INTRODUCTION
Show video – Can be found at: http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/280400/28/Man-with-no-arms-or-legs-to-climb-Mount-Kilimanjaro
Kyle Maynard was born without arms and legs.
However, he never laid down and let the world get him under.
He never allowed his circumstances or other people to influence his attitude.
He chose to have a good attitude and that attitude allowed him to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
That attitude allowed him to change his altitude.
We all go through difficult times some time in our lives, and many of us goes through difficult times more than once or twice.
It is, however, very important how you handle that situation.
With what attitude do you live life?
Are you prone to lie down when things goes bad?
Do you always blame others for your situation?
Some of us just have a bad attitude and we blame it on our lineage.
You know, us Ferreira’s are very short tempered people.
We can’t help it.
It’s just how we are.
With an attitude like that you will never be able to go any higher than your current state.
You will always remain at a low altitude because your attitude is wrong.
We are at the beginning of 2016.
This is the first service of the year.
A new year awaits us full of its own problems, hardship and obstacles, but also with its own challenges.
What was your attitude like in 2015?
Are there room for improvement in the New Year?
What type of attitude do you have? and
What type of attitude are you supposed to have?
After all – Your Attitude determines your Altitude
SCRIPTURE
Let’s read together from:
Philippians 2:5-8 GW
(5) Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
(6) Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality.
(7) Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance.
(8) He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross.
Let us pray
SERMON
To enable us to properly understand this morning’s topic I think it imperative that we first determine the definition of our primary phrases.
Definitions
Attitude Defined
• Attitudes are the established ways of responding to people and situations that we have learned, based on the beliefs, values and assumptions we hold. Attitudes become manifest through your behaviour.
• A personal feeling about something.
Altitude Defined
• Height above Sea Level
Did you see what I saw at the definition for attitude?
Attitudes become manifest through your behaviour.
So we have another aspect here, namely action.
Therefore we could say that, our attitude determines our altitude which are shown through our action.
In other words, our attitude will be evident through our actions.
This determines how high above sea level we can go.
This brings us to the next question:
How high do you want to go?
If you want to go high, if you want to change your altitude, you need to be part of the answer, you need to have a winning attitude.
People with bad attitudes are usually part of the problem.
Ephesians 4:29 GW
(29) Don't say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.
Paul is saying here that your words and actions are important.
He says that we should not SAY anything hurtful and that we should GIVE HELP (action) where it is needed.
That is a good attitude to adopt and that is the way to climb the mountain.
Your words and actions are interrelated.
Just think when you and your husband or wife or friend have an argument.
How many times have you said things that was hurtful?
What action did you get back from this?
What attitude did you reflect?
What altitude did you reach?
I think not very high above sea level and sometimes below sea level.
Let me give you some realities that I discovered:
The person with the Good Attitude always has a plan - The person with the Bad Attitude always has an excuse
The person with the Good Attitude says, “Let me do it for you;” - The person with the Bad Attitude says, “That is not my job;”
The person with the Good Attitude sees an answer for every problem; - The person with the Bad Attitude sees a problem for every answer
The person with the Good Attitude sees a green near every sand trap; - The person with the Bad Attitude sees two or three sand traps near every green
The person with the Good Attitude says, “It may be difficult but it’s possible.” - The person with the Bad Attitude says, “It may be possible but it’s too difficult"
Again I want to emphasise that your attitude is your choice and it is reflected via your actions.
It is this that determines your altitude.
Therefore we could say that:
ATTITUDE DRIVES BEHAVIOUR
Listen to what author William N. Yeomans wrote:
"Almost always, you have a choice as to what attitude to adopt. There is nothing in any normal work situation that dictates you must react one way or another. If you feel angry about something that happens, for instance, that's how you choose to feel. Nothing in the event itself makes it absolutely necessary for you to feel that way. It is your choice. And since you do have a choice, most of the time you'll be better off if you choose to react in a positive rather than a negative way,”
You choose to act in a certain manner and your actions reflects it and this is a direct result of the attitude you choose to adopt.
