A New Attitude is Needed
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· 5 viewsIf we want the church to grow, it will take a new attitude.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
70% to 80% of all Americans are unchurched. 77% of Tennessee is unchurched. We must realize that we are in a fight for a generation. The “church” is not marching or moving, and for certain is not in a forceful advance with the attitude that the “Bride of Christ” has today. We must have a change in attitude to see the lost come to know Christ. We must have four specific changes of attitude. Are you willing to have an attitude adjustment? I hope for your sake and the billions of lost around the world, that by the end of this service we all are willing to have an attitude adjustment.
Focus Passage
12 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well;
Outline:
We must be dissatisfied (v.12)
12 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Paul understood a truth that many in the church are lacking today. He understood the need for dissatisfaction.
He knew he was not finished – ‘Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect...’
He knew he was to follow – ‘…but I press on...’
He knew he was to possess a prize - ‘…if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus’
Paul knew he had a goal with a prize, that was to be like the one who called him, Jesus Christ – ‘...if I may also take hold of...’
The idea in the Gk ‘to take eagerly,’ ‘to seize,’ ‘to possess’
Paul understood that he, like we, do not obtain this goal on our own but through Jesus Christ, the one who has taken possession of us – ‘...of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus...’
We must be devoted
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Paul states, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Paul was stating that he was devoted to the cause and the end game. Dr. Bill Oakley was bringing a devotional at the Pastors and Wives Breakfast, and during this devotional he stated a great truth. It’s important to run a race and how you run the race is important, but not as important as to how you finish the race. He used the illustration of a Boston Marathon that he watched several years ago. He said that there was a Kenyan who was so fast and was beating everyone, and just a few yards away from the finish line he fell and was not able to complete the race. He said that his team mate, another Kenyan, finished the race and won. He went on to say that the Kenyan surely didn’t fall on purpose, like many of us will not fall on purpose, but be sure to finish the race. This same truth is being shown through our text.
Paul revealed his devotion to finish the race…
He forgot the past – ‘Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind...’
The keys to victory are forgetting the past (accomplishments / failures)
He reached forth unto the future – ‘…and reaching forward to what lies ahead...’
The Gk only uses one word for the phrase, ‘reaching forward,’ and it means to ‘to stretch (oneself) forward, upon’
The picture being painted here is a runner stretching forward his nose or neck for the picture perfect ending.
Only three things can happen when going forward, and they all depend on one’s attitude.
You are guaranteed to fail by not trying
You are guaranteed to remain the same by not trying
You will only find success by trying
He stayed the course until the end
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
We must be directed (v.14)
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul kept the end in view – ‘I press toward the mark’
Paul kept salvation and the Savior in view – ‘for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus’
Paul did not list the promises of God in dealing with His direction, but Peter did
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
7 promises to remember when following God’s direction
You are kept by the power of God through faith
You are to rejoice
Your trials are only for a season
Preciousness of our faith (v.7a)
Definition of our faith (v.8)
Through faith we give Christ glory
The end of our faith, the mark we press toward
We must be determined (v.15)
15 Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well;
Paul was not allowing other who disagreed with him to stop him from following what God was telling him.
Paul realized the need for maturity – ‘…all who are mature...’
Paul realized that the need for a new attitude - ‘…let’s have this attitude...’
Paul realized that God had to reveal this truth – ‘…if in anything you have a different attitude God will reveal that to you as well’
Conclusion:
I’ve learned a lot in my short time as a Christian, but three truths that I’ve learned in particular are these…
The more I grow in my knowledge of the Scripture, the more I realize I know absolutely nothing
The more I grow in my knowledge of the Scripture, the more I realize I have an ever growing need to grow
The more I grow in my knowledge of the Scripture, the more I realize I have not arrived, nor will I ever arrive to spiritual perfection in the Lord until I am in His presence for eternity.
With these three truths in mind, let us learn that…
· We must be dissatisfied
· We must be devoted
· We must be directed
· We must be determined
All of these are needed for growth and maturity in the Lord. We must be willing to have an attitude adjustment, if needed.