GOD HAS AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM
REVELATION 3:14-16
Sermon Outline by Paul D. Fisher


INTRODUCTION:
 1. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS ATTITUDE PROBLEM?
 2. DO YOU IMMEDIATELY THINK OF SOMETHING NEGATIVE?
 3. SO OFTEN IN OUR SOCIETY WHEN WE SAY THE WORDS ATTITUDE PROBLEM THAT
IS EXACTLY WHAT WE MEAN.
 4. SOMEONE HAS AN ATTITUDE, A MANNER ABOUT THEM THAT HIS DIFFERENT THAN
THE NORM.
 5. MY FRIENDS, UNDER THIS DEFINITION GOD CLEARLY HAS AN ATTITUDE
PROBLEM.
 6. BUT HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT GOD MAY HAVE AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM WITH
US?
 7. SOME TIMES WE NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME LOOKING AT OUR LIVES AND OUR
ATTITUDES AND COMPARE THEM TO THE LIFE AND ATTITUDE OF JESUS WHO IS OUR
PERFECT EXAMPLE, TO SEE HOW WE MATCH UP.
 8. THIS MORNING LET US STEP BACK AND TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT OUR LIVES
AND ATTITUDES AND COMPARE THEM TO JESUS.

I. FIRST, WHAT WAS JESUS’ ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD?
 A. IN MATTHEW 22:37-38 WE FIND HIS ANSWER, “JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, THOU
SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL AND
WITH ALL THY MIND.  THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT.”
  1. WHAT IS ENTAILED IN LOVING GOD?
   a. SUBMISSION TO HIS WILL (PHIL. 2:5-8) “LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU,
WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS:  WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT
IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD:  BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION,
AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF
MEN:  AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME
OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS.”
   b. WHAT IS ENTAILED IN LOVING GOD, JOY IN SERVICE TO HIM (HEB. 12:2)
“LOOKING TO JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; WHO FOR THE JOY
THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND IS
SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.”
    (1) GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN FOR MANKIND ALTHOUGH IT COST JESUS HIS LIVE
IT IS THE OBJECT OF JOY IN HEBREWS 12:2.
   c. FAITHFULNESS TO GOD IS ENTAILED IN LOVING GOD (MATT. 24:45-46) “WHO
THEN IS A FAITHFUL AND WISE SERVANT, WHOM HIS LORD HATH MADE RULER OVER
HIS HOUSEHOLD, TO GIVE THEM MEAT IN DUE SEASON?  BLESSED IS THAT SERVANT,
WHOM HIS LORD WHEN HE COMETH SHALL FIND SO DOING.”
    (1) NOT FAITHFULNESS FOR A LITTLE WHILE BUT FOR ALL OUR LIVES (REV.
2:10) “...BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE YOU A CROWN OF
LIFE.”
   d. LOVING GOD LIKE JESUS MEANS TO CONFESS GOD (MATT. 10:32) “WHOSOEVER
THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL I CONFESS BEFORE MY
FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.”

APPLICATION: WE CAN SEE JESUS’ ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD IN HIS LOVE FOR HIM,
BY HIS SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WILL, BY HIS JOY IN SERVICE TO GOD, BY HIS
FAITHFULNESS AND BY HIS WILLINGNESS TO CONFESS GOD.  NOW LET’S TAKE THAT
STEP BACK AND TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT OUR LIVES.

