Do You Need An
"Attitude Adjustment"
Philippians 2:1-5, "If <there be> therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, {2} Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded
Introduction:
A. Abraham Lincoln --- "Most People Are As Happy As They Want To Be.!"
B. Your Attitude can be your Best Friend or your Worst Enemy.
1. Its Roots are Inward but its Fruit is Outward.
2. Your attitude is More Honest and More Consistent than your words.
3. Your attitude is an Outward Look based on Past Experiences.
4. You attitude is Never Content until it is Expressed.
5. Your attitude is the --- Librarian of your Past --- Speaker of your Present --- Prophet of your Future.
C. Of all the Things We Wear, our attitude, our Experession is the Most Important:
1. The "Pout" of the Sulker --- The "Jutted Jaw" of the Determined.....
2. Our Expressions usually reflect our Inward Feelings:
Our Expressions become a "Window To The Soul" --- A person who gives you "A Look That Kills," is probably Not inwardly singing, "Something Good Is Going To Happen To You."
D. Proverbs 23:7, "... as he thinketh in his heart, so <is> he"
I. You Need To Understand --- There Is A Difference Between External And Internal Stress Factors.
A. External stress factors are Common every-day problems --- things over which We Have No Control:
1. Death of a loved one,
2. Flat tire on your car,
3. Pop quiz in school,
4. An uncouth, inconsiderate, abusive Supervisor ...
B. However, this does Not Mean that we have to develop Internal Stresses.
1. These stresses are not the real problem --- How We React to them is ...
2. We Have Little Control over External stress factors --- but we Can Control Internal stress by Reacting the right way.
C. Therefore, we will Not be discussing External stress factors --- they are Not the problem.
D. Internal stresses expose our bodies to serious and even fatal Diseases:
1. Mental and emotional illnesses ...
2. Migraine headaches ...
3. Destruction of our immune system ...
4. Vomiting --- Ulcers ... etc.
5. Heart attacks ...
E. Most of our problems Can be and Are caused by Wrong Reactions to external stress.
How Do You React To The Problems of Life?
F. It is also worth noting that the Seven Deadly Sins (Pride, Covetousness, Lust, Envy, Anger, Gluttony and Sloth) are all matters of attitude.
G. It is also noteworthy that:
"Christians who Possess No Greater Cause Than Themselves are Not As Happy --- As those who do Not Know Christ As Savior, yet Have A Purpose Greater Than Themselves."
II. Your Attitudes Can Determine Whether You Have Good Health or Bad Health --- Even Life or Death.
A. The Nation's Number One Health Problem Is Mental And Emotional Illness.
B. Most of our illnesses are caused by: --- worry --- anger --- bitterness --- envy --- jealousy --- anxiety --- etc.
C. Worry and Anxiety is just as much a sin as:
1. Over-eating ...
2. Alcohol, Tobacco, Drugs, etc.
3. Or anything else that might harm our physical body.
4. You cannot be spiritual and not respect the Temple of God --- Your Body.
5. Worry And Anxiety, Anger, Bitterness, Envy, And Jealousy Will Destroy Your Physical Body.
D. In the 1940's and 50's eight thousand prisoners of war died; and a doctor by the name of wolf said that most of these 8,000 deaths were caused by wrong attitudes --- not by any physical illnesses.
III. Your Attitude Can And Does Determine Your Approach To Life.
A. Your Happiness or Despondency --- Whether you are Outgoing or Withdrawn.
B. One saw Mud --- The other saw Stars ...
1. John Bunyun wrote "Pilgrim's Progress" while in the Bedford Prison.
2. Robinson Crusoe was written in prison.
3. Sir Walter Raleigh wrote The History of the World during a thirteen-year imprisonment.
4. Luther translated the Bible while confined in the castle of Wartburg.
5. Beethoven was almost totally deaf and burdened with sorrow when he produced his greatest works.
C. The person with the Right Attitude does not accept the normal limitations of life like most people.
1. The future not only looks bright when the attitude is right, but the present is also much more enjoyable.
2. The journey becomes as enjoyable as the destination.
D. David Sarnoff said, "There is plenty of security in the cemetery; I long for opportunity."
E. Thomas Edison said, "There is much more opportunity than there are people to see it."
1. According to the theory of aerodynamics, as demonstrated through the wind tunnel tests, the bumblebee should be unable to fly.
