Living

Without
Frustration

How You Can Find Satisfaction
in Gods Grace

Teaching Notes by Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer Ministries
P.O. Box 655 Fenton, MO 63026
636-349-0303 1-800-727-9673
www.joycemeyer.org

TN198

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.

March 27-29, 2008

Memphis, Tennessee

LIVING WITHOUT
FRUSTRATION
I.

What Is Grace?
A.

Gods riches at Christs expense

l.

B.

C.

Gods power made available to us free of charge, enabling

us to do with ease what we could never do on our own

Grace is power (Gods power).

1.

The power to save us from our sins

2.

The power to live a victorious, contented and fruitful life

Grace is Gods goodness which we do not deserve, but which we can

receive by faith as a gift from God.

JM NOTE: Page nine of Grace book read definition.

II.

Life Is Frustrating Without Grace.

A.

B.

I was frustrated.
1.

Trying to do something about something I could

not do anything about

2.

Example: Trying to change myself

Gods Word actually frustrated me; I saw what I needed to be, I saw
what I wasnt I tried and tried, and was ALWAYS DISAPPOINTED
and FRUSTRATED.

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C.

I Peter 5:5 God opposes, frustrates and defeats the proud; but He
gives grace to the humble.
God opposes our fleshly works.

D.

1.

God wont let you do things right without Him

not without frustration, discontentment and stress.

2.

You may accomplish a thing, but it will just about kill you.

I Peter 5:6-7 HUMBLE YOURSELVES.

1.

Get real. Be honest with yourself about yourself.

2.

Without God we are not the hot shots we would

like to think we are.
John 15:5 Apart from Me

E.

III.

Isaiah 40:28-31 Only God doesnt eventually get worn out and
fall apart.

Trade Trying For Trusting.

A.

I tried to change myself, my husband, my children and friends. I tried

to make my ministry grow. I tried to have a different personality.
1.

B.

Trust.
1.

C.

To be more like my pastors wife, my neighbor, Dave, etc.

Colossians 1:4 Faith is the leaning of the entire

human personality on God in absolute trust and
confidence in His (not your) POWER, WISDOM
and GOODNESS.

James 4:6 He gives us more and more grace to meet our evil
tendencies.

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1.

IV.

Sin And Grace

A.

Romans 1:7 Grace and peace be multiplied to you.

1.

B.

There is no peace without grace only worry,

frustration, trying and failing, stress, etc.

Romans 5:15 Grace and sin cant even be compared.

1.

V.

There is plenty of grace (Gods power and help)

available if we will STOP and receive it.

Grace is greater.

C.

Romans 5:20 Where sin abounds grace super-abounds. When sin

increases, grace surpasses it.

D.

Ephesians 2:8-9 Saved by grace.

Changing Ourselves How Can I Change?

A.

Galatians 3:2-5 We cannot reach perfection through works

of the flesh.

B.

II Corinthians 3:18 We change from glory to glory, but it comes

from the Lord.
1.

C.

Enjoy the glory you are in do not live in comparison.

Philippians 1:6 He began the work in you HE must finish it.

1.

Deuteronomy 7:22 Little by little to prevent pride

2.

I Peter 5:10 After you suffer awhile

D.

I Thessalonians 5:22-24 God Himself will do it.

E.

John 6:28-29 Our work is to believe.

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VI.

1.

Our work is the work of faith.

2.

Believers enter REST.

Things I Tried To Change

A.

My personality
1.

B.

My gifts and talents

1.

2.
C.

I tried to be like Donna, and tried to be like Dave

(merciful, sweet, easygoing, no worry, etc).

I tried to be like my neighbor.

a.

Grow tomatoes.

b.

Sew clothes.

c.

Play guitar.

Romans 12:4-8 Let us exercise our gifts according

to the grace given us.

Every message I heard that convicted me, I tried to make it work.

I tried to be quiet, nice, sweet and good.
1.

Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house,

they labor in vain.

2.

Isaiah 50:10-11 Those who trust the Lord have the

victory and are blessed.

3.

Isaiah 30:1-3, 14-18 Works of the flesh can only end

in misery.
Those who are in their own works end up very miserable.

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VII. Changing Others

A.

B.

My husband
1.

His personality

2.

His desires (sports, ministry)

3.

