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9 Attitudes to Live by - The “Be” Attitudes
Posted on Thursday 11 March @ 16:22:31 |
 In the summer of 2003, thousands of parents caught their kids taking their live fish, dumping them in the toilet, and flushing. Do you know why? Anybody want to take a guess?
Finding Nemo.
If they could get into the sewer system they'd make their way out to the sea and every fish would be free to live in the sea -- just what every fish wants to do.
A few summers ago 30 phone numbers around the country have been receiving thousands of phone calls asking to speak to God.
Do you know why that occured?
Bruce Almighty. It was set in Buffalo, New York and instead of using the normal 555 prefix and no area code, they used a local Buffalo phone number that had no one attached to it. Unfortunately 30 people around the country had the same kind of telephone number. One lady received 10,000 phone calls on her cell phone. You can imagine she wasn't too excited about that.
Sometimes it's more tragic than that. Recently a family sued Take Two Interactive Video, which produces the game Grand Theft Auto. Two teenage stepbrothers in Tennessee said they were inspired by the game to go along Interstate 40 in Tennessee and shoot passing motorists. Unfortunately one man was killed and his family is suing the video game company.
George Barna said that the chief influences of our culture today are movies, TV, music, the internet, and media. It's what's causing us to choose the things we choose.
All of us have a way in which we see life.
All of us have a set of circumstances and mechanisms that cause us to choose the things we choose.
So the question is, why did you make some of the decisions you made?
How did you arrive at that conclusion?
What is it that led you to say, "This is the best choice for me right now?"
What is it that drove you to conclude this is the right way to do things?
The truth is all of us have what could be called a world view.
And it's that world view that informs how we understand ourselves, how we respond to the people around us, and how we choose to navigate through life.
In other words it's what helps us decide how we will choose. And the truth is that most of us choose based on what I would call and others would call some little "t" truths in our lives.
They're truth for us.
We believe them to be true. For example, there are some who have convinced themselves through a pattern of living that they have adopted and learned that anger is the only way to get things done. They've tried other approaches but really the only way to get people to do what you need them to do is just finally to explode and it's their anger that is so explosive.
And they're convinced that that's OK.
Or, you know the only way to really navigate through life is to occasionally fudge on the truth. They're just little lies and they don't hurt very many people really. It just is my way of looking better or getting what I need done and so we've learned that we can live with those lies. It's OK. We've lived with a little "t" truth and there are thousands of them and almost all of us have adopted those little "t" truths to live by.
Matthew, chapter 5. we find from Jesus a challenge about how we should see life.
Quite frankly it runs counterculture to the way we see it today. But truth be told, it ran counterculture to Jesus' day because he was challenging people to see things not from their perspective, not from their world view but from a kingdom world view.
And that perspective is a different perspective but it's the one he invites us to, the one in which our lives head more in the direction they should head. And we discover a sense of peace and settled-ness but we don't often live that way.
They're some of literary and religious treasures so to speak. They are great words that Jesus gives. It isn't whether or not we've ever heard them or seen them or even if we've memorized them -- it's how I live with those words.
That's what we want to look at today.
And Jesus begins a countercultural message and he begins at the place where those two cultures, our world and the kingdom perspective probably clash most dramatically.
When he uses that word, blessed, we think about happiness.
How many of you want to be happy?
Of course we want to be happy!
That's a God-given right.
We should all be happy.
After all happiness is what I need to make it through life and none of us like it when we're unhappy. And so we've chased all kinds of things to make ourselves happy.
We've pursued all kinds of stuff and interestingly enough the pursuit of that stuff has often led to such great pain for us because happiness is kind of overrated.
For us, nearly everyone in the room, unless we have a kingdom perspective, happiness is based on our circumstances, our happenings, what's going on in our lives.
It's very subjective, it's subject to how people treat me, it's subject to how I feel that day, it's subject to the things going on around me. And how much money I have left to play with after the bills are paid.
Peggy Noonan, former speech writer for Presidents Reagan and Bush said, "We are the first generation of mankind who expected to find such happiness here on earth and our search for it has led to such unhappiness."
We're convinced that unless we're happy our life isn't going very well.
And Jesus says, "Blessed," he uses the word, markarios, and that word can and does mean happy but it goes way beyond that.
It means a sense of settled-ness, or centered, or peace; a deep-seated joy that isn't based on circumstance but rather perspective on our circumstances.
