Here are notes I took with my laptop at Joyce Meyer's conference at
Lakewood Church in Houston, TX November 8-10, 2012. It's very long but
it's very good. I pray you are as blessed by her words as I am.
Friday 11/9/12
- God put on Joyce’s heart to talk to us about never give up
- Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- It’s important that you always have hope
- Hope keeps you going
- Apart from God’s grace and mercy she refused to give up
- Sometimes your greatest testimony is never giving up
- Joyce feels like there are people here who are weary
- Keep on keeping on
- I am never going to give up
- No matter how many times I fall I will get up and never give up
- The devil hates victory
- He hates breakthrough
- He will do everything to keep you stuck in some mistake
- And believe you will always have an inferior life
- God is no respecter of persons
- He has a good plan for your life
- And it ain’t over until it’s over
- And it’s never over
- I will never give up!
- I will never give up!
- I will never give up!
- In January Dave and Joyce will be married 47 years
- Joyce is so glad she didn’t quit and give up in the middle of her mess
- Be not weary in well doing… [Galatians 6:9]
OFFERING
·
How many of you really
sincerely want to go deeper with God and live a life pleasing to Him?
·
Tonight Joyce
will talk to us about motives
·
We live fast-paced lives
·
Always doing
·
Be honest with
yourself about why you do what you do
·
Quiet down and do
some thinking
·
Joyce wants to
leave us with a desire to ask God to show us our true motives
·
It’s important
for Joyce to do this because God is more concerned about why we do things
·
That’s why God
can be so merciful to people who act so goofy
·
God knows the why
behind the what
·
In Joyce’s early
years there was no earthly reason for God to use her
·
But He heard her
heart
·
She sang Lord
send me with all her heart
·
She didn’t know
how to do anything but God saw her heart
·
Even when she had
so many issues in her personality people didn’t believe God could use her - but
God understood
·
God sees and
cares about the why behind the what
·
God desires that
we have a pure heart
·
A pure heart is a
phenomenally beautiful thing
·
If we don’t get
deep with this we can live superficially
·
And impress
ourselves and others and think we’re impressing God
·
It’s like
everyone has an invisible sign around their neck saying “Make me feel important”
·
If Joyce prays
long hours so she can feel spiritually important and/or impress others it’s all
useless and wasted
·
When we do things
with wrong impure motives we lose our reward
·
But when we do
things out of a right heart, it’s amazing what God can do
·
We all start out
with a mixture of motives
·
Joyce will share
some of her experiences tonight
·
There’s no
happier person than one who lives with pure motives before God
·
Why do I do what
I do?
·
1 Corinthians
3:10 According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed
on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the]
foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be
careful how he builds upon it,
·
Motives is one of
the first things Joyce remembers God seriously dealing with her about
·
You cannot be
successful with hidden wrong motives
·
You can hide
things from people and even yourself, but not from God
·
Thank God for the
ministry of the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth
·
Every time God
has promoted Joyce He’s dealt with her
·
For you to come
up higher your flesh must go lower
·
For example say
you pray 2 hours every morning
·
And you have
breakfast with baby Christian you think God wants you to mentor
·
Don’t judge her
for only praying 10 minutes
·
If I’m doing
something so I can feel good and make someone else feel bad it’s displeasing to
God
·
There’s a time to
give your testimony and there’s a time to zip your lip
·
Say someone is
really sick…
·
“That stuff tried
to attack me last week but I rebuked it”
·
Just keep your
testimony to yourself and pray for them
·
Don’t make them
feel like there’s something wrong with their faith
·
God dealt with
her early about motives
·
This was probably
34 years ago
·
1 Corinthians
3:10-12 10 According to the grace (the special endowment for my
task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master
builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But
let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it, 11 For no
other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is
Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 12 But if anyone
builds upon the Foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, straw,
·
That foundation
of knowing who we are in Christ must be first
·
If you’re born
again you have a foundation
·
We’re here
tonight because we’re building a life
·
How we build,
with what motives are very important
·
Are you building a
genuine life or a phony life?
·
Are you doing
what God said just for Him or to impress others?
·
Do some serious
thinking about this
·
How many things
are you doing in your life right now perhaps for wrong reasons?
·
Last night was
very encouraging; that was the anesthetic for tonight
·
Are you doing
things because others are doing it?
·
Are you doing
things you don’t feel right about?
·
How many things
are you doing that you resent?
