God, What Should I Do? | Joyce Meyer | Enjoying Everyday Life

ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES. JOYCE: CAN I TELL YOU, THERE IS NOTHING, NOTHING THAT YOU DO THAT GOD IS NOT INTERESTED IN AND THERE'S NO PLACE THAT YOU GO THAT GOD IS NOT THERE? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: YOU'RE NEVER ALONE.

[MUSIC] JOYCE: IT AMAZES ME, I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED AT HOW MUCH IS IN JUST ONE CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE. BUT IF WE JUST READ THROUGH IT, MANY TIMES WE MISS A LOT OF WHAT'S THERE. AND SO TODAY, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS MORNING OUT OF JOHN CHAPTER 21.

IN JOHN CHAPTER 21, THERE ARE NINE DIFFERENT LESSONS JUST IN THAT ONE CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE. I WON'T STAND HERE AND PROMISE WE'LL GET THROUGH ALL NINE BECAUSE I KNOW I AM, BUT WE'LL DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN. ALL RIGHT, JOHN CHAPTER 21, VERSE 1, "AFTER THIS, JESUS LET HIMSELF BE SEEN AND REVEALED [HIMSELF] AGAIN TO THE DISCIPLES, AT THE SEA OF TIBERIAS.

AND HE DID IT IN THIS WAY. " NOW, JUST TRY TO KIND OF GET A PICTURE OF THIS. "THERE WERE TOGETHER SIMON PETER, AND THOMAS, CALLED THE TWIN, AND NATHANAEL FROM CANA OF GALILEE, AND THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE, AND TWO OTHERS OF HIS DISCIPLES.

" SO, THEY'RE ALL SITTING AROUND IN A GROUP, I GUESS, KINDA THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WANNA DO, LIKE WE DO SOME DAYS. "AND SIMON PETER SAID TO THEM, 'I'M GOING FISHING! '" EXCLAMATION MARK.

NOW, THAT ALWAYS CAUGHT MY ATTENTION BECAUSE OF THE EXCLAMATION MARK THAT'S THERE. SO, HE MUST HAVE SAID IT WITH SOME EMPHASIS OR MAYBE, AND I DON'T KNOW THIS FOR SURE, BUT MAYBE PETER AND SOME OF THE DISCIPLES WERE JUST A LITTLE BIT, I DON'T KNOW, FRUSTRATED, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD THESE THOUGHTS ABOUT JESUS AND WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN AND HERE HE DIED AND HE'S GONE NOW. AND I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THEY THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA COME BACK AND DO SOMETHING AND THEY HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN A WHILE AND NOTHING'S HAPPENING.

AND SO, PETER WAS A FISHERMAN BEFORE JESUS CALLED HIM, AND SO NOW IT KIND OF SEEMS LIKE HE'S JUST DECIDED HE'S GONNA GO BACK AND DO WHAT HE USED TO DO. YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL IF YOU FEEL LIKE JESUS HASN'T SHOWN UP IN YOUR LIFE FOR A WHILE THAT YOU DON'T DECIDE TO JUST GO BACK AND DO WHAT YOU USED TO DO. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AMEN?

NOW SEE, THE LESSON THERE THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE GOT IF WE WOULDN'T HAVE SLOWED DOWN AND REALLY LOOKED AT THAT. SECOND THING HERE IS, "AND THEY SAID TO HIM, 'AND WE'RE COMING WITH YOU! '" EXCLAMATION MARK.

WELL, I LIKE THAT TOO. DO YOU KNOW THAT A LEADER OR THE HEAD OF A FAMILY, THEY HAVE--THERE'S A CERTAIN GIFT ON THEM FOR PERSUASION? AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S BAD ENOUGH TO SIN YOURSELF, BUT IT'S DOUBLY BAD WHEN YOU DRAG OTHER PEOPLE INTO IT.

AND SO, IT'S JUST INTERESTING WHATEVER A LEADER DOES WITHOUT EVEN REALLY TELLING OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT, PEOPLE WILL FOLLOW THEM. YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST STARTED WHAT WAS A WOMEN'S MINISTRY AT THAT TIME, MY HAIR WAS A LITTLE BIT LONGER, AND I WORE IT PULLED BACK ON THE SIDE WITH COMBS. I'D PULL IT BACK WITH COMBS AND THEY HAD A LITTLE DECORATION ON THEM.

