0:00

In the boxing ring at the

0:02

end of the match, or however

0:04

many rounds there are, the winner,

0:06

he is beat up a little

0:08

bit. He is bleeding a little

0:10

bit. His ribs are a little

0:13

busted, but the referee stands and

0:15

he says, and this is the

0:17

winner. And I think that's important

0:19

to state that. In this battle,

0:21

we will get knocked around a

0:24

little bit, but we're not knocked

0:26

out. The battle is already good.

0:28

That's important. Victory is one. Jesus

0:30

has overcome, but in this world,

0:33

we will still have trouble. Hey

0:39

there come on in it is

0:41

time for Joyce Myers talk it

0:43

out podcast and we are going

0:45

to talk about some really really

0:47

important things today and I think

0:49

you're going to be so glad

0:51

that you're here especially if you

0:54

feel like your life is a

0:56

battle now and then like there's

0:58

just a war raging and you

1:00

feel unprepared well let me tell

1:02

you there is something for you

1:04

that will arm you and equip

1:06

you to fight the battles that

1:08

you need and God is

1:11

right there in the midst

1:13

of it. So today with

1:15

my friends Joyce and Aaron

1:17

and our special guest star

1:19

today Kimpo. Hello. Now every

1:21

time Kim is on she's

1:23

a special guest star. It

1:26

would be your special friend.

1:28

You're all incredibly special and

1:30

stars in your own rights.

1:32

Well, thank you. Thank you.

1:34

I appreciate that. But we

1:36

are digging into something that,

1:39

Aaron, I think we did this

1:41

with Jay in one of our

1:43

very first episodes. We talked about

1:45

the armor of God. And it's

1:47

so important. And so to bring

1:49

it back up and talk about

1:52

it some more because this is

1:54

something I pray nearly every day.

1:56

And it's just something that I

1:58

don't think we can focus on

2:00

in. Not at all what you

2:02

would think it would be. That's

2:04

very true. Since we studied it

2:07

the first time, it has since

2:09

become, I think, one of my

2:11

favorite things to study in scripture.

2:13

And one of my favorite things

2:15

to encourage myself in the word.

2:17

So I'm very excited. Second Corinthians,

2:20

10 says, the weapons of our

2:22

warfare are not carnal. They're not

2:24

natural weapons. But they're mighties through

2:26

God to the pulling down of

2:28

stronghold. Right. It's powerful. We have

2:30

spiritual armor to fight an evil

2:32

spirit who tries to wreck our

2:35

lives. Yeah. And what girl doesn't

2:37

love to be given the perfect

2:39

outfit for the time of me?

2:41

Right. Exactly. You got exactly what

2:43

you need. It's going to make

2:45

you strong. Yeah. What could be

2:48

better? It even has great shoes.

2:50

And we'll talk about all the

2:52

pieces. That's right. So the first

2:54

thing we're going to do is

2:56

we're going to start by talking

2:58

about making sure that you are

3:00

dressed and prepared for whatever battle

3:03

you may face. So let's dig

3:05

right into the word with choice.

3:08

In Ephesian 6 it talks

3:11

about spiritual warfare beginning at

3:13

about verse 10 going through

3:15

18 and it says that

3:18

God has given us armor

3:20

and it's it's not armor

3:22

you can see but it's

3:24

spiritual armor we wore not

3:27

with flesh and blood but

3:29

with principalities and powers and

3:31

wickedness in high places there

3:34

are evil spirits demons in

3:36

the world. Just like there's

3:38

angels. You need to think

3:40

about that once in a

3:43

while that you've got angels

3:45

that have been assigned to

3:47

you to travel with you

3:50

all the time. You ought

3:52

to pretend you ought to

3:54

just say hey to them

3:56

once in a while. Hey,

4:00

I'm glad you're watching out

4:02

for me. Thank you, Jesus,

4:04

for my angels. But there

4:06

are also demons. And I

4:09

know people don't like to

4:11

talk about this kind of

4:13

stuff, but we can't stick

4:15

our head in the sand

4:17

and pretend like everything is

4:19

just case to rise to

4:22

rise. Listen, the devil hates

4:24

you. And he hates anybody

4:26

that's trying to work for

4:28

God and spread the gospel.

4:30

God has told us that

4:32

we can protect ourselves by

4:34

wearing the armor that he

4:37

gives us, but it's spiritual

4:39

armor. It's the breastplate of

4:41

righteousness. It's knowing who you

4:43

are in Christ and not

4:45

living under condemnation. Don't waste

4:47

another day of your life

4:50

feeling guilty. If you have

4:52

done something wrong, then repent.

4:54

I asked God to forgive

4:56

you, receive it, shake it

4:58

off, and go on. You

5:00

said, well what if I

5:03

keep doing the same thing

5:05

over and over? Well then

5:07

keep repenting over and over

5:09

and trust that God is

5:11

working in you and keep

5:13

trusting him to set you

5:16

free. Peter said how many

5:18

times must I forgive my

5:20

brother? And the answer he

5:22

gave really was however many

5:24

times you need to need

5:26

to. So if God tells...

5:28

A person to do that,

5:31

surely he does it himself.

5:33

Wear that breastplate of righteousness.

5:35

Get over being insecure and

5:37

comparing yourself with somebody else

5:39

all the time. Hey, you

5:41

got what you need, you

5:44

got what it takes. If

5:46

you're born again, God lives

5:48

in you. You're the house

5:50

of God. And you can

5:52

do whatever you need to

5:54

do through Christ if you

5:57

lean on him and trust

5:59

him. Tighten the belt of

6:01

truth. The truth is the

6:03

word of God. Put on

6:05

your shoes of peace. Walk

6:07

in peace. The helmet of

6:10

salvation. Think like a Christian.

