Great Attitudes Series: “Humility”

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” [Philippians 2:3-4 ESV]. Humility is a mental choice that we make not to focus on self…me…mine…my but on the other person. It is a servant’s mentality. When you strengthen your grip on attitudes, humility is a good place to begin.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” [v.5]. Humility is not in how you dress, it is not in the money that you make, it is not in where you live, or even the car that you drive. We are never once told to look humble. Humility is an attitude. It is an attitude of the heart; it is an attitude of the mind. It is knowing your proper place. Never talking down or looking down because someone may be of a financial level less than yours. It is knowing your role and fulfilling it for God’s glory and praise.

There are only nine occurrences of the word “humility” in scripture. Consider the following chart of information.

Scripture Reference	Insights
Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.	A state or quality of being straightforward and sincere, suggesting a lack of arrogance and pride
Proverbs 18:12 - Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,    but humility comes before honor.	The very time when one feels most secure (and thus is most arrogant) is when disaster is likely to occur. There is something of a first-shall-be-last quality to this teaching
Proverbs 22:4 - The reward for humility and fear of the LORD    is riches and honor and life.	Take notice of the triplet blessing – riches, honor, and life
Zephaniah 2:3 - Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,  who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility;  perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.	“Seek” is understood as a form of worship in this verse. Righteousness and humility are the results of seeking. WHY? These two qualities are sufficient to keep you from the anger of the Lord
Acts 20:19 - …serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;	Not self-seeking
Ephesians 4:2 - with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,	Not self-seeking
Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.	Two ways to measure humility: [Negatively] Avoid selfish ambition and vain conceit. [Positively] We are to EXCEL [counting] other people as more significant
Colossians 3:12 - Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,	Humility is part of a new wardrobe of Christianity
1 Peter 5:5 - Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."	Intentional adornment is what is being implied. Humility is intentional. If we choose to wear other garments of pride – God opposes or is openly hostile toward those who do wear such garments

HUMILITY – the discipline of putting others ahead of self, the choice to value others above self, is at its core, a matter of faith. (Charles Swindoll)

Great Attitudes Series: Perseverance

I Am Glad They Didn’t Quit

All of us are surrounded by and benefit from the results of someone’s perseverance. Let us consider a few:

·         Above my head is a bright electric light, thanks Tom.

·         On my nose are glasses that enable me to focus, thanks Ben.

·         In my driveway is a car ready to take me wherever I choose steer it, thanks Henry.

·         In my office are shelves of books full of interesting and carefully researched pages. Thanks authors.

Persevere for God’s Purpose

When we awaken in the morning, we choose the attitude that will ultimately guide our thoughts and actions through the day. I am convinced that our best attitudes emerge out of a clear understanding of our own identity, a clear sense of God’s purpose for our lives. That type of God honoring attitude encourages us to press on, to focus upon goals, and to respond to life’s difficult circumstances. 

“…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1b ESV 

Standing Strong – Hebrews 11:27

“By faith he [Moses] left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” [Emphasis added].

·         This passage is the only one in which the actual word for “perseverance” is used in the New Testament. The concept of perseverance exists throughout the Bible.

·         Notice the context of the verse – Moses did not fear the king he could see, but rather the King who was invisible.

·         Faith makes it possible to persevere in the face of impossible odds. Faith is the catalyst that reaches through what is seen (namely our difficult situation) and grabs the invisible as though it is seen.

·         Spiritual leadership requires that you point the way to what the people cannot see at the moment, to something that is clearly seen by you. Moses was going to the promised-land though others could not see it at the time. Once Moses had his mind made up, nothing would deter him.

o   He endured despite the contempt of Pharaoh

o   He endured despite the stubbornness of the Hebrews who grumbled, blamed, complained, and rebelled.

o   He endured despite the criticisms of his own brother and sister

o   He endured, despite disappointments

Great Attitudes Series: “Cordiality”

Who Needs Our Help?

      God commands that we reach out, accept and affirm one another. This means that we consciously resist the strong current of the stream we are in….you know, the one that allows these excuses:

·         “I’m just too busy”

·         “It’s not worth the risk”

·         “I really don’t need anyone”

·         “If I reach out, I might look foolish”

We really have deluded ourselves into thinking that we are not really our brother’s keeper. After all, we have time pressures and work demands, not to mention, anxieties prompted by economic uncertainty. After all, who really needs our help anyway? I will tell you who…just about every person that we meet!

Proverbs 16:21

“The wise heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.”

Consider the following insights based upon words:

·         “Wise” – This term occur 115 xs and indicates “good judgment.”

·         “Heart” – the center of judgment making

·         “Sweetness” – good natured

·         “Persuasiveness” – believability, the ability to convince

Interesting Fact

When you Google “cordiality” you will discover there are 1,500,000 hits on this topic.

Cordiality In Action

·         Romans 16:3-23 – Paul’s closing words and greetings

·         He lists at least thirty-four people in closing this letter to the Roman saints.

o   There were twenty-four in Rome (17 men, 7 women)

·         What makes this list of names in Rome so significant, is that he had not been there yet.

o   Names were important to Paul. Most of these people he had met on his mission journeys and they now had settled in Rome.

o   What kind of energy does it take to keep up with so many people? It surely must be exhausting at times.

o   What an example from Paul that names does matter and that He was affectionate toward these people.

o   The word “GREET” occurs nineteen times.