AND I NEVER TOLD ANYONE TO DO IT, BUT WASN'T LONG AND ALMOST ALL THE WOMEN IN THE CHURCH WERE WEARING COMBS IN THEIR HAIR WITH THEIR HAIR PULLED BACK. SO, YOU NEED TO REALIZE IF YOU WANT TO LEAD SOMETHING THAT YOU BETTER BE LEADING PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE NOT ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR YOURSELF, BUT YOU'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU LEAD AND GUIDE THEM DO. SAME WAY WITH PARENTING.

YOUR KIDS ARE GONNA DO A LOT MORE WHAT THEY SEE YOU DO THAN WHAT YOU TELL THEM TO DO, AMEN? SEE WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ALREADY? NOW, SO THEY WENT OUT AND THEY GOT INTO THE BOAT.

AND HERE COMES THE NEXT MESSAGE, "AND THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, THEY CAUGHT NOTHING. " SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU JUST JUMP UP AND MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION AND DO YOUR OWN THING? "OOH, NOTHING ELSE HAS HAPPENED, I'M GOING FISHING.

" "YEAH, WE'RE GONNA COME WITH YOU. " AND GUESS WHAT, THEY CAUGHT NOTHING. SOME OF YOU HAVEN'T CAUGHT ANYTHING IN A LONG TIME.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY GOD'S NOT BLESSING YOUR PLAN. COME ON NOW, GOD DOESN'T HAVE TO BLESS OUR PLAN. HIS PLAN IS ALREADY BLESSED.

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: COME ON, MAYBE SOMEBODY THIS MORNING COULD JUST MAKE A SLIGHT TURN AND THINGS WILL GET SO MUCH BETTER FOR YOU. NOW, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A THREE-DAY PRAYER MEETING TO DECIDE IF YOU CAN GO FISHING OR NOT. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: I MEAN, WE ALL DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO DO, BUT THERE IS A PRINCIPLE HERE THAT WE DON'T WANNA MISS AND THAT IS THAT THE BIBLE SAYS IN PROVERBS, AND I LOVE THIS, "IN ALL YOUR WAYS, ACKNOWLEDGE HIM.

" SO, I JUST THINK IT'S GOOD TO START YOUR DAY, "NOW LORD, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE PLANNED TODAY, BUT IF WHAT I HAVE PLANNED IS NOT WHAT YOU WANT, THEN YOU'RE WELCOME TO INTERRUPT ME AND GIVE ME THE GRACE TO GO IN WHATEVER DIRECTION YOU WANT ME TO GO IN," AMEN? JAMES 4:13 SAYS, "COME NOW, YOU WHO SAY, 'TODAY OR TOMORROW WE WILL GO INTO SUCH AND SUCH A CITY AND SPEND A YEAR THERE AND CARRY ON OUR BUSINESS AND WE'LL MAKE MONEY. ' YET YOU DO NOT KNOW [THE LEAST THING] ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TOMORROW.

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF YOUR LIFE? YOU ARE [REALLY] BUT A WISP OF VAPOR. " DOESN'T MAKE YOU FEEL TOO IMPORTANT, DOESN'T IT?

"A PUFF OF SMOKE, A MIST. " SOMETIMES WHEN I SHARE THIS SCRIPTURE, I WILL BRING A CAN OF HAIRSPRAY UP INTO THE PULPIT WITH ME AND JUST SPRAY IT ONCE AND JUST KINDA WATCH IT FLOAT OFF AND JUST SAY, "THERE WE GO. " [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: I MEAN, IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY, OUR YEARS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND OUR IMPORTANCE COMPARED TO WHO GOD IS.

SO, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT IMPORTANT TO GOD. HE ASSIGNS GREAT IMPORTANCE TO US, BUT HE'S JUST MAKING A POINT HERE. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT IN CHARGE.

