5 UGLY GIANTS THAT ATTACK YOUR ATTITUDE
# 4 - Series: the Victorious Attitude
(Please Note: This Message was actually preached in two parts).
Introduction
** IN LIFE YOU WILL FACE AT LEAST FIVE UGLY GIANTS THAT WILL SEEK TO DESTROY YOUR ATTITUDE.
- Seek to rob you of the Victorious Attitude and have you live in defeat.
- Satan wants to destroy your attitude. He does not want you to fully live out the New Life you have in Christ.
- He does not want you to do what God has commanded you to do.
Be renewed in the attitude of your mind. (Eph. 4:23)
ISRAEL FACED GIANTS IN CANAAN
- Promised Land = Abundant Victorious Living.
- AFRAID OF THE GIANTS
There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight. (Numbers 13:33 )
- Fear of the Giants robbed them of the blessings God intended for them to have.
- When they saw the giants, their attitude turned to one of defeat.
(Years Later)
The Army of King Saul Feared Goliath
And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. (1 Sam 17:10-11)
David Took on the Giant with Faith and Courage
Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Sam. 17:26)
Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."
So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. (1 Sam. 17:45-49)
I. The Ugly Giant of Discouragement and Criticism
Illustrate:
When the Giant of Criticism and Discouragement Raises Its Ugly Head,
1. It Can Rob You of a Victorious Attitude
Illustrate: Elijah’s Victory at Carmel
Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again. Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. (1 Kings 18:37-38)
Defeated prophets of Baal - Rain Began
Elijah's Discouragement at Kidron
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying,"So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" (1 Kings 19:1-4)
2. Four Things You Need to Know About Discouragement
1. Discouragement Injures Your Self-Image
I Kings 19:4
2. Discouragement Causes Us to Avoid Our Responsibilities
I Kings 19:9
Faith Brings Us to Ministry (Carmel)
Discouragement Brings Us to Misery (Cave)
3. Discouragement Causes Us To Blame
Others For Our Predicament I Kings 19:10
- Blame others and our attitude towards them sours.
4. Discouragement Causes Us To Blur The Facts
I Kings 19:18
3. Discouragement Is Often Brought on by Criticism
I Kings 19:1-2 Note Jezebel's threats and criticism of Elijah.
1. Criticism Will Come - and it Hurts
* We are talking- not about honest disagreements or even of people lovingly correcting us. We are talking of that criticism that is unfair, unloving, which tears your heart out. IT HURTS.
* Listen to me - The only people who never get criticized are those who never do anything. Chances are that even if you breathe, someone will find fault and criticize.
EVEN JESUS WAS CRITICIZED.
- But His attitude remained the same - never became bitter and He never gave up.
2. Nothing Will Challenge You to Lose the Victorious Attitude like Criticism
* Hardest giant for me to overcome.
- When I pour my life into serving God and helping people - and I'm unfairly criticized it tears my heart out.
* There will be times when you are so criticized and so discouraged and it will affect your attitude so much, you'll want to quit. And that giant of discouragement and criticism will threaten to rob you of your Victorious attitude.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS MORNING THAT WITH FAITH IN GOD AND COURAGE IN YOUR SOUL YOU NEED TO SLAY THAT GIANT. DON'T LET HIM DEFEAT YOU. DON'T BECOME THE SLAVE OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND DEFEAT. IF YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE IN VICTORY AND IN THE FREEDOM CHRIST WON FOR YOU ON THE CROSS, YOU HAVE GOT TO SLAY THE GIANT OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND CRITICISM.
* Times when I have wanted to quit - Poem on office wall has helped me.
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG AS THEY SOMETIMES WILL, WHEN THE ROAD YOU'RE TRUDGING SEEMS ALL UPHILL, WHEN THE FUNDS ARE LOW AND THE DEBTS ARE HIGH, AND YOU WANT TO SMILE, BUT YOU HAVE TO SIGH.
WHEN CARE IS PRESSING YOU DOWN A BIT,
REST IF YOU MUST, BUT DON'T YOU QUIT.
LIFE IS QUEER WITH ITS TWISTS AND TURNS,
AS EVERY ONE OF US SOMETIMES LEARNS,
AND MANY A FAILURE TURNS ABOUT WHEN HE MIGHT HAVE WON HAD HE STUCK IT OUT.
