Read: Numbers 13:1-33 & Numbers 14:1-38

Image by: Aquila

Introduction

A. There are many things in the world that are not contagious. Talent, experience, skills – to name a few.

B. There’s one thing that is always contagious. Attitudes!!!

C. What is attitude? It’s the way you perceive things.

D. People possess good attitudes and bad attitudes. We see both groups in the bible.

E. Good or bad, people catch the attitudes of those they spend time with.

F. In today’s study we are going to evaluate both types of attitudes and their affect on us.

1. People with unhealthy attitudes, (Numbers 13:31-33)

A. Moses sent 12 spies to spy the land of Canaan upon God’s command.

B. Only 2 of them brought a positive feedback. Others brought bad news. (Really bad news.)

C. All of them spied the same land. Saw the same people. They belonged to the same people that God brought out of Egypt.

D. Then how come the majority of them brought a bad report?

E. Well, The majority of them had a bad attitude!!!

2. Their influence was as bad as their attitude, (Numbers 14:1-10)

A. There were more than 1 million Israelites following Moses to the promised land.

B. Just 10 spies with an unhealthy attitude made 1 million people to doubt God.

C. Out of anger the people threatened to stoned the spies (Joshua and Caleb) who brought good reports.

D. Their unbelief called for God’s wrath upon themselves and others who believed them. (Numbers 14:22, Numbers 14:28-35, Numbers 14:36-37).

3. The church is not an exception.

A. Such people exist in the church also.

B. They are like polluted water. They make the entire body of Christ sick.

C. Their attitudes become their actions. Their actions become their character.

D. They pollute others by gossiping, rebelling against leadership, promoting destructive criticism, motivating and convincing others to become their followers.

4. How to spot them?

A. They pretend to be godly leaders, (Numbers 16:1-3).

B. Their character isn’t in consistent with their gifts.

C. They are like white washed tombs, (Matthew 23:27).

D. They pretend to be victims of the leadership.

E. They cause divisions in the church.

5. Don’t let them to influence you

A. These people are headed towards disaster, (Numbers 16:19-25).

B. Who ever follows them shares their fate, (Numbers 16:26-35).

C. Don’t let their words deceive you.

That was about unhealthy attitudes. Now let’s talk about healthy attitudes.

6. How to recognize people of healthy attitudes?

A. They trust God at all times, (Numbers 13:27, Numbers 13:30).

B. Obeys and supports the leadership, (Numbers 14:6).

C. They are doers of God’s word.

D. Their character is in alignment with their gifts.

E. The unity of the church is their top concern.

7. They are purifiers

A. No matter what kind of rotten atmosphere they encounter. They make everything around them better.

B. They take in the toxic words of polluters in the community just as everyone else does, but they filter the words before passing them on (Numbers 14:7-9).

C. What goes in may be gloomy and negative, but when it comes back out, it’s fresh and clear.

8. They are acceptable in God’s site

A. God is pleased about them, (Numbers 14:24).

B. They inherit God’s blessings, (Numbers 14:30).

C. God use them to bless others (Joshua became Moses’ successor and lead the survivors to the promise land).

9. Food for thinking

A. When you spend time with others, do they walk away feeling better or worse?

B. Do you clear the air, giving them a fresh perspective and positive encouragement? or do they go away feeling gloomy?

C. Watch how people respond to you, and you’ll know which kind of person you are?

D. The Israelites listened to the majority with the wrong opinion. Do you follow the majority or God’s expressed will?

E. How do you choose your associates? Are you careful? (Illustration: The proverb – “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are…”)

F. When listening to the other person – do you listen wisely?

G. Do you talk behind the back of your leader. When he is wrong do you confront him in love and gentleness?

H. What would you do if the leader doesn’t admit his fault? Do you know that God appoints leaders and God alone can judge them? – Do you know that God will judge them indeed?

I. Do you intercede for your leader when he is wrong?