6:14

Head to toe. So we are

6:16

equipped head to toe inside and

6:18

outside with everything that God has

6:20

prepared for you to have. Now

6:22

I just want to ask this

6:25

question since Joyce brought it up.

6:27

Are you a little freaked out

6:29

by what Joyce said? Because you

6:31

know to fight a battle you

6:34

have to know who your enemy

6:36

is. So I think what you

6:38

bring up you know. If we're

6:40

going to believe everything the word

6:42

says, everything the Bible says, then

6:45

yes, there are forces working against

6:47

us. Well, Jesus had battles with

6:49

the devil. Yeah. And he spoke

6:51

to him. When the enemy was

6:54

working through Peter to try to

6:56

get him to not go to

6:58

Jerusalem to suffer, Jesus turned and

7:00

said, get thee behind me, Satan,

7:02

you're in my way. And you

7:05

know, the devil can work through

7:07

people. well-meaning people people that don't

7:09

even know they're being used and

7:11

we need to be sharp enough

7:14

to know not to let the

7:16

enemy use us yeah and you

7:18

can't read the Bible and come

7:20

out of it thinking that there's

7:23

no devil no evil no hell

7:25

that's that's convenient for people but

7:27

it's not true right there are

7:29

enemies and we need we need

7:31

to we don't need to glorify

7:34

the devil by talking about him

7:36

all the time, but we do

7:38

need to know his nature. He's

7:40

a liar and the father of

7:43

lies. The truth is not in

7:45

him and that he does lie

7:47

to us. And I wonder how

7:49

many lies people watching believe. Yeah.

7:51

Well, all of us, it's so

7:54

easy. Right. Especially if it makes

7:56

us feel a little better. Yeah.

7:58

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And so we

8:00

do have this armor, but the

8:03

first. First thing that verse 11

8:05

says is put on the full

8:07

armor of God. That's really important.

8:09

Put it on. You know, but

8:12

we can. Some people stand in

8:14

their prayers and I'm not saying

8:16

this is bad, but you got

8:18

to go beyond this. I put

8:20

on the helmet of salvation, I

8:23

put on the shoes of peace.

8:25

And that's a good reminder, but

8:27

we actually need to walk in

8:29

peace. Oh, there's active movement with

8:32

them. Yeah, you have to, am

8:34

I in peace today? Is there

8:36

anybody I need to forgive before

8:38

I go out? Yeah. You know,

8:40

I don't know about you, but

8:43

I never leave the house without

8:45

looking at myself in the mirror.

8:47

I think most people, especially women,

8:49

look at themselves in the mirror

8:52

before they leave. Well, it happened

8:54

here this morning. I didn't care

8:56

really for the top that I

8:58

had on. with these sparkly pants

9:00

and I asked Dave before I

9:03

left home and he said oh

9:05

they look great which I didn't

9:07

like him so I got here

9:09

and I ask you guys and

9:12

see your truth please and I

9:14

like him and it was a

9:16

combination of them together no is

9:18

the pants and the top together

9:21

they didn't look good together okay

9:23

so she changed and no I

9:25

changed and I changed twice I

9:27

think you did, yes. Yeah, maybe

9:29

three. I look at myself in

9:32

the mirror and I keep changing

9:34

until I know that I look

9:36

right. Oh, that's good. That's really

9:38

good. And so we need to

9:41

do the same thing spiritually. And

9:43

so when you go through this

9:45

list of the armor, you need

9:47

to ask yourself, have I put

9:49

that on today? Am I in

9:52

peace? Do I need to forgive

9:54

anybody? Do I need to apologize

9:56

to anybody? Is my mind right?

9:58

Am I thinking bad things or

10:01

good? things or anything I need

10:03

to repent for and you and

10:05

righteousness oh my goodness righteousness is

10:07

such a weapon I mean the

10:10

devil loves it when you think

10:12

bad things about yourself all the

10:14

time but if you can receive

10:16

the forgiveness that God offers and

10:18

then feel about yourself the way

10:21

he tells you to in the

10:23

word I mean there's two little

10:25

words in Christ and it There's

10:27

so many wonderful things we're righteous

10:30

in Christ, we're justified in Christ,

10:32

we're sanctified in Christ. You know,

10:34

it's like, what, huh, huh, huh?

10:36

And we are all these things

10:38

in Christ and I like to

10:41

say we're becoming what we already

10:43

are. In other words, he gives

10:45

us this at the new birth

10:47

in our spirit, but then the

10:50

Holy Spirit works with us to

10:52

get it. through us and out

10:54

of us where people can see

10:56

it. And so this armor is

10:59

very valuable. Like the Bible says,

11:01

don't go to bed angry. Don't

11:03

give the devil any such foothold.

11:05

And if you give him a

11:07

foothold, he'll get a stronghold. And

11:10

so how, but how many people

11:12

go to bed angry at somebody

11:14

else? I won't do it. I

11:16

just, it's too dangerous. Yeah. the

11:19

more you're responsible to do. So.

11:21

I like to think about the

11:23

fact that it weakens us when

11:25

we do that. Sometimes we think

11:27

someone else doesn't deserve our forgiveness

11:30

or whatever. Kim, when she says

11:32

something about the devil works through

11:34

people, I heard you. You're like,

11:36

mm-hmm. You're like, yes, well meaning

11:39

people. Exactly. And I think it's

11:41

just so important to be aware

11:43

of his tactics, how he works,

11:45

and that he does work through

11:47

people. Like when we are. in

11:50

conversations with somebody and we can

11:52

discern, like, there have been times

11:54

where I feel like I've had

11:56

conversations with people and I know

11:59

that they may be trying to

12:01

push my buttons. Their family is

12:03

so wonderful at that. They do

12:05

so well. They have a great

12:08

contract. They're, you know, for that.

