?How To Have A Winning Attitude!?
Part II
?[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
[5] Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. [6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[8] Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. [9] The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.?
Philippians 4:4-9
PRAYER?
INTRODUCTION:
ILLUSTRATION:
[Reader’s Digest, January, 1992]
Joe Theismann enjoyed an illustrious 12-year career as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. He led the team to two Super Bowl appearances--winning in 1983 before losing the following year.
A leg injury forced him out of football in 1985?and now, he is entrenched in the record books as Washington’s all-time leading passer.
However, it is the tail end of Theismann’s career that taught him a bitter lesson: ?I got stagnant. I thought the team revolved around me. I should have known it was time to go when I didn’t care whether a pass hit Art Monk in the 8 or the 1 on his uniform. When we went back to the Super Bowl, my approach had changed. I was griping about the weather, my shoes, practice times, everything?.
Today I wear my two rings--the winner’s ring from Super Bowl XVII and the loser’s ring from Super Bowl XVIII. The difference in those two rings lies in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best.
-Two DIFFERENT rings?
-Two DIFFERENT decisions?
-Two DIFFERENT behaviors?from two DIFFERENT ATTITUDES!
à The difference?according to Joe Theismann?is in applying oneself and not accepting anything but the best!
I wonder about this when it comes to our attitudes and behaviors?if that same thing is true for us???
-Does applying oneself make a difference?
-Does it take us just not accepting anything less, but to have the best attitude possible within us?
Ø You will remember from last week, we talked about being different?
Ø And we talked about having the best attitude?
Ø We also talked about how it is GOD WITHIN US that makes the true difference within our hearts?that will resonate to our outward actions.
-We cannot accomplish this kind of change on our own or with positive thinking through Human Philosophy?
à However, that is NOT to say that it takes NO effort of our own to get to where we need to be either?
-Faith, without works is dead, James tells us?
-And this can be applied here, and to many areas on life in this way?
*?You can BELIEVE for God to change you all the day long, but it is all for not, until you actually APPLY that belief/faith you are ?trusting? in, in a practical manner; by being a DOER of the Word, and not just a HEARER/BELIEVER!?
You see?Joe Theismann, and the Washington Redskins of 1984, are a testimony to the fact that ?belief? does nothing for you?only actions will make a difference!
-Being a Super Bowl Champ the year before didn?t win another one for the Redskins in 1984?
-Why? Because it was not the feat of the previous year that would win it for them this time (you can?t rest on your laurels)?
-But what they needed was a WINNING ATTITUDE?the ACTION?that is what was necessary to confirm that they were truly the Champions they thought they should be in 1984!
You see?ATTITUDE IS important?
But it is Christ who is everything!!! And we need Him in us!
J Who STILL NEEDS an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT??? J
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So then, people of God?let?s not just KNOW that we need to have a WINNING ATTITUDE!
-Let?s not just BELIEVE for it?
-But, let?s actually CHOOSE to have one!
*Amen?!
ILLUSTRATION:
Viktor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor said it this way?
?Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the right to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances; to choose one’s way.?
Paul, the Apostle, being challenged in a very real and personal way wrote these words while sitting in a prison of his own during his first imprisonment in Rome?he said?
Philippians 2:12-18, ?So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. [14] Do all things without grumbling or disputing; [15] that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, [16] holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. [17] But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. [18] And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.?
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Rejoice with Paul!
Rejoice with Paul?
-Where is Paul getting that idea? He is in prison!!! What is he thinking???
-Well friends, it was already in him?and he writes it out for us in plain vanilla a couple of chapters later?when he gives us the FIRST KEY to a WINNING ATTITUDE?one that we all need to apply to our Christian walk with the Lord?
(REVIEW)
Look again at Philippians 4?
You will remember that I told you this was the FOREMOST ATTITUDE that should remain in each of us!!!
?[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!?
The last time we talked, we found a lot in this little, short verse, and I will review it for each of us briefly?
The first step towards this FOREMOST ATTITUDE is that?
#1 - We must REJOICE!!!
Meaning that we must be ?full of cheer, calmly happy, or well off!?
We should have a resounding presence that comes from us that says that we are cheerful and joyous?
The next step towards the acquisition of this FOREMOST ATTITUDE is that?
#2 - We must REJOICE in the LORD!!!
We are to rejoice in THE LORD and Him alone!!!
-Not in things?
-Not in circumstances?
-Not in people?
-Not in good fortune?
-Not in anything that this world may bring?
God is our real joy giver and it is in Him that we will revel!!!
And another step toward the FOREMOST ATTITUDE is that we must be busy about this?
#3 - ALWAYS!!!
The STING of this exhortation comes when Paul wrote down this unforgiving word?ALWAYS?
-All the time?
-Every time?
-In all things?
-Through the good and the bad!!!
Friends?Paul rounds this up with the thought of needing this attitude, not just once in a while?or even when we feel like it?but it is a standard to which we are to keep always?
