the holy spirit guide us day by day in our walk with him where I with can in the middle of doing one thing and the holy spirit can let me know, "that's not what I want you to do. Don't act like that. Don't say that, be quiet," whatever. And if we learn while we're in this world to keep one ear tuned to the holy spirit, then while we're here, we can be in the world but not be of the world, and that's what jesus is asking us to do. We can be in the world, but we can quickly make adjustments because of what God is saying to us. Example, let's just say that i'm in a meeting like this and I happen to notice somebody on our team that seems just, I don't know what it is, you know, I can't really put my finger on it, but I just really kind of sense that they need a blessing right now. Are you--do you ever kind of notice that with somebody? You're like, "they just need a blessing right now." And so, I pray, "Lord, how can I bless this lady? How can be a blessing to her?" Well, the next thing that happens I notice a bracelet I have on my wrist, pretty, sparkly bracelet that i'm quite fond of. And the next thing i'm feeling is I should give that to her because I remember earlier today she told me how pretty it was. Now, I really don't want to give my bracelet away.

Joyce Meyer: and so, my mind gives me a reason, come on. I've heard from God. I'm pretty sure at this point i'm hearing, but now there's the doing. And so, if I don't do what a felt like God showed me to do, it's because I have betrayed myself by coming up with some kind of a reason why it's okay not to do it. Are you with me? So, she needs a blessing, "God, how can I help her?" I'm being real spiritual so far. I'm caring, i'm being compassionate. "how can I help her? Oh." Come on, is anybody home in the house today? So now, I don't want to give her my bracelet. So, and I actually had this happen so this is a good--this is a living story. And so, I look at her and I think, she is really skinny, that is gonna fall right off of her arm. And I took it home.

Joyce Meyer: come on, you know, we--it's amazing the stuff that we can come up with, okay? I've had an argument with somebody, i'm really sure it was their fault, and i'm waiting for them to apologize and I don't really intend to talk to them until they do. And i'm reading a book, let's say a devotional by Joyce Meyer meyer on how to get closer to God every day. Got my morning devotion and it says, "be a peacemaker." Uh-oh, right away i'm thinking, hmm. So, I get this little sensing that God wants me to pick up the phone and call this person and be aggressive. Well, I don't want to do that, so, I come up with a reason. Are you there? My reason is that I apologized the last time.

Joyce Meyer: and it would simply not be right for me to have to apologize every single time. Come on, somebody give God a praise. See, we have to stop finding reasons and excuses for not doing what God wants us to do and then complaining because we don't have the blessed life that we say that we want to have because we're blessed, not in our hearing, but we're blessed in our doing.

Ginger: so, hold on to the promise. God does hear your prayers and if he's silent, it could be because he's waiting on you. Now, waiting is no fun, we all know that, and it is not easy, so we have some help for you today because we all have those times of waiting and this is what we need. This is Joyce Meyer's teaching called, "unleashing the power of faith," three teachings that will help you understand what faith is, what God's word says about it, and then this book will help you to never give up. This is Joyce Meyer's best-selling book. It's a "new york times" best-seller that has helped many people get through those times when they're just on the edge, they don't know if they can make it. If that's where you are now, pick this book up and let God's word encourage you. Use the phone number you see on the screen, go to the website, and pick up these today and it will help you through your time of God's silence. We want to check out what your voice has to say, but first, here's a look at what's coming up next week.

Joyce Meyer: God wants to walk with you, he wants to talk with you, he wants to lead you, he wants to guide you. He wants to be involved in literally everything that you do. Now listen, God cares about everything that concerns you.

Ginger: we asked you to share your best advice for new believers, and let me tell you, this is good for all of us whether we're new believers or not. And then coming up, Joyce Meyer will answer a few questions from new christians too. But first, here are your thoughts. Cynthia says, "i would tell a newbie, don't worry. It takes time to learn the bible and start changing how you think, talk, act, and do. I pray every day. I try to do something good every day and make every day count for God. It could be overwhelming sometimes, but just remember, you are worth it. Christ died for you." Mary says, "i would say don't make the christian life too complicated. God will lead you and reveal his call on your life. It's not a sprint, it's a walk with God. When you feel stuck, do something practical, clean your room, do the laundry, help your neighbor. God will get you where he wants you to be." Roxie says, "welcome, new believer! Surround yourself with other believers, especially in the beginning because the enemy will attack you for your friends, family, old habits, et cetera. You'll be surprised at how negative people can be when you are so happy. Talk to Jesus constantly. Thank him for the good parking spots, the beautiful flower you just have to take a picture of, and soon you will see God in everything." Well, those are some wonderful pieces of advice and I personally think it's hugely important, just like she was saying, to see God in everything. Every now and I then I like to spend a few posts on social media talking about #myfavoritethings just because they make me happy and it reminds me how blessed we are, so try that. Right now, tell us about some of your favorite things on facebook, twitter, #ea. Go out there and see those things that God has put all around you that just remind you of his love. Well, we've heard your voice, let's check out Joyce Meyer's.

Ginger: I love this basic question from gabrielle, "why do I have to go to church?"

Joyce Meyer: well, first of all, it's not a have to. The bible says, "don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together." And so, we go to church to learn, to be in corporate worship, to be accountable to somebody. It's good if you're committed to something and you don't show up for 4 or 5 weeks to have somebody, a close enough relationship that's gonna call and say, "hey, you okay? Haven't seen you lately." And it's just--it's good to be together with other people that are like-minded like you are. If you're trying to have a relationship with God and you're always around people that don't really believe in God, they can't challenge you, they can't encourage you. It's amazing what we learn sometimes just from being around somebody else that's maybe got a little more spiritual growth than us. That can become a sermon just in itself. But I think if people look at like " I have to," then they're never going to want to do it. And to be honest, I think a lot of times we think, "well, I have to go to church or God's not gonna be happy. I have to go to church to get what I call a checkmark on my God calendar." But really, we go for us. It's not like we're going--yes, it shows respect to God when we go, but it's just important to be in fellowship with other people. And, you know, you mentioned when we started that this was for new believers or it might be for someone who knew a new believer, but to be honest, ginger, I think sometimes people have been trying to walk with God for a long time. They've missed some of the basics.

Ginger: yeah, very true. Joyce Meyer: you know, and so they need-- ginger: or drifted away from them.

Joyce Meyer: we never should think that something is too elementary for us or too basic for us because anytime you have a crack in your foundation, the rest of the building is not gonna be stable.

Ginger: that's right, or something leaks out that you need, so that's never good either. All right, this one asks, "how do I listen to his will for me?"

Joyce Meyer: well, that's probably one of the biggest questions that everything has is "what," you know, I just had somebody--yeah, I just had somebody that i'm close to that heard me talking about our assignment from God. And it was actually one of my grandchildren. And she said, "well, how do I know what my assignment is?" And she's at an age now where she'll be graduating from high school before too long and trying to make decisions about what she wants do with her future. So, I just talked her through a few things and I started by asking her, "what do you like? What do you enjoy?" You know, I don't think that God is going to make us spend our whole life doing something that we really just despise. Now, that doesn't mean that you're never gonna have to do things that you don't like, but anybody who's working at a job where they just hate it every day of their life, they're probably not in the right place for them. You're never gonna know the will of God if you don't know the word of God. So, as a new believer, it takes time. It takes time to learn how to hear from God. You know, one great man of God was asked, "how do I learn to hear from God?" And he said, "you make mistakes." And so, we have to understand that God loves us and as long as our heart's right, he's not gonna get mad at us if we think something is his will and it turns out not to be. The thing that I always encourage people is if you take a step and it's not working, and by that you find out, well, that must have not been God, you don't have to be condemned. You don't have to feel guilty, but one of the ways you're gonna find the will of God for your life is by trying some stuff. You know, I teasingly say all the time, but it, I mean, it really did teach me. When I first started wanting to be used by God, like really wanting God to use me and wanting to serve God, I tried working in the nursery at church, and it didn't take me or the kids long to find out that wasn't my call. I tried street evangelism, going out and passing out gospel tracts on the street and talking to people because there was a team at my church that did that. I didn't like it. I tried door-to-door evangelism, I didn't like that. But when I started to teach, then I knew that I had found my niche. And so, sometimes you just have to try some things. You gotta put your hand to some things and see if they fit. The thing I told her is I said, "we all know what it feels like to have on clothes that don't fit properly, maybe something that's way too tight or even something that's too big," you know, I can't stand to wear a pair of pants that keeps falling down. I'm all the time pulling them up. And so, we need to find what seems to fit for our life. What are you good at? You know, God's not gonna call you to do something that you're constantly failing at. So, what are you good at, what do you enjoy, what do you like?

Ginger: because he gives us those desires and those abilities, so it's all in his hands. I think that's why, especially as a new believer and maybe after we've walked with christ for a long time, that's something that really helps for us to realize is he's not an arbitrary God. He has a good plan that he brings all together in many ways.

Joyce Meyer: yeah, that's right. So, people, I think, worry too much about what is God's will. I think that you pray about it, you ask God to lead you and then the last thing i'll say about it is, pay attention to what kind of doors God opens. You know, I mean, if I think God wants me to do something, but the door never opens for it, then maybe I need to look somewhere else. I mean, I tried to learn how to play the guitar because I thought leading worship would be great. Well, it just didn't work. I mean, I couldn't learn it. I wasn't good at it. My voice wasn't good for singing, and so you just gotta take your time, and as a new believer, you'll learn, you're know.

Ginger: but don't give up when it doesn't work. I like that encouragement. All right, next question is, "how do I fall in love with jesus and how can I receive his love?

Joyce Meyer: well, I think the way that you fall in love with jesus is by seeing his love in your life. And I think one of the things that we can actually do that is very practical, but it's very good, is to look for God's love in your life. In 1 john 4:16, it says we're to be conscious and aware of God's love. And so, I learned a long time ago to--i watch for God's love in my life and it actually usually shows up in a lot of little ways.

Ginger: what are some examples? Joyce Meyer: well, you know, I mean, a lot of them are real personal things like, you know, maybe something that, you know, I remember one time I just happened to say to somebody, "i love zucchini bread, I wish somebody would bake me some zucchini bread," 'cause I wasn't that good at baking. And it was only a few days later and somebody showed up at one of my meetings and said, "I felt like God wanted me to bake you some zucchini bread." Well see, I didn't--it wasn't really even the bread so much as it was that I knew that God did that for me and--or giving you favor when you're out shopping and maybe, you know, the clerk will say, "oh, we got a sale starting tomorrow, but i'll give you this coupon ahead of time." So, there's all kinds of ways. Or God comforting us, or giving us a revelation, or showing us something, or making something happen for us. If you watch for God's love, and his mercy, and his goodness in your life, then the bible says we love him because he first loved us. And so, receiving God's love is a matter of believing that he loves you. I don't know if--how many people are actually familiar with this, but if you look up the definition, the word "receive" means to believe, and the word "believe" means to receive. So, when we really believe what the word says, that's how we receive it, and you can't receive it if you don't believe it. So once again, we go back to my pet subject, study the word, study the word, study the word, and a lot of people think they can't do that, but there are many, many, many translations of the bible today that are very easy to read. I use the amplified bible, but there's all kinds of modern english versions that will help you understand what God's trying to say to you.

Ginger: yeah, I think God has created us all in so many different, wonderful ways and he knows that so distinctly that he gives us that specific thing that we need to recognize his love. For me, it's I love being out in nature and just seeing his hand, and the creativity, and the beauty, and that draws me to him so much. So, he has a way to pull us in. All right, then along those lines but a little different, "how can I just believe that I have the holy spirit with me?"

Joyce Meyer: well, the bible says if you ask, you will receive. It says, I think it's in luke 11, "if we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will the father give the holy spirit to those who ask him?" And so, like everything else, we receive by faith. And really, the holy spirit, you can't even really learn anything if you don't have the holy spirit in your life because he's our teacher. So every time you're hearing a sermon and you, like, really get it, you know, that's an evidence that the holy spirit is in your life. He convicts us of sin, you know, anytime that you start to do something or, like, for example, if i'm starting to say something or i'm in the middle of saying something and I realize I shouldn't be doing that, that's the holy spirit convicting me. You know, it's not--now, condemnation is from the devil, but if you just get a sensing, just a gentle, even loving, sensing, eh, don't do that.

Ginger: so, the difference in the two is you feel more guilty?

Joyce Meyer: well, condemnation makes you feel pressed down. It's like, you feel bad, you feel guilty, you feel condemned. It makes you feel bad about yourself and it puts a heaviness on you. But conviction actually lets you know that what you're doing is not right and that with God's help, you can change it, but it doesn't make you feel oppressed. It's like, I was thinking this morning, the bible says that those who whom God loves, he tells their faults to. He convicts them and reproves them and that we should be enthusiastic about it when God shows us our faults. And so, I can remember years ago when I would have an awareness that I was doing something wrong, I would just think, "not another thing," you know, God is...AND Grumbling. And I realize now the worst thing that God could do would be leave us alone in our sin and not convict us of it. So, he's our comforter. He's our teacher. He guides us through life. He shows us what to do. He gives us direction, but you believe it. You know, everything from God comes through believing it. It's not by feeling it. I mean, even faith itself, it's the evidence of things you don't see. It's the evidence of things you don't feel and it just operates in your heart.

Ginger: so, as those things are active and happening in your life, and especially as a new believer, sometimes we were able to do something for a long, long time and then all of a sudden, we begin to feel convicted. Something's different in your life and that's the holy spirit working.

Joyce Meyer: and I have to say that the longer you walk with God, the more that you may experience it in your life. I feel sometimes that my path gets narrower and narrower and narrower, and that's because God continues to make us more and more like christ. And it's not that you can't do anything. It's not a matter of, "now I can never do anything." It's just that what you want to do changes and how you want to behave changes.

Ginger: and narrower becomes better.

Joyce Meyer: yeah, exactly right.

Ginger: yeah, well, today we have an offer for you that will help, and as a new believer or as an experienced believer, this will help strengthen your relationship with jesus. Three teachings called, "unleashing the power of faith," and this is exactly what Joyce Meyer was just talking about, it's believing, it's where does that faith come from? And it's really the foundation that will help that walk with christ as a new believer and cement it as a believer for many years. And then Joyce Meyer's book called, "never give up." This book is a great encouragement. A lot of new endeavors in people's lives, new ministries, many people have experienced great change in their life coming out of this book. And if there's been something in your life that you've been walking through and you just maybe haven't seen the answer yet or you're just not sure if you're gonna make it, pick this up because this will give you the encouragement that you need to keep going. And we have both of these available for you today. All you need to do is act right now. Call the phone number on your screen, go to the website. Don't delay. And Joyce Meyer, I know you would encourage people now's the time.

Joyce Meyer: oh, absolutely, I mean, you can't change without the word. You can't change yourself, only the word of God can change us and there's nothing better to invest your money in than God's word because it never gets old. The longer it sits on your shelf, the better and the better it gets because you can listen to those teachings on faith and they can mean one thing to you now, and you grow for a year or so in God and you listen to him and you hear things you didn't even hear the first time.

Ginger: if you have a question for Joyce Meyer, ask it right now. Go to twitter and use #askJoyce Meyer. You can go to our everyday answers page at Joyce Meyermeyer.org, you can do it on facebook. Just get that question for us--to us and we'll be looking for it. Sometimes when we are waiting on answers, God works through other people to provide. You know, you're waiting and you're waiting and you're not seeing how God is going to do it, and then all of a sudden, someone shows up with just what you've been looking for and we have an opportunity for you now to provide for someone else. You know, at Joyce Meyer ministries, our outreach arm is called hand of hope and we do things to help people all over the world. And one of the things that I love that I've got to see a lot of the impact that it has is feeding children. We have an opportunity for you to feed kids today. We call it our hope plate and when you give a donation of... It will provide meals for five children for an entire month. How wonderful is that? And when you do, we'll send you one of these hope plates and this is a way that you can keep this at home and remind you and your family of the good that you have done and the way that you have answered someone else's prayer. So, go to our website, call that number right now and say that you would like to provide a hope plate and feed five kids for a month. You know, if God seems silent today, don't give up, don't let go. Hang in there. Keep listening, keep doing good, and God will show up because he is faithful. And i've had those times of silence, but God has never let me down and he won't you either. I'll see you next time.

Full Sermon

I’m so glad that the blood of Jesus cancelled all. Return to sender. He’s so good. And so, the bible became the first book that I could understand at all. And it was so crazy. Lots of you, all of you know my testimony and if you don’t, I was really lost and now I’m absolutely found. I was completely blind and I really see. I was dead and alive, but dead, but alive. It’s so good. But, when I was in Teen Challenge I read a scripture in James. You know, I got shot at in a drug deal - radical encounter with salvation. A voice that said, “I took those bullets for you. Are you ready to live for me yet?” Ten feet away, none of the bullets hit my car. It was the end of 22 years of drug addiction. The last time I actually ripped off a dealer was that night and I should have died for it. And God spared my life. Not so I could live for me, but so that I could just give everything to Him. You know God’s not asking for much. He’s asking you to give up something you were never created to be so that you can become who He says you are. It’s really not that much. I mean mercy woke us up today so that love gave us one more day to manifest Him and not us.

And it’s so good. I don’t know, that right there to me, when I woke up this morning and the Holy Spirit was right there in my face saying, “Come on! Its time, come on, come on, come on!” That’s exciting to me. My wife says I have two speeds, high and off. We can be carrying on a conversation and in six seconds, I’m out. And then I wake up in the morning and I’m like, “Hey, hey guess what?” “Shh shh shh” “No, no, no, okay” Shh shh shh And then I go out and I put on my headphones so that I can’t hear anything out there. And I just cry out. Sometimes I, sometimes I wake people up. But, I try not to wake people up. I just am in love with Jesus and I’m possessed by His love for me. I’m fascinated. I’m fascinated that I can wake up and love with Him. But, He doesn’t just love me I am actively being loved by my Father. It’s been this revelation for 13 years that I haven’t been in condemnation or guilt or shame.

I just believe the simple gospel. And when the enemy whispers, I don’t rebuke him, I just thank God for who I really am. I really am so serious. I don’t know why it’s complicated. The only reason it is is because we don’t know the Shepherd's voice. Because when you know the strangers, and you’re commanded not to follow it. When it speaks there’s a no vacancy sign on your forehead. There’s no room at the inn. Like, I’m for real. I’m serious. So it’s knowing that we’ve been given the mind of Christ and filling our mind with the truth of what God says. Not just with everything that we can find on it, but with the word itself. Because the word is not meant for your brain, it’s meant for your heart. And so I was really in, because I’ve got just a little brain and a big heart and I’m good. It’s not complicated. If you have a big brain, you have to have a bigger heart. Because it’s not about our big head or how awesome we are.

It’s about how amazing He is and He created (us) in the image of amazing. We were created and it’s just awesome. You know the bible doesn’t say, “Deny the devil. Pick up your cross and follow Him.” It says to deny yourself. It’s so crazy because the first scripture that ever opened up to me at Teen Challenge was in James. I was a month and a half in and every morning I would wake up. I mean I lost everything. I had a girlfriend for 9 years 7 and a half-year-old daughter. I told my girl that I would take her out, for 7 years, if she ever left me. And she lived in fear. But, mostly fear that I would take my own life. I lost everything. I mean, I grew up, (I) was raised by the Masons. When I was eleven years old my mom put me in there. I was hooked on porn at eight. I was hooked on drugs at eleven. I was in this place, we didn’t even know, no one knew what it was. Not many people know what it is. I didn’t know what it was.

But it’s the Masonic Organization and I’m in there. And I have no clue. I’d break into the Masonic Temple just to run around and jump on their chairs and stuff. I don’t know that stuff. And I had no idea. I joined the Marines after I got kicked out of there and I went AWOL after boot camp. I ran away to Colorado and I hid up in the mountains. I was living the dream. I was like yeah I’m above the clouds. Serious. I got arrested. Dream over. Got put in jail. Got extradited across the U.S. Got put in the military prison down in Camp Lejeune. I was in the brig and mouthed off so they put me in segregation. I had problems. Everybody else was my problem.

Everybody else. I never took ownership of anything because it was never my fault. It was there’s. It’s what happened in the garden, same thing. So, I’m just messed up. I get out five and a half months, I ran away again. I ran across the U.S. again. I went and hid in the very same place I got arrested at before. Silly. But this time I made it for a whole year. No one caught me. Then I got pulled over by the cops. Then I have five cops with 9-millimeters at my head. Then I get put back in jail. Then they extradite me a second time. Then they put me in military prison again. And I’m sitting in there for about six months and they kicked me out. They weren’t going to let me wait. They gave me a bad conduct discharge. They gave me a big chicken dinner. And that does not look good on any resume’ so I lied, I lied, I lied, I lied. I lied my whole life. I lied my whole life to everyone and everything.