·
We need meat and
veggies to build a house
·
This can be life
changing if you can really get a hold of it
·
We have to learn
how to live before God and God alone
·
God is the One
that we need to live to please
·
He has to be our
only reason
·
Young people if
you can get a hold of this now you can really be dynamic for God
·
God can only use
us to the degree that He can purify us
·
How many things
are you doing that you complain about?
·
How many things
do you do that overload your schedule and create stress?
·
And you do it to
climb the ladder or other wrong reasons?
·
Joyce used to do
stuff in the church because she was nosey
·
When Joyce and
Dave were still in the denominational church she wanted him to be an elder so
she could be in everybody’s business
·
It was wasted
time because the motives were wrong
·
How many things
do you do for someone else to put them in your debt?
·
Now you owe me
·
How many things
do you do only for the love of God?
·
Strictly to serve
God
·
Strictly in
obedience to HIM
·
How many things
do you do to help someone else and want nothing back?
·
We want a shift
in our motives
·
Joyce catches
wrong motives in herself all the time
·
She changes them ASAP
·
I want to do what
is going to produce good fruit in my life
·
Do it because
it’s the right thing to do
·
It’s right to be
a peacemaker
·
It’s right to
forgive
·
I’m doing it
because God asked me to do it
·
And I want to do
things His way
·
How many things
do we do because it’s our biblical duty?
·
Like taking care
of elderly parents and grandparents
·
Joyce shows up at
these meetings on time because it’s her duty
·
1 Corinthians
3:13-15 13 The work of each [one] will become [plainly, openly]
known (shown for what it is); for the day [of Christ] will disclose and
declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and
critically appraise the character and worth of the work each person has
done. 14 If the work which any person has built on this
Foundation [any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will
get his reward. 15 But if any person’s work is burned up [under
the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he
himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire.
·
If you came
looking for help with your problem this is your help
·
If you can get to
the point where you don’t want anything to do with anything that God isn’t in
that’s awesome
·
I want to do it
with God’s smile of approval
·
The sooner you
get that, the more successful you will be
·
It’s yet to be
seen what God will do with a purified heart
·
For the eyes of
the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in
behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
·
We’re always
looking for keys to success well here it is
·
God sees what
others don’t see
·
It doesn’t mean
perfection
·
It means not
being phony and doing it to the best of your ability for the right reasons
·
God despises
works of the flesh
·
That’s me coming
up with some bright idea of how to do things
·
It’s my idea and
my energy trying to do what only God can do
·
And you end up
with failure and disappointment
·
If I do this then
maybe more doors will open
·
Maybe being nice
to you will bring the right connections
·
We have this life
that we live out here and show everyone
·
God is concerned
with our inner lives
·
That hidden man
of the heart is what’s beautiful to God
·
You don’t have to
worry about people judging you because it’s only what God thinks that matters
·
Works of God is
doing what God asks us to do in the way He asked us to do it
·
Joyce was in the
nail shop getting her nails done
·
This was in the
80s and she had a big rhinestone JESUS pin
·
Another lady was
there waiting to get her nails done
·
She was a nurse
in a cancer ward and wished she could pray with her patients
·
Joyce had the
idea that the nurse could wear the pin and it would minister to her patients so
she was going to give her the pin
·
Holy Spirit said
do it in private
·
The girl doing
her nails said I have to run next door for a minute
·
She knew God was
making a way for her to give privately
·
Joyce thought
about it and waited until the girl came back and gave the lady the pin in front
of her
·
They both praised
her for being so wonderful
·
Holy Spirit said
I hope you enjoyed that because that’s all you’re getting
·
How much do we
miss because we want some credit?
·
I wonder what God
would do if we would trust Him
·
Matt 6:1 Take
care not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be
seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and
from your Father Who is in heaven.
·
It doesn’t say
hide everything; it says don’t do it in order to be seen
·
Jesus told people
don’t tell anyone so it could be just for God
·
When people don’t
make over you God is making over you
·
Vs 2-3 2 Thus,
whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the
hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be
recognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they
have their reward in full already. 3 But when you give to
charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
·
Joyce gets to do
many great things for people
·
She has to give
every compliment she receives like a bouquet of flowers to God
·
God I am nothing
without you
·
I cannot do anything
without you
·
Not to put
herself down but she knows she can’t afford to get full of herself
·
Joyce knows she
can’t do this without God’s presence
·
She wants right
motives
·
She wants to do
things for right reasons
·
God is not
impressed with what we do but why we do it
·
The woman with
the widow’s mite
·
She gave her
pittance but it was all she had
·
She was the one
Jesus was impressed with
·
She gave less but
Jesus said she gave more
·
Strictly out of
her love for God
·
God counts
differently than we do
·
Matthew 6:5 Also
when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray
standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be
seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.