Proverbs 21:1 God changes the heart of the king the

way He changes the watercourses.

My children
1.

Laura was messy and not motivated.

I wanted her to be more like me.

2.

David was like me (strong personality), so I felt he

challenged me continually.
I didnt want him to be like me.

C.

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony by adapting yourselves to other

people and things.
1.

All my life I was fighting something or someone until

I learned to adapt and go with the flow.

2.

Learn to change what we can, accept what we cannot,

and pray for wisdom to know the difference.

VIII. Changing Circumstances

A.

The same principles apply.

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LIVING WITHOUT FRUSTRATION

July 31, 1993

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Letting Go And
Learning To Enjoy
I.

II.

Free To Enjoy
A.

John 10:10 I came that you might have and enjoy life.

B.

John 17:13 His joy perfected and completed in us.

C.

John 15:1-11 I have told you these things that My joy might be in you.

Abide.
A.

John 15:5 Apart from Me you can do nothing.

1.

Branches off of the Vine quickly whither.

2.

Hang on the Vine.

JM NOTE: Use example of branches

B.

Romans 11:17 We were grafted in to share the richness and sap of

the tree.
1.

To RECEIVE

2.

(Explain grafted in)

We surrender all the rest is God, and us receiving
by faith.

C.

Receive versus get

1.

Get (defined/Websters) To come into possession

of, to obtain, to go after and obtain, to seize, to take
by force. To acquire as a result of action or effort
(works, works, and works).

LIVING WITHOUT FRUSTRATION

2.

Receive (defined/Websters) To act as a receptacle or

a container; to permit to enter; believe to be at home to
visitors, to welcome or greet.

3.

Work done apart from grace equals works of the flesh

and failure.
a.

Works Mans energy trying to do Gods job.

Example: Genesis 16 Abram, Sarai and Hagar

b.

Work done not by might, nor by power, but by

Gods Spirit equals success, joy, enjoyment, ease, etc.

4.

James 4:2 You have not because you ask not.

5.

John 16:24 Ask and receive that your joy may be full.

6.

John 3:27 We can receive nothing unless it is granted

from heaven.
Ask and trust
Let go and let God

7.

Things to be RECEIVED:
a.

John 1:12 Salvation To as many as received

Him, He gave power to become the sons of God.

b.

Acts 2:38; 8:17 Holy Spirit Have you received

the Holy Spirit?

c.

Acts 10:43 Forgiveness Receive forgiveness

in His name.

d.

John 1:16-17 Favor, gifts, and spiritual

blessing All must be received and cannot be
earned or deserved.

e.

Gods love For God so loved that He gave.

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f.

III.

Romans 5:17 Righteousness Receive the

free gift of righteousness.

Enter Gods Rest.

A.

Hebrews 4:3 Those who believe enter rest.

1.

B.

Faith causes one to receive by faith without seeing

in the natural.

Sit Down Seated in heavenly places

1.

Ephesians 2:6 We are SEATED in heavenly places.

NOT pacing in heavenly places

2.

3.
C.

Jesus is seated in heavenly places.

a.

Colossians 3:1

b.

Revelation 4:2-3, 9-10; 5:1, 7

Hebrews 1:3, 13

Seat/seated (defined/Websters) A foundation on which one rests;

to fix firmly in place.
Rest (defined/Vines) Not a rest from work, but IN work;
not in activity, but rest while being active.
1.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto Me all that labor,

and I will give you rest.

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Receiving And Giving Grace

I.

What Is Grace?
A.

B.

C.

D.

Grace (defined) Kindness, favor, bestowing pleasure freely to all.

1.

It is the opposite of struggling to earn or deserve a thing.

2.

It is Gods power offered freely to help us do whatever

needs to be done with ease.

Can anything actually be easy in life?

1.

Matthew 11:28-30 My yoke is easy!

2.

There is a way to do things in Christ that removes

frustration!

Grace is the power and equipment for your job, calling, or station
(situation) in life.
1.

Romans 12:6 According to the grace (ability) given, let

us use our gifts.

2.

I Corinthians 3:10 The special endowment for my task!

3.

Philippians 4:13 Whatever you need to do in life,

YOU CAN DO IT.

4.

I despise seeing people I love waste their grace.

a.

A very talented person, but so insecure they are

paralyzed.

b.

