ILLUSTRATION:
Today, upon the bus I saw a lovely maiden with golden hair; I envied her because she looked so fine and wished I was as fair. And suddenly, as she arose to leave, I watched her hobble down the aisle. She had on leg and wore a brace, but as she passed?a smile.
O God, forgive me when I whine. I?ve got two legs, the world is mine!
And then I stopped to buy some sweets, the boy who sold them was so fine. I walked with him, and he said to me, ?You know, it?s good to talk with folks like you. You see,? he said, ?I?m blind.?
O God, forgive me when I whine. I have two eyes, the world is mine!
Then, walking down the street I saw a lad with eye of blue. He stood and watched the others play, but seemed he did not know what to do. So I watched him for a moment and then I said: ?Hey, don?t you know the others here?? He looked ahead without a word, and then I knew he could not hear.
O God, forgive me when I whine. I have two ears, the world is mine!
Ø With feet to take me where I go?
Ø With eyes to see the sunset glow?
Ø With ears to hear what I need to know?
Ø God, forgive me when I whine?
Ø I am blessed indeed, the world is mine!!!
Friends?how many will still admit with me that we need an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT???
1 Thessalonians 5:18 instructs us that we should, ??in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.?
-Rather than always looking at what we DON?T have?
-We need to be thankful to God for what we DO have!!!
-For, this ungrateful attitude is what can lead to a poor, and less desirable attitude in us!
Not only a THANKFUL ATTITUDE in all things?
But, a properly FOCUSED ATTITUDE?will be a blessing to us as we strive towards a WINNING ATTITUDE in our lives?
-Amen?!
?How To Have A Winning Attitude!?
Part III
?[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:
REVIEW?
You will remember from our past few weeks together, aside from last week, we have been talking about conquering this battle of acquiring a WINNING ATTITUDE!
And from our text, we have learned that we need to apply a few key principles to our lives on the way towards this WINNING ATTITUDE?
POINT ONE:
First, in Philippians 4, verse 4, we came to understand the FOREMOST ATTITUDE?
And, this FOREMOST ATTITUDE should remain in each of us!!!
Step #1 - We must REJOICE!!!
Step #2 - We must REJOICE in the LORD!!!
Step #3 - ALWAYS!!!
And Paul rounds these thoughts out with this last exhortation???and again, I will say, rejoice!?
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POINT TWO:
From there, Paul went on to develop this thought by revealing to us the FUNCTION of our ATTITUDES in Philippians 4:5-7?
FUNCTION #1 - Through a GENTLE Spirit!
Verse 5 instructs us to let our gentle (patient, yielding, kind, forbearing and lenient) spirit be known to all men.
-But, more than being gentle, Paul is trying to show us that we are to ADD another action to this GENTLNESS?
-Paul, wants to bring forth, along with this idea, that we also need to WILLINGLY yield our personal rights to show consideration and gentleness to others?
Paul goes on to say that??The Lord is near.?
-Which is a common truth that we all would agree with?
However, we do remember that there was MORE Paul was trying to say?
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, this OTHER THING that we need to remember is that?when Christ returns, he will arrive as, not only Savior, but also the Judge who will settle all differences in this world. AND, He will bring a consummation that will make most ALL of our human differences seem very petty and trivial!
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?
à Another key to having a WINNING ATTITUDE is by ridding yourself of the undue stress that we cling to in our lives!!!
à Which is?to be prayerful!!!
Christian! We have the unique privilege to FULLY TRUST that our Father God hears us in our prayers, and that He will give us what we need!!!
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?that God will give us His own peace!
And then, 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?
Thank God for His GREAT counsel!
Now?that is the FOREMOST ATTITUDE and the FUNCTION of it in a nutshell.
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However?we STILL find ourselves in need of an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT from time-to-time, don?t we???
ILLUSTRATION: (Pull out the Mason Jar with dirt and water in it?)
You know?we all go through ?tough times? in our lives.
