Be Anxious for Nothing Joyce Meyer

Contentment Satisfaction AND

Finding Joy in Every Situation

Teaching Notes by Joyce Meyer Joyce Meyer Ministries P.O. Box 655 • Fenton, MO 63026 (636) 349-0303 • (800) 727-9673 joycemeyer.org

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Copyright © 2008 Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored electronically, sold, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc.

August 21-23, 2008 Indianapolis, Indiana June 11, 2008 Southfield, Michigan

CONTENTMENT AND SATISFACTION Realistic Expectations I.

What Are You Expecting? A.

Nothing? Not much? 1.

Have you let repeated disappointment poison your attitude of faith?

2.

Do you aggressively expect God to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all you could dare to hope, ask or think? Expect (defined) – To await, a reaching out in readiness to receive something, to wait for, look for, to take or receive – eager longing.

B.

C.

Lazy faith is useless! 1.

Faith must be aggressive on purpose.

2.

It must be aggressive in spirit, in attitude, in thinking and believing, and in expectation!

3.

Ephesians 6:16 – “Lift up” the shield of faith.

Isaiah 40:31 – They that wait “expect” the Lord shall renew their strength.

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D.

Verbalize your expectations daily. 1.

Lord, I’m expecting to be led by Your Spirit, to hear from You, to experience Your joy filling my soul, to have the peace that passes understanding. To experience Your love – I’m expecting You to take care of me, provide for me, protect me and grant me favor everywhere I go.

2.

II.

Verbalize that all your hope and expectation are in God.

Repeated Disappointment Discourages Us And Wears Us Out. A.

Psalm 31:1 – My hope in the Lord won’t be disappointed. Psalm 42:5 – Why so downcast, oh my soul? Put your hope in God!

B.

Romans 5:2-5 – True hope in God never disappoints us. 1.

Is our hope in God or in getting something from God?

2.

When we are disappointed it is because we did not get what we wanted.

I know a lot of disappointed, discouraged, depressed Christians. So what is the problem? 3.

Hebrews 2:13 – My trust, reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him.

4.

I Peter 1:21 – Your faith and hope are to be centered and rest in Him. (See Romans 10:11.)

Prop: Flashlight

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C.

III.

Deuteronomy 8:1-20 – Enjoy what God gives you, but don’t let your hope be in anything but Him. 1.

Do your faith, hope and confidence need to be adjusted?

2.

A tiny adjustment can make a huge difference.

Keep A Right Relationship With The World. A.

I John 2:15-17 – The world passes away but people who do the will of God abide forever! 1.

Be careful not to let a desire become a lust.

2.

I believe we are lusting after things when we can’t be happy without them.

3.

Lust is a desire with no moral quality that becomes too strong. I can lust after a thing, position or power, but I cannot have too strong of a desire for holiness or God’s will.

Red Dress B.

Don’t let things cause you to disobey God.

C.

Don’t disobey God to keep a position!

Meletio Seafood job / First ministry position!

D.

1.

Are you willing to lose your position if you have to compromise your moral standard to keep it?

2.

Are you willing to lose a position if it causes you to have your priorities out of line?

The world is unstable and will disappoint you!

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1.

John 16:33 2.

IV.

I Peter 4:12

Keep A Right Relationship With People A.

B.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 – We end up very unhappy if we expect too much out of people. 1.

Believe the best of people but keep your “expectation” in God.

2.

Unrealistic expectation will keep you disappointed.

Areas where we make mistakes: 1.

We expect people to do what makes us happy. Marriages fail due to this expectation.

2.

We expect our children to make us proud. In this quest we often try to put them in a mold of our making.

3.

We expect people not to hurt us. (See John 2:24-25.)

4.

We expect people to appreciate what we do for them and express it in a way that makes us feel appreciated.

Never do anything for appreciation – do it to give joy, not to be well thought of! 5.

Sometimes, what we do for people builds an expectation that we will do it again rather than a long-term appreciation for what we have done.

6.

We expect people to understand us. (See Acts 7:25.)

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7.

We expect people to be there for us when we need them. a.

Matthew 26:40 – The disciples sleep when Jesus needs them most.

b.

Matthew 26:72 – Peter denied even knowing Jesus.

These things did not devastate Jesus and divert Him from His purpose because His hope was not in people. C.

Be more concerned about what you can do for people than what they can do for you. Expect God to take care of you and He will surprise you and do more than you can image.

V.

Don’t Have Unrealistic Expectations Of Yourself. A.

You may press toward the mark of perfection but you have not arrived. 1.

B.

There would be no need for mercy if we were going to be perfect. 1.

C.

Close:

Philippians 3:12-14

Hebrews 4:15-16

I John 2:1 – Do your best and trust God to do the rest!

Hebrews 12:27-28 – God shakes all that can be shaken until our trust is totally in His unshakable Kingdom.

