Adjusting Your Attitude for Gods Kingdom

1
Adjusting Your Attitude for Gods Kingdom

• Overview manifesting and changing our attitudes
  in a manner worthy of the kingdom of God

2
Introduction

• It is said in athletics that executing in sports
  is 90 mental and 10 physical
• The statistic may not scientifically proven.
• But, the message is absolutely clear Attitude
  is everything!

3
Introduction

• With regard to Christianity, there are a wide
  range of attitudes stemming from belief systems
• It doesnt matter what I do because Once saved,
  always saved. Cp. Rom. 61-2
• The other is that everything depends upon me.
  (regardless of what the person says in the name
  of humility).

4
Introduction

• In this lesson we focus on the latter attitude
  that brings about pride
• This is an attitude no oneespecially Christians
  do not want to admit being guilty of in their
  Christian walk.
• It is an attitude that needs to be recognized and
  adjusted, if we are to be fit for the kingdom of
  God.

5
Prevailing Attitudes About Christianity

• The not good enough attitude
• This person looks at faithful Christians and
  think I could never be as good as that person.
• Their attitude toward Christianity is based upon
  someone elses life as their standard for
  Christianity.
• This poor person needs to appreciate that all
  like them fall short of Gods glory. Rom. 32
• He must also recognize the power of Gods grace
  and mercy that works within us as we labor for
  him. Heb. 415-16

6
Prevailing Attitudes About Christianity

• The opposite attitude is the good enough
  mentality that exists within the church.
• This person looks at himself (or another
  Christian) as doing things good enough to be a
  Christian.
• It is a checkmark of doing all the right things
  to get to heaven.
• This persons attitude misuses/misunderstands
  what the scriptures teach about working out your
  own salvation with fear and trembling separating
  that verse with the following.

7
Prevailing Attitudes About Christianity

• Both are in need, but which person based upon
  his attitude is God inclined to lift up?
• Is it the one in desperate need?
• Or, the one who has no need?
• It is an attitude that cannot exist if one is to
  be in the kingdom of God. cp. Matt. 53

8
The Pride of Men Not Fit for the Kingdom

• Pride is the arrogance of being without need. Lk.
  189-14
• It is illustrated as one who lifts up his neck
  (or, in our modern idiom sticks out his
  chest).
• The accomplishments and glory belongs to self,
  and not to one greater than self.
• This is the complete opposite from the poor in
  spirit who admit their spiritual inadequacies
  and acknowledge the need for Gods mercy.

9
The Pride of Men Not Fit for the Kingdom

• The father of pride Satan.
• Better to reign in hell than to serve in
  heaven. (John Milton, Paradise Lost)
• Many dont want to admit it but their fruit would
  suggest otherwise cp. Dt. 814 2 Chron. 26
• It may come in the form of thinking or saying I
  would never do what he does
• It may come in the form of looking down at the
  weaknesses others have that you dont.
• It may come by simply not expressing the need for
  God or by boasting of your own accomplishments.

10
The Pride of Men Not Fit for the Kingdom

• Thus, any person who lives life with pride is not
  fit for the kingdom of heaven.
• God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to
  the humble. Jas. 46
• If he is to be exalted by God he must have an
  attitude of humility. Matt. 2312

11
Making Yourself Poor in Spirit Fit For The
Kingdom

• Only if youre in heaven can you truly be
  considered rich. 2 Cor. 88-9 Phil. 26ff 2
  Cor. 610
• The scriptures reveal the distinct contrast of
  where riches and poverty lie.
• The difference is that some Christians display an
  mind-set of being without need, missing the very
  attitude necessary to be truly rich (in the
  Lord). Cp. Rev. 317

12
Making Yourself Poor in Spirit Fit For The
Kingdom

• This attitude is manifested by acknowledge the
  need to be strengthened by that which God
  supplies. Gal. 220-21
• This person truly acknowledges and places his
  trust (not in himself, but) in the Lord.
• Thus, the grace of God is fully recognized and
  appreciated in his daily life.
• Those who manifest this spirit (making themselves
  like Christ.poor) of humility can truly be rich
  Matt. 53

13
Conclusion

• How do you view Christianity?
• More importantly, what is your attitude as a
  Christian?