New Year, New You - A New Attitude

Intro

Review: So we are only 9 days into a New Year and we have started a new series called, “New Year, New You.” Last week we said that God wants to give us a new perspective. We go through difficulty and problems, but if we can remember that Jesus is present and powerful and God is still on the throne, we can make it through the difficulties that you face.

Opening Story/Illustration: Tonight, I want to talk about another area I believe Jesus wants to make us new. There are often two ways people react to the difficulty that they face - Its said that it often makes us bitter or better. The question is often posed - Which will you be? Will you let life’s problems make you bitter or better? I think the bitter or better really has do with our attitude throughout and after our difficulty. I think that there is a better question we should ask.

Am I being selfish or selfless?

In other words, have I made myself the center of the universe or am I living in humility.

When it becomes all about us, we can slowly start to live with a victim mentality. When we’re always the victim its easy for bitterness to start to creep in.

Story: Isn’t it interesting how the same thing can happen to two people and they react in very different ways? Some of you may have heard this before, but My grandfather was a preacher and one Sunday morning he gets up and preaches and he gives the invitation to come down and accept Christ. He kneels down to pray with a man and then he goes and kneels down for a moment to pray himself. He never got back up. He had a heart attack and died right then and there. Different family members had different reactions. One of my family members decided that it was the fault of the church members because they stressed him out to much. This family member became very bitter and never went back to church. She became angry with God. Other family members were sad, but they didn’t get quite as bitter. What’s the difference? I think it has a lot to do with our attitudes.

Transition to Text: In the New Testament the Apostle Paul talks about the attitude or mindset we should have. When we say attitude tonight we are just talking about the way you choose to think. Paul wants us to think a certain way.

Text: Let’s look at

Philippians 2:5–11 NLT

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:3–11 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Transition to Points:

Points

We must have a new attitude of service and humility

I think this new attitude we should have for 2019 is an attitude of humility.

The world is in a mess right now - No matter what way you want to look at it - Because many of our leaders lack humility.

I think as we start out this year, if we could just apply this principle to our lives. - “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

What does it mean to be humble?

It doesn’t mean you look down on yourself

It doesn’t mean you don’t take care of yourself or think about yourself

It simply means you think about yourself less

It simply means you look out for the good of others and don’t make yourself the center of the universe.

The world tells us to look after ourselves first. You are the center of the universe. It’s your life you are the captain of your own ship. Do what you want.

The context here in the letter is unity in the church. How many fights get started between you and your friend because you’re being selfish? Because you're trying to impress others? Because you’re worried about yourself?

Jesus says,

Paul is saying this - in the Church, there’s a bigger picture than you. It’s Jesus. It’s honoring and living for him. It's reaching out to the world. Your interests and ideas and opinions must come secondary.

Illustration: This last Sunday night we had men from Loving Hands ministry here. They are men who were on drugs and addicted to stuff. They are all being set free by God’s power. They all talked about a man who started the ministry - How he was such a humble servant. How he started the ministry in his home. This is humility and service - this man gave up himself for others and lives were changed.

Jesus is your example

Paul tells us that Jesus is our example. That we must have the same attitude he had.

My friend used to say, “Good Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way.” Maybe you’ve heard people say, “I’m not bragging if it’s the truth.”

If anyone should get a pass to be arrogant it’s Jesus. Jesus is God. He’s perfect. If anyone should be able to act superior or think he’s better than others it’s Jesus.

Paul says Jesus was God

Think for a moment about all the power that comes with that.

Being God.

If you were God, what would you do?

What will Jesus do with all this power and authority?

He willingly gives up his position of power and authority and comes to earth.

He willingly gives up his position of power and authority and comes to earth. He comes to earth not as some superhero (even though he’s still God), he comes and serves. Here’s the deal - Here is the one person in history who had all power and all authority and could do anything he wanted - and he chooses to serve and give.

He comes to earth not as some superhero (even though he’s still God), he comes and serves.

Here’s the deal - Here is the one person in history who had all power and all authority and could do anything he wanted - and he chooses to serve and give.

Illustration: Often times the only difference between a hero and a villain is what they choose to do with the power they’ve been given. The difference in becoming better or bitter is often what you choose to do with what you’ve been given.

Jesus gets glory and honor because of serving, loving, and givingCheck out the “therefore” in verse 9Because Jesus willingly gave up his rights and servedGod brings him up to the place of highest honorGod gives him the name that is above every nameEverything will bow to Jesus one dayEveryone will declare that He is LordDid you catch that - Jesus did the opposite of what we do. We work for power and position and fight for our rights Jesus gives all this up to serve - and in the end gets more glory and honor.

Jesus gets glory and honor because of serving, loving, and giving

Check out the “therefore” in verse 9

Because Jesus willingly gave up his rights and served

God brings him up to the place of highest honor

God gives him the name that is above every name

Everything will bow to Jesus one dayEveryone will declare that He is Lord

Did you catch that - Jesus did the opposite of what we do. We work for power and position and fight for our rights and make ourselves the center of the universe - Jesus gives all this up to serve - and in the end gets more glory and honor.

Conclusion

Restatement of Main idea: So here’s the point tonight. I think Jesus wants to give us a new attitude this year. An attitude of service and humility.

You’re going to face moments this year that are difficult. If you make it always about you, you will become bitter. If you instead, choose to live like Jesus, serving those around you with love, every difficult situation becomes an opportunity for God to teach you something.

Getting what you really, deep down want, comes not from focusing on yourself and your rights, but from giving yourself up for Jesus and others.

Getting what you really, deep down want, comes not from focusing on yourself and your rights, but from giving yourself up for Jesus and others.

The road to true glory, power, happiness, and contentment come not from trying to work your way up, but from giving yourself up in service to Jesus and others.

What would it look like this year if you chose to have a little more humility with your family?

What would your home look like if instead of demanding your own way you showed up to love and serve?

What would your job look like if instead of worrying so much about yourself you showed up and served like Jesus?

What would our church look like if instead of thinking about your preferences and the way you like things, you simply served others?