Questions and Answers #36
The
Attitude of Christ no. 2
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
November 28, 2007
This evening we will continue with our study on the
Attitude of Christ. This will be number two in our mini series.
This evening I
want to focus our attention to point number three of the five points concerning
the attitude of Christ. We began last Sunday examining point number 1 and 2, where
Brother Branham said “the right mental attitude towards any divine promise of God
will bring it to pass”. Then we looked into the definition of what
an attitude really is. We found that an attitude is not a mental thing, but
rather the body’s response to what is taking place in the soul.
Awakening Jesus 63-0117 P:34 That's true. See, the mental
attitude you take towards it will bring... Now,
the mind won't do it, but if you give that attitude towards something's got
life in it, then that life comes down and does it. Not your mental attitude
that only brings you in the Presence of
Him. That's what you do. Your mind...
The five senses is all right as long as they don't deny God. But when they go
to denying God, then you leave them alone. God controls them.
Webster’s
Webster also defined Attitude as the position
or posture assumed by the body in
connection with an action, feeling, or mood, etc. and also, a
manner of acting, feeling or thinking that shows one disposition or
opinion. Therefore, every definition we have read of the word attitude
has to do with displaying outwardly what is taking place inwardly. Thus the seed that is in the mind, becoming
flesh.
Now, we brought
to your attention in our first sermon in this mini series that there are five
points that we wish to examine concerning attitude, especially the attitude of
the Christian concerning the Word of God.
1.
We examined what an attitude is and what the right mental attitude is.
We found that
there is only one right attitude and that is what God thinks about it, and His
actions toward the object of the attitude. We found that Jesus Christ came to
earth to display to the world God’s attitude towards the world, the sinner and
the Seed of God.
Then we examined
the second point that we should understand concerning our attitude and
especially our attitude towards God’s Word.
2.
We found that the right mental attitude will produce what it is meant to
produce.
We examined the
Scriptures, and took a handful of people in the Scriptures and examined there
reaction to the Word of God. Their reaction to the promises of God was their
attitude towards God and His Word, for He is the Word. We showed by many infallible Scriptural
proofs that the right mental attitude towards any divine promise of God will
bring it to pass.
I am the resurrection and
life 52-0810A P:61 It's your attitude towards it. Your attitude towards God's Divine gift,
will get you just what ask for. Do
you understand? Oh, how I'd like to stop right here, Brother Boze, and punch
that for about a half hour, but I can't do it. Your attitude: God can send a
gift, and no matter what you... Depends
on what attitude you take towards it. Look at them who smote His face and
spit on Him, and everything, was no virtue there. But a woman that believed the
Word touched the hem of His garment, was healed. Is that right? All right. It depends on what you think about it.
God sends it. It's your attitude towards
any Divine gift, determines what you get out of it. So there...
We examined Hebrews 11: and we
read of many examples of men and women who displayed the right mental attitude
towards God’s word and we saw how they received the thing God had promised
them.
And that brings
us to POIINT NUMBER THREE.
3.
We must know “Why we must have the right mental attitude”.
Now there are
several reasons why we must display the right attitude towards God’s Word.
1.
Our attitude will produce a result, depending on the attitude we display.
2.
Our attitude does not create an atmosphere, but rather expresses the
atmosphere in which we live.
3.
It is the expression of the nature of your soul and thus it creates an
atmosphere around you of who you are.
4.
You are identified with the attitude you express.
5.
You are judged, and will be judged for the attitude you display to
others, and the attitude you display toward God.
6.
Thus your attitude will not only affect your own self, but has an affect
on others.
Proving His word 65-0426
P:12 But before we pray for the sick, we've got to get the people
in that attitude. It's the attitude that
always brings the results. It's the attitude that you take towards God.
Here's a woman touched His garment; she was healed with a blood issue. A
soldier spit in His face, and put a crown of thorns on His head, and felt no
virtue. It's your approach. The attitude
is what it takes. And that's what it is tonight, dear friend; it takes the
attitude. We are, and believe that we
are in the Presence of Jesus Christ, but it's your attitude that brings the
results. The mechanics is here and so is the dynamics. If you can just get
started, God will do the rest.