YOU'RE NOT AS IMPORTANT AS YOU THINK YOU ARE. YOU'RE NOT AS SMART AS YOU THINK YOU ARE, SO INSTEAD OF JUST MAKING ALL YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AND EXPECTING ME TO BLESS THEM, HOW ABOUT JUST SLOWING DOWN HERE AND SAYING THIS. "YOU OUGHT INSTEAD TO SAY--" VERSE 15, 'IF THE LORD IS WILLING, WE SHALL DO THIS THING OR THAT THING.

' BUT AS IT IS YOU BOAST [FALSELY] IN YOUR PRESUMPTION AND YOUR SELF-CONCEIT. AND ALL SUCH BOASTING IS WRONG. " SO, THEY HAD THEIR OWN PLAN.

THEIR PLAN DIDN'T WORK AND THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, THEY CAUGHT NOTHING. VERSE 4, "MORNING WAS ALREADY BREAKING WHEN JESUS CAME TO THE BEACH AND STOOD THERE. HOWEVER, THE DISCIPLES DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS JESUS.

" WOW, HOW COULD JESUS BE IN OUR MIDST AND US NOT KNOW THAT IT'S JESUS? BUT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED TO-- AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE OVERLY RELIGIOUS HERE, BUT I DON'T THINK BELIEVERS NEED TO USE THE WORD "LUCK.

" "WELL, I WAS JUST LUCKY. " NO, GOD GAVE YOU FAVOR OR YOU WERE BLESSED, BUT LUCK IS FOR THE WORLD, WE'RE NOT JUST LUCKY. "WELL, WASN'T THAT NICE A COINCIDENCE?

" NO, I DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE GOD BUSIES HIMSELF WITH OUR EVERY STEP. AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WASN'T THE ONLY TIME THAT THE DISCIPLES WERE STANDING RIGHT WITH JESUS AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS HIM. YOU'D THINK THAT THOSE MEN WHO WERE LITERALLY WITH HIS PHYSICAL PRESENCE DAY IN AND DAY OUT WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED HIM.

SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE TO PRAY IS, "GOD, ANY TIME THAT YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING IN MY LIFE, PLEASE DON'T LET ME MISS IT. " I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE THINGS THAT GOD DOES IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES EVERY DAY OF OUR LIFE SPECIAL IS TO KNOW THAT GOD IS CONCERNED WITH EVERY LITTLE TEENY TINY DETAIL OF OUR LIFE. CAN I TELL YOU THERE IS NOTHING, NOTHING THAT YOU DO THAT GOD IS NOT INTERESTED IN AND THERE'S NO PLACE THAT YOU GO THAT GOD IS NOT THERE?

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: YOU'RE NEVER ALONE. I'M ACTUALLY PREPARING A MESSAGE RIGHT NOW THAT I'VE JUST GOTTEN INTO: "YOU'RE NEVER ALONE. " I READ SOMETHING LAST WEEK THAT IMPRESSED ME.

A CERTAIN PREACHER HAD ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL IN HIS LIFE, JUST A PHENOMENAL AMOUNT OF WORK, AND SOMEBODY SAID TO HIM TOWARD THE END OF HIS LIFE, "HOW IN THE WORLD HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED ALL THAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED? " HE SAID, "WELL, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THERE'S TWO OF US. " ISN'T THAT GOOD?

THERE'S TWO OF US. WE'RE NOT ALONE, WE HAVE A CONSTANT COMPANION. NOW, VERSE 5 IS JUST ACTUALLY REALLY CUTE.

"SO JESUS SAID TO THEM, 'BOYS (CHILDREN), DO YOU HAVE ANY MEAT, ANY (FISH)? [HAVE YOU CAUGHT ANYTHING TO EAT ALONG WITH YOUR BREAD]? '" IN OTHER WORDS, HE'S NOT CALLING THEM SONS REPRESENTING MATURITY, HE'S CALLING THEM BOYS, CHILDREN, REPRESENTING THAT IT'S OBVIOUS THEY'RE STILL QUITE IMMATURE BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL JUST JUMPING UP AND DOING THEIR OWN THING.

COME ON, IS ANYBODY GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF THIS? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AND SO, I JUST LOVE THIS CHAPTER BECAUSE IT'S LIKE JESUS IS SAYING, "OKAY, IS IT WORKING? " [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: I TRIED FOR YEARS TO CHANGE MY HUSBAND AND MAKE HIM BE WHAT I WANTED HIM TO BE.

AND FINALLY ONE DAY--HONESTLY DAVE HAS ALWAYS LOVED, LOVED, LOVED SPORTS. WELL, I NEVER GREW UP WITH ANY OF THAT. MY DAD DIDN'T LIKE SPORTS AND THE WAY I WAS RAISED, WHAT HE DIDN'T LIKE, NOBODY GOT TO LIKE.

AND SO, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY LOVE FOR ANY OF THE SPORTS, AND SO BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE IT, I DIDN'T WANT DAVE TO DO IT. NOW, I KNOW NONE OF YOU OTHER LADIES HAVE THAT PROBLEM, BUT I DID. I DIDN'T LIKE IT AND I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO DO IT.

AND SO, HE PLAYED GOLF. HE WATCHED FOOTBALL. HE WATCHED BASEBALL.

HE WATCHED BASKETBALL. HE GOT INTO TENNIS. HE GOT INTO BOWLING.

ANYTHING THAT ROLLED OR BOUNCED, DAVE LIKED IT. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: AMEN? AND SO, I KEEP TRYING TO GET HIM NOT TO LIKE THIS, NOT TO LIKE THIS, NOT TO LIKE THIS.

AND ONE DAY HE WAS WATCHING A FOOTBALL GAME, LISTENING TO A BASEBALL GAME, AND SHINING THE DRIVER FOR HIS GOLF CLUBS AT THE SAME TIME AND MY LIGHTNING FAST BRAIN, AFTER MANY YEARS OF MISERY, FINALLY THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT I'M DOING IS NOT WORKING. " [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: SO, MAYBE I COULD JUST ASK YOU TODAY, IS WHAT YOU'RE DOING WORKING?

MAYBE SOME OF YOU NEED TO JUST GET OUT OF CONTROL AND LOVE IT. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: COME ON, FEW OF YOU WILL GET THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE MAKE A GOOD BOOK, "OUT OF THE CONTROL AND LOVING IT.

" [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: IN OTHER WORDS, HOW WONDERFUL WOULD IT BE IF WE COULD EVER GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE KNEW THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO RUN THE WORLD AND MAKE EVERYBODY IN THE UNIVERSE DO WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO? MY GOODNESS, I WONDER WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF WE COULD JUST GET THROUGH ONE DAY WITHOUT HAVING OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING. "'BOYS (CHILDREN), IS YOUR PLAN WORKING?

' 'NO! '" EXCLAMATION MARK. "AND HE SAID TO THEM, 'WELL, CAST YOUR NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOAT.

'" COME ON, SOMEBODY NEEDS TODAY, YOU NEED TO CAST YOUR NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOAT 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN FISHING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BOAT AND NOT CATCHING ANYTHING. ACTUALLY, THE TITLE OF THIS MESSAGE TODAY IS "GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? " NOW, SOMETIMES WE SAY THAT IN FRUSTRATION LIKE, "WELL, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I KNOW TO DO AND NOTHING'S WORKING.

GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? " BUT I'M LOOKING AT A MORE SINCERE QUESTION LIKE, "GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? " [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: I CAN SAY IT AGAIN IF YOU DON'T ALL LIKE IT.

GOD, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING, IF I JUST STOP AND SAY, "OKAY, GOD, I'M FEELING REALLY FRUSTRATED, I'VE LOST MY PEACE HERE. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

" SO OFTEN I'LL JUST HEAR HIM SAY, "JUST LEAVE IT ALONE. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT. JUST LET ME TAKE CARE OF THIS.

" YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS IN OUR LIVES THAT GOD WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF, BUT HE WON'T UNLESS WE LET 'EM GO. "CAST YOUR CARE ON THE LORD AND HE WILL CARE FOR YOU. " FIRST, WE HAVE TO STOP TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING, SHOWING THAT WE TRUST GOD TO DO IT.

SO, "HE SAID TO THEM--" VERSE 6, "'CAST YOUR NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BOAT AND YOU WILL FIND [SOME]. ' SO THEY CAST THEIR NET, AND NOW THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO HAUL IT IN BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A BIG CATCH. " I LOVE THAT.

HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LOVE A BIG DUMP TRUCK TO PULL UP TO YOUR DRIVEWAY AND JUST DUMP A HAUL OF BLESSINGS RIGHT AT YOUR FRONT DOOR? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AMEN? "THEN THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED SAID TO PETER, 'IT IS THE LORD!

'" GREAT REVELATION. WHEN HE SAW THE MIRACLE-- ANOTHER LESSON HERE, HE BELIEVED IT WAS GOD. BUT, YOU KNOW, JESUS TOLD THOMAS WHO SAID, "I WILL NOT BELIEVE UNLESS YOU SHOW ME YOUR SIDES AND YOUR HANDS, THE SCARS IN YOUR SIDE AND YOUR HAND," JESUS MET HIM WHERE HE WAS AT, WHICH I LOVE ABOUT HIM.

HE WILL MEET US WHERE WE'RE AT. AND SO, HE SHOWED HIM SO THOMAS COULD BELIEVE, BUT THEN HE SAID, "BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND HAVE NOT SEEN. " [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: HEY, IT'S EASY TO GET UP AND GET EXCITED IF YOU'VE RECEIVED YOUR HEALING.

IT'S EASY TO GET UP AND GET EXCITED IF YOU'VE HAD YOUR MIRACLE, IF YOU'VE HAD YOUR BREAKTHROUGH. BUT DON'T FORGET ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHILE YOU WERE STILL GETTING THAT TESTIMONY YOU'RE NOW GIVING. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: 'CAUSE THE ONLY WAY YOU GET A TESTIMONY IS TO GO THROUGH A TEST, AND LIKE WE SAID LAST NIGHT, WE NEED TO LOVE JESUS JUST AS MUCH WHEN THINGS ARE NOT GOING THE WAY WE WANT THEM TO AS WE DO WHEN THEY ARE.

AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL OF MY HEART IF YOU CANNOT LOVE GOD IN THE HARD TIMES, YOU WILL NOT LOVE HIM IN THE GOOD TIMES. AND I KNOW PEOPLE THINK THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, BUT IT ACTUALLY DOES BECAUSE WE ARE MORE INCLINED TO SEEK GOD WHEN WE'VE GOT A NEED THAN WE ARE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A NEED. SO, IF YOU LOVE HIM JUST AS MUCH IN THE VALLEY AS YOU DO ON THE MOUNTAINTOP, THEN YOU'RE LIKELY TO STAY IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.

SEE, YOU--MAYBE YOU'VE GOT YOUR BREAKTHROUGH NOW AND YOU'VE HAD YOUR HAUL AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD FOR YOU. WELL, JUST A COUPLE THINGS TO REMEMBER, DON'T FORGET TO HAVE COMPASSION ON THOSE WHO HAVEN'T COME THROUGH YET. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AND DON'T FORGET JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED A MIRACLE NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU DON'T NEED JESUS JUST AS MUCH EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHEN HE SAID, "APART FROM ME, YOU CAN DO NOTHING," HE MEANT IT, AMEN? "THEN THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED SAID TO PETER--" AND BOY, YOU KNOW, JOHN WROTE THIS BOOK OF JOHN, AND HE CONSTANTLY CALLED HIMSELF, "I AM THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED. " NOW, I'M ENOUGH LIKE PETER THAT I KNOW THAT HAD TO GRATE ON PETER.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: "I'M THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED. " IT'S LIKE. .

. BLAH. WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

[AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: WHAT CONFIDENCE HE MUST HAVE HAD. MORE THAN ANY OF THE OTHER DISCIPLES, HE WAS FOCUSED ON NOT HIS LOVE FOR JESUS, BUT JESUS'S LOVE FOR HIM, AND HE OUTLIVED THEM ALL, AMEN? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE MESSAGE.

"THEN THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED SAID TO PETER, 'IT IS THE LORD! ' AND SIMON PETER, HEARING HIM SAY THAT IT WAS THE LORD, PUT AND (GIRDED) ON HIS UPPER GARMENT (HIS FISHERMAN'S COAT)-- FOR HE WAS STRIPPED [FOR WORK]-- AND SPRANG INTO THE SEA. AND THE OTHER DISCIPLES CAME IN THE SMALL BOAT, FOR THEY WERE NOT FAR FROM SHORE, ONLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY, DRAGGING THIS NET FULL OF FISH.

