The Attitude of Christ's Bride

The Bible emphasizes, time and again, is the attitude that God wants us to have. So much of the Bible deals with attitudes, as we well know, because it's very important to God. Now, attitude can be defined as the inner workings of what a person is, what's inside of his heart and his mind. So you can do something on the outside, but that's not necessarily what is genuine. What is genuine is what's going on inside of the person. What kind of attitudes and thoughts is he having, and what are the types of habits he usually is accustomed to having? Notice in 1 Samuel 16, we see what God looks at more than anything else. 1 Samuel 16, verse 7, But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see a man as a man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart, the inner formation of the person, their character, what they're really made of. And if we go back one chapter, we see why Saul was rejected. He had the wrong attitude. Notice in 1 Samuel 15, verse 15, And Saul said, They have brought them, and talked about the animals, from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have utterly destroyed. Then Samuel said to Saul, Be quiet, and I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night. And he said to him, Speak on. So Samuel said, When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel? You are nobody, Saul, in other words. And now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed. Why, then, did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil and do evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said to Samuel, But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag, king of the Amalek, I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the plunder, sheep, and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed to sacrifice to the Lord your God and Gilgal. So here he's blaming the people, but he is the one that had ultimate responsibility. So Samuel said, Has not the Lord has great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices? As in obeying the voice of the Lord, behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams, for rebellion is as a sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry, Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king. And so we see here the difference that God gave Saul specific instructions, and Saul eventually did what he thought best. He violated a lot of those instructions, and he justified it. He thought as king that he could basically overrule God and have the people follow his commands. So God's not going to be struggling and fighting against someone else's will in that way. If God calls a person and the person is put in a position of responsibility, that person has to follow God and be submissive to God, and not do things their own way. So God could rely on David despite his occasional faults, because David was totally committed and submissive to him. Notice 1 Kings chapter 15 verse 4. 1 Kings chapter 15 verse 4.

You don't see David improvising when God gave him instructions. He followed them faithfully. 1 Kings 15 verse 4. Nevertheless, this is speaking here, giving the instructions. He said, Nevertheless, for David's sake, the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by setting up his son after him and by establishing Jerusalem. Because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not turned aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. Yes, that was that big blotch, but the rest of his life he was faithful. And so we see David had the right attitude of submissiveness, obedience, letting God guide him through all the difficulties he had in life. This is repeated in the New Testament about David in Acts chapter 13 verse 22. Acts 13 verse 22.

It says here, And when he had removed him, talking about Saul, he raised up for them David as king, to whom also he gave testimony and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will. So nobody's perfect, but David's heart was always following God, giving him praise, worshipping him, and obeying him, not improvising. So that's a great example of having that type of the right attitude. Notice another case in the Old Testament, Numbers chapter 14.

That type of attitude that God looks upon. Numbers 14 verse 20.

After the spies came with a wrong report, it says, Then the Lord said, I have pardoned them, according to your word, Moses, but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, because all these men who have seen my glory, and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put me to the test now, these ten times, and have not heeded my voice. God is always testing what kind of attitude are we going to have. He says, They certainly shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected me see it.

But my servant, Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him, and has followed me fully. Yes, I can rely on Caleb, because he follows me fully, not half-heartedly, not occasionally. I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it. Going on to verse 27. So God again mentions, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against me?

Always have the criticism. Always, doesn't matter how well Moses did things, they're always finding the little detail, always turning things against Moses. He says, I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against me. Say to them, as I live, says the Lord, just as you have spoken in my hearing, so I will do to you. The carcasses of you who have complained against me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered according to your own entire number, from twenty years old and above, except for Caleb, the son of Jephuneth, and Joshua, the son of Nun.

You shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. And so again, mentioning about the right attitude. And I want to focus on the attitude of Christ's bride. He just finished the Days of Unleavened Bread. And here's a new spiritual year. And yes, the world has awoken and been shook by what has happened with this pandemic around the world. And God is looking at the attitudes of the bride, and He is testing the bride now.

