Sermon 4/26/09
The Attitude of Altitude - John 10:10
Audio Sermon
The Attitude of
Altitude by Pastor Timothy Burdick
“The thief comes only to
steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly” (John 10:10)
While there is no doubt that events in our lives
shape us, HOW they shape us is important to know about, for it has to do with
our attitudes. In the Gospel of John Chapter 10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came
that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” This verse is
the continuation of an account in John Chapter 9, where Jesus healed a
certain man who had been blind since birth. The religious leaders of
that day were upset because Jesus often healed people, such as that
blind man, on the day called the “Sabbath.” The Father sent the Son to
this earth to be our “good shepherd” (John
10:11), but Jesus said about the religious leaders, the Pharisees, that
they really were “thieves and robbers”
(John 10:8). They pretended to be good men, but they were false.
Interestingly, our own ATTITUDES can be like those men, like “thieves” that steal our joy.
In our examination of what today’s verse is all
about, let’s look first at the attitude of defeat. According to the
Bible, “the thief comes…
to steal.” Our attitudes can be a "thief" trying to steal God’s best from your life. Let
me explain what I mean. I have been blind since birth, though after
surgery when I was very young, I could see a little bit for awhile. I
can remember the color orange, but that is all. Many times in my life I
have suffered from an attitude of defeat and felt like I was going
nowhere fast. I had to choose whether I wanted to listen to God or the “thief” in me. Many times, while I don’t like to admit
it, I did listen to that thief. Are you like me today? Are you suffering
from a negative outlook on life? Who and what are you listening to?
Another thing that the Bible tells us about this
“thief” is that he comes to “kill” and as I listened to his lies, I remember how
this “thief” almost did that to me. Once
when I was down in the depths of depression, I tried to end my life by
taking a bottle of some kind of pills. I had convinced myself that there
was nothing to live for, but behind the “thief”
of my depressed emotions was the master thief, Satan. We let him win in
our lives when we give in to discouragement. Is this enemy, this “thief” killing you today through addictions that demand
more and more from you, and finally lead you into death? Who are you
listening to?
These “thieves” in
your life, whether they manifest as the depression that controls you or
the enemy of humanity himself; want nothing short of your total and
complete destruction. For even worse than suffering, mental anguish and
physical death, is what Scripture refers to as spiritual death. This
latter condition is comprised of a total and complete separation from
the God who made us. We look at the news and hear about murders,
robberies, wars and more, understanding in them the result of this
separation from God which plagues humanity. But that does not have to be
the case for individuals who become willing to give their hearts and
lives to Him.
There is another side to life, in which we can
experience healing and joy in the cross of Christ and in His
resurrection. The “cross” seems negative to
many and it was exactly that way for Jesus, but the blood He shed has
becomes a powerful, infinite antidote for the terrible disease of
humanity which Scripture calls “sin.” I
think of sin as a cancer of the soul, which only God can heal. What He
gives is positive and good, and in Him, sin is destroyed.
In contrast to what the “thief”
wants to take from us, let’s look at what Jesus wants to give, namely
what I call the attitude of altitude. According to the latter half of
today's verse, He wants to give all of us a full and overflowing life. He
said in that place: “I came that they may have
life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). You might be thinking
something like this: “That sounds good, but my
life is a mess.” That may be true, but simply give Him the mess
and let Him deal with it. That’s what it means when Scripture says Jesus
died for our sins – He died for the mess we have made of our lives. You
are created in God’s image, and very precious to Him. He knows Your
name, your every thought and He loves you right now in your present
condition, even though you may not particularly like yourself.
Disobedience may have made your life a shambles, but He wants to put the
broken pieces back together. Ask Him to fill your heart, and the Bible
says that you will be made new in Christ.
This is not to imply that life will be a bed of
roses. It won’t. This is a hard and difficult world, but the difference
is that you won’t be attempting to live this life by yourself. You are
likely to have the same problems, but now you don’t have to solve them
in your own strength. For just as Christ was raised up, the same Holy
Spirit who led Him while He walked this earth, lives in us when we place
our trust in the Lord. The Spirit who truly overcomes will lift us up,
now and forever. Let’s look at Romans Chapter 8 and see some of the
aspects of a Spirit-filled life.
Paul the Apostle, a Pharisee himself who had
found the Risen Lord, was the author of the Book of Romans. He had just
cried out in what was an autobiographical call for help, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body
of death?” (Romans 7:24). And then, as Chapter 7 concluded, he
gave us the answer to his need and ours: “I thank
God – through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself
serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans
7:25).
And here’s what happens to the person who trusts
in the Lord and gives their life over to Him: “There
is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who
do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”
(Romans 8:1). That attitude of defeat which held you and seemed like it
was going to squeeze the life right out of you, begins to lose its grip
as you fall into the loving arms of your Savior. And then you discover
even more. This is not some kind of external religious act on your part
– something has happened inside, where it counts. You are changed
within. The Holy Spirit of God has moved right in to the depths of your
being. You are not condemned, you are not alone, you are FREE to LIVE in
Him.
Your attitude needs ALTITUDE. You and your
emotions need to be lifted up to the throne of God, and there is only
one way it can happen. The best that the world can offer is a hope for
something better, but neither you nor anyone else can give you the “LIFE” you need, and even if you do find some kind of
happiness, it will only be temporary. The aging process and the problems
of this world will bring us all down. Human life, even our own emotions,
can be like a “thief (that)
only… comes to kill
and destroy.” But we are given more than this world can offer. Jesus
Christ “came that (you)
may have life, and have it abundantly”
(John 10:10). Your attitude will acquire the altitude of joy in the
Lord, for “He will lift you up” (James
4:10).
Dear Lord, I confess that I have been ruled
by my bad attitude, which has brought me down. I give myself to You.
Please lift me up to an altitude of joy. Thank You. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Sermon by Pastor Timothy Burdick, Minister of
Abilities (tsburdick@cox.net)
Editing and Voice by Pastor Ron Beckham (Ron@FridayStudy.org)
