INSTRUCTOR - ATTITUDE
GET
ACQUAINTED - Ask for volunteers to explain an attitude they once had and
how it has changed.
·
The Bible speaks of (1) beliefs (ideas taken into one’s heart
that govern his perception), (2) actions (what we do or don't do), (3) motives
(why we do or not, what governs our actions, moves us), and (4) attitudes
(how or in what spirit we go about doing or not doing, the disposition of our
mind and heart toward God). The manner
in which we do a thing indicates our attitude or spirit at the time.
Write
a description of Dt.14:22-15:18
focusing on attitudes.
Dt.14:22-27, In anticipation of
bringing Israel into the land God directs His people each year to travel to the
place where He has chosen "to make His name abide" and present a
tithe of their produce. If it is too far
to travel with the tithe, the people could exchange goods for money and buy
"whatever your heart desires."
They were to "eat there before the Lord your God,
and you shall rejoice, you and your household." The families were to celebrate in the
presence of God by eating a portion of the tithe in happy fellowship with the
priests, Levites, and the poor.
Dt.15:1-11, in anticipation of
Dt.15:12-18 continues the same call
to generosity for bondservants due
to be released after their service period of 6 years. "You shall not let him go away
empty-handed; you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your
threshing floor, and from your winepress."
Then the reason or ground
supporting these attitudes is given, "You shall remember that you were
a slave in the
In
Dt.27:11-13, the tribes of
"Because
you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for
the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the
Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of
everything..."
What is
Num.14:1-4 an account of?
Describe what Dt.1:26-33 is about, noting the people's attitude and reasons for
it.
Moses
recounts the incident in Num.14:1-4 and
speaks of the people’s contrary attitude
by saying what was really in their heart, “because the Lord hates us, He
brought us...[here] to destroy us” (v.27).
They construed God’s intent as evil.
In spite of all that God had done to deliver them from slavery in
What did Moses understand about the people’s
reaction to him (Ex.17:2-3)? Their complaints were really accusations against
or challenges to God, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the Lord"? (see
Ps.78:5-12, 17-19, 22, 40-42, 56-59)
What do
Heb.3 & 4 comment on and how does it relate to
us? The “rebellion,” “the day of trial” refers
to the 40 years God was provoked as Israel wandered in the wilderness after
being brought out of Egypt (3:16b-17). They were not allowed to enter His rest (3:11).
Christ’s household are those who "hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing
of the hope firm to the end” (3:6),
speaking of our faith (4:1-3a).
Compare Dt.8:2-5,
14-17 with 1 Thes.2:2-4.
As it was
with
GO OVER >> Ps.119:
“before I was afflicted,” v.67; “it
is good that I have been afflicted,” v.71;
“in faithfulness You have afflicted me,” v.75).
Fill in the passage references. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the
fiery trial which is to try you ... but rejoice...that when His glory is
revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Pt.4:12-13). “My
brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (Jas.1:2). “And you became followers
of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction, with joy
of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thes.1:6). Rejoice when you are mistreated for Jesus
sake (Mt.5:12) as the apostles did (Acts 5:41).
Everything God does and allows has a good reason
and a good purpose. As we wait for the
Lord and the completion of our redemption, we often “do not know what we should
pray for as we ought” (Rom.8:26), but we do know that He
works all things “together for good to those who love God, to those who
are called according to His purpose” (v.28).
·
We know for sure two things about the events and
circumstances of our lives: (1) the
consequences of sin and the evil that is in the world will touch us all in
various ways, “In the world you will have tribulation” (Jn.16:33a); but (2),
nothing "has the power to separate us from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom.8:31-39). The whole picture liberates us to place a
positive construction upon the events and circumstances of our lives (ie, to
construe them in a positive way in favor of God's good intent as opposed to
being angry with Him and imagining that He enjoys our suffering) because
"in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved
us," (8:37) “nevertheless be
of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (Jn.16:33b)
What does
Phil.2:1-18 confronts us with? The spirit by which we
are to approach all of life.
Comment on the following verses
accordingly. Our disposition is to be
“like-minded” as Christ (v.2-3, 5) having a spirit of
humility (v.3-8), the opposite of attitudes of pride and
conceit (v.3).
Paul says that it is up to us to set our heart to live in the light of
our redemption, “work out your own salvation,” v.12b [perseverance of the
saints].
[“With
fear and trembling” (12b) is a
warning of the seriousness with which we are to work at this. It is the equivalent to “beware” in the Old
Testament. “Conduct yourselves
throughout the time of your stay here in
fear” 1 Pt.1:17.]
God’s work in us, v.13 [preservation of the
saints], is toward
transforming us into (“that you may become,” v.14) people having the
character of His children (v.15), from an old man with his sordid
life (one of the “crooked and perverse generation,” see Rom.6:6) into a new
man starting off clean as a young child (“blameless and innocent,” v.15). And, what is it
that characterizes us, noticeably sets us apart from our old life and the rest
of humanity? We have a different
spirit. We “do all things without grumbling and arguing” (v.14). This is a way of
stating in negative terms living and maintaining a grateful and hopeful disposition no matter what, founded upon
our redemption (v.16). I find it helpful to begin and end each day
by giving thanks to God for His work and blessing Him (“Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus for you” 1
Thes.5:16-18). There is rejoicing
and gladness (v.18).
Personal
Illustration - Many years ago, my
boss used a number of adjectives that exactly described my negative, sultry
attitude at work. It was obvious that he
had rehearsed his comments and that he had been praying about it. I realized that God had so blessed me in
Christ that I had no reason to be negative, and from that day I decided to go
to work each day with a grateful heart and maintain a joyful spirit. And by God’s grace, I did. We have a real foundation for optimism and
cheerfulness. Every once in a while the
old discontent begins to surface, so I have a little talk with myself. I remind myself of the huge thing God did for
me in opening my eyes to the Gospel, of forgiveness and righteousness before
Him. My life changed and I bless God as
a regular natural part of secret worship.
·
Though translations may vary,
there are 3 concepts we can
use to hang our “how to” on: KNOW; REMEMBER; UNDERSTAND. The knowledge God gives us
comes in the form of instruction and personal experience interpreted by
propositional truth, revelation. It
is this knowledge that we are to learn, teach, and remember. Remembering implies doing (obeying)
and necessitates keeping the knowledge fresh in our thoughts. This knowledge is intended to mature and lead
to understanding. Understanding
means: making sense of the facts (knowledge); integrating facts so explanations
and purposes are revealed (why); putting together what (and sometimes how) with
why; making sense of the facts so we realize what they mean and how important
they are. The secret of “how to” is maintaining awareness of (remembering) my
redemption in Christ by constantly living in light of it.
·
A true believer is deliberate in
following Christ.
Further Study
KNOWING - 2 Pt.1:2-9; 2:20; 3:17-18 What does
“life” in 1:3 refer to? New nature
REMEMBERING - 2 Pt.1:12-18; 3:1-2, 8
UNDERSTANDING - 2 Pt.3:16b; Lk.24:45
[see Attitude, a Bible
Study http://pop.eradman.com/]