He's looking for the same attitude as the attitude of David, of Caleb, of Joshua. Are we going to always be the first ones to criticize, to find fault? God takes it personally. He's doing so much for us. And if we're negative, if we're always down on things, He doesn't like to hear that. He knows that we're going to have ups and downs, but He wants us to go before Him, not distance ourselves, not be complainers. Are we complainers? Is that our typical attitude? Finding the negative instead of the positive in things? So let's go to the New Testament. Notice here in Revelation 2 that God judges the church's attitude.

The members in the church, as they go through trials, as they're tested, what kind of attitude do we have? Notice in Revelation 2, verse 23, talking about the church in Thyatira, we basically consider this was a period of the Middle Ages where there was so much religious persecution. And some of the people yielded and started following the wrong teachings and following the false church. And He's pretty upset about that. And so He says here, talking about those that get involved with it, He says, I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts, and I will give to each one of you according to your works.

He wasn't happy with that compromising church that didn't hold on to His truths as they should have. And so I'd like to focus on the attitudes of the last two churches mentioned here in Revelation. They seem to describe attitudes before and during the end times. Now, until someone points out the flaws in this reasoning, I believe those two attitudes mean that there will be a separation, and the church will eventually end up in two different groups. Notice in Revelation 12, in verse 14, this is going to happen in the future.

It could be sooner than we think. Revelation 12. Let's start in verse 13. It says, Now when the dragon, talking about Satan, saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. So one of the key events when the end times begin is that Satan would have created his rebellion in trying to dethrone God, trying to usurp that authority, and he's going to be defeated, and he's going to be thrown with his angels back here on earth.

And then there's a short time, three and a half years, which is talked about. He says, He persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. Now that's talking about the church, the church of God in these days, because it's the one through whom Jesus Christ was born, and he's the one that developed this church. It goes on to say, But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she's nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.

So here is the woman. At least part of that woman is going to be protected. She's going to be provided with safety and food, and Jesus Christ is going to be very active with that group of people during those last three and a half years, just like He did when they were in the wilderness period during the Exodus. Jesus is going to be right there guiding the church, not necessarily physically manifesting Himself, but He is going to be very powerfully guiding His leaders, getting the people trained and prepared at final training period.

Verse 15, So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood. We've already talked about that. The flood is symbolic of a multitude of people, like an army, after the woman, that He might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped a woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood, which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. Whatever it is, it's not going to be affected. God is going to intervene. There's another way that you could take this, and that is that the devil actually creates, breaks a dike or something and wants to drown all the people.

But whatever it is, whether it's humans or actual water, they are not going to be affected by that. God is going to intervene. Verse 17, And the dragon was enraged with a woman, because he couldn't do anything else to destroy her. And he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. So these are, yes, Ten Commandment Keepers. They're the ones who keep the Ten Commandments, and they have the testimony that Jesus Christ is their Savior.

They're following Him and obeying the Sabbath, the feast days, the food laws, tithing. They're following the laws that God requires of us. And we have then an attitude here that is so important to retain, because the Church is going to be divided by the different attitudes that God sees in His people. So let's go now to Revelation chapter 3. Revelation chapter 3, in verse 7, we begin with the Philadelphia Church, and these two churches, Philadelphia and Laodicea, it's describing the period of the end times.

I will explain some of the reasons for that. Revelation 3 verse 7 says, And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, these things says, He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. Now, in the New Testament, this term about opening a door or closing a door has to do with getting the gospel out.

It's opening or closing the opportunity to get the gospel out. Keeping one finger here, we can go to 1 Corinthians 16 verse 8 and 9. 1 Corinthians 16 verses 8 and 9, where Paul says, But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost, showing that he did keep the holy days.

Verse 9, For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. So he says, God has opened a great door there in Ephesus. And it was a place he stayed a long time because God was calling people there. So we see that example. And then in 2 Corinthians chapter 2, 2 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 12, another example, Paul speaking, Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord.

So again, when it talks here, it talks about the opportunities in this particular church period, when there were going to be great doors that Christ was going to open, and there would be some that he would shut. And so we continually see new doors being opened. And one of them is the Internet here lately that has become one of the greatest means of God calling people. So continuing in Revelation 3, in verse 8, he says, I know your works.

