Romans 136
The
Attitude of Christ no. 3
Why
we Must have the Right Attitude
Brian Kocourek
This Morning we will continue with our study of the
Book of Romans, and our study on the Attitude of Christ. This will be number
three in that mini series.
This morning 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. Where Brother Branham said the right mental attitude towards
any divine promise of God will bring it to pass. We first went into the
definition of Attitude. 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.
I)
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.
Last night we examined the second point that we should understand
concerning our attitude and especially our attitude towards God’s Word.
II)
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.
III)
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. It is the expression of the nature of your soul
and thus it creates an atmosphere around you of who you are. You are identified
with the attitude you express.
3.
And thus you are judged, and will be judged for the attitude you display
to others, and the attitude you display toward God.
4.
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 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 my own
family and just so they can spurn the help we gave 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.
And God was not too pleased with them either, for when I pulled back, God
also pulled back and the funds we were receiving from the outside stopped
coming in as well. It’s like this thing those brothers did was like some big
trigger that just shut off the showers of blessing for them and for the others
around them. And that is what it will
do.
You are not the only one living on this planet, and the blessing from God
that you receive also affect the people in which you associate with. The
atmosphere of blessings you live under does not just shine over your 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.
Deuteronomy
28 speaks
of Blessing 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 depends 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 se, God will
do it for you if your attitude is right. After al, 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.
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 live. It is the
expression of the nature of your soul and thus it creates an
atmosphere
around you of who you are. You are identified with the attitude you
express.
3.And thus you are judged, and
will be judged for the attitude you display to others, and
the attitude you display toward
God.
4.Thus your attitude will not
only affect your own self, but has an affect on others.