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Proverbs 15:13. “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (NKJV). . Proverbs 17:22. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”. Proverbs 15:15.
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Proverbs 15:13 “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (NKJV).
Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.”
Proverbs 15:15 “All the days of the afflicted are evil, But he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast.”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • The World’s Emphasis on Positive Thinking • Denominational Approaches to Positive Thinking • Brethren’s Concerns About “Positive Preaching” • A Scriptural Attitude is Positive
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Definitions • What is a positive attitude? One that… • Hopes for the best • Looks for the best • Believes the best is possible
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Definitions • What is a negative attitude? One that… • Exaggerates life’s difficulties or shortcomings • Ignores the good in life or others • Imagines the worst possible outcome will happen
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Are there positive and negative people? • Without a positive attitude in our service to God we will be crippled, ineffective, and doomed to a life of spiritual immaturity and discontentment!
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Personal Growth (Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Tim. 1:12-14). • A positive attitude will say… • • “I can overcome temptations” • • “I can grow in service to Christ”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Personal Growth (Phil. 3:12-14; 1 Tim. 1:12-14). • A negative attitude will say… • • “I’ll never be able to resist!” • • “I’ll never be like so and so!”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Family Relationships (Eph. 5:22-29; 6:1-4). • A negative attitude will say… • • “So and so just tries to frustrate me!” • • “If only so and so was more______”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Family Relationships (Eph. 5:22-29; 6:1-4). • A positive attitude will say… • • “I know they have their faults but they have some fine qualities!” • • “They put up with my faults—I can bear the few they have.”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Dealing with Brethren (Col. 3:12-15). • A positive attitude will say… • • “So and so is really showing some growth in Christ.” • • “I really think I could encourage them in this or that.” • • “They did a fine job with that task!”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Dealing with Brethren (Col. 3:12-15). • A negative attitude will say… • • “Brother so and so irritates me so much.” • • “They meant to do such and such that hurt my feelings.” • • “Could you believe they did that?”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Personal Evangelism (Acts 18:24-28; 18:8-11). • A positive attitude will say… • • “Maybe if we try this, we could win some souls.” • • “So and so shows some potential, maybe with some work…” • • “People can change, if only I am ready to help them!”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Personal Evangelism (Acts 18:24-28; 18:8-11). • A negative attitude will say… • • “We’ve tried it before, it won’t do any good!” • • “Nobody wants to do what’s right” • • “So and so will never accept the truth!”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Facing Trials (2 Cor. 4:8-10). • A negative attitude will say… • • “This isn’t fair, why should I have to go through this?” • • “Nobody cares, or understands what I have to face!”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Facing Trials (2 Cor. 4:8-10). • A positive attitude will say… • • “This is hard but I’ll make it through it and heaven will be worth it all!” • • “Others have faced things far worse than this”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Our Relationship with the Lord (Deut. 6:24-25). • A positive attitude will say… • • “God really cares for me and has greatly blessed me!” • • “I want to do everything the Lord commands me.”
The Importance of a Positive Attitude and the Danger of a Negative Attitude IN SERVING THE LORD • Our Attitude is Important When it Comes to… • Our Relationship with the Lord (Deut. 6:24-25). • A negative attitude will say… • • “Doing _____ for the Lord is the biggest pain in the world!” • • “Why is God so picky, if only I could do what I want to do!”