TEXT: NUM 14:6-8 & PROV 23:7A ISAAC OWUSU-SEKYERE

Transcription

1 Developing a positive attitude in a negative world TEXT: NUM 14:6-8 & PROV 23:7A ISAAC OWUSU-SEKYERE

2 DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Steve Jobs: Be a yardstick of quality Lionel Messi: I always want to do more. Don t settle for mediocrity

3 DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Azumah Nelson: Fight like a challenger, even when you are the champion Leicester City: Fearless in pursuit

4 DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE The Text is a story of casting vision & believing God to do what he has said. God Instructs Moses to set up a team of men to explore the land of Canaan and report back to Moses what they found Key being that the lord has already promised that the land was theirs

5 DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE See what it is like See if the people are strong or weak Whether the land was good or bad Whether the cities were unwalled or fortified

6 Analyzing Numbers 14:6-8 3 Main groups of people in the passage; The 10 Spies with the negative Report The Congregation that believed them

7 DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Moses Sent 12 Spies one from each tribe of Israel and they brought back their report The Spies were sent on this spying adventure for 40 days All 12 Spies agreed that the land was just as good as God said it was

8 DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE 10 came back to Moses and said, Yes Moses this land is flowing with milk & honey..but (that word gets us into trouble with God) The people are powerful The cities are fortified Their Giants that live there, descendants of Goliath that terrorized us in the past

9 DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Only 2 of the Spies, Joshua & Caleb reported that We should take the land that the lord has given us. As Christians, which report would you bring back??????

10 DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE The 10 who came back and said Yes it is good, but and then begins all the negativity of why we cannot take possession of something that the lord said they could have.those 10 who we cannot even remember their names The 2 Joshua & Caleb that said exactly what God said it was and take possession just like God said they should.

11 THE 10 SPIES They Implied God s Word is null and Void (Num 13:26-29). Heb word efes used in place of but means its over Implication Positive Attitudes affirm God s word. Negative Attitudes Nullify his words Positive Attitudes feed our faith, Negative Attitudes feed on our faith

12 THE 10 SPIES They were haughty & Arrogant People Num 13:30-31 Implication Positive Attitudes breed assurance and security. Negative attitudes breed haughtiness and arrogance

13 THE 10 SPIES They Struck Fear into the Congregation- Numbers 13:32-33 Implications Positive Attitudes inspires fear of God in us Negative Attitudes strike fear of circumstances into our hearts.

14 THE CONGREGATION They murmured against God and Moses Num 13:1-4 Implications Positive Attitudes help us sort the truth from the lies Negative Attitudes cloud our Judgement

15 THE CONGREGATION They Rebelled against their leaders- Num 13:5-9 Implications Positive attitudes help us to solve disagreements peacefully Negative Attitudes cause violence

16 THE CONGREGATION They despised God and his word Num 14:11-39 HOW They accused God on the grounds of falsehood & ungodly motives They Condemned the land God promised to them as a land of death

17 THE CONGREGATION They decided to appoint a new leader and go back to Egypt They Willfully and consciously decided to put their leaders to death They tempted God for the 10 th time since the exodus from Egypt

18 THE CONGREGATION Implications Positive Attitude convince us to appreciate our blessings Negative Attitudes however bring Judgement on us

19 JOSHUA & CALEB They had a different attitude Num 14:24 They guarded their hearts- Num 13:30 (Spies managed to convince and influence about 1 million people but not Joshua & Caleb) They Trusted God against all odds Num 13:30

20 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES Giant Defines- Anything that seems bigger than you and your desire to serve the Lord Giant is Stronger than you and you cannot face it alone Identify the Giant in your life and deal with it

21 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES Problem with Giants is that; Steal the peace from God s People Seize the possessions of Gods people

22 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES There are physical & Spiritual Giants that put barriers in front of you to keep you from accomplishing what God intends for your life Giants don t go ahead, they have to be faced and defeated

23 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES Problem with the 10 negative spies is that they focused on themselves. What they could do. Joshua & Caleb focused on God s power & God s resources All 12 spies saw the same thing but drew different conclusions

24 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES Do you find yourself backing away from challenges saying ; I have never done that before I don t know how I don t have the time We don t have the money for that I am afraid People might not like it What will people say etc

25 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES Greatness is not determined by attendance, offerings, size etc.. It is being all you can be in the place where God has placed you. Greatness is at the intersection of opportunity and choice

26 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES One thing that will stop you from Greatness is Fear The 4 letter word has destroyed lots of dreams, ambitions etc

27 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES Some Focus on the Giants, some keep their eyes on the Lord Some compare themselves to the Giants and feel like grasshoppers

28 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES Some will compare their obstacles against God The question is not How Big is the problem or How Big you are but HOW BIG IS MY GOD

29 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES Staying in your comfort zone No Risk, No Growth If you can do it yourself, God is not in it When God is doing something, it begins with difficulty When God is doing something miraculous, it begins with impossible

30 GIANTS IN OUR LIVES God has called you or is calling youwhich report are you going to give???? He has commissioned you & wants to send you into the mission field of life.

31 PEOPLE WITH NEGATIVE ATTITUDES Haughty, arrogant, inflexible, unteachable people who always seek to condemn others They shun people who possess positive attitudes. They will try their level best to get rid of such people. They aggravate small problems and minimize the greater good for their benefit

32 PEOPLE WITH NEGATIVE ATTITUDES They are pessimists living in a world of excuses. They can convince you, you cant do something because they cant do it in the first place Very ungrateful. They habitually under appreciate their blessings & privileges

33 PEOPLE WITH POSITIVE ATTITUDES They believe they live in a world of opportunities not excuses. They seize those opportunities as often as they can Humble, flexible and teachable. They always hold the other person in high esteem F

34 PEOPLE WITH POSITIVE ATTITUDES They don t blame man or God when something fails to deliver the expected results. Rather, they will work hard to find a solution They walk by faith not by sight and trust God against all odds. They encourage others o follow their example

35 PEOPLE WITH POSITIVE ATTITUDES WHEN YOU ASPIRE TO PERSPIRE, THE UNIVERSE WILL CONSPIRE IN YOUR FAVOUR DESPITE THE ECONOMY OF THE JUNGLE, THE LION WILL NEVER EAT GRASS. NOT THAT,IT IS PROUD BUT THUS WHO HE IS. F

36 PEOPLE WITH POSITIVE ATTITUDES YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES YOUR DESTINATION. THEY ARE CONTAGIOUS. IS YOURS WORTH CATCHING??? F