And our lives are a lot like this jar with water in it?
-As we go through life however, we get ?cluttered up? with things that damage our lives, and taint who we really are meant to be?actual ?potential stealers? if you will?
Now?things happen and junk comes our way?and we get full of dirt, grit, grime and sludge?
-This is where the dirt in this jar comes from?
However, at times in our lives this gunk seems to go virtually unseen, because we are in a good mood, and things are going our way?
à But, what happens when the tides come in?storms come our way?and troubles set in???
-Thing get shook up!
-It clouds our judgment, and fogs peoples? perception of us!
à And there is a real life lesson to be learned from this little jar?
Life Lessons:
#1 - Circumstances that we face are much like this shaking that goes on?and these circumstances reveal what our lives are really made up of!
#2 - Basically what happens, is that when we go through tough times?the real you is seen!
#3 - And what comes out is your true attitude towards yourself?others?and God!
And the BIG IDEA in life is this?
Your circumstances may NEVER change?BUT, your attitude CAN!
And THAT is what makes all the difference in the world.
Friends?if you can change your circumstances - great! However, if you cannot, you will need to change your attitude then!
-Amen?
à Say, ?Lord, I do need an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!?
The stinging reality comes in Philippians 2:5 as it is written in the NLT, ?Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.?
And that is our goal and ambition Church, to be like Jesus!
-Christians à Little-Christs or Christ like?
-He is our model?our example?our goal?and our hope!!!
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So then, STEP THREE, towards obtaining a WINNING ATTITUDE?
POINT THREE: The FOCUS of our Attitude!
Philip. 4:8-9, ?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.?
à So then, the next activity that each and every believer must do is THINK RIGHT!
-Stay FOCUSED!
à We MUST keep on THINKING and DOING what is MORALLY and SPIRITUALLY excellent and right!
ILLUSTRATION:
You know?
The noted English architect Sir Christopher Wren was supervising the construction of a magnificent cathedral in London. And during this time, a journalist thought it would be interesting to interview some of the workers, so he chose three and asked them this simple question, ?What are you doing??
-The first person replied, ?I’m cutting stone for 10 shillings a day.?
-The next guy answered, and said, ?I’m putting in 10 hours a day on this job.?
-But the third man said, ?I’m helping Sir Christopher Wren construct one of London’s greatest cathedrals.?
You see friends, what we keep our minds focused on makes a world of difference?
May I ask you?
v What are your FOCUSED on?
v What things do you think about?
v What do you allow to shake you up?
v Do you need to think on higher things?
à Thinking ?right? involves centering our minds on EXALTED things as verse 8 tells us?
à Then, when we put these things that we have learned from Paul?s teaching and example into practice, we will be making strides towards living a life with a WINNING ATTITUDE!!!
So what do we THINK about???
ILLUSTRATION:
You know, our minds are a powerful thing?
-We can think of a place that we love, and immediately we are there in our imagination, and enjoying the sites that we remember and love?
Our minds are so powerful that just something we might ?believe?, we are convinced as true, when we don?t know any better. (and sometimes when we know better)
Just think of the fears you have?phobias?
-We are convinced that those things are bad and terrible?even dangerous and life-threatening.
-Even though it is not necessarily true?
Examples:
ü Fear of heights?
ü Fear of snakes?
ü Fear of small spaces?
We believe them to be truly dangerous and detrimental to our lives?even though they really aren?t!
Now?Paul realizes this to be true as well?
And Paul establishes a memorable list of words for us to keep in mind?
-A actual ?charter? for the Christian life, if you will?
First Focus: TRUE!
The sense that this word is meant to bring is ?valid?reliable?and honest?.
This is the opposite of FALSE!
And if you get right down to brass tacks?this is a CHARATERISTIC of God Himself!
Romans 3:4, ?May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar??
And if this is a characteristic of God?is it too much to ask that it would also characterize Christians as well???
-Absolutely NOT!
