Positive: Get Your Mind Right
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
“It takes a positive attitude to move forward!”
Now pls don’t get me wrong. I’m not endorsing the so-called “positive-thinking” pop psychology with tag lines like this:
• “Conceive it, believe it, achieve it!”
• “Health is wealth”
• “Name it and claim it!”
• “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me!”
And a whole lot more positive thinking methodology.
But there is a kind of positivity and optimism that is deeply biblical and rooted in our faith in God and not just a mind positivity thingy.
You can be a real biblical Christian and maintain a positive attitude in life because of your faith in Jesus Christ. Amen? Faith indeed adds a positive power to your life as you move forward in your journey.
Notice what the Bible says…
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable
—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil. 4:8)
Think of such things. Being positive is a way of thinking, a mindset.
And then later in v.13…
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”
Is there more positive than that?
Well, the man who wrote those words was an optimist with a capital O. Read his story in the book of Acts and study his 13 letters and you’ll see how positive he was.
We’ve learned so far that seizing the dreams God planted in our hearts requires fervency in prayers, diminishing distractions, taking risks, having the willingness to persist, but also we have to maintain a positive attitude as we pursue them.
Today, let us learn from the great Apostle Paul his powerful secret for resilience and enthusiasm in his ministry. Paul’s life and journey of faith is indeed a classic example of what it means to have a positive spirit or attitude. Like Joseph last Sunday, he went through a lot in his pursuit of God’s dream for his life, yet remained positive in his outlook.
By stepping into Paul’s story at critical moments, we can understand how he lived a life of positivity despite hardships, which is the only way to plunge forward into the future God has for you.
1. Be Positive in Your Convictions
Paul’s positive spirit can be traced to his convictions. A conviction is your set of fixed beliefs, a deeply held set of certainties that lodges in the center of your mind and heart. It is critical that your convictions be sound and true and rooted in God and His word.
Paul’s convictions were the foundation of his incredible life and ministry. When these convictions dominate our lives, they can provide powerful motivation and direction for our journey.
Here are two examples of Paul’s convictions.
A. He was positive about God’s Love for him
The most basic conviction in life is knowing that the God who created the whole universe loves you and cares for you. That’s the most basic basis for optimism.
Consider what Paul wrote in Romans 8:38-39
(38) For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (39) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul can be very positive in his life because he is so convinced that no circumstance can separate him from God’s love. Not only is God real but His love is real. Just consider all the commas in this passage. These 10 commas represent different obstacles or barriers in life that can potentially cause us to fall and be negative about life.
But Paul says we can remain positive because we know and are convinced that God loves us. Amen?
The feeling of being unloved and uncared around us today is dominant in our times and is deadly. It destroys individuals and families in ways hard to comprehend and it stems from a growing ignorance or rejection of God.
Brethren, no matter how hard life can be, remember that God loves you and wants you to overflow with hope and optimism. Never forget that. Let that give you positivity in life.
B. He was positive about God’s Legacy for him
The second core conviction of Paul that caused him to be positive in life is that he is optimistic about his future. Remember in our 4th sermon, moving forward means embracing tomorrow with enthusiasm.
St. Paul constantly referred to his future whenever embarks to move forward.
Phil. 3:13-14
(13) Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
What motivated Paul to move forward no matter how hard life becomes is his future legacy in Christ, winning the prize in heaven.
Somebody said that you can know the most important thing in a person’s life through his last words.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
(6) For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. (7) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Paul has a very positive outlook even in dying. Why? Because he knew what he will get as a reward.
2. Be Positive in Your Conversations
People around you might be caught up in some pressing situations that needed to be uplifted. They need someone with a positive spirit to uplift them and help them through.
In Acts 27, Paul, along with some 275 men, was caught in a terrible storm for two weeks on a sinking ship. These people were getting helpless and hopeless, but Paul rallied their spirits by saying,
(21) “Men… now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. (25) So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
Then let’s jump to v.33
(33) Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. (34) Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” (35) After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. (36) They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.
See how the positive attitude of Paul encouraged and uplifted these men? Brethren, do you know someone struggling to keep their head above water? Think of the power of words to them in the right way at the right time, “keep up, have faith in God. He will help you as He promised in His word.”
Oh, the power of an attitude that is positively biblical!
Brethren, the spread of negativism in our social media today is more contagious and lethal than the covid virus itself. Instead, let us spread optimism that is based on God’s word.
Paul says in Eph. 4:29 NLT
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing. (LB)
3. Be Positive in Your Crisis
During times of conflict and crisis, optimism shines through like the sun piercing storm clouds. That was true for the Apostle Paul. Consider what Paul went through:
2 Corinthians 11:
(23) been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. (25) Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, (26) I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. (27) I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. (28) Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Paul list down more than 15 different crisis in life that he went through as he followed God’s dream for his life. But in in chapter 12, this is what he says…
(9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.(10) That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Wow! What a positive man of God. Don’t you desire such positivity in life in the midst of a crisis?
Brethren, we can’t control what the unfair world can do to us, but we can choose our response to what happens when we see them through the lens of God’s purpose in our life. For Paul, he saw that crisis as an opportunity to tap on God’s power and grace. And we can do the same today because we are serving and trusting the same gracious and powerful God that Paul served 2,000 years ago.
Brethren, I may not be able to understand what you’re going through now, but what I do believe is that with God’s power and presence in our life, we are overcomers. We can be positive all the time because God is good all the time.
Be positive in your convictions, in your conversations, in your crisis, and then finally…
4. Be Positive in Your Countenance
What is countenance? It is your demeanor or your appearance, your composure.
How do we know the positive countenance of Paul that we don’t have a photo of him? Well, Paul’s positive attitude and appearance permeate his letters. We see Paul’s countenance in the way he opens and closes his letters. For example:
Phil. 1:
(3) I thank my God every time I remember you. (4) In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy (5) because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, (6) being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (7) It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
Take note, Paul wrote this letter where? In prison, he is full of joy and thanksgiving for the Christians in Philippi. He is confident of God’s work for them.
Notice his closing…
Phil. 4:
(19) And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (20) To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (21) Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. (22) All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
Now imagine Paul writing those words. Can you say those words pessimistically? Aren’t they describing the positive countenance of Paul while he was writing them? Why can Paul be so positive in his countenance even though serving God’s purpose for him meant hardships and troubles and even threats of death?
2 Timothy 1:12
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Conclusion
Brethren, knowing Who we believe and Why we can trust Him gives us the confidence to be positive in all aspects of life.
So I challenge you in the spirit of the Apostle Paul,