·         Note the closing words in vv.21-23 – MORE NAMES!

o   In the previous Census it was determined there were at least 5.7 million people who were anonymous to the census takers.

o   Each year in America there are thousands of bodies that are found with no names attached to them. Only one-in-twenty ever have an ID on them.

o   Over 37% of people that attend any given church do so because their friends take an interest in them personally and invite them to church – somebody knows my name.

(Circle all Names – BOX the word “Greet”)

Romans 16:3-23 (English Standard Version)

 ³Greet^(A) Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. ⁵Greet also^(B) the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was^(C) the first convert^[a] to Christ in Asia. ⁶Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. ⁷Greet Andronicus and Junia,^[b] my kinsmen and my^(D) fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles,^[c] and they were in Christ before me. ⁸Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. ⁹Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. ¹⁰Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those^(E) who belong to the family of Aristobulus. ¹¹Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. ¹²Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. ¹³Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. ¹⁴Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers^[d] who are with them. ¹⁵Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. ^16(F) Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Final Instructions and Greetings

 ¹⁷I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles^(G) contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught;^(H) avoid them. ¹⁸For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but^(I) their own appetites,^[e] and^(J) by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ¹⁹For^(K) your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you^(L) to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. ^20(M) The God of peace^(N) will soon crush Satan under your feet.^(O) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 ^21(P) Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

 ²²I Tertius,^(Q) who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

 ^23(R) Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.^[f]

THANKS!

"I thank my God in all remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." ESV.

This passage of scripture speaks to my soul when I stop and reflect upon the kindness and faithfulness of God's people. New Harvest, as your Pastor, I am very very proud of the all of the effort put forth during this Easter season. Stop and think about all of the activity and all of the effort that it took to make the services, the outreach and yes the fun activity possible. this was a huge effort on the part of many people.  THANK-YOU seems small, but it is from my wife's and my heart - "I thank my God in all remembrance of you...."

DRUM-ROLL PLEASE! The offering for our Easter "Zero-Zone" mission offering was $1,424.00 as of 4/9/12. To God be the Glory!

Enthusiasm

Great Attitudes Series: “Enthusiasm”

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Biblical Expressions of Enthusiasm

·         Enthusiasm for doing good – 1 Peter 3:10-13

·         Enthusiasm for doing evil – Jeremiah 8:6

·         Enthusiasm for work – Proverbs 6:6-11

·         Enthusiasm for giving – 2 Corinthians 9:1-3

·         Enthusiasm for spiritual gifts – 1 Corinthians 14:12

·         Enthusiasm for serving God – 1 Peter 5:2

Enthusiasm allows you to see what others miss. You can see beyond the majority. Think about the eagle. They have eight times the visual cells per centimeter as humans. Therefore, they are able to spot an object the size of a dime moving through six inch grass at 600 feet elevation. They can also see a three inch fish jumping in a lake five miles away. Enthusiasm allows you to see what others miss in life. You seek the better not just the mediocre.[1]

A Close Examination of Acts 18:25

“He [Apollos] had been instructed in the ways of the Lord. And being fervent [zeon to pneumatic], he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism John.” (ESV)

1.    “Being fervent…” is literally translated “to boil in the spirit”; “the sound of boiling water.”

2.    Apollo’s’ enthusiasm was harnessed in the direction of accurate presentation of the Gospel.

3.    Realizing that Apollos had an incomplete Gospel message, Pricilla and Aquila taught him more accurately the thing of God. What can be learned by this insight?

a.    Apollos was enthusiastic with the knowledge that he had.

b.    Apollos was teachable and willing to learn more accurately which only increased his enthusiasm.

c.    Thank God for mentors who will instruct without fear.

d.    Basic knowledge of the Word of God should stir our spirit to the point of boiling water.

A Close Look at Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (ESV).

1.    The implied “him” in this verse is Christ.

2.    Now consider the paradox that Paul sets forth:

a.    Paul is strongest when he is the weakest

b.    He is self-sufficient when he is dependent

c.    So where is the enthusiasm? It is wrapped up in the first three words, “I can do…”

                                                  i.    The implication is that according to the will of God I have sufficient power an ability to accomplish what God sets before me.

                                                ii.    The “all things” implies that whatever God sets before me I will be able to fulfill the task fully and completely.

                                               iii.    This passage is not a blanket cover-up or license to do whatever you want to do. The power to accomplish all things must always be set in the context, “according to the will of God.”

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[1] Charles Swindoll. Living Above the Level of Mediocrity.

Integrity

Great Attitudes Series: INTEGRITY

“We must live lives of ethical integrity and moral excellence. If that were impossible for us, God would never require it of us. But He does!”

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity…” Titus 2:7.

·         By use of this word Paul is suggesting that Titus is one who is not and cannot be corrupted by false teaching. Therefore, his teaching is accurate and above reproach.

·         Now this is a quite the testimony on behalf of Titus.

Consider the use of this word throughout scripture. There are only twenty-five occurrences of this word. Titus 2:7 is the only New Testament use.  Consider the use of this term in the Wisdom Literature of Proverbs.

1.    2:7 –

2.    2:21 –

3.    10:9 –

4.    11:3 –

5.    19:1 –

6.    20:7 –

7.    28:6 –

8.    28:18 –

What are some identifying markers of integrity?

1.    An excellent attitude

2.    Faithfulness and diligence at work

3.    Personal purity of the highest caliber

4.    Consistency in your walk with God

Integrity is telling myself the truth – honesty is telling others the truth!