GANGRENE ATTITUDES…
YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES YOUR ALTITUDE…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is a series…
TEXT:
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. 24 Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip. 25 Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. 26 Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. 27 Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.
WHAT IS THE OBJECT OF THIS LESSON? If I could accomplish a thought that I could TRANSPLANT in each mind today it would be rather simple. I would love to TEACH my friends that we CONTROL OUR ATTITUDES. I would love to teach us that we all need attitude adjustments and that it is possible to change our attitudes by changing the habits and patterns of how we think, talk, feel.
Your attitudes are TRANSPARENT, you may thing you hide your feelings and emotions but you can’t! You are a mere reflection of your attitudes. WE MUST REALIZE WE MUST TAKE ON THE ATTITUDES OF THE PERSON WE DESIRE TO BECOME. LIFE IS 10% WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU. 90% HOW YOU REACT TO WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU. How are you reacting to the facts around you? Is life about HAVE TO or WANT TO?
THE PROBLEM OF THE HEART IS THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM.
LET US START WITH THIS: From where do attitudes come?
INSTINCTUAL or LEARNED? INHERITED passed on by others…? ENVIROMENTAL? CHOICES?
WHICH SOURCE IS THE MOST INFLUENCE OF YOUR PERSONALITY AND ATTITUDES? The attitudes of your heart shape your total being…
*GANGRENE is dead tissue caused by an infection or the lack of blood flow… When gangrene gets bad it will not be treated by antibiotics, it will have to be surgically removed or the infection can cause death.
*ATTITUDE: the personality of a human, your feelings/emotions about an object, a settled way of thinking or feeling about something or someone, a reflection of your words and behavior, oftentimes body language can speak more than your words, a negative or hostile state of mind.
*ALTITUDE: The height or point one can reach.
CAIN AND ABEL THE FIRST TWO SONS OF ADAM AND EVE ILLUSTRATE TO US ABOUT ATTITUDES…
CAIN HAD GANGRENE ATTITUDES… TWO BROTHERS RAISED IN THE SAME HOME, SAME PARENTS, SAME ENVIRONMENT. BIG DIFFERENCE IN ATTITUDES…
Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Seems Cain tended to be negative and not giving…
Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
CAIN ATTITUDE, NOT MY FAULT…
Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
BAD ATTITUDES BREED ANGER AND BITTERNESS… GANGRENE
Genesis 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
CAIN NEVER REPENTS AND IS NEVER SORRY… GANGRENE
Genesis 4:13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
GANGRENE: MANIPULATION BY AN AGITATOR
Galatians 5:15 (KJV) But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
Galatians 5:15 (MSG) If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?
I heard about a person that got very angry at some other friends they worked with each day. The angry person kept going around to their fellow employees and sowed seeds of anger and bitterness in the minds of the others. The next thing you know the anger and bitterness was contagious. The feud festered in one person spread to the others. The one angry person kept stirring up the negative. Soon there was a lack of TRUST and the attitudes grew more and more. The contagious anger and bitterness spreads like wild fire. Finally the GANGRENE came to a head and the person walked off the job and led 8 other people to stomp out of a good job. Each person that had nothing to do with the GANGRENE became infected. Two people could not find a job and went bankrupt. 8 people without a job that was influenced by one PERSON THAT MANIPULATED in anger and bitterness.
That was 20 years ago. My friend that walked out and quit their job has never recovered. They never found as good of a job and as high of a pay scale as they had. 20 years of hurt because ONE AGIGATAOR THAT HAD GREAT PRIDE IN HURTING the boss. The boss went on after that bump and kept a positive attitude and refused to be REDUCED to the agitation level. Time will reveal all agitators. My friend will tell you how SHE REGRETS THAT ONE DAY JOINING WITH ONE NEGATIVE AGITATOR.
Have you ever heard of a person in anger slamming the door? Leaving work? Stomping out of a church? In my opinion this is very dangerous.
To fall down can be an accident, but to stay down is a choice….
ATTITUDE is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill
People hear your words, and see your deeds, but they feel your attitudes.
LIFE IS FULL OF CONFLICT. We must learn the power of CREATIVE USE OF CONFLICT. We must learn to bounce like a ball. There will always be UPS and DOWNS we must learn to quit reacting to problems and ACT BY FAITH. Lifestyles improve when we keep POSITIVE ATTITUDES and strife to be better.
Bitter or better is about our choices. Bitterness is about our choices. Growing into a better person is about your effort and focus.
I think the Bible teaches if we will KEEP OUR FAITH and press forward through the storms and trials and KEEP OUR CONFIDENCE and the RIGHT ATTITUDES God can open the right doors and close the wrong ones…
THERE IS A BETTER ATTITUDE THAT WE CAN LEARN… It is not an instinct, but a learned behavior.
