Reboot Our Attitude
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Reboot Series
Illustration - It’s time to update your iOS (ignore or on MacBook - “try tonight”)
Part 3 - Reboot our Attitude
Part 3 - Reboot our Attitude
“Does somebody need a time out?”
“Somebody needs an attitude adjustment!”
(Not just a stinky attitude, but a negative attitude towards our current situation)
“I don’t mean to sound negative but …”
Video: Stay Positive (Life Church)
I don’t mean to sound negative, but I’m really tired of negativity, finger pointing, and fault finding.
Regardless of any of that, God is at work in our lives if we allow Him to be. God can bring positive results from negative situations if we allow Him the room to work.
A negative outlook never leads to a positive life!
A negative outlook never leads to a positive life!
Optimism is a choice!
Optimism - a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.
Example: A positive attitude contributes to success in life more than anything else, according to a Stanford Research Institute study that shows a full 87.5 percent of people’s success can be traced to their positive attitudes, while just 12.5 percent of their success comes from their aptitude, knowledge, or skills.
Biblical meat to the bones of that definition:
Optimism is the unwavering expectation that our loving God is working in every situation for our future good.
1. God Is At Work.
1. God Is At Work.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Paul speaking about our future glory identifies that presently there may be suffering. This can leave us with a sense of uncertainty for a time.
Uncertainty is nothing new. Times are uncertain, but God is not.
He’s still got the whole world in his hands!
Most of what we find written in Scripture is written in environments of extreme uncertainty. This book is not filled with feel-good messages for a world we don’t live in. Here we find God active and speaking directly into uncertain times.
Joseph listened as his brothers debated whether to sell him or kill him . . . and we discover that God was with him.
King David was awakened one morning to the rumor that his own son was conspiring against him.
A frightened mother by the name of Jochebed wrapped her baby in a blanket and put him in a basket so that Egyptian soldiers wouldn’t kill him.
The apostle Paul writes often about uncertain times … talked about, conspired against, falsely accused, wrongfully arrest, whipped, and confined to a Roman prison.
Even a negative situation still holds potential to produce a positive purpose!
Even a negative situation still holds potential to produce a positive purpose!
Our hope is God’s love for us. What or whom you are hoping in determines your ability to maintain hope.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.
Optimism is the unwavering expectation that our loving God is working in every situation for our future good.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
“to the ones who love God He works all things together for good”
The things themselves may not be good, but God harmonizes them together for believers’ ultimate good, because His goal is to bring them to perfection in His presence.
2. God Is At Work In Us.
2. God Is At Work In Us.
Writing from a prison cell in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote about the attitude a Christian should have:
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel
The "whatever happens" here is a reference to whether Paul can come to visit the Philippians or not. “If the plan doesn’t work out …”
#Lesson - No matter what unexpected disruptions, frustrations, or difficulties come our way, we are to respond with a Christlike attitude.
Paul later writes:
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
He is talking about demonstrating humility and selflessness in relationships.
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
As children love to imitate what they see and repeat what they hear; we also are charged to imitate and model Christ’s behavior
Jesus maintained a perfect attitude in every situation. He prayed about everything and worried about nothing. We, too, should seek God’s guidance about every aspect of our lives and allow Him to work out His perfect will.
Jesus’ attitude was never to become defensive or discouraged.
In the midst of suffering, He was hopeful. In the midst of blessing, He was humble. Even in the midst of ridicule, abuse, and hostility, He “made no threats . . . and did not retaliate.
23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
3. God Is At Work In Us So That He Can Work Through Us.
3. God Is At Work In Us So That He Can Work Through Us.
Finally, we must always keep in mind that God’s ultimate goal for His children is not our comfort, but the transformation of our minds into the attitude of godliness.
He wants us to grow spiritually, to become like Christ. This doesn’t mean losing our personalities or becoming mindless clones. Christlikeness is all about transforming our minds.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
It is God’s will that we develop the kind of mindset described in the Beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5:1-12), that we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), that we emulate the principles in Paul’s great chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13), and that we strive to pattern our lives after Peter’s characteristics of an effective and productive life (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Joseph was able to save his family
Moses was able to deliver God’s children
David lead the nation of Israel and paved the way for the Messiah.
Paul was able to advance the Gospel to the Gentile world.
The struggle i’m in today is producing the strength I need tomorrow!
The struggle i’m in today is producing the strength I need tomorrow!
Closing Illustration
In the early 1900’s farmers in Alabama faced a major crisis, a small insect had migrated from South America and was destroying their cotton crops. They tried destroying it with chemicals, pesticides but nothing worked. Their livelihood was being destroyed and they couldn’t do anything about it.
One of these farmers had an idea: instead of planting the normal cotton crops, that they knew wouldn't survive, he decided to plant peanuts. The other farmers thought he had lost his mind, they said, "We'll never make a living off of peanuts. Cotton is all we've ever grown". He eventually convinced them, they planted peanuts.
They discovered, the boll weevil didn't like the taste of peanuts, their crops took off like nothing they had ever seen. They made more money off of peanuts in a month, than they normally would make all year long of a cotton. In fact even when the boll weevils left, they didn't go back to their cotton crops, they stuck with peanuts.
You may have some boll weevils bothering you right now - stay encouraged, there are peanuts in your future!
I know people that have lost their income because of the virus, they've lost hours, lost their position - that is not a surprise to God. What you think is a setback is really setting you up for something better.
I love the fact that the boll weevil didn't like the taste of peanuts. That tells me: no matter how bad it gets, God always has something in your future that the enemy cannot touch!