-Christians must also be reliable?honest, and true!
*And you must also THINK about these things!
Second Focus: HONORABLE!
This word is also known as ?noble?honest?dignified?or upright.?
Paul is the ONLY one to use this term in the New Testament?
-Here, and in I Timothy 3:8 & 11; and Titus 2:2
And in each of these particular passages, the word SEMNOS is used in reference to Church Officers?
-Deacons/Elders and their wives?
-And, elder saints in the Lord?
*This speaks of a quality that makes them worthy of respect?
And the relation could be made to the thoughts to which you give attention to in your mind?
-Are those thoughts ?worthy of respect??
-Would your thoughts win the respect of others if they knew of them?
Because, according to Paul (and the Lord), these are the only kinds of thought that you should be having!
-That will help to build a WINNING ATTITUDE?
-As well as, give you victory over many of the temptations of your life!
The Next Focus: RIGHT!
Right thoughts?
-Those that are ?upright?just?innocent?or holy?
-These are the TYPE of things that should occupy our minds!
Unfortunately, it is just the opposite that battles to occupy the territory of our minds?is it not?
Therefore, we must remember that we are AT WAR with this flesh!
-And we must strive against the flesh and its desire to dwell on the lower things?
*For these lead to sin?and towards a BAD ATTITUDE!
?Whatsoever things are RIGHT??
-These are those things that are conformable to God?s standards and are thus, worthy of His approval!
Could it be said of your thoughts, and mine, that they are WORTHY of God?s approval?
-If not?then we must think on some OTHER things! J
Then, Our Next Focus: PURE!
Pure thoughts are the kind of thoughts that are ?properly clean?innocent?honest?and even perfect!?
The context of this word emphasizes (listen up guys) MORAL PURITY in thought?
Even, a sense of having CHASTE thoughts?
-These are those which are, ?innocent?uncorrupted?and innocent thoughts??
Friends, thoughts of this nature can lead the heart into many a wrong place, which can be a maze to get out of!
-Self-entrapment?if you will!
-This is done so very easily because of the nature of our heart?
Jeremiah 17:9 makes it clear??The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it??
However?
1 John 2:16-17, ?For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. [17] And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.?
Friends, God?s will for our THOUGHT LIFE, as well as our ATTITUDES is that of PURITY?INTEGRITY?and HOLINESS!
Fifthly, Our Focus: LOVELY!
This word appears only once in the whole NT, and it is here?
However, it is also used in the OT once too?
It is used in reference to Queen Esther when she appears in her royal apparel, and goes to the King?s Inner Courts?Esther 5:1
And the meaning that this word is trying to promote for us in our THOUGHTS and ATTITUDES, is one of being ?pleasing?agreeable?or cordial??
And in reference to God and His observation of our thoughts?
-They should be ones that are pleasing to Him?
-Thoughts that would not offend Him, or repel Him from us!
-Thoughts that are in reverence of Him, and respect His Holiness and Majesty!
The Last Focus: ADMIRABLE!
In this last word, Paul uses a rare one (only used here in the Bible), which accentuates that we should give attention to things in our lives that are ONLY ?praise worthy?attractive to the Lord?and what rings true to the highest standards possible!?
-Also could mean, ?honest?of good report?or reputable!?
These are the kind of things that we are supposed to be focused on in our lives?
-Focused on in our THOUGHT LIVES?
-Which will filter into our ATTITUDES?
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à Folks?WHATEVER things are:
-TRUE?HONORABLE?RIGHT?PURE?LOVELY?and ADMIRABLE!!!
-These are to be the things that capture our minds, and shape our ATTITUDES?
-Nothing else!!!
Which all goes back to the thought from our first study together, that ?what a man thinks in his heart?so is he!?
Now?this list has been shared, and Paul abruptly stops and shifts gears?
He begins to use a conditional clause?
-Which means that he uses a rhetorical device to further prove his point?
-?IF? you do this??THEN? that?
