Romans 134

The Attitude of Christ no. 1

What is the Right Attitude?

August 24, 2003

Brian Kocourek

 

This morning we will continue with our study of the Book of Romans, and we are quickly now approaching the end of this study. This morning we will pick up at verse 17 and we see what appears to be a warning from the Apostle Paul, which we spoke on in Romans 132, but this morning, I would like to look at this verse in a little different light, and that has to do with why someone would commit offenses and cause divisions which are contrary to the Doctrine that we have been taught.  

 

ROMANS 16:17   Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

 

This week, I would like to approach this Scripture from the aspects of attitude, and how we can take inventory of our own attitudes to ensure that we will never be of those that would cause such contrary offenses.

 

Now to begin, we must understand that Christ is the Doctrine that Paul is speaking of. That is why I simply can not understand how people can get so upset at those who are preaching the Message Doctrine, as though the word Doctrine is some cuss word. The Doctrine is Christ!

 

2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

 

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 

We’re not talking about the doctrine of Buddha, or Mohammed, nor are we talking about the Baptist doctrine, or Methodist doctrine, nor are we speaking of Catholic Doctrine, nor Pentecostal doctrine. But Paul and John called it the doctrine of Christ. They both said, “The Doctrine of Christ”. Then Christ is the Doctrine.

 

Yes, He is the Doctrine. Then to preach the Message-Doctrine you must preach Christ. And yet the brethren everywhere have been cut off from the mainline churches for the simple reason they are teaching the Message-Doctrine which is the revelation of Jesus Christ the way brother Branham taught it. And He was vindicated by God to be teaching it correctly.

 

GODHEAD EXPLAINED 61-0425B   34-3    Here not long ago a man got up here at the Chatauqua and said, "Brother Branham is a prophet." I don't claim to be no prophet. See? But he said, "Brother Branham is a prophet when he is under the Spirit of discernment," but said, "Oh, his doctrine is poison; be careful with it." I thought of an educated man would say a thing like that. What does a "prophet" mean? "A Divine interpreter of the Word." The Word of the Lord came to the prophet. You see?

 

And in the message Five Identifications of the True Church of the Living God PP 45 brother Branham said the church that says that Christ is her Husband, and her doctrine is contrary to His Teaching. She's a whore. And I would like to add, that when this happens you must look at what the motive is and why they would teach contrary to His Doctrine.

 

1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5    Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

 

Now, to be a Bible believer you must believe that God is the Word, and therefore God is in His Word, and if He is the Word and He is in His Word, then God must backup His Word. Therefore, what attitude we take towards God’s Word and the promises of God we find in His Word, The attitude we take towards those promises, we are taking towards God Himself.

 

Therefore this morning I want to speak on our attitude towards God and His Word, and to do so, I would like to break down these thoughts into 5 major points.

 

I)                   I want to show what having the right mental attitude is.

II)                 I want to show what the right mental attitude will produce.

III)              I want to show why we must have the right mental attitude.

IV)              I want to show how our mental attitude affects those around us.

V)                I want to show how a wrong attitude can cripple our walk, and the walk of those we have influence over.

 

Now, to begin with, we must first know what a right mental attitude is, and in order to know what the right mental attitude is, we must first understand what an attitude is.

 

I)          What having the right mental attitude is.

 

Brother Branham made a statement in quite a few places that the right mental attitude towards any divine promise of God will bring it to pass.

 

First let me say that the right attitude would have to be the attitude that Christ Jesus had, for the attitude He had towards the Word of God paid the price for yours and my salvation. It paved the way for the redemption of our bodies. It brought back the Holy Spirit to indwell the believer. And if we could just have the attitude that Jesus Himself expressed towards the promises of God, then our Oneness with God would be complete.

 

Therefore what we are looking at here is our attitude, and what attitude we are reflecting. Therefore the attitude we have towards God’s Word  is critical to what we receive from God. Therefore, it is most important that we have the right attitude. And what better attitude could we have than the attitude of Christ Himself.

 

Webster’s New World Dictionary: defines attitude as aptness, or inclination, and further states, the position or posture assumed by the body in connection with an action, feeling, or mood, etc. The word attitude is also defined as a manner of acting, feeling or thinking that shows one disposition or opinion. Now, if you caught the main points in each of these definitions, The first stating that attitude is the posture or position of the body in reference to or in connection with an action, feeling, or mood, and the other is the action, feeling or thinking that shows your opinion, disposition or mindset.

