Lecture on Attitude and Fulfillment

Key Themes

• The power of consistent affirmations and speaking the Word
• The importance of attitude in defining personality and achieving fulfillment
• Comparisons from biblical characters to illustrate positive and negative attitudes.

Importance of the Word

• Emphasize speaking and continually re-affirming the Word.
• Biblical reference: Word of God growing strongly in Ephesus.
• Declarations of faith using Psalms.

Importance of Attitude

Key Points on Attitude:

• Your attitude impacts your fulfillment and value.
• Right Message, Wrong Attitude: Saying the right thing with the wrong attitude can destroy the message.
• Personal Example: Many people blame others for their unhappiness due to their own wrong attitudes.
• Workplace Example: Job dissatisfaction often arises from a wrong attitude rather than external circumstances.

Attitude Insights

• Self-Awareness: Hardly discovering one's wrong attitude leads to blaming others.
• Family and Relationships: Feeling out of place can result from a poor attitude rather than actual misplacement.
• Work Exodus: Frequent job changes can be traced back to poor attitudes rather than workplace issues.
• Wrong Perceptions: People think their greatness isn’t recognized due to external failures, not realizing it’s their attitude.

Lessons from Biblical Characters

John the Baptist

• Jesus' Praise: Considered the greatest born of women.
• Attitude of Humility: Despite his role, John recognized Jesus and found joy in diminishing for Jesus’ increase.
• Scriptural Reference: Matthew 11:7-11 – Jesus' teachings on John the Baptist's greatness and the least in the kingdom of heaven.

Differentiation: Kingdom of Heaven vs. Kingdom of God

• Kingdom of Heaven: Established on Earth by Jesus; focuses on lifestyle and authority.
• Kingdom of God: Encompasses everything under God's power.
• Biblical Characters Praised by Jesus: Understanding their attitudes and why they were praised aids in personal growth.

Examples from Jesus

• John 3:22-29: Jesus' humility and John’s attitude of joy in seeing Jesus' work.
• Moses: Known for his meekness and intercessory prayers despite God’s anger against Israel – Exodus 32:10-14, 31-32.

Attitude in Practice

Personal Reflection

• Self-Assessment: Constantly check your attitude in various aspects of life including family, work, and relationships.
• Handling Neglect: Not being greeted or recognized should not deter your self-worth or attitude.
• Living Attitude: Be quick to kneel negative attitudes and actively work towards humility and positive change.

Practical Tips

• Handling Recognition: Don’t seek validation from others; focus on God’s calling with humility.
• Avoid Comparison: Resist measuring your progress against others; focus on your path guided by God’s timing and grace.
• Promotion and Growth: Understand that humility leads to divine promotion in due time.

Role of Intercession

• Empathy and Prayer: Like prophets of old, mourn for spiritual failings and intercede with earnest prayer.
• Seeing Results: Rejoice in spiritual growth and transformation as a result of dedicated intercession.
• Attitude Towards Generosity: Being spiritually poor implies readiness to give up material possessions in the spirit of sacrifice.

Prominent Quotations

• John the Baptist: “A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3:27)
• Jesus: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
• Moses: “If not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” (Exodus 32:32)

Final Encouragements

• Developing Right Attitudes: Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to correct and maintain a positive attitude in all aspects of life.
• Humility and Grace: Remember that grace comes with humility, which God honors with elevation in due time.
• Spiritual Growth: Focus on spiritual growth through selfless attitudes and earnestly seeking God's purpose.