I Surrender My Attitude

1. I Surrender My Attitude Philippians 2:1-8

2. I Surrender My Attitude • Our theme for Lake Forest in 2013 is “I Surrender All” • We have presented lessons geared toward this theme on the first Sunday of the month • Today we look at another aspect

3. I Surrender My Attitude • Our attitude is a very important part of who we are • We spoke earlier in the year about surrendering our minds (thoughts) • Our attitude is a part of our thought process, so it is certainly important

4. I Surrender My Attitude • Attitude is defined as manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., toward a person or thing • Our attitude is basically our outlook on things in this life • Attitude determines how we respond to people or situations

5. I Surrender My Attitude • It also goes a long way in determining what we are as individuals • Someone with great ability can still fail if they lack a good attitude • “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7)

6. I Surrender My Attitude • A good attitude is a prerequisite to any successful pursuit, including our service to God • Are we ready to surrender our attitude to God? • We do that by taking on the attitude of Christ…

7. I Surrender My Attitude • 1. Attitude of Selflessness (vs. 3-4) • One of the first traits that is mentioned is that of selflessness • Paul speaks of not being selfish and thinking of others ahead of ourselves • This certainly describes Jesus as He never came across as “better than you”

8. I Surrender My Attitude • 1. Attitude of Selflessness (vs. 3-4) • “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (v. 7) • Christ showed compassion and put others first in all that He did while here upon earth

9. I Surrender My Attitude • 1. Attitude of Selflessness (vs. 3-4) • “For even Christ did not please Himself” (Rom. 15:3) • The ultimate act of selflessness was His death on the cross • He gave His life that we might have life (Rom. 5:8; Heb. 9:28)

10. I Surrender My Attitude • 2. Attitude of Service (v. 7) • What goes hand in hand with selflessness is being a servant to others • This mind should be in us just as it was in Christ • Jesus was not here to be served by men, but to serve (Matt. 20:28)

11. I Surrender My Attitude • 2. Attitude of Service (v. 7) • The way to get ahead in the Kingdom of Christ is to be a servant (Mk. 10:44) • Jesus proved that by setting an example of service in John 13 • We should follow in His steps by having an attitude of service in all we do

12. I Surrender My Attitude • 3. Attitude of Humility (v. 8) • It does us no good to try and serve if we cannot do so with an attitude of humility • Paul tells us that just the very act of coming as a man was a humble act • Can you imagine the humility it took to suffer and die as He did?

13. I Surrender My Attitude • 3. Attitude of Humility (v. 8) • We too are commanded to have an attitude of humility as we serve others • Peter said to be clothed with humility(I Pet. 5:5-6) • If we humble ourselves, it is God who will exalt us (Js. 4:10)

14. I Surrender My Attitude • 4. Attitude of Obedience (v. 8) • Although Christ was God, He still became obedient to the will of His Father • We might not think that seems like too difficult of a task; after all, we are obedient for the most part

15. I Surrender My Attitude • 4. Attitude of Obedience (v. 8) • Christ was obedient all the way to His death, the death of the cross • Could you or I have done what Christ did for us? • That’s the kind of obedient attitude we should have; we’ll obey no matterwhat

16. I Surrender My Attitude • 4. Attitude of Obedience (v. 8) • Some obey as long as it fits their lifestyle • Some obey as long as there is not too great of a sacrifice involved • Obedience is necessary for heaven (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9)