And Paul emphasizes it once again by saying, ??again, I will say, rejoice!?
-Why say it again?
-Because it is the FOREMOST ATTITUDE that we each must have in our lives?and it needs that kind of emphasis!!!
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Now?what we need to do is not simply stop there?and hope for the best?
-Otherwise, I would have no message for you this morning! J
But, what we need to do is drive this point home even further, and Paul does just that by further explaining and exhorting the reader here to bring this ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT to full completion?
-And he gives us greater detail and clearer instructions on the HOWs and the WHYs in order for us to get there?
How many STILL want an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT???
Ask the Lord for it!
POINT TWO: The FUNCTION of our Attitude!
Philippians 4:5-7, ?Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. [6] Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.?
Now?we have come to understand that we need to have this FOREMOST ATTITUDE be in us?however!!!
Our FOREMOST ATTITUDE is fleshed out through certain behaviors and characteristics that we demonstrate throughout our lives on a continual basis?
-One way to do that, which should (and does) set the tone for all the others is through having a REJOICE-FULL attitude!
-But there are also additional ways to do that as well, which enhance and clarify a life full of Christ?
FUNCTION #1 - Through a GENTLE Spirit!
Verse 5 tells us that we need to let our gentle (patient, yielding, kind, forbearing and lenient) spirit be known to all men.
ILLUSTRATION:
Like the children?s song says about our light, ?This little light of mine, I am going to let it shine. Let it shine, not hiding it under a bushel??
-So too it is with our patient and gentle spirit?
-These traits should be evident and forthright in us?not just having a fragrance/hint of it, but a burst of it that is obvious to everyone that we come into contact with!
Now?Paul uses a term here (speaking about being GENTLE) that is difficult to translate from the Greek into English, and still bring its FULL meaning to light?
-Patient?kind?and yielding?are all good attempts?
-But NO ONE English word can bring the full meaning of what Paul was trying to say here?
Because?along with the idea of being KIND and GENTLE to others?
Paul also wants us to add another action along with this to complete its intention?
-Because this Greek words he uses here also develops the thought, or connotation, of us WILLINGLY yielding our personal rights to show consideration and gentleness to others?
*This goes a step further?doesn?t it??
Paul exemplified this in his own life when he spoke of it in 1 Cor. 9:12??If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.?
NOW?this FUNCTION forces us to not only be gentle and kind to some people, some of the time?
-But instead, to all people?all of the time!
-This allows for NO ?wiggle-room??does it?
Friends?we must demonstrate this to ALL whom we come into contact with?
-The Scriptures tells us, ?Let your gentleness to evident to ALL!?
-This easily includes all our Christian friends?
-But more difficultly the unsaved as well?
*Those who persecute us?
*False teachers?
*Accusers?
*And those whom we detest for their actions and what they stand for?
à Now, this is not to mean that we sacrifice, or water-down, the TRUTH of God and His Word?we MUST NEVER do that!!!
However?we must keep in mind that a GENTLE SPIRIT will do very much in DISARMING the enemy!
Proverbs 15:1 gives us some insight on this??A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.?
-Very true?!
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Now?that is the HOW of continuing in a WINNING ATTITUDE?
But, let?s consider the WHY?
Paul goes on to say that??The Lord is near.?
-Well, we could just say??why does that matter????
-We know that God is near!!! (this is common knowledge, right?)
*God is everywhere?He is Omni-Present like we heard Wednesday Night Bible Study?
*He is a friend that sticks closer than any brother?
*He NEVER leaves us of forsakes us?
*We know this?
à That is true?we all know this, and that alone should curb our behavior and make us think more about how we act and the attitude that we demonstrate?because God sees everything, and we will be held accountable for it?
-But, I think that Paul is trying to teach us something a little deeper than what we are catching from the surface here?
The true essence of what Paul is trying to say in this simple phrase is not just about the common understanding of Christ?s continuing presence with believers?
-But Paul is reminding us of something we often forget to keep in focus?
-And that ?thing? that we need to remember is that?when Christ returns, he will arrive as the Judge who will settle all differences and will bring a consummation that will make most of our human differences seem trivial!
*In other words?none of this should matter because in the full scope of what Christ and Christianity is all about?it just simply won?t matter!!!
à Why? Because Jesus is the most important thing!
-Living a life of liberty in Christ is not worth sacrificing, so that we can fight in our petty differences with people on this earth!!!
-It won?t matter!!! And it doesn?t matter!!!!
*So quit the battles and the wars that divide?focus on Christ!
Oh Lord?Give us an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!!!
Say ?Amen? is that is your prayer for yourself!
ILLUSTRATION:
Now?I don?t know if I am the only one?but, this past week, after hearing the message on Sunday, I found that I saw a real need for an attitude adjustment in me at times?
-And it became very easy for me to play the martyr, and to say at first??This is just an attack of the enemy on me for sharing this message, he just wants me to fall.?
*But as I thought about it?I was not necessarily being attacked specifically for that reason?