12:10

And so sometimes I can discern

12:12

that and there have been times

12:14

that I haven't. done well with

12:16

that and then afterwards I'll say

12:19

man I didn't handle that well

12:21

but there have also been times

12:23

where I did listen to that

12:25

discernment and know like the Holy

12:28

Spirit is saying you might need

12:30

to lead this conversation and he

12:32

will give you the words as

12:34

well if you're listening if you're

12:36

choosing to walk in those shoes

12:39

of peace, then those words will

12:41

come. Like, I have to excuse

12:43

myself from this conversation. My helmet

12:45

of salvation does have a mouthguard.

12:48

I'm a very visual person and

12:50

I love that God gave us

12:52

this whole vision of head to

12:54

toe armor and, you know, it

12:57

protects. My ears, and it protects

12:59

me to see people the way

13:01

that God wants me to see

13:03

them, definitely closes my mouth quite

13:05

often, helps me to think in

13:08

line with what the word says.

13:10

I love the, well I'm a

13:12

shoe girl anyway, but I love

13:14

the... When it describes the shoes,

13:17

it says, the shoes of readiness

13:19

to spread the gospel of peace.

13:21

It's so big, it's like, am

13:23

I ready to share God's peace,

13:25

to spread who he is, the

13:28

gospel of peace? And so can

13:30

I walk in that? And you

13:32

know, I see like Joan of

13:34

Arc in my mind, like in

13:37

all of her armor and her...

13:39

breastplate of righteousness and it's even

13:41

a little girl's breastplate if you

13:43

know what I mean like it's

13:46

built for her because yeah God

13:48

has given us everything we need

13:50

for who we are. I think

13:52

it's one of the things I

13:54

love, like when you first start

13:57

reading that passage, so it's 6-11,

13:59

the Ephesian, 6-11, it says, put

14:01

on guards, God's whole armor, the

14:03

armor of a heavy armed soldier,

14:06

which God supplied. And to me,

14:08

that's never stuck out to me

14:10

before till today that, like, you

14:12

don't just give anybody your heavy

14:14

armed things. Like you earn the

14:17

right to wear that battle gear.

14:19

And so for me. Like you

14:21

were saying Joyce, like that as

14:23

a Christian, that is given to

14:26

me, but the Holy Spirit continues

14:28

to teach me these things, but

14:30

like I am not just a

14:32

passive Christian who is going to

14:34

wait for my armor to be

14:37

thrown on me, but I can

14:39

stand in battle because of the

14:41

heavy armed soldier that he has

14:43

prepared me to be. And so

14:46

I had that same visual too,

14:48

like I am a lady. verse

14:50

where it talks about standing firm.

14:52

I was reading and studying that

14:55

out and it was talking about

14:57

that the soldiers, the Roman soldiers,

14:59

they were basically virtually invulnerable against

15:01

the enemy if they were standing

15:03

firm, if they didn't panic and

15:06

if they didn't just freak out

15:08

in the moment. And if they

15:10

just stood firm, they would overcome.

15:12

And I just, I was like,

15:15

oh, that's really good. If they

15:17

didn't panic, and if they didn't.

15:19

And I know that the word

15:21

of God helps me to not

15:23

do those things. Because I had

15:26

a situation last week where I

15:28

felt like my mind was just

15:30

being attacked. I felt like these

15:32

thoughts, and this was different. It

15:35

was to the place where my

15:37

chest was hurting and my heart

15:39

is racing. And I was like,

15:41

where are these thoughts coming from?

15:44

And I was driving home and

15:46

just asking myself, where are they

15:48

coming from? I went to bed,

15:50

y'all, I woke up. The same

15:52

thing. I was overwhelmed with this.

15:55

I was getting shaky and just

15:57

wondering where everything... all of this

15:59

was coming from and I began

16:01

then I started to get mad

16:04

at you because you invited me

16:06

to this show and I knew

16:08

but you are right absolutely absolutely

16:10

no but I was like oh

16:12

my goodness I but it reminded

16:15

me I but it reminded me

16:17

I need to put on my

16:19

armor yeah and so not just

16:21

passively sit by because I was

16:24

just like what is happening what

16:26

is happening and I why why

16:28

why yeah that's exactly what I

16:30

was doing but when I said

16:32

you know what I, the Lord

16:35

has given me authority and power

16:37

over the enemy. Nothing, I, nothing

16:39

shall overcome me. I am the

16:41

righteousness of God in Christ and

16:44

just started pushing the enemy back.

16:46

That's what I know like I

16:48

was doing with the word of

16:50

God, pushing the enemy back. And

16:53

I, I was reminded of how

16:55

important that armor is because the

16:57

enemy, he schemes. And so he's

16:59

planning these subtle attacks. Right. And

17:01

if I'm not aware. of that

17:04

I could just panic. I had

17:06

the same week last week where

17:08

I could feel I could feel

17:10

that battle and I knew I

17:13

knew enough to know how to

17:15

fight back but I it was

17:17

the Holy Spirit inside of me

17:19

said you have to stand. Yes.

17:21

Do not let him take this

17:24

ground. You know the truth of

17:26

what the word says. You know

17:28

what I have given you. So

17:30

don't back down. You stand up

17:33

and you claim what's yours. And

17:35

so it was a battle of

17:37

my mind. But yeah, you got

17:39

to fight. I think you reach

17:42

a point. Where you don't have

17:44

to fight as much. Oh, I

17:46

love that I think the more

17:48

you grow as a Christian and

17:50

the more you trust God Mm-hmm.

17:53

You know you were saying why

17:55

why why why why why why

17:57

well? Well We do come to

17:59

a point where we don't have

18:02

to know why about everything, we

18:04

just say, I trust you. I

18:06

trust you. But, and within that

18:08

trust thing, I believe you'll show

18:10

me what I need to do.

