Baptism Vs Attitude

Just a couple of quotes I ran into or was it across.

The Gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trails.

Time is the coin of life. Only you can determine how it will be spent.

Which is more evident of being a Christian, Baptized or Attitude?

Introduction: Baptism is a testimony not a form of salvation but the statement of. Baptism announces that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Your sins are forgiven, you have been born-again and you are now buried in Christ Jesus and raised in His likeness. Everyone should be baptized as quickly as possible after they have been saved. Baptism is a one-time act but attitude is an act of a life time. Baptism announces the new birth for the church to see, attitude exposes the new creature for the world to see. So which projects the most evidence of the new creature?

(Intent): The purpose of this sermon is not to argue demonical teachings but is solely for the benefit of the most awesome people in the state of Arkansas those that sit on the beautiful padded pews of Harvest Fellowship Church and those that are watching via internet. God is going to pour out a “surprise blessing” on all of them.

(Intro. Continued) The Bible records a command by our Lord found in Matt 28:19, 20. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. KJV The importance of baptism is discussed adamantly in all four Gospels and numerous times in the Epistles. But in my thinking there remains a very important question. Which is the greater testimony, baptism or attitude? I think we can say that without a doubt both are a sign or signs of the true believer.

Signs following believers are discussed in Mark 16:17-18 as miraculous deeds that believers perform as they announce and show evidence of the kingdom of God. That the same power that was demonstrated by Christ is now to be used by those that believe. Paul stated in 1 Cor 2:4-5

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Attitude: What is Attitude?

The dictionary gives several different meaning and positions of attitude. 1) A position assumed for a specific purpose. 2) A mental position with regard to fact or state, a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state. 3) A negative or hostile state of mind. 4) A cool, cocky, arrogant or defiant manner. Also listed involves the position of an aircraft determined by its relationship between its axis and its reference datum such as the horizon. Everyone has an attitude, some filled with lover and compassion. Some filled with hate, strife and condemnation and most likely, without cause, they just like to hate.

I want to talk about the effect of an attitude and its rewards.

1. Attitude toward God: A godly attitude effect all of self and every aspect of our future. A godly attitude determines our position with God. How do we feel about God? Do we love Him with all of our heart, all of our soul as commanded in the first commandment of the Ten Commandments or do we put other gods before Him. Which determines and exposes our relationship with God. An attitude of a daily, intimate and personal relationship with Christ produces an attitude of understanding with Love, Joy, and Peace that naturally flow from us to others. There are those that have been baptized but still are as mean as a junk yard Rottweiler that hasn’t eaten in several days. Think you may live next door to someone like that or could they attend your church? Then there are those that are the sweetest people and nothing changes their attitude. An attitude is not just a personal matter that effects only you but it effects all those around you. It effects those you work with, those you may go to school with, or play with or in the church. Attitudes lead back to a person’s relationship with God. A person that harbors or tries to hind a bad attitude toward God is a walking time bomb that could explode at any time without warning.

2. Attitude toward Marriage: When one person of the marriage has a bad attitude, it can cause turmoil within the home sometimes on a daily basic. One partner is not happy and has thoughts of something or even someone different. They wait to jump at every un-agreeable word or even an expression. But when both partners have a bad attitude, it can be all hell exploding without gates or walls. This is very sad, very tragic and also dangerous. Sometimes a lot of this chaos can be brought on by just one partner having an unbelieving attitude toward God. That one individual effects and threatens the entire partnership of the marriage and the future of off springs of that union.