! ! ! ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING ! ! !
johnroy bohlen & John 5:30
Pastor Sir Saint Andy Andrew likes to talk about sports. We all have heard accounts of a person who dropped dead on the court or playing field, because they did not know that they had a heart condition. Today, we are, by God's grace, going to have a heart exam, in order to see the condition of our heart. We all want to have a healthy heart, right???
Yesterday, I typed in the word, "Judgement" into the computer concordance, and, bam! In the New Testament alone, I saw 76 matches for the word "judgment".
If you or I were suddenly to be brought before the Judgement Seat of Christ, and given a grade, a test, an examination relating to our attitude, our heart condition, our thoughts, our feelings, our state of being - how would it go for us? What would your grade be? How would the evaluation, the examination go? On a Judgement score scale between 0 and 100, 100 being totally pleasing to God, what would your score be for the last year, the last 6 months, the last month, this last week?, if we were evaluated concerning our anger, or irritation levels, our patience or impatience track record, our criticism or complaint levels, the fervency of our love for others, our pride or humility, our encouragement of others, our purity, our gentleness, our joy, our praise. You see, before we take communion, and when we stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ, very soon, now, very shortly from now, these are the things that will have mattered. We all will have it to face, you know. And, this is the test that we want to pass, most gloriously, before the vast multitude of the cloud of witnesses, on that Great Day, when we will all stand before God. From the old Fred Waring musical drama, "God's Trombones", comes the phrase, "Sinner, Oh, Sinner, where will you stand, on that Great Day, when God's a-gonna raaaaaaain doooooown fiiiiirrre (fire)!?." This passage, in various translations, says, "hell fire", 'fiery hell', 'fire(s) of hell', etc. This will be the result, if we fail to pass the test of our attitudes, our heart condition, the rightness of our spirit. In Heb 4:12-16, the Bible says, "Piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do." You see, we are speaking and thinking about the test, the 'heart examination check-up' "14 Since then, we have a Great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need". NAS
Today, our purpose for discussing all of this, is for us to help each other, to help you, enable you, to gloriously, wonderfully, beautifully pass this Test, on the Great Day, soon coming, at the Judgement Seat of Christ. Because we love you, we want you to do well. We do not want you to be ashamed, or embarrassed, or to have regret or remorse, but to have you hear God say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou in, to the joy of thy Lord and God." Mt.25:23,21
The Bible says, in Matt 5, " 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' 22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother (or sister) (or spouse) shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." NAS TLB says "Even in your own home."
TLB says, "if your call your friend, an 'empty headed idiot' " NASU (updated) says " ' You good-for-nothing,' or (or, 'stupid') shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."
Matt 25: " into everlasting punishment (fire): but the righteous into life eternal."
As a child, did your parent tell you that you would never amount to anything?? I was. But, as a parent, do you ever say anything like that to your child or spouse? We are talking here, about the altitude of our attitude toward others, and, especially, toward those whom we love the most. What kind of grade would you get???
"attitude" = mind, heart, mentality, thoughts, feelings, thinking, state of being, "how we REALLY are", emotions
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary: "a mental position, - feeling or state -
Psalm 139:1 "O Yahweh, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit or stand. When far away you know my every thought. 3 You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. 4 You know what I am going to say before I even say it. 5 You both precede and follow me and place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! 7 I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! 8 If I go up to Heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. 9 If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, 10 even there Your hand will guide me, Your strength will support me. 11 If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. 12 For even darkness cannot hide from God; to You the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to You. 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother's womb. 14 Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous-and how well I know it. 15 You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! 16 You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book! 17 How precious it is, Lord, to realize that You are thinking about me constantly! I can't even count how many times a day Your thoughts turn toward me. And when I waken in the morning, You are still thinking of me! 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test my thoughts. 24 Point out anything you find in me that makes you sad, and lead me along the path of Everlasting Life." TLB
Jer 12:3 "But Thou knowest me, O Yahweh; Thou seest me;
And Thou dost examine my heart's attitude toward Thee." NAS
Phil 2:5 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made Himself nothing," (from New International Version)
Phil 3:15 "Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained." NAS
Col 4:2 "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;" NAS
Job 19:29 "I warn you, you yourselves are in danger of punishment for your attitude." TLB
Acts 3:19 "Now change your mind and attitude (repent) to God and turn to Him so He can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord." TLB
Rev 2:16 "Change your mind and attitude (repent), or else I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth." TLB
Rev 16:9 "They did not change their mind and attitude to give Him glory." TLB
Eph 4:23 "Be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." NIV
A right heart attitude, a right spirit, a right heart condition, right reactions, responses, retorts, thoughts, a heart, a spirit, an attitude that is righteous, in right standing, right and pleasing in the eyes of God.
