Sins of Attitude

Sins of Attitude (a congregational sin) Attitude is defined as: A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior. 1. Our being lukewarm. READ a. Revelation 3:15-16 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” These are the words of Jesus in regards to the church at Laodicea. HE knows the works of Reidville First also. What is the temperature of RFBC? b. Remember Saul – arise and go. Acts 9:6,11 c. To us HE gave Acts 1:8 d. Our outreach program is lukewarm. e. Pray for a new heart; Ezekiel 36:26 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” May God grant it! 2. Our pride. I’m a good Christian. (I can miss a sermon) a. Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. When was the last time you experienced brokenness? b. Break my bread and pour out my wine. c. Not too proud to repent. II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humblethemselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 3. Our attitude towards self-promoting. a. We need to live out Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” b. According to Proverbs 8:13 God very much dislikes people who are full of themselves, people who are full of pride and sel-promotion. In fact it says HE hates it; “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” c. I Peter 5:5 says to “be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” Where will your prayers go if the GOD of heaven resisteth you? No where! 4. Our prejudices and partiality one to another. a. READ James 2:1-6 “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” People disliking people. Who is it you don’t welcome here? b. READ Matthew 22:37-40 – God is no respecter of persons, we are to love them all as HE does.

5. Our attitude of unbelief (in the believer).

a. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Are you a born worrier? That’s how God made me. You make excuses for your sin! It is a sin to worry and to fret as a child of God

b. The yoke of unbelievers. Matthew 13:58 “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

c. The benefit of belief is perfect peace – Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

6. Our attitude of Kindness

a. Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” It’s hard to be unkind to someone you love. ”The primary mark of a Holy Spirit filled believer is a kind, loving spirit.” This is another we make excuses saying again “I’m not unkind. I’m just a little rough, or I honest and that’s just who I am.”

b. I Peter 3:4 “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” This meek and quiet spirit will in turn generate a forgiving attitude in you.

7. Our attitude of forgiveness

a. I Corinthians 13:4;7 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” How do you respond when someone hurts you? Are you longsuffering, are you kind, enduring them even though you are hurt?

b. Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” When we become believers in Jesus Christ HE develops in us this loving attitude towards people.

8. Our attitude towards material things.

a. This is what GOD has to say about materialism; READ I John 2:15-17

b. When it comes to materialism all these other attitudes can come pouring out. When you are not getting what you want you develop a bad attitude; one without love or forgiveness; one that is unkind, self-promoting, prideful even.

c. When you begin to develop these attitudes I suggest you stop and pray for the welfare of others; pray for the success of other. Press aside your own selfishness or self-promoting attitude and give thanks to GOD for what HE has given you; show that you are content.

9. Conclusion

Ask yourself, do I have the right attitude towards God; do I have the right attitude towards the brethren; and do I have the right attitude towards a lost and dying world? Is my attitude self-serving or God-serving?

What is my attitude towards Church?