I had to make other people look bad to make me look good. I had to like, it was so crazy, I was like the class clown, the guy, and the focus of attention. I had to draw all attention to me because I had no idea who I was. No clue. And then fast-forward, I met that girl, moved in, all this stuff. Nine years into our relationship, seven and a half year-old daughter. I go out one night, come home and she’s gone. I drove to her step dads to get a rifle. I was going to end my life. On my way to the gun cabinet I flipped open a phone book and it opens to churches. That was not what I was looking for. And I drove to this church as angry as can be and I told this guy a piece of my mind. Do you know that, as a Christian, you don’t have the right to give anybody a piece of your mind? You have to give them His. It’s so amazing. But, if you don’t know His thoughts or His mind, Because we’ve been given the mind of Christ. It’s so crazy. It says, “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can approve what is and what is not God’s will.” This is and this is not. And all of a sudden like I’m giving this Pastor this and he gives me a piece of God’s mind. And this is what he says, he says, “It’s apparent that you don’t want your life. Why don’t you give it to somebody that does.” And to me I had no idea, like why would someone want my life?

All I’ve done is hurt, steal, kill and destroy. And he said, “Jesus”. I said, “Jesus, I did not come here to hear about Jesus.” He said, “This is a church.” But I was so unchurched and I didn’t understand any of that stuff. And the last place I believed Jesus was at, if He was real, was a church. So he shared the gospel with me. And this is what he shared he said, “Jesus didn’t just die for me because I was so horrible. He paid a price for me because I was worth the blood.” And I said, “What are you talking about?” And he said, “You see the cross isn’t just the revelation of your sin. It’s the revealing of your value.” And to one that was worthless and valueless, that made no sense. But he kept persisting that it was true. I said, “Whatever, if He wants my life He can have it, because I don’t want it. There!” That was my prayer. So now I’ve become a confessing Christian, which Jesus didn’t tell us to be.

So, I went home and I called my daughter and I said, “You need tell mommy that daddy found God.” And she said, “What’s He like, dad?” Seven and a half year old kid. I said, “I don’t know.” Just being honest. And I said, “But this guy, there’s something in his eyes. I have no idea what it is. But I have to find out because he said there’s a God. He said that He’ll change my life and daddy wants to change his life. She said, “That’s great daddy but mommy’s never coming home.” I mean, I had ruined everything and for seven years I had those threats. For most of those years that my daughter can remember mom had her up all night long sitting there, telling her how much of a loser, and a liar (I was) because she wasn’t a Christian. And I was destroying our life. So she kept our daughter up every night telling her, every night I was out on a binge, which was most nights, how much of a liar and loser her daddy was. So crazy. So she kicks and screams and she gets mom to come home. I tell her everything’s going to change. She said, “Now you’re going to be a hypocrite you liar.” It was true. I didn’t want it to be true because I hated hypocrites more than anything.

So, Christianity was my, out of all religions, I hated that one the worst. Because I just saw the most people would talk about God but didn’t live anything like what they talked about one day a week. I didn’t like it. And I know that we know and this isn’t a church of that but I’m telling you it’s the prevalent thing all over the world. If you travel you’ll see. I talk to people everyday all day long about the gospel. Because my greatest heart cry, just today I wake up I said, “God, I need you to make me a better witness because I don’t want people to go to hell. I need you to help me reach people. Help me to be the man that you created me to be. Help me be a man that hears your voice. Help me be a man that represents you. Help me be the husband that you created me to be. Help me to be the father that you created me to be. Because God, without you I’m nothing and I know you’ll never leave me or forsake me. But God, I have to have more of You. You have to do it in my life. I need you. God, please. Here I am. And I know we don’t have to beg Him but He needs to know that I am hungry, hungrier than ever. I need Him.

I need His presence. I need the reality of Him upon my life. I need everyone around me, when I’m on an airplane, to tremble and to shake. I need witches to start freaking out when Jesus is on a plane.” And since He lives in me and He’s called me to represent Him, and I’ve been given His mind and the same Holy Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead dwells in me and He wants to quicken my mortal body now, not just when I resurrect. Now! Now! For salvation works itself out in and through me with fear and trembling. I’m in love with Jesus. I’m in love with God and the love of God is profuse and amazing. And what that does to your heart is that it makes you stay in a place of self-control. And self-control, it’s just so amazing. His voice is the dominant voice and every other voice doesn’t matter anymore. I can’t afford to listen to a stranger’s voice. I can’t. He tries to whisper to me. He’s silly. This stranger. You know he tried to bring condemnation to me in the beginning of my life. But, I got taught by this amazing man of God, how to do it. I said to him, I said, “Dude, you’re my spiritual father.”

And he said, “Todd, the bible says ‘call no one on earth your father’.” And I said, “Yeah, but you’re my spiritual father because…” And he was the only who would talk to me, because, just because I was a big case. He said, “Todd if you don’t go into your bedroom and find out who your Father is, you’re in trouble. Because you’ll call me on the phone one day and I won’t be there and you’ll be an orphan on the other line because your dad didn’t answer the phone. But if you find out that you have a connection to your Father, through Jesus, you’ll be able to speak straight to your Father everyday. And you won’t just know that He’s your Father, but He will Father you.” And I’ve got this eternal Father that came to dwell inside of me. It’s amazing. He lives in me. He likes to live in me. I didn’t choose Him. He chose me. There was a day when I said yes. But He said yes way before I did. And He knew me before the foundation of the world. Before my mom and my dad ever came together, He knew that I was going to be here.

And He knew all the junk that I was going to do. He knew it all and He didn’t say, “Nope, that one’s not going to be born.” Not at all, that’s not what God thinks. He’s just pretty awesome. He is. My mom and my dad they weren’t like seeking God. They weren’t Christians. They weren’t like wow - they came together. They weren’t like okay let's have a boy. Let’s try it again. That’s not how it happened see. The way that I came into the world was that my mom looked hot to my dad. They weren’t married. They weren’t thinking let's have a baby. They were thinking lets have sex, because that’s what it is. But there’s the byproduct of sex that comes out and sometimes kids are born. And all of a sudden, parents are overwhelmed with circumstances. And the problem is that we allow a mom whose identity is wrapped up in her pain, lack, suffering and she has no idea who she is. All of a sudden we allow her voice to speak louder than God’s voice. And tell me who I’m not when God is trying to tell me who I am. So on the night of conception, let me just break it down for you. My favorite book is purity that you did.

The ring wrecked me I could hardly function. Hardly function. Because I believe that God wants to do something in the body of Christ. I believe He wants to restore purity to the body of Christ. Oh no. It’s like, and it’s not something like we’ve got to be pure. We’ve got to walk the line. You can’t walk the line and be pure. You can’t bite your lip and do good. You’ll chew your lip off your face. You have to be in love with Jesus. Full on. He has to be your everything. He has to be the bread that you eat. He has to be the water that you drink. His blood is the real drink. His body, the bread, is the real food. And unless that’s your very sustenance, you’ll wander around in the wilderness just like the Israelites did. Manna was everyday in front of their tent and they had no idea that that was it. Right there. That was it. And Jesus was the bread that came down from heaven.

And everyday He was everything for them. But, they were out there selfish. And so grumbling, complaining, and when’s my time, and when’s it going to happen, when’s my day going to happen? And it already happened. There’s manna right there. Right there. Eleven days it would have taken. But it took forty years. And even the ones that grumbled died there and never made it in. Don’t say this is a Joshua generation because you’ll die where you are. It’s everybody running together as one. But Jesus has to be heavens final answer is Jesus. Jesus And pastor, the fathers thought they were spoken to by the prophets. But in these last days, God has spoken. He has, he has spoken to us by His Son. Jesus is heavens answer. And without relationship with that Jesus, there’s no possible way for you to function. And there is bread everyday.

There is food everyday. His name is Jesus. You need to eat Jesus. Sleep Jesus. Breathe Jesus. Drink Jesus Live Jesus. Heavens provided everything for you. You know, the Israelites, their in this wilderness. They are out there. And their grumbling and complaining and they died there. So, if you would say that you’re in a wilderness, the only wilderness you’re really allowed to be in is the one that Jesus went in. And He came out in the Holy Ghost and power. But He wasn’t in there complaining. He went into that wilderness selfless and He came out in the Holy Ghost and power. And He went about doing good and He healed everybody that was oppressed by hell - so powerful and amazing and beautiful. What a King. And He chose to come live in you. Greater love has nobody than this. When I find this out, I’ll lay my life down. Everyday. Everyday. So, that’s my mom and dad. Are you ready? So on the night of conception when my dad and my mom came together. They weren’t thinking let’s have a Todd. They weren’t. Children are a gift from heaven but if parents don’t know who they are it’s a bummer for them.

But you can’t afford to allow their bummer for them to influence the reality of who you were created to be. We have this thing up there called rejection and rejection and rejection. The only reason that we live in rejection is because you don’t understand that we have been accepted in the Beloved. And if we’ve been accepted in the Beloved, how can a man, a woman a child, a co-worker ever take away what they never gave you? I didn’t get my identity from my natural father. I got my identity from my heavenly Father. But if I don’t grow in that and grow in the knowledge of the Lord, in the Spirit of wisdom, and revelation and the knowledge of Him, I will live as a mere man and I will think like hell heading to heaven. And I’ll hope I make it in by the skin of my teeth. And praise God I hope you don’t have skin on your teeth. Mom and dad came together and all of a sudden in a birth canal there’s eighty million chances of me. Do you get it? Could be millions more or less, probably more. But let’s just say eighty million chances of me headed for the egg. And everybody else is faster than me because I’m the slow one. I’m the one that lags behind. And I’m back there and all of a sudden I look up. I get close to the pack. And right around this egg there’s all these little dudes. Did you guys see Nemo? Little dude All these little dudes trying to get in. They’ve got jackhammers and sledge hammers and saws trying to get in. Boom! Boom! Natural instinct. Get out of my way. Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom! We’re talking millions right at the end. And I’m coming up like I don’t know what’s going on but something’s pushing me forward.

I don’t, I don’t know what’s happening. And then all of a sudden - right inside the egg, with no tool, with no hammer, with nothing. And I’m in there wondering what just happened. But, all of a sudden my voice, which hasn’t been trained by the world, says, “Sorry guys! I was predestined before the foundation of the world.” But unfortunately we don’t think like that because we allow life to potter us, circumstances to mold us, instead of the word of God. Because the Truth of who God says you are crushes everything. I don’t care who’s against me. God is for me. He is for me and He is an amazing Father. He’s a good, good Father. That’s who You are. That’s who I should write that one. I am loved by Him, that’s who I am. This is what it boils down to and this is what I’ve believed for thirteen years. He’s a good, good Father. He’s a good, good Father. And I’m no longer a slave to fear. Cause I am a child of God. I’m no longer a slave to fear. Cause I am a child of God. From my mother’s womb He has chosen me. Predestined before the foundation of the world. Love has called my name. I’ve been born again. Wait wait. Let me do it again. Here’s darkness over here. I’ve been born again. See you natural mom and natural dad. It didn’t work well that way, but now I know why I’m here. Into a family. Whoa, wait a minute. What was that? That was love. What did you say? It was love. Love has called my name. Thank you Jesus. I’m no longer a slave to fear. Cause I am a child of God. I’m no longer a slave to fear. Cause I am a child of God. That’s it. That’s really it. That’s it. He said so. But if anything else comes to dominate what God says you’re in trouble. And there are so many theories that are trying to compete for your soul, so much stuff. Listen, your spirit, man, craves the bread of God. Your spirit, man, craves Jesus. He craves Jesus. And once you’ve feasted upon the bread, upon the word, and upon the Truth, then the theories of man, you have no appetite for the theories of man anymore. And it doesn’t matter what people say because you’re possessed by love itself. God doesn’t say, “I love you.

Come on, say it back.” We’re trained that way. Trained to have to need it back. A lot of times people say I love you, not because they love you, but because they need to hear it back so they can feel okay about saying it first. That’s not our Father. He just says, “I love you.” Period. And when you see that, as He is, we become like Him. Then as you think in your heart so are you. If anybody says that they were to abide in Him he ought walk just as He walked. I don’t know about you but that excites me. I get to walk like Jesus walked. This is crazy, ridiculous and amazing all together. Like, it’s absurd, It’s absolutely crazy. I was listening to your message today on grace. I was sitting here, like I wanted to come up and grab tools, man. I’m so excited. I’m like, He’s asking for the other tool. No, no, no that’s not it. That’s the other one. You weren’t here to get it. It was really good. We can’t afford to be so weighed down with tools that our tool belt is sagging. We have to know the One that helps us use it. They are all available. You can have as much of God as you want. It’s not like, I must decrease and He must increase. It’s like He wants to cover all of me with all of Him. That’s so good. He wants to put me on like a glove. I love that. I can walk into a place, I get on a plane and sit beside a guy, and I have so many. It’s so crazy. I mean ridiculous. Crazy. I sit beside a guy and I go “Hey, how are you doing?” “Okay” He’s a business guy. He looks at me like that and he’s got a devil. And it’s a bummer for him. I’m not intimidated. It’s like; I’m never going to die. I’m just going to go be with Jesus. So, I’m really not preaching some weird thing. It says that to live is Christ and to die is gain. So why would I be afraid of gain? You know Jesus doesn’t just want some of you He wants all of you. And it’s not about being here on a pulpit. It’s about your life becoming one. It’s about everything you do and everything say whether in word or deed, everything as unto the Lord and not for people. You do it unto God. You’re working for the Man. Seated at the right hand. Oh yes, Lord. Like I showed up for service – flipping burgers. Yes, Lord. In and Out Oh yeah! It’s such an honor. This is my beautiful bride, Jackie. Stand up girl. She’s my best friend in the whole world, besides Jesus. I need to move or I won’t get done, ever. Are you guys okay? So many different things, I’ll get there. I’m listening to my heart. There is great increase - great increase available. When I came here I just felt such an amazing, crazy hunger, crazy hunger, crazy. I’m so thankful for that. So, I just want you to know you won’t go away without the increase that you came for. Okay, I just wanted to share that alright? Okay. It sounds like a big promise but I can’t fulfill it. He would have to do that. So, I set God up. But if He told me to say it, then it’s okay. It’s saying stuff He didn’t’ tell you to say.

So this guy is squirming. And I say, “Hey, I just have to tell you that Jesus loves you so much.” He goes, “No, no, no, no.” He’s a grown man. His family is on the other side of the isle. I’m sitting here. “Please just leave me alone, not again.” Meaning somebody else, some other Christian sat beside him before. I said to him, “Jesus loves you so much.” “Please stop.” He puts his book up, right here. I start sharing the goodness of God with him. “Please” I said, “Man, one day, one day, one day you are going to bow before my King. It should be before you meet Him on that day.” “Please stop, please, please, please, please.” I said, “Father, I thank you Jesus have your way.” He’s quiet, no more words done. No more words to say because devils have to shut up. And really, I am so serious. I’m not claiming to be anything, I just, my Dad is amazing. He’s way more interested in this It’s a great word today. Chris brought a great word too. I loved that, man. He’s way ahead, way ahead. And He’s way more interested than I am about this. He cares way more about this than I do. And I care with everything I am. If you didn’t hear it today you should get it I’m Sorry. So, I’m sitting there and he finally taps me and says, “Sir.” I said, “Yeah?” He said, “Can we switch seats?” I said, “Okay.” I said, “But I am going to be ministering to the stewardess’s and bringing Jesus. So, if you want that to happen over your lap then we can do it.” He said, “I just want to sit closer to my wife.” And I’m like, “Oh, sure. Go ahead. Yeah, I’ll get up” “Are you going to be okay?” “Ugh” He sits in the seat. The stewardess comes by.

I said, “Hey, how are you doing? Jesus thinks you’re amazing.” “Ugh” You know that one of us is really uncomfortable. Really, I am in love, you see perfect love. You see I have been perfectly loved by Jesus. Like, I dove into what righteousness is and I don’t know it all. But I know that I’m right with God. And that’s all, that’s all I know. But what if that’s all we really need to know? What if we dove into the reality of right standing? What if Jesus who knew no sin, ever, never sinned once, never ever, He did it all for me? And He became sin. The One that knew no sin became sin so that I could become something. But what if I don’t know what I’ve become? If I don’t know who I’ve become I’ll still be striving to try to enter in. And I’ll try to enter in by my works and we won’t think it’s works but it is. See you can’t get in there that way. There’s no possible way for you to get in there. The only way to get in is to believe the gospel. You have to believe the simplicity of the gospel. You have to believe the simple cross the simple message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He was crucified for my offenses.

But and He nailed the devil, right hook, Boom. And the devil got a little bit like punch drunk but he shook it off. He said, “Tack Him on a tree. Tack Him on a tree.” He was crucified for my offenses. He got the right hook. And then Jesus died he thought he won. Boom. Crucified for my offenses. But then all of a sudden here comes the upper cut. This is the one that sent Him down. This is the one that knocked Him out. See the devil thinks he won. See He was crucified for my offenses. Are you with me? Romans 4:25 Yeah? And then He was raised for my justification. That one right there was the blow. See hell thought that they had victory because they killed our King. Boy, the devil had no idea. See if he had known that when Jesus said, “Unless a seed falls into the ground and dies it abides alone.” But he didn’t catch that one because all the devil knows how to do is steal, kill and destroy. Isn’t it amazing that in Jesus’s life you see He gets baptized in the river Jordan and for the last three and a half years of His life the devil's trying to get Him. He’s trying to get Him. And Jesus is like Uh. And he tries to get Him again. Uh Then he slips right in from the mist and they try to kill Him. His first message Jesus preached, the first message, I mean the Son of God, He said, “This scripture is fulfilled today.” The are like, “What?” Who is this guy? Let’s throw Him off a cliff. His first time out of the gate. Your first preach. How’d you do? Well, they took me to the edge of a cliff. The devil couldn’t take Him out. He couldn’t take Him out. The enemy tried, couldn’t, couldn’t, couldn’t, couldn’t. But then there was that time. Don’t you think it would have been weird for the enemy? Because you see he couldn’t do it then all of a sudden Jesus is letting them rip His beard out. Ripp, and all of hell. Because man, when the enemy knew he could touch Jesus it was full on, full on. You know Jesus is hanging there on a tree. It’s so ridiculous and the devil thinks he won. And when you see Him there you don’t really see Him there. You know what I’m saying? Because when you see Him you can’t really recognize Him. The bible said He was unrecognizable. He was completely marred beyond any man. His flesh was ripped apart. He was marred beyond any man ever. You couldn’t recognize Him. The Passion did a great job but He was still recognizable on the tree in the movie. A lot of people say, “I can’t watch that, it’s just too gross.” You need to tape your eyelids open and watch that. And stop singing that song, “I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross.” You need to know how much it cost to see your sin upon that cross because that determines how much your worth is to God. The cross isn’t just a revelation of your sin the cross is the revealing of your value. Sin was an issue but something underneath of that sin was of grave importance for Father to go bankrupt to get you back – to come and get you back. So Jesus is marred beyond any man. You can’t even recognize Him. Why was He marred? I know that it is by His stripes we are healed. I get that but it’s more that that. He was marred beyond any man. Why? Because God created us in the beginning in His image and in the likeness of God He made man. Man didn’t look like anything he was created to look like ever. Because see, he took on the very nature of the enemy in the garden so Jesus had become unrecognizable so you and I could become recognizable to the Father again. That’s amazing. Unrecognizable because sin had… So Jesus became… So that we might become Ta Dah! Not because of our own righteousness but because of His righteousness. Not because I’ve earned it but because Jesus paid a price for me to become it. You can’t do to be. You’re not a Do-Be. You’re not. You are a Be Do. It’s not about doing to Be. It’s about being to Do. All of your stuff, all of your life comes out of being right with God and you’re doing is a byproduct of being. See the miraculous is a byproduct of Sonship. It’s the reality of what sons and daughters do. They manifest their Father. I get to manifest my Dad everyday of my life and it’s exciting. Yeah! God chose to live in me. He likes to live here. When I look in the mirror I don’t go “Oh no! I go Whoa, I see You in there.” I cry. I look in my eyes and cry. It’s not arrogant. It’s Godfident. I believe that I am who my Father says I am. What do you believe you are? Come on, Jesus wants to know who you think you are. Who do you think you are? I know He said, “Who do people say I am? Some say this and some say that but yes, who do you think? Who do you believe I am?” Peter said, “You’re the Christ.” You see he had this flash. A lot of people say they can relate to Peter because of this but if you’re relating to Peter you better relate to the right one. Because that Peter wasn’t saved yet Peter wasn’t born again back there. You don’t want to relate to that one or you just need born again. You read 1 Peter and 2 Peter it’s a different man. Why? Because there’s just something different See now he’s met Jesus. The Day Star had risen in Peter’s heart and the prophetic word was confirmed. Just like He heard this is my son in whom I am well pleased. On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost came down. Peter rose up with great boldness because the same Holy Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead was in him and upon him. This man was confident in his salvation and confident that all of his sins and his lawless acts were forgiven. Imagine being Peter trying to get over denying Jesus. The only way for him to get over denying Jesus was to have his pass removed. His pass couldn’t be removed until Jesus was crucified and resurrected. On the day of Pentecost Peter was convicted of the three things that Jesus said the Holy Spirit was coming to do. The Holy Spirit was coming to convict the world of sin because they don’t believe in Him. Peter definitely believed in Him, no doubt. To convict the world of righteousness because He was going to be with His Father Now this is what happened and this is what I believe the body of Christ needs. To be convicted of our righteousness. This is where I live. See I live in conviction. I have lived for thirteen years without guilt, shame or condemnation. People have told me that I can’t preach that. You’re wrong. People have told me that I can’t speak about that, that I’m setting myself up for a fall. You’re wrong. I’m not. I’m believing the Gospel I believe in the Gospel. Jesus said I am forgiven. Who do you think I am to say I’m not? Jesus said He didn’t just forgive it, He forgot it and He’ll never bring it up again because He loves me. So what if I believe the gospel? What if I just believe the simple gospel Truth? What if I believe 2 Corinthians 11? It says, “Oh you bear with me in a little foolishness and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with a Godly jealousy.” It is good to be jealous of people with a Godly jealousy. And I am. I am jealous for the body of Christ to step into being normal. That’s it. That’s all I want to do. I want to raise the standard to normal. I’m not going to do it by me preaching at people. I’m going to do it by living my life and believing the Truth and living without guilt, without shame, without condemnation but with massive conviction. I will live my life with massive conviction. When God speaks to me I will jump and it doesn’t matter what it is about. It doesn’t matter. And I’ll know when He’s speaking to me because it will line up with His word. Because God and His Word are one As a matter of fact He’s magnified His Word above His own name. So God thinks pretty highly of His Word. But if you don’t think as highly about His Word as He does, what are we going to do? You can’t just study all these different things. I’m not saying don’t have books. I read them all the time. But if you don’t allow the bible, the Truth of God’s word, you need relationship with the Author because He is the author and finisher of your faith. He is the perfecter of salvation. He is the captain of our salvation. You’ve been enlisted into the army. Everyone that has enlisted into an army wants to please the one that enlisted him. We are not supposed to partake of stuff outside of service. It doesn’t mean it’s legal. This isn’t a legal thing. You can’t, like I said through legalism do the right thing. You have to do by relationship what legalism can’t. Legalism can’t do it. Legalism tries to and it can’t. It tries to put standards and strongholds on people. You need to do this, and do this, and do this, and do this, and do this and you can’t. But when you fall in love with Jesus all of a sudden your conviction that if one died then all died. That those who live should no longer live for himself but for the One who gave Himself for them. All of a sudden you become convicted of your righteousness. I’m right with God. Whoa. I’m right with God. The devil says, “No you’re not.” You say, “Father, thank You so much. I’m right with You.” The devil says, “You’re worthless.” Oh God, thank you that the blood of Jesus has made me worth it. The devil says, “Well, you shouldn’t have done that.” “Father, I thank you that that’s a man that no longer exists. Thank you.” Even if it was yesterday. You say, “Father, I thank You so much that I have repented.” Which means all unrighteousness has been washed off of me and I stand before you right.