18:13

But I think a lot of

18:15

people just don't, they don't realize

18:17

that every time you stand against

18:19

the enemy and you win a

18:22

battle, you're winning a little bit

18:24

of the war. That's powerful. And

18:26

you may have several battles, but

18:28

I'm not. aggravated

18:30

nearly as much by the enemy

18:33

as I used to be. Because

18:35

I know the answer and I've

18:37

practiced the answer over and over.

18:39

And if the devil knows he's

18:41

not going to win with you

18:43

then he's going to go bother

18:45

somebody else. He's not going to

18:48

waste his time on you. And

18:50

so just remember that that every

18:52

victory you have brings you closer

18:54

to not having to have another

18:56

fight. Yeah, that's good. Aren't you

18:58

glad you came to be? I

19:01

feel good, because we worked for

19:03

it last week and we would.

19:05

We're getting closer. Let's talk about

19:07

the shield of faith. It says,

19:09

in addition to all this, take

19:11

up the shield of faith, our

19:13

other translations say, lift up the

19:16

shield of faith, with which you

19:18

can quench all the flaming arrows

19:20

of the evil one. So we

19:22

have faith. Really, even if you're

19:24

not a Christian, you have faith.

19:26

You wouldn't sit in the chair

19:28

if you didn't have faith. You'd

19:31

be afraid it would fall apart.

19:33

But of course, when we're born

19:35

again, then we have the God

19:37

kind of faith. And it's a

19:39

faith that allows us to trust

19:41

in God. But I thought about

19:44

this taking up the shield of

19:46

faith or lifting up the shield

19:48

of faith. How do I do

19:50

that? But what are we doing

19:52

with it? And so... God... I

19:54

put this in my heart and

19:56

it's very simple, but you release

19:59

your faith by praying, by saying,

20:01

and by doing. Very simple, like

20:03

you talk back to the enemy.

20:05

I have power, I have authority.

20:07

Well, you are releasing your faith.

20:09

I think a lot of times

20:11

we have the faith and we're

20:14

waiting for God to do something,

20:16

but we don't even ask him

20:18

to do anything. It says very

20:20

plainly in James you have not

20:22

because you asked not. And it

20:24

is amazing how many things we

20:26

will just kind of be expecting

20:29

God to do or hoping God

20:31

will do. And then if you're

20:33

honest, you're like, oh, I never

20:35

did ask for that. And so,

20:37

praying, saying, and taking action, doing

20:39

is how you release your faith.

20:42

Along with that, releasing your faith

20:44

and the full armor of God.

20:46

been so grateful to learn that

20:48

the armor that God gives us

20:50

is not just for us. It's

20:52

for our entire family. It's for

20:54

everyone that we fight for. It's

20:57

for the people that we love

20:59

because that faith that you're talking

21:01

about, like going through different situations

21:03

with my family and things that

21:05

I want to have faith for

21:07

them too. You know, we can

21:09

have faith for one another and

21:12

it lifts each other up. And

21:14

so... being able to realize that

21:16

it's not just about when I

21:18

feel weak, you know, I have

21:20

to do this for my kids.

21:22

I have to do this for

21:25

my grandkids. And as a leader,

21:27

you know, I have to do

21:29

this for my teams, for the

21:31

ministry as a whole. As we

21:33

go out there to share the

21:35

gospel, do you not think the

21:37

enemy hates that? Of course, he's

21:40

after all of us to stop

21:42

that. So this is something that

21:44

we do. God gives us for

21:46

ourselves, but we do it for

21:48

other people too. And I think

21:50

as moms, that's a real incentive

21:52

for us, is I will put.

21:55

on my armor and fight for

21:57

my babies. You know? Absolutely. We

21:59

do that in the car on

22:01

the way to school in the

22:03

morning. We put our armor on.

22:05

And so. The kids have really

22:07

gotten behind it. And so they

22:10

have gotten creative and they have

22:12

added some armor pieces. And they

22:14

were like, Mom, can we ask?

22:16

Like a light saber? No, they

22:18

would love that. That didn't come

22:20

up. But we already have a

22:23

sword. But we've added pants of

22:25

miracles and gloves. There's so much

22:27

to think about with pants of

22:29

miracles. Okay. I can't be logically

22:31

argue that one for you, but

22:33

that was important to them. And

22:35

I vision goggles of God's creation.

22:38

I mean, it is part of

22:40

what we say. So now I

22:42

say it too. I appreciate their

22:44

creativity, but I'm sure God got

22:46

a good one. I actually thought

22:48

that was cute. But I like

22:50

their participation in knowing, like, the

22:53

whole body is covered. Yeah. That

22:55

means God has covered. So I

22:57

have pants for school. Like that

22:59

matters to their little. Right. Yeah.

23:01

for them to be included in

23:03

the conversation of how we are

23:06

armed for battle. I think it's

23:08

good. You can use that if

23:10

you need to. Oh, thanks. You're

23:12

going to go on well. Put

23:14

your miracle pants on. I need

23:16

to have you write that down

23:18

for me. For people who are

23:21

still thinking, oh, this devil stuff,

23:23

I don't know. Verse 12, for

23:25

our struggle is not against flesh

23:27

and blood. Yeah. Mm-hmm. But against

23:29

the rulers, the authorities. the powers

23:31

of this dark world and against

23:33

the spiritual forces of evil in

23:36

the heavenly realms. So the space

23:38

between earth and heaven is a

23:40

realm where the enemy works and

23:42

tries to dominate. And there are

23:44

demonic powers set over cities. Daniel

23:46

had to deal with one if

23:48

you go and read the book

23:51

of Daniel. He was waiting for

23:53

God. answer a prayer and when

23:55

the angel Michael got there he

23:57

said he had the there was

23:59

a principality that was fighting him

24:01

he was actually preventing the answer

24:04

from coming and he said from

24:06

the first day you prayed God

24:08

heard it but then he ended

24:10

up having to send Michael who

24:12

was a strong archangel to fight

24:14

through this thing for him to

24:16

get the prayer so just think

24:19

about that Sometimes when your prayers

24:21

aren't answered, what I like to

24:23

do is not necessarily pray the

24:25

same prayer again, but just thank

24:27

God that he's working on it.

