4. The Best Attitude For A Fresh Start
Notes
Transcript
Me:
Me:
I’m so glad that you are able to start off your New Year by joining us today! I hope you are excited and ready for 2021…it’s going to be a great year. Today we wrap up our series, Hidden Hope with a fascinating dream that the prophet Daniel had, it’s going to be good. If you’re new with us, we are seventeen weeks into a spiritual growth campaign called Core52. Each week we focus in on one of the key verses that make up the Bible. Our journey has taken us all over the Bible, but sadly today we wrap up our time in the OT. If you would like to join us in our journey, it’s not too late! Contact me, and I will get you all of the information you need as well as a guide book to learn more about each of the verses we study.
About four years ago, I need an attitude adjustment. There were a series of events that hit me as a pastor, and personally as well. I don’t know how you handle gut punches, but I didn’t initially handle mine very well. It’s really easy to cast blame on other people, and feel sorry for yourself, I will admit, that is kind of how I felt initially. But there has always been a quote that has stuck with me about how we handle difficult times: You either get bitter or you get better.
I didn’t want to get bitter! So I stepped back and did some honest self evaluation. Here’s what I came up with: Pride, even arrogance had masked some blind spots, and because of stubbornness, I wasn’t willing to make the changes that needed to take place. So, these three things came to the surface—pride, arrogance and stubbornness.
So here is what I realized. If things were going to change, what needed to change was me and my attitude.
We:
We:
2020 will not soon be forgotten. While we would all agree that 2020 has been incredibly difficult because of the Covid-19 virus and the pandemic that ensued, I would like to suggest that it wasn’t the virus that made 2020 so difficult. Instead I would suggest these three things made 2020 incredibly difficult and frustrating: pride, arrogance, and stubbornness. Everyone knew there were going to be problems. However, it was the pride of countries, people groups, and politicians who continued to muddy the waters. It was the stubbornness of people to adhere more to their political alliances then to try and cooperate and collaborate.
On top of the Covid-19 virus, we had racial issues to wrestle with, and then along came a contentious election…and these three same issues continue to stir the already muddy waters; pride, arrogance and stubbornness. Here’s a common example of what I’m talking about. I knew of a family who after the election, the parents went to visit their adult kids and grand kids. The conversation got onto politics where the parents found out that their adult kids voted for the opposite candidate that they did. An argument, and accusations ensued. The adult children asked their parents to leave and not come back until they could have a civil conversation. These folks are just like any of us…just regular people. Here’s the issue, any problem is made worse when we suffer from pride, arrogance and stubbornness.
Listen, if you want to make a fresh start this new year, it’s not going to happen with a steady does of pride, arrogance or stubbornness. If you want to make a fresh start this New Year, you need an attitude of humility.
Why humility? It was Jesus’ attitude of humility that turned our world upside down…and continues to transform the lives of people even today. The best way to make 2021 different is to model Jesus’ attitude of humility.
God:
God:
If you have a Bible or device, find Daniel chapter 7. If you are using the YouVersion Bible app, go to the bottom right hand corner and select the three lines there. Then search for Events. Our church should pop up. All the sermon notes and Scriptures will be there for you to use.
There is a peculiar phrase which kind of floats around the Old Testament, but is primarily in the book of Ezekiel. It’s the phrase: son of man. It’s not necessarily a complimentary phrase…but it’s not derogatory either. It’s simply a description used, in Ezekiel’s case as a title of humility. A human, a representative of humans; with all of their frailties, and weaknesses. So, to be clear, the phrase “son of man” is a title of humility.
Now, there is one place in the OT where the phrase “son of man” shows up that is extremely interesting…and yes it’s found in the book of Daniel. This book is written primarily about a young man named Daniel who is taken off into exile when the Babylonians overrun Jerusalem. Most of Daniel is about his life in exile along with some of his Jewish friends. However, in Daniel seven we find our way into one of Daniel’s dreams, and it’s a strange one. It’s so strange that it takes a Jewish decoder ring to interpret all of it. Yet, there are a couple fascinating images regarding this phrase “son of man”. Let’s check them out. Look at verse 9.
“As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
Crazy stuff! So, let’s figure out what’s going on here in Daniel’s dream. Ancient of Days is a reference to God. What’s interesting here is that there are multiple thrones. Did you notice that? I’m going to guess two…you’ll see why in just a minute. These thrones are on some type of vehicle that has wheels. This is our first reference to Hot Wheels cars. God sits down on one of the thrones. I know it’s a lot to understand. So it appears there are two thrones, and God is sitting on one of them.
Now, let’s jump down to our Core 52 verse for this week, verse 13.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
There’s that phrase, “son of man”. This person, man…coming on the clouds approaches God and is given authority. So this one who is a man, representing humanity, comes into the presence of God and is given authority, glory and power. One way this is demonstrated is by sitting on the throne at God’s right hand. So remember there were multiple thrones…this son of man comes and sits at God’s right hand and is worshiped, and establishes a kingdom that will never be destroyed.
