Godly Attitudes in the Christian Life

Transcription

1 Godly Attitudes in the Christian Life

2 Epidemic vice=pride Biblical Terms OT- 6 diff words referring to a li9ing up/magnifica>on NT- 2 categories: a. straining/stretching of one s neck; magnify; high- minded & b. Blindness Biblical eg s: Satan (Gen 3:1-5; Ezek 28; Isa 14 arrogantly correc>ng God), Uzziah (2 Chron 26:16), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 5; 2 Chron 26:16), Belshazzar (Dan 4:37; 5), King Saul (1 Sam 13:7-9), King Herod (Acts 12:20-23), Diotrephes (3 Jn 9) Biblical warnings: Deut 8:11-18 beware not to forget God Prov 16:18; 21:4 pride goes before destruc>on; haughty eyes Phil 2:3-4 do nothing from selfishness

3 Pride de;ined Self- worship I am the Source I am the Accomplisher I am the Benefactor The flip- side self- pity; looking on what you can t do; pufng self down so others can puff you Def: The mindset of self (a master s mindset rather than that of a servant): a focus on self and the service of self, a pursuit of self- recogni>on and self- exalta>on, and a desire to control and use all things for self.

4 Pride contd Manifesta>ons plethora Promoters: self- esteem, self- love, self=actualiza>on/self- confidence, self- abasement/asce>cism, self rights, legalism, Pharisaism Described as: posi>on (Maj 23:6ff; 1 Pet 5:3), ability or achievement (1 Cor 4:6-7; 2 Chron 26:15-16), possessions (1 Tim 6:17), knowledge (1 Cor 8:1; Isa 47:10; Jas 3:13-18), spiritual ajainment (Lk 22:24-30) Pointed to as the root of every vice (Andrew Murray)

5 Pride concluded God is called upon to: Call it sin (Prov 21:4) Hate it (Prov 6:16-17; 16:5) Remove from His presence (Ps 5:5; 138:6; Job 35:12) Judge it (Job 35:12; Ps 31:23; 101:5; 119:21; Prov 15:25; Isa 2:12; Jas 4:6) We are called upon to: Confess- see pride for what it really is Repent Put on humility

6 Endangered Virtue=Humility Demonstrated: Abraham (Gen 13) Moses (Numb 12:3) John the Bap>st (Jn 1:27; 3:30; Lk 3:16; 7:28) Mary, the mother of Jesus (Lk 1:38, 46-55) Tax collector/publican (Lk 18:9-14) Paul (Ats 20:18-19; Rom 11:33-36; Eph 3:8; Phil 1:21; 1 Cor 4:7;; 2 Cor 4:5; 1 Tim 1:15) Our greatest example=jesus Condescended from heaven to earth (Phil 2:6-8) Submijed to God (Jn 4:34; 8:28-29) Became the servant of men (Mk 10:45; Lk 22:25-27; Jn 13:3-17) Possessed a unique perspec>ve (Phil 1:27; 2:3-5) this is the mindset we must have!!

7 Humility de;ined God- worship HE is the Source He is the Accomplisher He is the Benefactor Defini>on: The mindset of Christ (a servant s mindset): a focus on God and others, a pursuit of the recogni>on and the exalta>on of God, and a desire to glorify and please God in all things and by all things He has given. Manifesta>ons In contrast to being li9ed up it is to make low, humble (Phil 2:3-11; Jas 4:6; Maj 11:29) Whitlow: It is simply giving honor and credit to God

8 Humility de;inition contd Lexically defined as having a humble opinion of oneself, a deep sense of one s lijleness - Thayer Trench says regarding tapeinos (Gk) groveling- servile aftude to the Greeks, was li9ed up by Christ and used to represent the noblest virtue of all Murray: the root of every virtue Whitlow: If we would learn humility, we must learn to love hiddenness, to live a life with Christ in God, to nourish an enclosed garden of the soul where men s praise is neither sought nor necessary

9 Moving from Pride to Humility Humble yourself (Jas 4:7-10) con>nually! Walk in humbleness: Pray for God to help you replace pride & produce humility Read the OT o9en to gain a high view of God & proper view of self Study Jesus (His earthly examples, especially in the Gospels Seek insight from others as to how you come across Spend specific >me worshipping God (praise, prayer, study, meditate) Prac>ce the one- another principles Work to put off pride & put on humility at the level of thoughts & mo>ves Work to put off/on at the level of your communica>on Work to put off/on at the level of your deeds

10 Attitudes are also Spirit- bred 1. Love A personal choice (Jn 3:16; Maj 5:44), yet divine source Willing self- sacrificing service (Eph 5:25; Titus 2:4) Ini>atory (1 Jn 4:19) Prac>cal (1 Jn 3:18) Humble (Phil 2:3-11) 2. Joy The sense of well- being that abides in the hearts of Chris>ans who know all is well between them and the Lord, in spite of circumstances; grounded in conscious rela>onship w/ Him God s gi9 to believers (Neh 8:10)

11 Spirit s fruit contd 3. Peace This is spiritual twin of joy God s gi9 to believers, achieved by Christ on cross The tranquility of mind that comes from a saving rela>onship w/ Christ (Rom 5:1); wellbeing or wholeness Expresses itself in both peace of mind (Phil 4:5-7) and peace w/ others (1 Thess 5:13) Jus>fica>on brings peace w/ God & others 4. Pa>ence Inward and outward tolerance and longsuffering in the midst of trying circumstances A calm willingness to accept irrita>ng or painful situa>ons God is slow to anger (Ps 86:15) and expects His children to be the same

12 Spirit s fruit contd 5. Kindness A tender concern for others; kind disposi>on towards neighbor Behaving toward others as God has behaved toward you (Eph 4:32; 2 Tim 2:24) 6. Goodness Moral and spiritual excellence Sweetness; generosity Ac>ve kindness (Ps 23:6; Gal 6:10) 7. Faithfulness Loyalty & trustworthiness; fidelity; honesty; dependable Being the type of person others can rely on (Prov 20:6; 1 Tim 1:12; 2 Tim 2:2)

13 Spirit s fruit conclusion 8. Gentleness Meekness; submissiveness Used of taming wild animals A humble aftude that is pa>ent when wronged, while being free of any desire for revenge or retribu>on (Numb 12:3) Used of 3 aftudes in NT: submissiveness to will of God (Col 3:12), teachableness (Jas 1:21), & considera>on of others (Eph 4:2) 9. Self- control Restraining passions & appe>tes Self- control is that great quality which comes to a man when Christ is in his heart, that quality which makes him able to live and walk in the world, and yet keep his garments unspojed from the world - Barclay

14 Biblical comparison (pride- humility, fruit model for change 1. Confess & forsake sinful aftudes (Prov 28:13; 1 Jn 1:8-9) 2. Know yourself (Rom 7:13; Jer 17:9; 1 Cor 10:12; Gal 6:1) 3. Purpose in your heart not to sin (Ps 119:106) 4. Walk by the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16-24) 5. Read & meditate on the Word of God (Ps 119:9, 11; 37:30; Josh 1:8) 6. Change your thinking (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 10:3-5; Phil 4:8) 7. Pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17; Eph 6:18; Col 4:2; Maj 26:41) 8. Cul>vate your love of God (Ps 119:97; Col 3:2; Ps 19:12-14) 9. Make yourself accountable (Heb 10:24-25; Gal 6:1) 10. Long for Heaven (Phil 1:23; 1 Jn 3:2-3)