Sunday Sermon
ATTITUDES CHANGE YOUR OUTLOOK AND CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Date: January 27, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: Philippians 2:5
Listen to Audio Sermon

PHILIPPIANS 2:5
5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT TYPE OF ATTITUDE JESUS HAD? LIKE WHEN HE WOKE IN THE MORNING OR ON A RAINY DAY OR WHEN HIS APOSTLES MESSED UP, HOW DID HE PERCEIVE THINGS AND WHAT WERE HIS REACTIONS?

AN AIRPLANE HAS AN INSTRUMENT THAT TELLS THE PILOT WHERE THE PLANE IS RELATIVE TO THE HORIZON. THE INSTRUMENT IS CALLED AN ATTITUDE INDICATOR. WHEN A PLANE CLIMBS UP OVER THE HORIZON, IT IS SAID TO HAVE A “NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE.” WHEN IT DIVES BELOW THE HORIZON IT IS SAID TO HAVE A “NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.”

PILOTS CAN CHANGE THE ATTITUDE OF A PLANE BY MAKING A FEW ADJUSTMENTS WITH THEIR INSTRUMENTS.
NOW IN LIFE WHEN YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE THAT IS LOOKING UP, WE CAN EXPECT TO HAVE AN ABOVE AVERAGE LIFE. IF YOUR ATTITUDE IS LOOKING DOWN, SAY DEPRESSED, YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE A BELOW AVERAGE LIFE, ASSUMING THAT THE HORIZON IS AVERAGE.

ALL OF THAT TO SAY THIS, I TEND TO BELIEVE THAT JESUS’ ATTITUDE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING UP. MAYBE BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD HIS PURPOSE AND WAS DETERMINED TO ACHIEVE IT AT WHATEVER COST. DO YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR PURPOSE AND TO WHAT DEGREE ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO ACCOMPLISH IT? LOOK AT EPHESIANS 4:23 –
23And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

OUR SPIRITUAL AND MENTAL ATTITUDE HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY REFRESHED BY GOD’S WORD. THE PROCESS IS UNENDING FOR THE FOCUSED CHRISTIAN.

THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE THAT CAN CAUSE YOUR ATTITUDE TO BE NOSE DOWN FROM THE HORIZON. AND WHAT YOU DO ABOUT IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. OUR ATTITUDE, AS CHRISTIANS, HAS TO BE CONTINUALLY GOD CENTERED. JOHN MAXWELL A NOTED BIBLE TEACHER AND SPEAKER SAID, “YOUR ONLY AN ATTITUDE AWAY FROM SUCCESS.” AND HOW TRUE THAT IS WHEN YOU PONDER THAT THOUGHT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

IT’S YOUR ATTITUDE AND NOT YOUR APTITUDE THAT WILL DETERMINE YOUR ALTITUDE. A GOOD ATTITUDE MAKES FOR A GOOD ATMOSPHERE. I WOULD RATHER WORK WITH SOMEONE WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE AND POOR SKILLS THAN WITH SOMEONE WITH GOOD SKILLS BUT A BAD ATTITUDE. DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW SOMEONE THAT NEEDS AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT?

TODAY, WHAT SONG WOULD DESCRIBE YOUR ATTITUDE?
A. MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY.
B. RAIN DROPS KEEP FALLING ON MY HEAD.
C. I DID IT MY WAY.
D. OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.

LOOK AT PSALM 96:1-4 –
1O SING to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2Sing to the Lord, bless (affectionately praise) His name; show forth His salvation from day to day. 3Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. 4For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be reverently feared and worshiped above all [so-called] gods.

THIS WOULD BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE, ONE THAT IS GOD CENTERED

ALSO PSALM 98:1-2 –
1O SING to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have wrought salvation for Him.
2The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He openly shown in the sight of the nations.

SOUND LIKE THESE WORDS ARE TELLING US TO SING UNTO THE LORD. EVERYONE OF US THAT HAS THE WISDOM OF GOD NEEDS TO BE SINGING A NEW SONG EVERY DAY. NO MORE IS , “WOE IS ME” OR “IT’S ALL ABOUT ME”.

IN TODAY’S WORLD HAPPINESS IS BASED ON WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT WE HAVE BUT IN GOD’S ECONOMY, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY.

LOOK AT 1PETER 3:14-
14But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].

HOW WOULD YOU LIFE BE DIFFERENT IF YOUR LIFE HAD THAT ATTITUDE IN ALL YOUR LIFE SITUATIONS?

