How To Have A Winning Attitude! Part Ii Series

?How To Have A Winning Attitude!?

Part II

?[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

[5] Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. [6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[8] Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. [9] The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.?

Philippians 4:4-9

PRAYER?

INTRODUCTION:

ILLUSTRATION:

[Reader’s Digest, January, 1992]

Joe Theismann enjoyed an illustrious 12-year career as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances--winning in 1983 before losing the following year.

A leg injury forced him out of football in 1985?and now, he is entrenched in the record books as Washington’s all-time leading passer.

However, it is the tail end of Theismann’s career that taught him a bitter lesson: ?I got stagnant. I thought the team revolved around me. I should have known it was time to go when I didn’t care whether a pass hit Art Monk in the 8 or the 1 on his uniform. When we went back to the Super Bowl, my approach had changed. I was griping about the weather, my shoes, practice times, everything?.

Today I wear my two rings--the winner’s ring from Super Bowl XVII and the loser’s ring from Super Bowl XVIII. The difference in those two rings lies in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best.

-Two DIFFERENT rings?

-Two DIFFERENT decisions?

-Two DIFFERENT behaviors?from two DIFFERENT ATTITUDES!

à The difference?according to Joe Theismann?is in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best!

I wonder about this when it comes to our attitudes and behaviors?if that same thing is true for us???

-Does applying oneself make a difference?

-Does it take us just not accepting anything less, but to have the best attitude possible within us?

Ø You will remember from last week, we talked about being different?

Ø And we talked about having the best attitude?

Ø We also talked about how it is GOD WITHIN US that makes the true difference within our hearts?that will resonate to our outward actions.

-We cannot accomplish this kind of change on our own or with positive thinking through Human Philosophy?

à However, that is NOT to say that it takes NO effort of our own to get to where we need to be either?

-Faith, without works is dead, James tells us?

-And this can be applied here, and to many areas on life in this way?

*?You can BELIEVE for God to change you all the day long, but it is all for not, until you actually APPLY that belief/faith you are ?trusting? in, in a practical manner; by being a DOER of the Word, and not just a HEARER/BELIEVER!?

You see?Joe Theismann, and the Washington Redskins of 1984, are a testimony to the fact that ?belief? does nothing for you?only actions will make a difference!

-Being a Super Bowl Champ the year before didn?t win another one for the Redskins in 1984?

-Why? Because it was not the feat of the previous year that would win it for them this time (you can?t rest on your laurels)?

-But what they needed was a WINNING ATTITUDE?the ACTION?that is what was necessary to confirm that they were truly the Champions they thought they should be in 1984!

You see?ATTITUDE IS important?

But it is Christ who is everything!!! And we need Him in us!

J Who STILL NEEDS an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT??? J

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So then, people of God?let?s not just KNOW that we need to have a WINNING ATTITUDE!

-Let?s not just BELIEVE for it?

-But, let?s actually CHOOSE to have one!

*Amen?!

ILLUSTRATION:

Viktor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor said it this way?

?Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the right to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances; to choose one’s way.?

Paul, the Apostle, being challenged in a very real and personal way wrote these words while sitting in a prison of his own during his first imprisonment in Rome?he said?

Philippians 2:12-18, ?So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. [14] Do all things without grumbling or disputing; [15] that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, [16] holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. [17] But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. [18] And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.?