Attitudes that Hinder Obedience

Attitudes That Hinder Obedience
—Matthew 1:18-22

Introduction:

A. If you have lived very long in the life you have likely heard an excuse or two.

1. You may have made excuses yourself.

B. People tend to get an attitude of excuse when …

1. They are scared to face something.

2. When they do not know something.

3. When they just don’t want to change

4. Or when they just don’t like what you are offering.

C. One time in particular, when excuses come up, is when we try to talk about the Bible with my friends and co-workers.

1. It seems like there are as many excuses as there are people.

a. Many are very uncomfortable with the subject of God and religion.

i. When speaking to another about religion, “An uncomfortable ear is always attached to an uncertain heart.”

D. This evening we need to take a few minutes to consider some excuses that I have encountered so that all of us may be better prepared to deal with them ourselves.

1. Let’s open our Bibles and study these points.

I. The—“I’m Okay: Just The Way I Am.” Attitude.

A. There are many who think they are okay.

1. Somehow they have twisted their thinking to believe God should accept them just the way they are.

a. Even though they totally disregard His will in their lives.

2. They are wrong in thinking they are okay: Jesus clearly stated you are either for God or against God (Matthew 12:30)

B. We need to share some very basic principals with an individual with this attitude.

1. Namely, the reality of sin.

a. First, sin is real (James 1:13-15)

i. God has delivered His will to man since the creation.
a) The garden law (Genesis 2:16-17)
b) The Law of Moses or the Old Law (Hebrews 1:1)
c) New Law through Christ (Hebrews 1:2).

ii. God holds all men everywhere accountable to the New Law.

a) Acts 17:30-31 “Now commands all men everywhere to repent.”

i. “He will judge the (whole) world in righteousness”

b) John 12:48 “My word will judge them.

i. 2 Corinthians 5:10 “We must all appear before the judgment seat”

b. Because God has given us a law we are accountable when we break that law (sin).

2. Second, all have sinned (Romans 3:23).

a. That means that I have sinned and you have sinned.

b. If we take this to the next step we have died spiritually.

3. Because we have sinned we have died spiritually (James 1:14-15)

a. When we desire to do wrong and do it we sin.

b. Sin brings forth death.(spiritual death)

i. Romans 6:23a “The wages of sin is death” (spiritual death)

C. Then we need to share with them the fact that there is hope..

1. The hope we share is in Jesus Christ.

a. Romans 5:8 “While we were still sinners Christ died for us”:

b. John 3:16 “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

I. Of course we know that “believe” means full belief and obedience.

II. The “I Am Unacceptable” Attitude

A. What a sad place to be.

1. Thinking, “I could not be accepted by God.”

2. Although, they are right to a certain extent.

a. God will not accept them in their current state.

i. Our sins have separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:23)

ii. They have made us unacceptable to Him (Revelation 21:27)

3. We cannot expect God accept us with the baggage of sins that we carry.

B. The hope is in the fact that anyone can be made “acceptable” if they want to be.

1. Examples of sinners who turned to God:

a. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 26:9-12; Acts 22:16)

b. The Corinthian brethren (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

2. We are made acceptable “In Christ” (Ephesians 1:6-8).

III. The, “God’s Way Is Impossible” Attitude.

A. There are many misconceptions concerning Christianity.

1. Some think that it is too easy.

a. Some think that it is way to hard even impossible.

B. It is true that God’s way is difficult.

1. Jesus Himself said, “Difficult is the way that leads to life” (Matthew 7:13-14)

a. It is difficult not impossible.

2. God’s expectations are reasonable (Romans 12:1-2)

a. We are offer our bodies as living sacrifices.

i. This means we give our bodies over to service for God (Galatians 5:24).

b. We give up (do not do) the things of the world.

C. Difficult but doable.

1. God has given us instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

a. God’s word is doable (James 1:23-25).

b. In fact we must do His will if we want to be saved (Matthew 7:21-23).

Conclusion:

A. The more we try to talk to others about the gospel the more we will hear attitudes and excuses.

1. Sometimes those excuses will be slamming doors.

2. Other will be doors of opportunity.

a. We need to listen carefully for the cries for help.

B. One more attitude that we all want to see is the ,“What Must I Do” Attitude

1. This is a rare but wonderful attitude to encounter..

a. It is an open door to show someone the way.

2. When a soul comes to the realization that they are lost and they are willing to do whatever God expects, show them the way of the word.

C. We need to prepare for those occasions.

1. Through study and prayer.

C. We cannot answer every attitude but we may be able to turn an attitude into a study and help someone obey the gospel.

D. If you are not a Christian today are you going to make excuses or will you obey God today.

1. You can become a Christian tonight.