SEEKING HIGHER GROUND*

…in Attitude

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    We all have one.

It is on display to the world at all times through our body language, words, and behavior.

It can change drastically from one subject to another.

Sometimes it helps us.  Sometimes it hurts us.

Sometimes it helps others.  Sometimes it hurts others.

It is always, always a choice that belongs to us.

 

B.      It has been said that this one thing is “the key” to every success in life.

 

C.     This “thing” that we have described is called “Attitude.”

 

D.    Our theme for 2021 is:  “Seeking Higher Ground in 2021.”  Today, we want to discuss the subject:  “Seeking Higher Ground…in Attitude.”

 

I.                   ATTITUDE DEFINED

 

A.    Very simply attitude is defined as:  “the views, the feelings, and the behaviors an individual has toward people, ideas, events, and things.”

1.      Notice that our views, our feelings, and our behaviors are all things over which we have complete control.  In other words, we decide these things.

2.      Yet, we often become “slaves” to our attitude.

a.      We do not control our attitude.

b.      Instead, we allow our attitude to control us.

 

B.      Two men of God who found themselves in desperate circumstances:

1.      Elijah was being pursued by the wicked Jezebel (I Kings 19:4).

 

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree:  and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

 

2.      Job was afflicted by the evil one himself (Job 1:20-21).

 

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither:  the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

 

C.     If we were to face difficult situations, how would we respond?

1.      Would we be an Elijah?  Or, would we be a Job?

2.      James commands our attitude toward trials (Jms. 1:2).

 

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.

 

II.                ATTITUDE DETERMINES ALTITUDE

 

A.    Two quotes:

1.      “Happiness depends on your mindset and attitude” (Roy T. Bennett).

2.      “Your attitude is either the lock on, or the key to the door of success” (Denis Waitley).

 

B.      Here are things one can do with a positive attitude.

1.      Reach your goals

2.      Obtain success, popularity, and prosperity

3.      Prove your detractors wrong

4.      Defeat your enemies

5.      Overcome every obstacle

6.      Be well-pleasing to God

 

C.     The woman with an issue of blood for 12 years (Matt. 9:21)

 

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

 

1.      She was commended by Jesus (Matt. 9:22)

2.      “And the woman was made whole from that hour” (Matt. 9:22).

 

III.             ATTITUDE DESTROYS

 

A.    One has said:  “A bad attitude is like a flat tire.  You can’t get very far till you change it.”

 

B.      The truth is that a weakness is attitude is the manifestation of a weakness in one’s character.  The weak character is displayed in many ways.

1.      Self-pity

2.      Constant criticism and fault-finding of others

3.      Choosing a wrong focus

4.      Concern for one’s personal agendas

5.      Forgetting God is in the process

 

C.     Example:  During the wilderness wanderings, the children of Israel constantly displayed a bad attitude toward almost everything.

1.      Their criticism of Moses was relentless.

2.      Their complaints about food, water, and having to wait on things were constant.

3.      They never rejoiced over their deliverance and never seemed to look with joy to the Promised Land.

4.      Their words manifested the idea of “poor, pitiful me.”

 

D.    Their attitude was their greatest problem.

1.      It brought the displeasure of God (I Cor. 10:5)

 

But with many of them God was not well pleased:  for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

 

2.      Many of them were destroyed by God (I Cor. 10:10).

 

Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

 

3.      An entire generation of people fell because they refused to acknowledge that God could overcome their adversaries (Heb. 3:17).

 

But with whom was he grieved forty years?  was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

IV.             ATTITUDE DISPLAYED BY JESUS

 

A.    Jesus had every reason to develop a very negative attitude while He walked this globe.

1.      It was predicted that he would be despised and rejected by man (Isa. 53:3).

2.      John tells us that H was in the world and the world knew Him not.  He came unto His own and His own received Him not (John 1:10-11).

 

B.      Jesus stayed positive with regard to His relationship with God and with regard to His mission always.

1.      Man refused to hear His teachings, but He kept on teaching.

2.      Man disbelieved His claims, but He continued to prove His deity.

3.      He was criticized and ridiculed, but He continued to work among the publicans and sinners.

4.      He was threatened, but He would seek new territory in which to labor.

5.      He was persecuted, but He would pray for His tormentors.

 

C.     He taught His followers to remain positive (Matt. 5:11-12; John 16:33).

 

Blessed are ye, 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.

 

D.    He protected others who were ridiculed and criticized by others.

1.      The little children who came unto the Christ (Matt. 19:14-15)

2.      The woman who poured the expensive oil upon Jesus (Mark 14:6-9).

3.      The woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and wiped them with her hair (Luke 7:44-46).

4.      Mary criticized by Martha for listening to Jesus instead of helping her to serve her guests (Luke 10:41-42).

 

E.      If there were one statement that Jesus made that should keep us positive, it should be Luke 1:37.

 

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

 

V.                ATTITUDE DEVELOPED

 

A.    We can develop a positive attitude simply by choosing it.

1.      Many times we do not want to make that choice.

2.      At times, we rationalize and justify why that choice should not be made.

3.      There are times when we are forced to make a choice.

 

B.      Regarding our spiritual lives, there are three things we can develop that will help change our attitude.

1.      Our faith

a.      Faith starts with a willingness to trust God.

b.      God speaks to us through His Word and we believe Him.

c.       As faith increases, the things that used to give us a bad attitude no longer cause the same reaction.

d.      We now look upon them with faith.

e.       Example:  Hatred will bring out the worst in all of us.  Instead of hatred for my enemies, the Lord tells me to love them (Matt. 5:44). 

1)      I trust God.

2)      My faith submits to His will.

3)      I love my enemies.  Even they are deeply surprised at how I treat them (I Pet. 3:16).

 

Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

 

2.      Our focus

a.      Focus involves the direction of our thinking.

b.      Far too often we think about things in worldly terms rather than thinking about them spiritually (See Col. 3:2).

 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

 

c.       Example:  A meal for military members

1)      Negative:  I am tired after 3 hours of worship and Bible class, I have to cook when we usually go out to eat, I have some personal things planned for that afternoon, That’s just a lot of work for nothing

2)      Positive:  We are about to meet some people we have never meet before,  this may be the first time these individuals have ever met someone from the church of Christ, I may be able to get a Bible study with someone who attends, I might find a good friend for life, the church might grow by a couple of families

3.      Our future

a.      Our life is being lived with a future in store for us.  That future does not happen just because we desire it.  That future happens because we do the things that God tells us to do to obtain it.

b.      John 6:27

 

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life…

 

c.       One of two destinations will meet us in the end. 

1.      We can slide into hell.

2.      We must labor to enter into that heavenly rest (Heb. 4:11).

 

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    “When you take control of your attitude, you take control of your life” (Roy T. Bennett).

 

B.      Attitude is like a price tag.  It shows how valuable you are.”

 

C.     Are you excelling in Christ?  Could it be your attitude?

Are things crumbling in your spiritual life?  Could it be your attitude?

Are you manifesting Christ to the world?  Could it be your attitude?

 

D.    “I must do.”  “I can do.”  “I will do.”  “I want to do.”  “Jesus did, so I will too.”