7 24 11 Attitude Series – Attitude of Repentance
Attitude Series – Attitude of Repentance
7 24 11 HT AM
Luke 15:14-19 MSG
The attitude of repentance is not what you think, I am not talking about how to repent can confess your wrongs – which certainly one should do. The attitude of repentance is an attitude that can easily and properly change its mind on a certain position when needed or necessary. Today is very practical end to our series on attitudes – quick review; we have covered Rebellion, Religion, Restoration and today Repentance.
What is the difference?
- 1. Solid vs. Stubborn
- 2. Diligent vs. Dug in
- 3. Thorough vs. Thick Headed
- 4. Rooted vs. Ridiculous
Certainly consistency is very helpful, even a trait we see in the nature of God. The difference in the above qualities going from good to bad is the attitude behind which one operates.
Matthew 3:1 NKJV
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
REPENT – Metanoeo – met-an-o-eh’-o -Verb
Definition; to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent; to change one’s mind for better, a huge part of our salvation experience moves us to a place where we need to change our mind.
Our mindsets are a great battlefield between one another and God as well.
Romans 12:2 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This verse establishes that our mind is a pivotal point in the transformation process – John Maxwell teaches, ”attitude determines altitude”
Our theme story for the attitude series –
Luke 15:14 MSG
After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt.
Luke 15:15
He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs.
Luke 15:16
He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
Luke 15:17
“That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death.
Luke 15:18
I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; ’
The prodigal found himself in this situation that called for repentance in his attitude toward others and himself – he needed a 180 in his mind! The day before he left home he knew it all – then he realized what he knew was not working.
Today I want you to really think about you and YOUR MIND! Apply today to every area of your life – spiritual, relational, family, financial, etc.
Developing an “attitude of repentance
1. Check your will -
The will must change before the mind can change
As long as the prodigal willed to run his own life and remove the father his mindsets about the father and his own future were all wrong.
Jesus in Gethsemane – if you do not genuinely examine your will, your MIND will never move
2. Clean out pride
pride disguises itself, pride must be removed
Proverbs 16:18 NKJV
Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:19
Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 16:20
He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.
Pride does not always reveal itself shouting “hey look at me” – it often reveals itself with mindsets that say “I am not wrong, I cant be wrong, or I simply refuse to change.
SIGNS OF PRIDE – probably more present than we realize! (Pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins).
- Insecurity
- The need to be right
Galatians 6:3 NKJV
For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Galatians 6:4
But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
- Argumentative At the root of their argument is a belief that they are right and the other is wrong and that their will should prevail. It is appropriate to advocate for a point of view or position but not to do so in such a manner that you are more invested in your opinion than in arriving the truth.
- Anger. Anger is a self-justifying emotion. This means that the nature of anger is to prompt us to justify our position and blame another for the wrongdoing. Justification of self leads to denial of our own complicity or wrongdoing. The scripture warns that the “anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20).
- Inability to be submissive
- Hearing but not doing
Proverbs 29:1 NKJV
He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
- Compare and compete.
Corinthian church had a bad case of the comparisons – both with others and self.
Developing an “attitude of repentance”
3. Choose humility
Humility is the virtue that destroys the vice of pride
Back to our prodigal son story – this story contains a series of mindsets that needed to change or will need to change –
- The Prodigal
- The Elder
- The Pharisees and scribes
James 4:6b
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.” ◙
So what about your life today? What mindsets have you had that are causing difficulty in your life? What attitudes have caused difficulty with self and others, have brought your resources to an end – distanced you from God (father).
Is it your will, pride, is it spiritual, relational, financial – an attitude of repentance is your to a new direction! Today God can help your life!