24:29

Thank you God that you're working

24:31

on this. Yeah. Or show me

24:34

what I need to do. Show

24:36

me what I need to do.

24:38

If there's something I need to

24:40

do. But when you're praying for

24:42

other people, it's a different kind

24:44

of thing than when you're praying

24:46

for yourself. Because they, God is

24:49

not going to use my prayer.

24:51

to move against their free will.

24:53

I believe when I pray for

24:55

somebody that God deals with them.

24:57

And my husband always says, which

24:59

is true. He said, when you

25:02

pray for somebody, you should not

25:04

be surprised if they act worse

25:06

before they act better. Oh, Lordy.

25:08

Because when you pray for somebody.

25:10

It's true. Not what you want

25:12

to hear, but it's very true.

25:14

When you pray for somebody. then

25:17

God begins to deal with them.

25:19

And you know how we are

25:21

when God deals with this and

25:23

we don't want to be dealt

25:25

with? When you don't want to

25:27

face the truth. And it says

25:29

to tighten the belt of truth.

25:32

Doesn't say put it on, it

25:34

says tighten it, and that belt

25:36

of truth is the word of

25:38

God. So when you're in trouble,

25:40

you need to hang onto the

25:42

word more strongly than what you

25:45

would at any other time. I

25:47

was thinking about the belt of

25:49

truth too, because... your belt is

25:51

it holds up your your pants

25:53

and miracles. That's very important. But

25:55

if it's this thing that is

25:57

holding in place so much. of

26:00

your armor, to me that just as

26:02

a really good visual of how important

26:04

the word of God is, that it

26:06

is what holds us together. It is

26:09

the thing that keeps us intact. And

26:11

when we don't have the word wrapping

26:13

us and holding us in place,

26:15

and that's where we are, your

26:17

pants pulled out. Let's talk about

26:19

the breastplate of righteousness,

26:21

because I think it is one of the

26:24

most important of all of

26:26

these. He said the breastplate that

26:28

covers your heart. You need to

26:30

know in your heart that

26:32

you're right with God. And

26:34

you're not right with God

26:37

because you do everything

26:39

right. You're right with

26:41

God because of who you are

26:43

in Christ. You are his

26:45

child. He has adopted you.

26:48

And you know, I

26:50

wondered about that adopted thing.

26:52

And I read something really

26:55

interesting. In the Roman

26:57

culture, you could... disinherit

27:00

or even disown one of your

27:02

own children. But if you had

27:04

an adopted child it was illegal

27:06

for you to disinherit

27:08

them and it was illegal for

27:11

you to disown them. So that's why

27:13

he says that he adopted us

27:15

rather than saying he could have

27:17

said other things you know I've

27:19

taken you as my son. So

27:22

it's even a stronger bond. It's

27:24

even stronger. It's a stronger bond.

27:27

There's so many things in the

27:29

culture that are worked into the

27:31

Bible if we knew all the

27:34

culture Yeah, that's really interesting it

27:36

would help us to To understand

27:38

it more. You know my my

27:40

brothers adopted and I hardly think

27:42

about it. You know, he's he's

27:44

my brother But when we were

27:47

younger we used to tease each

27:49

other and he would say like

27:51

that mom and dad got stuck

27:53

with me but they chose him.

27:55

And so there is something beautiful

27:58

about adoption because it will. be

28:00

taken from him he will always

28:02

be a part of our family

28:04

he has everything that all of

28:06

us have there's no difference and

28:08

he was chosen and so there

28:10

is something really really special about

28:13

that that God chose us when

28:15

he didn't have to and took

28:17

us in as his own yeah

28:19

I remember when Dave adopted David

28:21

who was from my first marriage

28:24

and I interestingly enough I

28:26

named him David You

28:28

can't see the hand of

28:30

God. Yeah, before you're working.

28:32

You knew Dave. And when

28:34

we went to the lawyer

28:36

for the adoption, he

28:39

said, now there's something

28:41

I really need to press because

28:43

you need to understand

28:45

this. He said, this

28:48

child that you're adopting,

28:50

legally you must give

28:52

him an equal share. of

28:55

any inheritance you give your

28:57

other children. Oh, so isn't

29:00

that interesting? Yeah, I couldn't, if

29:02

I wanted to, I could say to

29:04

this one or that one, I'm not

29:06

going to give you anything. But

29:08

I can't say that to him.

29:10

Huh. Oh, interesting. It's a big

29:13

deal. That is. And that, I

29:15

don't think he knows that. So

29:17

we're not listening. Hopefully he's not

29:19

listening. No. But I love that

29:21

the breastplate of righteousness.

29:24

protects our heart. That

29:26

it is what protects us

29:28

from the rejection, it's what

29:31

protects us from the heartbreak

29:33

and the wounds. Just feeling

29:36

bad about yourself. Yeah, exactly.

29:38

Always remember, just simply, take,

29:41

let this be a takeaway today.

29:43

Yeah. The devil wants you to

29:46

feel bad about yourself. Mm-hmm.