It is a choice.
You have a choice regarding your attitude.
Don’t make excuses for your bad attitude - Choose to have a good attitude.
After all…
ATTITUDE IS INFECTIOUS
When you meet someone for the first time face to face, you can immediately determine a person’s attitude.
Have you seen what happens when someone yawns?
It’s infectious.
You also get the urge, involuntarily, to yawn.
That’s the way attitude is like.
It’s infectious…
Even without saying a word, people with a similar behaviour as you can be infected by your attitude and vice versa
This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your altitude.
But the other side of the coin is also true.
You have the ability to influence other people with your attitude.
By spreading God’s seeds you can influence other people.
By showing the Christian attitude to others, which like we said is manifested through actions, you have the ability to influence them.
You have the ability to be infectious in a positive manner.
Again, you can do it.
The question is, do you want to do it?
What type of attitude am I talking about?
Let’s read verses 5 & 7 in our scripture this morning to determine this:
Philippians 2:5, 7a GW
(5) Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
(7) Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant…
Your attitude should represent that of Jesus.
You should adopt the servanthood attitude, as that is what Jesus portrait.
Jesus was God, but He came as a servant.
Yes, you are a child of God also, but you should adopt the servanthood attitude.
You should understand that you were placed on this earth to serve, to serve God, serve your fellow Christians, and serve those in need.
Do you have that attitude or do you perceive yourself to be better than others?
Do you believe that you should be the one to be served?
I have news for you; that was never Jesus’ attitude.
Let’s read the preceding verses of our scripture this morning:
Philippians 2:1-4 GW
So then, as Christians, do you have any encouragement? Do you have any comfort from love? Do you have any spiritual relationships? Do you have any sympathy and compassion?
Then fill me with joy by having the same attitude and the same love, living in harmony, and keeping one purpose in mind.
Don't act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves.
Don't be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.
It’s not easy to have that attitude, is it?
But it is the attitude that you should adopt.
But there are two particular areas in our lives which could have an effect on our attitude:
The first one is this:
CIRCUMSTANCES CAN DICTATE YOUR ATTITUDE
Let me give you a bio of a very famous person:
He failed in business aged 21
He was defeated in a major political race aged 22
He failed again in business aged 24
He had to deal with the death of his sweat heart at the age of 26
He suffered a nervous breakdown aged 27
He lost a congressional race aged 34
He lost another congressional race aged 36
He lost a senatorial race aged 45
He failed to become Vice-President aged 47
He lost another senatorial race aged 49
He was elected 16th President of the United Sates aged 52
This man was Abraham Lincoln.
Could he have become President if he had the wrong attitude?
Would Thomas Edison have invented the electric light bulb if he accepted failure after his 900th attempt?
They had the right attitude.
We also find some examples in the Bible:
Cain killing Abel
Cain killed Abel because the Lord accepted His brother’s offering and not his own.
Cain had a bad attitude.
Instead of rectifying his attitude, he acted in the circumstances.
He allowed his circumstances to dictate his attitude, which in turn was manifest through his actions.
Listen to what the Lord told Cain just before he killed his brother:
Genesis 4:6-7 GW
… "Why are you angry, and why do you look disappointed?
If you do well, won't you be accepted? But if you don't do well, sin is lying outside your door ready to attack. It wants to control you, but you must master it."
Sin, through your circumstances, wants to control you.
It wants to control your actions.
Only you can prevent that.
Israelites in the desert
Another example of a bad attitude is the Israelites in the desert.
Just after leaving Egypt the Pharaoh and his army pursued them.
At looking back at the coming army the Israelites attitude were dictated by their circumstances.
Listen to what they said to Moses in:
Exodus 14:11 GW
(11) …"Did you bring us out into the desert to die because there were no graves in Egypt? Look what you've done by bringing us out of Egypt!
