House Keeping Matters. Current Events

Transcription

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2 House Keeping Matters Current Events

3 THEME: 2013: The Church that is Developing Disciples on Purpose (Psalm 119:11, Matt. 28:19-20, John 8: 31-32, Ephesians 4: 17-23, II Timothy 2:15, )

4 Tonight s Focus: Developing Disciples in Leadership (i.e. Disciple-Leaders) :Positive Attitude

5 As a result of this lesson, one should be more equip with the knowledge necessary for providing a higher quality of leadership through utilizing a positive attitude.

6 David Brinkley said, A successful man is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks that others have thrown at him. This necessarily begs that question, What kind of foundation has your attitude compelled you to build out of the various bricks that life has thrown your way? All things being equal, as the people of God, we should strive to have the kind of psychological disposition that enables us to constructively handle whatever circumstance are hurled at us. This is the power of having a Positive Attitude.

7 Positive Attitude: Part I

8 We are what we Think Proverbs 23: 6-7 Our belief at the beginning of a doubtful undertaking is the one things that insures the successful outcome of your venture. William James

9 Scriptural Overview: Hebrews 11: 1-3,6 Matt 8:5-13 (emph v 13) Matt 9:20-22; (emph. v 29) Mark 11: James 1: 5-8

10 For Christians, having a Positive Attitude can be considered to be the same as having Faith. The Explanation of Faith (11:1 3, 6) A.Its Nature (11:1 2) It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen (11:1a). It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see (11:1b).

11 B. Its Necessity (11: 3, 6) 1. With it people in the Old Testament were approved by God (11:2). 2. With it we are able to believe the power of God (11:3): This is especially true in regard to his creative power. 3. Without it we are unable to please the person of God (11:6).

12 Matt 8:5-13 (emph v 13) 2. A Centurion s Servant (8:5 13) a. The favor desired by the centurion (8:5 7): He wants Jesus to visit his home and heal his servant, which the Lord agrees to do. b. The faith demonstrated by the centurion (8:8 13)

13 b. The faith demonstrated by the centurion (1) The Confidence (8:8 9): He feels the Lord can heal the servant without even coming to his home! (2) The Commendation (8:10) : Jesus commends him for so much faith!

14 (3) The Conclusion (8:11 12): Jesus says his kind of faith will result in the eventual salvation of a number of Gentiles, while many faithless Jews will suffer eternal loss. (4) The Cure (8:13) : The servant is healed at that very hour.

15 Matt. 9:20-22: A woman with an Issue 1. Her disease (9:20a): For twelve years she has suffered from internal bleeding. 2. Her determination (9:20b 21):She touches the hem of Jesus robe, believing this will heal her. 3. Her deliverance (9:22): Immediately the Savior restores her!

16 Two blind men (9:27 31; emph v 29) 1. The request (9:27): They cry out for Jesus to heal them. 2. The response (9:28 31) a. The test (9:28) (1) Do you believe? he says (9:28a). (2) Yes, we believe! they say (9:28b). b. The touch (9:29 30a): He touches their eyes and heals them.

17 Believing/ Trusting in God (James 1:5 8) A.When to believe trust God (1:5): When we need wisdom (etc,.). B. How to trust God (1:6b 8) Positive (1:6a): We need only to ask him in faith. Negative (1:6b 8): Neither wisdom, nor anything else by extension, will be given to a faithless person.

18 Positive Attitude Part II

19 Perceiving God: Numbers 13:1 14:10 Minority - Saw God s Ability - Num. 13: 30; 14: God = Conquerors = Victory/Promised Land - Forward Thinking Majority -Saw God s Inability - Num. 13: 26 29, 31-33; 14: Giants = grasshoppers = Egypt - Backward Thinking

20 Matt. 20: Faith-Focused on God s Ability Flesh-Focus: v Self-Absorption v 11 - Comparison v 11 - Presumption v 12 - Distortion Faith-Focus: v Justification/ Grace

21 Matt 20: Justification/ Grace Compare: Romans 5:20 and James 4:6 Roman 5: 20 All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn t, and doesn t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. (The Message)

22 Matt 20: cf. Romans 5:20 Positive Attitude as it pertains to the: Past - With Present and Future Implication relative to the past χάρις cháris; cháritos, God s grace affects man s sinfulness and not only forgives the repentant sinner, but brings joy and thankfulness to him. It changes the individual to a new creature without destroying his individuality (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:8, 9).

23 - James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (KJV) The word more is from the Greek Megas, meaning great, large, important, or surprising.

24 James 4:6 The Positive Attitude that comes from Grace requires Humility Humble yourself (4:6, 10): Results in a twofold blessing. 1. God will give you grace (4:6). 2. God will lift you up (4:10).

25 Isaiah 57: (Emph. v 15) Humility can results in a Positive Attitude because through it, God revives: 1. The spirit 2. The heart (cf. Psalm 34:18)

26 Perceiving God through faith and grace, produces a Positive Attitude that informs our leadership Ex. 1 - As a Leader: Romans 1:1, v 14 Commitment v 15 Readiness v 16 - Courage

27 Ex. 2 - As a Leader: Philippians 4: A. The Satisfaction (4:11 12) 1. Paul is content even when hungry and in need of many things 2. Paul is content when filled and in need of nothing B. The Satisfier (4:13): Jesus himself is the source of our strength.

28 Willam James, the noted psychologist, said, human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind. Maxwell said if you change your thinking, you can change your life. To be sure, as people of God, we should strive to have a positive mental attitude, which is to have, in a word, faith. Having faith in God is the quintessential nature of a positive perspective. This, in concert with a proper appreciation of grace, informs our ability to lead others with a positive attitude. Now that is what I call being truly constructive when it comes to dealing with all of the things that life throws you way.

29 Q & A