2. Because of the size, weight and shape of his body in relationship to the total wing spreead, flying is scientifically impossible.
3. The bumblebee, being ignorant of scientific theory, goes ahead and flies anyways and makes honey every day.
F. We are Free To Choose our attitudes.
Victor Frankl
Corrie Tenboom
G. Paul --- Silas --- Acts 16:25, "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."
1. Paul had the mind of Christ --- a wonderful attitude toward life.
Phil. 1:21
2. Nothing bothered Paul ...
a. "But Paul, there are some men who are out to kill you."
b. Paul answered, "To die is gain."
c. You just cannot beat a fellow like that.
3. If we approach things like Paul, we would not dread our walk in life.
H. All the Apostles --- Acts 5:40-41, "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."
1. Worry comes when we REACT to stress factors the wrong way or with the wrong attitude.
2. How would Christ react ... How do you react ... ?
I. What Would It Take To Make You Stop Serving The Lord?
1. Job, ill, bereaved and proverty-stricken, refused to listen to the advice of his wife --- "Curse God and die!"
2. Job 2:10, "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?"
IV. Your Attitude Determines Your Relationship With People.
A. Whether you have Friends and Fellowship or are Lonely and Neglected.
1. Whether you are Loved or Shunned.
2. Matthew 7:12, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:"
3. You can not expect to have friends if you are not willing to be a friend.
B. Our attitude tells us what we expect from life.
C. A Princeton Seminary Professor made a study of Great Preachers across past centuries.
1. He notes their tremendous Varieties of Personalities and gifts.
2. Then he asked the question? "What do these outstanding pulpiteers All Have In Common besides their faith?"
Ans
D. We are Individually Responsible for our View Of Life.
E. Lets look at the story of the Two Prodigal Sons:
1. The younger brother is guilty of the Sins of The Flesh, whereas the elder brother is guilty of the Sins of The Spirit (Attitude).
2. The elder brother's attitude shows Three Possible Results of a bad attitude:
a. It is possible to assume the place and privilege of a son while refusing the obligations of a brother.
(1) The elder brother was outwardly correct, conscientious, industrious and dutiful.
(2) Also note that a wrong relationship with the brother brought a strained relationship with the father. --- (Luke 15:28, 1 John 4:20)
b. It is possible to Serve The Father Faithfully yet Not Be In Fellowship With Him.
c. It is possible to be an Heir of All our Father's posseses yet have Less Joy And Liberty than one who Possesses Nothing.
3. A wrong attitude kept the elder brother away from:
The heart's desire of the father --- The love of his brother --- The joy of the servants.
4. When the parable closes, it is the elder brother who is outside the father's house.
V. Often Our Attitude Is The Only Difference Between Success And Failure.
A. Most projects fail or succeed before they begin.
B. Your attitude, at the beginning of a task, will affect its outcome more than anything else.
1. Your Abilities say "Win" but your Attitudes say "Lose".
2. Coaches understand the important of a positive attitude ...
3. Surgeons want to see their patients mentally prepared before going into surgery ...
4. Even Preachers --- most of the time it is the way we present the gospel rather than the gospel itself that offends people.
C. What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity --- Ans. - "Our Attitude"!
1. Some see a Difficulty in every Opportunity --- other see an Opportunity in every Difficulty.
2. That which "Makes Some" will "Break Others".
3. Kites and Airplanes rise against the wind, not with it.
D. The Secret To Living And Facing Problems Is To Have The Right Attitude.
1. Salesmen ..... Attitude .....
2. Zig Ziglar --- 100 companies --- last 100 employees fired --- Total of 10,000 employees fires ... 9,700 were fired because of a bad attitude & not being able to get along with others.
3. The Stanford Research Institute says that the money you make in any endeavor is determined only 12.5% by knowledge and 87.5% by your ability to deal with people.
4. Teddy Roosevelt, "The most important single ingredient to the formula of success is knowing how to get alone with people."
5. John D. Rockefeller, "I will pay more for the ability to deal with people than any other ability under the sun."
6. J. Paul Getty, "It doesn't make much difference how much other knowledge or experience an executive possesses; if he is unable to achieve results through people, he is worthless as an executive."