WELL, WHEN THEY GOT OUT ON LAND (THE BEACH), THEY SAW A FIRE OF COALS THERE AND FISH LYING ON IT [COOKING], AND THERE WAS BREAD. " NOW, HERE COMES ANOTHER AMAZING LESSON. "AND JESUS SAID TO THEM, 'BRING SOME OF THE FISH THAT YOU HAVE JUST CAUGHT.

' SO SIMON PETER WENT ABOARD AND HE HAULED THE NET TO LAND, FULL OF LARGE FISH, 153 OF THEM--" WHICH, MY GOODNESS. I LOOKED ALL OVER THE PLACE AND NOBODY CAN GIVE A REASON FOR THAT 153. THE ONLY THING THAT I FOUND, AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN SURE THIS IS TRUE, IS SOMEBODY SAID THAT THERE WAS 153 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FISH AT THE TIME, AND PART OF THE MIRACLE WAS THAT THERE WAS ONE FISH OF EACH SPECIES.

BUT I THINK THIS, I THINK, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, THOSE FISH WERE COUNTED AND IT WAS RECORDED IN THE BIBLE JUST TO SHOW US WHAT GREAT ATTENTION GOD PAYS TO EVERY LITTLE DETAIL IN OUR LIFE. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: I'VE BEEN READING IN LEVITICUS AND NUMBERS-- WELL, LET ME REPHRASE. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO READ LEVITICUS AND NUMBERS.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: AND I MEAN, THE DETAIL OF THE ARK, THE DETAIL OF THE TABERNACLE, THE DETAIL OF HOW THE PRIEST HAD TO DRESS. I MEAN, JUST EVERYTHING WAS JUST THESE INTRICATE DETAILS, BUT THEN YOU GET ALL THE WAY OVER INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE HAS NUMBERED THE VERY HAIRS ON OUR HEAD. NOW, I KNOW FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT'S NOT AS BIG A JOB FOR GOD AS IT IS FOR OTHERS BUT-- [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: AMEN?

JUST THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE THINK. YOU KNOW, GOD IS JUST NOT IN OUR LIFE FOR AN EMERGENCY.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT BEING A CHRISTIAN IS YOU GET A HELPER, A COMPANION, A FRIEND. THERE'S NO LONGER ONE OF YOU, THERE'S TWO OF YOU. LAST NIGHT WE HAD A FAIRLY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RECEIVE CHRIST, AND I PRAY THAT SAME THING WILL HAPPEN TODAY BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA GO OUT OF HERE AND LIVE YOUR LIFE ALONE DOING YOUR OWN THING AND SPEND YOUR LIFE CATCHING NOTHING.

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: IT'S SO MUCH BETTER TODAY TO JUST SURRENDER AND JUST ADMIT THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB RUNNING YOUR LIFE AND ASK JESUS TO TAKE OVER, AMEN? ASK HIM TO COME IN AND CONTROL AND TAKE OVER. AND THEN I LOVE THIS, VERSE 13, I SHAKE MY HEAD EVERY TIME I SEE THIS.

"AND JESUS CAME AND TOOK THE BREAD AND GAVE IT TO THEM, AND ALSO THE FISH. " NOW, IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS, JESUS COOKED THEM BREAKFAST. WHAT?

THE RESURRECTED LORD, HE HAD DIED, GONE TO HELL, TAKE THE KEYS OF HELL AND DEATH AWAY FROM SATAN, ROSE OUT OF THAT GRAVE VICTORIOUS, TOOK HIS BLOOD INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES, CAME BACK DURING THE 50 DAYS, REVEALED HIMSELF TO HIS-- THE RESURRECTED, THE KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS, THE EVERYTHING OF EVERYTHING. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AND HE COOKED THEM BREAKFAST. WHAT AN EXAMPLE.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT JOHN 13 AND, BOY, THAT'S SO FULL OF LESSONS. PETER WAS TALKING THIS MORNING ABOUT, DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE? YOU KNOW, THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD REALLY SERVE OTHER PEOPLE WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE IS TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

JESUS KNEW WHO HE WAS, SO THEREFORE HE DIDN'T HAVE TO PROVE WHO HE WAS. HE COOKED THE BREAKFAST. YOU KNOW, I--DAVE WILL ASK ME ONCE IN A WHILE, "YOU WANT TO COOK ME SOME EGGS?