II. WHAT IS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD?
 A. DO WE LOVE HIM?
  1. AS JESUS HAS SHOWN OUR ATTITUDES ARE SEEN BY OUR ACTIONS.
  2. DOES OUR ACTIONS IN DAILY LIFE SHOW GOD AND OTHERS THAT WE LOVE HIM?
  3. HOW DOES OUR WORSHIP OF GOD SHOW OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD HIM?
   a. IS OUR LOVE IN WORSHIP A LIMITED LOVE?
   b. IS IT A SUNDAY MORNING ONLY LOVE?
  4. IS OUR LOVE FOR GOD LIMITED ONLY BY WHAT WE CAN GAIN BY LOVING HIM
ON THIS EARTH OR CLAIMING THAT WE LOVE HIM?
   a. ONCE MORE STEP BACK AND TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK.
   b. WHAT DOES OUR ACTIONS REVEAL?
   c. IT IS HARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN WE REALLY DO THIS AND COMPARE OUR
LOVE OF GOD TO JESUS’, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US
NEED TO DO FROM TIME TO TIME.
   d. DO YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOU DO?
   e. THAT GOOD, THAT MEANS WE REALIZE THE NEED FOR CHANGE IN OUR LIVES
AND THAT THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR US.
   f. IF WE GET TO A POINT WHERE IT NO LONGER MAKES US FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE
TO COMPARE OUR LIVES AND LOVE FOR GOD TO JESUS’ THEN PLEASE REALIZE THAT
IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALLOWED THE DEVIL TO DECEIVE YOU INTO THINKING EVERY
THINGS ALRIGHT!
 B. REMEMBER OUR LIVES REFLECT OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD AND OUR
WILLINGNESS TO SUMMIT TO HIM AND HIS WILL FOR US.
  1. MOST OF US HERE TODAY HAVE SUBMITTED OUR LIVES TO GOD’S PLAN OF
SALVATION.
   a. BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD (ROM. 10:17).
   b. BY BELIEVING HIS WORD (ROM. 1:16).
   c. BY REPENTING OF OUR SINS (LUKE 13:3).
   d. BY CONFESSING JESUS AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR (ACTS 8:37).
   e. BY BEING BAPTIZED FOR REMISSION OF OUR SINS (MARK 16:16; ACTS
22;16).
  2. BUT ARE WE TOTAL SUBMISSIVE TO HIS WILL FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES?
   a. GOD DEMANDS DAILY OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL.
   b. HE HAS TOLD US HOW TO WORSHIP HIM (JOHN 4:24) IN SPIRIT AND IN
TRUTH.
   c. BUT WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD WORSHIP?
    (1) IS IT SOME THING THAT YOU ENDURE?
    (2) IF WE GO EVERY TIME THE DOORS ARE OPENED WE ARE SPENDING ABOUT
FOUR HOURS EACH WEEK IN WORSHIP TO GOD OUT OF 168 HOURS IN A WEEK.
    (3) DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IS ALL THE TIME YOU NEED TO WORSHIP GOD?
    (4) HOW MUCH TIME TO YOU SPEND IN PREPARATION TO WORSHIP?
    (5) DO YOU ARRIVE JUST IN TIME FOR SERVICES TO START OR DO YOU GET
HERE EARLIER?
    (6) HOW DO YOU DRESS FOR WORSHIP TO GOD, IN YOUR BEST OR IN JUST WHAT
EVER YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE ON?
   d. HOW MUCH TIME DAILY DO YOU SPEND IN PRAYER TO GOD?
    (1) WHEN ONE READS THE GOSPEL ACCOUNTS OF JESUS’ LIFE, WE ARE
IMPRESSED BY THE GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME HE SPEND IN PRAYER TO THE FATHER.
    (2) NOT JUST AT MEAL TIMES AND RIGHT BEFORE GOING TO SLEEP, BUT JESUS
SPEND WHOLE NIGHTS PRAYING TO GOD, FOR THANKSGIVING, FOR GUIDANCE, FOR
STRENGTH, FOR HIS DISCIPLES AND FOR US AMONG THE MANY OTHER THINGS WE
FIND JESUS PRAYING ABOUT.
    (3) SOMEONE MIGHT SAY, WELL I PRAY THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND THAT IS THE
WAY WE SHOULD, BUT HOW MUCH TIME TO YOU SPEND BY YOURSELF JUST POURING
YOUR HEART OUT TO YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER?
    (4) HOW OFTEN IN A WEEKS TIME DO YOU PRAY A PRAYER OF JUST
THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR HIS MANY RICH BLESSINGS.
    (5) HOW OFTEN DO YOU PRAY FOR THE CONGREGATION RIGHT HERE OR
CONGREGATIONS IN OTHER PLACES?
    (6) FAR TO OFTEN OUR PRAYERS ARE FOR THINGS WE WANT AND NOTHING ELSE
AND WE GET UPSET WHEN THEY ARE NOT ANSWERED LIKE WE WANTED THEM TO BE
ANSWERED.
 C. WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD SERVICE TO GOD?
  1. IS YOUR ATTITUDE LIKE JESUS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING GOD WANTS AND
COUNT IT A JOY TO GET TO DO IT?
  2. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU WITH JOY IN YOUR HEART DID SOMETHING FOR
GOD IN SERVICE TO HIM?
  3. WE GET SO CAUGHT UP WITH THE FACT THAT GOD NEEDS NOTHING FROM US,
THAT WE FORGET THAT SOMETIMES A SIMPLE CUP OF WATER GIVEN TO SOMEONE IN
GOD’S NAME IS SERVICE TO HIM.
  4. MATT. 25:31-46, EXPLAINS TO US THAT THERE ARE THINGS FOR EACH ONE OF
US TO DO AND DOING WHAT WE CAN SHOULD BRING US JOY.
  5. MANY EXAMPLES ARE FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT OF PEOPLE DOING
SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE AS A SERVICE TO GOD, NOT EXPECTING REPAYMENT.
   a. PEOPLE LIKE DORCUS,
   b. THE CHRISTIANS AT ANTIOCH,
   c. OR THOSE OF MACEDONIA.
  6. DO WE REALLY LOOK TO HEAVEN AS A PLACE OF JOY OR IS OUR LIVES HERE
SO EASY AND SO GOOD THAT IT CLOUDS OUR MINDS OF THE JOY AWAITING US IN
HEAVEN?
  7. STOP, SET BACK AND TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AND SEE WHAT YOU ACTIONS
ARE SHOWING!
 D. WHAT IS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD FAITHFULNESS TO GOD.
  1. JESUS TOLD THE CHRISTIANS AT SMYRNA TO BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND HE
WOULD GIVE THEM A CROWN OF LIFE (REV. 2:10).
  2. MANY CHRISTIANS IN THE FIRST AND SECOND CENTURIES RISK THEIR VERY
LIVES BY MEETING TO WORSHIP GOD, HOW DOES YOUR FAITHFULNESS COMPARE?
  3. IF YOUR CAR ONLY STARTED SIX OUT OF SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WOULD YOU
CONSIDER IT FAITHFUL?
  4. IF UPON EXAMINING GOD’S WORD YOU FIND SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE DOING
IS AGAINST GOD WILL ARE YOU FAITHFUL ENOUGH TO CHANGE AND DO HIS WILL?
  5. OR DO WE LOOK AROUND AND SAY TO OURSELVES WILL SOMEONE ELSE IS DOING
WORSE THAN WHAT I AM DOING AND ALLOW THEIR UNFAITHFULNESS TO CAUSE US TO
SPEND AN ETERNITY IN HELL!
  6. GOD HAS GIVEN US A COMMANDMENT TO TAKE HIS WORD TO ALL PEOPLE (MATT.
28:19-20; MARK 16:15-16), ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART TO FULFILL THIS
COMMANDMENT?
  7. NOTICE GOD DID NOT SAY BUILD A CHURCH BUILDING AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO
COME TO THE BUILDING TO LEARN HIS WILL, HE SAID “GO, YE...”
  8. WHEN WE WILL ARE NOT HERE BUT ONCE OR MAYBE TWICE A WEEK AND WILL
NOT EVEN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL SOMEONE AND INVITE THEM TO STUDY
GOD’S WORD WITH YOU OR GET OUT AND GO NEXT DOOR AND ASK THE PEOPLE RIGHT
THERE TO STUDY GOD’S WORD WITH YOU ARE YOU BEING FAITHFUL?
  9. WHAT ARE OUR ACTIONS SAYING ABOUT OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD FAITHFULNESS?
 E. WHAT IS YOU ATTITUDE TOWARD CONFESSING GOD?
  1. DO WE FEEL THAT CONFESSING JESUS AS LORD BEFORE ONE IS BAPTIZED IS
ALL THERE IS TO CONFESSING GOD?
  2. WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT BY CLAIMING TO BE A CHRISTIAN WE ARE DAILY
CONFESSING GOD.
  3. BY YOUR DAILY LIFE, HOW ARE YOU CONFESSING GOD?
  4. BY YOUR DAILY LIFE ARE YOU DENYING GOD?
  5. WHAT DOES YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARD COMING TO WORSHIP SAY ABOUT YOUR
CONFESSING GOD AS YOUR GOD?