Bible Examples:
Mat. 5:48 "Be ye perfect, even as your Heavenly Father is perfect
1 Thes.5:16-18 Rejoice evermore, In EVERYTHING give thanks"
Philip.4:13 "I can do all things through Christ"
Philip.4:4 "Rejoice evermore"
Rom 8:37 "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
2 Cor.2:14,15 "Victory, always, everywhere!"
Of the more than 268 times some form of "rejoice" is used, most of the time, the rejoicing is done or to be done by a choice of our will!!! Over and over again, we are COMMANDED TO REJOICE!!!"
Isa 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation - "
Moses struck the rock: Numbers 20 and Deut 32:51
Ps 69:29 "But I am poor and sorrowful: let Thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. 30 I will praise the Name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. 31 This also shall please Yahweh better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. 32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God." KJV At our worst, we can still praise God!
Ps 51:10 "Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires. 11 Don't toss me aside, banished forever from Your presence. Don't take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me again the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You." TLB
Excuses:
"This is just the way I am!" At the Judgement Seat of Christ?
Righteous "indignation" - God is calling us to change
Temperaments: Sanguine, Melancholic, Coleric, Phlegmatic, spastic. - overcome!
Astrology - NO EXCUSE!
"Mother dropt me on my head"
Background: - YOUR FUTURE IN CHRIST, AS CHRIST IS YOUR LIFE!
Dysfunctional - GLORIOUSLY VICTORIOUSLY FUNCTIONAL IN CHRIST
Parents - START A NEW GENERATION OF VICTORIOUS WARRIORS
Abuse - TOTAL HEALING IN CHRIST, TOTAL RESTORATION
"Nobody's perfect" - "BE YE PERFECT, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER" Mt 5:48
"I'm only human" - "We are partakers of the Divine Nature!" 2 Peter 1:4
Time of month, Time of Life, Terrible Two's, Rebellious Teens - 1 Cor.10:13
Physical: Diabetes, Other, Improper nutrition, sleep - Proper body stewardship
Solutions:
1 Cor 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Ph 4:13 "I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me."
Choice of your will - CHOOSE to keep a right heart
"Born again"
"Totally yielded"
"1 John 1:9"
"King's Greatest Secret"
"Throne-Room Mentality"
"Baptism of Holy Spirit"
Don’t make excuses
The best true evidence of "true repentance or revival" in a person's life, is not, jerking, crying, falling, shouting, or even miracles.: a track record or pattern of a right heart attitude or condition, consistently."
The proof of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Holy Spirit: Gal 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Tell about the brother, who, after hearing this, went home to his wife, knelt down, and repented to her through his tears, about his attitude track record.
Another brother, also repented, and changed his ways, his attitudes, his reactions, at home. Both of these brothers will have a higher standing and better test scores on the Judgement Day.
There are people, couples, families, here, today, who need to repent, and, to each other. Will you? Won't you? Please, take a moment now, to ask forgiveness of your loved ones, and tell them that you love them, and will do better, before you worship, take communion, or die.
If we allow Jesus Christ to BE our Life, and live His glorious Life through us, we will consistently have a gloriously victorious right heart attitude!