 

So we are looking at the position or posture of the body, and those attributes that show when you are thinking, felling or that express your mood.

 

Therefore, attitude is not just a mental cognizance, or a mental understanding, or a mental leaning, but rather attitude is an outward expression of our disposition, it is an outward expression of our feelings, it is an outward expression of our thoughts, it is the connection of the body to those thoughts, and how the body expresses those thoughts. That’s what attitude is.

 

And the key is that it SHOWS how we feel, it SHOWS just what we think about something, etc.

 

The Bible tells us that God would send forth an angel, to mark those that would sigh and cry because of the abominations done in the city. The sighing and crying is the bodies response to what was being done in the city, and that is an outward expression of what their attitude was inside their soul.

 

Your attitude then shows outwardly what you are thinking inwardly. You can not hide an attitude, it shows, it manifests. You might be able to hide your thoughts but an attitude goes beyond inner thoughts. Attitude speaks of the expression of your disposition. The way you show it in your body language; in your eyes, in your facial expression, in your tome of voice, and in your posture.

 

Therefore attitude is the expression of your opinion, and your disposition. Now the word disposition comes from two words, “dis”, and position. Together they speak of the putting in order and refers to the normal aspects of ones nature. Therefore what we see in attitude is the disposition or the setting in order or the outward reflection of ones true nature.  

 

Now, this leads us to point number I)  What is the right mental attitude is.  Well, to have the right attitude means you would first have to have the rights thoughts about whatever the object of your thinking is. And that means you must have the right opinion, and there is only one right opinion and that is God’s opinion. What does God think about it, Because His thoughts are not our thoughts, for His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and if we are to have a right thinking about anything, it must be what God thinks about it. And in order to know what God’s thoughts are about anything, it must come through the instrument of His Word, for out of the abundance of the mouth the heart speaketh.

 

I CORINTHIANS 2:6   Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. 15    But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

Therefore, we can see that first of all, we must think like God thinks, and we also see that no natural man can think like God thinks. In fact they can not even understand His thoughts to begin with. God’s thoughts are not understandable to the natural man. Therefore, Paul tells us that in order to even comprehend the things of God we must have His Spirit living in us. So God Gives us of His Own Spirit to quicken our soul to the understanding of His Word which are His thoughts.

 

Now, once we have His Spirit living in us, it gives us power or ability to think the right thoughts. So what do we mean by point number One that we must have the right attitude? It means we must receive the attitude of God Himself. And where do we have an example of a man that held God’s attitude? In Christ Jesus, the Son of God.

 

Contending for the faith 55-0220E P:24 Now, the first thing we find that when Jesus was born, and we know the story until it comes to the place of His--His great miraculous works setting in, or when He begin to teach after His baptism. And if we'll notice, quickly closely that God was in Christ reconciling Himself or the world to Himself. The Bible said that God Himself dwelt in Christ Jesus." Jesus said, "The Father dwelleth in Me. So if you can find out what God thinks about mankind, you'd find out what Jesus said about mankind, and you'll know what the Father thinks about Me. "Even the Father Himself on Mount Transfiguration said, "This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him." Don't hear nothing else but Him. Now, that... Then we'll have to find out what--what God's attitude towards... If we can find out through the life of Jesus Christ, what God's attitude was to the sinner, to the sick, to the prostitute, to the gambler, to the beggar, we can find out what God's permanent attitude is towards the same matters today.

 

We would see Jesus 57-0226 P:21 But now, while He's here working with His Church in the form of the Spirit... Then if His Spirit is with us, He will act just exactly like He act when He was here on earth. It'll make you act the same way, because it's not your spirit any more; it's His Spirit in you, Christ's Spirit in you. "The things that I do... He that believeth on Me (Saint John 14:12.), the works that I do, shall ye do also." See? We'll do the same works, think the same thoughts, live the same type of life. If the Spirit of God is in you, it makes you live like Christ, Christ-like. Then you become a written epistle, read of all men, Christ in you, reflecting His Light out of you, as God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and reflecting God from His own body. No man has seen God at any time, but the only begotten of the Father has declared Him. God was in Christ. And what Christ's attitude was, was God's attitude, 'cause the two work together, the Spirit and flesh united together. Got a sermon on that: "The Dove and the Lamb." Want to get on it one night, one of these weeks.

