Sermon By Rev. Remi Awopegba

YOUR ATTITUDE WILL DETERMINE YOUR ALTITUDE IN LIFE TOPIC: YOUR ATTITUDE WILL DETERMINE YOUR ALTITUDE IN LIFE

TEXT: NUMBERS 14: 11 – 12, 20 – 38.

INTRODUCTION: According to John C. Maxwell, our attitudes are our most important Assets. Your attitude is primarily how you react to your experiences in life. Charles Swindoll said “I am convinced that life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% how I react to it”

Robert Half International, a San Francisco consulting firm conducted a research on vice presidents and personal directors of 100 America’s largest companies, to identify the single largest reason for firing an employee.

The responses showed that attitude was the single largest reason. Your attitude will determine your altitude in life, The attitude refers to the height you will get to in life.

Basically, we have positive/(good)/or negative (bad) attitudes/in Phil 2:14 – 15, Paul admonished “Do all things without murmurings and disputing. That ye may be blameless …”

In today’s passage, the majority of the ten lepers showed negative attitudes, while the minority showed positive attitudes.

THE PASSAGE - In Vs. 1–3 The Lord commanded Moses to send out 12 spies, one from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, These were leaders in their tribes.

They were approaching the Jordan River; They were already at the wilderness of Paran – From where they could move on by faith and possess the land of promise.

But they troubled Moses – that they must go ahead to search the land first – Moses eventually consented; God also permitted. (Dt. 1:6 – 8, 19 – 23).

THE MIND OF GOD WHEN HE PERMITTED THE SEARCH: - They will confirm the information God had earlier given – a land flowing with milk and honey.

They will discover they are not too far from their destination. Their hearts will be encouraged

They will even be anxious or in a hurry to get to the Land God had already prepared for them. Jesus has also gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:1 – 4).

THE MANDATE GIVEN THE SPIES: VS: 17 – 21. To see the Land: - what kind of land? Good or bad; Fertile or barren; suitability for agriculture; Fat or lean...

2. What kind of people (v.18)? The demography of the people; their population, (small or large); Their strength – weak or strong.

3. Kind of cities (v. 19); settlement pattern – linear, cluster etc; Open or walled;

The attitude of a man always reflects in the output. REPORTS (VS. 25 – 33) The attitude of a man always reflects in the output. There were minority and majority reports.

- Two reports from a single committee is an indication of dichotomy; division; disagreement and disunity

AREAS OF AGREEMENT IN THE JOINT REPORT: They went and came back together alive, after 40 days (v. 25). They shared the fruit of the land – The land was truly fruitful. (v. 26)

They confirmed that surely the land was flowing with milk and honey. (v. 27). The people were strong. The cities were walled.

DIFFERNECES IN REPORTS - The differences were personal interpretations of what they saw – which has to do with attitude or internal feelings

Called evil Reports – were based on negative attitude. MAJORITY’S REPORT: Called evil Reports – were based on negative attitude. 1. The report shows disobedience to God.

No mention of God in their report – ignored God in their report. Concluded that the land had no future prospect. They gave room for the spirit of fear and intimidation – cowardice.

Took on a grasshopper mentality.

6. Exaggerated the actual situation – - The land eats up the inhabitants – (v. 32) – (yet there were many people, even giants there). - The walls of the city reach unto heaven – Dt. 1:28.

7. Their recommendation was to return to Egypt that they could not go to the promised land.

MINORITY’S REPORT: By Caleb the son of Jephunneh of the tribe of Judah and Joshua the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim. Had good report with positive attitude.

They obeyed God. They were able to see beyond the circumstance – Faith. They saw God in everything.

They based their own report and recommendations on God’s track record with His people. Has God ever failed them? They were never alone after all, God was with them.

They displayed Spirit of courage. The recommended that they should go on at once and possess the land. The did not turn the people against the leadership and God.

THE EFFECTS Evil or negative report is highly contagious – fast spreading infection. The infection caught the entire congregation.

V.4 – Immediately a motion was made, seconded and a decision was taken to return to Egypt – rebellion against leadership and God. Num. 14:10 They took a decision to kill the leaders of righteousness.

THE FINAL RESULT BY GOD: (Num.14:22 – 23, 29, 36 – 38). Those of negative attitude died by the plague (v. 37). Others from 20years above did not get to the promise land (v29).

- Only Caleb and Joshua were not infected by the deadly disease of negative attitude – hence stayed alive for the new era – to witness the goodness of the Lord (v. 38).

CONCLUSION: In every situation we find ourselves, our attitude will make the difference. From the lives of Joshua and Caleb it is discovered that: Our attitude determines our approach to issues in life.

Our attitude determines our relationship with people. Our attitude will determine the output or outcome of every task.

Our attitude will determine the success or failure of it. Our attitude will determine our altitude in life.