And I can boldly approach the throne of grace in time of need. And when’s the last time you didn’t need Jesus? So why not live in the throne room and live in His presence and live in His goodness, and live in His mercy, and live believing the Truth. Let the truth set you free. Just be free. Because who the Son sets free is free indeed. It doesn’t matter if people say you can’t be free. You can be free. It happens in your bedroom on your knees with your bible. And you fill your soul with the Truth. So, I am jealous for people with a Godly jealousy. Why? Because we have been betrothed. We’ve been set up with one husband. It’s amazing He talks about husband in Romans 7. He refers to it. By the husband and wife and if the husband dies the wife is released. He’s talking about the law. The husband dies she’s released from him. And He goes into that. Romans 7 isn’t a confusion. Romans 7 is telling people if you’re trying to do it in your own strength you’re going to fall short. If you’re dead in Romans 6, how can you be alive in Romans 7? I didn’t get it? But I just wanted to go there. That’s a whole different thing. Such demonic strategies set up to tell the body of Christ who their not. Don’t listen to every voice. You need to be a voice, not an echo. The only way that happens is if you need to hear His voice for yourself. Because God only made one of you and each one of you is fearfully and wonderfully made. God knows every hair on your head - even this. He has more thoughts for me than outnumber the grains of sand in the whole world and every thought is for my welfare. Wouldn’t it be a shame if you didn’t know any of His thoughts? How horrible would that be if you didn’t know five of His thoughts for you? You know what five of His thoughts could do for you if you thought about them all day long? It would change your life. Just the one thought that God so loved the world that He gave His only beloved Son so that whoever would believe in Him would believe. Believe means absolutely convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt. It actually gives an example of a house with no empty rooms. It does, for the word believe. So your house has no empty rooms because it’s occupied by Truth. When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all Truth. All Truth, not some Truth. It’s not, “This little light of mine.” It’s not. You are a blazing inferno. You are a flamethrower. Let me ask you this… If someone’s on fire and you put them in the fire, what happens? Nothing. They’re already on fire. Does that make sense? If I put fire in a fire nothing happens because it’s already on fire.

But if I’m trying to get on fire when I’m in the fire I’ll get burnt. But if you’re on fire when you go through the fire you’ll come out and you won’t even smell like smoke. You’ll smell like fire. Ok, that didn’t go over well. It’s alright. I know what it means because I’m in fires all the time. I love them. I’m not afraid of them. Consider it joy when you face these trials. Joy. Yeah, another trial. I consider it amazing because the trials come if need be for the purifying of your faith. So, that stuff comes it’s needed for the purifying of your faith. Actually, for the testing of your faith. To see what you’re made of. You can’t even get to Christian maturity unless you go through them anyway. Don’t try to go another way, it doesn’t happen. Don’t try to avoid the fire - ahhh Be a living sacrifice and just stay there. Trials produce patience. People say, “Well, I hate patience. I don’t like patience. Patience is hard. No patience for me. I’m not reading that again.” You guys want to be perfectly complete lacking nothing? You better let patience have its perfect work in you. That’s how you become perfectly complete lacking nothing. “Well, I don’t like patience.” The reason you don’t like patience is because you don’t like love because the first thing love is patient. I promise. All this stuff I’m spouting out you think, “Boy, he’s in trouble. The devil's after him.” Let him come. I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid. Even if none go with me, I’m going. You know why? Because you can’t stop this. You can’t stop love – pure love. Love that doesn’t expect anything from the person in front of them. Love that doesn’t seek its own. Love that is patient. Love that is kind. I love people, not for what I can get from them. Because I would lay my life down for any of you. And that’s not just boasting or popping off. I’m telling you that I’ve made up my mind. I’ve pushed all my chips to the center of the table and there is no going back. Nobody is going to make me turn around. No situation. No voice. I have determined in my heart to not ever allow sin against me to produce sin within me – ever. It’s not going to happen. I will not palm a harsh word with a harsh word. I will not be upset if someone despitefully uses me. I can’t be. I need to pray for them. That doesn’t mean pray for them “did you hear what they did and all this and all that.” No, no, no. You better be on your knees when no one is looking. And it better turn your heart into a place of real soft, pliable putty so that you can stand there before your Father, lift the person up before the throne and say, “Father, I thank You.” It’s very important. I’ve lived that way and I’ve gone through so much stuff. Do you think that this brings none? Do you have any idea what an epidemic this is? This care? It’s my fishing lure. How many of you saw Avatar? See the movie Avatar? Remember this? Okay, for those of you who didn’t, don’t watch it. Sorry, I’m like ADD in the Spirit. Like what’s next? I was telling them earlier this is what I do: I’m a seed sowing sheep. That’s it. I fill myself with the Truth. I get on my knees before God and say, “Make me become what this word says, God. Don’t let me just read this. Because if I just read this it doesn’t become who I am. I’m going to be me and people don’t want me they want You. God I’m asking You to help me. Help me. I need to be the best witness You created me to become. Help me speak through You.

Use me today. Use me. Speak through me. Let me reach people today, God. Help me. Help me, Jesus. Please God I need your help. Father, I thank You. Your Word says my life has been transformed. God, it’s all in Your Word. Your Word. Your Word. Your Word. Your Word. God it says that. It says, God, “You have desired to send me.” You’ve betrothed me to one husband. That I might be presented as a chased virgin to Christ. As a chased virgin. One that’s never slept with the world before. One that’s never been with the world before. One whose mind is completely free from debris. The way that seems right to a man has been washed away. Because the blood of Jesus has cleansed my conscience from dead works in order to serve God. Father, fill this conscience with the Truth of who You say I am. God, I will live with the conviction and when You speak I’ll do it God. When You speak I’ll jump. I won’t hesitate, not even a partial hesitation. God, I don’t want to be 98% pure. I wouldn’t drink water that had a label on it that says 98% pure. That’s silly. No, it’s 100 or none. It’s for or against. It’s gather or scatter. God’s just looking for full surrender. He’s not looking for compromise. He’s not looking for it. Man, you’re letting the enemy just gain ground in your life by compromising. This is not 95/5. No, your 95 becomes 90, your 90 becomes 85, before you know it your straddling the fence. It’s not okay. There was an atheist who had a dream and on the one side of this field there were all these people. And all these people that were walking around with the enemy. They were walking around with the devil. They didn’t have pointy ears and a pitchfork. He was actually attractive. But, he knew it wasn’t the other one because on the other side of the fence there was Jesus. And he was walking around and there were all these people with Him. This atheist has this dream. And all of a sudden there was this fence in the middle and he can’t make a decision. He jumps up on this fence and stands there. And all of a sudden everybody disappears - everybody disappears. Just making sure you’re listening. I said it twice. Everybody, their gone. The man’s like, “What is going on?” Then all of a sudden the devil pops back into the picture and said, “There you are. I was looking for you.” And the man said, “Hey, I didn’t choose Him and I definitely didn’t choose you.” He said, “Sure you did, the fence is mine.” It’s really true. See Jesus said, “I wish that you were either cold or hot.” Cold or hot? I struggled with that because I don’t get it. I didn’t get it. I get born again and I read this scripture. I’m like, “Okay, cold or hot, that is so crazy.” I was so out there. I mean so out there. Then I see people and at least they are going to church. I didn’t understand what the difference was. God said, “Todd, I can switch you like a light switch cold to hot but you have to believe the finished work of Christ. You have to believe that I did it all and that your job is to learn what I did. But you are to learn from me.” Jesus said, “All of you that are worried and burdened and weighed down by life come to Me and I will give you rest.” He didn’t tell you to rest then and stay there. Because there is a continued scripture. He said, “Come to me and I will give you rest. All of you who work to exhaustion come to me and I will give you rest.” Then He said, “Now take my yoke upon you and learn from Me. Take my yoke upon you. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. For I am meek and lowly and you will find rest for your soul.” The only way to find soul rest isn’t when you get born again. When you get born again you get that initial rest where there’s – No more shackles. No more chains. I am free to run. Then you go out of the church. I need to go back there because I can’t run out here. You can if you get on your knees - it’s easier to run. I promise you. All of a sudden God starts to speak to you and He starts to pour identity into you. He starts to pour His Truth into your soul. Then Jesus is no longer a crutch. He’s the anchor. He’s the anchor of your soul. He’s immovable. He doesn’t move. He’s steadfast. But without the power of the blood, this: What can wash away my sins? (Crowd sings) Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? (Crowd sings) Nothing but the blood of Jesus. How precious is the flow that makes me white as snow.

No other fountain I know. (Crowd sings) Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Without that right there, without a reality and a revelation in the finished work of Christ and what He’s done, you will never get to a place of finding rest for your soul. Because rest for your soul comes when the finished work of Christ hits this. And all of a sudden God starts to fill you with His mind for you and His thoughts for you that outnumber the grains of sand. See, if you fill your mind with five thoughts it would possess you. If you filled it with 10 overcome If you filled it with 20 it would overwhelm you. If you filled it with more it would overtake you. If you fill your soul with what God thinks about you, when the devil whispers to you it’s exposed. It’s exposed. You don’t have to rebuke the devil. You’re not even told to rebuke the devil anyway. You’re not. You’re not told to even listen to him. He’s a stranger’s voice. Jesus said, “The Shepherd's voice I will follow, but the stranger’s I will not. I will not.” You will hear the Shepherd's voice and the stranger’s voice I will not follow. When the stranger whispers you are supposed to know the Truth that sets you free. You are not supposed to rebuke the devil. You are supposed to thank Jesus. You are supposed to eat with Jesus. This is where you step into the place where you are being loved by your Father. You guys alright? Because I am burning. Okay, look here. See that. That’s my baby. Look. See this little guy right here? He was born addicted to heroine. We adopted him. Oh, Oh, Oh. Can I tell you about him? Okay now I’m going to preach. Are you ready? I’m going to talk about the Spirit of adoption. This is where it’s at. When you see the Spirit of adoption, When you see that God has delivered us out of darkness. Let’s go into Ephesians 5. It says, “You were darkness.” It doesn’t say you were a little dark. It didn’t say you kind of have darkness. It doesn’t even say you were in the shade. It doesn’t say you were a little shady. It says, “You were darkness.” You were completely dark. You were darkness itself. You were dark. The bible says in Matthew 6:22 it says The lamp, the eye is the lamp of the body and if your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light. But if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness? Now understand we have the capacity to house light. But how you house light is how you see. And how you see is how you see Him.

And how you see Him is how you see you. Because as He is, so are we. Are you with me? We have to set our minds on things above and not beneath. So when I was darkness, when I was lost, when I was dead, God took me out of the kingdom of darkness and He placed me into another kingdom. He placed me into the Kingdom of the Son of His love. God does not just tolerate me. God does not just love you and not like you. We teach that in the body and it’s not okay to teach that. It’s not okay to say God loves you but He doesn’t like you. That’s not true. God doesn’t tolerate you. He’s profusely in love with you. If you catch a glimpse of that, which is sometimes in the body of Christ we say, “God loves you but He doesn’t like you.” That’s not biblical. He loves you profusely. He loved you so much that He sent His Son. God knew your life and He sent His Son anyway. He knew how twisted, He knew that I was going to be wrapped in drug addiction. He knew that. He knew it and He still sent His Son for me. In my sin, God said I love him. And if He loved me when I was sinning and against Him and horrible. How much more will He freely give me all things? Why not? Why wouldn’t I just believe the Truth? “Well, I’m just not worthy.” Get over yourself. In your own strength, you’re not. Look, sometimes we get these complexes and we get these issues. And it’s attitude instead of gratitude. It’s not okay. Sometimes we get hurt by this one and this one and this one. Dude, they are not your problem, you are. Get over you. You’re the issue. If someone else hurts you it’s not because it’s them it’s because of you.

There are a lot of people that don’t go to church because of this. They’re offended and they’re hurt. “I don’t want to go to church because I was there and they hurt me. They didn’t notice me quick enough. They didn’t give me the microphone and I had the gift and they didn’t notice me. I’m going somewhere else where they will appreciate me.” Then they go somewhere else and all of a sudden something else is wrong with them. “They got this, let’s see if they love. They don’t love, I see it.” You’re not looking for love. You’re looking for fault. We get offended and we get hurt. It’s all about us and it’s not about Jesus. It’s about us. Me, Me, Me Me, Me, Me Have you seen my gift? Have you seen me function? Give me a pulpit I will set you free. How demonic is that? Look at me. Look what I did. They fell down when I prayed. So stupid. Sorry. When I prayed the devil ran away. Look at me. When the disciples prayed the devils ran away and they weren’t even saved. And they wanted to blow up cities because of it. See who’s first. “Hey, I’m better than them. Lord tell them. Grant us the permission to sit on your right and left. Now, we’re the sons of summer. Do it.” What is that? It’s demonic strategy and that’s what happens when you have power but don’t know you’re adopted. You can move in great gifting and I am all for it. I get to share the heart of Jesus everyday of my life. Somewhere for somebody, everywhere, multiple times. I probably tell me testimony 3, 4, 5 times a day, everyday, everywhere I go. And I love seeing people healed. I love seeing them shake and rattle and get free. But, I love Jesus more than anything in my life. I love it. I love it. I love it. He loves me. Watch this. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me. He loves me and when I get to the whole way to the other side, other petals have grown out. And they say the same thing forever. I’ve lived this way for thirteen years. Is it possible to live it for fifteen? Yes. Is it possible to let the love of God consume me everyday? To let His burning heart for me, which shows me His burning heart for you. Because when I love God with all my heart, with all my soul, and all of my mind and with all of my weakness Because it’s His strength that enables me to do that. It’s God who wills in and through me to accomplish for His good pleasure. He wants to do it in me. It’s His good pleasure to do it. So, He burns inside of me. See, you can’t love God with all your strength. It’s in your weakness. Your weakness is a magnet for your strength of God. To strengthen yourself in the Lord you can’t strengthen yourself in you. It’s not about, “You’ve got to find what works for you.” What is that? It’s Jesus. “Well, you know, I tried that.” No, you didn’t. “Well, I tried the Word and it didn’t work for me.” No, no, no, no, no. That’s not how it goes. “Well, I tried. I did. I read the word.” You just can’t get it with your brain.

You think you’re so smart and you’re not so smart. You just didn’t read it on your knees. Weeping, crying over the lamb. Seeing who He’s created you to be. God, He really loves us. Oh my. I hope you’re getting something from this. I am. I promise. I am so strengthened. It’s like core training. It is. Righteousness is core training. Because if you’re core is strong everything else functions well. And if Jesus is the chief cornerstone, then we’re the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. If you’re foundation doesn’t have a cornerstone your building can only get so high before it collapses. And you’re falling and you’re done. We don’t need another fall. We don’t need idolatry to end a movement. We don’t. We need the pure in heart that see God. We need somebody that’s so abandon to love itself that their priority is sitting before the master everyday. See that picture right there? See that picture right there? Do you see that? That’s the gospel. That’s my King. And he has dreads. Yes! What if? John the Baptist did. Did you guys see the bible series? See it? They weren’t real but they were dreads. I saw them. Jesus help me. I want to get to my son. So the Spirit of adoption. When we get saved the Spirit of adoption comes. And all of a sudden our Spirit in 1 Corinthians 2 it describes the reality of when we get born again, our spirit the depth of man, our spirit cries out. Then the Spirit reveals the deep things of God. Then all of a sudden our Spirit is linked to the Holy Spirit and we become one Spirit. We’re one Spirit with Him. All of a sudden we’re hooked up to the Father. Now, in the beginning when you read the word and start to get in there, this link isn’t recognized. It’s not. Because it’s not with the natural mind. The carnal mind is at war against God. It’s not revealed to the carnal mind. So we’re trying to get in there with our head We read the bible and I’ve read it in a year. It’s not to be read in a year. Oh my. That scares me, actually. “Ah, I read the bible. The whole year.” Oh, what did you get? “Well...” The word is to be eaten everyday. It’s to be our very sustenance. It’s to be our very, it’s to be our everything. When I get in there I see God’s heart for me. His heart. Oh God, it’s so beautiful. I don’t read the Word so I can preach. I read the Word so I can become what it says. I get in there so I and the Word can become one. Because we already are one. So the Holy Spirit He reveals. He breathes. Hebrews 4:12 says that He divides. The word is sharp, alive and active. He divides my soul from my spirit. He divides the soul from the spirit. He drives this separation between the way that seems right to a man in your soul: your mind, your will and your emotions. He separates this. So your brain doesn’t get it. So when you’re reading your brain’s not getting it. But your Spirit is getting it. And when we start to feed on the bread of God, we start to feed on the Word our Spirit gets the nutrients that it needs. All of a sudden we’re craving the milk of the word. When you start reading it, you’re not really craving it but it’s good. And then we’re craving it some more and it’s better. The we’re craving it some more. The Spirit starts to bubble up things to your brain and it starts to renew your mind. Little bits and pieces at a time. Not so you can just preach it out. It has to bake in the oven for a while. Then it needs to bake and then when it rises and it’s ready it will rise so much that it will rise up here.

Then all of a sudden, a revelation. Oh I’ve got this revelation. It’s so beautiful. So good. I’ve got to tell everybody. And God whispers to you, “Not yet, there’s more.” And all of a sudden there’s more that comes. And for me it’s like a puzzle. Where I’ve got this, and this, and this, and this, and this. And then one day I read one scripture and all of it goes (Vrump) and it comes together. Oh my! And I see it. Oh, it’s so good and I go to share it and I’m like, “Oh where did it go? No!” It’s still got to bake some more. It’s not done. So, it’s the only way I know how to describe it. The Spirit of God, He reveals the deep heart of God, the deep things of God. He reveals it to me, to my spirit. Then all of a sudden my spirit and the Holy Spirit they start to establish this amazing relationship and my body begins to sense that. My flesh begins to sense it. My feelings, my awareness starts to sense it. All of a sudden, the Word of God says it’s alive, sharp and active able to separate, divide and separate, the soul from the spirit. It starts to renew my mind. It divides the joint from the marrow. So the joint and the marrow never touch. For me, that means the Word of God goes cellular and my physical body starts to actually sense the changes that are coming because of the Truth of God’s Word. Actually, it says that the same Holy Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead dwells in me. Romans 8:11 He will quicken my mortal body. Actually, for me that means He’s quickening my flesh, my physical man. It’s pretty amazing. There’s a lot to this and I’ll share it. Because I was a drug addict for 22 years and wasted so many different things like my brain, my lungs, my kidneys, my liver, my everything. I just wasted away everything and Jesus restored every organ in my body. I’m so serious. My lungs, I couldn’t even breathe. I smoked an ounce of weed a week for 22 years straight. I was on all kinds of crack and everything else and Jesus restored me. He restored me because you see if God forgives my sin then He also removes the stain that sin left in my body. It’s so much more that what we’ve allowed it to do. I’ve seen so many scars, cutters, people that cut themselves, I’ve seen them disappear when they find out who they are. You see those scars can’t stay anymore because you’re not the one who put them there anymore. You can think what you want. Maybe you think I’m out of my mind. I might probably be out of yours. That’s okay. I’m going to believe the gospel. No one’s going to stop me because God won’t stop. God won’t. You can try but it’s not going to work. I won’t say anything. I’ll just be in love with Jesus. When you rebuke me and get mad at me, I’ll just cry out my heart for you and when I get alone I’ll just pour my heart out to God and thank Him for who you are. Because He loves you. I’m so serious. You have no idea. I’ve gone through a hammering. And He’s so good because you just come out like a sharper. I’m having a moment. He’s loving me. Hold on. He’s faithful. He’s faithful. Oh no. He’s faithful. I think that’s part of His name, Faithful and True. So, it says that God’s Word is sharp and active, soul and Spirit, joint from the marrow.