Now, you might
ask, why must we have a right attitude, but remember, it is the attitude that
brings the results. If you do not come with the right attitude you will never
get anything from God except a rebuke, and hardship. And that is the way it is
with anyone in life.
You all know
that raising children. That is one of the first things you teach your children,
is to have a right attitude towards others and to have respect for Mom and Dad,
and authority. And that is the way it is with God. The old moral says, “you can
get more bees with honey than with vinegar”. And a moral is a point in a story
that is there to illustrate a truism.
There is no one
that I know that would rather have people treat them like dirt than with
respect. Show respect and you will get respect back in return. Show contempt
and you will receive contempt. You reap what you sow.
Look, if someone
is in need and they politely ask, I usually do what I can to help them out. But
as soon as they get uppity and start to demand, that is when I just close up
and won’t help them any more. I have experienced that in the mission field.
There were some pastors overseas that we enjoyed helping, but when some of them
got uppity and started demanding we help them, and telling us we owed it to
them, it just shut down the compassion I had for them, and left me feeling
empty of compassion for them. With no more compassion for them, why should I
bust and work three jobs to support them just so they can spurn the help we give
to them. Now that is not everyone, but I am illustrating how an attitude can
affect a result.
When Divine Love is Projected 57-0126E P:19 Then
when you become a son or a daughter of God, your disposition changes; your attitude changes; your all, your look towards life and towards others
changes. It doesn't mean that you just have joined church; it means that
you have been regenerated. You have become a new creation in Christ Jesus, that
you have... The old things have passed away, and God has spoken to you, and you
have become a new creature. I want this to go way down even into church
members. Then as you would love to be in the Presence of Christ, and you become
a part of Christ, then people love to become in your presence, because you
become a part of God, son and daughter of God. Did you ever see people that you
just love to be in their presence? There's just something about them that just
radiates, that you just love to talk to them. And other people who are nice
people (yet we don't say this unkindly), but you just can't hardly stay around
them. It is because of the atmosphere that you create. For you as a son of God
are a miniature creator, because you are a part of God. And that's the reason
you can believe the Bible for anything It says, for the Word is God's Word. You
being a part of God, will agree with the Word.
We have all
heard of Achan’s wedge. It wasn’t that one peson disobeyed God and hid some
valuable things they had taken from the dead people they conquered, but it was
in defiance to what God had said, and all
We are not the
only one’s living on this planet, and the blessings from God that we receive
also affect the people in which we are associated with. The atmosphere of
blessings we live under does not just shine over just our own head. If it we
not for the blessings of God shining down upon the Elect, the whole world would
be under a curse right now. So you see how all can be affected by one. For in
Adam all have died and in Christ have all been made alive. The attitude of one
can affect many.
Deuteronomy 28 speaks of blessing’s and cursing
that we can expect to receive depending on our attitude towards God and His
Word. If we receive and respect God and His Word, we are blessed, but if we
reject God and His Word we are cursed.
DEUTERONOMY 28:1 ¶ And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken
diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe [and] to do all his
commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee
on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall
come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the
LORD thy God.
Notice we are
told that we won’t even see them coming, until they are upon us and have overtaken
us. One day you just wake up and everything seems to be going your way. That is
the blessing of God. Now, I don’t have time to read to you all these blessing, but just open your Bibles
at home and study this chapter and see how the blessings of God in just about
every aspect of Life are there fore you if only you will hearken diligently,
which means to use diligence in paying attention to the Word of God. But the
same holds true for those who will not do so, only the same things you are
blessed in for hearkening become curses for not hearkening.
Deuteronomy 28:15 ¶ But it
shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy
God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command
thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
You see, the
results you get will depend on what attitude you display towards God and His
Word.
Now, remember,
Your attitude creates an atmosphere, or an environment. God in His people 50-0227 P:20 Your
attitude towards the gift will determine your healing.
Resurrection of Lazarus 50-0813A P:43 Why,
she knew if God was in Elijah, surely He was in His Son. Hallelujah. That's
right. There, she said, "If I can only get to Him, I'll find out the
reason my brother died. So she pressed right on through that crowd of
unbelievers. When she got down there to where He was...Now, look, seem like...
