SMILE MORE
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INTRODUCTION
We need to work on our attitudes and our worry.
The Bible has a great deal to say about attitudes
The Bible has a great deal to say about attitudes
7 For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.
A man is his thoughts
We can do nothing apart from what we think
14 And he called to him the multitude again, and said unto them, Hear me all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. 16 If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear. 17 And when he was entered into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked of him the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? This he said, making all meats clean. 20 And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: 23 all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.
What a man thinks is critical to his spiritual welfare
We can do no better than we think
An example of a negative attitude:
An example of a negative attitude:
31 But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
The ten spies said it could not be done
“Grasshopper complex”
An example of a positive attitude:
An example of a positive attitude:
13 Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
18 And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye: 20 for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.
Though, by their peers, they were considered ignorant and unlearned, their positive attitude enabled them to speak boldly
Everyone recognizes the importance of proper attitudes
Everyone recognizes the importance of proper attitudes
There is power in positive thinking
In any success seminar, positive attitudes are stressed
The statement is true that says, “We are what we think”
As children of God, we must have a positive spiritual attitude.
As children of God, we must have a positive spiritual attitude.
We cannot be victorious without it
Our attitude will determine our altitude
Positive spiritual attitudes are the key to church growth, to happiness, to personal spiritual growth, and to personal satisfaction
Positive spiritual attitudes are a must if the church is to be strong
TO SMILE MORE WE MUST WORK ON OUR ATTITUDES, and in doing so…
TO SMILE MORE WE MUST WORK ON OUR ATTITUDES, and in doing so…
WE MUST HAVE AN UNWAVERING FAITH IN GOD
WE MUST HAVE AN UNWAVERING FAITH IN GOD
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. 2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: 6 and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
We must put our trust in the all-powerful Creator of the universe
It is not logical to put faith in anyone else, or ourselves
4 Let them now that fear Jehovah say, That his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 5 Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah: Jehovah answered me and set me in a large place. 6 Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? 7 Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in princes.
God is the source of our hope and power to be successful in church growth
Numerically
Spiritually
WE MUST BE GOAL ORIENTED
WE MUST BE GOAL ORIENTED
This demands that we be involved in planning and in the setting of specific goals
The apostle Paul was goal oriented
13 Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before. 14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:
If one never sets goals - one accomplishes little
We can’t hit a target we don’t have
WE MUST TRUST IN THE POWER OF GOD
WE MUST TRUST IN THE POWER OF GOD
14 I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
What is this power?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
True success doesn’t depend on our power, but upon God’s
If we rely on our power alone we will fail
We must rely on God’s power - the Gospel
God’s word is powerful, His word can transform us
WE MUST HAVE MOUNTAIN MOVING FAITH
WE MUST HAVE MOUNTAIN MOVING FAITH
20 And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
The biggest mountains we have to move if between our ears:
Doubt
Fear
Worry
Negative Attitudes
Faith is powerful… and remember Romans 10:17
WE MUST BELIEVE THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD
WE MUST BELIEVE THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD
It is true that NOT ALL things are good
But they will, if we trust in God, bring good to our faith
2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; 3 knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. 4 And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;
28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.
Even though we can’t understand at times how a certain situation will work for good, will still must trust God that it will
God has promised that it will!
WE MUST DAILY RENEW OUR MINDS
WE MUST DAILY RENEW OUR MINDS
We must always be sound and clear in our thinking
23 and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
We renew our minds through Bible study
WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS
WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS
We must pray in faith, without doubting
2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; 3 knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. 4 And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
When God answers prayers, the answer is sometimes:
Yes
No
Wait a while
We might be given something different than we asked for
16 Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.
But remember:
12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.
18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear:
29 Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
WE MUST HAVE A GOOD SELF-IMAGE
WE MUST HAVE A GOOD SELF-IMAGE
We are created in the image of God
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Christians are special people
12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: 13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.
Children of God
Heirs with Christ
We are members of a royal family
We must be proud to be who we are
WE MUST TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME
WE MUST TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME
We must not do so much worrying about yesterday, and jumping ahead to tomorrow
34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Each day has enough trouble without borrowing from tomorrow
We must live one day at a time
Too many are looking to tomorrow and forgetting about today
Today is the day of action
2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):
TO SMILE MORE WE MUST OVERCOME WORRY
TO SMILE MORE WE MUST OVERCOME WORRY
We are living in a time that many refer to as an “Age of Anxiety”
We are living in a time that many refer to as an “Age of Anxiety”
It seems that worry is the watchword of our world today
No job ... we worry
Job ... we worry
No money ... we worry
Money ... we worry
Sick ... we worry
Not sick ... we worry
One worrier said to another, “I have so many troubles that if anything happened to me today it would take me two weeks before I could get around to worrying about it.”