If you don’t like something CHANGE IT. If you can’t change the problem you can change your attitude about it.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US IF WE WILL STAY POSITIVE AND WALK BY FAITH WE CAN HAVE GOOD VISION AND WE CAN REACH BEYOND OUR ABILITIES.
It is better to aim at the stars and hit the moon than it is to aim at a MUD PUDDLE and hit it every time.
YOU KNOW THAT A BAD ATTITUDE IS MUCH LIKE A FLAT TIRE. YOU CAN’T GO VERY FAR UNTIL YOU CHANGE IT…
YOU CAN NEVER CORRECT WHAT YOU REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.
I saw on FACEBOOK recently: I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE I HAVE NOT OFFENDED YET. PLEASE BE PATIENT, I WILL GET AROUND TO OFFENDING YOU SOON?
Today everybody is right. Nobody is wrong? How can we repent if we are always right?
We tend to laugh at people when they fall?
ATTITUDES CAN DIFFER IN THE SAME HOME. LOT HAD GOOD ATTITUDES, MRS. LOT HAD GANGRENE ATTITUDES.
Job 2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
IN THE SAME HOUSE CAN GROW A GANGRENE ATTITUDE AND A SWEET ATTIITUDE…
Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
ONE WAY TO KILL GANGRENE ATTITUDES IS TO SUBMIT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23 (MSG) Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; 24 See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong— then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Robert J. Morgan in PREACHER’S SOURCEBOOK OF CREATIVE SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS tells of the story…
Seems there was an enemy that had a beautiful princess trapped in his palace tower. The strong, handsome knight loved his princess so much and he wanted to do a surprise attack and free his princess from their enemy AND BRING HER HOME. But how could he tell her to be ready for the escape?
He decided to get some of his friends to help notify her of the escape so she would be ready. So the knight spoke to Mr. Caterpillar and asked Mr. Caterpillar to scale the wall of the palace tower and to warn the lady to be ready for the daring escape. Mr. Caterpillar complained and complained “DO I HAVE TO?” You mean I have to climb that high wall just to tell her you will be there Thursday morning at 5 am to set her free? So reluctantly Mr. Caterpillar began his climb up, up that steep wall. It was dark and cold as he began his ascent up the wall. Mr. Caterpillar fussed and fussed. Then the sun came out and the heat was so bad. Each step required effort. During the night the rain came down. Mr. Caterpillar griped and griped. Finally the next day Mr. Caterpillar made it to the window ledge. He was exhausted and felt unappreciated. Mr. Caterpillar yelled over to the lady, you are not nearly as pretty as I thought you would be? He asked, ARE YOU THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS? The lady nodded, YES! Mr. Caterpillar thought I climbed all the way here for this? He complained to the lady in waiting. You mean I climbed all the way up here for this? He told the lady you will never know how hard a climb I had. I got hungry and so tired. After all his complaining and griping he told the lady: THE KNIGHT TOLD ME TO TELL YOU HE WOULD BE HERE THURSDAY MORNING AT 5 AM AND YOU BETTER BE UP AND WAITING FOR MY BOSS! DO YOU THINK YOU CAN REMEMBER THAT OR DO I NEED TO TELL YOU AGAIN? REPEAT AFTER ME: THURSDAY AT 5 AM! He was so hateful to the princess! He crawled down the tower wall complaining every inch of his journey.
To make sure the PRINCESS would be ready the Knight thought I will asked another friend to help me. So the Knight talked to MR. BUTTERFLY. Hey, friend would you tell PRINCESS I am coming to rescue her Thursday at 5 am. Make sure that she is ready for the rescue mission. Mr. Butterfly said: SURE, I WILL BE GLAD TO INFORM HER AND MAKE SURE SHE IS READY. So Mr. Butterfly caught the wind and started flying upward to her window. It rained a little but Mr. Butterfly kept flying upward. Later in the day a bird swooped over Mr. Butterfly to eat him but he just kept flying higher and higher. Mr. Butterfly landed on the window sill and saw how beautiful the PRINCESS WAS. He just admired her beauty. He whispered: HONEY, COME OVER HEAR I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM THE HANDSOME KNIGHT TO YOU, BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS. Mr. Butterfly flew over to her shoulder and kissed her cheek. Mr. Butterfly said: I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU, MY WHITE KNIGHT WILL BE HERE AT 5 AM IN THE MORNING TO SET YOU FREE AND YOU WILL HAPPILY EVER AFTER… Mr. Knight will be here at 5 am sharp. Please be ready. Knight really loves you so much.