See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name. Again, he uses the term that I've opened a door. And certainly a hundred years ago, the doors were virtually closed to getting the gospel out to the world, through radio first, and then television, and the printing presses stepping up with all kinds of modern technology, and then the Internet, TV, all of this has happened.

Great open doors. Notice there are three things he says about the church. He recognizes it has a little strength. It's not very powerful. You're not going to do it through your own means or strength, but God is going to supply what we lack. And certainly today in this world, it's hard to have a lot of spiritual strength.

People are distracted. They don't have as much time to study their Bible, to pray, to do their spiritual exercises as they did centuries ago. People didn't have many distractions. It was easier to get down on your knees and read your Bible and speak to God. So that's the first thing he mentions. He says, you have kept my word. So you have been obedient. You have not denied God's word, His laws, His way of life. We keep doing it even despite all the difficulties.

Here we are. We didn't just cross our arms and say, well, everybody's confined, so we're not going to have services anymore. No, we're going to figure out how to do it, because we still have to have a holy convocation. And with the means available, this is the best that we're able to come up with. It's a wonderful opportunity to still be spiritually fed on this Sabbath day. And then he says, and you have not denied my name.

In other words, what his name represents by your deeds. It's not just praising God or mentioning His name. No, you haven't denied what His name represents, following Him as a faithful and submissive bride of Christ. And we are submissive, and we are open to more teaching, correction, and guidance from God. Those are characteristics of this church. He goes on to say in Revelation 3.9, Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie.

Indeed, I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you. So here you can see that the false church still exists. Even here at the door of the end times, we see there's a powerful church. It's trying to infiltrate. It has powerful guidance. They call themselves Christians, but they're not following Christ's commands. He goes on to say, Then these will one day have to recognize who are the authentic Christians who have kept God's commandments and kept His word unadulterated.

We haven't mixed false pagan concepts. Here you have Easter that has come up, and people talk about all these things. But it's not Easter that's found in the Bible. It's God's Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. That's what he wants us to observe. And he says, and praises those that you have not denied my name. You have been faithful.

You have kept my word. It goes on to say verse 9, verse 10, It says, So it's a period of time. And of course, if to God a thousand years, it's like a day in a day, like a thousand years, an hour is a short amount of time. Talking about three and a half years here of testing. That's how long the Great Tribulation is going to take place. And he says here that it's going to test those who dwell on the earth.

One of the commentators, Vincent, in his word study, puts it this way, because you have kept my word with perseverance, you've kept my word with perseverance. In other words, you still have the love of the truth, mentioned in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2. Now, why are they not going to go through this trial that's going to test the world?

An analogy you can use is that there are some colleges and universities that when you end the semester, the final exam is optional. Now, I never heard of this when I was growing up and going to the university. We all had to do it. But now, some make it optional, because the teachers consider that if you've gotten A's and B's in all of your assignments, you've done a good job, they know that you've been able to master the material, then you already deserve an A.

You don't have to have additional testing. And you can apply this same principle to God's way. If you've had a lifetime of obedience, God doesn't have to further test you. He knows what you're made of, that you are going to be faithful through thick or thin. But if you have a negligent student that has gotten poor grades, that's trying to do everything at the last minute, he is going to have those final exams.

He's going to go through that test, because he hasn't shown God that he has been faithful. Continuing on in Revelation 3.11, Christ tells this church, Behold, I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

In effect, what Christ is saying is, you now have that crown as something real. It can become yours. So don't drop the ball in the end, because you can be replaced by another. God can call someone else. If you leave that position in God's kingdom, that crown of authority that God is offering to you, if you disqualify yourself, that position will then be open to someone else. And you have then lost your crown, that wonderful golden opportunity.

In Revelation 3.12, he goes on to say, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and I will write on him my new name. So again, what he's talking about here is that that crown that is being offered is to be administrators under God and Christ.

This 20th century and 21st century has been the time of a lot of development as far as administrating things. And somehow God has used the church with the doors that it has opened. And notice how coordinated we are. That just from Cincinnati, in the home office, Mr. Kubik can declare that we're going to have a fast, and that goes all out around the world. That's being announced in all the congregations. Why? Because we've learned how to administrate and do things.

