Attitude is Everything

Intro:

1 Chronicles 16:36–43 NKJV

36 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel From everlasting to everlasting! And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. 37 So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required; 38 and Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, including Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers; 39 and Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place that was at Gibeon, 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the Law of the Lord which He commanded Israel; 41 and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because His mercy endures forever; 42 and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God. Now the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers. 43 Then all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.

As we continue to dig in scripture on the importance of prayer, I want to look at the events surrounding David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The title of my message is, [Attitude is Everything].

Attitude is defined, the way a person thinks of behaves. It is comprised of an individual’s mindset, viewpoint, and beliefs.

Throughout life, how we face challenges or difficulties and how we relax or celebrate goes back to our attitude.

In researching attitudes, I found one author who described three different attitudes:

Positive attitudes, (the one EVERYONE needs). People with a positive attitude genuinely believe for the best. They look for the best in people.

They are confident, happy, sincere, and determined. Their positive beliefs affects the way they behave. People will a positive attitude will look for a way to make something happen!

Negative attitudes, (the one EVERYONE should avoid). People with a negative attitude genuinely look at the glass half empty. If like is good right now, they just can’t help but wonder what’s coming next.

They ignore the good and expect failure. They have a way of bringing up the worse-case-scenario and always find a reason something will not work.

Generally, people with negative attitudes experience anger, doubt, and frustration in their lives, over and over and over, because attitude is everything.

Neutral attitudes. There are people with neutral attitudes. Their mantra is, I don’t care. Now a neutral attitude is good when I ask, where do you want to eat do you want Mexican food and the other person is neutral.

But a neutral attitude is not good when someone asks, should I take a rifle of a shotgun deer hunting? I can’t swim, should I wear a life jacket or just trust I can figure out how to swim?

At various times in life, we will likely display all three of these attitudes. As a child, when mom and dad told me to clean my room, sometimes I was positive and got it done.

Others times I was negative and mouthed them, and then there were times I was neutral and figured it would clean itself!

Guess what happened when I became negative or neutral? I got an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!

By the time we get to David’s leadership, Israel went through a spiritual attitude adjustment. We read that David established that the priests would REGULARLY make sacrifices, play music, and worship God morning and evening.

Shouldn’t God’s people have this type of positive attitude?

But by the the time David became king, prayer, praise, and sacrifice had become an irregular practice.

Why?

Because of the attitude of King Saul. He was negative and neutral toward God. He did not consistently serve God, therefore the nation of Israel developed a neutral attitude toward God.

Therefore, God used David to lead Israel in a revival of trust and Godly behavior! Through David, prayer, praise, and sacrifice became a regular practice in Israel.

And it all went back to attitude. Many Christians have a positive attitude— God can do ANYTHING.

Some have a negative attitude— I just don’t see how God can do that.

Others have a neutral attitude— I don’t really care about what God can or cannot do.

Remember, attitude is the way a person thinks or behaves. Naturally, most everyone would declare GOD CAN, but what does our attitude say?

Does our behavior denote a regular or irregular relationship with God?

Moving the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem had a lot to do with attitude. I want to see the various attitudes of those in this historic event in Israel.

I have three points, [Pure Motives, Improper Method], [Perilous Moments, Powerful Manifestation], and [Proper Method, Impure Mindset].

Let’s begin

1. Pure Motives, Improper Method

2 Samuel 6:1–2 NKJV

1 Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim.

When David finally became king over all of Israel, he made an important decision. For decades faithfulness to God had become irregular.

The reason for the national disinterest in God came back to Saul’s attitude toward God, specifically in regards to the Ark of the Covenant.

The Ark of the Covenant represented God’s presence. His glory dwelt within the Ark. And by the time David became king, the Ark was in the Canaanite city of Baale Judah.

The center focus of Israel’s worship resided in a foreign city. Therefore, David a positive attitude. Should Israel have the slightest chance of national success they needed regular worship and time in God’s presence!

David’s motives were pure. He believed God’s presence was a necessity and he acted on his beliefs. He gathered 30,000 men to go to the enemy, willing to fight to get the presence of God back.

However, he had an improper method.

2 Samuel 6:3 NKJV

3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

I am not sure who made the decision to move the Ark the way they did, but it shows that someone had a neutral attitude on obeying God’s word.

God left specific instructions on HOW to move the Ark of God. Because the Ark contained God’s glory, they had to be very careful in who touched the Ark.

