Attitude To Be Part 4
Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”
Attitude 7 - We need an attitude of PEACEMAKING.
Matthew 5:9 MSG "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
Matthew 5:9 (NLTSE) God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
Have you ever been in a room where everybody is negative and complaining? Everything is going wrong. Then a person enters the room and soon says something that causes people to say, “We never thought of it like that.” – the whole climate changes. This is a peacemaker.
Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV) A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
God wants peacemakers in His church. God wants peacemakers in the workplace. God wants peacemakers out in the world.
Jesus had the ability to change things. He was a peacemaker.
Jesus was a peacemaker. He changes things. He has called us to be peacemakers too.
Proverbs 12:20 (NLTSE) Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
Proverbs 29:8 (NLTSE) Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger.
Hebrews 12:14 (NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
James 3:18 (NLTSE) And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
Romans 14:19 (NKJV) Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Matthew 5:9 (NKJV) “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”
And remember if we do this, we shall be called sons of God.
*Matthew 5:10 (NKJV) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Attitude 8 - We need an attitude of ENDURANCE.
We have lived long enough in this world to know that whatever you do - we will be criticized. Even if you do nothing – we will be criticized and persecuted.
People will persecute you, but God will always justify you.
1 Peter 4:12-19 (NKJV) Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now“If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Being a true follower of Jesus comes with cost, But it doesn't cost to serve, God it Pay's.
Mark 8:34-35 (AMP) And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me]. 35 For whoever wants to save his [higher, spiritual, eternal] life, will lose it [the lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth]; and whoever gives up his life [which is lived only on earth] for My sake and the Gospel's will save it [his higher, spiritual life in the eternal kingdom of God].
Story of Paul and Silas thrown in prison.
Acts 16:16-34 (NKJV) Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 “and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Remember, He is no fool who follows God, even when he is laugh at.
Matthew 5:10 (NKJV) “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
And remember if we do this, our's is the Kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV) "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Attitude 9 - We need an attitude of FAITHFULNESS.
When the going gets tough – the tough keep going.
Jesus is going to judge us by our faithfulness. In Matthew chapter twenty five Jesus tells a parable of a group of three servants who were given a certain amount of money. The master went off on a journey but when he returned there was a day of accountability. Two of the servants were faithful and this is what the master said to them:
Matthew 25:23 (NKJV) ’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Do you know what the master called the third servant who was not faithful? He was called, “wicked and lazy.”
Your faithfulness shows your CHARACTER.
Luke 16:10 (NLTSE) "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities.
Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV) “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
And remember if we do this, our reward will be great in heaven.
Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV) "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