He says He judges the thoughts and intents of my heart. So for me, what that means is that God shines a spotlight in my heart on a constant basis. Constantly. Because I put myself on my knees before my Father with the Word, believing that this is the answer. I believe out of everything the answers all lie in here. It doesn’t matter what it is. Every answer in the whole world in every situation, at anytime, anywhere lies in here. Because Jesus has become to us the wisdom of God sanctification and redemption. Jesus is the wisdom of God. And I need His wisdom not mine. Because the wisdom of the world, which I use to live by, is sexual, feeling oriented. It’s full of self-seeking and envy and every evil thing is there. Every evil thing lies in the way that seems right to a man. But the wisdom from above is peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. That’s the wisdom of God and that’s the wisdom I need. So, when I was in the prayer room at Teen Challenge and I cried out to God, I say a scripture that said, “If you lack wisdom, ask God.” And I said, “Oh my God that’s it. I don’t have any wisdom. I’m wisdom less.” I really did. For 30 minutes, “God, I don’t have any wisdom. You have to help me. That’s it. That’s the missing link.” Twenty-two years of addiction, atheism, anger, hatred, all of it. And all of a sudden it’s summed up in just 30-seconds. Ah. It’s the first scripture that ever made sense in my whole life. It’s the first thing I ever read in a book that made sense to me in my whole life – for 34 years -34 years. If you lack wisdom, ask God. “I’m wisdom less. Help me.” I shut the bible. I didn’t read anymore that day. I got up and I celebrated. I don’t have any clue. I don’t have a clue I don’t have a clue, God. I don’t have a clue. I’m wisdom less.” I ran around the room by myself because I got up an hour earlier at Teen Challenge and I would cry out to God, “I don’t have a clue. I don’t have any idea. God, if I don’t get this book I’ll never change. You have to change me. Help me. I lack wisdom. God, Help me.” And it was like the Holy Spirit said, I didn’t hear him say it, but it was like he was saying, “Yes, finally.” And for 34 years he would me. And it took gunshots. Bang, bang, bang, bang Because when I went home that day after praying with that guy I went home and told my daughter, “Daddy found God.” She said, “What’s He like Daddy?” I said, “I don’t know but I met a guy that did.” Mom came home and it was really bad. For the next 5½ months I lived as the biggest hypocrite on the planet. Five and half months later I go out one night. I rip off this drug dealer. He’s in my car. I rip him off.

I’ve got a bunch of coke in my hand. I told him to “get out of the car and put your hands on the hood.” He gets out of the car. I hit the gas. He pulled out a 9 Millimeter and unloaded at me from 10 feet away. And I hear a voice say; “I took those bullets for you. Are you ready to live for Me yet?” I went out of town. I spun out of town. I got out of there and I smoked two eight balls of cocaine that night Even after that happened. And every hit I took that voice killed my buzz all night long. I couldn’t get high. I’m not kidding that was scarier than anything. I’m serious. When you’re an addict – I couldn’t get high. The taste was there it was real. It was from New York City. For real. I pull into my driveway. I shine the flashlight on my car and there’s not one bullet hole in my car from 10-feet away. And fear hit me. Oh my God. Oh my God. And I went to the door. She said, “Get out of my life. I hate you.” I left and went to Teen Challenge. Now I’m up there with nothing. I lost everything. I lost my girl. I lost my daughter. I lost it all. And that scripture opens up to me. It was like, “A whole new world” Right there everything shifted – everything. You’re like, “that guy is crazy.” And I am. I’m in love with Jesus. Everyday all day long - nothing shuts it down. Nothing can shut it down. Oh. I’m going off in my heart right now. I’m going to get to my son in a minute. Okay. Are you guys alright? Okay. So my girlfriend comes out of the house. After I get home from Teen Challenge. Two months, I left. A few days later I had three days when I had encounters with Jesus. It was crazy. He told me to go home with friends and family. I get to my house. I know I can’t live there. When I get to my house my daughter comes running out and she grabs me. And I’m holding my daughter telling her how much I love her. Listen to me. This is the first day of my life that I realized I was a dad. And she was already 7 ½ years old. I have been given the Spirit of adoption and I know my Father. And when I know my Father it enables me to be a father. So, I’m looking at my daughter and my daughter says to me, “Daddy, your eyes.” Because that thing that I saw in Dan had hit me. Because my lamp was ____ and I was full of the love of Jesus. And I held my daughter and told her how sorry I was. She said, “Daddy for what?” I said, “For all of the drugs that daddy did. For all the times that mommy kept you up all night.” And she said, “Daddy, you’re home.” “Honey, daddy can’t stay here. Daddy can’t live here. Daddy ruined everything. I hurt mommy so bad. She said, “Daddy this is your home.” She’s just holding me. And I looked and my girlfriend is coming out of the house and I am ruined.

I ruined her life. I said, “I am so sorry for what I’ve done.” She looks at smiles and me and said, “I know you are. When you went away I gave my life to Jesus. And I lost it. I mean lost it. It was so awesome. The love of God consumed me. The love of God consumed her. And it’s crazy. How can it be? That You my King would die for me? “Amazing love, how could it be? That You my King would die for me?” Oh! Wooh! I’m singing on the backup stage. I’m just kidding. Jeremy can you come up and play? Can you come up and play guitar? I love that man. Chris, you weren’t supposed to leave. I’m going to talk about my son, man. Sometimes I drink a lot of water. Sure. Right there bro? I drink about 3 of those Essential bottles a day. So good. So that day when we decide that we’re going to get married my heart is pounding. I mean it’s pounding. I go and I try to figure out, I try to discern why my heart is pounding and the reason why is because my house is full of pornography and junk and trash and drugs and all that stuff that I didn’t even see before. I mean I knew it was in there before but I didn’t know it was in there before. Like, now I know it’s in there and I’ve got to get it out. I have this thing inside of me that’s trembling my heart: You’ve got to get the house clean. You’ve got to get the house clean. You’ve got to get the house clean. And I know why I’m crying because this stuff is in there. I said, “I’ve got to go inside. I’ve got to go in the house right now, honey. And I’ve got to just clean some stuff out. And she said, “Okay.” So I said to Dan, “Please watch my daughter and my girl I’m going inside. I’ve got to take care of some things.” So I went through with a trash bag through my house. It was the most amazing day of my life. I realized I’m a father. I realized that I have a Father. And the girl that I’d been with for 9 years, and threatened to kill for 7 of those years and we decide we are getting married. We set the date for 4 days later between first and second services because no one was going to come anyway. Because it’s not like I’m going to send invitations out. I ruined everyone’s life. I was a drug addict for all those years.

So I went in with a trash bag and I got all this stuff, all the drugs. And I went to this place where I hid all the pornography and that thing that used to rule my life. It used to rule my life. I used to think that that’s what made me a man. And that did not make me a man. Pornography doesn’t make you a man. That woman doesn’t care about you, nor does she know about you. She’s someone’s daughter. And I went through and I’m scooping up all this stuff. This thing ruled my life from 8-years-old. Eight-years-old, I was addicted to porn. From 8-years-old, that’s horrible. Then 34-years-old, 34-years-old and my eyes are finally open. And I’m throwing it in the bag. I’m tossing it in. Then I go into the back and I’m tossing stuff. In my daughters room on her top shelf I’m getting rid of my bongs, my bowls and my paraphernalia. And God saw it all. You see God saw everything. So, I’m going through and I’m getting rid of everything. And God, my hearts beating all the way through. And I wasn’t getting rid of it because I might use it again. I was getting rid of it because it has nothing to do with me nor me with it. I’m so serious. You’ve got to make a move man. You’ve got to make a move. You can’t just say I’m going to quit and sit there with it in front of you. It’s not okay. When you taste and see that the Lord is good, when you taste and see who you’re Father is, that stuff becomes tasteless in your life. You will be sick of it. You won’t want to have your cake and eat it too. Sugars not good for you anyway. Sugars from the devil It is. Ask David Hoag. I love him so much. I’m getting rid of all my stuff and I know that heaven’s eyes are on me. See that’s what it’s about. I’m in love with God and His eyes are on me all the time. He sees everything. See that word that says He judges the thoughts and intents of your heart? This is what I picture it as… That God, He sits in the theater room of my soul. I want you to picture this. There’s a screen that goes 180 degrees. It’s everything that crosses your mind. And God sits right in there if you let Him. He sits in there and He judges the thoughts and intents of your heart. And what He does is He takes out the things that don’t need to be there. It’s called pruning and clipping and trimming. He’s the gardener. We’re the branches and Jesus is the vine. And anything that doesn’t bear fruit, doesn’t bear enough fruit, He cuts it. It’s called chastisement but it’s actually the discipline or the instruction of the Lord. He likes to do that. He’s a Father. He does it in a fatherly way. He doesn’t do it in a mean way. He’s not trying to beat you or hurt you. He’s trying to inspire you to be the best Jesus that He created you to be. Because He created you to be Christ-like. And He sees it all. And the Holy Spirit, He sits there and is like ‘that’s got to go.’ People are like, “I’m not ready to give that up yet.” No. You really are ready. You really are ready. Because living by massive conviction is everything. It’s everything. And I went through the house and I gathered all this stuff in a trash bag. I took it down my back steps. I took it out to the burn grille. Nobody was watching me but I knew that God’s eyes were on me - His holy fire. His beautiful gaze was on me. And it was like I was doing a pleasing act for the Father. He was taking out the trash. Really taking out the trash. He wants us to have clean hearts. He wants us to be clean. He wants us to be pure in heart so that we can see God. But we can also see God in people. He wants us to point out the good things. He doesn’t want us to point out the trash. It doesn’t take a genius to point out bad things. He wants us to have His heart and His eyes and His mind and His ears. He wants us to hear like He hears and see like He sees. He wants us to speak like He speaks. Legalism won’t fix it but relationship will. And it’s not just “Yeah, you’ve got a relationship with God?” “Yeah, I’m saved.” “Yeah, praise God.” What are you saved from? And if you got saved from something, what did you get saved to? But does the life that you got saved to look like the life you got saved from? Because you’re in the world but not of it and God’s called you to live and come out separate. Come out separate. Come and be separate. Separate yourself from the world. That doesn’t mean don’t associate. That just means that in your heart you have nothing to do with that. You have the heart of Jesus and Jesus He ate with sinners. Why? Because what was in Him would get on them. So, I’m not afraid of being around people that are dark. I need to house light. My eye needs to be single. I need to see my created value and see who my Father is. Because He’s profuse and amazing. So I took it and put it in the burn barrel, smashed it down, put gasoline all on top of it and I lit a trail of gasoline. And this thing went up that day, that day, this day. It burned and when the flames came down I came over to the fire and I worshiped Jesus over my past. And this is no joke. It has never had a voice in my present. I mean never, ever. And four days later we got married and she became my wife. It was amazing and no one was happy except Jesus.

Her mom cried at our wedding and said, “I can’t believe she threw her life away with you.” I said, “That’s okay mom.” “Don’t you call me mom.” Her step-dad said, “You’re a liar and a loser and a blankety, blank, blank, blank, blankety blank, blank, blank.” At my wedding, at the church. I said, “I love you.” He said, “Get away from me.” I said, “Okay, we’ll see.” What does what they say about me have to do with what I think about them? Unless I don’t know who I am. Lots of people get hurt by people in the church they get offended that get hurt, they get wrecked, upset and their going from church to church to church to try to find something. You know you’re not supposed to go to church to find love. You’re supposed to become love and plug in somewhere. Look, if you’ve got a problem with somebody because they hurt you it’s probably because they didn’t know who they were. But you being hurt by it mean that you didn’t know who you were when it came. So which is better? If somebody hurt you it could be because they didn’t know who they were. Maybe it was a leader. Maybe it was a pastor. Maybe it was somebody that hurt you and you were offended by it, offended by it. But you got hurt by somebody that probably didn’t know who they were. But just the fact that it hurt you means that you had no idea who you were when it came. So strengthen yourself in the Lord so that you know who you are the next time it comes. And you can say, “Father forgive them they know not what they do.” Don’t say it to their face. Say it on your knees and pour your heart out to God. You guys okay? Okay. Can you see that? Just a second. Can you zoom in on that? Faster. Faster. This is Ezeriah. Huh! I minister at a church down in West Virginia and the pastor called my wife one day. We have a 20-year-old, an 11-year-old, a 6-year-old and now we have a 16-mos-old and here’s how it happened. The pastor called us, called my wife, I was actually on a trip. And they said, “Hey there’s a little baby that’s in a mama’s belly. She’s been shooting heroin for 20-years. She came into the church. She’s 6-months pregnant.

Would you guys want to adopt?” And my wife said, “Yes.” Because a couple of years earlier we at the church and we say this little 2-year-old girl running around and they said she was a crack baby. And my wife said, “If that would ever happen and we could do that, I think that would be amazing.” So we made the decision back then that if that ever happened. So now it’s happening. So, I’m on a plane. My wife calls me when I hit the ground and she said, “Do you want to do this?” And I said, “Absolutely. 100%. Sure. Yes. Let’s do it.” So, this is high-risk adoption stuff because you know we’ve got a baby that’s born addicted to drugs. So, we go and we meet the mom. Now we’re going to meet the mom. We have to talk to the mom. See it’s different when you adopt a baby from out of the country. Not that it’s any less. Adoption’s amazing but you might never see the parents again. So in this case we’re probably going to see the parents again. And see my heart cares about the soul of this mama. This mama needs to know who she is and she needs to know what she’s doing exactly and I don’t want to talk her into adoption. I want to speak her value and I want to speak into her life to tell her who she is. Because there’s a chance, even though there’s CPS cases and stuff because she was shooting up for 6-months of the baby’s life. In fact, in the town that we adopted out of 4 out of 10 kids are born addicted to heroin – in America. They need to know who they are. So we talked to her. She said, “Absolutely. I’m positive.” So for the next three months we went and did everything that we needed to do and Gosh it was so amazing. So 3-months later our little baby was going to be born so we’re in the hospital. We’re in the other room right over here. And he’s in the other room and she’s getting a cesarean on Father’s Day. Oh my! And I’ve got the spirit of adoption on me and my wife’s got the spirit of adoption on her and it is so powerful because we know who we are. My kids have the spirit of adoption on them too. They know who they are. They know who their Daddy is that’s where it’s at. This is where healthy is. This is healthy, healthy. When miracles flow out of this place it’s healthy because it’s our Papa. It’s our Daddy. He’s a good God and He created me just like Him. I can see your value and I love God with everything I am and then I can love you because I love me. When I love me, I can love you and that’s how everything flows. All along the prophets hang on these two. You know if you love God with all your mind, your hand can no longer tell you what to do. When’s the last time your hand told you, “I’m going to steal something.” And your mind said, “No, you’re not.” And your hand did it anyway? This is how you cut off your hand. Come on. So powerful. So, they deliver that baby. He comes out. He comes into our room. This little guy. He never ever saw the world before. Raar, raar, raar, raar. Ummm. And they put him on mama and it was skin to skin. You know how they do that moms? And I’m sitting there, “Oh God, thank you. Thank you for this boy. Jesus, thank you.” It was like we gave birth to him. I can’t even explain it except that it’s the spirit of adoption, man that we are all supposed to carry. We actually you all carry it. I believe more Christians should adopt kids. I do. If you get the spirit of adoption you’ll want to. You’ll want to. Why? Because it’s amazing to give life to a baby that might not have ever had it. You can raise them up as warriors to destroy hell for a living. That’s why. We’re holding this baby and then the doctors come in and examine him. He’s doing great and then 24-hours goes by and he starts manifesting addiction. I hate addiction man. I hate it. I hate it with a passion. The devils in charge of addiction and I hate it. You were created to be addicted to Jesus and nothing else. It’s the only thing that fits that you can’t overdose on ever, ever. You can never get enough. And you’re supposed to overflow. It’s out of your cup overflowing that you give. You can’t give stuff your not overflowing out of or you’ll be quickly empty. You stay beneath the faucet. So all of a sudden I’ve got to leave. I’ve got to go on a trip. I have a scheduled trip and one of our speakers can’t make it and so I’m going to be doing extra sessions. It’s not a bummer it’s a privilege to get to pour into people. But my wife and my daughter Destiny, she was going to go on the trip with me, but Destiny stayed back to be with mom. Mom and Destiny went into the rehab. So when I get back their in the rehab with Azeriah. That’s his name. Ezeriah was Abednego’s original name before the Babylonian king changed it. I figured my sons going to be in the fire, he might as well manifest Jesus. Anyway. So we go in there and he’s on Methadone. Do you know what Methadone is? It makes all this go down. I’m watching a baby get drugs man. I’m sitting in there and I’m talking to nurses. Hey. I walk in there the first day I’m coming home from my trip. So excited that I get to go in there to rehab. I’m coming in there I’ve got my gown on, scrub up. I’m going to hold my boy and I’ve got three babies in my room. I’m possessed man. I’m not. This is my favorite thing. I’ve got little babies that have no idea that did nothing to deserve this – nothing. And it’s not the mom’s fault but the nurses think it is. Because the nurses think, “This is just the woman’s second baby you’d think she’d have learned by now.” Drug addiction isn’t something you learn out of. Neither is religion. Religion isn’t something you learn out of. Religion is something you get delivered from. That was really good. That was a good word right there. So, I’m asking the moms, “How are you doing?” “I’m okay” “Oh honey, you’re way more than okay.” And I’m sitting there and I’m telling them their value. “Jesus loves you.” They can’t even look at me. I said, “No, no, no. You look at me right now.” Oh I had such a field day in there, man. I went to the nurse. I said, “Hey Patty.” She’s the nurse. “It’s awesome to meet you. I just want to tell you that Jesus loves you.” She said, “Oh that’s great. Thank you very much. I’ve got to go.” I said, “I’ll go with you.” She said, “No. I’ve got work to do. You leave me alone. I’m okay.” I’m serious. And so I go down the hallway. I turn around and I came back. It was the first day meeting her. I’m going to be there for a while so. I go back in the room again. I start talking to the mom that’s in there. This is her second baby and she’s condemned. She’s beat up. She’s ashamed. She’s totally guilty. And she’s living in a place of regret, which is demonic strategy set up to get you to actually take your life. Because I lived suicidal my whole life. I wanted to end my life. That was me but not anymore because I have life - changed my life. So I’m pouring identity into these girls. “God loves you so much. You’re amazing. Patty came back I said, “Hey, you’ve got a problem in your right ankle.” She said, “It comes with the territory.” And she walked out. I said, “Oh no, no, no. Come here girl I’m going to pray for you.” “I have work to do.” “That’s okay.” I walked with her. Held my hand on her shoulder. Prayed for her and then I walked back. The camera can’t find me. Sorry. It is so fun. So Patty, so Patty walks away from me and she is freaked out. She has another nurse came to the room. Her name is Amy and I start talking to her “Hey Amy.” I said, “Can I tell you something.” She said, “Yeah.” So they don’t know who I am. So I share my testimony with them. She said, “Oh my God, I’ve never heard nothing like that.” I said, “This is for every person in this rehab every mama that’s in here.” I said, “Wouldn’t it be amazing.” “That would be amazing.” I said, “Hey, you’ve got pain in the right side of your neck. Is it okay if I pray for you?” She said, “I actually do.” And she’s real like, real blond hair, white skin. So I prayed for her and she turned purple. She said, “It actually feels better. I’ve got to go.” So they walk out of the room. I’m over there praying on babies because they’re crying. Have you ever seen a baby that’s legs go 100-miles an hour because their addicted to heroin and it won’t stop? And you pray for them. It’s so amazing. It’s so crazy. So I’m going down and I’m praying for another one, and another one, another one, another one. I see her across the hallway. “You’re not supposed to go in other peoples rooms.” But maybe if grace gets me in there, I’m going in there. So I just go to the edge and say, “Hey, excuse me. Is it okay if I come pray for the baby?” “No.” “Okay, but let me just share my testimony with you.” “What’s a testimony? “It’s what God says he’ll do again.” So I share my testimony with them.