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Consistently Content Foundation Scripture: I Timothy 6:6 – Godliness accompanied with contentment is great and abundant gain. I.

The Attitude Of Contentment Glorifies God! A.

Content (defined) – Satisfied to the point where you are not disturbed no matter what is going on! 1.

B.

Philippians 4:11-12

Discontent (defined) – Not satisfied, unhappy, a sense of resentment, unsatisfactory, feeling of displeasure or an attitude displaying displeasure. 1.

Complaining, grumbling, murmuring

2.

Jealousy, envy

3.

Depressed, sad countenance

C.

Proverbs 31:27 – Don’t allow it!

D.

Exodus 2:21 – Moses was a prince over Egypt and because he tried to help an oppressed man he finds himself in a desert, separated from all the comforts of the palace and yet was content.

E.

1.

He probably had to go through a mental process to get there. He made a decision.

2.

If we are strong in spirit, our “creature-comforts” won’t control us. (See Proverbs 18:14.)

Proverbs 27:20 – One of the torments of hell is that there is no satisfaction. 1.

If people are never satisfied, they have hell on earth.

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F.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 – Solomon observed that “life under the sun” left a man laboring but never satisfied. 1.

II.

Life with God should be the exact opposite.

Doorways To Contentment And Satisfaction A.

A humble attitude 1.

A humble person is thankful for what they have because they realize they deserve nothing without God.

2.

A proud person thinks more highly of himself than he should and assumes he should have more than he has.

3.

Example: They find it very difficult to be satisfied with any of the people in their life. In their pride they feel others don’t measure up to what they should be.

4.

Matthew 5:3 – Blessed (satisfied) are the humble.

5.

Matthew 11:29 – The humble find rest for their souls!

6.

Romans 12:16 – Only the humble can live in harmony.

7.

Luke 15:11-19 – The proud prodigal was humbled and became content.

Humility requires brokenness and it doesn’t come easy. B.

Real fellowship with God, not religious activity, brings satisfaction. 1.

John 16:7 – Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be in close fellowship with us.

2.

Psalm 17:15 – As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].

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C.

3.

Psalm 27:4 – One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

4.

Psalm 25:1 – Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life.

5.

Psalm 63:1, 5-8 – This is the voice of a man who knows that his satisfaction is in God alone.

Right thinking and speaking is a simple thing that brings tremendous change. 1.

D.

Proverbs 14:14 – A good man is satisfied with holy (right) thoughts. a.

Think about what you have, the mercy of God toward you, and the blessing of salvation.

b.

Think about what you can do to be a blessing. (See Galatians 6:10.)

c.

Proverbs 18:20-21 – A man must be satisfied with the consequences of his words.

Realize that discontentment is not only an insult to God but it does no good at all (it only makes you unhappy). 1.

John 3:27 – We must be content with what God gives us. We cannot get anything else unless heaven gives it. At least you can’t get it and be happy with it.

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III.

Dealing Aggressively With Greed And Covetousness A.

Greed (defined) – To lust after, to long for, envy, jealousy, a desire to have more. 1.

B.

I think we are lusting when we want something so much we can’t be happy without it.

I Timothy 6:6-10 – You can desire things as long as you can also be content without them. 1.

Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Matthew Henry Commentary – If God is our heart’s delight, He will give us our heart’s desire.

C.

Jude: 11 – gives us an example of three men who were not satisfied with what God had given them. 1.

D.

Cain (See Genesis 4:2-8.) a.

Cain’s offering was not accepted because he was wicked.

b.

The hatred of his brother was no small thing.

c.

He wasn’t satisfied with who he was, he lusted after Abel’s talent, life and probably his relationship with God.

2.

Numbers: Chapter 16 – Korah wanted Moses’ position.

3.

Numbers: Chapter 22 – Balaam was willing to disobey God for man’s promotion.

I Corinthians 5:11 – Paul said not to even associate with a brother in Christ who is greedy. 1.

It must be a serious problem.

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E.

Colossians 3:5 and Ephesians 5:5 – Greed is included in a list of evil desires lurking in our flesh. 1.

F.

We must aggressively resist it.

Proverbs 1:19 – Greed takes away the life of its possessor. 1.

It never satisfies – it steals your life.

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Trusting God When You Don’t Understand Foundation Scripture: John 20:29 – Blessed are those who believe and have not seen. I.

The Mystery Of God A.

We want to know and understand things but God does things past finding out. 1.

B.

C.

D.

Why, God, Why? 1.

Numbers 11:11; 14:3-5; 16:3-4; and 20:4-5

2.

Judges 6:13 – If God is with us, “why” is this happening?

3.

Daniel 4:35 – What are you doing?

Why do bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people? 1.

Why do children suffer?

2.

Why does the young mom of four children die of cancer?

I don’t believe we can ever be content if we have to know “why.” 1.