The PRINCESS was so happy. She said: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH MR. BUTTERFLY. YOU ARE SO SWEET. I WILL BE READY FOR MY LOVE WHEN HE COMES FOR ME. But Princess said: Let me asked you: WHY WAS MR. CATERPILLAR SO
MEAN AND RUDE? HE WAS SO DISAGREEABLE. Mr. Caterpillar brought me the same news as you did, but I felt so bad when he left!
Mr. Butterfly said: Oh, you mean Mr. Caterpillar? Don’t mind his disagreeable attitudes that is just the way he is. FOR YOU SEE I USED TO GRIPE AND COMPLAIN JUST AS HE DOES, BUT I HAD A TRANSFORMATION. I HAVE CHANGED. I LOVE THE KNIGHT. I LOVE TO BRING HIS MESSAGE TO YOU. SOON WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER FOREVER.
What do you see when you look into the mirror? Your daily life becomes a real reflection of your words, actions and attitudes. BE HONEST WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDES ABOUT PROBLEMS?
Seems like some people can be really nice until you refuse to do things their way. Some think if I can’t control you, then you are the problem. Then my problems ANNOY ME.
ANOTHER’S ATTITUDE MAY HURT YOU… BUT ONLY YOUR ATTITUDE CAN KILL YOU…
ATTITUDE is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill
People hear your words, and see your deeds, but they feel your attitudes.
LIFE IS FULL OF CONFLICT. We must learn the power of CREATIVE USE OF CONFLICT.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:7 (MSG) Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!— 8 harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. 9 So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit.
We must learn to bounce like a ball. There will always be UPS and DOWNS we must learn to quit reacting to problems and ACT BY FAITH. Lifestyles improve when we keep POSITIVE ATTITUDES and strife to be better.
Bitter or better is about our choices. Bitterness is about our choices. Growing into a better person is about your effort.
I think the Bible teaches if we will KEEP OUR FAITH and press forward through the storms and trials and KEEP OUR CONFIDENCE and the RIGHT ATTITUDES God can open the right doors and close the wrong ones…
THERE IS A BETTER ATTITUDE THAT WE CAN LEARN… It is not an instinct, but a learned behavior.
If you don’t like something CHANGE IT. If you can’t change the problem you can change your attitude about it.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US IF WE WILL STAY POSITIVE AND WALK BY FAITH WE CAN HAVE GOOD VISION AND WE CAN REACH BEYOND OUR ABILITIES.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight)
It is better to aim at the stars and hit the moon than it is to aim at a MUD PUDDLE and hit it every time.
YOU KNOW THAT A BAD ATTITUDE IS MUCH LIKE A FLAT TIRE. YOU CAN’T GO VERY FAR UNTIL YOU CHANGE IT…
YOU CAN NEVER CORRECT WHAT YOU REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. GANGRENE CAN KILL YOU DEADER THAN A DOOR NAIL.
I saw on FACEBOOK recently: I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE I HAVE NOT OFFENDED YET. PLEASE BE PATIENT, I WILL GET AROUND TO OFFENDING YOU SOON?
Today everybody is right. Nobody is wrong? How can we repent if we are always right?
We tend to laugh at people when they fall?
ATTITUDES CAN TAKE MANY FORMS…
1. POSITIVE, DETERMINATION. Positive thinking brings positive change. We can find God and motivation by avoiding the negative... Positive attitudes create confidence and trust.
We must accept that joy and happiness are not out there somewhere over the rainbow. Happiness is a choice, joy comes from within…
2. NEGATIVE: DENIES God’s goodness, unthankful, unappreciative, focused on self, run away spirit, anger is a control issue, doubt and frustration
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
3. NEUTRAL, ME THINKS THE HOTTEST PLACES IN HELL ARE RESERVED FOR THOSE THAT STAY NEUTRAL IN SEASON OF PROBLEMS.
4. APATHY, I DON’T CARE… lazy, could care less,
CONCLUSION: BE A PEACE MAKER…
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
LEARN YOUR WORDS CAN BECOME A TRAP. GUARD YOUR MOUTH,
Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
TRY TO DISCERN AND UNDERSTAND OTHERS! BE KIND…
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
LOVE GOD, LOVE PRAYER, THE BIBLE AND YOUR CHURCH…. LOVE ALL HEART SOUL AND MIND
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
BE HUMBLE, PRIDE DESTROYS
Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
BE FORGIVING
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
BE BROKEN AND CONTRITE
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
MAY THE GANGRENE OF BAD ATTITUDES NEVER GROW IN OUR HEARTS.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is a series.
