You Need To Get An Aattitude (These are notes from a Bible Study at Born Again Church in Nashville, TN in July of 2000. This study was so great that I have reread the notes over the last couple of year several times)

I'm sure you've probably heard that attitude is every thing or that your attitude will determine your altitude. I believe both are very true. One on the subject of attitude wrote: The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, or a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the Attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our Attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our Attitudes. Jesus also had something to say on the subject of Attitude. Jesus revealed to the multitudes who began to follow Him at the beginning of His ministry, the attitude they should have toward life. This is the Attitude, which Jesus had that provided him a solid foundation for his life. 1. Total Dependency On God: Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven." Remember what Jesus said in John 8:28 & 29 "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him." Jesus depended totally upon the Father and spoke the things, which He was taught of the Father and acted upon those words. As we acknowledge our own spiritual poverty and seek the Father through His Word, then the "God kind of Life" (ZOE) comes to us. This is the kingdom of heaven. Just as Jesus acknowledged His total dependency upon the Father, He said in John 15:5 "without me you can do nothing." Acknowledge you need for God, now and always. You need the Word of God. You need good bible teaching.

2. Joy Always Comes After Sorrow: Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." This is God's promise to you. Believe it today! If you are going through a tough time, start rejoicing NOW. Comfort is on the way! Jesus said that you are blessed if you are mourning over anything, because you are being setup for comfort. Please know that crisis and difficulties are never forever. Troubles don't last always. Everything changes. God gave us day and night which govern our days and seasons which change to govern our years to help us to fully understand that what you are going through will also change eventually. The key is not to wait for a change before you start rejoicing and praising God. Start praising God NOW. For when ever we mourn, God has promised us comfort. In the time of mourning, stay consistent in confessing God's Word concerning your circumstance (your confession of faith). Say to yourself and others, "I'm coming out of what I'm in. This is an opportunity for you to exercise patience." While you are waiting, plan beyond the crisis. This too will pass.

3. Trust In The Lord, And Do Good: Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." This is no doubt not always the easiest thing to do, especially when we know that someone is purposely doing evil toward us. Nevertheless, remember what Psalm 37:1-11 says. This is God's promise to the meek and humble. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Sometimes, we believe for the promise of Psalm 37, when in actuality we have began returning evil for the evil shown toward us. You cannot have the promise of Psalm 37 unless you remain meek and peaceable in your situation. Dare to be someone who will walk in peace and refuse to be taken in an offence by anyone. James 1:19 & 20 says "wherefore, my beloved bretheren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteous of God." This does take discipline, which only comes through practice. You must first have a desire for this self-discipline. Then demand it of yourself. Finally, expect personal discipline from yourself. God has promised us the earth (prosperity, including real-estate) to those who will trust Him and do good.

4. Seek After What Is Right: Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." We must seek what is right at all times, not just when the outcome will benefit us personally. This is seeking what is right for someone else when it is in your power to see that the right thing is done. Have you ever been given too much money back during a transaction with a Bank Teller or a Grocery Clerk? Seeking what is right will cause you to return the money given to you in error. As you endeavor to seek what is right for everyone, you too will have this returned to you in all areas of your life. This is a wonderful promise we have from God. Be determined to uphold the high standard of righteousness, knowing that as you hunger and thirst for it in all matters, it too will be returned to you in all matters. You shall be filled. I believe that this is what Jesus wanted us to fully understand in Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

5. Always Show Compassion: Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."We should never think more highly of ourselves than we should. Make room for others to fail, you know you have failed a time or two yourself. Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 6:35-38 "But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: for give, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Notice that Jesus said that the MEASURE we use (rather for good or evil) is the same MEASURE that will be used to return to us "GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER, AND RUNNING OVER" will we receive from other people. Now you have to ask yourself, "do I want to get back what I'm dishing out in a pressed down, shaken together, and running over way?" We are quick to quote this concerning our giving of finances, but this applies to every area of life. Let's show mercy and be kind one to another, even our enemies.