" AND I DON'T-- [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: NOW, I MEAN I COOKED A LOT WHEN MY KIDS WERE LITTLE, BUT I GAVE IT UP A LONG TIME AGO AND NOW AT THIS POINT, MY FAMILY'S GLAD. BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT WHEN ANYBODY MENTIONS BREAKFAST TO ME, I DON'T HAVE THE GOOD ATTITUDE JESUS HAD. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] ANNOUNCER: EVERYDAY, YOU'RE CONFRONTED WITH UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES, YOU EITHER ACCEPT THESE CHALLENGES AND MEET THEM HEAD-ON, OR YOU RESIST THEM, WISHING THEY'D JUST GO AWAY.

YET CHALLENGES ARE WOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR LIVES. THEY ARE THE TESTS WE ALL HAVE TO FACE DAILY. AND TODAY'S OFFER, WILL HELP YOU MEET THESE CHALLENGES.

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JOYCE: IF YOU'RE GONNA FIGHT AND WIN YOU GOTTA KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND YOU GOTTA KNOW WHO'S YOU ARE, WHO YOU BELONG TO, AND WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST. WALK AROUND YOUR HOUSE, WHEN THE DEVIL'S AFTER YOU AND SAY, "I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST. I AM SET APART AND MADE HOLY BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

I AM THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL, ABOVE AND NOT BENEATH. EVERYTHING I LAY MY HAND TO PROSPERS AND SUCCEEDS. " [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: I DIDN'T THANK GOD WHILE WE WERE GROWING SO SLOWLY, THAT WAS VERY HARD.

BUT I LOOK BACK NOW, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT GOD DIDN'T LET ME DO WHAT I WANTED TO, WHEN I WANTED TO DO IT BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH, I HAD A GIFT, I WAS STILL VERY MUCH IN NEED OF DEVELOPING MORE GODLY CHARACTER. AND, THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE DO MAKE A MISTAKE. THEY GET AN OPENING TO GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY'RE GIFTED.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS LEADERS WE CAN EVEN BE GUILTY OF PUTTING SOMEBODY IN A POSITION LONG BEFORE THEY'RE READY FOR IT SPIRITUALLY. AND, IT REALLY IS JUST LIKE A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. SO, THE THING'S WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAPPENED 40 YEARS AGO, AND 35 YEARS AGO, AND 30 YEARS AGO.

AND, IT'S JUST LIKE, IT'S BEEN A-- IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL JOURNEY AND YET, AT THE SAME TIME, A VERY CHALLENGING ONE. DAVE: I THINK A LOT-- YOU KNOW, MY MOTTO WAS, "SLOW AND SOLID, FAST AND FRAGILE," GOD GAVE ME THAT YEARS AND YEARS AGO. AND, I THINK MANY PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT OUR MINISTRY AND SAY, "IT'S BEEN PHENOMENALLY, FAST GROWTH.

" AND THEY ONLY SEE, YOU KNOW, THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH, THE YEARS AFTER WE WENT ON TELEVISION. THEY DON'T SEE THE PRE-YEARS, OR THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS THAT CREATED THE FOUNDATION FOR THE MINISTRY TO STAND ON. AND, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAID IN THE VERY BEGINNING, WAS WE DON'T WANT OUR MINISTRY TO BE CLONED AFTER SOMEBODY ELSE'S MINISTRY.

WE WANT IT TO BE WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WANTS US TO DO. WE WANT TO FOLLOW THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND LET US--LET HIM SHOW US EXACTLY WHAT WE'D DO-- WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ALL THAT MEANT, BUT HE DID. OVER THE YEARS, HE WOULD SHOW US THIS, SHOW US THAT, SHOW US SOMETHING ELSE. AND, ALL OF IT PUT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, HAS EQUALED THE MINISTRY.

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