II.

Job 9:10-11

Trust requires unanswered questions.

Do Not Doubtingly Question God. A

Hebrews 4:3, 7, 10-11

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1. B.

Romans 4:20 – Abraham did not “doubtingly question” God. 1.

C.

We only enter God’s rest through trust, not questions and reasons.

He had opportunity but he chose not to.

Job started with questions but ended “content with no answers.” 1.

Job 40:10 – Since you question the Almighty’s rule why don’t you try to run the world?

2.

Job 42:1-5 – Job’s ordeal brought him from hearing about God to “knowing” Him. This knowing is experiential.

III.

3.

Job forgave and God restored double what he lost.

4.

Job lost children, health, reputation, his wife turned against him, and he lost his fortune. a.

But in the end he saw God as He really is!

b.

Revelation 1:8 – I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).

Too Many Questions Cause Confusion, Unhappiness, Discontentment And Even Total Loss Of Faith. A.

Proverbs 3:5-8 – Be not wise in your own eyes! 1.

Psalms 139:6 - Your [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it.

2.

We get confused trying to understand too much!

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B.

I Corinthians 2:2 – Paul was a brilliant scholar who decided the only thing worth knowing is Christ and Him crucified.

C.

Proverbs repeatedly encourages us to “get knowledge” but it is the knowledge of God, not being able to understand the “why” behind everything God does. (See Proverbs 2:5.) 1.

D.

IV.

The beginning of knowledge is the reverential fear and awe of God.

For God to be our God He must know things we don’t know. 1.

I am the president of Joyce Meyer Ministries. (I know things that nobody else knows about it.)

2.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Eternity A.

B.

I Corinthians 13:8-13 – Some day we will understand all things. 1.

Until then we have faith, hope and love.

2.

The greatest is love.

It must be better than we can imagine to be out of this world. 1.

Philippians 1:21-25 – Paul said to die was gain – we gain the “glory” of eternity.

C.

Revelation 21:4, 21-23 – A brief description of heaven

D.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 – God is in control. Trade “why” questions for trust and enjoy each day.

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God Does Not Answer Complaints I.

Are You Content Most Of The Time? A.

Philippians 4:11-12 – Satisfied to the point where you are not disturbed no matter what your circumstances are

B.

Are you “high-maintenance”? 1.

Does it require a lot to keep you content? Only truth makes you free!

2. C.

Do you focus on being thankful for what you have or what you don’t have?

Luke 3:14 – Content with your wages? 1.

Don’t have a complaint without a vision. Be thankful you have a job; and if you need more wages, get a vision. Plan how you can get a better job, be more valuable where you are or educate yourself.

D.

2.

Habakkuk 2:1-2 – He had a complaint. God said, “Get a vision.”

3.

Mother Teresa had a complaint about poverty and injustice and a vision to do something about it.

4.

Martin Luther King had a complaint about racism.

5.

Nehemiah had a complaint about the walls being broken down, so he rebuilt them.

Don’t complain about anything you won’t work to change!

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II.

God Does Not Answer Complaints! A.

Philippians 4:6 – When we pray for what we need with thanksgiving we have peace (not discontentment) while He works.

Prop: Use a sandwich as an example. Fold bread around meat to get sandwich. 1. B.

Perhaps the people in our life would be motivated to improve in areas we are not satisfied with if we voiced more thanks and appreciation for their strengths. 1.

Just as God is not motivated by complaints, neither are people.

C.

I Thessalonians 5:17-19 – Thank God in everything or suppress the Holy Spirit.

D.

James 5:9 – Don’t complain about one another and bring judgment on yourself! 1.

III.

Fold thanksgiving around your request and you have something that God can work with.

Is our complaining worse than the thing we are complaining about?

Complaining, Murmuring And Grumbling Are Sin! A.

Numbers 21:4-7 – Their grumbling was sin and opened a door for serpents.

B.

I Corinthians 10:8-11 – The Israelites complained and many of them died.

C.

Complaining prevented them from entering the Promised Land. 1.

They wandered (wasted time) forty years trying to make an eleven-day journey.

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D.

E. IV.

Philippians 2:14 – Do all things without grumbling, faultfinding and complaining. 1.

Your work

2.

Facing your challenges

3.

Dealing with daily life

Get an accountability partner. Ask them to remind you not to complain!

The Power Of Aggressive Gratitude A.

II Chronicles 20:17-22 – The “ites” (Moabites and Ammonites) came against Jerusalem and Judah. 1.

They worshipped, sang and gave thanks.

2.

They did not murmur, complain and feel self-pity.

3.

They defeated the enemy and didn’t even have to fight!

B.

Proverbs 31:27 – Don’t allow discontent and self-pity.

C.

Only gratitude and a positive attitude make you happy! 1.

Remember that discontent and content have a voice!

2.

Listen to yourself and learn!

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