It's the sense that regardless of what may be going on around us, there can be joy in our lives, there can be peace that is much deeper than our circumstances.
And that is a major clash with how most of us see life.
So Jesus gives us these beatitudes,
these things we can be happy with.
The beatitudes are given in a very clear order here. They start out almost as if we were talking about steps to a kingdom perspective.
Attitude 1 – We need an attitude of HUMILITY.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)
By talking about being “poor in spirit”, Jesus is saying that this is the opposite of self-sufficiency. “Poor in spirit” speaks of those who realize that they are in total helplessness and lost apart from God.
When we think we are OK because we are a “GOOD PERSON” we are depending on our own self righteousness.
But self righteousness will not make you happy.
Self righteousness will not get you into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Apart from God we are totally lost.
It is only by God’s grace that we are saved. Any of us! That is a humbling thing.
Going to church will not save you.
Reading your Bible will not save you.
Praying will not save you.
Only a relationship with Jesus will save you. Look at what the Bible says in Luke chapter eighteen: vrs 10-14
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ’Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ "Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ’God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’ " Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."
Luke 18:10-14 (MSG)
What is the difference between the two men?
One approached God in his self righteousness the other approached God in his humility. One was accepted the other was not.
If we truly want to be blessed we need an attitude of humility.
Attitude 2 – We need an attitude of REPENTANCE.
“Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)
Here Jesus is speaking about those who mourn over their sin. This is a Godly sorrow that produces repentance and leads to salvation.
This is true sorrow that affects a person down into their soul. There is deep agony because one knows they have done wrong and deserves punishment.
Folks when we have sinned we should feel guilty.
We should feel shame.
We should mourn over our sin.
We should take it to God for the scripture says first John chapter one and verse nine says:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 (HCSB)
When we sin – we need an attitude of repentance
Attitude 3 - We need an attitude of
allowing GOD’S CONTROL.
“Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 (NKJV)
Now most people seem to think that meek means weak, a spineless person without any backbone at all.
But in the original language, “meek” is used in bridling a horse, or taming a wild animal.
The word “meek” is a picture of “power under control.”
So when we talk about a meek person, we’re talking about one whose life has been brought under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and God is in control of his or her life.
What this Beatitude tells me is that I am to drive my life but allow God to be my navigator.
It’s like saying, “Jesus, I’ll drive. You just tell me where to go. If you say turn left - I’ll turn left. If you say turn right - I’ll turn right. If you say turn around - I’ll turn around. I’m turning my destination over to you.”
The meek are sensitive to the divine will of God.
The meek are not easily provoked or irritated. They are not proud, self sufficient or stubborn. They are not unmanageable or ill tempered.
In fact Jesus Himself was meek:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart.”
Matthew 11:29 (KJV)
Jesus was meek, and look what he did to the money changers in the Temple. He made a whip out of cords, and drove all of the money changers from the temple. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
He yelled and said, "Get these out of here!
How dare you turn my Father’s house into a shopping mall!"
Jesus was in complete control of His actions.
He thought about what He was going to do.
He took the time to make a whip.
He was in control of his actions and his anger. Had He been out of control He would not have taken the time to make a whip.
Meekness is supreme self control
empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT.
We need to be sensitive to the will of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
We don’t need to cower like a mouse –
but roar like a lion – over injustice.
We need to keep our heads about us – and use our intellect and our energy for God’s glory – and when God calls us to be bold – we need to be submissive enough – that we don’t hesitate to step up to the plate.
We also need an attitude of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us as we deal with those around us.
Attitude 4 - We need an attitude
of desiring GODLY THINGS.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
God is righteous and we need to have the same desires that He has.
When something is wicked we need to call it wicked. When something is sinful we need to call it sinful.
When something is pure and holy we need to hold on to it.
We need to have a burning desire for it.
We need to study it and live it. Our driving passion – our driving hunger – needs to be on those things that are pleasing to God.
God wants us to have a desire so strong for Him that it is almost like starvation hunger. The desire for righteousness should drive our lives.
Attitude 5 - We need an attitude of FORGIVENESS.
“Blessed are the merciful,
because they will be shown mercy.”
Matthew 5:7 (HCSB)
Forgiveness and mercy are what God demonstrates to the undeserving sinner.
That undeserving sinner is us. Did you know that the manner in which you forgive people is the manner in which you will be forgiven?