DON'T GIVE UP THOUGH THE PACE SEEMS SLOW-
YOU MAY SUCCEED WITH ANOTHER BLOW!
SUCCESS IS FAILURE TURNED INSIDE OUT-
THE SILVER TINT OF THE CLOUDS OF DOUBT,
AND YOU NEVER CAN TELL JUST HOW CLOSE YOU ARE, IT MAY BE NEAR WHEN IT SEEMS SO FAR.
SO STICK TO THE FIGHT WHEN YOU'RE HARDEST HIT-IT'S WHEN THINGS SEEM WORST THAT YOU MUST NOT QUIT.
3. We Hurt Ourselves When Our Reaction to Those Who Criticize Us Becomes Negative.
- When you allow yourself to become bitter towards those who criticize you become a slave to the giant of discouragement and criticism.
* Remember the words of Jesus.
"Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" (Matt. 5:43-48)
* Criticism presents us with the opportunity to forgive.
II. The Ugly Giant of Fearing Failure
* When we fear failure we are threatened by anything and anybody who might prevent us from succeeding. Therefore our attitudes towards those things and people is negative and unhealthy. This is particularly true if you have perfectionistic tendencies.
* Some people are so afraid of failure they live by the motto:
"If at First You Don't Succeed, Destroy All Evidence That You Ever Tried."
** WHEN YOU FEAR FAILURE, YOU WILL DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO AVOID IT, EVEN IF IT MEANS DENYING IT. IF YOU ARE AFRAID OF FAILURE AND YOU EXPERIENCE IT - IT WILL CRUSH YOU AND ROB YOU OF YOUR VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE.
Illustrate: King Saul
Saul - afraid of failure. Couldn't accept it. Because of his disobedience, God took the kingdom from him and promised it to David. At one time, Saul had nothing but a good attitude towards David, but after he lost the Kingdom, his attitude changed. HE HUNTED DAVID LIKE AN ANIMAL TO KILL HIM, ALL BECAUSE HE FEARED FAILURE. SAUL'S ATTITUDE WAS DESTROYED BY THE UGLY GIANT OF FEAR OF FAILURE.
* Let's understand a few things about failure.
1. Sucess or Fail Doesn't Change Your Relationship with God.
* Our relationship with God is based on the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and not on our performance.
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ ... for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Gal. 2:16)
2. We Will All Experience Failure in Our Lives.
* You cannot avoid it. Only Jesus never failed.
Illustrate: Abraham Lincoln
Difficult childhood -- Less than 1 year of formal schooling - Failed in business in 1831 - Defeated for Legislature in '32 - Failed in business (again) '33 - Defeated for speaker '38, Elector' 40; Congress in '43 and '48; Defeated for Senate in '55 and '58 -- Defeated for Vice-Pres. in '56.
FINALLY AFTER LOTS OF DEFEATS HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT.
3. It Is OK To Fail.
* I don't mean resign yourself to it. But understand it - that failure in some task is not the end of the world.
1. Failure Is Necessary For Success.
* If we are going to be successful in life, we have to be willing to risk failing.
* Fear of failure will keep you from attempting great things for God.
THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO RISK FAILURE AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR FAITH IN GOD, LIVE THE VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE -- TAKE A RISK AND STEP OUT IN FAITH AND TRY SOMETHING.
ILLUSTRATE:
TO LAUGH IS TO RISK APPEARING THE FOOL.
TO WEEP IS TO RISK APPEARING SENTIMENTAL.
TO REACH OUT FOR ANOTHER IS TO RISK INVOLVEMENT.
TO EXPOSE FEELING IS TO RISK EXPOSING YOUR TRUE SELF.
TO PLACE YOUR IDEAS, YOUR DREAMS, BEFORE THE CROWD IS TO RISK THEIR LOSS.
TO LOVE IS TO RISK NOT BEING LOVED IN RETURN.
TO LIVE IS TO RISK DYING.
TO HOPE IS TO RISK DESPAIR.
TO TRY IS TO RISK FAILURE.
2. Little Good Comes From Brooding Over Past Failures.
4. Whether Failures Make You or Break You Is Determined by Your Attitude.
** THE VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE KEEPS US GOING AND NEVER QUITTING IN SPITE OF FAILURES - IT KEEPS US TRYING AND TAKING RISKS - IT KEEPS US GROWING AND IMPROVING.