APPLICATION: EVEN THOUGH IT IS OFTEN PAINFUL AND UNPLEASANT TO EXAMINE
OURSELVES IT IS NEEDFUL!  WE NEED TO CONSIDER OUR ATTITUDE AND HOW OTHERS
PERCEIVE GOD IN OUR LIVES AND ASK THE QUESTION.  “DO I HAVE AN ATTITUDE
PROBLEM TOWARD GOD?”  “DOES MY LIVE REFLECT A TRUE DESIRE TO GO TO
HEAVEN?”

III. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE WORD ATTITUDE ITSELF IN NOT FOUND
IN THE BIBLE, BUT FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END ATTITUDE IS PACKED INTO
EVERY PAGE OF THE BIBLE.
 A. IT IS IN THE BIBLE THAT WE LEARN OF GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD SIN, THAT
HE HATES IT.
  1. FOR IN PSALMS 5:5 WE READ, THE FOOLISH SHALL NOT STAND IN THY SIGHT:
THOU HATEST ALL WORKERS OF INIQUITY.”
  2. IN ROMANS 6:23 WE FIND THAT THE WAGES OF SIN IS ETERNAL DEATH.
 B. IT IS IN THE BIBLE THAT WE LEARN OF GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD MANKIND.
  1. IN JOHN 3:16, “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY
BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE
EVERLASTING LIFE.”
  2. IN 2 PETER 3:9, “THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, AS
SOME MEN COUNT SLACKNESS; BUT IS LONGSUFFERING TO US-WARD NOT WILLING
THAT NAY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.”
 C. IT IS THE BIBLE THAT WE LEARN OF GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS PEOPLE THE
CHURCH.
  1. IN EPHESIANS 5:23-32, GOD’S SON LOVED THE CHURCH SO MUCH THAT HE
WILLINGLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR IT AND HE IS THE HUSBAND OF THE CHURCH HIS
BEAUTIFUL BRIDE.
 D. IT IS IN THE BIBLE THAT WE LEARN OF GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD THOSE WHO
WILL NOT REPENT AND RETURN TO HIM.
  1. IN MATT. 25:41-46

APPLICATION: GOD IS HIS WORD HAS REVEALED HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD ALL
MANKIND, HIS LOVE, SALVATION TO THE PENTIENT AND REJECTION OF THOSE WHO
WILL NOT REPENT.  GOD HAS REVEALED THIS TO US SO THAT WE COULD AND CAN
RETURN TO HIM AND HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE.

CONCLUSION:
 1. HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO GOD’S ATTITUDE?
 2. WILL YOU TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT YOUR LIFE AND REPENT OF THE THINGS
THAT ARE MISSING?
 3. OR WILL YOU HAVE AN ATTITUDE PROBLEM WITH GOD’S REVEALED WILL AND DO
NOTHING?
 4. THE QUESTION IS NOW UP TO YOU, HOW IS YOUR ATTITUDE?
 5. GOD IS SAYING COME AND REPENT AND I WILL FORGIVE YOU IF YOUR ATTITUDE
HAS BEEN WRONG IN THE PAST!

© Copyright 2000. Paul D. Fisher.  All rights reserved.

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