Attitude Is Direction by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning we are going to talk about being profitable. The bible has many examples and teachings about gain and profitability. Your greatest conflict in your walk is always yourself. The closer you live in the world, the further away you are from God, and the closer you are to God, the further away you are from the world. This morning's scripture reading will be out of the book of Matthew. Go to Matthew chapter 25 and we will begin reading at verse 14. This scripture reading is Jesus telling the parable of the talents. Going forward, if you have peace with God, you should notice a lack of conflict with the world.

        14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

        15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

        Look at the man who called his servants. He knew every man was capable in their ability when he had given each of them their portion of talents.

        16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

        17 And likewise he that had received two. he also gained other two.

        18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

        The last man hiding the Lord's money is an illustration of man and God. 

        19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

        As in scripture so holds true this morning. There is coming a reckoning. It won't overtake the world and affecting those you don't like. It will start in the church. There is deterioration and atrophy in a lot of churches today. I tell you this morning that attitude is direction. The power of life and death are held on the tongue. So, if you speak negative, poor mouthed, nihilism, doom and gloom all the time, that will reflect in your life. Two questions to ask this morning is Are we praying and turning to God in our trials? Are we murmuring and complaining to ourselves? 

        Going back to what was preached last Sunday, laziness is a stronghold. It is not just in the area of work. There are plenty of hard workers who put in 40+ hours and are the laziest Christians. God has information for us to access through this holy word and by praying to him. If you speak positive, love, understanding, empathy, good will that will reflect in your life. the Bible states that you work here on earth as if you work for God. It is up to you if your life is a burden or blessing. You are supposed to be a blessing to others.

        20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

        21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

        22 He also received two talents came and said, Lord, thou delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

        23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

        There are a lot of talents which God created and not everyone is qualified for some of them. You need good influences in this life. You need people who will tell you no, be honest with you, redirect you. The spiritual aspect of the talents are that one talent is the gift of salvation. Faith is only as good of a tool as the person using it. You have to know your strengths and weaknesses in life, because when you are aware of them, and God's hand is moving to help you overcome your weakness that move is all the more powerful.

        24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed.

        This verse illustrates our carnal self righteous nature. It shows man thinking with his carnal mind. God is the only spirit working outside of time. The man was afraid in verse 24, but it wasn't holy fear. There are a lot of people who publicly state how nothing scares them and they fear nothing. The reality is they are consumed with fear over even the smallest of things. If you are sitting here saying that God is a hard man and his rules are harsh, that is not the holy fear of the Lord on you. You are simply making excuses about your life. The display of love to God is you and I doing what the scripture says in spite of your own self. A hard path gets rid of sin. Turn briefly over to the book of Mark chapter 16. We will start reading at verse 9.

        9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

        10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

        11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

        12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

        13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

        14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

        15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

        16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

        17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

        18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

        Let's speak for a second about the word shall. Shall is defined as used to express what is inevitable or likely to happen in the future. The possibility to obtain. We get distracted by the movement and business of life.

        Going back to our verse selection in Matthew at verse 24. The last part of that verse is speaking about the creator. It does not impress God when you don't show reverence or obedience to him. Laziness is a stronghold in our life. We have responsibilities and to hold ourselves accountable. Be the mark where the measure of the plum line. Turn over to Proverbs chapter 2 for a second.

        My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

        2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

        3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

        4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

        5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

        To apply your heart is to force it into understanding. There is a difference between having the Holy Ghost on you and in you. There's some action to it. If you want something you will go after it.

        Verse 4- search after the Holy Spirit as if you were going after money.

        Verse 5- To fear the Lord is to hate evil. People often like to speak the phrase hate the sin and not the sinner. Many struggle with that because they blind themselves to the sin while being friends with the sinner. The world is really good at keeping you distracted and busy.

        The same mercy God shows in Psalms 136 is what we should use in our daily life. If we sow into the wind (world) above getting ahold of by god, don't be shocked when God doesn't move and you reap the whirlwind. It's our job to pray, intercede for our brothers and sisters. Examine yourself this week for laziness. If you see any, it is easy for you to cut it off. The motto of my way is not God's way. You can't murmur and pray in the same breath. You have to be willing to sacrifice time for God and those who are on your heart.