ILLUSTRATE: WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE FAILED
LORD, ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME SOMETHING? FOR:
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I'M A FAILURE;
IT DOES MEAN I HAVE NOT YET SUCCEEDED.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING;
IT MEANS I HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I HAVE BEEN A FOOL;
IT DOES MEAN I HAD ENOUGH FAITH TO EXPERIMENT.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I'VE BEEN DISGRACED;
IT DOES MEAN I DARED TO TRY.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I DON'T HAVE IT;
IT DOES MEAN I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I AM INFERIOR;
IT DOES MEAN I AM NOT PERFECT.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I'VE WASTED MY TIME;
IT DOES MEAN I HAVE AN EXCUSE TO START OVER.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I SHOULD GIVE UP;
IT DOES MEAN I MUST TRY HARDER.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN I'LL NEVER MAKE IT;
IT DOES MEAN I NEED MORE PATIENCE.
FAILURE DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE ABANDONED ME;
IT DOES MEAN YOU MUST HAVE A BETTER IDEA.
AMEN
III. The Ugly Giant of Problems
ILLUSTRATE: Couple's only son went off to college. Expectations were high, but the grades were low. After a few months the SON SENT TELEGRAM TO HIS MOTHER.
Flunked all my courses - spent all my money - kicked out of school - coming home - prepare Pop.
* Next day he received a telegram from his mother.
POP PREPARED - PREPARE YOURSELF.
1. Life Is Full of Problems
* Be prepared.
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (II Tim. 3:12)
* Every great Bible character had problems.
WHEN NOAH SAILED THE WATERS BLUE
HE HAD HIS TROUBLES SAME AS YOU;
FOR FORTY DAYS HE DROVE THE ARK
BEFORE HE FOUND A PLACE TO PARK.
** SOMETIMES PROBLEMS SEEM TO OVERWHELM US.
ILLUSTRATE:
There was a farmer who accepted everything that happened to him as the will of the Lord.
His whole life seemed to be one of misfortune, but not once did he complain.
MARRIED - but wife ran off with the hired man. Had a DAUGHTER but she was deceived by a villain. Had a SON and his son was lynched. FIRE BURNED HIS BARN, Cyclone blew away his home, a hail storm destroyed his crops, and the banker foreclosed on his mortgage, taking his farm.
After each misfortune, the man BOWED AND GAVE THANKS TO GOD.
Penniless, but still submissive to the hand of God, he landed in the county poorhouse.
One day the overseer sent him to plow a potato field. Without warning a thunderstorm came up and he was hit with a bolt of lightning. It melted the plowshare, stripped most of his clothing off, singed off his hair, branded his naked back with the initials of a neighboring cattleman and hurled him through a barbed wire fence.
When he recovered consciousness, for the first time in his life he was finding it hard to be thankful for his problems. He got slowly to his knees, clasped his hands and raised one eyebrow toward heaven. And said, " Lord, this is gettin' plumb ridiculous."
2. There Are Two Alternatives in Every Problem
1. You Can Alter The Problem
* Take the problem by the horns and do something about it.
* Change what you can change.
* Sometimes you can't do anything about the problem.
2. You Can Alter Yourself
* You must adjust to your circumstances in a positive way.
** IT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, IT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN YOU THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
ILLUSTRATE: TURN TO II CORINTHIANS 4:8-9
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. MAN, ISN'T THAT A FANTASTIC VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE.
IV. The Ugly Giant of Change
* When things are changing all around us, our attitude comes under attack. Change makes us uncomfortable because it takes us from the known to the unknown.
* YOUR INABILITY OR UNWILLINGNESS TO CHANGE WILL CAUSE YOUR ATTITUDE TO CRASH, AND YOU WILL LIVE IN DEFEAT RATHER THAN VICTORY.
1. Change Is Inevitable
* Nothing stays the same.
* We resist change more than we resist anything else. We don't want to change because we are comfortable the way we are.
2. Change Is Essential for Growth
* Without change there is no growth.
ILLUSTRATE: Newspaper reporter interviewed a man on 100th birthday. "I'll bet you've seen lots of changes in your 100 years," said the reporter.
Old man crossed his arms, stuck out his jaw and with indignation replied, "YES, AND I'VE BEEN AGAINST EVERYONE OF THEM."
