ALL THINGS NEW | PART 1

GETTING STARTED:

Probably, nothing can contribute more to the quality of our lives than a POSITIVE ATTITUDE. And yet, sometimes it is so easy for us to become CRITICAL. And we end up focusing on the NEGATIVES. We love to make negative comments about other people.  But we hate hearing people talking about our flaws and mistakes. It’s like the wife who bought her husband two (2) new neckties. He was so appreciative that he immediately went to his room and put one of them on. Then, he came out to show it to her. She took one look at him wearing the new tie and said, “Darling, What’s the matter? Don’t you like the other one?”

ONE BIG IDEA!

IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, REGARDLESS OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR LIVES, WE ARE TO BE JOYFUL, PRAYERFUL, AND GRATEFUL.

STUDY:

COLOSSIANS 3:12-13, “¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive (ESV).”

LEARN:

If you look hard enough, you can find something positive in almost EVERYTHING or EVERYONE. We have to realize that in the midst of all the negatives, there is still much that is good in the world, in the church, and in our lives. And we need to focus our attention and energy on what is good. Paul said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (ESV)

Solomon said in Proverbs 23:7, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he (KJV).” Therefore, the things that DOMINATE YOUR THINKING, those things CONTROL the words you speak, the attitudes you have, the thought that runs in your mind, and the way you react to others. If we keep on criticizing other people, talking about their faults and mistakes, it means that you are a critical person. If we keep on praising other people, talking about their good works, their good attitude, then it means that we have a good heart and we’re a good person.

HOW DO WE DEVELOP A POSITIVE SPIRIT?

DEVELOP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD SPIRITUAL LEADERS

Paul begins by telling us that the best way to develop a positive spirit is by having a positive attitude toward our spiritual leaders. In this church, spiritual leaders work hard among us. They sacrifice time and energy to serve the Lord. We’re to respect, honor, and encourage them in what they do for God. When was the last time you appreciated your LIFE Group Leader? Did you ever thank your Ministry Head? Have you ever said “Thank you” to the Council members, CORE Team members, or Pastors?

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 – “¹² We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves (ESV).” It’s wonderful when the church works together in harmony, where people love and respect each other. But in a world that is becoming more and more negative in its attitudes, we must be alert to the challenges we face.

Most of us don’t see all the hard work that goes on. We show up on Sunday and act as if we think things just happen. But they don’t. Church workers have to come early to open the building, clean the place thoroughly, turn on the air conditioning units, and prepare the communion if it’s first Sunday. Kidzone Teachers have worked hard to prepare Bible lessons for children’s classes. They have to make props and buy prizes for the kids. Musicians, Singers, Dancers, and Projectionists have to come here earlier than you do so that they can practice and prepare for the Praise and Worship. Programs have to be planned. The ushers have to prepare the chains and usher people to their seats. Then, we have intercessors who bathe our service and church in prayer, again and again. Why do they do that? Why do they have to sacrifice? Because today, and every Sunday, there are people present who need what Jesus is offering – the forgiveness of their sins, a fresh start in life, and the fellowship of a church family who loves and cares about each other.  Our ATTITUDE makes all the difference. And it needs to be a positive attitude – one that projects joy, peace and harmony, a church that really loves the Lord and desires to put Him first in all things.

DEVELOP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHER BELIEVERS

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, “¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. ¹⁵ See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone (ESV).”

We need to be patient with each other. We make mistakes. We make wrong decisions sometimes. We aren’t perfect. So cut some slack. Give some room for mistakes and be patient with each other. If something is wrong, don’t pay back wrong for wrong. But insert something positive. Always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. We should STOP seeing the NEGATIVES of other people and START seeing the POSITIVES. 

This year, why not write down the positive things your spouse has done for you.  Write down the positive traits of your parents or children.  Jot down the positives of the people that you easily get annoyed with. Try to observe.  Open your eyes.  Don’t just see the stuff that you don’t like about them.  If you’ll see other people in the eyes of God, I’m sure you’ll learn to love and appreciate them.

BE POSITIVE IN ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (ESV)

Now, we don’t always do that. If things are going well for us, then we’re joyful. But Paul says, “IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, regardless of what’s happening in our lives, we’re to be JOYFUL, PRAYERFUL, and GRATEFUL.” That’s an important lesson to learn for 2020.

What are your concerns right now?  Do you have a huge problem last year that is brought forward to 2020? Let me tell you the reality in life:  Every person has a problem. But the question is:  Are you going to use the problem as SET UP or SETBACK?  If you have a positive perspective, you’ll be able to take advantage of the problem and use it as set up.  But if you have a negative perspective, you’ll just think of it as setback and do nothing.

You need to RETHINK your attitude. You need to CHANGE your mindset. Remember that you’re able to wake up every day. Be thankful that you have a bed to sleep on every night.  Praise God for the house that you’re staying in every day.  Be grateful that you can eat three times a day.  If you are going to open your mind, you have everything you need and a whole lot of stuff that you don’t need that God provided. So, we ought to be thankful, we ought to be joyful, and we ought to be prayerful.

When we read these words of Paul about being positive, it’s important to realize that he didn’t write them while sitting in a penthouse enjoying the luxuries of the world. He wrote them while he was in prison – quite likely in a Roman dungeon where moisture was dripping down the wall and the stench was unbearable, where rats ran across the floor, and bugs were everywhere. While chained to a Roman guard he wrote, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus is the only one who can really CHANGE you. He can change you inside and out. He can give you new words to speak and a new relationship with others. He can make you into a person who experiences the fullness of life in Christ and whose witness is positive to those around you.

GROW:

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. List down the areas in your life where you think God has been testing you. Recall also the times when God supernaturally performed miracles on your behalf during those times of testing. What character of God/positive attitude was developed in you?  Share to the group.
2. How does your response to a difficult situation change when you realize that how you respond is your choice?
3. Think of the people that know you. What in your life would cause them to thank God, rejoice, and have confidence that God is at work in your life (impression about you and what they see in your life)?