The Power of Attitude

The Power of Attitude

Phil. 4:10-13

Intro.

A. It is a fact that we can change our lives by changing our attitudes. (Many self-help books have been published on attitude.)

B. A Harvard study said that success is 85% attitude and 15% aptitude.

C. Negative attitudes: worry, fear, doubt, despair, anger, suspicion, pessimism, sorrow, gloom, fussing, self-condemnation and apathy.

D. Positive attitudes: faith, love, trust, joy, hope, optimism, peace of mind,  and enthusiasm. 

1. Which best describes your life?

2. Which does God want?

3. Which kind of person do I want to be around?

E. The negatives are anti-Christian; they are contrary to what God wants and expects of us.

 

Body:

A. Faith will destroy worry, fear and doubt.

1. Ann Landers said “the most prominent problem is fear - afraid will lose my health, wealth, loved ones, or life itself.”

2. When faith is neglected, or weak - worry, fear an doubt result (Mt. 6:30-34; 8:23-26; 14:31).

 

B. Hope destroys despair.

1. Those without God are without hope (Eph. 2:11,12).

2. Hope anchors the soul (Heb. 6:19; 1 Jn. 3:3).

 

C. Love destroys anger and suspicion.

1. 1 Cor. 13:7 - “believes all things” (ready to excuse; puts best construction on...)

2. Husband/wife who loves is longsuffering and not jealous (Eph. 5:25; Tit. 2:4; 1 Cor. 13).

 

D. Trust overcomes pessimism.

1. Ten spies were pessimistic (Num. 13:26-33). Result - thousands of people missed the promised land. Which would you have followed?

2. Caleb was different (Num. 14:8,9).

3. Gideon showed trust (Judges 7:3,5-8,17,21,22).

4. Ps. 56:3,4   (Song: Trust and obey...)

 

E. Joy overcomes sorrow and gloom.

1. Neh. 8:10

2. Barclay: May be true there is no better test of a man than his reaction to greatness or success of someone else.

3. Joy is the theme of Philippians (1:17,18; 3:1; 4:4).

 

F. Peace of mind overcomes fussing and self-condemnation.

1. Phil. 4:6,7

2. The woman (with flow of blood 12 years) who touched Jesus, was told “be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Lk. 8:48).

3. Acts 20:13 - from Troas to Assos was about 20 miles. Paul walked - why? Maybe needed some quiet time (happy hour - a misused term).

4. Song: There is a place of quiet rest

5. Those not at peace with themselves are apt to find fault in others.

a. Bad attitudes can produce ill health (not all ill health from attitude) (Prov. 17:22).

b. Look at word - “dis - ease” (discomfort - des - dis + ease - aise; literally lack of ease).

6. Some on deferred payment plan - going to be happy when turn 16, when graduate, when get a job, when get married, when retire - never content. Peace of mind (contentment) is an attitude, not the accumulation of things.

 

G. Enthusiasm is the answer to apathy.

1. Hard to be enthusiastic without joy.

2. Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8:39). Imagine the enthusiasm when he got home and talked with his friends!

3. “This is the day which the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).

4. Paul was enthusiastic (Phil. 3:7-14).

 

Concl.

Faith, hope, love, trust, joy, peace and enthusiasm should be cultivated  - will make us better people and will help others. Sad, gloomy, critical, suspicious, pessimistic spirit is good for no one and certainly does not encourage others to seek God’s way. “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (Prov. 15:13).