Look at what it says in The Lord’s prayer:
“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.”
Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)
How do you show mercy and forgiveness?
John Wesley visited the governor of the colony of Georgia. The governor mentioned an incident involving a man who had angered him and remarked, “I shall never forgive him!”
Wesley responded,
“Then I hope sir, that you never sin!”
We need to have an attitude of forgiveness
and mercy.
Attitude 6 - We need an attitude of HOLINESS.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
Now here is a beatitude which demands that we should stop and examine ourselves. The Greek word for “pure” has a number of interesting facets. It was used for dirty clothes that had been washed clean.
It was used to describe grain and flour that had been carefully sifted – cleansed of all impurities.
It was used when describing milk or wine that had not been mixed with any other liquid.
It is not diluted or watered down. It was pure.
So this beatitude could be translated,
“Blessed is the man who is genuine in heart, who is authentic, who is not a phony,
because such a man will see God.”
Now what does that mean?
It means one is pure.
It means one is holy.
It does not mean that one is perfect – but that we strive to be clean.
We take the mask off. We quit being phony. We quit pretending to be the person you’re not. We become honest to God.
We become honest to ourselves.
We become honest to each other.
We strive to be “pure in heart.”
That is why Paul can write to Timothy and say:
“Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22 (HCSB)
This verse is not just for Timothy – it is us too. We need an attitude of holiness in our lives.
Attitude 7 - We need an attitude of PEACEFULNESS.
“Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)
God wants us to be peacemakers,
not peace BREAKERS!
He wants us to be a part of the solution,
not the PROBLEM.
There are 2 kinds of people in this world: “thermostat” people and “thermometer” people.
A thermometer reflects the climate of the room. If the room is cold, it’s cold.
If the room is hot, it’s hot.
But a thermostat can change the climate of the room. By its setting a thermostat can change a cold room into one that is warm, or a hot room into one that is cool.
And a peace-maker is a thermostat person.
A peacemaker can change the climate of the room when he or she walks in.
Have you ever seen that happen?
Have you ever been in a room where everybody is negative and complaining?
Everything is going wrong. Then a thermostat person enters the room and soon says something that causes people to say, “We never thought of it like that.” – the whole climate changes.
God wants peacemakers in His church.
God wants peacemakers in the workplace.
God wants peacemakers out in the world, people who never dwell on the negative, but concentrate on the positive and see the good things God is doing in His church and in the world.
Jesus had the ability to change things. Even storms at sea. In Matthew there is a story of a storm. The storm was so strong that the disciples thought they were going to die. But do you remember what Jesus did.
“He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea.
And there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26 (HCSB)
You see Jesus was a peacemaker.
He changes things.
He has called us to be peacemakers too.
Attitude 8 - We need an attitude of LONGSUFFERING. [Endurance]
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’
sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10 (NKJV)
Folks I have lived long enough in this world to know that whatever you do - you will be criticized. Even if you do nothing – you will be criticized and persecuted. I don’t know about you – but I would rather be criticized for doing the right thing then for doing the wrong thing. I would rather be called a fool for following God – then to be called a wise man for following the devil.
He is no fool who follows God –
even if he is criticized.
Attitude 9 - We need an attitude of FAITHFULNESS.
"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV)
When the going gets tough – the tough keep going.
Committed people stay COMMITTED.
Faithful people stay FAITHFUL.
Jesus is going to judge us by our faithfulness. In Matthew chapter twenty five Jesus tells a parable of a group of three servants who were given a certain amount of money. The master went off on a journey but when he returned there was a day of accountability. Two of the servants were faithful and this is what the master said to them:
’Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)
Do you know what the master called the third servant who was not faithful?
He was called, “wicked and lazy.”
Do you know why?
Your faithfulness shows your CHARACTER.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with a lot. Whoever is dishonest with very little
is dishonest with a lot.” Luke 16:10
Folks I am glad that Jesus was faithful to the Father aren’t you?
Did you know that the Garden of Gethsemane was about Jesus’ faithfulness?
It was! “Will I follow the will of the Father or will I try to have my own way?
Father, take this task from me. If there is any other way Father – if there is an alternate route – I ask that it be taken.
Take this cup of crucifixion – take this cup of suffering – take this cup of pain –
BUT not my will, but Yours be done.”
Jesus was found faithful.
How about you?
Are you committed to Christ?
Are you faithful
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