Okay, so this dream literally freaks Daniel out, for many reasons. But here was the big reason and one the Jewish rabbis continued to wrestle with: How can this son of man, also be divine? You have a son of man, who sits at God’s right hand on his throne? Fully human, fully God. Very strange!
So, do you know where else the phrase “son of man” shows up? In the New Testament, almost entirely in the gospels…and here is where it gets interesting…it’s used exclusively by Jesus to describe himself! If you go to Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, it will only take you minutes to find an example of Jesus referring to himself as, the son of man.
So Jesus sees himself as this “son of man” character from Daniel’s dream, and it makes sense…Jesus humbles himself to serve people and ultimately humbles himself to die for humanity. The son of man dying for all of humanity, is there a better example of the title? However, he doesn’t stay dead! He is resurrected from the dead, and at his ascension he makes this statement. Matthew 28.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…takes us right back to Daniel 7:13. It’s like through Jesus, the dots connect perfectly. But don’t miss how this plan was all worked out: Humility.
God became a human, humbled himself, died and was then raised in power. It was through his humility that this world has been turned upside down. The turning point of all human history rests on the humble act of God becoming a human baby, and growing as a human, understanding and experiencing what it means to live as a human and ultimately dying as a human for all humanity.
Our world has been transformed through the humility of Jesus.
This is such a powerful and recognized truth of the early Jesus followers that they wrote a hymn about it. In the Philippian letter, the apostle Paul quotes it. Here is how it goes.
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
That hymn perfectly sums up who Jesus is, but his strategy of transforming our lives…was all built around an attitude of humility.
So, what does any of this have to do with us? What is the best attitude to have for a new year? What is the best attitude to have to turn things around in 2021? Jump back and look at how Paul introduces this hymn describing Jesus. Look at verse five.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Paul says that in our relationships with one another, we need to have the same mindset. If Jesus transformed our world with his attitude of humility, our world will continue to be transformed through the humility of his followers.
If our 2021 is going to be transformed, we all need to take on an attitude of humility.
Here are some ways humility could impact your New Year.
You:
You:
An attitude of humility will help:
Restore Relationships - Think of the relationships that are not what they used to be. Think of the arguments you had, and the words that were exchanged. What about the silent treatment? How much of that was caused by pride, arrogance or just plain stubbornness? If you took an attitude of humility, and picked up the phone and said you’re sorry…those relationships could be healed.
Build Relationships - Do you feel like any of your relationships are kind of flat? Or maybe something is missing? Think of how your marriages would be different if you weren’t always trying to be right all the time? Think of how your relationships with you kids would be different if you would be more willing to listen? Think about how your relationship with your neighbor could actually deepen if you put aside your opinions about them and inside took some time to learn their story.
Create A Pathway For God’s Work In Your Life
In Luke 14:11, Jesus is attending a wedding banquet and he notices how all of the guests were scrambling for the seats of honor. He instead gave a better strategy, sit at the lowest table, and wait for the host to come and seat you at the place of honor. Then he gives this nugget of wisdom that is found throughout the Bible.
For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
This applies in our relationships with people, but it also applies in our relationship with God. The main struggle humanity has had when it comes to our relationship with God is our pride…be it Adam and Eve thinking they knew what was best for their lives…or you and me and our stubbornness to do it our way. When we humble our hearts, God is able to work in our lives. An attitude of humility will increase your opportunities to be used by God. An attitude of humility will increase the way God works and your effectiveness. Most importantly, the Kingdom of God will advance in our lives, in our church and in our community as we move forward with an attitude of humility.
If Jesus transformed our world with his attitude of humility, our world will continue to be transformed through the humility of his followers.
We:
We:
A pastor in India was confronted angrily by a man in his office one day. This man made many unfair and untrue accusations against the pastor. After finishing his angry outburst, the man asked the pastor what he had to say.
In response, the pastor got up from his chair, walked to the washroom next door, filled an empty basin with water and came back to the room. The angry man was surprised when he saw the basin of water and asked what it was for. The pastor replied that even though the accusations were not true, that since the person was nevertheless upset with him, he felt the right thing to do, was for him to ask forgiveness. He then offered to wash the man’s feet. What happened then was that the man broke down in tears at this act of humility and opened his heart to the Lord. The pastor's humility was shown to be a strength and not a weakness!
Think of the impact you can have on your family, church and community with an attitude of humility. Think about the impact our church can have on our community as we live out an attitude of humility.
If Jesus transformed our world with his attitude of humility, our world will continue to be transformed through the humility of his followers.
An attitude of humility starts when we let go of our pride and put our faith in Jesus. If you have never made that decisions or taken that step, is there a better way to start a new year? Please talk with me after the service or send me a message and let’s start of 20201 by putting your faith in Jesus.