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Speaker: Rev. Shine Thomas
Posted on: 2011-01-16
Series: Christian Discipline

Have you already read Part 1 of Keeping a Positive Attitude?

Introduction

The people that succeed are not necessarily the most talented; they are the most determined in their attitude. They do not see failure as final. When they face obstacles they do not get discouraged, they fight back. Our attitude is a choice that we make about every situation we face.

This morning we are going to have a look at the attitude of Jesus Christ. We are also going to see how to develop a never give up attitude.

The secular world conducts workshops and speeches on positive thinking and positive attitude. Are they truly successful? Not really. They may well be successful in some areas of their life but complete success and joy comes to those who have the attitude of Christ in them.

The Attitude of Christ

Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had.

What the attitude of Christ was like?

Philippians 2:5-8 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had. 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

Jesus had a great attitude. If we look at this passage we can find a good list of Christ’s attitude: Unselfishness, humility, service, sacrificial, obedience etc. Today I would like to highlight the 2 basic attitudes of Christ which sums up His entire attitude - Humility & Obedience.

Humility

What is a humble attitude? Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride is to be boastful or to be high-minded. Pride is to think more highly of yourself than you ought to. When you think highly about you than you ought to then it automatically causes you to think less of other people than you ought to.

Illustration: In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers died as they were hurled into the icy waters below. News of the disaster was further darkened when an investigation revealed the cause of the accident. It wasn't a technology problem like radar malfunction, thick fog, or an iceberg like that of the Titanic. The cause was human stubbornness. Each captain was aware of the other ship's presence nearby. Both could have steered clear, but according to reports, neither captain wanted to give way to the other. Each was too proud to yield first. By the time they came to their senses, it was too late.

Qualities of Humility

Humble people honour and respect one another. In every relation whether they be above you or below you honour and respect is a must. Nowadays people do not know how to honour and respect people anymore. There is not enough respect to elders, spiritual authority, leaders, and teachers like before. It is the spirit of pride that rules people now. God is high on honour and respect because it is God’s divine order.

Humble people are teachable. How do you respond when someone corrects you? Do we have a teachable spirit? Humble people take correction in a positive way. When we come to a point that no one can correct me, no one can guide me then pride is growing in us.

Humble people are submissive people. Submission is not doing something that you do not want to with a bad attitude. True submission is doing something that you do not want to do with a good attitude. Submission is an attitude. Wives need a proper attitude towards your husbands. Wives who work exercises authority in the office but when you come to your houses understand you are under authority. This does not mean that husbands need not be under authority of the wife. There is a mutual submission needed and you know when to be in authority and when in submission. The problem with people who are in authority is that they do not know when to be in submission. Some people do not want to be under authority they love to be in authority. You are not fit to be in authority if you do not know how to come under an authority.

Watchman Knee said that any time we walk into a room or place the first job we as believers have is to look around and see who is in authority and make a decision to come under that authority.

It is pride that works against submission. Proud people think they are too good to be corrected. Proud people think they are too good to be around certain people. They will only hang out with the people of their class. Understand pride goes before destruction and humility always comes before a promotion. Humble people are exalted by God.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. People with pride always exalt themselves. If you exalt yourself to a position to which God did not raise you up, you cannot stand there for long. But if God exalted you to a position then he will empower you to be there.

Luke 14:11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Jesus humbled himself God exalted him. Humility always comes before a promotion. If you are going to trying circumstances where your self respect, reputation, your image is taking a beating understand God has an impending promotion for you. Whomever God uses God brings them to some kind of situation where they will have to humble themselves and wait upon the Lord.

Obedience

Obedience is not an act you do because of fear; it is an attitude that arises because of love. We need to be obedient to the Lord as the ultimate authority. Part of being obedient to God is also being submissive to other authorities that are above you. If you are working in an office you need to obey the rules of the office. Examples: Parking in front of no parking, driving without a valid license. Not paying your taxes etc.

Now the opposite of obedience is disobedience or rebellion. God treats rebellion very seriously. In the OT times rebellious children were stoned to death.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 18If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: 19Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; 20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Joke: Once a father was gifted a toy from his office. He called his 5 kids together to ask which one should have the present. He asked "Who is the most obedient?" The children all stared back at him in silence. Then the father asked, "Who never talks back to mother?" Again the kids appeared to be mystified by the question. Then the father asked, "Who obeys all that she says?" With that question, the kids were finally able to come to a conclusion. The five small voices answered in unison, "Okay, dad, you get the toy."

Rebelling and disobeying attitude is the attitude of the antichrist. Antichrist is a man of rebellion or lawlessness.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

As the end is coming near more and more people are rebelling against God and the authorities of the world. That is why people rebel against one another, people rebel against the government. People want to do things their way. They do not want to be under authority any longer. Understand the more the rebellion the more the powers of darkness is at work. Obedience of a child of God is the tool that works against rebellion.

2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.

What is holding back or acting against the rebellion of the world is the Holy Spirit in us. If we believers choose to obey God and choose to come under every authority in the world that God has placed then we hold back the spirit of rebellion. Then there will be power and authority in our words.