Touchy, lazy or stupid

Grace is received through faith.

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1.

Not through doubt and unbelief, worry or reasoning and

negativity

2.

By grace are you saved through faith it is a gift of God.

Saved from sin, hell and every other misery

E.

F.

Keep believing and stay plugged into your power source.

1.

Romans 1:17 From faith to faith

2.

Must understand righteousness.

Faith is positive; it believes the best!

1.

Two attitudes
a.

Do you see what you have, or what others

have that you dont have?

b.

Do you rehearse (talk about and practice

for) your problems or your possibilities?

c.

What are you expecting out of life? Are you

aggressively believing for good things, or
merely waiting to see what you get?

d.

2.

1)

Faith is not passive.

2)

Waiting on God properly is not

passive it is spiritual activity
that affects the spiritual realm.

You might say, Thomas was a disciple and he

was negative, but there is no book of Thomas
in the Bible.

Get honest what percent of the time are you positive?

a.

That is the percent of power you have.

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b.

II.

Maybe you look like a lamp with the

dimmer switch on!

Grace For Specific Situations Tailor-Made Grace

A.

B.

Grace to be bold
1.

Romans 15:15

2.

Romans 12:3

Grace for confrontation

1.

Matthew 18:15-16 Most of the time people are afraid

to confront, and instead they gossip.

2.

Instead of saying, I hate confrontation, say, I have grace

to confront issues when I really need to.

3.

Paul was out ministering fourteen years before he went to

present himself, and his message, to the other apostles.
a.

Galatians 2:1-14
Especially see Verses 10-14.

b.

C.

He confronted Peter about hypocrisy. It didnt

seem to destroy their relationship (it may have
helped it).

Difficult marriage If youre going to stay, be happy while God works.

1.

Pray and be careful how you talk about your spouse and
the situation.

2.

You can waste your grace by saying things that turn the
power off.

3.

I Samuel: Chapter 25 Abigail

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17

Verses 25, 37-40 She was married to a fool, but her good
attitude got her a king!
D.

III.

Persecution for trying to do what is right

1.

Matthew 5:10-12

2.

II Timothy 3:12

3.

Mark 10:28-30 Receive a 100-fold return with

persecution.

E.

Do you have a financial need? God will give you grace it is available!

F.

A health problem? Grace is available!

G.

More responsibility than you think you can stand? Grace is available!

One Day At A Time

A.

Exodus 16:15-21 Even supernatural provision comes one day at a

time.
1.

Gather your grace (power, strength and ability) daily.

2.

Psalm 63:1 (NKJV) O God, You are my God; early

will I seek You

3.

Psalm 108:2-3 I will rise up early, and I will praise you.

4.

Proverbs 8:17 those who seek me early and diligently

shall find me.
Early before anything else.

5.
B.

I doubt that the Israelites procrastinated about gathering

their manna for the day.

Dont waste todays grace trying to get tomorrows.

1.

Matthew 6:34 Worry

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C.

Dont waste todays grace being mad, sad, depressed, discouraged,

or disgusted about what did or did not happen yesterday!
1.

IV.

Let go of what lies behind and get on with life.

Power Gone Sour

A.

Sampson a specially gifted man who wasted his grace.

1.

B.

C.

He had unbelievable strength.

Some of his feats:

1.

Killed a lion bare-handed.

2.

Slew thirty armed men.

3.

Caught 300 foxes, tied their tails together with a torch

between their tails, and sent them to the enemys camp
and burned everything up.

4.

Killed 1000 men with the jawbone of a donkey.

Judges 16:1 He saw a harlot and went to her.

1.

Delilah found the secret of his strength.

2.

It was due to him being dedicated as a Nazarite, and one

vow he took was to never cut his hair.

3.

Delilah cut it while he was sleeping.

a.

Judges 16:20 He did not realize he had

lost what he had he wasted his grace.

b.

Judges 16:30 God let him die in victory,

but his life was wasted.

Dont receive just enough grace for your own salvation

Live a life that brings honor to the King God!
DONT WASTE YOUR GRACE
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How To Avoid A Power Outage

Two Ways to Live
I.

Two Covenants
A.

Galatians 4:22-23 Two women two covenants

1.

How do you want to live?

a.

Ordinary natural

b.

Supernatural
The power is never out in this realm.

B.