We're not a bunch of separate little groups that none of them are able to coordinate with others. Yes, we are able to coordinate, and we learn to do everything together to move as a people. When we go to the feast, when we do the foot washing, we all do it together. And somehow what he's saying here is that you get to be right there in that executive area with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

One of the greatest moments that I've ever had as far as working in the church. It's been over 40 years now, but one of those opportunities was the three years that I worked very closely with Dennis Luker. When he was named president, he sent me to Latin America to see what we could do to help and rescue the sheep that were being persecuted and being deceived. He sent me there, and during those three years, it was such a pleasure to work under him, to serve him. We had a wonderful trip with Cottie and Leanne Luker, Denny, and myself. We went to visit different churches in Latin America, about almost two weeks that we were together.

You know what? I learned so much from that man. I would love to serve under that man again. Now, imagine that's just a human being. And of course, I love to serve under Victor Cubic, too. We had a trip similar, and it was similar experiences. Can you imagine working where God the Father and Jesus Christ are going to be right around there, and they're going to ask you to go, maybe to different planets? And set up different areas to expand the kingdom of God as it multiplies?

Can you imagine the privilege, how undeserved it is? But this is part of what he is offering to those of the Philadelphian era in particular. Then he goes on in verse chapter 3, verse 14, to the angel of the church in Laodicea, these things says the true and certain witness, the head of God's new order.

This is in the Bible in basic English. So Jesus Christ is the head, the word archi, which means in charge of, head of. Some translations have it the wrong way, beginning, because it's not this, but he is the head of God's new order. Revelation 3, 15, he says, I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. What kind of attitude did the Laodiceans have?

At least the Philadelphians are out there doing the work, sacrificing. People are tithing, praying, working together. That's how we can get so much done. But how about them? What kind of attitude? He says, you're neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. So what kind of attitude do we see here?

It's a lackadaisical. Doing the minimum just to get by, there's no really real drive or enthusiasm involved. It's interesting that there in Laodicea, in those days in the Roman Empire, they had to bring in the water about six miles away. They had an aqueduct that brought that water. By the time it got there, and also from the source itself, it was lukewarm. It wasn't either hot or cold, and it was full of minerals, in particular, sulfur.

And you know how bad that tastes? It made you feel like vomiting. That's why he's reminding them here, this is the way I feel. Now, people in Laodicea, they had to get used to that water. After a while, they didn't see much of a difference. But any stranger that came, he started drinking that. He felt like vomiting. And so, Christ is telling us, we've gotten used to a lackadaisical, lukewarm attitude. Verse 17, because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. They had a famous banking center. They had a lot of money in that area.

They thought they didn't need help from others. They were self-sufficient. And it led to an attitude of self-righteousness. Verse 18, he says, I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire. You're going to be tested. You haven't been doing what you should. So you're going to have to go through that final exam. That you may be rich, that you will purify your attitudes. And have white garments, that you may be clothed. So again, what are the white garments?

Revelation 19, it mentions that the white garments are the righteous deeds of the saints. That the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eyesou that you may see. See your state. Your attitude is not right with God.

Christ explained what you have to go through that test. Verse 19, as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent before I stand at the door and knock. This is right before Christ returns. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with me. The person who will prepare, they are going to be part of God's kingdom. He says to him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with my father on his throne. That's going to be an executive position too. Administrative positions be handed out. Brethren, this shows us the importance of our spiritual attitudes before God. These days of unleavened bread that have just passed should prepare us spiritually for the coming year. We're going through a world crisis. We don't know exactly where all of this is leading, but we have to spiritually prepare as the bride of Christ. We can't change the circumstances that come, but we can better prepare for them with the right attitude. Put God first, then family, then church, and then the others. Keep up our spiritual exercises. That makes a big difference during the day. What kind of attitude we're going to have during the day. If we first of all put on that spiritual armor, if we get close to our father, we're not going to be as irritable. We're not going to be weak. We're not going to be lackadaisical.

This chapter ends about our attitudes. Revelation 3, 22, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. In other words, be aware of what attitude, thoughts, and actions God wants to see all of us have.