WRONG? RIGHT? ATTITUDES?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT: Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
WHO IS WRONG? WHO IS RIGHT?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I was in Louisville, Kentucky for a series of state wide preachers’ meetings. The speaker was a powerful national leader. The music and worship was by some of the best in our state. I knew the man sitting on my right for many years. He seemed to always be in conflict with someone. He was bent to a high degree of negativity. I could hear him as he loudly whispered: THE MUSIC IS TOO LOUD. Why do they get to do the singing all the time? I heard the musicians hit a wrong chord! The usher was passing out the offering bucket and he hesitated next to my friend. He leaned over and told me the usher wanted more money and he was not going to give anything! Finally the speaker started his lesson. He told a story to illustrate his point. The preacher made a scene and got up and stomped out of the large room. He told me, I knew this would be a waste of time. I will never come back. I thought about his behavior and his label he wore as an agitator as long as I knew him.
The speaker developed his powerful message. Tears were a river down my face. My friend sitting to my left was running to the altar. He loved the music and worship. His hands were raised, a river of tears ran down his face through the whole service. He had an offering. And he had a pen and paper and wrote notes through the whole sermon. He would yell amen in support of the speaker’s wisdom. We both went to the altar as he cried out to God. As I waited at the door, I heard my friend say: I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME IN JESUS NAME! His nose was red and praise was on his lips.
WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE? WHY DID ONE STOMP OUT IN ANGER AND ONE MELTED ON THE ALTAR? SO I STUDIED IN MY HEART… WHICH ON WAS RIIGHT? I CAN TO THE CONCLUSION, THEY BOTH WERE RIGHT! (IN THEIR OWN RIGHTS?) WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDE DO YOU DAILY CARRY? COULD IT BE THEY BOTH FOUND WHAT THEY CARRIED INTO THE SERVICE?
GOD WAYS CAN NEVER BE UNDERSTAND IN OUR CHOICES AND ATTITUDES… FUSS AND COMPLAIN? LAUGH AND REJOICE? ATTITUDES ARE OUR DAILY CHOICES:
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
RULES? ARE RULES GOD? ARE RULES BAD? MAYBE WE MIGHT SAAY: RULES ARE NEUTRAL? IT IS WHAT WE DO WITH THEN RULES?
There was a famous British preacher named WILLIAM SANGSTER. He pastored in the Methodist church and he opened the church building’s basement for people to hide during the air raids during the war. Sangster became a hero of the faith.
SANGSTER FELT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE “RULES TO LIVE BY”… BUT SANGSTER FOUND OUT HE WAS DYING AND ESTABLISHED “4 RULES TO DIE BY”…
RULES TO DIE BY…
1. I will never complain.
2. I will keep the home bright.
3. I will count my blessings.
4. When bad happens I will try to turn it to gain
Do we understand what God thinks of bad attitudes?
I was in a service in eastern Kentucky when an old lady testified: I AM SO PROUD TO BE HUMBLE! Wow? She went on to say she was PROUD TO BE SO STUBBORN, her momma taught her to be stubborn.
1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
MISERABLE? WANT TO TALK ABOUT ATTITUDES? THERE IS A WOMAN HERE WITH NO HOPE! NONE!
THERE IS A DESPERATE LADY. THIS IS NOT ABOUT HER, THIS IS ABOUT HER DAUGHTER…
SHE IS DESPERATE… SHE IS NOISY, SHE REFUSES TO SHUT UP! SHE IS NOT US! THERE IS A LADY FROM CANAAN, SHE IS A STRANGER TO THE FAITH…
Even the religious leaders say: GET RID OF HER… she is not us. Even the disciples said: SEND HER AWAY! She is really messing up our imagine among the people. She is so loud and refuses to be denied access to Jesus.
Somewhere in her journey this STRANGER heard about Jesus. In her MISERY there was a glimmer of HOPE in the name of JESUS!
Matthew 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Are we using anger and temper fits to try and manipulate our bad attitudes on to others? OR OUR WE HUMBLE AT THE FEET OF JESUS? ARE YOU GOING TO TRY TO MAKE EVERYONE ELSE CHANGE THEIR BAD ATTITUDES BUT YOU?
3 BUCKETS---WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDES DO YOU CARRY?
Let me tell you the story of 3 buckets. There were 3 buckets that lived on the farm.
The shiniest, beautiful newest bucket was constantly complaining and fussing. The newest bucket was nothing but a PESSIMIST. The new bucket said to the other two buckets: MY LIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TERRIBLE DISAPPOINTMENT SINCE I LEFT THE FACTORY. I WAS JUST THROWN AROUND IN THE STORE. Finally the little poor family bought me, I thought I was worth so much more than to be a WELL BUCKET. All I can say is my life is nothing but back and forth to THE WELL. I leave the house empty and to the well I go. On top of all of that my stupid owners never fill me up. I come to the well empty and I never leave full. The farmer NEVER APPRECIATES ME LIKE HE SHOULD! I HAVE NOT HAD A HAPPY DAY IN ALL MY LIFE. JUST CALL ME EMPTY AND NOT FULL, HEAVY! Poor old me.
The second bucket was so happy. He had a few dents from years of service. Bucket 2 said, I was created for this. I go to the well empty and I return to the house full of life giving water. The farmer, his wife and kids use me. Sometimes I have a dipper in me and they all drink out of me. I may come to the well empty but I always leave full. Momma uses my water to cook with, do the dishes and even warms me for the family bath. I am happy on this farm. My family needs me. I have found my purpose.