E. Usually, a person who rises within an organization has a good attitude.
1. The promotions did not give him/her an outstanding attitude,
2. But rather, an outstanding attitude resulted in his/her promotions.
F. A study by Telemetrics International of 16,000 executives observed the difference between "high achievers" and "low achievers":
1. High achievers tended to care about people as well as profits ---
Low achievers
2. High achievers viewed employees optimistically ---
Low achievers
3. High achievers were Listeners and sought advice from the rank & file ...
Low achievers
G. It is also true, that a Negative Past Experience can sometimes paralyze our thinking and our attitude.
1. However, we are still Individually Responsible for our View of Life --- for our view of People...
2. Your attitude can determine your success or failure.
VI. Bible Examples of Right And Wrong Reactions:
A. Jacob reacted in the wrong way.
1. Genesis 37:31-35, "And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of [many] colours, and they brought [it] to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it [be] thy son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, [It is] my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him."
2. He concluded (wrongly) that his son Joseph was torn in pieces.
a. He did not know for sure but he reacted instantly in a negative way --- He even tore his clothes.
b. Have you ever gotten mad --- tore up things --- thrown things ...
3. He went on to say, "I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning."
a. In other words: "I will spend the rest of my life mourning --- and feeling sorry for myself --- and nothing you can do or say will stop me.
b. He was filled with self pity and "refused to be comforted."
4. Jacob refused to have the right attitude.
a. He would not allow any of his friends, not even his own family, to help him ...
b. Noal Prater ... soured on the world ...
c. How miserable it must be to go through life:
d. Filled with self-pity ..... Laying around on the couch and waiting to die.
5. God has something better than that for you.
John 10:10
6. It is up to you whether you want to live or just mope around feeling sorry for yourself ...
7. I have met some people who refuse to be helped --- when you try to love and help them --- they respond with:
a. Harsh remarks --- They say mean and cutting things to you ...
b. They are suspicious --- wondering what your ulterior motive is for wanting to help them ...
c. Are you so full of hate and self-pity that you cannot believe that anyone loves and cares for you.
d. Attempted Suicides --- Didn't call --- Don't want help ..... (Kenny King)
8. Pardon the expression, but, "Their Attitude Stinks."
(( Limburger Cheese ))
B. David reacted in the right way.
1. II Samuel 12:19-24, "But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing [is] this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, [while it was] alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell [whether] GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife,"
2. David had just lost his infant son --- it was not just in his mind --- like Jacob --- it was real!
3. He arose, washed, and anointed himself --- he changed his apparel --- rather than "rent" it.
4. He came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped --- unlike some today ...
5. He then went home and ate --- and comforted his wife --- rather than refuse to be comforted ...
6. David explained that it is all over --- what is the use to worry about it --- you cannot change it.
C. Jacob saw mud --- David saw stars.
D. God should be the only person that we cannot live without.
VII. Worry Is Sin!
A. Romans 1:17, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
1. Worry is a lack of faith in God.
2. Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose." --- 14:23, "... whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
3. Romans 8:32, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
B. How do you react to problems --- to people --- to life ...
1. Do you see mud --- or do you see stars ...
2. Barbara Hall --- West Memphis, Ark.
C. God Sometimes Permits: --- Hardships --- Heart-Aches --- To Come In Our Life.
1. The purpose --- to chisel away some of the deposits of sin that mount up in our lives that the good may show forth.
2. The Bible refers to it as the "Refining Fires of God's Furnace" --- not to burn us --- but to burn off the dross of sin.
3. When these chisels are used on us --- we can be sure that God is not finished with us --- He still has a work for us to do.
D. Paul had a chisel in his life.
1. II Corinthians 12:7-10, "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. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in (your) weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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."
2. If God took us to heaven, we would get all puffed up too --- Paul understood WHY he had this thorn in the flesh.
3. Whatever your thorn may be, don't worry about it --- God's grace is sufficient for you.
4. How Do You React to your thorn in the flesh? --- What kind of attitude do you have?
The Problem Is Not The Problem --- How We React To The Problem --- Is The Problem.
We Need To Focus On The Problem Solver Himself --- Rather Than The Problem Itself.
A Search For The Truth About Salvation