29:48

Yeah. Yeah, it's his

29:50

game period. I mean different ways

29:52

that people find to feel bad

29:54

about themselves. Yeah. They make a

29:56

mistake. I'm stupid. You know, I'm I fail

29:58

at everything I do. I'm just a

30:01

goof off. And one person

30:03

I'm around a lot, he

30:05

has a habit of saying,

30:07

call me crazy. I'm like,

30:09

you don't wish you wouldn't

30:11

say that. You really need

30:13

to think about how do

30:15

you feel about yourself? Because

30:17

we really do. We almost

30:19

think it's religious to think

30:21

badly about ourselves. But that's

30:23

not what the word never

30:25

tells you. to do that.

30:27

It says that our faith

30:29

is made effectual by the

30:31

acknowledging of everything that is

30:33

good within us. Now think

30:35

about that. I have to

30:37

acknowledge it. I have to

30:39

say I agree with this.

30:41

The word says that I'm

30:43

precious to God. The word

30:45

says I'm special. I'm the

30:47

apple of his eye. I'm

30:49

created in his image. unloves

30:51

us. Right. We're always loved.

30:53

Yeah. Never for one moment

30:55

in our lives will we

30:58

ever be unloved. He loves

31:00

us. Yeah. And I mean

31:02

there are literally hundreds of

31:04

good things that the Bible

31:06

says about us. Yeah. We're

31:08

brave, we're courageous, you know.

31:10

When the angel went to

31:12

Gideon and he greeted him,

31:14

he said, oh you mighty

31:16

man of... courage and he

31:18

said, well not me, you

31:20

know, I can't do that.

31:22

I come from the wrong

31:24

family. I'm from the littlest

31:26

family. I'm from the poorest

31:28

clan. So he saw all

31:30

of his disadvantages, but his

31:32

one advantage was he had

31:34

God. And he didn't see

31:36

that as greater than all

31:38

the things that he thought

31:40

that was wrong. That's good.

31:42

The armor that God gives

31:44

us too, I think there's

31:46

something very interesting in the

31:48

fact that it's protective and

31:50

it's also offensive. So it's

31:52

not just defensive, we're on

31:54

the off. as well. So

31:57

we have everything that we

31:59

need. So we get dressed,

32:01

we put on, you know,

32:03

the helmet, the breastplate, the

32:05

belt of truth, the shoes,

32:07

the fancy pants of promise,

32:09

whatever miracle or anything. Pants

32:11

of miracles. But then we

32:13

also have... weapons and yeah

32:15

in our hands we have

32:17

things in our hands we

32:19

have the shield that we

32:21

talked about and we had

32:23

the sword right so we

32:25

we prepare ourselves but then

32:27

we go out to fight

32:29

yeah yeah so Joyce talk

32:31

about those things that that

32:33

we actually have to use

32:35

with our hands yeah well

32:37

the the shield of faith

32:39

we discuss yeah so you

32:41

you can't be passive about

32:43

that you have to release

32:45

your faith and I think

32:47

that's important to even like

32:49

feel that in your heart

32:51

that when you're praying you're

32:53

really praying releasing your faith.

32:55

You're not just saying something

32:58

that you've heard over and

33:00

over and then using the

33:02

sort of the spirit well

33:04

the word of God is

33:06

the sort of the spirit

33:08

and we use that by

33:10

speaking the word. by speaking

33:12

the word, when Jesus was

33:14

taken into the wilderness by

33:16

the Holy Ghost, that's the

33:18

thing we gotta realize, by

33:20

the Holy Ghost. He was

33:22

taken in there to fight

33:24

with the devil by the

33:26

Holy Ghost. And so, is

33:28

it possible that sometimes God

33:30

leads us into these fights?

33:32

And why would he do

33:34

that? Well, to keep a

33:36

sharp, for one thing. And

33:38

secondly, I think that Jesus...

33:42

It was necessary for Jesus to

33:44

show the devil that he wasn't

33:46

afraid of him, that he had

33:48

more power than he did, and

33:50

every time the devil lied to

33:52

him, Jesus said it is written

33:54

and he quoted the scripture. So

33:57

knowing scripture and quoting it when

33:59

you need to is extremely powerful.

34:01

I talk about this all the

34:03

time about speaking the word and

34:05

declaring the word and and declaring

34:07

the word, speaking it out like

34:10

David said he decreed the word

34:12

which means to write it down

34:14

and he said he declared the

34:16

word which means he opened his

34:18

mouth. Yeah. And spoke that word.

34:20

We can believe the word. But

34:23

the word, the word is the

34:25

thing. I mean, it's full of

34:27

the promises of God and it's

34:29

the thing that we need to

34:31

hold on to. And if you

34:33

want to hear a good story,

34:36

I'll tell you a good story.

34:38

We want to hear a good

34:40

story. About swords and angels. I

34:42

was in Phoenix, Arizona doing a

34:44

conference. And after the session was

34:46

over, somebody came to me and

34:49

said, you got to hear this.

34:51

And she told... me the story

34:53

that a woman had told her.

34:55

She said, my husband brought me

34:57

here for my birthday and he's

34:59

not a Christian. Doesn't want anything

35:02

to do with it. But he

35:04

knew that Joyce meant a lot

35:06

to me. So he said, for

35:08

my birthday, he would come to

35:10

this conference with me. And she

35:12

said, when the worship was over

35:15

and Joyce went up to the

35:17

pulpit, I noticed him crying. She

35:19

said he was shaken and crying.

35:21

And I thought, what's going on?

35:23

And he said to me, well,

35:25

don't you see him? Don't you

35:28

see him? And she said, see

35:30

what? He said, well, at first

35:32

I thought it was the choir

35:34

standing behind her on the platform

35:36

because they all had on these

35:38

white gowns. And he said, but

35:40

when she went up to the

35:43

podium, several of them went with

35:45

her and as she picked up

35:47

her Bible. They all drew their

35:49

sword and held it straight up

35:51

in the air. Wow. Made a

35:53

semicircle around her. Yeah. Now. I

35:56

don't believe it. Okay, that's shells.