They’re like, “I don’t care man, whatever.” “Okay cool.” So I go inside. I’ve got permission. I go lay hands on the baby. I lay hands on another baby. I lay hands on dad on mom. They weep. They cry. Jesus wrecks their heart. It’s so good. “Hey, I’m right across the hallway. If you need me, I’m here. I love you.” All I’m doing is sowing seed. I am not just scattering. I don’t scatter. I machine gun. I’m a Christian terrorist. I promise. I’m not kidding. Pow! People say, “How are you doing?” Pow! “Really good.” Hey what’s your name? Pow! Try it. So, I pray for another baby and then we have to go home. We go back then we have to come back in. So this next morning I come up on the elevator and I meet these two guys - this man and this woman. I said, “Hey, how are you doing.” He said, “Well, I’m okay.” I said, “You guys are in the rehab ward, right?” “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” I said, “Hey look at me man you’re amazing. God loves you.” He looks away. I said, “No.” I get down. “Hey, look at me bro. God loves you. You’re amazing.” He looks up. I said, “There we go.” He looks down again. I say, “Come on man.” We get off the elevator. I walk with him down the hall. He said, “Dude, what’s your problem?” I said, “It’s not what’s wrong, it’s what’s been made right, bro. I’ve been made right with the living God. You can have the same thing.” “Oh, he wouldn’t want me.” “Oh! You’re wrong.” So amazing. So that day he tells me that he has to walk back to his hotel – him and his wife do. “See my wife and I, we’re going right by the hotel.” Because they are in town and their staying in a hotel like a mile away. I said, “No, we’ll take you.” He said, “No I don’t want to cause any like problems.” “It’s not a problem. It’d be a problem if you wouldn’t let me take you.” “Alright man. Okay” So we come out to the car and I said to him I said, “Hey, how are you doing man, are you alright? So we prayed for your baby, how’s he doing?” “He’s actually doing better. His numbers are better man. Oh, it’s so crazy.” I looked at him and said, “Man, you’ve got pain right here on your back, on your right side, right down below on the bottom of your ribs.” He said, “Man, I’m not getting in that car with you man.” I promise. I say, “Come on dude you’ve got to get in the car.” “No man.” I said, “Why is it weird? I love Jesus. What if Jesus told me about your back? He said, “I don’t know, that’s freaky man.” I said, “How about your wife? Her neck is killing her. She can’t even like raise her head up right.” She goes, “Oh my God.” He goes, “Oh my God.” I said, “That’s who it is, it’s my God. You guys got to let me, do me a favor, and let me pray for you.” So I said, “There’s only one way to find out if it was God or not.” “How’s that?” I said, “Give me your hand.” So I prayed for them. Both of them freak out. Both of them get healed. There like, “You’re kidding me.” I said, “Come on, get in the car.” Get in the car. Let’s go.

They get in the car. It’s so fun. We’re going and I’m just pouring my heart out, telling them about how valuable they are to Jesus. How valuable they are. How amazing they are - what God thinks about them. Pulling out the gold. And we get to the hotel, pull around and he gets out of the car. He looks at me and says, “Hey man.” He said, “Do you think Jesus would do that for me, man?” I went, “Oh God. Yeah.” So we pray for him. He gets born again. Him and his wife both get saved – it’s like ridiculous. He goes like this, he says, “I tell you what man, I feel better than I ever felt, man.” He was having problems sleeping so I had that word of knowledge so I said, “Tonight’s going to be amazing, right.” So the next morning we pull in. We were going to pick him up but he told us he was going to get there another way. We walked in; we’re in the room. He walks by with a cup of coffee and goes, “Dude, I slept last night.” I said, “What do you think of that?” He said, “It’s a miracle.” Real loud, it’s so awesome. “Man, come down, pray for my baby again, okay.” Alright. So he goes down to the room He is so good. I’m going down to his room he has another lady in there she’s kind of like wow one. I walked in there and I’m not going to talk to her. You could tell that she was a little disgruntled - this demonic stuff. So I walk in and when you walk in they get really disgruntled. “Hey how are you doing hon?” And I just shared my testimony. She said, “that’s crazy” I said, “It is.” I said, “You think I can pray for your baby? And the two right here said, “Let him pray for your baby. He’s praying for ours and ours is doing better please let him pray.” She said, “I don’t care, whatever.” I go, okay. So, I walk over there and lay hands on that baby, “Jesus thank you.” Some of the nurses are in there. Some of them are 007 Christians – they’re there. They are. They are, secret service. But still, they believe in God. It’s just, what do they believe about God, right. So we’re praying and another one going down to another room, another room, another room. I walk down and there’s a new couple across the hallway. I walked out and the lady says, “Oh God I know who you are.” And she’s addicted to heroin. She said, “Oh.” She said, “I heard you speak before…” I said, “Look, look at me. God loves you, girl. God loves you.” It’s not; “I can’t believe you did this to your baby.” She doesn’t know any better. It’s not something you learn out of, it’s something you get delivered from. So I’m pouring my heart out and telling her who she is. I said, “Can I pray for you.” She said, “My boyfriend probably won’t like it.” I said, “It’s okay, I’ll like your boyfriend. Can I go in there?” She said, “You can try.” I walked in there and this guy hates God. He just hates religion. He hates what he believes about God. So I walk in and I said, “Hey man, I just want to tell you how much God loves you.” “Yeah, whatever.” I said, “Hey, listen to me.” “What” And I shared my testimony. He said, “That’s crazy.” I said, “It is, but I stand before you.” He said, “Just pray for my baby.” He walks away from me. He’s angry – really. So I go and pray for the baby. I said, “I love you man. Can I have a hug?” What’s he going to do? He hugs me – a distance hug, one of them. I walked out of the room, go and pray for another one. Weeks go by I’m doing this with all the babies, all the parents. We have this one meeting where we’re sitting down at the end – they have to teach us about a car seat. Like, I didn’t know what a car seat was. But you’ve got to learn about it because it’s regulation. So, I’m sitting there in the class and there’s this guy and this girl there and we’re talking and the guy goes, the guy looks at me and said, “Man, you’re pretty happy, man.” I said, “I am full of joy bro.” And the lady who’s teaching the class, you know, she’s a Christian she pauses. I said, “It’s just us four.” I said, “Jesus loves you.” He said, “Yeah, I ain’t religious.” I said, “Me neither bro. We’ve got that in common. I love you.” We shook hands. He’s like, “Weird, weirdo.” So we’re talking and I’m telling him about Jesus, telling him about God. “You know I don’t want to hear this.” He says. He’s pretty upset. I said “Okay.”

My war is not against people. I told him, I said, “Man it’s amazing. You’ve got it all mixed up.” He’s like, “What do you mean?” I said, “Well, I’d like to pray for your wife right now. Do you think that would be okay?” Because he told me that she’s in here because the doctor, he gave her this, that, and the other thing. She’s had chronic pain her whole life and the doctor’s don’t know what it is and they gave her medicine that it made the baby addicted. So now he’s mad at the doctor but really he just doesn’t know who he is or he wouldn’t be mad anymore. So, I said to her, I said, “Can I pray for you?” I look at him, I said, “Look, you don’t even believe that Jesus exists, you should let me pray for her. It doesn’t matter. Nothing will happen anyway, right? Right, nothing's going to happen if we pray right?” “Nothing's real, it’s not real.” I said, “Will you let me entertain what you think is not real?” He said, “I don’t care what you do.” I said, “Alright.” So I prayed for her. Bam! Jesus healed his wife. Completely. Ah she stood up for the first time in her whole life pain free. She said, “Oh my God, it’s gone. Honey, it’s gone.” He said, “No, it’s not.” I said, “This is your wife, you want her to be in pain?” He said, “No, this is so in your mind.” I said, “How about this: Eight years ago you had a car accident…” And I said, “You hurt yourself and your back is so messed up and you’re mad at God because of it.” This is in front of the nurse. And his wife is like, “Oh my God.” He looks at me and said, “How the blank do you know that?” Imagine that, he’s angry and mad and God still wants to touch him. Like he’s not even in forgiveness. He’s pretty bitter and he’s pretty angry. And we think that a prerequisite is that he needs to be into forgiveness so he can be healed. What if it’s the goodness of God that leads people to repentance? He just needs a good encounter with somebody that’s not afraid because that persons not afraid because he’s not going to die. He’s just going to go be with Jesus. What’s he going to do? Punch me? I’ll take one for the team. I’m really serious. Those that know me know this is real. I mean that guy just pops off all the time. No, you have no idea. So I said to him, I said, “Hey, here’s the deal.” He said, “You should know what happened.” He said, “Eight years ago I was in a car accident. I was driving the car. We went over a hill too fast. We were drinking. We flipped the car and I killed my best friend.” I said, “You think God caused that?” He said, “Well, people say God’s in control.” So you’re telling me you don’t believe in God, you just told me that he’s in control, which one is it? He looks at me and said, “Well, I don’t really care which one it is.” I said, “Well, you still have to try to figure out how I knew you were in an accident and how I knew your back was messed up. “Well, I ain’t trying to figure it out.” “That’s right. Since you don’t believe that you’re wife got healed why don’t you let me to pray for you?” I said, “Your one leg is so jacked and your one hip is so messed up. Your leg is about an inch and a half shorter than the other and your hips are out of alignment.” He said, “Yeah. So what?” I said, “Here’s the deal…” Tough guy. I said, “I want you to let me pray for you and what you don’t believe is going to happen right before your eyes.” I get his legs out there and I’m holding them. I said, “Come on man. You’re embarrassed right now.” He said, “I don’t really care.” I said, “Here’s the deal, I want you to stir up as much unbelief as you can right now. Right now get yourself into unbelief as hard as you can. You tell me when you’re ready.” I promise and I’m not playing around with this. I don’t need him to agree with me. God loves him way more than his attitude. We bow way too much to silly stuff. If we just kneel to Jesus we wouldn’t be afraid anymore. So the guy said, “Okay go ahead.” I said, “Alright, Jesus name hips be straight, leg grow.” That thing came right out. He said, “What are you doing?” I said, “Nothing.” His wife said, “Oh my God, your leg just grew. Oh my God. Oh my God.” He said, “There is no God.” I said, “Stand up.” He stood up. He said, “What?” I said, “Touch your toes.” He said, “I can’t.” He touched his toes. He said, “I don’t know what’s going on right now.” He didn’t give his life to Jesus and say, “I surrender all.” He didn’t say, “Oh Todd I worship you.” Silly. He didn’t say, “What’s your name evangelist?” He didn’t. He said, “What the blank just happened?” I said, “The God that you don’t believe in lives in me and He’d love to live in you and when you’re ready He’ll come in.” I said, “But God loves you so much that despite your anger and despite your bitterness He touched you.” And the nurse has a thing on her face like this. She’s just watching. She still has the rest of the class to teach. It’s time we raise up and now be fearless. Babies depend upon it. So, this nurse is talking to me. This guy gets so rocked. He’s so overwhelmed. He gives me a hug and he says “Man something happened. I don’t know what it is.” I said, “Well, your minds trying to catch up but your heart took you there already. You know God is real. He loves you. He healed your wife. Your wife is going to be healed from this day forward. She’s not going to be in pain anymore.” I said, “What are you going to do with that?” He said, “I don’t know man I’m going to figure it out.” “Well, when she wakes up pain free and gets out of bed and doesn’t go ‘Ouch.’ Since you love her you’d say ‘I’m so glad you’re better honey’ and talk about how she got better.” So the next day, literally I get called into the head nurses office. This is going to be fun. She calls me in, she says, “I need you to come in my office please Mr. White.” I said, “Yes mam I’d love to.” I come into the office and I know what’s going to happen right now. She’s really mad. I sit down. She said, “Let me tell you something.” I said, “Yes mam.” She said, “These women think you’re Jesus and you’re not.” I said, “You’re right I’m not. I never said I was Jesus.” “Oh well, they think you are. You’re not.” I said, “You are exactly right I am not Jesus. There’s only one Jesus.” She said, “I know that but they think you’re Jesus, you’re not.” And I said, “You are exactly right I am not Jesus.” And she’s pow pow woot wah. She’s giving it to me. She’s not my war I love her. But responding and trying to defend myself, protect myself, tell her she’s wrong and I’m right doesn’t make anything right. It’s not right it’s righteousness being right with God. It’s not trying to look haughty in front of people. She believes that these women think that I said, “Honey, I’m not. Can I share something with you?” So I shared my testimony with her. And she said, “That’s great but you’re still not Jesus.” She said, “You know Satan can perform signs.” And I said, “Let me ask you this…” I said, “If I’m praying for people in the name of Jesus and Satan’s healing them then we all ought to pack our bags. If I say in Jesus name be healed and Satan says, ‘I think I’ll heal him.’ we’re in trouble.” She said, “What? Whatever.” I said, “Camina can we just pray together?” She said, “Okay we can do that but you’re not Jesus.” I said, “You’re right.” So we’re holding hands “Father thank you in the name of Jesus.” She prays beautiful prayer actually she prays for me and it’s beautiful. I said, “Father, I thank You for this amazing mama - the one that cares about all these women. God I thank You she’s poured all her heart and her soul into them. Lord I ask You, in the name of Jesus, bless her, put favor upon her and grace more grace for her job. She has a lot to do and a lot of responsibility. Father I thank You that while You’re at it, while you’re doing this, I thank you that you heal the left side of her neck right on her trap in Jesus name, right now.” She pulled away from me she said, “Who told you about my neck?” I said, “Who’d you tell?” She said, “Nobody.” I said, “Well, I don’t know.” I said, “What’s going on in your neck.” She said, “I don’t know. It’s warm and I don’t know what’s going on.” I said, “Well, is it gone?” She said, “Well it’s a little there still.” I said, “Can I pray for you again?” She said, “Okay.” Do you know that the Holy Spirit is a better evangelist than we are? His is called presence evangelism – let His presence touch people. So she gets completely healed. She looks at me and she said, “Keep praying for these mama’s.” I said, “Alright you have a good day.” She said, “Go on.” So praying for babies day after day after day after day - same stuff. One woman comes running down the hallway she said, “Please, please come to my room. My baby stopped breathing I need you to come to my room right now. Please Mr. White please, please.” I said, “I’m absolutely on my way.” So I come out and there’s a nurse that’s not happy about me going into rooms. She said, “You are not going into her room.” She’s not even hearing the problem with the woman and her baby. She said, “You are not going to their room.” I said, “Well, I can pray for her right out here in the hallway.” She said, “You can pray out here in the hallway but you are not going in her room.” I said, “Alright, come on give us your hands we’re going to pray.” The angry nurse, no joke. We held hands and we prayed for that baby in the hallway. The nurse just held her hands and smiled like she got her way because I didn’t go in the room. That lady went down to her room and that baby started breathing. What a King. Just a couple days later Ezeriah is getting ready to get discharged. He’s one of the quickest babies to come out of rehab, 23 days. We watched him go to normal on his levels and stuff. On the day that we took him out Patty, that nurse, the one that I…

Because every time they come in my room I’m pouring Jesus. I don’t have anything else I don’t talk about football. I don’t talk about baseball. Christianity is a full time contact sport. That’s my sport. I love it. That’s what I talk about. We’ve always got the ball. We always win score. I’m cheering the team on. Go Team. Go. Come on. That’s what I’m talking about. Come on - that a boy. So all the nurses are getting blasted in Jesus. So on my way out the head nurse, the one that was angry, she had told me the day before, a couple days before she started a ministry to strippers in a nightclub. The one that didn’t want me to pray for anybody. In a week later she’s in nightclubs talking to strippers. She’s got a shirt We Love Strippers. You don’t understand what happens, people get possessed with the Truth and their like ‘Aw I didn’t’ see it, snort.” And they start to run with Jesus. She said to me, “My daughter’s at the front desk and she is really angry at me. She had scoliosis and she’s been hurting since she was a baby. Will you pray for her? She’s angry at God she doesn’t talk to me about God.” I said, “I sure will.” That’s the one that brought me into her office. So I walked by. I said, “Hey honey.” I said, “Your mama just told me that you’ve got scoliosis.” She said, “Humph” Right, because mom, you know. I said, “The only reason she told me is because you’re in pain and she doesn’t like to see it.” She said, “Well, there’s nothing anybody can do about it.” I said, “Honey I know these nurses have been talking to you about them being healed” because lots of nurses got healed and touched and crazy stuff happened. I said, “Well, why don’t you let me pray for you.” She said, “You can if you want to.” I said, “I really want to.” So we prayed. Sure enough her scoliosis, krrr, goes straight. She stood up and touched the floor. She said, “Oh my God. Oh my God.” And her mom was…

I said, “You’re mother can tell you all about what just happened.” She said, “Okay I really appreciate you, Mr. White, what you’ve done here.” I was hugging her. We walk out and Patty walks us out, the nurse that couldn’t stand to talk to me the first day. She walks us out to the car because she has to see us put the car seat in the car. You know, regulations. They really do they have to see you belted in make sure it’s secure. She walks out to the car. I put the car seat in. I turn around. Nurse Patty’s like this, “Mr. White you folks changed my life.” She said, “I didn’t believe there was no Jesus.” She said, “But you guys walk just like Jesus would walk.” She said, “You guys, you changed my life. I just don’t want you to leave.” I said, “Patty we’ll come back.” She said, “I know you got to go but I don’t like it.” We sat there and we held Patty, she got born again gave her life to Jesus. It’s so powerful. We marked the hospital. We marked a hospital with the reality of who God is. The Spirit of adoption is the reality of who Christ says you are. It’s the Spirit of God coming inside of you and inside of you He cries out Abba Father, daddy God. Abba! Just in case you were sleeping. Put your hands on your heart. Say this, “Jesus, do it in this heart. Do it in this heart. Place the Spirit of adoption in my heart. Let me be infused with Your Spirit. Let me fellowship with you and commune with you everyday. Let me know you’re love that surpasses my brain. I want to know your love everyday let that be my pursuit. Everywhere I go in Jesus name.”

Full text of Sid Roth's It's Supernatural! - What Happens When a Satanist Comes to Church? - Francis Frangipane

my guests had a vision of the endtimeoutpouring of God's glory and it is soreal that he feels is coming soonI know better it's coming sooner thansoon I know that every show I do from now on I'm expecting the presence themanifest tangible glory of God to showup and when that glory shows up everypromise and the Word of God is instantis there a supernatural dimension aworld beyond the one we knowmeans there life after death[Music]are there hidden forces of darknesstrying to block God's blessings for yourlife do angels existproviding us with supernaturalprotection disarming our enemies[Music]can our dreams contain messages fromheavencan we tap into ancient secrets of thesupernaturalis God ready to bring a tsunami wave ofhealing on to planet Earth todaySid Roth has spent over 40 yearsresearching the strange world of thesupernaturaljoin Sid for this edition I find it hardto understand how you had thousands ofwitches of warlocks fasting and prayingand cursing you but even more importantquestion than that is you survived howdid you survive well the short answer isyou know life and God and the HolySpirit forces us to find our shelter inthem in the most time and the situationyou're referring to was back when I hadwritten a book called the threebattlegrounds and that book and a Biblewas given to this fella who was intowitchcraft and he had a large mailinglist and that mailing list when he gotsaved this guy came to Christ I receivedhe and when when he gave his life toJesus he began giving out Bibles and andinto three battlegrounds and and Iremember telling him I don't need thiskind of promotionthe witches of warlocks yeah really butbut I went on with my life and you knowcities were opening up and and there wasmoves of God and there were personalblessings and it was all these wonderfulthings happening and now a few yearslater we had led this lady to the Lordand she had been involved in a coventhat was putting curses trying to putcurses on us and and the amazing thingto me was I didn't even know itI couldn't tell that there was a cursethat was trying to get through theprotection of God and and every believerhas that we're sealed with the HolySpirit and to be able to be to live inthat and to function in thereand to walk through life you know Iwalked through the valley of the shadowof death I fear no evil because the Lordis with us amen[Applause]be prepared for this not even knowingthis was ever going to happenno I my focus really is is on the Lordon this and he tells me to deal with theenemy I do all right speaking of thatyes you had a woman that was actuallypart of the group praying and fastingand cursing you came into a congregationyou were speaking and tell me about thatwell the woman was through a witnessrelocation program was moved to the city where we lived where I lived and she wasshe took advantage of an outreach thatwe had to a home a group home where shecould be secured from her husband whowas trying to kill her so one of ourladies our dear ladies in the churchbrought her to church on a Saturdaynight read a Saturday night service atthe time and it happened that I wasspeaking that night about how God willnot allow a curse to light upon therighteous all of a sudden this ladyrealizes she's in the Church of the manthey were trying to put curses on praiseyouand she begins to manifest demonicallyshe was picking people up and throwingshe's a bigger stronger but thedemonized tune throwing them picking upladies and throwing ladies and rightafter the service the woman that was incharge of the prayer team that took herinto the back room to have prayer shecomes down we know when she first cameto church she looked greathad a little bun on the top of her headshe was very personable you know nowafter the service her bun is hangingdown you know she's looking at mecockeyed so I go walking over to theroom at the time I had tennis elbow Icouldn't like pick up my cup I had nostrength at all in my right arm and Iwas carrying my briefcase in my left armand I went into the room when she saidFrances is here she bent over and tookout of her purse at fishing life and inher demonic frenzy she lunged at my facewith this knife and the Lord this wasthe sort the arm I couldn't pick up acoffee cup the Lord how many of you knowthe Lord loves photo finishesmy arm on the way up and it's that niceright - yah - ow that was a shot thatwas such a show you would be here so youknow I actually broke her wrist when myhand and her arm came down and then shepassed out and eventually you knoweverybody took her home I called thenext day you know I could and I got hernumber at this group home and I calledthe next day and I said you know I couldhave you arrested foryou know attempted murder but I want youto know that Jesus loves you when hebrought you here you think you came onyour own but he brought you here becausehe wants to show you his salvation andshe said well I I hate men my dad myfather abused me my pastor abused me thestreet evangelist abused me and you yourGod has abandoned I hate them and I hateyou and I hate God and I said look I'mcalling I could send you to jail for along time because I have all thesewitnesses that saw you try and kill meand she said I said but I'm not gonna dothat I want you to know that Christforgives you that our Lord Jesusforgives you and he wants it and all ofa sudden this girl began to cry shehadn't cried since she was a little girland she accepted the Lord butthe amen so so anyway so it was in thecontext of that that I the Lord began toshow me how he had structured myspiritual walk so that I would be underyou know under the shelter of the MostHigh that I would be in his presenceit's not that I always walked perfectand never failed or stumbled it's it'sthat there are principles spiritualprinciples that I that I put in the bookthe shelter of the most high theyweren't it wasn't theory it wasn't justtheology it wasn't just doctrine it wassomething that God had done in me and tome and through me that made that barrierof his presence immunized me from theattack of the enemy now I'm told[Applause]protects you from every conceivablething that could be thrown at you inthis life that's what the secret placeis do you realize every protection yousee in Psalm 91 is in the secret placebut most don't know how to get to thesecret place when we come back we'regonna get[Applause][Music]hello YouTube mich Baha misspoke has aHebrew word it means family this is SidRoth welcome to my world where it'snaturally supernaturalif you've been blessed by this showplease subscribethen click the bell so you won't miss asingle episode of it's supernatural[Music]we now return to it's supernatural[Applause]yes describe to me what is the secretplace all rightI believe the secret place is the pointof contact where the the Holy Spirit andmy human spirit are engaged unlessyou're born of the Spiritthose that are born of the Spirit thatwhich is born of the Spirit is spiritand so that the union of my spirit beingregenerated to the Holy Spirit but letme just say the way to the holy placeand we can say the way to the holyplaces is Jesus and that would be truebut I also noticed that there's alethargy there's a passivity Christianswe - many of us give our life to theLord in a momentary experience at analtar but we don't really hunger forwhat else there can be how much more ofGod there is that's the biggest enemy togetting into the holy place is that wethink where we are is good enough youknow what I'm talking about where I am[Applause]is not seen there's what God says to youI has not seen ear has not even heardall that God has and it goes on this andand where Paul says but to us the Lordrevealed them through the spirit becausethe spirit searches all things even thedepths of God come on the depths of Godthat is that that's the limitlessreality of the Almighty the Spirit thatwe have in us that we are born of Jesusis jealous for that spirit because hewants to bring us into that fullness andso so but we need to discipline of itall you know what you call the secretplace yeah the place of immunity what doyou mean by that I mean if we live inthere all the promises from Psalm 91 areyay and amen they are trueanother that I read in the Bible I don'thear anyone talk about itLord excavate my heart explain goodnightit matter could turn excavate my heartwhen I pray often I start with a simplestatement that says Holy Spirit lead meinto the presence of Jesus take me towhere I hear his voice scan me so he cantell me if there's any hurtful thing inme or any presumptuous thing it's thebeginning of the real steps into thepresence of the Lord the the sacrificesof God are a broken and a contrite heartthat breaking of the outer man the oldman and when I say the old man I'm nottalking about your husband's ladies I'mtalking about I'm talking about that allthe thing that we used to be the thingthat we don't like are in ourselves thatthing that tries to offer protection butit's it's hostile to the ways of God andbut not but now we're on that journeyinward we're in that journey where theHoly Spirit can begin to speak begin toshow us what needs to change begin tothat I that I was i harsh to my wifethis morning was I unconscious of theneed of my daughter was you know what Imean I have a point I have a place amirror if you will where the livingpresence of the Lord begins can speak tome about what needs to change in me itcan speak to me with what needs to behealed in me and and those the 91stpsalm is telling us that it's anythingwe come to the Lord with he'll he'll bethere and he'll meet us thereand he'll heal us there Francis I wantyou to share how many years ago you hadone drop of God's glory and what isabout ready to hit planet Earth[Applause][Music]right back to it's supernaturalcall now and get Frances frangipane 'zprofound book the shelter of the MostHigh and his anointed three-part audioCD teaching secrets of the secret placePlus this Psalm 91 prayer of protectionbookmark this is an exclusive offer forour rich Supernatural audience yours fora donation of $35 shipping and handlingis included ask for offer number 9 5 3 8through Francis francha Payne's powerfulbook the shelter of the Most High and isanointed three-part audio CD teachingsecrets of the secret place you willlearn how to enter into the secret placeof the Most High which will become yourspiritual fortress that will shelter youfrom the attacks and onslaught of thedevil activate angelic protection findhow easy your prayers will be answeredand how to access God in a way neverthought possible before positionyourself to receive an outpouring ofGod's glory remove obstacles fromgetting your prayers answered begin towalk in God's blessings and promises foryour life every day on each audio CDFrancis praised these prayers over youprayer for healing of hearts prayer forbreakthrough prayer for God to bringforth his glory and prepare your heartto receive his blessingsprayer for lies to be broken so you canbegin to walk in God's promises everyday you know Jesus called us to pray theprayer thy will be done on earth as itis in heaventoday right here right now and we learnhow to enter that secret place of themost time you will also receive thisspecial bonus the secret place of theMost High Psalm 91 bookmark you can readGod's promises of divine protection foryou every day what I love about theexclusive brand-new 3 CD seriessecrets of the secret place is it's ahow-to so many times who is told youshould do something but we're never toldhow to live in the secret place how tocapture the presence of God 24/7 callnow and get Frances frangipane profoundbook the shelter of the Most High andhis anointed three-part audio CDteaching secrets of the secret placePlus this Psalmone prayer of protection bookmark thisis an exclusive offer yours for adonation of $35 shipping and handling isincluded ask for offer number nine 538call or you can send your check to sidroth it's supernatural p o-- box 39222charlotte north carolina 28278 pleasespecify offer number 9 5 3 8 or log onto sidroth.org call or write today yearsago you had one drop of God's gloryexplained we were just in a search in acircle praying just seeking God andpraying and all of a sudden I felt thisand I could actually see it withspiritual eyes but I felt this drop likelike a mercury touched my head and hejust went down my back down my neck downmy back and it just leached out all theyears of when I was unsaved and all thethe consequences of those crimes andsins against myself and others before Iwas a Christian it just reached it allout and I said to the Lord whoa Lordwhat was that and the Lord said that wasone drop of my living waterand I said Lord evermore give me thatwater and he said you only need one dropand that's and from that moment tilltoday every time I think of that momentin time that same cleansing thing goesdown my neck and then quenches my thirsttell me tell me what happened to thevision you had in 1970 as a newChristian my wife and I were reading ourBibles for the first time through we hadnever read the Word of God and you madean interesting point to me last night atdinneryou told me most Christians read thepromises but they don't read the Bibleyeah the grace of distinction yeah thereis a couple of years ago I startedtaking every word in every verse thatJesus spoke and taught and asking theLord am i walking in this am i living inthis you know the hard verses and theeasy verses this you know we're tentedpic cheese verses and and leave theliver verses you know but we need thewhole thing we need the whole packageand you know and so I say Lord and mywalk am I really a disciple or a do go Ihave a religion about you but butunderstanding is am i standing andsearching for the museum of what you didor the power-plant of who you are andhaving both but I you know Lord what ami walking in this if not I'm how much ami lacking or maybe I the next verse waswhat Lord when did you put this verse inthe Bible so what you're doing is you'reletting the Word of God excavate youdance without all to bring in the newtake you back to the vision of nineteenseventy yeah thank youso we're reading I'm reading in my BibleI readIsaiah 59 I shut the Bible I went tosleep I woke in the middle of the nightand there is a city covered in darknessin the darkness there's faces coming outmassives amount of people the place isobviously desolate the time has alreadypassed for anything good it's just awfulbut the Holy Spirit began to flowthrough us our faces were radiant withthe light of God I felt the surge of theelectricity of God like a geyser of lifecoming out for me and they weremultitudes were receiving the Lord andwhen I woke I turned for the first timein my life I picked up my Bible and forthe first time I turned page and I readIsaiah 60 Isaiah 60 is a promise for theend times amenthe Isaiah 60 says arise shine for yourlight has come and the glory of the lordhas risen upon youand that's what we're facesand I feel a bubble of it now but I'mgonna tell you something when this glorycomes in you won't have to just feel ityou will see it it'll be tangible willyou pray for a great there's more of Godpray for us to be as hungry as you areright now Lord we do pray father foreveryone here and everyone watchingfather I pray for the hunger of God thatthing that compelled Paul where he saidI'd press on for the upward call of Godin Christ Jesus Lord I pray for everyheart who's been disappointed that theywould be set free and they'd be able towalk out of the past and the snare ofthe trapper into the arms of theirbeloved in Jesus name Amenpray the prayer and this is beyond yourmouth20 30 40 times a day this is what Mosesprayed show me your glory yes show meyour glory as trouble escalates in theworld we are all looking for a place ofimmunity and protection did you knowthat in the midst of all ouruncertainties and fears there is anavailable shelter from God to shield youonce you found this place nothing youencounter can defeat you wherever youare you can remain in the stronghold ofGod now Francis frangipane wants toshare the keys he has been given to helpyou enter the secret place of the MostHigh God that place where he sets usfree is called the shelter of the MostHigh get ready for something that has noequal on the face of the earth call nowand get Francis frangipane profound bookthe shelter of the Most High and hisanointed three-part audio CD teachingsecrets of the secret place Plus thisPsalm 91 prayer of protection bookmarkthis is an exclusive offer for oursupernatural audience yours for adonation of $35 shipping and handling isincluded ask for offer number 9 5 3 8through Francis frangipane 's powerfulbook the shelter of the most high and isanointed three-part audio CD teachingsecrets of the secret place you willlearn how to enter into the secret placeof the Most High which will become yourspiritual fortress that will shelter youfrom the attacks and onslaught of thedevil activate angelic protection findhow easy your prayers will be answeredin how to access God in a way neverthought possible before positionyourself to receive an outpouring ofGod's glory remove obstacles fromgetting your prayers answered begin towalk in God's blessings and promises foryour life every day on each audio CDFrancis praised these prayers over youprayer for healing of hearts prayer forbreakthrough prayer for God to bringforth his glory and prepare your heartto receive His blessings prayer for liesto be broken so you can begin to walk inGod's promises every day you know Jesuscalled us to pray the prayer thy will bedone on earth as it is in heaven so wewant to walk the narrow path but thenarrow path opens into a broad way ofgrace and truth and power and redemptionand life and love and what God hascreated us to have today right hereright now and we learn how to enter thatsecret place of the most time you willalso receive this special bonus thesecret place of the Most High Psalm 91bookmark you can read God's promises ofdivine protection for you every day whatI love about the exclusive brand-new 3CD seriessecrets of the secret place is it's ahow-to so many times was told you shoulddo something but we're never told how toto understand how to live in the secretplace to understand how to have intimacywith God to understand how to capturethe presence of God 24/7 call now andget Francis frangipane profound book theshelter of the most high andannointed three part audio CD teachingsecrets of the secret place Plus thisPsalm 91 prayer of protection bookmarkthis is an exclusive offer yours for adonation of $35 shipping and handling isincluded ask for offer number nine 538call or you can send your check to sidroth it's supernatural p o-- box 39222charlotte north carolina 28278 pleasespecify offer number nine five 3/8 orlog on to sidroth.org call or writetoday next week on it's supernaturalhello I'm Sandra Kennedy did you knowthat the same blood that cleanses usfrom sin provides healing for ourphysical bodies you cannot separate thetwo people been trying but you cannotjoin me on the next it's supernaturalwith Sid Roth and get ready for victorylike you've never knownyou

full textual sermon -The Rewards of Serving God - Part 1 by Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer: we don't serve God to get a reward, but there's nothing wrong with expecting one because that's what the bible tells us is headed our way. Rewards are headed your way, so you might as well look forward to them and get excited about it.
Joyce Meyer: hello and welcome to "enjoying everyday life." Do you ever feel like no one sees or cares about all the ways that you're being faithful to God? Well, I want you to know that God sees and he cares and in today's teaching, I'll talk about the rewards of serving God. Then later, I'll be back to answer some of the questions that you sent in on this subject. Enjoy the program.
Joyce Meyer: so, we're gonna talk this afternoon for about the rewards of serving God. First of all, hebrews 11:6 says without faith, it's impossible to please God, and those that come to him must believe two things, number one, that he is. And number two, that he is the rewarder. Don't you love that? He doesn't just reward. He is the rewarder of those who, what? Diligently seek him out. Can I tell you something? Because you took today, a saturday, for most of you, probably, one of your two days a week that you don't have to work and go to a job, and I know you had many things to do. You had many things that you walked away from in order to be here today, and I can tell you that you're gonna have a better week than you would have if you wouldn't have come.
Joyce Meyer: and I'm not promising you that all your circumstances next week are gonna be great because you came, but I can promise you this, there's a strength that you'll get from being diligent and by choosing to spend this time with God that will help you get through whatever comes your way next week with victory while other people may be falling apart emotionally, it's a much more minor thing because they laid on the couch all day, and watched soap operas, and ate doughnuts. When we sow to the flesh, we reap from the flesh ruin, decay, and destruction. When we sow to the spirit, we reap from the spirit life and life eternal. And even if you sat here all day and you didn't feel like you learned anything in particular, I don't--i mean, I don't know how that's possible, but let's just say that, let's just say that you leave today and you say, "well, you know, God, I really didn't get that much out of that." You know what? You'd benefit from just from sitting in this room all day with all these other wonderfully anointed people.
Joyce Meyer: 'cause I'll tell you what, there's some atmospheres out in the world where you could go sit in all day and it would suck the life right out of you. Let me ask a question just for my own entertainment, how many of you feel better now than you did when you walked in here this morning?
Joyce Meyer: well see, that's what God's presence does for us. It energizes us. It encourages us. We need to be encouraged. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. Those who come to him must believe, number one, that he is, and he is everywhere all the time. Whether you feel him or you don't feel him, God is always present in your life. He's always with you. There's nowhere that you go or nowhere that you can ever go where you can get away from him. He knows everything that you have done. He knows everything that you ever will do. And guess what. He loves you every moment of your life. You know, God spoke this to my heart last week and I want to share it with you. He said, "not only do I love you, but I'm always loving you." See, I like that. It's like it's a continuous thing. God doesn't just love us and then not love us. He's always loving us. There's never a moment in your life when God has not loved you and there will never be a moment when he will not love you. We all want to be loved. You're accepted by God. He adores you. Some of your faults he even thinks are funny. It's true. You know how I know that? The longer dave and I are married, the funnier I think he is.
Joyce Meyer: and he's the same way with me. We're kind of like each other's entertainment, and--but it's silly stuff that wouldn't make any sense to anybody but us. But, you know, there are things that we used to get upset about 50 years ago, 40 years ago, 30 years ago, but now some of those things, they're what makes dave dave, and I think, to a certain degree, that God feels the same way about us. You know, I've got this little sassy personality, but I think God kind of likes it. I don't think that I have to go around trying to rework myself because I'm not like everybody else out there. I spent a lot of years trying to be a normal woman.
Joyce Meyer: and you know what I've come to the conclusion of? I am normal for me. What is normal? It's however God has created you. You don't have to have somebody else's personality. I tried to be sweet, and kind, and quiet, and, you know, all these different things. I was telling dave the other day, I said, "you know dave, I think the older you get, the more you talk."
Joyce Meyer: I mean, he just seems like he talks a lot more than what he used to. And I said, "I guess you wish the older I got the quieter I got." He said, "no," he said, "that's not ever gonna happen. There's no point in even wishing for that."
Joyce Meyer: reward, you know, people really, we can get so much more help from God than what we do if we would just pray a lot more bolder prayers. Don't be afraid to ask God for big things. I'd rather ask for something big and get half of it than to ask for something little and get all of it. God wants do big things in your life. He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him. First of all, the first reward that we get from serving God, and let me just say this, we don't serve God to get a reward, but there's nothing wrong with expecting one because that's what the bible tells us is headed our way. Rewards are headed your way, so you might as well look forward to them and get excited about it. The first reward that we get, and this is the most important, the first reward that we get is God himself, amen?
Joyce Meyer: wow, you know, we get kind of used to God. We get accustomed to God's presence. We get accustom to understanding spiritual things, but wow, what a privilege it is to have God in our lives. What kind of a privilege is it to have any kind of problem you can take to God and pray about it and know that he hears you, that he loves you, and he wants to help you? That's a great privilege, and we don't ever want to take that for granted. You know, I work hard just like many of you work real hard, and years ago, I said to God one day, "what am I gonna get out of this?" 'cause if you're in a position where you're constantly giving out in whatever way that is, if it's as a parent, or as a wife, or a husband, or as an employee. If you're in ministry, you're always giving out. And sometimes we just feel like, "well, what am I gonna get out of this?" And I'll never forget it, and I wasn't even all that familiar with these scriptures I'm gonna scare with you today. God said, "I am your portion." See, God is the number-one first thing that you get and we need to be really glad about that. You know, when you're a new believer and God begins to do things in your life, you can get so excited about it. "I heard from God."
Joyce Meyer: "I prayed about this and God did it, oh my gosh, so excited." Or you need an answer about something and you're praying about something and you go to church and you can't believe it, that is exactly what the pastor preaches on. You're like, oh... I think all of that kind of comes under that category of come to him like a little child. Little children get really excited, and they have no problem showing those excited emotions. So, several years ago, I said to the Lord, "God, why don't you do the things that you used to do? You know, I don't seem to get that many great revelations and special words from you. And why don't you do the things you used to do?" And he said, "I still do the same thing I've always done, you've just gotten used to it." Come on, think about that, yeah. How much have we just gotten accustomed to God's presence? You know, this feels really normal to me today because I've been in this atmosphere so much. I've lived in this atmosphere for a long time, but I remember the first time I walked into a meeting like this, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I mean, I couldn't believe the music. I couldn't believe the life in the place. I couldn't believe that somebody could take one verse of scripture and preach on it for 45 minutes and keep my interest. I couldn't believe it. I didn't even know what it was. Now I know now it was the presence of God and the anointing. But it was like electrifying to me. It was amazing. Well, you see, I'd like to stay amazed at all those things that God does because I think we should be amazed by God, but I'm trying to impress on you this afternoon what a privilege it is just to have God in your life, what a privilege it is to wake up every morning and say, "good morning, Lord." What a great privilege it is to have a problem and be able to go to God and say, "I need you to help me with this," and to know that he listens to you. And I think it's important for us to hear things like this because sometimes we get so focused on what we don't have and we forget about what we do have. God is our reward. He is our portion. Psalms 73:26, "my flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the rock and the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Lamentations 3:24, "'the Lord is my portion and my inheritance,' says my soul; 'therefore I have hope in him and I wait expectantly for him.'" What did I tell you hope was? It's waiting with expectation for something good to happen in your life at any moment. Nobody can take your hope. Peter says when you're born again, you're born again into an everliving hope. The world is a mess today, but I have hope in God. He's coming back. When I leave this earth, I'm gonna see him face to face. I have hope that when I pray, God hears my prayers and he answers my prayers. Thank God we have hope. He is our portion. One more, psalm 142:4 and 5, "look to the right [the point of attack] and see; for there is no one who has regard for me, nobody [to act in my favor]. Escape has failed me and I now have nowhere to run; no one cares about my life." He's in pretty desperate shape, wasn't he? "'but I cried out to you, o Lord; I said, 'you are my refuge, you are my portion in the land of the living." So, david talked about what a mess he was in, but then he said, "I'm really not in that bad a condition because I've got you, God. You're my portion." Is it wrong to expect reward? No, it's not. It's not wrong at all, and I think some of you could encourage yourself today by just raising your level of expectation. Sometimes we just get up every day and go through the motions, and go through the motions, go through the motions and we kind of sort of hope maybe God will do something for us, but we're not really sure that he will. We throw up these prayers of desperation, but what if you get a new attitude? What if you get up every day saying, "today is my day of reward, God is gonna show up in my life today. God's gonna speak to me. Today, something good is going to happen in life. Today may be the day that my child changes. Today may be the day that my friend gets saved. Today may be the day that my back stops hurting. Today may be the day that I stop having migraine headaches," or whatever it is that you've dealt with. How about if you say, "today could be the day," especially when the devil whispers in your ear, "It's never gonna happen." When he says that to you, you need to say, "today may be the day."
Joyce Meyer: well, the bible says that God is the rewarder of those who diligently and earnestly seek him out, hebrews 11:6. Many of you have questions about the rewards of serving God and ginger's here with me today. We're gonna talk about some of those questions and, hopefully, give you some really good answers. Well ginger, what kind of questions do you have? Ginger: we have some great questions, and I think these are really thought provoking. The first one comes from vicki, and she says, "sometimes I feel like I don't deserve any kind of rewards because I'm a sinner. I know Jesus took all of that to the cross and I'm forgiven, I just think that I shouldn't expect anything else. Are those lies from the enemy?"
Joyce Meyer: yes, they are lies from the enemy, and she's right, we don't deserve anything, and that's what makes it good because everything that God gives us is strictly a gift from him. I was talking the other day to some people about--who've been in ministry, you know, like for a long, long time, and some of them now are nearing the end of their life and they have different things physically wrong with them. And you're almost tempted to think, well, that's not right. I mean, somebody who served God all their life, they shouldn't end up like that. But God doesn't owe us anything. It's a privilege for us to serve him, but he does promise rewards and he promises it in many, many, many places in the bible. And, you know, there's a scripture that says that you're not to muzzle the ox when it's treading out the grain. And so, the point there, they were talking about farm animals, was if you're gonna make them work all day, you gotta let them eat as they go along. And so, for us, there needs to be promise of reward, not that we deserve it, or earn it, or God owes it to us, but he wants us to expect that walking with him and living for him does bring a reward in our life. Ginger: that's really interesting because those rewards that we think about are often quite different than what God has in mind. Here's another question from leanne, from canada. She says, "I thought our reward would come when we are in heaven." So, she's asking, is there more or is that the whole ball of wax?
Joyce Meyer: well, obviously, there are gonna be a lot of great eternal rewards and rewards that, some of them, we won't get until we get to heaven. But I remember one time in frustration saying to the Lord, I'd been working really hard in ministry and just felt like I was just working, working, working, working, and I said, really, a dumb comment. But I said, "what am I gonna get out of this?" And so, when I did this teaching, one of the first sections was, "God is our portion." And there's several scriptures that just say that when he's our portion, you know, walking with God and serving God, when we talk about serving God, we're not talking about just having a reverend in front of your name, or being on a platform, or being in, you know, public ministry. Every person has the opportunity and the privilege to serve God and every person should serve God. And so, I think the rewards of joy, the rewards of peace, the rewards of just knowing that God is with us, they are--they're much better rewards than just thinking about, you know, God blessing you financially or some other way. But one of the things that I believe is a huge reward if our life that a lot of people don't know anything about. I know I didn't for a long, long time, and that is is that God gives you favor, and when God gives you favor, that means he can open doors that nobody else can open, and thankfully, he can also close doors that we might try to kick open, and he's good enough to us to make sure that we don't get something that we really shouldn't have. So, there's a lot of rewards for serving God, and there's no, nothing wrong at all with expecting those rewards. I think it's good to say, "I'm not serving you for a reward, but it's your promise in the word, and so I claim that promise and I trust you to give me whatever you feel is best for me at the right time." Ginger: yeah, good. Here's a question about those rewards that I think so many people have asked, and I just want to make sure I find the right one. Here it is, "why is God giving a reward of favor to someone else and not me? Is it that I don't please God enough?"
Joyce Meyer: well, maybe she's not seeing what God is doing for her or maybe she has some specific thing in mind that she wants and she's not getting that. And she's seeing somebody else get that, and so she's wondering why God is not giving her favor. But we don't get to pick and choose what God gives us or how he shows us favor. So, I'm quite sure that God's favor is on her life and I think she's probably just looking for the wrong thing. You know, one of our greatest problems is unrealistic expectations. Ginger: that is so true.
Joyce Meyer: God wants us to expect things from him. Hope is a positive expectation that something good is gonna happen, but I don't get to say, "now God, this is what I want, this is what I want, this is what I want, and this is what I want." I leave it up to him to show his goodness in my life. Now, that doesn't mean I cannot ask for specific things. I can, but I also have to remember that if God does not give me what I ask for, then it's really because he's got something better in mind and I just don't know how to ask for that yet. One of the biggest mistakes people can make, ginger, is comparing their problems or their blessings with somebody else. Ginger: it's that age-old question, why are the evil prospering and I'm not?
Joyce Meyer: exactly. Ginger: but you're right, that comparison's staying away from that. It's just not a wise thing to do. Ginger: and it's hard to stay away from, but it will change things. It will change so many things. And you have to look at what you do have, not what you don't have.
Ginger: yeah. Question from Jamie, "do we stop asking if we haven't received?"
Joyce Meyer: well, that's not always a real easy question to answer. First of all, if you're asking and asking and not receiving, you might need to do a double check or whether or not you're asking for something that is just something you want, or is it actually something that God has promised, you know? Ginger: what are your motives? Does it line up with God's word.
Joyce Meyer: what are your motives, yeah. And, you know, in James 4, it says, verse 2 says, "you have not because you ask not." Or you do ask, but you ask amiss, you intend to use what you get on selfish motives. And so, you know, I could ask God for more prosperity, but do I just want more money to spend, or do I really want to be a--be able to be a greater blessing to more people? You know, I can ask God for a bigger house, but is that really the most important thing in my life right now? It might not even be that God doesn't want me to have a bigger house, but maybe that's not what I should be focusing on right now. A lot of times people ask for the wrong things, and I think there's such a temptation to ask for material things when we should be asking for spiritual things. When you study the prayers of the apostle paul, he never asks for material things. He didn't pray for the church for their problems to go away. He prayed things like that they would be able to endure whatever came with good temper. You know, I've never had anybody ask me to pray that for them. Everybody always wants, you know, "pray that God will deliver me from this," not, you know, not pray--nobody's ever said, "will you pray that while I'm going through this I'll have a really good attitude?" So, here again, it all comes back to trusting God. And so, I can't tell her to keep praying or not to keep praying. I can tell her always keep praying, but maybe double check your motives and make sure. And also there's just timing. You know, just because God hasn't given you the answer yet, I mean, I prayed for my dad's salvation for 40 years on and off before-- ginger: that was a case though that you knew to keep-
Joyce Meyer: I knew, yeah, I knew that that was a situation where I really needed to keep praying because that was in the word. Ginger: well, let's close with this one, this is a really good question from michelle in quebec. "aren't we supposed to receive more than what the enemy stole? I'm still waiting at 48 years old." J
oyce Meyer: well, and waiting is a good thing because that means that she hasn't given up. The bible talks about going all the way through with God, and a lot of people don't do that. I always say there's a beginning, there's an end, but there's a middle, and nobody gets to how long the middle's gonna be. In Mark 11:23, 24, it says that we are to ask, and believe that we receive, and we will get it. Doesn't say how long. It says you ask, you believe that you receive, and you will get it. So here again, I don't know what she's asking for. The bible does say that the enemy will come out against us one way, flee before us seven ways. It does say in several places that God will give us a double reward for what's been stolen and lost in the past. But I like to think too sometimes that maybe God doesn't give me exactly what was taken from me, but he may give me something that's so much better.
Ginger: you've definitely seen that this your life.
Joyce Meyer: oh, I've definitely seen that in my life, and so here again, you can't--you gotta know what you're going for, and are you even really asking for the thing that's going to be the best for you? You know, like I lost a lot of friends when I stepped out to go into ministry because being in ministry as a woman was very unpopular, especially in the circles that I was in. And everybody just thought I was wrong, and it was a very hard time for me, and I went through some loneliness. But now God has given me a lot more friends than what I had then, but they're even different kinds of friends. They're not necessarily always people that I spend all my time with, but they're better friends than I had because those friends wanted to control what I did. The friends I have now love me enough to want me to do what I feel like God wants me to do. So, God is good. He is a rewarder, and I think those were great questions and I hope we did a good job answering them. Ginger: I think you did. Very helpful, thank you.
Joyce Meyer: thank you. Well, today we're offering you something that I think is really special. It's been doing very well. It's the "battlefield of the mind psalms and proverbs." It's from the "battlefield of the mind" bible, but it's just psalms and proverbs. And along with that is a cd about "God's word for your life." It's always good to look at the promises of God and it's certainly always good to remember that you have a reward coming in your life. You have a great day. Announcer: today we're offering two resources that will show you how God's word can change your life. In this psalms and proverbs edition of the "battlefield of the mind" bible, Joyce Meyer combines her insights with the poetic wisdom of psalms and proverbs to help you apply scripture in your everyday life. We're also offering a "God's word for your life" cd. Join Joyce Meyer as she reads more than 100 bible verses on 25 topics that will comfort and strengthen your soul. This package is available for your gift of...OR More. Call us...OR Visit us at joycemeyer.org.
Announcer: make plans now to spend your friday and saturday with Joyce Meyer, three unique sessions of inspiring teaching, heartfelt worship, and encouraging behind-the-scenes moments at the Joyce Meyer meyer conference. Coming to Long Beach, California may 4 and 5 with worship by Phil Wickham. Join us, all sessions are free at the Joyce Meyer conference. For more information, visit joycemeyer.org/conference or call...
Lori: some of these children have never ever had a bath in their life. As we're taking layers off, we're finding wounds, burns that were never treated and disfigured feet. It's tough to see how much they enjoy it. They've never had this before, so what is basic to us in the united states, these children have never had, so it's humbling, yes.

textual sermon Blessed, Broken and Given, Part 1 by Joyce Meyer

sermon "How Do I Stop Feeling Inadequate?" April 15, 2018 by Joyce Meyer.

Announcer: the following program is paid for by the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer ministries.
Joyce Meyer: you are armed and dangerous. God has disarmed the principalities and powers, and he has armed you to be more than a conqueror in life.
Ginger: as we walk through each new day, we all have questions. They're just part of life. But did you know there are answers for you? God says when we look, we'll find him. He's not trying to hide anything. So together, we are discovering life's everyday answers.
Ginger: well, we've all felt it before, probably are feeling it right now, inadequacy. It becomes that nagging little friend that just won't go away, and far too often we spend our lives believing that we're just not good enough, not smart enough. Am i strong enough, pretty enough, and so on? What will they think of me? And accepting Christ into our lives does not automatically deliver us from this mindset. Look at this great question from hazel. She asked on twitter, how can we share the good news of Jesus when we feel so inadequate? Great question, hazel. And no matter who you look at, they're probably feeling much of these same things. So, let's tackle this one together with some help from Joyce Meyer and our friend Priscilla shire today. Priscilla had to overcome her own feelings of inadequacy to make the impact she is making in the world today. So, how do we stop feeling inadequate? Let's begin with Priscilla.
Ginger: you were raised in the ministry, you come from a ministry family. You have this wonderful God-given gift to teach with power and grace, and it's just--it's energetic. And so, i think in the morning, you know, angels just kind of float down to your bed and give you your assignment for the day, and your beautiful children trot up and give mommy a hug, and it's all just perfect. And-- Priscilla shire: i'm glad you think that.
Ginger: but you know, i think that's the way many people think about people who are in the spotlight, people who are in ministry, that it all just comes very easy, very simply. And it's not always true, is it?
Priscilla: oh gosh, it's normally not true, as a matter of fact. So, how about you hold my purse while i climb down from that pedestal you've got me on? Because i think anybody that is in any form of ministry would say similarly that they feel this sometimes it's a pressure from folks who put us on this pedestal that everything must be rosy, and fabulous, and easy. And yet, while there are many great privileges and honor, it certainly is an honor to serve the Lord the way we have the ability to do it, gosh, it's--i'll tell you this, ministry isn't even what i planned to do. Wasn't even what i started out wanting to do. I love ministry, i love the house of God, love building the church, but because i grew up as a pastor's kid, i was trying to do my best to kind of go in another direction. So, i went-
Ginger: that's true so often, isn't it?

Priscilla: yes, and not because i had a distaste for it at all. I had wonderful people around me who were people of integrity and character, and i'm so glad that i had that sort of legacy in my life. So, i had no distaste in my mouth for ministry, i just had other plans for my life, you know? But then there was this steady call of God and these clear footprints that he continued to put in front of me even when i was trying to walk in the opposite direction. He continued to direct my path. I'm down a path, again, that wasn't necessarily the easiest path or the path that i had charted out for myself, but it became very clear that it was the path that he had for me. And all along the way, there was a little bit of hurt, and a little bit of heartache, and a little bit of struggle. Even now, i still struggle to do ministry in a way that is excellent, in a way that will be honoring God. Well, that doesn't come easy to me. Sometimes, it means lots of late night studying hours. And i don't consider myself to be a writer, but writing has come with the ministry God has given us, and so now i'm plowing in to figure out how to be the best writer that i can be. So, it's not that i'm just--it just comes easily or that, you know, hey
Ginger: the angels don't deliver it every morning.
Priscilla: no, no, it's kind of like you know what? I have to be disciplined, and press in, and do what it is that God has called me to do in a way that will honor and please him.
Ginger: that understanding of who we are in Christ, really believing that we are valued and that we are his masterpiece, is that something that you've ever struggled with in your life?
Priscilla: i have struggled with it for so many years, and continue i think on some level to struggle with a sense of insecurity or intimidation, that what God has called me to i'm not equipped to handle.
Ginger: don't you think most of us feel that way?
Priscilla: i think we do. And i think even the person that who has come to some sense of equilibrium or balance in that area of their life, they're still going to be, i think, until the day that we see him face to face because our sanctification is progressive, which means we're never perfect in any one area. So, it's going to be a constant struggle because the enemy knows that once you've placed faith in Jesus Christ, he can no longer destroy you, but he's going to do everything he can to distract you. If he can keep us from knowing that the power of God lives in us, and strengthens us, and that God's favor is upon us, and that we're a royal priesthood, and a chosen nation, and a people call to God's possession, that we've been transferred out of the kingdom of darkness, that we are now surrounded by the light of God on every side, if he can keep us from recognizing that, then he knows we will never live in fulfillment of the destiny that God has called us to. So, we've got to make sure that our mind is really being renewed by the washing of the water of the word on our lives. And we can't do that if we don't know the bible, if we're not spending time with God in prayer and in the word of God. And that, man, that's the primary way that i'd say someone, including a woman like me, can reshape their mind. I've seen it happen where i have made myself a student of God's word, maybe just even one verse that you concentrate on for a full month. I mean, you just memorize that thing, you pore over it, you ask the Lord to use it to speak into your life. And after a month, you just see how your mindset is beginning to change and be renewed simply because you concentrated on God's word and let it do its job.
Ginger: well, we she may have felt inadequate, but Priscilla definitely was not. Now, she travels the world sharing the gospel, she hosts a Christian talk show online, she starred in the movie "the war room." She learned to believe that she can do all things through Christ, and so can you. It begins with letting go of those old mindsets, so here's Joyce Meyer to answer, how do i stop feeling inadequate?
Joyce Meyer: well, we're going to start with revelation 16:15, which is a very odd scripture if you don't understand it. "behold, i'm going to come like a thief. Blessed (happy, and to be envied) is he who stays awake [alert], and who guards his clothes." What in the world does that mean? Stay awake and guard your clothes. He says, "i want you to stay awake, stay alert, stay aggressive, walk in your authority, and learn how to guard your clothes so that your nakedness may not be seen." You have a set of spiritual clothes on. So, in revelations 16:15 says, "stay awake. Stay alert. Be sharp. Be on guard. Pay attention and guard your clothes." He's talking about the spiritual clothing that we have to make sure that we're wearing at all times. What an insight and a revelation if you have never heard anything like this. The bible uses the phrase "put on and put off." I put on my clothes when i came over here. I put on my clothes when i came this morning. When i went back to the hotel this afternoon, i put them off. Then i selected some others and i put them on. When i go back tonight, i'll put these off and put on my pajamas. When i get up in the morning, i'll put on some more. When i get home, i'll put them off. Nobody just went and stood in your closet, and your clothes just jumped on your body. You had to purposely choose them, and you had to purposely put them on. We need to learn how to live with intentionality. That needs to be one of the first laws of our living, and we need to realize it's one of the first rules of success, intentionality. We have to do things on purpose. We can't just wait and see what falls on us. We need to do it on purpose. If we would even spend half the time getting dressed spiritually that we do getting dressed in the natural
Joyce Meyer: we'd be a lot further along in our walk with God. And the devil would already be where he belongs, which is under our feet. Now, the bible says, "put on Jesus Christ. Put on love. Clothe yourself with mercy. Put on kind feelings. Put on a lowly opinion of yourself," which is humility. "put off the old man, put on the new man. Put on the full armor of God." Very interesting. Have you been doing that? Put on Jesus Christ means in the morning, before you go anywhere, you get up and you make a decision, "i belong to God, i don't belong to myself. And when i go out, when i go out of this bedroom, i start dealing with my family, when i go out the front door and i start dealing with society, i am a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Joyce Meyer: and i need to put on behavior that's going to represent him. I have the mind of Christ. I have the spirit of God in me. I don't have the privilege or the right, which is not really a privilege, to go out and just act like everybody else. I'm an alien from a foreign planet. I don't belong here. I'm passing through. I'm headed somewhere. And my real purpose in being here is not to please myself, it's to represent God and draw other people to him through my Godly behavior. Ephesians 4:22-24, 22 through 24, "strip yourselves of your former nature [put off] and discard your old unrenewed self." You know, for example, after Jesus raised lazarus from the dead, he then said a second thing to him, he said, "take off your grave clothes." Can i tell you that some of you are wearing grave clothes? You're wearing stuff that don't look right on you. You're still wearing stuff from that old life, still wearing an attitude that's discouraged and downtrodden all the time. He told lazarus not only, "come out of there and be raised from the dead," but, "take off your grave clothes." It's time to let go of the past and all the clothes from the grave, all the depression, the despondency, the fear, the bad attitude, the victim mentality. We need to take off all those grave clothes and get on our resurrection clothes. And it's almost like i can just hear some of you, it's almost like i'm kind of aggravating some of you. You're kind of like, "well, you just don't know what i feel like." I can hear you, "you just don't know what i feel like, and you just don't know what i've gone through. Don't come in here and give me your happy clappy message about how joyful i'll be." Look at me and let me tell you something. You can smile whether you want to or not. Actually, let me tell you something else, you can be nice even if you don't feel like it. Yeah, you can. You can be sweet, and kind, and nice even if there's not one thing in you that feels like it. And let me tell you something else. When you choose to do the right thing when it feels wrong, that's when you're growing and making progress.
Joyce Meyer: we don't grow at all if we're just doing what's easy. And you know, i know people that they were just born happy. Well, i'm not like that, i wasn't born happy. I had to work on it. I was one of those people that i could find something sour in anything. I'd had a rough life, and i mean, i know people, they're just like they're just in a good mood all the time. They're just happy all the time. I know people that are just so sweet, they just drip with sugar. And i think sometimes when God passed out nice genes, i think you got mine.
Joyce Meyer: but you know what? Even though i didn't have any in the natural, i inherited some from Jesus Christ. When i was born again, i got the nature of God, amen? If any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. Old things pass away and all things become new. You get the nature of God when you become a child of God. You know, i used to think, "i couldn't be happy until, and i can't be happy until, and i can't be happy until, and i can't be happy until." And i finally figured out it was time to get happy now. Is there anybody in this place that needs to get happy now? [
Joyce Meyer: okay, listen, i'm going to give you a good thing here. You cannot control what other people do, but you can control what you do. Yes, you can. You say, "oh no, i don't have any self-control." Yes, you do. "no, i don't." Yes you do, yes you do, yes you do. It's the very last fruit of the spirit that's listed in galatians 5 that you're given when you receive the holy ghost, self-control. Self-control means you can control yourself. We're not given a spirit of others control. Nobody in here has been given by God a spirit of others control. You've been given a spirit of self-control. "put off the old man. Put on the new man." Let's go back to ephesians 4:24 through 26. "strip yourselves of your former nature [put off] and discard your old unrenewed self which characterize your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lust and desires that spring from delusion. And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]." Attitude, attitude, attitude. "and put on the new nature." So, he says, "put off the old nature, put on the new nature," and what's the bridge to get there? Change the way you think by letting your mind be renewed by the word of God. For example, if you get up every morning and do nothing but think about all your mistakes, and all your problems, and how you messed up yesterday, and how bad you feel, and about everything you don't have in life, i can almost promise you that you will not be able to go out and be nice to anybody.
Joyce Meyer: come on now. You got to wake up in the morning, and you got to think some things on purpose. Don't just think and meditate on everything that the devil tries to drop in your head. You begin to think like God wants you to think, and you can do your own thinking. You don't have to just think whatever the devil offers you. You can do your own thinking. And one of the things that will help you is to talk out loud. Get up every morning if you can, that's something you would enjoy doing, drop down on your knees by the side of your bed right away, and just say, "Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, help me today behave the way you want me to behave." You know, you work for God, you're on his payroll. If you go out and do what you're supposed to every day, you'll get your paycheck. God will take care of you. Come on, i'm talking to you. God will take care of you. We all work for God. "put on the full armor of God (that God supplies) that you might be able to successfully stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil." All, stand up against all. If you have your full armor on, you can stand up against all the strategies and defeats, deceits of the devil and defeat him. "we don't wrestle with flesh and blood [we're not contending with physical opponents], but we wrestle against spirits, wicked spirits in the heavenly realm." Verse 13, "therefore put on." Everybody say, "put on."
Audience: put on.
Joyce Meyer: probably all this talk about putting on and being active is making some of you tired just listening to me. But let me tell you something, you're not going to defeat the devil laying on your couch watching soap operas and eating donuts. Some of you want to have authority over the devil, and you don't even have authority over a sink full of dirty dishes yet. It's time for us to go deeper, folks. "therefore put on God's complete armor that you might be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and having done all [the crisis demands], you are to stand [firmly in your place]." Now, let me just say just a couple quick things about that. First of all, you do what you can do, you do what you know to do that God has taught you to do, and then God will always do what you cannot do. Do you hear me? You do something to sow some seed so God can do the part that you cannot do.
Joyce Meyer: having done all the crisis demands, stand firmly in your place. "stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth." Now, the truth is the word of God. And he's saying here that it's the belt, and belts keep our pants on, so when you're having trouble, you want to tighten your belt. In other words, what he's saying there is that's the time to dig in and believe the word of God like never before. It is easy to say that i believe the word of God when you're not having to apply it in your life. But when, all of a sudden, you felt like all hell has come out against you, and you have waited longer than you think you can stand, and you're in the midst of seeing other people get blessed that you don't even think really deserve it, and you're about to lose it all, you're about to lose all your clothes. I mean, we're about to lose the joy, lose the peace, lose the love. We're about to come out and have a resurrection of that old man, like rarrr... That's when you need to bring that belt in another couple of notches and say, "no, i'm going to dig in, and i'm going to stand on God's word."
Joyce Meyer: are you hearing me tonight? Make a decision tonight that you're not just going to try the word, but you're going to stand on the word of God no matter how long it takes, no matter what happens, because there's nothing better for you to do. Let's put up ephesians 6:18. "and pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season), in the spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty." To that end, what? "keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints." Stay awake, stay alert, stay active, stay passionate, stay full of zeal, and guard your spiritual clothes. You will not have any trouble with the devil if you will wear your armor. If you will go out every day with the helmet of salvation, your shoes of peace, knowing who you are in Christ, determined to stand on the word of God, speaking the word of God, you will have victory, victory, victory. Amen. You are armed and dangerous. God has disarmed the principalities and powers, and he has armed you to be more than a conqueror in life.
Ginger: so, now you understand because Christ lives in you, that means you have a relationship with him. You have gotten to know him, and he will never leave you. So therefore, you have the ability to let go of those old mindsets and renew your mind the way you think through his word. Living beyond your feelings is the key. Don't go by how you feel, live beyond that. Joyce Meyer has a book entitled just that, "living beyond your feelings," and it's so good. It not only talks about insecurities, but it talks about a lot of other feelings that we all deal with that can really ruin our lives if we allow them to, but it takes us on a journey through what God's word says about those things and how we can overcome them. We want to get this book into your hands today for a gift of any amount. Now, that means whatever you feel like giving, we're going to get this book to you. And hopefully, you'll just do your best, maybe you'll help someone else by giving a little bit more so that they can get their copy. But whatever you give today, we're going to get this to you, so be sure to order your copy right away. Don't wait. What do you say we check out your voice?
Ginger: well, in one of our your voice questions, we asked you to share what you do when you feel emotions that are just overwhelming, and here are some of the answers. John says, "sometimes i just lose it, but when i do, i read my bible and pray as much as i can, and i feel my God's calming presence with me." That's really important. When you know what to do when you're feeling that bubble up, it makes a big difference. Jennifer from tennessee says, "i cry, i pray, and God always sees me through the day." Ronda from florida, we'll do one more, ronda says, "i have ptsd, and when i have emotional flashbacks, it's paralyzing. I shut down. As soon as i realize what is happening, i pray the Lord's prayer, and then maybe put on "enjoying everyday life." Sometimes i can't even do that, so i just say, 'Jesus, help me.' And little by little, i come out of it. It used to take days, but now my recovery time is quicker." Well, ronda, i know how hard that must be, so keep digging in there. You are going to see some great results in your life. And today, Joyce Meyer explained how renewing your mind through God's word is the key to living beyond your feelings. So, what we want you to do on your voice right now is share with us how has studying the bible changed your life? It sounds very basic, very simple, but it's so important. And you can use your voice to inspire others to dig into God's word, so give us some great stories, some specific examples on our facebook page, on instagram, on twitter. And anytime at all, if you would like some help studying the bible, we have many, many fantastic free online things that will get you started, or even maybe help you go deeper. In fact, there are a lot of different studies that you can choose from, so go to joycemeyer.org/study. And there are encouraging videos, bible study tips from Joyce Meyer, special downloads all designed to help you to really dig into God's word. And when you do that, things begin to change. Also join us next time on "everyday answers," you won't want to miss it.
Joyce Meyer: there's such a wonderful promise of God, and it basically says that for your former shame, God will give you a two-fold recompense. And recompense is another word for reward.
Ginger: if you have a question, right now let us know, don't even wait. You'll forget it later, so just pick up that ipad or whatever you want to use and ask a question on twitter, use the #askJoyce Meyer. On our everyday answers page on joycemeyer.org, there's a really easy place to submit your questions and let us know what you'd like to talk about, and then be watching the show for those answers. Now remember, you may feel inadequate, but you are not inadequate. All those questions that we were talking about earlier, what if i'm not good enough? What if i'm not strong enough? What if i'm not pretty enough? What will they think of me? Remember, take your mind off of yourself, take your mind off of other people, and put it on Christ. That's what changing your mind means, renewing the way that you're thinking. You can do it. You are not inadequate, period. Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.abercap.com
Announcer: the preceding program was paid for by the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer ministries

full textual sermon "Five Powerful Promises of the Righteous", Part 1 - April 12, 2018 by Joyce Meyer

Announcer: this program has been made possible by the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer ministries.
Joyce Meyer: and you need to actively and aggressively believe your sins are forgiven, God loves you, he's got a good plan for your life, amen, that you've been made right with him, that you don't have to live under guilt and condemnation. That's the only way, even though you're gonna go to heaven when you die, if you want to enjoy the journey, you've got to believe all this other stuff too. Gonna talk to you this morning about promises that God makes to the righteous. I was just noticing in my bible as I read on a regular basis that there's a lot of promises that are made to the righteous. So the first thing we wanna do is establish who are the righteous. Well, the righteous are not just people who go to church. They're not just people who know a little bit of the bible or who pray a little prayer once a day. The righteous are not even just really good people who just really try to follow all the rules and all the regulations and all the biblical laws. The truly righteous person can only be righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. What an amazing opportunity we have. You know what, the devil wants you to feel wrong about yourself constantly. I remember for years and years, because of the way I grew up, I had this little recording playing in my head, "what's wrong with me? What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me?" Do you ever think that? "what is wrong with me?" You know, we look at other people and we think, "well, why can't I behave like them?" And honestly, they're looking at you, thinking, "why can't I be like you?" I mean, the enemy wants us to always have this vague sensing that something is wrong with us. Or how about this one? That we're not doing enough. We asked--we did a little survey in our office and just asked people: "tell us, when you get to heaven, what is one of the first things that you would love to ask God or if you could ask a question right now while you're still here on the earth, and get an answer from God, what would you wanna know?" And you know what a lot of 'em said? "I would love to know when I'm doing enough." You know what, people are just exhausted from trying to do what they think that God wants them to do and from trying to be some kind of a perfect example of everything all the time and that is not the way that God wants us to live. He doesn't want you to have wrongness. He wants you to have righteousness. And so one of the first things that we should learn as a believer, sad to say we don't learn it, but if you're somewhere where you're being taught properly, you won't just go to church and hear about the rules and the regulations or even just doctrinal things. You won't just hear about taking communion and different things like that. You're gonna hear about who you are in Christ. Because if you never learn what this does to you to have Christ in your life. It doesn't just give you a ticket out of hell and into heaven, but it--you become something totally different. "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things pass away and all things become brand new." And we don't have to wait to get to heaven to have a great life. You can have a great life right here, right now, even while everything in your circumstances is not perfect. If you feel right on the inside, and you feel good about yourself on the inside, not because you do everything perfect, but because you know that God has promised that if you put your faith in Jesus that you will be viewed as being in right standing with him.
Joyce Meyer: this is probably even more important than what we know. And I've taught on righteousness for years and years and--but even studying for this again, I mean, I'm diligent about my study. I mean, I put this message together several weeks ago but I started studying to bring this to you, going over it and over it and over it, like, as early as monday and tuesday of last week. And I've gone over this and over it and over it and over it 'cause when I get up here I want to share something with you that's going to be life-changing for you. And so even in going over this and over it, it still is just--it's amazing that Jesus took our sin, took all the punishment that we deserved, and has set us free from the penalty you no longer have to pay, amen? And righteousness, righteousness doesn't come to us because we do everything right. It comes to us because we know we cannot ever do enough right to deserve a relationship with God and so we receive his righteousness through faith. We believe it and then because of knowing who you are, you will want to spend--you won't feel like you have to. You will want to spend the rest of your life, every day of your life, trying every day to do as many right things as you possibly can, not because you think you have to to get something from God but because of what he has already done for you, you are compelled to serve him.
Joyce Meyer: it is so simple when we hear it. But I was in church for years and years and years before I ever heard anything like that. I heard things like, "you're just a poor miserable sinner." Well, I mean, we do sin. There's no doubt about that. And more than likely every day. But my identity, who I am, is in Christ. It's not, "I'm a poor, miserable, wicked, wretched." I'm that without God but if I'm gonna still be that with God, then what's the point, amen?
Joyce Meyer: and I'm not just--i wonder if you can even begin to imagine, some of you who don't yet have this revelation, how it changes your life to not have to be mad at yourself all the time, and to not have this little feeling that something's wrong with you and you may not make it and you need to try to do something else. Well, maybe if you read the bible more, maybe if you pray more, maybe if you do more good works, then maybe you'll feel better about yourself. And God's never gonna let you have it that way because that is self-righteousness. It's not the God kind of righteousness; it is self-righteousness. And so I wanna press this point for a few minutes because before I go into this promises made to the righteous, you have to know what it means to be viewed as a person that is the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 corinthians 5:21. Does anybody need this today? You wanna feel a little bit better about--hoo! 2 corinthians 5:21: "for our sake he made Christ [virtually]," that means really, "to be sin who knew no sin, so that in and through him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with him, by his goodness]." Now, to be honest, you could take that one verse and study it for the next two weeks and maybe, if that's all you looked at for two weeks and thought about it and meditated on it, it might begin to start to sink on--sink in. Jesus took your sin because he's good, not because you're good. He took the penalty, he took the punishment, and he gave you--gave you his righteousness that he earned by never doing anything wrong and it--we can't figure it out mathematically in our head but the bible says that if we believe that then God views us or he sees us as his very own righteousness because he sees us through Christ. He sees us--he doesn't see us in our old sinful state, he sees us as these new creatures that we are, where? Inside, in our spirit. You are a spirit, you have a soul, you live in a body. So you have all this amazingly wonderful, good stuff on the inside of you. Now, you still have a flesh too that has the sin principle in it. This is why after you become a really committed Christian you sometimes feel that you're in a war all the time. Do you ever feel like you're two people? "the thing I wanna do I can't do. The thing I don't wanna do, I'm always doing." I mean, I can make such plans for holiness laying in bed.
Joyce Meyer: I mean, I'm not gonna say anything wrong that day. I'm gonna be so submissive and such a good wife, and I'm not gonna talk back and I'm gonna be kind. I'm not gonna gossip about anybody. I mean, I'm just--i am so good until I put my feet on the floor. But I tell you what, if you want to make the devil mad--how many of you wanna make the devil mad?
Joyce Meyer: make a decision and study until you get it, how to live your life in such a way that when you make mistakes you tell God right away, soon as he convicts you, "I'm sorry, that's not the way I wanna live," and then you refuse to carry a burden of guilt and condemnation all day. That is one of the hardest things in the world to do. I wanna put up a little ledger that God gave me this little creative idea many years ago and we use it sometimes when we're doing altar calls to get people to understand what happens to them when they're born again so can we put my little ledger up, guys? Okay, just take a look. This is your life.
Joyce Meyer: whoo! That says it all right there, doesn't it? Now, I'm not gonna tell you that it's not hard to grasp. That's why we have to keep hearing it and keep hearing it and keep hearing it and keep hearing it. I have probably said possibly a million times in my life, in my own private life, "I am the righteousness of God in Christ. Through his goodness and mercy I am the righteousness of God in Christ." You better always say, "In Christ," because you certainly don't have it in yourself. Okay, now, paul prayed and he was a man who, I mean, man, he followed the law. He was a pharisee, he was highly educated. According to the law's standards, he would have been a right-on guy. And yet paul prayed in philippians 3 that he would be found and known as in Christ, not having any righteousness of his own, but only that righteousness that comes to us through faith in Christ. See, one of our biggest problems is as soon as we do a few things right, then we start to think that we're right and then we start to judge everybody else that's not as right as we are. Isn't it amazing when you're good at something how easy it is to get aggravated with people that aren't good at what you're good at? Anybody? One person over here who understands this.
Joyce Meyer: but, see, God wants us to realize that we all have faults and weaknesses and, if we're strong in an area, it's because of God's grace. Let's look at just a couple of scriptures. Romans 3:20: "for no person will be justified [freed of guilt and declared righteous] in his sight by [trying to do] the works of the law. For through the law we become conscious of sin [and the recognition of sin directs us toward repentance, but it provides no remedy for sin]." You see, it does not--the law never provides a remedy for sin. "but the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed apart from the law, even though it is confirmed by the law and the [writings of the] prophets." It goes on to say: "and this righteousness comes only through faith in Christ." Don't just believe that, "well, I believe Jesus. I believe that I'll go to heaven when I die." No, you need to believe all the stuff that the bible says about you. And you need to actively and aggressively believe your sins are forgiven, God loves you, he's got a good plan for your life, amen, that you've been made right with him, that you don't have to live under guilt and condemnation. That's the only way, even though you're gonna go to heaven when you die, if you want to enjoy the journey, you've got to believe all this other stuff too, right?
Joyce Meyer: okay, now, one last scripture and then I'm gonna get into these promises. Philippians 2:12. This is such a good scripture in the amplified translation: "so then, my dear ones," this is paul writing to the philippian church. "so then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence," now watch this, "continue to work out your salvation." Now, he didn't say, "continue to work for your salvation." He said, "continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to the full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]." So if I were to tell you in my own words what I believe a righteous man is under the new covenant this is what I would say: "It's those who know that their self-righteousness is not acceptable to God. They have received the righteousness of God by faith in Christ and now they daily live their life in fellowship with God, desiring to please him in all things and working with the Holy Spirit constantly toward spiritual maturity." So here's the thing. I no longer get up every day and try to do what's right so God will love me more or so he'll be pleased with me. I know that I've been made right with God through faith and now every day of my life I make an effort, I strive in the spirit, I work with the Holy Spirit to try to be the best version of me that I can possibly be. And I don't do it to get anything from God. I do it because I just can't help it. That's who I am. I love him, I want to please him. Not because I want to get his love but because I've already got it.
Joyce Meyer: and so I have real serious concern for people who call themselves Christians and don't care anything about changing. I have a problem with that. So there's only two things that can happen. Either they're not really true Christians or they've never been taught properly to understand the way that we're to go about this. When you're born again, everything that you need to live a Godly life is downloaded into your spirit. I mean, you got it.
Joyce Meyer: you have got it. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, the righteousness of God, wisdom. I mean, I could go on and on and on and on and on. I mean, you've got it. You are pregnant, so to speak, in the spirit with everything that God is. Now, all you gotta do is give birth. And sometimes that's a bit painful. C'mon, it's a great example. We can understand this easily. So you start out--a pregnant woman starts out, everything's a little seed. You look at her, you can't tell she's pregnant, she don't look pregnant. She's so excited, "oh, I'm so pregnant," and she weighs, like, 3 pounds and you think, "well, you sure don't look pregnant."
Joyce Meyer: sometimes, I've done this in the past and I've made plans and had, like, maybe six or seven pregnant women up on the platform with me, turned sideways, that are all at different stages in their pregnancy. And see, that's the way we are as believers. We're all at different stages in here. Some of you who just haven't been saved very long and, I mean, you don't look Godly, you don't act Godly, you don't--but something's happening inside of you. You have a desire. And so then, maybe somebody that's been born again for, I don't know, three, four, five, ten years, I mean, they're starting to show a little bit. You can actually think, "hm, you're a little different than the rest of the world. Wow, you've really changed." Well, you give 'em another ten years and then maybe another five, ten years and then pretty soon, you get those people, "you are so..."
Joyce Meyer: you know how pregnant women walk, it's like... Because you're ready to give birth at any minute, amen? And so some of you are like that today. You're just, like, "c'mon, I just need one more good push," the birth coach says, "and you're gonna have it." And you know, that's what we have to do. Paul says, "I press toward the things that are ahead." Let me tell you something. Being a victorious Christian is not for a bunch of wimps. It's not for somebody that thinks all they need is a little 20-minute sermonette once a week. I mean, you need the word and you need it downloaded on a regular basis and you need somebody that will tell you the truth, amen? So anyway, I'm gonna help you give birth today, all right. So when you're that kind of person, you know who you are in Christ and you are every day, every day, you're like, "God, I wanna please you. God, change me. Convict me of when i--" I mean, I love conviction. I am so happy now when God shows me that I'm acting bad or i--you shouldn't have said that. I don't get condemned by that anymore. I actually take it as a loving gesture by God that he loves me too much to just leave me in my mess and ignore me. You don't have to get condemned when you get convicted. You need to be joyful. You'd be much worse off if God just left you alone. All right, first promise to the righteous is peace and joy, wow. Peace and joy. Romans 14:17: "the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes]," or he might say, "the kingdom of God is not just getting everything you want." "but it is righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy ghost." We pay way too much attention to what's going on in our circumstances and not nearly enough about what's going on in our heart, amen? I did that little exhortation this morning for people that had anger, bitterness, resentment--you could tell by the way everybody reacted that it was probably almost everybody here. Well, so can I tell you truthfully in love, I don't even wanna pray for you for a promotion at work or for more money or a bigger house or to date that guy you've been wanting to date. I wanna pray for you first of all to forgive, to get rid of that junk that's poisoning your life. Because that's much more important than getting what you want. And the interesting thing is, is if we cooperate with God in the spiritual stuff, the other stuff chases us and overtakes us. We don't have to try to get it. God chases us down and gives it to us. So let's focus on the right thing. The kingdom of God is, first of all, righteousness, knowing who you are in Christ. Then, when you know who you are in Christ and you're doing your best every day to do what's right. I fail every day, but my heart's right. If your heart's right, you're not making an excuse for bad behavior, you hate it, you hate what God hates, you hate sin, and you want with all of your heart to change. That's a person who I believe is the righteousness of God in Christ. When you're like that, when you have that righteousness, the next thing you have is peace. Peace. There's nothing that gives you more peace than not to have to have a guilty conscience all the time. And then when you have peace, you have joy. And I believe that they come in that order. I don't think you can have joy without peace and I don't think you can have peace without righteousness. So we need to start by knowing who we are in Christ and then we're gonna have peace and then we're gonna have joy. Forget about all the stuff you think you want and start learning who you are in Christ. Yes!
Joyce Meyer: righteousness leads us to close fellowship with God. My, my, my. When you know that God's not mad at you, that he loves you, that he views you as being right with him, you can just talk to him about anything. You let him into every area of your life. You don't just live this ridiculous life all week and then go to church for 45 minutes on sunday morning and think now you've paid your debt and then you go back and do the same thing all over again. No, when you know who you are in Christ. God just doesn't live in a little sunday morning box in your life. He's into everything. He messes in how you dress and what you eat and who you hang out with and what you do with your free time and what you watch on television and what kind of movies you see. And what do you spend your money on?
Joyce Meyer: and see, a lot of people don't want God messing in that stuff. Well, let me tell you something, his plan's better than yours. It's so awesome to just be so totally in love with Jesus that you just don't--you don't have any interest in having a day without him. Well, before we receive the promises that God makes to the righteous, we first need to learn what it means to be the righteousness of God in Christ. It's a wonderful gift that God gives to those who believe in Christ but many don't even know that it's available to them. You can't release your faith for something if you don't know that you have it. So we want you to really learn who you are in Christ. Today we're offering you a book that I've written that I think is just--it's a good book, it's an encouraging book. It's a happy book and it can be a life-changing book. It's called, "living a life that you love." And, you know, so many people really not only don't like their life, some people say they hate their life. A lot of people hate their jobs. We need to learn to live a life that we love and if you don't love the life you're living, then you need to get with God, find out why, and make whatever changes you need to make. And we're offering this book to you today for your gift to the ministry of any amount. All we ask is that you do the very best that you can. We believe you're gonna enjoy this book. We only get one life so let's learn to love it.
Joyce Meyer: do you really love your life or are you just, kind of, putting up with it, going through the motions day after day? You know what? If you are, I can help you. I've written a book called "living a life that you love," and with God's help you can learn to do that. Order your copy today.
Announcer: today we're offering Joyce Meyer's new book, "living a life you love," for your donation of any amount. Contact us... Or visit us at joycemeyer.org.
Lori: some of these children have never ever had a bath in their life. As we're taking layers off, we're finding wounds, burns that were never treated, and disfigured feet. It's tough to see how much they enjoy it. They've never had this before so what is basic to us, I mean, that is--these children have never had. So it's humbling. It is.
Female: and I love that magazine she sends out.
Female: there's something in there for everybody.
Announcer: the "enjoying everyday life" magazine is free. Subscribe at joycemeyer.org to read encouraging articles from Joyce Meyer and much more.
Female: reading through the magazine confirms for me God's at work.
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