(Closely now. I'm going to close just in a minute.) Seem like that she had a
right to upbraid Him, doesn't it? Say, "Why didn't You come to my
brother?" Scold Him. "Why didn't You come to my brother?" If she
would've approached in that attitude, she'd have... That miracle would've never
happened. It's your attitude of
approach, how you approach anything. If you come... Like on the gift here, you've got to approach the gift in the
right way. You've got to approach
God in the right way... You can't come, say, "Now, Lord, looky here.
I've been a pretty good fellow. I've... Get some hand-me-downs. But I'll tell
You; I want You to take me tonight and say..." No, no. God don't take it
like that. You come God's provided way, or you don't come at all. That's right.
That's true.
Wedding supper 56-1006 P:35 God
wants a Church that He can lay His hands on. I don't care how little it is.
"Two or three gathered in My Name, I'll be in their midst," not just
speak it. Then you say, "Well, we gather in His Name." Speaking the
Name of Jesus by word is not what He meant, so much as it is the attitude that you're gathered in, the environment of the Name
of Jesus. "When you gather in
My Name, then ask what you will." It's the motive that you come in, the attitude. It's an attitude instead
of so much of a calling a Name. Sinners call that Name on the street,
curse it and everything else. But it's the environment that you're in, the
attitude that you come, coming in Jesus' Name.
Look at the
Romans Centurion and the attitude he displayed toward Christ. He sent his
servant to come to Jesus and explain that he would have come forth himself but
that he felt unworthy to enter his presence. He probably felt that he, being a
man of war and having killed, that since he had blood of others on his hands,
he was not worthy to come into the presence of the Son of God. And feeling
unworthy, his attitude expressed that sense of unworthiness and so his approach
to Christ was such that he knew authority and said, that Jesus only had to
speak and those devils that were afflicting his servant would have to obey and
leave the servant. And Jesus remarked how great that Roman Centurion’s faith
was. And because of that he would receive what he had asked for.
Brother Branham
said in the sermon , We would see Jesus 62-0627 P:15 And just think, little
And in the
sermon, God in Simplicity 63-0317M 6-1
{30} he said, When a minister
walks into a congregation of people praying in the anointing of the Spirit,
you're bound to hear from heaven. That's
just all. There's no way to keep from it. But if you walk into confusion, then
you're so confused, the Spirit's grieved.
So you see the
importance of our attitude and the atmosphere that it creates. As I mentioned
last night, we set an atmosphere by the attitude we express by our body
language, and the tone of our voice, and the way we look and the way we posture
our body. Body language means something to people, and it means something to
God. It expresses our attitude. It is an expression of the true nature of our
soul.
Proving His word 65-0426 P:12 Before we pray for the sick,
we've got to get the people in that attitude. It's the attitude that always brings the results. It's the attitude
that you take towards God. Here's a woman touched His garment; she was healed
with a blood issue. A soldier spit in His face, and put a crown of thorns on
His head, and felt no virtue. It's your
approach. The attitude is what it takes. And that's what it is tonight, dear
friend; it takes the attitude. We are,
and believe that we are in the Presence of Jesus Christ, but it's your attitude
that brings the results. The mechanics is here and so is the dynamics. If you can just get started, God will
do the rest.
Now, what does
he mean by “if
you can just get started? “ I believe what he is saying is not
that you can produce anything, but if you do the right thing, and say the right
thing, it will bring right results. You see, God will do it for you, if your
attitude is right. After all, God is sovereign and He doesn’t have to do
anything for anyone. But if you go to Him with the right attitude, then ask
what you will, it will be given. Jesus promised that.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without
me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a
branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire,
and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall
ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
God in His people 50-0227 P:3 And then, as I bring Christ
to you, He will be on your hand. And you'll have to answer for what attitude
you took towards it: if you turned it down, or if you accepted it. God will have you to answer for your
attitude of this meeting, so you must realize it's a very sacred thing.
God revealing Himself to His people 50-0813E P:39 Now,
many times... Now, these may seem strange. Everybody be real reverent. If you
can get the person... Just what I was trying to do to the woman, was get her in
the right mental attitude; she wouldn't have to be prayed for. The right mental
attitude towards any promise of God will bring it to pass. Do you believe that?