Instead of doing it God’s way, they built a new cart. By now the Ark was on a hill in someone’s home, and it made sense to have the oxen pull the Ark on the cart to get it to Jerusalem as soon as possible.

However, their neutral attitude to God’s strict instructions proved disastrous. It all started when the oxen stumbled, carrying the Ark of God.

So far we see if we have a positive attitude toward God’s plan for our lives, but also possess a neutral attitude in going about God’s plan God’s way, problems are inevitable!

We can get excited that God CAN do anything, but we have to follow God’s will and HIs way. Therefore, pure motives do not get us far if we use an improper method for spiritual growth.

David’s pure motives and improper method led to...

2. Perilous Moments, Powerful Manifestation

2 Samuel 6:7–8 NKJV

7 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.

As the Ark of God stumbled on the new cart, a well meaning man reached out to steady the Ark. Doesn’t that make sense?

From a natural perspective yes, but had they moved the Ark God’s way, the priests would have surrounded the Ark and together they would have worked to get it to Jerusalem.

Imagine the scene. They have the Ark on a new cart, surrounded by musicians and singers. They sang, praised, and worshipped until the oxen stumbled.

With seeming innocence, Uzzah touched the Ark and God became angry and Uzzah died. Talk about a perilous moment.

Immediately, David’s attitude changed. No longer was he the positive king who just knew the Ark was the answer to their problems.

Now, he became angry with God. Why would God allow such a terrible event to occur? David became afraid and wondered, how will the Ark ever get to Jerusalem now.

2 Samuel 6:10–11 NKJV

10 So David would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

David then adopted a neutral attitude toward the Ark. Instead of rushing to get it to Jerusalem, he left it at the house of Obed-Edom.

We do not know a lot about Obed-Edom, but I would say his attitude toward God became positive. As he hosted the Ark in his home, notice what happened, the Lord blessed his entire household.

I take that literally. I firmly believe EVERYTHING in Obed-Edom’s house was blessed.

But notice Obed-Edom the word Gittite. It is found in ten verses. The Gittites were Philistines. In fact, Goliath was a Gittite.

That puts a new spin on this verse for me. God allowed an unclean Philistine to host the presence of God for three months and as a result, EVERYTHING he had prospered.

Think of that, a distant relative of Goliath now experience God’s favor! I suppose attitude really is everything!

He developed such a positive attitude toward the God of Israel that the next time we read of him, he and his sixty-eight sons became gatekeepers of the Ark of God, protecting it from the enemies of God.

Perilous moments can serve as attitude adjustments for us. David became negative and eventually neutral toward God because of the consequences of a mess of his own making.

But God used this to show that those who remain positive in their attitude toward Him can experience His favor.

These perilous moments in David’s life led to a powerful manifestation in Obed-Edom. Word got to David and we see...

3. Proper Method, Impure Mindset

2 Samuel 6:12 NKJV

12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.

Imagine being David. He still has a neutral mindset toward the Ark. In his mind, it was too dangerous to move it again. But someone told him, Obed-Edom is walking in the blessings of God because of the Ark.

I can almost hear David, isn’t Obed-Edom a Gittite? Isn’t he a distant relative of Goliath? If God shows favor to him because of the Ark, what can He do for us?

He must have summoned the priests or someone who knew the law well enough to learn how to properly move the Ark because that is what he did.

Notice, his attitude changed! His negative and neutral attitude changed into a positive attitude of gladness. It didn’t start that way.

David was very careful at first. He wouldn’t let the Ark go six paces before he made them stop and make a sacrifice. This happened every six paces, about every twelve feet!

With each step closer to Israel, David began to clap his hand, raise his hands, lift his voice, and eventually he began to dance before the Lord with all of His might!

His praise was so contagious that all of Israel got infected with the joy of the Lord. Because they used God’s method of moving the Ark, a positive attitude swept across Israel as they enjoyed the presence of God!

But there happened to be one person who kept their negative attitude.

2 Samuel 6:16 NKJV

16 Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

The closer the Ark got to Jerusalem, the louder the roar of praise and worship grew. Perched in a big house on the second or third floor was a window to the room of David’s wife, Michal.

She looked out the widow and became humiliated by David. Her husband had shed his royal robes and wore a plain clothes. Not only that, he danced and whirled before the Lord!