JOHN 13:17 —
15For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you. 16I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him.
17If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and really do them].

JESUS IS SAYING THAT HAPPINESS NEEDS TO COME FROM AN ATTITUDE OF SERVANTHOOD.

LETS LOOK AT MATTHEW 5:1-12 –
3Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
4Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!
5Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!
6Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied
7Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
8Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous--possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!
9Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!
10Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
11Blessed (happy,]to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–]with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.
12Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. [II Chron. 36:16.]

LETS LOOK AT 9 THINGS ABOUT THESE SCRIPTURES THAT REFER TO OUR ATTITUDES:
1. IT’S A SERMON ABOUT ATTITUDES
2. POOR IN SPIRIT EQUALS A HUMBLE ATTITUDE
3. THOSE WHO MOURN ARE COMFORTED -A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
4. THE MEEK – A CONTENTED ATTITUDE
5. HUNGRY FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS – ATTITUDE FOR EXCELLENCE
6. THE MERCIFUL – A FORGIVING ATTITUDE
7. THE PURE IN HEART – A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
8. THE PEACEMAKER — A HUMBLED AND OBEDIENT ATTITUDE
9. THOSE PERSECUTED – A DOING RIGHT ATTITUDE, AN EXCELLENT ATTITUDE NO MATTER WHAT THE COST.

NOW LOOK AT DEUTERONOMY 1:2 –
2It is [only] eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea [on Canaan's border; yet Israel took forty years to get beyond it].

WHY DID IT TAKE 40 YEARS TO GET TO THE PROMISE LAND?
ALL THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE THEY HAD A BAD ATTITUDE. MOANING, COMPLAINING, ANGRY, SAD, ETC
BESIDES THOSE, IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR JOURNEY CLOSELY THEY WERE NEGATIVE, IRRESPONSIBLE, UNGRATEFUL, INPATIENT, SELFISH, REBELLIOUS AND PROUD. WHAT REALLY SEEMS TO BE HARD TO BELIEVE IS THAT THESE SAME ATTITUDES ARE ALL IN THE CHURCH TODAY. AND BECAUSE OF THOSE ATTITUDES, WE SEE FEW SIGNS AND WONDERS.

THE TWO MEN THAT DID ENTER THE PROMISE LAND HAD ATTITUDES THAT WERE TOTALLY OPPOSITE. THEY WERE POSITIVE, REASONABLE, CONFIDENT, GIVING, PATIENT, OBEDIENT, HUMBLE AND GRATEFUL.

ON THAT NOTE, HOW IS YOUR ATTITUDE? TRY TO MAKE IT THROUGH ONE DAY WITHOUT COMPLAINING, ABOUT ANYTHING AT ALL. PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME CHECKING THEIR ATTITUDES BECAUSE THEY ARE HIDDEN IN HOW THEY ACT EVERY DAY.

CHECK THIS OUT:
1. REFUSAL TO WEAR SEAT BELTS.
2. PARKING IN HANDICAPPED SPACES AND NOT HANDICAPPED.
3. NOT PUTTING BACK SHOPPING CARTS.
4. BREAK SPEED LIMIT OR ROLL THROUGH STOP SIGNS.
5. PASSING A CAR IN A NO PASSING ZONE.
6. THROWING TRASH OUT THE CAR WINDOW.

WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN. USING GOD’S TYPE OF WISDOM IN OUR LIVES.

THOSE TYPE OF THOUGHTS REQUIRE US TO MAKE DISCISIONS WHEN DOING THE REQUIRED WORK FOR THE LORD AND HIS PEOPLE.
ALSO, THOSE TYPE OF ATTITUDES CAN CARRY OVER INTO YOUR HOMES AND EVEN YOUR CHURCHES

WELL PASTOR, WHAT IS AN ATTITUDE? GOOD QUESTION AND I’M GLAD YOU ASKED.
A. IT’S YOUR THOUGHT LIFE TURNED INSIDE OUT.

B. AN INWARD FEELING EXPRESSED OUTWARDLY.

C. THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT OUR CONTINENCE AND FACIAL EXPRESSIONS WHEN WE SHOW OUR ATTITUDES

SEE GEN 4:5-6
5But for Cain and his offering He had no respect or regard. So Cain was exceedingly angry and indignant, and he looked sad and depressed.
6And the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?

CAIN LOOKED SAD AND DEPRESSED BECAUSE HE HAD A JEALOUS ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS BROTHER ABEL

PROVERBS 15:13 –
13A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

MATTHEW 6:16 —
16And whenever you are fasting, do not look gloomy and sour and dreary like the hypocrites, for they put on a dismal countenance, that their fasting may be apparent to and seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full already.