When Jesus spoke he spoke with power and authority. Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority. Jesus spoke with authority and power because Jesus was in perfect obedience to the father.

God has a very strong attitude toward the spirit of rebellion and rebellious people. Being obedient to God is not to be obedient to God at church. Being obedient to God is to live every minute in the fear of the Lord.

Illustration: If you happen to watch a movie with friends and you find the movie has got material which is not right obedience to God is switching it off. Then if you happen to go an office party and find they are serving liquor, obedience is walking out of the party then and there not bothered about losing your friendship or what others will think about you.

Our obedience comes out of love. John 14:15 If you really? love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

Humility and obedience are the attitude of Christ. This is the difference between the secular positive speeches and the Bible. The Bible speaks of attitude as a lifestyle, or the lifestyle of Christ. Our attitude is internal. The secular world speaks of attitude to overcome stress and meet targets. Their attitude is for an external cause. If we are humble and obedient God, will enable us to have a never give up attitude with which we can overcome our circumstances and have complete success.

How to have a never give up attitude?

Jesus said in John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Life sometimes brings us disappointments, failures, unfair situations, setbacks and at such times too many people just give up. They say, “I cannot enjoy life, my marriage is not going to last, we are having a lot of problems, the economy is bad, I will never accomplish my dreams, the doctor’s report does not look good.” If you want to experience God’s best you need to be strong and courageous, you cannot be weak.

It is very important to have a warrior attitude. No matter how long it is taking, your attitude should be, “If I should stand in faith my whole lifetime I will never give up on what God has in store for me.” When you have such an attitude then no person, no obstacles, no setbacks, no sickness, no betrayal, and all the forces of darkness cannot keep you from your God given destiny.

Right Attitude comes with the right Spirit

To have the right attitude we need the right kind of spirit within us. God did not create us to give up and have a low spirit when it is hard, God wants us to have the right spirit which leads to the right attitude.

What is the right kind of spirit?

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Amp Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

A right spirit is a persevering and a steadfast spirit. God considers our spirit to be right when we are determined, when we are positive. Not when we are giving up or complaining. When we have the right spirit we develop right attitude in life. The right spirit is, “Yes I am having challenges in life but I know I am serving a great God and what was meant for my harm I know God is going to turn it around for my good. So I am not going to be depressed and defeated thinking about what did not work out, who hurt me, what I missed out, God is in control. He can give the best for me.”

Do not allow your circumstances to push you down. Some of us when faced with tough trying circumstances tell all is over and give up on life.

Illustration: I remember a particular time in my life in my mid 20s when everything was going against me. All my plans and dreams failed, people whom I considered friends were no longer friends. I did not even have a single person to speak about how I felt, how depressed I was, and how bitter I was. For months I was all alone from morning to evening just killing away my time without any purpose in life. My circumstances were negative, tough, and without hope. Then one day I heard a voice from deep within me. It was God speaking to me that he has great plans for me. I started spending time with God. All my dreams and desires were reconfirmed by God and today when I look back God fulfilled every one of them.

Do not allow your circumstances to push you down. Nothing that has happened to you can keep you from your God given destiny. Life may bring you to some curves, it may be a bumpy road, but always remember every setback is a setup for a greater comeback.

Psalm 30:5 Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

You may be going through a time of weeping, a time of trial but understand joy is coming, refreshing times are coming your way. Have an attitude of faith.

Illustration: When we moved to our new home glory and I was very interested in gardening. We bought a lot of pots and plants. Everyday we used to water them, take care of them, and spend time gardening. The majority of the plants grew but we saw one plant that was shedding its leaves, everyday its beauty faded. Finally it just became a stick. It became so bad in appearance that we had to move it from the front to the back of our house. Two months later when we called a gardener and I asked him to uproot this particular plant and plant a new one. The gardener looked at it and said that plant is not dead; it is just not in season. When I saw it was ugly, without leaves. I said, “Are you sure this plan is not dead.” He said, “Sure, it is not the same type of plant as the other plants. It will bloom a few months later.” Sure enough in a few months that plant was full of leaves and flowers. It was just as beautiful like all other plants.

It looked dead to me. It looked like it would never bloom. But the fact is that the tree was alive and had a bright future, it was simply out of season. In the same way we look at our life and say it is over, my marriage is over, I am a failed person, I have a bad job. It looks dead to us but really like the plant your life is not dead just that it is not in season and the right season is coming your way. Do not give up there is another season coming.

God has seasons of promotion, blessings, and peace you have never seen before. But until that season comes we need to keep up the attitude of obedience and humility in faith. For every suffering, every shame God will give you a double portion if you keep up a right attitude.

Isaiah 61:7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.

Illustration: Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over the deserts. Deserts are usually dry and all that vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do. If you can look for what God is doing to you in your struggles you can be like the humming bird looking for the positives in life.

Conclusion

You are on the verge of a major breakthrough. Remember your best days are ahead of you. Continue in your obedience and walk of humility. When the season is right you will receive a double portion for all your troubles. Let us keep a positive attitude. Amen and God bless you!