Genesis 15:1-6 Shows us the supernatural

1.

Abraham believed God!

2.

Romans 4:18-22 What is impossible with man is possible

with God.

3.

Romans 15:13 Joy and peace come through believing.

When youve lost them, ask yourself what youre believing.

4.
C.

Isaac, the child of promise the supernatural childs name

means laughter.

Genesis 16:1-9 Ordinary natural

1.

We see mans fleshly ideas of how to get what he wants.

2.

We see strife, and loss of joy and peace.

3.

Blame, running away in fear

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4.

II.

Eventually we see Ishmael, whose name means

man of war.

Living By Faith (Trust, Reliance And Total Leaning On God)

A.

Matthew 13:58 Jesus could have done more if they would have had
more faith.
1.

B.

C.

Faith can increase by using what you have.

Hebrews 4:3, 11 Throughout Gods Word, we see people who

believed God and those who did not.
1.

We also see the results!

2.

What are the results of the way you have chosen to live?

Matthew 14:28-31 Peter got out of the boat and walked on water by
faith.
1.

History is filled with testimonies of people who did great

things by faith in God!
IMPOSSIBLE THINGS, UNLESS GOD IS INVOLVED!

D.

No matter how many miracles we hear about, read about or even see
with our own eyes, our natural tendency is to doubt, worry and reason!
1.

E.

Matthew 16:5-10 They worried about lunch, yet they had

just witnessed the feeding (miraculous feeding) of the 4000
and the 5000 (twelve loaves of bread fed 9000).

Walking in or living by faith requires steps:

1.

Knowing Gods Word and character.

2.

Taking a chance stepping out.

3.

Being patient.

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III.

4.

Staying positive.

5.

Great faith requires experience with Gods faithfulness.

When Youre Waiting, You Are Tempted To SHORT CIRCUIT Your

Faith.
A.

When you see nothing changing, and you feel nothing changing, and you
are really tired of waiting:

JM NOTE: I know how you feel.

B.

C.

1.

The enemy says, What are you going to do you need

to do something!

2.

But you cant do anything if, you honestly dont know

what to do.

Tempted to give up (giving up is aborting your dream).

1.

The answer to temptation is to pray, pray, pray.

2.

Determination

Dont focus on the problem.

1.

I got a cortisone shot in my elbow. and the doctor distracted

me by asking about my dog.

2.

Mark 5:35-36 When Jesus heard negative reports, He

ignored them.

3.

How many problems (especially relationship problems)

could you have avoided in life by ignoring what someone
said or did?
Be careful what you focus on.

D.

Killing giants is easy if you know how to do it.

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1.

Dont expect the giant to give up easily!

2.

I Samuel 17:32-50 David kills Goliath.

a.

Verse 33 He had to get past the discouragement

of other people.

b.

Verses 34-37 He had to keep thinking and

talking about other victories that he had in the
past.

c.

Verses 39-40 He had to get past everyones

advice on how to do it and follow his heart.

d.

Verses 42-43 He had to get past the enemy

making fun of him: Who do you think you
are?

e.

Verses 45-47 He had to get bold and

aggressive.

f.

Verse 48 When the appointed time came

to act, he had to act quickly
Dont miss your moment.

E.

IV.

David was anointed to be king twenty years before he was crowned.

1.

If he had given up when he saw Goliath, he would still

be waiting!

2.

Its the twenty years that mess us up.

3.

Abraham waited twenty years for Isaac.

Do What You Can Do And God Will Do What You Cant Do.
A.

You cant change a grouchy, unbelieving spouse, child or friendbut:

1.

You can keep being a blessing everywhere you go.

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B.

C.

D.

Maybe you cant make your boss realize you really should have that
promotion and huge raise that goes with itbut:
1.

You can keep praying.

(See Luke 18:1 and John 11:40.)

2.

You can keep being thankful for what you have!

Maybe you cant change the world, the government, violence, war or
hatredbut:
1.

You can be a light (even one) in a dark place.

2.

You can keep loving Jesus every day.

3.

You can be the one person you know who keeps their
word, is positive and smiles most of the time.

You can be the one house in the neighborhood that has power (grace)
when it is dark everywhere else!
BE FAITHFUL TO DO WHAT YOU CAN DO
AND GOD WILL DO WHAT YOU CANT DO!

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