THE PHARISEES WERE SAD BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT THE REAL TRUTH. THEY COULD NOT BE SATISFIED ONCE THEY SAW WHAT JESUS WAS DOING. ALL THEIR EXPRESSIONS AND THE SOUR CONTINENCE EACH HAD WAS EXPRESSIONS OF ATTITUDES. (I.E. WE ARE BETTER THEN HIM, WE HAVE BEEN SCHOOLED IN THE UNIVERSITY OF STUPIDITY. WE ALL GRADUATED MAGNA CUM LOUSY, WHO DOES HE THINKS HE IS?) MAYBE SOME OF THESE SEEM FAMILIAR AND WHICH ONES DO YOU COPY?

D. AN ATTITUDE IS THE POSTURE WE TAKE TOWARDS THE LIFE WE HAVE.

1) IF YOU RESIST AND DESPISE YOUR LIFE AND WISH FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE , WE HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE THAT MAKES US MISERABLE.

2) IF WE EMBRACE OUR LOT IN LIFE, COUNT OUR BLESSINGS AND USE WHAT WE HAVE INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT WE DON’T HAVE, WE HAVE A GOOD AND GODLY ATTITUDE. WE WILL HAVE A GOOD LIFE THAT WILL SHOW UP IN OUR CHURCH MINISTRY.

E. IT IS THE PROPHET OF OUR FUTURE. IT REALLY DETERMINES THE FUTURE OF YOUR LIFE AND CAN TAKE YOU PLACES YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO.

F. IT CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND OR YOUR WORST ENEMY.

G. IT’S THE THING THAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO YOU OR DRIVES THEM AWAY.

H. IT’S THE PRIMARY FORCE THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER WE SUCCEED OR FAIL IN OUR LIVE AND IN OUR CHURCHES. IT CAN DETERMINE IF YOU ARE PLEASING GOD OR NOT.

WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME THERE ARE TWO SCRIPTURES YOU CAN STAND ON THAT WILL HELP YOU BECOME A WINNER IN LIFE.

THEY ARE ROMANS 8:28 –
28We are assured and know that God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

GOD KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND IS WATCHING YOU TO SEE WHAT YOUR REACTIONS ARE TO ALL THE THINGS YOU EXPERIENCE IN LIFE, THAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE AS YOU GO THROUGH TRIALS AND TROUBLES, AND WE ALL HAVE OUR SHARE. WHAT IS GOD SEEING WHEN HE SEES YOUR REACTIONS?

GENESIS 50:20 —
20As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day

WHAT IS GOD USING YOUR TRIALS FOR? HOW IS HE PRODUCING AND USING THEM TO HELP PEOPLE. YOU KNOW GOD MUST HAVE A GOOD PLAN BECAUSE HIS PLANS FOR US ARE YEA AND AMEN.

AS PARENTS , YOU ARE MOLDING THE ATTITUDES OF YOUR CHILDREN. LOOK AT PROVERB 22:6 –
6Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.

THIS SCRIPTURE CAN WORK BOTH WAYS. IT DEPENDS ON YOUR ATTITUDE WHEN RAISING THEM. GODLY ATTITUDES RAISE GODLY CHILDREN. DON’T LET YOUR ATTITUDE LOSE ALTITUDE.

MAINTAIN THE RIGHT ATTITUDE WHEN THEY GET TOUGH. MAKE ALL NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAINTAINING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IS EASIER THAN REGAINING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.

SEE 1 PETER 5:8-9 —
8Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring In fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
9Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

REMEMBER THIS ADVISE, BE WELL BALANCED, LOOKING AROUND FOR POSSIBLE TROUBLE, AND BE PREPARED TO ENCOUNTER HIM IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD KNOWING THAT YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THINGS. GOD IS WORKING HIS PLAN TO WATCH YOU WORK HIS PLAN IN YOUR LIFE.

THAT IS WHY HE GAVE US PHIL 2:5
5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

IT IS ONE OF THE SECRETS IN YOUR SUCCESS.

ALSO REALIZE THAT TOUGH TIME NEVER LAST BUT WISE PEOPLE WITH GOOD ATTITUDES DO. NEVER MAKE A MAJOR DISCISIONS DURING A STORM.

LAST AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE CONTROL TOWER. ONE WORD FROM GOD CAN LIFT YOU OUT OF THE PIT.

ALWAYS KEEP THINGS IN THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE .