BURIED TALENT ATTITUDES
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (Two part lesson)
**ATTITUDE: the way you look at life, a settled way of thinking, the expression of how you feel, predisposition or tendency to respond positive or negative, mindset, A SETTLED WAY OF THINKING, mental state, mental position with regard to a fact or state, how you evaluate others.
How do you view things? It is said the average person has between 12,000 and 80,000 thoughts a day. Your attitudes, words and mindset are established by YOU! You choose what thoughts linger in your mind. It is up to you how your PERCEPTION and THINKING PATTERNS are. You decide to live: BAD, GOOD, BETTER, OR BEST
Grow your attitude to help? DO WE EVER EVALUATE AND HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR WORDS AND OUR ATTITUDES? YOU CANNOT GROW WITH BAD ATTITUDES. Bad attitudes are like a flat tire. You can’t go far on a flat. You have to change the flat tire to travel.
GRANDPA AND GRANDSON: A LESSON OF ATTITUDES?
There was a beautiful farm in the mountains. An old man and woman lived on the farm acreage. Grandpa had the best handlebar mustache in the county. The grandson came to live with his grandparents. The boy loved the farm. As most boys are this grandson was a little mischievous. He loved to play jokes on his family. One day grandpa was taking a nap in the recliner. The boy went to the refrigerator and noticed the strong smell of the LIMBURGER CHEESE. So the boy grabbed some cheese and went in the front room and rubbed LIMBURGER CHEESE in both sides of his grandpa’s handlebar mustache. The boy went out to play and forgot about his little joke. Later grandpa woke up to the strangest smell. As he sat in the recliner Pa said: THIS LIVING ROOM STINKS SO BAD. So he got up and went into the kitchen. Pa sniffed in the air and be dog gone if the kitchen had a strange odor. Pa said: THE KITCHEN SMELLS TERRIBLE. So Pa went out to the swing on the front porch. All of a sudden Pa sniffed in real big and he noticed the porch smelled bad. So Pa decided to take a walk and get some fresh air. He was enjoying his walk when he sniffed real big and he had that horrible smell. So PA SAID: I GUESS THE WHOLE WORLD STINKS.
Life is about what you think about. Do you ever think about what you think about? We are habitual creatures. We establish patterns of communication, behavior and life choices. THE WHOLE WORLD DID NOT STINK. PA WAS CARRYING THE STINK WHERE EVER HE WENT. DOES THE WHOLE WORLD STINK TO YOU? BAD ATTITUDES CAN BE PERMANENT AND ADDICTIVE.
WHAT COMPUTER PROGRAM ARE YOU RUNNING? LIFE HAS 3 BASIC ATTITUDES:
*1. DO I HAVE TO… mean, cruel, trap.
*2. I GET TO… as a person gets to go to church, but … BUT…
*3. I WANT TO… living in joy and peace.
There is an old song: TWO COATS ARE BEFORE US… THE BAD ATTITUDE COAT IS WORN AND TATTERED. THE NEW COAT HAD NEVER BEEN TAKEN OUT OF THE BOX. THE OLD SONG TAUGHT: PUT OFF THE OLD COAT AND PUT ON THE NEW COAT… OFTEN WE NEED AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT… THE BEST THING I EVER DID WAS TAKE OFF THE OLD COAT AND PUT ON THE NEW COAT.
Few things do we control. But there is one thing 100% up to you: YOUR ATTITUDES. GROWTH COMES WHEN I EVALUATE MY ATTITUDES. YOU CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE BY CHOOSING AND KEEPING THE RIGHT ATTITUDES. ATTITUDES ARE CHOICES. NO ONE CONTROLS YOUR ATTITUDES BUT YOU.
SAD WORDS: HAVE WE CONSIDERED WHERE DO WE GET OUR ATTITUDES? ENVIRONMENTAL? HEREDITY? PEER PRESSURE? LEARNED? INSTINCT? ACCIDENTAL? OR CAN WE MAKE PLANS AND CHANGE?
Psalm 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. 4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
HOW CAN WE SING IN A STRANGE LAND? I traveled many years playing southern gospel music. In my years I have known some great and talented people. Perhaps the greatest two musicians I ever knew have a sad story. They could have attained great heights in the music field. Both laid down their musical instruments and never played them again. They buried their talents. They could have blessed thousands of people but they quit. I was with one when he picked up the instrument to play. It had been 50 years since he touched the instrument. He had been a master and played for many. He could not play one song. The buried talent was dead. HOW SAD?