The Word is a Seed (Is that right?) that a Sower sowed in the ground. And every
Seed will bring forth of its kind. If you need salvation, the Seed's here. If
you need healing, here's the Seed in the Word. The Word of God is a Seed. Put
it in your heart. Don't dig it up every morning to see if it's sprouted, put it
in there and leave it there. It's God's
business to bring forth the harvest. You just leave it there; water it by
faith and praise every day thanking God for it. All right.
And not only do
you receive what you expect, but you will also be judged for your attitude. It
is the attitude that expresses what we are, and that you will be judged for.
And you will take your attitude with you because your attitude is an expression
of your character. It is an expression in your body of the nature of your inner
man. And for that you will be judged.
Jesus keeps all of his appointments 64-0418E P:97 Would
you let Jesus set in this day? You say, "If I'd have been back there, if
I'd have seen Him like that, I wouldn't have done that." What about it
right now? Your own present attitude
identifies what you'd have done then. See? The attitude you take now, you feel like that you're well enough?
All right. That's between you and God. I'm not no judge. I'm just responsible for the Word. See?
He's here in the meeting. They come out of churches too. But they're going in
to settle it right now. That's all of it. They're ready. Why do you want to live a halfway Christian life for? Either be for God, or be against Him, so
the world will know your colors and know where you stand.
How many
remember the story about the Pharisee that invited Jesus to eat in his home,
and yet look at the way they treated Jesus. They did not even welcome him by
the customary way of washing his feet. And yet a prostitute came in and her
actions showed her attitude toward Christ was so far superior than that of the
Pharisees, and notice the results she received.
Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel
of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31 And the Lord said,
Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they
like? 32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling
one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we
have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33 For John the Baptist came neither
eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34 The Son of man
is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a
winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.
36 ¶ And one of the Pharisees desired
him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat
down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she
knew that [Jesus] sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box
of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash
his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed
his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which
had bidden him saw [it], he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were
a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman [this is] that
toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon,
I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a
certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and
the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them
both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered
and said, I suppose that [he], to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him,
Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon,
Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for
my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the
hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I
came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not
anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say
unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom
little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at
meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins
also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
Jesus keeps all of his appointments 64-0418E P:52 And
the people today take the same attitude as that Pharisee took, same kind of an
attitude: let Him set, after inviting Him. Yet, they don't want Him; they just
do it, like, for manners. He knows it. We've done to Him today, just like they
did then, instead of washing Him, washing the reproach away, instead of trying
to stand up, saying, "You're mistaken. It's the Word of God made manifest.
It's what He promised. He said He'd pour out His Spirit in the last days. We're
living in the last days." Instead of that, we just kind of set back like
they did. We're afraid to take a stand.
Now, another
reason why we must consider the attitude we have towards God and His Word is
because our attitude identifies just where we are standing .
Spiritual amnesia 64-0411 P:29 So we find out when this
spiritual amnesia get a-hold of the people, then they're in a bad condition.
Now, we find the same now. Now, I want to... You must be identified. Somewhere
you must show, your life shows, tonight, where you are identified. You are identified either in Christ or out
of Christ. You are not halfway. There's no such a thing as a drunk sober
man. There's no black white bird. You're either a saved, or you're not saved.
You're a saint or a sinner, one or the other. And your spiritual attitude towards God's Word identifies you, exactly
where you're standing. God's Word vindicated, proved, that the baptism of
the Holy Ghost is just the same as it ever was on the day of Pentecost, or any
other time. And Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And your attitude towards that identifies
whether you have spiritual amnesia or not. That's right. No matter whether
you're a deacon, or even if you're a preacher; it doesn't make... They get it
too. So we find out it's contagious, and hits the whole thing.
1.
Our attitude will produce a result, depending on the attitude we display.
2.
Our attitude does not create an atmosphere, but rather expresses the
atmosphere in
which we are living.
3.
Our Attitude is the expression of the nature of our soul and thus it
creates an atmosphere around us of who we are.
4.
We are identified with the attitude we express.
5.
Thus we are judged, and will be judged for the attitude we display to
others, and the attitude we display toward God.
6.
Thus our attitude will not only affect our own self, but it also affects
others.