After David blessed all of Israel, he went home to bless his family, only to be met by a person with a terrible attitude. She accused David of disgracing the family and degrading his position as king.

I love David’s attitude. He had encountered God in such a unique way, he couldn’t help but answer:

2 Samuel 6:22–23 NKJV

22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

You don’t understand Michal. I might be king of Israel, but that is merely a position or earthly authority. Don’t you get it Michal, we’ve welcomed the King of kings to Israel!

After years of national disinterest in God, we have a place where we can meet with God. Praise and worship will become a regular event in Israel.

So if you don’t like my shout, dance, praise, or song, get used to it, I will become even more undignified, uninhibited, or as you say “humiliating.”

For I’ve had an attitude adjustment and your impure mindset will never dissuade me from the proper methods of accessing God through His presence!

From there, David established regular worship before the Ark. I referenced this in the passage of scripture I read at the beginning of my message.

Asaph and his brothers ministered before the Ark regularly!

Obed-Edom and his sons protected the Ark regularly.

The musicians sang and played before the Ark regularly!

Close:

And it all happened because David learned, Attitude is Everything. He let God give him the proper attitude in his response to God.

Our attitude toward God will determine if we are with Him on a regular or irregular basis.

We have to ask ourselves:

Do we prayer regularly or occasionally?

Do we attend church regularly or occasionally?

Do we tithe regularly or occasionally?

Do we read our bible regularly or occasionally?

Do we reach out to others regularly or occasionally?

Our dependence on God goes back to our attitude. Our thoughts and behavior really determine whether or not we trust God.

Talk is cheap, for actions speak louder than words! Therefore attitude is everything in out walk with God.

God wants us to have a positive attitude. He wants us to believe that He can and will come through for us!

But what happens if we develop a negative attitude of find ourselves with a neutral attitude toward God?

We need to do as David did and get in the presence of God!

I notice in David’s life that he became consistent in his walk with God. He knew where to God to keep his attitude holy.

Psalm 27:4–5 NKJV

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. 5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

He craved to seek God and be close to Him. He knew that in times of trouble when he was tempted move to man’s methods, there was a powerful manifestation for him if he would get closer to God.

He knew trouble would come, but he also knew that God would protect and help him.

Does this mean that David always kept a positive attitude? Not necessarily. Instead, David knew where to turn when he found himself becoming negative toward God or neutral in the plans of God.

Psalm 27:13–14 NKJV

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

He did not give up because he had this confidence, I WILL SEE THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD!

In life he learned:

Don’t give up;

don’t be impatient;

be entwined as one with the Lord

Be brave and courageous, and never lose hope.

Yes, keep on waiting

—for he will never disappoint you!

Attitude is everything. If we thought Covid spread fast, attitudes spread much faster! Someone with a bad or negative attitude can infect people in less than three to fourteen days!

But a positive attitude can change everything. And it all goes back to what we think and how we behave.

Proverbs 23:7 NKJV

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

So what is our attitude toward prayer?

A positive attitude declares God answers prayer so I will stay consistent in my prayer life. Praying in private and taking every opportunity my church provides to pray with other believers.

A negative attitude decides, I have prayed before and it didn’t seem to help. So what is the point in praying?

A neutral attitude depicts the person who believes prayer works, but does not pray regularly. They are more content to let other people do the work in prayer so they can reap the benefits.

God has a method for walking in His favor and presence. Therefore, if we want to live in the blessings of God, we have to go about it His way!

And God’s way includes:

regular prayer

regular praise

regular worship

regular study of the Word

regular fasting

regular seeking Him

And in life, God will give us attitude adjustments. We should not wait for a perilous moment to get our attention. Instead, we should have pure motives, using the proper methods to experience a powerful manifestation of God’s glory!

So today, who wants an attitude like Christ? Who wants the believe and behave as a true follower of Jesus?

I know this is a word from God for our church. As I went to bed on May 21, I told God, if we need to talk tonight, wake me up and I will spend time with you.

Sure enough at 1:33 am, I got up for a drink of water and remembered what I told God. I prayed in the Spirit and brought my needs to God for about thirty minutes.

Then I got out my bible, and God laid out this message for me. At 4:06 am, I finished writing this message.

And I knew then as I know now, we can go before the presence of God and receive and experience EVERYTHING God has for us.

But remember ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING! God change our attitude like you did for David and help us to always be unashamed and unafraid in our praise and prayer!