Now, we know that life cannot be lived free from all sense of anxiety and concern
Now, we know that life cannot be lived free from all sense of anxiety and concern
For example, being concerned about having an automobile wreck will cause us to practice rules of safety.
Concern over becoming ill will cause us to practice rules of good health ©
However, the problem is this: “It is easy to let our CONCERNS becomes our CARES, and our FORETHOUGHTS to become our FEAR-THOUGHTS.”
THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FEARS
THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FEARS
People worry about things that have already happened
This is very futile!
Worrying about that which has already happened is like trying to saw sawdust!
Worrying about the past is like trying to put toothpaste back into the tube
Past deeds cannot be undone, or past words unsaid
If the past involves sin, obey the conditions of pardon and God will abundantly forgive ©
6 Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
When God forgives you, forgive yourself
Lloyd George, former Prime Minister of England, once said, “I have made it a practice of my life always to close the gate behind me.” - And that is what we need to do with things that have already happened! ©
People worry over things that will inevitably happen
Some worry about dying - but we will al die (Heb. 9:27)
Some worry about growing old - but we grow old…
Some people worry about things that will never happen
Mark Twain once said, “I have worried over a great many things in life, the most of which never happened.”
Surveys have shown that 80% of the things we worry about never happen
THE LORD'S CLASSIC TEXT ON WORRY (Matthew 6:24-34)
THE LORD'S CLASSIC TEXT ON WORRY (Matthew 6:24-34)
Worry is unnecessary
Because our heavenly Father knows our needs (v. 32)
God is sensitive to our needs - so why worry?
Worry is cruel
26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they?
It is cruel to think that God would care more for birds than He would for us
Any father would feed his children before he would feed the birds
Worry is prohibited
“Do not worry” (vs. 25, 31, 34) - take no thought, KJV
The same Lord that made belief and baptism essential to salvation (Mk. 16:16), is the same Lord who said don't worry!
Worry is futile
27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?
Worry is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere
Worry is heathenish
“For after all these things the Greeks seek …” (v. 32)
Jesus is saying that worry is not characteristic of a child of God
Worry shows a lack of faith
“O ye of little faith” (v. 30)
Human reasoning produces doubt, doubt produces fear, and fear produces anxiety ©
1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.
WHY WORRY LEADS TO SIN
WHY WORRY LEADS TO SIN
It is a disregard for the commands of God
6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
... or, Don't be troubled
13 Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
We are concerned about obeying the others commands of God - why not this one?
It deters from duty and a is futile waste of time
Studies have shown that only 8% of what we worry about are legitimate things to worry about
Energy spent in worry could be better spent elsewhere
“Redeem the time” (Eph. 5:16)
It impairs health
“He worried himself sick” can certainly express the truth
Excess worry causes high blood pressure, fatigue, hives, ulcers, mental disorders, insanity and even suicide
The field of psychiatry is flourishing as never before because of worry and anxiety
1 Corinthians 6:15-20 teaches us not to harm the body
It is a robber, robbing one of joy, happiness and peace
“Worry” originally meant to strangle, a continual snapping or biting, to shake & mangle with the teeth
Worry grasps us by the throat and prevents happiness
And yet, the Bible tells us of the need to rejoice
“Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4)
“Rejoice evermore” (1 The. 5:16).
It is a prohibitive against our prayers being answered
For prayers to be answered we must be asked in faith
5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.
24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Worry is distrust in God
We must not be like the man who prayed for protection throughout the night; and, then, stayed up all night to see if God would.
HOW TO OVERCOME WORRY
HOW TO OVERCOME WORRY
Make up your mind that you are going to conquer it
We must not allow our thoughts to push us around ©
Abraham Lincoln said, "I have been as happy as I have made my mind to be."
Form the right relationship with God
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
The closer we are to God - the fewer worries we have
Develop the right attitude of mind
First, look at the silver lining
Second, count your blessings
Don't concentrate on the bad to the neglect of the good©
Do what you can and turn the rest over to God
Do what you can - leave the rest to God
We must trust God!
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee.
28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.
Live one day at a time
Yesterday is buried and tomorrow unborn
The best way to prepare for tomorrow is to fulfill the duties of today
34 Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Engage in purposeful work
Even in Eden, God saw the need for employment to insure man's happiness (Gen. 2:15)
He was a wise man who said that "he had no time for worry, for in the day time he was too busy and at night he was too sleepy."
CONCLUSION