-I just was not as aware of these battles previously, and now I am aware and see where I might be losing the battle?
*I see my need for God to be greater in my life?and for a true transformation within me!
*Keep this thought in mind??If God had a camera and was watching this right now?how would I act differently?? (we know that God does see all)
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The next step towards the FUNCTION of a WINNING ATTIUDE is?
FUNCTION #2 - Through a PRAYERFUL Heart!
Verse 6 gives us a simple application to change our ATTITUDES when it tells us to try being prayerful instead of anxious?
ILLUSTRATION:
When we went to Albuquerque a couple summers ago?I got my mom, a little souvenir called a ?worry stone?? [She is a bit of a ?worry-wart?, as they say]
And what you are supposed to do with this thing is rub it while you are worried about the things that occupy your mind?and cast them upon the stone?
-It goes to show that even the dumbest of people know that we cannot handle the stress of worry?so they made up this gimmick.
*And I am sure that it will never work!
*But, I do know something that will work for us?
I want to improve on this by giving attention to?1 Peter 5:7, which says??casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.?
à Another key to having a WINNING ATTITUDE is by ridding yourself of the undue stress that we cling to in our lives!!!
à The antidote to worry: To be prayerful!!!
This does not mean that we just go carefree and live carelessly?
-We still need to be concerned about things?but within the proper sense & parameters of the Christian life?
-We can be prayerfully concerned about things?
-But not over-ridden with UNDUE concern?anxiety?or fretfulness!
Paul is not putting out a mass-plea for apathy?mindlessness?or inaction!
Rather, he is emphasizing the Christian privilege that we have to FULLY TRUST that our Father God hears us in our prayers, and He will give us what we need!!!
Friends?realize this?Your WINNING ATTITUDE is built, not upon your laurels, but upon the fact the God is God!!!
-And He is your shield and your defender!
-He is the I AM! Jehovah God!!!
*And it is in Him that we FULLY TRUST in!!!
PLUS! You cannot do one thing to change anything that you worry and concern yourself about anyways?
Matthew 6:25-34, "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? [26] "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? [27] "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span? [28] "And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, [29] yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. [30] "But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? [31] "Do not be anxious then, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’With what shall we clothe ourselves?’ [32] "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. [34] "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Friends?WINNING ATTITUDES are not built upon worry?fear?or doubt!
But upon faith?hope?and trust!!!
Lord! Send us an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!!!
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AS WE CLOSE:
Then?in verse 7, Paul gives us a beautiful promise attached to this exhortation to pray!
-He tells us the when we do turn from anxiety to prayer and thanksgiving, God will give us His own peace.
-This peace is available to those who are already at peace with God (saved).
à And two things about this peace that God will bring is noticeable?
#1 - It will surpass all understanding?
#2 - And it will guard our hearts and our minds?
#1 - First, this peace will go beyond all of our understanding because it will accomplish FAR MORE than any human forethought or plan might have ever devised!
Ephesians 3:20 uses this same terminology when it says??Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us??
-The thought here, that is confirmed, is that the peace of God not only suffices, but SURPASSES all human comprehension!
à #2 - Therefore, the peace that God brings will (not only go beyond what you could imagine in your life) but it will also act as a sentry to guard the believer?s heart and mind?keeping your from all anxiety and despair!!!
Romans talks about the need for a transformation in the mind?
And that ?transformation? is one that is only accomplished through Christ in our lives!!!
-God gives us the Hope that we need for a troubled, and down-trodden mind!
Do you need hope today friends?
Are you in need of a breath of fresh air concerning your attitude and outlook on life?
Are you in a dire need for an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, because you want to know the peace of God?
ILLUSTRATION:
?No God?no peace. Know God?know peace!?
The peace that you desire?
And the new ATTITUDE that you want is found through trusting Christ for salvation, as well as, for a transformation!!!
-I encourage you to trust in Christ!
-I encourage you to envelope yourself in Him!
-Your peace?freedom?and new attitude are as far away as a good decision to trust in Christ!
ILLUSTRATION:
Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation’s deserts.
All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet.
But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants.
The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life.
Interesting thing to note?is that each bird finds what it is looking for. à We all do, don?t we???
So the question I want to pose before you as we close this morning is?
Are you finding what you are looking for?
-I believe that you are able to find something to rejoice in the Lord about if you so choose!
-And you can also easily find something to be down about and loose a WINNING ATTITUDE if you want to. But who does???
I began with this thought?and I will close with it?what is your CHOICE???
-What has your choice been?
-What do you want your choice to be from now and on???
ALTAR CALL:
New hope and peace in Christ?even Salvation!
Need a Winning Attitude!
Want to choose to focus on life and not death!
SONG: #32 Change My Heart Oh God D
NEXT TIME:
*A Message with a focus of Love for Valentine?s Day?
*But then, our Conclusion, and attention to what our FOCUS must be to obtain/maintain this WINNING ATTITUDE!