35:58

I don't believe it. I don't

36:00

believe an unbeliever is going to

36:02

make that up. Yeah. No. Yeah.

36:04

Because how would he know to

36:06

say any of those things? Yeah,

36:09

he wouldn't even know to say

36:11

them. Right. But wow. But there's

36:13

so much power that we don't

36:15

know around it. And the fact

36:17

that when I open the Bible,

36:19

God knows the enemy is going

36:22

to come after you stronger. They

36:24

all took their swords out and

36:26

were ready to do battle. So

36:28

if he's doing that for you

36:30

on a stage, you think he's

36:32

doing that for us in my,

36:35

and when I'm reading my word

36:37

in a living room, or I'm

36:39

sharing with somebody and I'm not,

36:41

I'm not doing what you're doing.

36:43

Don't you think that same power

36:45

that still applies to? Yeah, I

36:48

think that we have angels with

36:50

us all the time. I think

36:52

we need to believe it more.

36:54

And I think. I

36:58

realize not long ago, I

37:00

have never done an entire

37:03

teaching on angels. And I

37:05

need to do that because

37:07

people do forget that they

37:10

have it. And have I

37:12

ever seen an angel? I

37:15

believe two instances I believe

37:17

that I did. I can't

37:20

prove it because you can't

37:22

prove spiritual things, but I

37:24

just I believe that I

37:27

did. We all

37:29

have angels with us all the

37:31

time, and we all have a

37:34

guardian angel, a special angel that's

37:36

assigned to us to watch over

37:39

some. We probably should pray a

37:41

little more about them in Psalm

37:43

10720. It says that the angels

37:46

of God hearken to his word.

37:48

So think of that. Yeah. So

37:51

when we're complaining and griping and

37:53

moaning and groaning and groaning, They

37:55

can't do anything. We tie their

37:58

hands. But when we release our

38:00

faith, say who we are in

38:02

Christ, tell God we love him,

38:05

we worship him, then those angels

38:07

are released to go to work

38:10

in our life. I think there's

38:12

so much that we just can't

38:14

possibly understand with our human finite

38:17

mind. But if we will allow

38:19

the Holy Spirit to help us,

38:22

when we read the Bible, it's

38:24

like... a different dimension. You know,

38:26

there's so much in there. Sometimes

38:29

we can think, oh, that's Bible

38:31

stuff. No. That is what is

38:34

happening. That is what God has

38:36

created. The things that we can't

38:38

see. doesn't mean that they aren't

38:41

real. And so we have to

38:43

we have to read the word

38:46

in a different way. We have

38:48

to pray. Holy Spirit, please open

38:50

my heart so I can see

38:53

what you want me to see.

38:55

You have to read it like

38:58

this is true. Yeah. Not like

39:00

this is I'm just obligated to

39:02

put in a little reading every

39:05

day to keep God happy. Yeah.

39:07

It's like... This is real. I

39:10

have armor, but I need to

39:12

put it on. So there's so

39:14

much more, so much deeper, that

39:17

if we can stick to it

39:19

and say, Lord, please show me

39:21

what I need to see, then

39:24

he does. And it opens this

39:26

world of... Not only angels and

39:29

God's love and power that he

39:31

quips us with and the armor

39:33

of God I mean it changes

39:36

our world into one where he

39:38

is alive and active Yeah, and

39:41

it's the only way I think

39:43

to renew our minds because to

39:45

even think that I am fighting

39:48

a this spiritual battle and I

39:50

need spiritual weapons that takes a

39:53

renewed mind because I was brought

39:55

up if they hit you, you

39:57

hit them back. You know, just

40:00

things like that. And I was

40:02

brought up if they say this

40:05

to you, then you say this

40:07

to them as well. the more

40:09

I read the word of God,

40:12

the more that his, his likeness

40:14

and the way that God thinks

40:17

is instilled in me and it

40:19

makes, it starts to make sense

40:21

like, oh yeah, the weapons of

40:24

this warfare like the Bible says,

40:26

they are, you know, we have

40:29

to have these spiritual weapons because

40:31

it's a spiritual battle and I

40:33

love Mama Joyce the way that

40:35

you talk about like the devil

40:37

is real and he would want

40:39

us to think. that he is

40:41

in the, what, the red cape

40:44

with the pitch for, and all

40:46

of those things. And the horns.

40:48

Some crazy cartoon. Make him seem

40:50

like a Halloween character. Yeah. Yeah.

40:52

He would want us to think

40:54

that, but it is, the scripture

40:56

talks about, like, that this is

40:58

a struggle. And that's what it

41:01

feels like sometimes, that it is

41:03

a struggle. And I think it's

41:06

important to state, too, that sometimes

41:08

we will get... Knocked around

41:10

a little bit, but we're

41:13

not knocked out. Yeah, I

41:15

was thinking about boxers In

41:17

a rink in the rink

41:20

and at the end one

41:22

of them is not a

41:25

skating rink. It's a boxing

41:27

ring That's right I was

41:29

wondering who was going to

41:32

say that to her but

41:34

she was on the road

41:36

so Was that right? I'm

41:39

sorry, I love you. I

41:41

didn't know where I was at.

41:43

I didn't even hear it. I

41:46

was like, was that right? You're

41:48

making an excellent point. Please continue.

41:50

The boxing ring was straightened that

41:53

out. There you go, ma'am. Now let's

41:55

go back there and see what happens.

41:57

Okay, we're boxing. Well, in the...

42:00

Boxing, you see it. Ring, okay.