 

Doctor Moses 55-0114 P:1  God is in His Word. So if God is in His Word, then if you receive the Word, you receive God. Now that is God's plan, God's motive, God's attitude, God's love, God's salvation. Everything rests in His printed Word. And if those Words are just like grains, or seed that you could pick out and swallow, every one of them would produce just exactly what it says it'll do here. But by faith we receive them.

 

Therefore if we are to have the right attitude then we must have the attitude that was in Christ Jesus.

 

The Apostle Paul said, PHILIPPIANS 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: And the word mind here has the same Greek word Phroneo that is used for the word likeminded. Let this mind that was in Christ be in you. That’s the key that Paul is bringing to us here, and it is a gift from God that only those whom God chooses can receive that gift.

 

Notice Paul says, Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (And notice then that it is according to Christ Jesus , the Anointed Jesus. So we see that God has given us a gift to be likeminded, and not only to be likeminded, but likeminded towards one another and notice he tells us, ACCORDING to Christ Jesus. Now, the only way we can be likeminded is if we have the same mind. So he is telling us here the same thing he is telling us in PHILIPPIANS 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

 

And we know this can only come as God has ordained it to come.

 

JOHN 1:12 But as many as received him, (Now the word received here is the Greek word Lambano which means to take to one's self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one's self

     3e) catch at, reach after, strive to obtain)  to them gave he power (Now this word power is not the Greek word Dunamis that we associate so often with miraculous power, but it is the Greek word exousia which means 1) power of choice, So we see God gives us a gift, and that gift is the power to make a right decision. And that decision is to become a son, or act like a son ought to act.) )  to them gave he power  to become the sons of God,(now this word becomes comes from the Greek word    ginomai, and it does not mean that you were a hog, and now you have power to become a lamb. It does not mean that you were a seed of the devil and now you have been given power to become a or a seed of God. No, it means to  become fulfilled. In other words, God gives you the power to make the right decision to become what you already are.

 

The Apostle John said in I JOHN 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. And how do you purify yourself? You get yourself out of the way, and let the Word of God abide in your heart.

 

PSALMS 119:9 ¶ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed [thereto] according to thy word. 10 ¶  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11    Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 12 ¶  Blessed [art] thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. 13 ¶  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as [much as] in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

 

There are 150 verse in this Psalm that show us how to cleanse our own selves, and get out of the way and every verse tells us to let the Word of God abide richly in our hearts. That is how we become sons. That is how we become fulfilled in our role as sons. By getting out of the way as Jesus Himself got Himself out of the way,  to where he said, in John 5:19  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  And in John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. And again in St. John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. And in  St. JOHN 12:49  Jesus said,   For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

 

And in JOHN 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17    If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

 

JOHN 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat (that which I live by and that which I live for) is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

 

Phil2:1 ¶ If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.: 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

 

In other translations this word mind is translated attitude. And before we read them, remember the word attitude and even this Greek word phroneo speaks not of the cognitive only but also of the expression of those thoughts. In other words the entire expression we have as a result of the attitude we possess.

 

New International Version: Your attitude should be the same as it was in Christ Jesus. Then not only should our thoughts but also our actions and our posture, and our body language should be as His was. And that can only come if your thoughts are the same. In other words, if you have the same thoughts about the Word of God as Jesus had, then you will be repulsed by the things that repulsed Him, and you will have mercy for the ones who need mercy even as He had mercy on them.  

 

Now the Amplified Translation is a little more specific. : Let this same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, Let Him be your example in humility.

 

New American Standard: Have the attitude in yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus.  Now, the American Heritage dictionary tells us that attitude is our disposition, and our disposition reflects our temperament or inclination towards the word. That is why the Weymouth Translation says: Let the same disposition be in you that was also in Christ Jesus. Therefore what is the right mental attitude?  Brother Branham said, God in His Word 57-0323 P:35 But you've got to have the right attitude. The attitude is what brings the results. If you say, "Yes, yes, I believe it but I don't know now." That's not the right attitude. The right attitude is to receive it, and say it's "THUS SAITH THE LORD." Then it's right.  The right mental attitude is to say what God says about it. That is what “Thus saith the Lord” means. The Lord says Thus and Thus about it. Brother Branham taught us that when Word is added to Word to Word, it takes a hold of every fiber of our body. Then what we see by the attitude is an expression in the body of the Word that is abiding in the mind. That then is the Word becoming flesh in you.