ATTITUDE. Still there are others that have some sort of talent but they have stayed the same, NO PROGRESS in years. There is great insanity in staying the same and then quit! It is your choice. Do as you may with your unique talents. Of course you have an excuse for your poor attitudes and buried talents. Survey your undeveloped talents and the attitudes and excuses you make up to BURY YOUR TALENTS. You will be held accountable. Today I am an old man with tears in my eyes because many people have bad attitudes and excuses? What have you been doing to grow and develop your God given talents? Have you laid down the torch and darkness is filling the room? Are you advancing the torch to light the way? Understand someone needs you. Your bad attitudes of buried talents can cost dearly… Is what you are saying and what you are doing good examples? NO SADDER WORDS OF PEN AND TONGUE ARE THE WORDS WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. What are you learning? What are you teaching others by burying your talents and not developing more?
Before I close this thought of buried talent. I knew a man years ago that had the greatest joy I ever knew playing music. He purchased a Martin D-35, very costly. He learned how to make 2 ½ cords, it takes 3 for a simple song. He bought a CAPO, and he used the CAPO sliding it up and down the neck so he could play in the same cord and make it a new cord. He would play in homes, rest homes, in the park, at the hospital. James would play anywhere and he and his wife would sing. James and his wife blessed hundreds of people. It was not their great ability… IT WAS THEIR ZEAL AND LOVE OF JESUS THAT WOULD MOTIVATE THEM. No one ever gave them a big offering. They never recorded anything but on a little cassette tape. JAMES AND HIS WIFE TOUCHED PEOPLE. People were saved. People were encouraged and refreshed by their COMPASSION and LOVE.
WHAT KIND OF ATTITUDES ARE WE PROMOTING? ARE WE GROWING AND DEVELOPING? GROWTH? THE RIGHT ATTITUDES CHANGE EVERYTHING… THE WRONG ATTITUDE CAN TRAP A PERSON IN DOOM AND GLOOM.
The Bible warns us to PUT AN END to the works of the flesh. We walk in a mean, angry, bitter and negative world. There is something better than bitter. ATTITUDES ARE LEARNED AND REINFORCED BEHAVIOR AND HABITS. Our attitudes come from our feelings, our emotions, our perspectives and our family history.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO GO 4 HOURS WITH OUT COMPLAINING ONCE??
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
TALKING ABOUT ATTITUDES? I was driving by the CRISPY CREAM DONUTS SHOP. I felt a little internal voice say: YOU NEED A COUPLE OF DONUTS THIS MORNING. I thought: Lord, if there was an empty parking place in front of the donut store it is Your Will for me to have a few donuts. If there is an empty parking place it must be the Lord’s will. So, I would run in and grab a few jelly filled donuts to eat. To my surprise there was a parking place right in front of the door. I had driven around and around the block 22 times, but there was a parking place right in front of the door.
On a more serious note, we had a friend that was normal and healthy and she would go shopping and pray for a parking place near the store. She would get angry if there was not a parking place near the door. She asked me: WHY DOESN’T GOD GIVE ME A PARKING PLACE NEAR THE STORE? She got angry at my answer: I TOLD HER SHE NEEDED EXERCISE AND IT WAS PROBABLY GOOD FOR HER TO WALK. MAYBE SHE SHOULD LEAVE THE PLACES CLOSER FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE HANDICAPPED. Maybe the Lord was making a strong suggestion: PARK AWAY AND WALK?
REVIEW: LOOK AT PETER’S ATTITUDES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT… HE GOES FROM BAD TO BETTER ATTITUDES.
Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Peter was 1. Quick to jump to conclusions. 2. He was impulsive. 3. In anger he cut off an ear … 4. Peter jumps out of the boat and sinks. Peter had to learn to submit his attitudes and relationships with others and with Jesus. Peter had to learn SERVANT SHIP… 5. Peter was PREJUDICE, JEWS ONLY? Peter had to learn how to adjust his attitudes. PETER WENT FROM HAVING A COWBOY ATTITUDE TO BEING A GOOD SHEPHERD OF THE FLOCK OF GOD.
PETER NEVER UNDERSTOOD BUT HIS ATTITUDE WAS CONNECTED TO HIS MOUTH… PETER SLEEPS THROUGH THE PRAYER MEETING AND THEN SAYS: LET US BUILD 3 CHURCHES? PETER LEARNED THE RIGHT ATTITUDE BY BEING PATIENT AND WALKING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
Matthew 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
BAD ATTITUDES COST: NOT ME, NEVER, I WOULD NEVER DENY YOU…
Matthew 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
PETER IS BORN IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. PETER’S ATTITUDE CHANGES FROM DENIER AND ANGER TO PROCLAIM THE FIRST PENTECOSTAL MESSAGE IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
Acts 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
We can change our attitudes. Peter learned to LISTEN, to be PATIENT, to be KIND and HUMBLE. PETER IS A GREAT EXAMPLE ABOUT CHANGING YOUR ATTITUDES.