6. Guard Your Thoughts: Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." What you think on will get into you heart. Whatever gets into your heart, you will begin to speak and act upon. Lets look at what Jesus said in Luke 6:45 "a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Your thoughts eventually will direct your entire life. Proverbs 23:7 says "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:.." also Proverbs 4:23 says "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." John 15:3 says "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." The Word of God has the ability to change our thinking and ultimately our actions. As we give ourselves to a steady diet of God's Word we will begin thinking like God thinks and will begin to see things the way God sees them. The Holy Bible is how God has chosen to reveal Himself to human kind. The more we hear God's word, the more we will see God and understand who He is. I John 3:2 & 3 says, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." In Romans 12:1 & 2 we see that through renewing our minds to God's Word, we are able to carry out God's will for our lives. It says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." As we protect our thought life, we are guarding our heart. God's word shows us how to look at life and how to respond in every situation. We learn through God's Word not to speak the facts that may be around us but to speak the truth in His Word. The things around us are temporal and are subject to change by the power of God's Word and the power of God's Holy Spirit. 7. Always Seek After Peace: Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." A peacemaker is one who makes peace, especially by settling the disputes of others. God is the very source of all peace. God revealed himself to Gideon as a God of peace in Judges 6:23-24, "And the Lord said unto him (Gideon), Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is peace)." The very peace of God has been given to every born again believer in Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." We have a responsibility to share the peace of God with those around us. Determine to be a positive influence to others and the begin changing the very atmosphere around you by speaking the peace of God (His Word) We are commanded in Colossians 3:14-16 to "put on love, let the peace of God rule in our hearts and to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom." We can follow peace by following God's Word. Walking in peace requires a conscious decision by each one of us. It is a chose that we must make each day. When we do this, we demonstrate that we are God's children. In Ephesians 2:10 we see that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God had before ordained that we should walk in them. Peace is one of those "good works" that we were created to walk in. Hebrews 12:14 says, "follow peace with all men, and holiness (sanctification), without which {holiness} no man shall see the Lord." Jesus said in John 17:17 "Sanctify them (make them holy) through thy truth: thy word is truth." As we continue to hear God's word, His word "sets up apart" for his service and allows us to walk in His peace. In essence, to follow peace with all men is to deal with every man according to the Word of God. Look for the good and best in everything. There are some good attributes in everyone. Have enthusiasm and a positive approach toward life. 8. Walk In Forgiveness: Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Everyone will not agree with you. There is a distinct line between good and evil: light and darkness. We must be aware that when we are doing righteously and people come against us: it is not that person (single person) coming against you (single person). It is the kingdom of darkness (Satan) coming against the kingdom of light (Jesus). Half of winning this battle is to expect a conflict and not to be surprised. Jesus said in Matthew 13:21 that tribulation or persecution comes because of the Word. We must hold fast to the Word and not be offended by the persecution. We must decide every morning to walk in forgiveness toward everyone. When we have made up our minds to forgive before we are offended: when the offense comes, no mater what it is, we have our action plan in place. We are ready to forgive. John 17:14-16 says, "I have given them thy word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou should talk them out of the world, but that thou should keep tem from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." Jesus said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Then in Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus speaking to the believers said "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see you good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." It is clear that all born again believers in Christ have a very important purpose in life. As Jesus in Hebrew 1:1-3 is the brightness of God's glory and express image of God's person; like wise do believers reflect the brightness and image of Christ. All believers collectively comprise the Body of Christ. When the world looks at us, they should see God's good works, which will cause the unbeliever to see Christ. But not all will believe and not all respond in the affirmative. Jesus said in John 3:19, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved (examined)." I think the Apostle Paul but it best in II Corinthians 4:15-18, "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound (contribute) to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For out light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Know that you have the answer that the world needs - JESUS.