·
Have you ever
caught yourself praying to impress others instead of really talking to God?
·
She’s not here to
impress us but talk to god
·
Vs 7 And when you
pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and
over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much
speaking.
·
Don’t heap up
phrases
·
Some people adopt
a totally different voice when they pray
·
I say unto you!
·
Don’t try to
impress me (God says)
·
Talk to Me like
you would a friend
·
Let’s talk about
our bosses
·
Colossians 1:10 That
you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord,
fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing
fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and
by the knowledge of God [with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight,
acquaintance, and recognition].
·
Tomorrow’s
message is Fatheads and Lean Souls
·
God I want to
please You in everything I do
·
And that means I
have to do it with a pure heart
·
Colossians
3:22-24 22 Servants, obey in everything those who are your
earthly masters, not only when their eyes are on you as pleasers of men, but in
simplicity of purpose [with all your heart] because of your reverence for the
Lord and as a sincere expression of your devotion to Him. 23 Whatever
may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for
the Lord and not for men, 24 Knowing [with all certainty] that
it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance
which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the
Lord Christ (the Messiah).
·
Servants
(employees)
·
If you have a bad
day at work you don’t get to take it out on your kids
·
Servants and
masters means employees and bosses
·
God saw you
before the boss ever walked in
·
Stop living for
people and live for God
·
If you’ll do this
the windows of heaven will open up
·
Don’t try to
steal time at work reasoning they don’t pay you enough
·
God doesn’t
tolerate that stuff from His children
·
Whatever is your
task work at it heartily not hardly
·
Col 3:23 Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily
(from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,
·
Vs 24 Knowing
[with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will
receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are
actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).
·
We are alive and
breathing to serve God
·
What if you did
everything, including what you wear, in order to please God?
·
Some Christian
women…have body parts hanging out we don’t want or need to see
·
I’m representing
God
·
Everywhere you go
you’re representing God
·
I don’t work for
this man I work for God
·
I don’t care how
they treat me or what they pay me because I’m working for God
·
I’m not living
for man I’m living for God
·
You don’t know
how this guy treats me
·
If you want God’s
promotion you have to do it God’s way
·
God can put you
in places where no one else can put you
·
Live your whole
day for God
·
Clean your house
for God
·
Stop mumbling and
complaining while you do it
·
Say it aloud “God
I’m doing this for you”
·
How about motives
in prayer?
·
James 4:1-3 What
leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and
fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires
that are ever warring in your bodily members? 2 You are jealous
and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you
become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.]
You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the
gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight
and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 [Or] you do
ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose
and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to
spend it in sensual pleasures.
·
James is saying
the reason people are unhappy because of all the stuff they want
·
Instead of being
jealous or trying to make it happen, trust God to give it to you His way and
His timing
·
Or you do ask God
and don’t get it because you ask with wrong motives?
·
God challenged
Joyce to compare her prayer life to the apostle Paul’s
·
Paul never prayed
for people to be delivered from their problems, but to endure them with good
temperament
·
Because he
trusted God so much that he believed whatever took place in his life was going to
work out for his good and the good of the kingdom
·
He prayed for
people to know God…
·
He prayed they
would have spirit filled personalities
·
35 years ago
Joyce was believing God for a fur coat
·
She wanted the
status; some of her friends had one
·
She had a
neighbor she loved but didn’t like
·
She probably
irritated Joyce because she enjoyed life so much
·
One day she came
over with a fur coat
·
Exactly what
Joyce had asked God for
· "Look at what God
gave me!" she exclaimed.
·
Joyce felt like
the woman wasn’t as spiritual as she was
·
How could God do
that?
·
Joyce did the
Christian thing “well praise the lord”
·
When she left
Joyce had a fit
·
I deserve! I’m doing…
·
She was doing it
all to get something
·
She wasn’t
serving God out of pure motives
·
If you have a
huge problem and think how could this happen to me when I pray 2 hours every
day you’ve just revealed your problem
·
God may be
blessing them right in front of you to reveal your wrong heart attitude
·
The Holy Spirit
got in the middle of her and said the last thing you need is a fur coat
·
What you need is
to recognize your bad attitude
·
God did that to
pull the rotten attitude out of her
·
Now she thinks
why did I want something that dumb when she had so many other issues
·
God is always
bringing His fire into our lives to burn up poor motives
·
If you’ve been
single a long time you’d better bless your friends and be happy
·
God doesn’t owe
me anything; He’s already given me everything
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