Tactics For Finding Joy

2. Tactics For Finding Joy Passive vs. Active Attitudes

3. What Defines Our Attitude? Active We seek out opportunity We worry about what God thinks Our comfort zone adapts to God’s demands We care about and love people unconditionally We demand progress Passive • We wait for opportunity • We worry about what people think • We operate within our comfort zone • We care about people when they care about us • We accept things as they are

4. Forces That Affect Attitude • There are three primary forces that directly oppose and inhibit an active attitude while promoting a passive attitude. • They are: • Fear – “I am afraid” • Apathy– “I do not care” • Selfishness– “I” • Selfishnessis the root of fearandapathy(and sin), and thus is the greatest threat to an active attitude.

5. The Dangers Of A Passive Attitude A Passive Attitude: • is a direct result of selfishness • lulls us into complacency • SEVERELY inhibits spiritual growth • smothers joy • is not pleasing to God • puts us in danger of judgment

6. The Dangers Of A Passive Attitude Revelation 3:15-17 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 

7. The Benefits Of An Active Attitude When we overcome fear, apathy, and selfishness, we can focus on obtaining an active attitude. An active attitude will naturally counteract fear, apathy, and selfishness. We will grow to be more like Christ, as His attitude was active in every regard. We will find joy, peace, and fulfillment in our lives as a direct result.

8. Tactics For Finding Joy in Brotherly Love Passive vs. Active Attitudes

9. Do You Have A Passive Attitude? Ask yourself these questions: • Do I love my brothers and sisters? • Do I love my brothers and sisters as myself? • Do I care about the needs of my brethren? • Do my actionsreflect that I care about the needs of my brethren? • Do I count my brethren as family? • Do I treat my brethren as family (phone calls, hospital visits, etc.) ?

10. Do You Have A Passive Attitude? If these are overcome, NOTHING will stand in your way! The three opponents of answering these questions positively: • Fear • Apathy • Selfishness

11. The Key To Conquering LOVE The goal is also the means by which we achieve the goal! Fear, Apathy, and Selfishness all can be overcome by one simple concept:

12. A Proper View Of Love Love Is NOT An involuntary feeling Assumed Earned For Yourself Love Is • A voluntary choice • 1 John 4:19 • Demonstrated by action • John 14:21 • Unwarranted • Titus 3:4-5; Romans 5:8 • For Others • Romans 12:10

13. Command – Example – Result Command - Love 1 John 4:21 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1 John 3:18 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

14. Command – Example – Result Example - Action Acts 2:44-45 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 

15. Command – Example – Result Result - Joy Acts 2:46 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart

16. What Causes This Result? John 15:10-12 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

17. Motivation – Seeing A Goal John 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

18. Motivation – Seeing A Goal • In regards to evangelism: • If we love each other, people will know. • If we don’t, people will know. • People will see Christ’s love in us. • People will see the joy in Christ through us. • If we don’t look happy, what will convince others that we are? • People would rather see a sermon than hear one.

19. Motivation – Seeing A Goal • In regards to our church family: • We cannot please God if we do not love each other. • We must love each other as Christ loves us – through action. (1 John 3:18) • If we love each other, our joy will be full. • Our family will grow. • God will be glorified.

20. Motivation – The Goal To love each other as God loves us. To love each other as ourselves. When one member suffers, all of the members suffer with it. To grow together to the fullness of Christ. To show the lost that love is possible. To magnify and glorify God in all that we do!

21. Ways To The Goal • Stay after services and talk to your church family • Form relationships • When relationships grow, so does love. • Invite your brethren to lunch • Invite brethren you don’t know as well or at all • Get out of your comfort zone • If you can’t do this for family, how will you for strangers? • Write a brother or sister a letter of exhortation • This is what the apostles did • It shows that you care

22. Ways To The Goal • Visit the shut-ins and sick • Take a few hours to go to the hospital • Have you ever done this? • Hold Bible studies in your home • For your immediate family as well as your brethren All of these are actions! These make the difference between a passive and active attitude!

23. An Active, Fervent Love 1 Peter 1:22 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart James 1:22 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.