The Attitude of Standing - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

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New Life COTR
Sunday June 22, 2008
DRESSED FOR BATTLE
“The Attitude of Standing”

INTRODUCTION: For several weeks we’ve been in this series titled “Dressed for Battle.”
Recognize you’re in the battle. Recognize who’s in the battle with you. Put on the full Armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Four times Paul says, “STAND!”
If you and I are going to win the battle we must STAND!
Paul is not talking about physically standing. But how many of us have heard the word posture which describes the way we stand?
Posture- “A position or attitude of the Body.”
Paul is talking about our spiritual posture. He’s talking about the position or attitude of our spirit man.
When the “day of evil” comes, victory is often determined by our spiritual posture.
Remember, posture is the position or attitude of our body.
TRANSITION: Two spiritual attitudes that determine if we are victorious or not.
When fighting the battle your will either have an ATTITUDE OF DEFEAT or an ATTITUDE OF VICTORY.
Our posture will be one of defeat or victory. Let’s look at the difference between the two.
Nehemiah 4:6-12 Turn and Read

ATTITUDE OF DEFEAT
1. When you’re continually discouraged.
Discouragement drains you of strength.
Discourage- to drain of courage, to deprive of confidence, hope or spirit. To hamper or hinder. To try to prevent by expressing disapproval or raising objections.
God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” The opposite of that would be “be weak and discouraged.”
TRANSITION: If you’re continually discouraged it can be due to and attitude of defeat.
Another sign of a posture of defeat.
2. When you’re more focused on your obstacles than God.
Which can be a result of no strength or being discouraged.
The people said, “There is so much rubble.”
Are you focused on your obstacles? Is that all you talk about? You could have an attitude of defeat.
TRANSITON: If you’re continually discouraged and are always looking at your obstacles it could be because you have an attitude of defeat.
3. When you begin to doubt the Vision
“We cannot rebuild the wall.” Talk about an attitude of defeat! They were already half-way through the project and began to doubt the completion.
A posture of defeat.
4. When you’re controlled by fear
Verse 12- “Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”
Talk about fear.
You know you’re controlled by fear when you’re talking more about what the enemies going to do than what God’s going to do.
TRANSITION: An attitude of defeat is an unhealthy posture when faced with a battle. (1) When you’re discouraged (2) When you’re more focused on your obstacles than God (3) When you begin to doubt the vision (4) When you’re controlled by fear


SO WHAT WOULD AN ATTITUDE OF VICTORY LOOK LIKE?
NEHEMIAH HAD AN ATTITUDE OF VICTORY
1. Courage is Evident
With courage comes strength for the battle and the ability to respond to God.
Joshua 1:6,7,9, 18
Joshua 2:11/5:1
TRANSITION: When there’s a posture of victory courage is evident. Next you have an attitude of victory
2. When you’re focused on God no matter how big your obstacle is.
1Samuel 17:45-48
When courage is evident and you’re focused on God no matter how big the obstacle you have an attitude of victory. Next
3. When the vision lives in your heart.
Nehemiah 4:13,14
Courage is evident; you’re focused on God, the vision lives in your heart
4. Faith in God controls your life.
Nehemiah 6:8-16
CONCLUSION: “Having done all to stand, stand!” Stand with a posture that says, “I’m victorious. Have an attitude of victory. Not after the battle but before and during the battle.
1. Be courageous
2. Focus on God no matter how big the obstacle
3. Let vision live on the inside of you.
4. Be controlled by faith in God