They saw what God had done for them.
Yet they still went back to their old attitude as soon as the circumstances changed.
Isn’t that what we sometimes do?
As long as all goes well, we have a great attitude, but the moment something goes wrong, our attitude changes and it shows in our actions.
But if you change or maintain your good attitude, even in the face of diversity, then it doesn’t matter how big or scary or dangerous your problems look.
You will see them as easy to overcome
Think about Joshua and Caleb?
Joshua and Caleb
12 Spies were sent out to explore the Promised Land.
10 of them came back with this report:
Numbers 13:27-28, 31 GW
(27) This is what they reported to Moses: "We went to the land where you sent us. It really is a land flowing with milk and honey. Here's some of its fruit.
(28) But the people who live there are strong, and the cities have walls and are very large. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.
(31) … "We can't attack those people! They're too strong for us!"
But 2 of them (Joshua & Caleb) had this report:
Numbers 14:7-9 GW
They said to the whole community of Israel, "The land we explored is very good.
If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us. This is a land flowing with milk and honey!
Don't rebel against the LORD, and don't be afraid of the people of the land. We will devour them like bread. They have no protection, and the LORD is with us. So don't be afraid of them."
Was the circumstances different for the 10 spies as it was for Joshua and Caleb?
No, it was the same circumstances.
The thing that was different was their attitude.
Joshua
Joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave.
He was falsely accused by his master’s wife and placed in jail for years.
But, although his circumstances was bad, his attitude was always good.
That was manifest through his actions, which ultimately made him one of the most powerful men in the world.
Paul
Paul had to face many turmoil in his life.
Listen to what he wrote in:
2 Corinthians 11:23-29 GW
(23) I've … been in prison many more times, been beaten more severely, and have faced death more often.
(24) Five times the Jewish leaders had me beaten with 39 lashes;
(25) three times Roman officials had me beaten with clubs. Once people tried to stone me to death; three times I was shipwrecked, and I drifted on the sea for a night and a day.
(26) Because I've traveled a lot, I've faced dangers from raging rivers, from robbers, from my own people, and from other people. I've faced dangers in the city, in the open country, on the sea, and from believers who turned out to be false friends.
(27) Because I've had to work so hard, I've often gone without sleep, been hungry and thirsty, and gone without food and without proper clothes during cold weather.
(28) Besides these external matters, I have the daily pressure of my anxiety about all the churches.
(29) When anyone is weak, I'm weak too. When anyone is caught in a trap, I'm also harmed.
Paul never allowed his circumstances to dictate his attitude and it showed through his actions.
A second influence on your attitude is people.
PEOPLE CAN INFLUENCE YOUR ATTITUDE
People with bad attitudes can bring you down to their level.
They can influence your attitude by their bad attitude.
As we said earlier, attitude is infectious.
How many times have you listened to a person with a bad attitude and then, all of a sudden, you find yourself agreeing with that person’s argument.
Although you don’t believe in what he or she says you find yourself being pulled down to their level.
It happens quite easily without you even realising what’s happening.
That is why the Bible tells us in:
2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And then, in the very verse of the first Psalm we read the following:
Psalms 1:1 KJV
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
People can influence your attitude
But again, it is a choice.
It is your choice whether or not you are willing to allow people to influence your attitude.
On the other hand it is your duty to influence negative attitudes with your positive attitudes.
It is your duty to influence the attitude of others with Christlike attitude.
I know it is not always easy, but if you have enough positive attitude inside of you, you will have the ability to change the altitude of those with bad attitudes in order for them to see what it is like to be living on a higher altitude, ultimately getting them to change their attitude in order for them to get to the higher altitude on their own.
Let me give you an example:
Take two balloons.
Fill the one with air and the other with helium.
If I let go of the two balloons, the one filled with air will decent to the ground, but the one with helium will go up to the roof.
It will change its altitude.
But what will happen if I take both balloons and tie them together?