Philippians 4:8, ??if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.?
What Paul is trying to get the reader to do, is to EXERCISE their own DISCERNMENT?
-Which can be dangerous; but we all need to learn the will of God for ourselves?otherwise, we are in a mindless, brainwashing cult!
-And Paul?s previous instruction will hopefully guide this self-guidance so that we will all CHOOSE what is excellent and praise worthy!!!
*Again?choice!
But, with all this instruction on what to think on, we should be well on our way to success!
And he knows that when we CONTINUALLY CENTER our minds on such thoughts as he has described, we WILL live like Christians should live!!!
Ø Do you want to live like a Christian should?
Ø Do you want to find success in what you do, and in who you are?
Ø Then, you must think on these things, and create in your life, and ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!!!!
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Philippians 4:9, ?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.?
Paul rounds off all of this wealth of information by say this?
He says to the reader?
In order for you to experience God?s peace and freedom from anxiety; believers must simply just fix their minds of the things that are TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE?etc. etc.
-If you want to be successful in your Christian life?and you want to have a WINNING ATTITUDE, you must do this!
-And if you do these things?you WILL know the God of PEACE, and He will be with you!
And we know the consequence of failing to do this though, don?t we???
Fixing your mind on unholy and godless things will result in your lost joy?a missing peace of God?and an unguarded heart against the devil!
-And I never want to loose those things!
-How about you?
ILLUSTRATION:
In the early 1800s in Manchester, England, and unhappy and depressed middle-aged man, while traveling, visited a physician who had been recommended to him?
?What?s the nature of your ailment?? the physician asked?
The sad-faced man told the physician that he was suffering from a hopeless illness. He was in terror of the world around him and nothing gave him pleasure or amused him or gave him a reason to live. ?If you can?t help me,? he told the physician, ?I?m afraid that I will kill myself.?
The physician tried to reassure him. He told the man that he could be cured. He encouraged him to get out of himself, to find things that would amuse him, and cheer him up and make him laugh.
The patient said, ?Where can I go to find such a diversion??
The physician replied, ?The circus is in town tonight. Go see Grimaldi the clown. Grimaldi is the funniest man alive. He will cure you!?
The sad-faced patient looked up and said, ?Doctor, I am Grimaldi. I am Grimaldi!?
-True purpose?meaning?and joy ONLY come from knowing the Lord!
AS I CLOSE:
Friends, with all that I have shared this morning?
And all that we have understood to need in our lives?
-A WINNING ATTITUDE?
-A PURE and HOLY thought life?
-The PEACE of God?
-And His guardianship of our hearts?
Something is true of all of this?
ONLY God can provide this?not anyone else?or even ourselves!
-Allow God to be your source of inspiration and help in your need!
-He will give you a WINNING ATTIUDE!
-He will give you victory over your thought life and need for true peace!
ILLUSTRATION: (Go back to the Jar again)
Things have settled down and cleared up?only because there has not been a storm?
-What we need is that God would completely cleanse us and set us free!!!
Let me ask some closing questions:
à What comes to the surface of your life when your life is shaken?
-It is only a CHRIST-LIKE ATTITUDE that will guide you in surviving the circumstances that you will face!
à Examine your attitude?does it need to be changed?
-Spend time in prayer, and pray through each of these ?thought focuses? as you get back on track!
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Friends?the practical side to all of this is that we are Christ?s Ambassadors to the WORLD to bring this Gospel message!
-Our attitudes can either ENHANCE the message or be a DETRIMENT to it?
-Which is yours?
-We must have a good attitude!!!
*There can be nothing less!
*The Kingdom of God suffers violence, and we must be VIOLENT and VIGILANT in our battle against the flesh and in our mind and attitudes!!!
ALTAR CALL:
New HEART in salvation?
New MIND in transformation?
New ATTITUDE and thought patterns?
Romans 12:2, ?And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.?
SONG: Holiness (Take my life)