42:02

In the boxing ring, at the

42:04

end of the match, or however

42:06

many rounds there are, the winner,

42:09

he is beat up a little

42:11

bit. He is bleeding a little

42:13

bit. His ribs are a little

42:16

busted, but the referee stands and

42:18

he says, and he says, yeah,

42:20

and this is the winner. And

42:23

I think that's important to state

42:25

that. in this battle we will

42:27

get knocked around a little bit

42:29

but we're not knocked out the

42:32

battle is already good that's important

42:34

victory is one Jesus has overcome

42:36

but in this world we will

42:39

still have trouble right yeah so

42:41

therefore we have to fight yeah

42:43

righteous man falls down seven times

42:45

but he gets up again yeah I

42:47

love what you were saying about being

42:49

on the offense. This is not a

42:51

defense conversation because right after we read

42:54

all about what the armor is, then

42:56

Paul asks that they pray for him

42:58

because he wants to open his mouth

43:00

to proclaim boldly the mystery of

43:02

the good news of the gospel.

43:04

That is not an offensive take

43:06

or defensive take. That is going

43:08

on the offense. I know they're

43:10

going to knock me around. I

43:12

want to tell about who Jesus

43:14

is, so he's going into battle.

43:16

Yeah. Yeah. Remember when David was

43:18

going to fight Goliath? And so

43:20

they tried to give him armor

43:22

that would work and it was

43:24

too big and it just weighed

43:26

him down and he couldn't fight

43:29

with that armor because it was

43:31

not made for him. And so

43:33

he had to put it aside

43:35

and God helped him. defeat the

43:37

giant. But at the same time,

43:39

what God gives us is handmade

43:41

for us and it fits us

43:43

perfect. And it's there for us

43:45

every time we need it. And

43:48

I think that makes such a

43:50

difference because Kim, you're talking about

43:52

those fights, that's intimidating. You know,

43:54

we don't like the idea of always

43:56

being in a battle where we're going

43:58

to get banged around. But to know

44:01

that we are equipped with the

44:03

perfect equipment for us, that God

44:05

has given us, makes a huge

44:08

difference. It does. It really does.

44:10

It's not going to wash. Well,

44:13

one thing for sure, the devil's

44:15

going to come against you to

44:17

try to keep you from learning

44:20

the word. Yeah. He's going to

44:22

try to keep you emotionally

44:24

upset. But when you grow to

44:26

the point, and the Bible says...

44:28

We will continue to have

44:31

trials and tribulations until

44:33

we learn how to

44:35

keep ourselves calm in

44:37

adversity. So once you can be

44:39

calm, not get frantic and

44:42

start staying all kinds of

44:44

dumb things and making all

44:46

kinds of goofy decisions, when

44:48

you can stay calm, when

44:51

the devil's trying to upset

44:53

you and you stay calm, what

44:55

else can you do? Yeah,

44:57

and that's very important, that

45:00

emotional stability to not get rattled.

45:02

Oh, it's huge. And it feels good.

45:04

It actually does. No, you're right.

45:06

When you accomplish that, it really

45:08

does feel good afterwards, especially my

45:10

heart rate is not... all crazy,

45:12

blood pressure is not up, I

45:14

have this calmness and this peace,

45:16

but it also lets me know

45:18

that I can do those things.

45:20

Like I did it that time,

45:22

like I'm capable of it. God

45:24

has given me that the His

45:26

Holy Spirit to be able to

45:29

do it and I accomplished it

45:31

and it gives me this empowerment

45:33

for the next struggle whenever comes.

45:35

One of the things I used

45:37

to get really upset about would be

45:39

if I would make a mess if

45:41

I would spell something. make

45:43

a mess and have to clean

45:45

it up and The last time

45:48

I remember I I made my

45:50

coffee in the morning. It

45:53

was perfect Just look ready

45:55

to drink I can see

45:57

where this is going I

46:00

knocked it over. Oh, it

46:02

hurt. Broke a cup. Oh,

46:04

boy. Spilled it all

46:06

over the place. And

46:09

I just said, hmm. I

46:11

guess I'll clean that up.

46:13

And I thought, yes. You

46:16

know, I mean, I didn't

46:18

feel any upset or

46:21

frustration. I

46:23

just thought. Well, I guess

46:25

I'll clean that up. Yeah, that's

46:27

so good. It's all about progress

46:30

in life, isn't it? About growing

46:32

and you know, everything you go through

46:34

gives you some experience for

46:36

the next thing you go through.

46:38

Yeah. Yeah. Well, thank you all very

46:41

much. Love talking about this again. And

46:43

I believe there are going to be

46:45

many of you who are much more

46:48

equipped for what you are going to

46:50

be facing and you're going to enjoy.

46:52

throw in a few punches, they feel

46:55

really good when they land in the

46:57

right place. You know, it's what God

46:59

wants us to do. He wants us

47:02

to fight the enemy and he wants

47:04

us to stand in faith because God

47:06

is our strength in our weakness. So

47:09

just get dressed and put on all

47:11

those things that God gives you. Add

47:13

some of Aaron's kid stuff if you

47:15

want, see how that goes for you,

47:17

the goggles and all of it. And

47:20

let us know, write some things in

47:22

the comments. I love seeing the kids

47:24

pick it up and expanding it

47:26

too. You are wearing the

47:28

perfect pants to talk about.

47:30

I am. The sparkly pants

47:32

of miracles. Sparkly pants of

47:34

miracles. Yeah. Know that. Maybe

47:36

we don't believe for those things

47:38

as much as we should. Yeah. That's

47:40

very very true. Yeah. And I

47:42

love seeing the kids pick it

47:44

up and expanding it too. Well

47:47

we love you all. Thanks so

47:49

much and we will see you

47:51

right here next week. Bye. Bye.