The balloon filled with air will usually prevent the balloon filled with helium to go up and most likely will pull it down.
But if I replace the balloon filled with helium with a bigger balloon capable of handling more helium or I use more balloons filled with helium and I tie them to the balloon filled with air, what do you think would happen?
Yes, the bigger balloon or the bunch of balloons filled with helium will most likely drag the balloon filled with air upwards.
What am I saying here?
I am saying here that, yes, although attitude is infectious and although people can influence your attitude, you should, in order for you to reach a higher altitude, not allow bad attitude to drag you down.
In fact, your attitude must be of such a nature that you are able to take others to a higher altitude.
It is also true that more people with a good attitude, if they work together, will be able to influence another with a bad attitude and can thereby influence that person to reach a higher altitude.
Let me ask you a question this morning.
What is your attitude like regarding the following:
• God
• The Word of God
• God’s Children
• Authority
• Hard Circumstances
• Our Church
• Your Duty / Ministry
• Unfairness
• Disappointment or Tragedy
• The Lost
• Sin
• Success
Do you portray a good, positive, Bible-based, Jesus-centred attitude or do you conform to this world and their attitude?
Do you allow your circumstances or people to have an effect on your attitude or do you allow Jesus to form your attitude?
Does your good attitude manifest through good actions or does your bad attitude gets revealed through your bad attitude?
You can never change your altitude, unless you first change your attitude.
So what do you do if you realised that you have a bad attitude.
HOW DO YOU DEVELOP GOOD ATTITUDES?
1. Identify and Repent of Bad Attitudes
Acts 8:22 GW
(22) So change your wicked thoughts, and ask the Lord if he will forgive you for thinking like this.
Only you can identify the bad attitude and only you can repent of it.
Change the way you think, which will change your attitude and which will change the way you act which, ultimately, would change your altitude.
2. Submit Your Attitudes to God
Bring your attitudes into submission, in line, with the Word of God.
Follow Jesus’ example.
Bring your thoughts in line with those of Jesus.
A good attitude is a matter of faith, ignoring your feelings, with the purpose to embrace God’s attitude and character.
2 Corinthians 10:5b GW
(5) … We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.
3. Equip & Feed Your Attitudes
How do you equip and fed your attitudes?
By abiding in the things that the Word of God tells us to.
If you dwell on the negative, your attitude will reflects the negative.
But if you dwell on the positive, your attitude will reflect the positive.
Philippians 4:8-9 GW
(8) Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.
Practice what you've learned and received from me, what you heard and saw me do. Then the God who gives this peace will be with you.
CLOSING
Your attitude determines your altitude.
If you want to go higher in your spiritual life and your physical life at that, then it is imperative that you change your attitude.
If you change your attitude then your actions will show this.
I would like everyone to stand up and to close your eyes as we end this sermon and to just reflect on the past year, 2015.
Was there any point in your journey that you can say that you had a bad attitude towards a situation or a person or an institution or a behaviour or your job or the church or God or His Word or to anything.
Take a minute and think about it.
Commitment
I want you to make a commitment this morning that, in 2016, your attitude in those areas are going to change.
I want you to make a commitment this morning that you are going to change your altitude.
I want you to make a commitment this morning that, by changing your attitude you are going to change your actions.
This year you are going to have a Christ-like attitude.
Can you commit to that?
If you have identified that area or areas of bad attitude in your life I want you to repent it know to Jesus now.
Say to Him that you are submitting your attitude to Him.
Say to Him that you would like to be like Him.
I want you to say the following after me this morning out loud.
Say it after me:
I take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ
From this moment I want you to start living positively.
I want you to indulge in God’s Word and to learn what it is to be Christ-like.
I want you to study how Jesus acted and handled situations and I want you to start applying those principles to your life.
I want you to study people in the Bible and to identify where they either acted from a bad attitude or a good attitude.
The Bible was written to guide us.
Use it.
Let’s pray.
