PREACHED: OL,10-5-03,AM
(Filed:”S”uccess)
“HOW TO MAKE THE
INTRODUCTION:
14 Noted Austrian psychologist, Dr. Alfred Adler…
A. Died in 1937...
B. Told
story of two men…
1. Chanced to meet…
One an alcoholic
bum begging money…
The other,
well-dressed, successful…
2. Successful: “How did you come to this
sad condition?”
a. Bum: “Mother died when young…
Cruel, abusive father abandoned us and we were scattered…
You see, I never really had a chance. If your life had been like mine, you would be this way too!”
3. Successful replied: “You know, this all
very strange because the truth is that my background is similar to yours. I too
lost my mother, I too had an abusive father who abandoned us…My father also was
scattered when WWI came…”
4. After further discussion…blood
brothers!
5. Difference??
a. “When our family was scattered, I knew
I had no choice and could be overcome by my circumstances or I could overcome them.
I chose the later.”
14 Another Austrian psychologist, Dr. Victor Frankl…
A. “There is one freedom which can never
be taken away from a person—the freedom to choose the kind of person he will
become.”
B. Psa 119:59. “When I think of my
ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies…” V 67. “Before I
was afflicted, now I keep your word…”
1. Notice: David made a conscious choice! He
was not the fatalistic victim of his circumstances! He took responsibility for
the direction of his life!
34 One thing we can choose to do: Act in such a way as
to make our world a better place in which to live!
A. Suggestions to make our lives richer and
better on the job, in the church, at school and in the home.
DISCUSSION:
14 STOP THE HABIT OF COMPLAINING—START LOOKING FOR THE
GOOD IN OTHERS AND YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
A. Prov 25:11. “A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” 15:23. “To make
an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!” Isa 50:4. “The Lord has given me the tongue
of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is
weary.”
B. Speaking a word of praise, or encouraging
others who are downhearted, begins with our own internal perspective!
1. “What is down in the well will come up
in the bucket.”
2. Phil 4:8. “Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise, think about such things.”
C. If we concentrate on the good qualities of
the other person—really look for them—and spend our time expressing our
appreciation and confidence in their ability to achieve what God wants them to
achieve—it most usually brings out the best in them!
1. One man observed, “Appreciation is
always appreciated.”
2. But make sure you’re sincere in your words
of praise.
a. “Be sincere with your compliments.
Most folks can tell the difference between sugar and saccharine.”
D. Our problem is we live is a land of
complainers.
1. One man described it this way: “A man
complain about the food when he eats at home and about the price when he eats
out.”
E. I like the wise warning that tells us, “Don’t
complain because you have to get up early every morning. The time may come when
you can’t get up at all.”
24 GIVE PEOPLE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND TREAT ALL
PEOPLE WITH RESPECT!
A. There are folks who will prove to be
insincere by their words or their actions, and I’m not talking about being some
kind of doormat for the ungodly but:
1. Trust folks until they prove that
dishonesty is the pattern of their lives!
2. Always be open to forgive, for we are to
be forgiven by God as we forgive others!
B. ZIG ZIGLER described the negative,
suspicious and cynical as those who “demand a bacteria count before they
will drink the milk of human kindness.”
C. ALBERT EINSTEIN: “The greatest
tragedy in life is what begins to die inside a man while he still lives.”
D. Eph 4:30-32. “And do not grieve
the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let
all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you,
along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another as God in Christ forgave you.”
E. I love the words of confidence Paul gave
to the church in
1. Phil 1:6. “I am sure of this,
that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of
Jesus Christ.”
a. That’s a statement of confidence in God’s
ability to save, but also in their faithfulness and steadfast ness to God.
34 DON’T FOCUS ON WHAT YOU THINK YOU DESERVE AND DO
NOT HAVE, DO YOUR WORK FOR GOD AND LEAVE THE BLESSING TO HIM.
A. Prov 14:30. “A tranquil heart
gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.”
Gal
5:25,26. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
B. To prevent ulcers in the soul, rid your
diet of these bad goods: Sweetness of revenge! Acid of gossip! The heavy bread
of unkindness! The vinegar of self pity! The sour grapes of resentment!
C. Remember! Nobody likes to be around a
constant complainer about their lot in life and how they’ve been given such a
raw deal, when they deserve better.
44 GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO BE FRIENDLY AND HOSPITABLE
AND YOU WILL GAIN THE LOVE, FRIENDSHIP AND CONFIDENCE OF OTHERS.
A. Prov 17:17. “A friend
loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity…” Rom
B. But don’t just be friendly, strive to be a
real friend to others.
1. “A real friend will tell you your
faults and follies in times of prosperity, and assist you with his hand and
heart in times of adversity.”
2. “A trusted friend thinks you’re a good
egg—even though you might be slightly cracked.”
C. Open the door to your heart, your home and
your refrigerator and you’ll draw hungry souls who have all three doors shut to
them by the world!
54 WORK ON YOUR
CONTENTMENT LEVEL.
A. Phil
4:11-13
I Tim 6:6-10
B. GALE
OLLER:
“When you think things
couldn’t be worse,
And you tell tales of woe,
Just think how much worse
you’d feel,
With stickers in your toe.”
C. “Contentment is the duty we woe both to
ourselves and others. If everyone were a bundle of discontent, if every times
we met each other down the street we made a point of venting our personal
grievances, grumbles, and grouses, life would be intolerable. The air we all
have to breathe—and we all breathe the same air—would be polluted and poisoned.
When we are discontented and peevish, we are unchristian.”
D. One thing that grieved and angered God
with
64 WORK ON YOUR CHEERFULNESS AND YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR!
A. Learn
to laugh at yourself and with others!
B. Prov 17:22. “A joyful heart is a
good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” 15:13. “A glad heart makes a cheerful
face, but by sorrow of heart the spirit crushed.”
C. “Cheerfulness removes rust from the
mind, lubricates our inward machinery, and enables us to do our work with fewer
creaks and groans. Cheerfulness, too, promotes health and immortality. Cheerful
people live longest on the earth and in our heart.”
D. “You’ll have to look more redeemed if I
am to believe in your redeemer.”
CONCLUSION:
1s What if the success of
A. Your cheerful, supportive, uncomplaining,
hospitable attitude; your treating others with the same respect that you expect
from them; your practice of hospitality; your spirit of contentment; and your
desire to bring out the greatness in others; and your ability to laugh at
yourself and with others…
1. HOW SUCCESSFUL WOULD
B. You see, the growth of the church is not
only contingent on believing the right things, but by demonstrating the truth
of what we believe in the way we act toward each other and those outside the
church!!