* WITHOUT CHANGE THERE IS NO GROWTH. IF YOU ARE NOT PROCESSING AND ADAPTING TO THE CHANGES AROUND YOU AND IF YOU ARE NOT CHANGING YOURSELF, YOU ARE NOT GROWING.
* The Christian life is about change, as God changes us into the image of Jesus Christ.
** WITH THE PROPER ATTITUDE, ALL CHANGE, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, WILL BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE WHICH RESULTS IN GROWTH
3. We Choose How We Will Respond to Change
* Some hide from change. "Pastor, it's so nice to come to a church where nothing has changed in the last 30 years." - Some think that's good.
** YOU CANNOT LET THE GIANT OF CHANGE DEFEAT YOU. YOU MUST FACE IT WITH FAITH AND COURAGE NOT ALLOWING IT TO BECOME YOUR MASTER, BUT YOUR SLAVE.
ILLUSTRATE:
As 12-year-old. Many changes. Broken home, stepfather who didn't like me etc. etc. Made a conscious decision "I AM GOING TO BE A HAPPY PERSON. I'M NOT GOING TO LET ANYONE DESTROY MY LIFE AND MAKE ME UNHAPPY."
4. God Wants Us to Move out of Our Comfort Zone.
- When you are willing to move out of comfort zone and grow, you slay the Giant of Change.
V. The Ugly Giant of Negativism
** NOTHING CAUSES YOUR ATTITUDE TO CRASH FROM VICTORY TO DEFEAT AND DESPAIR LIKE THE GIANT OF NEGATIVISM.
* Folks, if you want to be negative, if you want to find something to be negative about, it is easy to do, THE WORLD OFFERS NEGATIVISM AT LESS THAN A DIME A BARREL.
** NEGATIVE THINKING WILL STEAL YOUR VICTORY FASTER THAN ANYTHING I KNOW. If you fill your mind with negative thoughts you will live in defeat and not victory.
If your mind dwells on what is positive, you will live in victory and experience the abundant life God has planned for you.
1. Our Thoughts Govern Our Actions
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. (Matt. 15:18-20)
* We are governed by our thought life. The way we think determines the way we live.
** NEG. THOUGHTS = NEG. ACTIONS
POS. THOUGHTS = POS. ACTIONS
ILLUSTRATE:
Pastor (RM) of two churches. Had negative thoughts and attitude toward one of his churches. Thought of it as a nuisance and a bother. Guess how he treated that church. You got it, as a nuisance and a bother.
* OUR ACTIONS ARE DIRECTED BY OUR THOUGHTS
2. We must Learn to Think Positively in a Negative World
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. (Phil. 4:8)
** NEGATIVE THINKING AND LIVING WILL CAUSE YOU TO LIVE WITH A DEFEATED ATTITUDE AND LIMIT YOUR POTENTIAL FOR GOD.
Conclusion
** FOLKS, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT THERE ARE GIANTS IN THE LAND THAT WANT TO ROB YOU OF A VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE, STEAL YOUR JOY, AND DEFEAT YOU. AND JUST LIKE DAVID TOOK ON GOLIATH, AND HAD VICTORY, SO YOU CAN TAKE ON THESE GIANTS AND LIVE IN VICTORY.
** HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY DAVID TOOK FIVE SMOOTH STONES WHEN HE FOUGHT GOLIATH.
TURN TO II SAMUEL 21:15-22
- Goliath had four ugly giant sons. David was ready for them if they decided that they were going to enter the battle.
** JUST LIKE DAVID DEFEATED GOLIATH AT SOCHOH, AND WAS READY TO TAKE ON THE FOUR UGLY SONS, SO YOU AND I MUST BE PREPARED TO DO BATTLE WITH THE GIANTS THAT WOULD SEEK TO DESTROY US BY ROBBING US OF A VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE.
* IT WAS DAVID'S FAITH IN THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD THAT GAVE HIM THE VICTORY. AND, DEAR FOLKS, IT IS FAITH IN THE AWESOME POWER OF GOD THAT WILL DEFEAT THESE GIANTS IN YOUR LIFE.
** FACE THEM WITH FAITH AND COURAGE AND LAY HOLD OF THE VICTORIOUS ATTITUDE.
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