The 3rd bucket was tattered and well worn. This one bucket was very old and through the years was heavily used. Slowly as the daily use took all the wear and tear, the old bucket was banged around and gradually rust started gathering around the handles and eventually rusting on the bottom and a slow leak developed in the bottom. The family would still use the old rusty bucket occasionally, especially the little kids went to the well with the adults. While the adults would pick the new shiny buckets, the kids would grab the old faithful leaking bucket and do their part. One day the 3 buckets were having a discussion about their jobs on the farm life.
Bucket #1 was complaining about how sorry the owners were and how they never, ever had appreciated him.
Bucket #2 was thankful for the wonderful opportunity to go to the well and bring back water for the family. Bucket number #1 complained about how stupid the old rusty bucket was. #1 told #3 you are old and useless and only the kids carry you and you leak all the way to the house. You are a stupid old bucket. #3 said: I may leak a little, but I want you to look at the path to the well? Look along the path where I am carried home? There are flowers blooming all along the path. Have you ever noticed Momma cuts those flowers and puts them in a vase in the middle of dining room table? Everyone gathers around the table and eats and laughs and enjoys the flowers. WHY? I served this family for years and years, now I am honored to water the flowers along the path to the well. I love my past bringing water to this family, and I love they never THREW ME AWAY. I have no reason to complain. Yes, for years I came empty to the well, I always left full. The young kids feel honored to still have me around. I give beauty and smiles.
HOW ABOUT ARGUING WITH PEOPLE TO FORCE THEIR ATTITUDE TO CHANGE? CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE CARNAL FLESH REFUSES TO SUBMIT?
1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Dale Carnegie said: THOSE CONVINCED AGAINST THEIIR WILL ARE OF THE SAME OPINION STILL.
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
James 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
How about arguments within the family what are you really changing?
DO WE REALIZE WE HAVING THINKING PATTERNS AND WE TEND TO NOT BE ABLE TO BREAK OUR PATTERNS/ You count to ten? 20? 30? You tell them to do something? You scream? They scream back?
Identify how you are handling your problems and develop a new PLAN/STRADEGY?
WE FACE A REAL BAD ATTITUDE WHEN WE START THINKING NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE?
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: LOVE NEVER FAILS!!!
We need BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION… God help us to change our bad attitudes with a better plan.
THE ENEMY IS ATTACKING OUR CONFIDENCE? Those with little confidence they can will seldom achieve much.
Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
IF YOU FAINT YOU ARE WEAK… LOVE NEVER FAILS…
BE HONEST, HAVE WE EVER ACCEPTED THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR YOUR OWN ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR? DO YOU LOVE WHERE YOU ARE? DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING? DO YOU LOVE THOSE AROUND YOU? DO YOU LOVE WHO YOU ARE?
GOLDEN RULE: ANYTHING THAT IS WORTH DOING ARE THE THINGS WE DO FOR OTHERS…
Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
WE CAN ALLOW THE ATTIITUDE THAT SUFFERING WILL KILL US, OR WE CAN GROW THE ATTITIDE THAT LIFE CAN BE HAVE THE POWER TO OVERCOME PROBLEMS AND TRIALS.
WE HERE SO MUCH ABOUT KARMA TODAY?
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
We think KARMA is about how other people treat us? Perhaps we need to realize KARMA COULD BE ABAOUT HOW WE TREAT OTHERS. Karma? Karma may be about what you get back for how you treat others.
ATTITUDES: THERE IS A TERRIBLE BATTLE GOING ON TODAY: THE BATTLE IS BAD ATTITUDES VS. GODLY SUBMISSION ATTITUDES THAT ALIGN WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
There grows a BAD ATTITUDE where there is little to no RESPECT and HONOR within the heart of people.
WHAT CAN WE DO? SEEMS WE BRAG ABOUT BAD ATTITUDES?
Mahatma Gandhi: The future may depend on what attitudes we have today.
HOW CAN WE CHANGE OUR MARRIAGE? FAMILY? CHURCH? NATION?
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Does the circumstances define your attitudes or does your attitudes define you?
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
If we would all search for the place inside of us will bring great joy, we might just find that JOY will overcome the hurt, bitterness, pain and suffering from within… You can never buy JOY or HAPPINESS? You cannot find that place over the rainbow? You can never find OZ, OZ IS ONLY OZ TO THOSE THAT DON’T LIVE IN OZ!
WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDE WILL WE CARRY? WEAK AM STRONG…
DO WE REALIZE THAT STORMS, TRIALS, PROBLEMS AND HURT BUILD THE STRONGEST PEOPLE?
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
JEUS LOOKS BEYOUND OUR FAULTS… AND SEES OUR NEEDS… CAN YOU SEE BEYOND OTHERS MISTAKES AND FAULTS?
CONCLUSION: To find joy and happiness will never be about finding perfection. The father never throws the marred clay away. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE A COMPLETE DO OVER, BUT I CAN RE-WRITE A NEW ENDING!
WINSTON CHURCHILL once said: The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.
IF YOU DON’T LIKE SOMETHING CHANGE IT. IF YOU CAN’T CHANGE IT, CHANGE YOUR ATTIITUDE…
DO YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR ATTIITUDES? New doors? Old doors?
Will you acknowledge all you can control is your thinking patterns and your attitudes? Can you be positive?
I have a lesson that I teach it is your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
