0676 Living For Jesus

Getting out of Our Comfort Zones in Attitudes

1st Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION,A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

• About the Text:– Christians are special to God.– They are chosen, royal, holy.– They are for God’s possession for a purpose.– Purpose: Exemplify excellencies of God.

• To get out of our comfort zones in our attitudes we must . . .

Be Proactive • Being proactive means taking conscious

control over your life, setting goals and working to achieve them. – Instead of reacting to events and waiting for

opportunities, you go out and create your own events and opportunities

Be Proactive • Being proactive means taking conscious

control over your life, setting goals and working to achieve them.

• Proactive means acting before you are acted upon.– Many let life happen to them. (reactive)– Many know the good they should do, but don’t

act on it! (James 4:17)

James 4:17Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin

Be Proactive • Being proactive means taking conscious control

over your life, setting goals and working to achieve them

• Proactive means acting before you are acted upon.• Bible is full of proactive language

– Shining our lights (Matthew 5:16)– Asking, seeking, knocking, doing (Matthew 7:7-12)– Loving is proactive! (Matthew 22:37-39)– Prayer is most proactive thing we can do! (Mark 11:24)

Matt 5:16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matt 7:7-12Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! 12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets

Matt 22:37-39And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' 38 "This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'

Mark 11:24-25Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

Be Proactive • Being proactive means taking conscious

control over your life, setting goals and working to achieve them

• Proactive means acting before you are acted upon.

• Bible is full of proactive language

• The “Great Commission” requires us to be proactive (Mark 16:15)

Mark 16:15And He said to them, " Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Be Confident (Hebrews 13:6)

• The early church wanted boldness (Acts 4:29)– Paul asked for boldness in proclaiming the

gospel (Eph 6:19)– Boldness requires confidence, and our

confidence is by faith (Eph 3:12)

Acts 4:29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Heb 13:6so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

Eph 6:19and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,Eph 3:12in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

Be Confident (Hebrews 13:6)

• The early church wanted boldness (Acts 4:29)

• We have no reason to fear man (Matthew 10:28)– Fearing God is the beginning of knowledge

(Prov 1:7)– Fear God for He is on our side (Deut 3:22)

Matt 10:28"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell

Prov 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge ;Fools despise wisdom and instruction

Deut 3:22'Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.'

Be Confident (Hebrews 13:6)

• The early church wanted boldness (Acts 4:29)

• We have no reason to fear man (Matthew10:28)

• God is our helper (Psalm 46:1)

• We can bear any trial, perform any duty, subdue any evil, and defeat all temptations. (Philippians 4:13)

Ps 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble

Phil 4:13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Be Humble

• Humility prevents us from being over confident.– Humility is the defining characteristic of an

unpretentious and modest person– Someone who does not think that he or she is

better or more important than others

Be Humble

• Humility prevents us from being over confident.

• Passages on humility. – We are to put others before us! (Luke 9:48)– There is more real enjoyment in thinking of

ourselves as we are, than in being filled with pride and vanity. (Matthew 5:3)

– Being humble requires making a choice (Hebrews 11:25)

Luke 9:48and said to them, " Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great."

Matt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Heb 11:25choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

Be Humble

• Humility prevents us from being over confident.

• Passages on humility.– Luke 9:48– Matthew 5:3– Hebrews11:25

• Christ has given us His example to follow (John 13:4ff)

John 13:4ff(Jesus) got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded

12 So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

• To get out of our comfort zones in our attitudes we must . . .– Be Proactive– Be Confident– Be Humble