ELI WAS A GOOD PREACHER… ELI HAD TWO SONS: HOPHNI and PHINEHAS.
Eli was a good preacher. His two sons had bad attitudes. They cheated in the offerings and they were immoral with the women. HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS HAD THE ARK OF THE COVENANT AND THEY KNEW HOW TO SPIRITUALLY SHOUT… BUT THE BAD ATTITUDES GREW TERRIBLE FRUIT…
1 Samuel 2:34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
1 Samuel 4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. 7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.
The two sons die, BUT THE SAD STORY IS THEY LOST THE ARK OF THE COVENANT WHICH REPRESENTED GOD’S PRESENCE.
1 SAMUEL 4:11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
ELI, HAS TWO SONS AND HIS DAUGHTER IN LAW PAY THE PRICE OF BAD ATTITUDES AND BAD DEEDS… BAD NEWS TRAVELS WITH BAD ATTITUDES…
1 Samuel 4:17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken. 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years. 19 And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.
The name of the grandson that was born that day spoke of a BA, bad attitude. He was name: ICHABOD--- THE GLORY OF THE LORD HAS DEPARTED… ATTITUDES CAN AFFECT THE NEXT GENERATION.
NOT GROWING GOOD ATTITUDES CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE. SAMSON’S BAD ATTITUDES COST HIM HIS EYE SIGHT WITH THE LIFE OF AN ANIMAL. SAMSON’S ATTITUDE CHANGED WHEN HE WAS IN THE ENEMY’S CAMP.
Judges 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
SAMSON’S BAD ATTITUDES AFFECTED HIS PRAYER LIFE… JUST ONE MORE TIME. SAMSON’S BAD ATTITUDES COST. HE COULD HAVE HAD MANY MORE VICTORIES… LET US GROW GOOD ATTITUDES… NO ONE MORE TIME?
Judges 16:28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
ATTITUDES ARE CHOICES OF BUILDING MATERIALS. CHOICE: PAIN OR JOY… GROWTH COMES FROM WITHIN AND BY ADJUSTING OUR ATTITUDES. YOUR HOUSE IS NO BETTER THAN THE MATERIAL YOU BUILD WITH… GROWTH CAN TAKE SEVERAL FORMS: WOOD, HAY, AND STUBBLE VS GOLD, SILVER PRECIOUS STONES. YOUR ATTITUDES WILL TEACH WHAT WILL REMAIN.
1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this
foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
ATTITUDES CAN HINDER GROWTH… DO WE HAVE BAD ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PREACHERS AND GOD’S WORD? WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT GROWTH… THIS LESSON ON ATTITUDES IN LIFE … YOUR ATTITUDES ARE COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY YOU! ELIJAH IS THE PREACHER… AHAB is the King of Israel. Ahab is talking to JEHOSHAPHAT: the King reveals a bad attitude. IF YOU DON’T LIKE GOD, YOU WILL NOT LIKE THE MAN OF GOD AND YOUR ATTITUDE WILL BE YOU DON’T LIKE THE PREACHER’S MESSAGE.
1 Kings 22:18 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?
CONCLUSION: YOUR ATTITUDES WILL BE REVEALED BY THE FIRE. Your moods, your emotions, your feelings can be negative or positive the choice is yours. Danger: your attitudes and moods will reveal the secrets of the heart by exposing the dark rooms in your heart. Do I HAVE TO? DO I GET TO? DO I WANT TO? There is going to be an inspection on judgment day. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won't get by with a thing. Guard your attitudes. Your attitudes, words and mindset are established by YOU! You choose what thoughts linger in your mind. It is up to you how your PERCEPTION and THINKING PATTERNS are. You decide to live: GOOD, BETTER, OR BEST… WHERE DO WE GET OUR ATTITUDES? GROWTH? THE RIGHT ATTITUDES CHANGE EVERYTHING… THE WRONG ATTITUDES TRAP A PERSON IN DOOM AND GLOOM.
I CAN’T NOT HELP BIRDS FLYING OVER, BUT I CAN KEEP THE BIRDS FROM BUILDING A NEST IN MY BRAIN. YOU DETERMINE YOUR ATTITUDES. My attitude: I can make the choice of being MISERABLE, DEPRESSED AND SAD… or I can focus on the blessings of a mighty God.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers @aol.com… (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
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