"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" - Philippians 4:8
PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS
• Do you spend more time thinking in good things or in negative things?
• Are you willing (open) to be changed?
• How valuable is the Bible for you?
• Are you willing to change your attitudes?
• Can you try to look at yourself instead of finding faults in other people around you?
SPIRITUAL WILDERNESS
Just imagine that you are driving on your way to work and a big billboard announces the Sahara desert, a scorpion crawling in the sand and a bright sunshine as a favorite holiday destination. This would be nonsense! When we choose a vacation place we wont pick up a wilderness. Desert places are not a good destination for a time of pleasure. Dry land and absence of water are a negative thing. However we arrive many times to emotional deserts and periods of dryness in our lifetimes we arrive many times to seasons of wilderness in our lives and we wonder how did we get there. The answer is very simple: our attitudes lead us to emotional deserts. The reason why God's people had to endure a season of wilderness is linked to the fact that they had an attitude problem. Their journey began with miracles, joy, a new begin in a new land and a hope for a better existence but because of idolatry, rebellion, disobedience, murmuring, complaining they had to remain in the desert until a new generation was raised from under the age of twenty.
God had to do something very radical! Is this an important part of scriptures? Is the Bible spending too much time describing this season? Why is this important enough to be mentioned and described not only in the Old Testament but also in the New? Numbers 13 describes an expedition of twelve spies to the Promised Land. They where just to visit and bring back a report of what they 've seen in preparation to the conquest but when they came back started whining about armies, giants and other obstacles they would face. But only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, came back bringing a good report. These two men had faith in their God and where not worried with the journey but rather with their final destination.
WHAT IS YOUR FINAL DESTINATION?
When you return from a vacation most often people ask about your trip. How was the flight? How long was the drive? These are the first questions, and yes the trip is important but let me stress to you that the destination is more important than the journey. People have a tendency to focus on the trip and many times they loose focus on their destination. If you enjoy the trip it will make things easier. If by other hand you keep complaining the journey will become long and painful. In the Bible story of the twelve spies we can learn different lessons but i would like to emphasize the fact that the main difference between Joshua and Caleb and the "no name ten" was a matter of attitude. In numbers 14: 27 we read that the people "murmured!' some people make a lifestyle out of murmuring. As a consequence these people will spend them lifetime in the wilderness. The apostle Paul mentioned in the book 12 Corinthians 10: l-3 that these things happen as examples for us. On verse 9 says that they groaned and this attitude was factor that lead to their punishment. They where able to see the Promised Land but they never enjoyed the blessings of possessing it.
Attitudes are important for your life. Attitudes are important to God. There are serious consequences as a result of bad attitudes. We are starting today a special study that will help us to get rid of bad attitudes. This is a key to overcome spiritual obstacles and to achieve great things. I believe that the main attitude problem that people have is murmuring and complaining. Sadly many Christians have a negative attitude of murmuring and complaining all the time.
Remember that you will be here on Earth for a brief time and God is trying to approve you to be for all Eternity with Him in the place we call Heaven. Bad attitudes will keep you out of your destination. If you don't want to die in the desert this message is just for you. So fasten your seatbelt and get ready to learn how important our attitudes are to the Lord.
WYSIWYG - WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET
"Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it (the heart) are found the issues of life. For as a man thinks in his heart so is he." - Proverbs 4:23, Proverbs 23:7
Jesus said in john 6:43 "murmur not among yourselves"
What is your mouth speaking in abundance? It always surprises me to see that some Christians have a bad treasure in their hearts. However it's even more surprising when their actions don't correspond to their words. Attitudes are more than simple words. Attitudes are the things that you do when confronted with circumstances of life.
I read the story of a man that worked at a gas 'station and one day a lady drove to purchase gas, she stated that she was moving to the town and asked the attendant what the people where like in that town. The attendant asked her what people where like in the previous town. The lady said they where discourteous thoughtless, mean and annoying. The gas station employee said that she would find that people are pretty much the same in this town. The lady than thanked him and drove away. Shortly another car drove into the station for gas and another young lady stated that she was moving to the town and asked what the where like in this town. The attendant asked her the same question and she said that the people in her home town where very courteous, thoughtful, kind an considerate, the attendant told the lady that she would find pretty much the same kind of people in this town. You will probably attract people of the same kind as the ones you feel yourself to be surrounded of. Misery loves company so we know that miserable people are always attracting each other. Please take a look at yourself and determine if you are a constant complainer. If you are you can decide today that with the grace of God you can become a different person and have the character of Jesus Christ instead of a negative attitude.
You noted to call upon the power and authority of Jesus outpost to help you to become a new person.
Jeremiah 13: 23 "can the Ethiopian change the color of his skin or the leopard its spots? Nor can you do good if you are accustomed to doing evil"
It's very hard to break up with bad habits but we know that the miracle of salvation and a new birth can operate a change of character that will reflect a different attitude. Being born again gives us the possibility of changing our attitude.
GRADE 1 - The abundance of your heart
Matthew 12:33
33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
This happened when the Pharisees criticized Jesus and where telling around that his ministry wasn't coming from God. Very often people under a religious spirit criticize those that serve the Lord. So Jesus gave the examples of the Tree and of the treasure. You can know the quality of a tree by the fruit and likewise you can know a person by the fruit. The Pharisees had nice words but no fruit and when confronted in their beliefs their words labeled Jesus, the son of God as being the devil. How can you be so blind that you are confused between Jesus and Satan and you even try to convince others around you of your own delirium?
So today I am calling this teaching the fundamental level of understanding what is behind your attitudes. Your heart will produce either good or evil and this is determined by what you fill yourself with.
GRADE 12 - Actions corresponding to your words
So the disciples learned this public teaching. They went through the New Covenant with the Lord. They witnessed the death and resurrection of the Mesiah. They are now born again, Spirit filled Christians but they still have to learn a valuable lesson from Jesus.
John 21:15-17Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. 16 He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. He said to him, Tend my sheep. 17 He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? and he said to him, Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep.
Jesus had to teach Peter that love is not about words but has to have correspondent actions. You can say that you love Jesus but refuse to serve him. Attitudes are actions that should back up your words. Remember that Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss. I think that a kiss is a loving action and I really believe that at the time the other disciples thought that Judas was showing his love but latter they learned the reality that the Lord was betrayed with what it appeared to be an act of love.
On Grade 1 of our walk with Christ we learn how important are our words. At the end of our elementary education we learn that love is not "lip service", love is not about saying how much we love Jesus, love is manifested in practical actions taking care of the New born Christians and serving Jesus by blessing and teaching others in God's house.
There is a saying that people that come to Church on Sunday are saved and learned that they are saved. Those that come and do a service at the Church learned to follow the Lord. Finally those that come mid-week or to the Sunday evening service are the ones that love the Lord. I really don't wan't you to feel excluded from this list or upset with this saying but please consider your ways and remember that you cannot bring forth good things out of your heart if you neglect your assembly. You need the fellowship of the saints in order to make a deposit in the treasure you carry inside your heart.
CONCLUSION
"Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there by any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" - Philippians 4:8
Psalm 95: 7 today if you would hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
