What Must I Think

1
What Must I Think

• To Be Saved

2
Attitude Is Important

• We may know what God wants us to do to be saved,
  but we won't do it without the right attitude
  (Ac.237-38,40-41)
• The acceptance of any truth depends upon the
  attitude of the person who is listening
  (Lk.811-14) and the attitude of the speaker (1
  Tim.46-16)

3
The Attitude of Balaam

• Consider Balaam's contact with Israel (Num.22-24
  Deut.234-5 Josh.139-10 Neh.132 Mic.65)
• Balaam is not an example to follow (Num.318,16
  2 Pet.215-16 Jude 11 Rev.214)
• However, Balaam's statement in 2326 gives us a
  good summary of the five attitudes that save
  (1) All (2) that Jehovah speaketh, that (3) I
  (4) must (5) do"

4
1. Self-Surrender

• All the attitude of self-surrender
• Balaam was employed by Balak (Num. 225-7). No
  doubt he felt an obligation to please his
  employer. However, when he spoke God's word, God
  was his only employer - like Amos (Amos 710-16)
  or Paul (Gal.16-10 1 Thess.23-4).
• Examples of self-denial Abraham (Gen.121ff
  221ff) and Paul (Ac.2022-24)

5
1. Self-Surrender

• Balaam was promised a place of honor (Num.
  2217). Balaam felt that God, not man gets the
  glory (Num. 241-13) - like Peter (Ac.1025-26).
  God is to get the glory in all that we do
  (Mt.514-16 1 Thess.518 Eph.520 Phil.46 1
  Cor.126-31).

6
1. Self-Surrender

• Balaam was offered a large sum of money (Num.
  2218). Money (material possessions) has a way of
  blurring our devotion to God. Self-denial in
  following Jesus includes earthly possessions
  (Mt.418-22 1624-27).
• Not everyone has the attitude of all. Some of
  the Jews (Jn.540-44 1242-43) and the rich
  young ruler (Mk.1017-31, see v.28).

7
2. Critical Listening

• That Jehovah speaketh the attitude of
  critical listening
• Some have been trained not to listen to God's
  word - the Bible. Balaam did not have the popular
  attitude of I feel (Num. 2218-19,35,38
  233,12,20 2326 2413).
• We need to have the attitude of Samuel Speak,
  Lord, for thy servant heareth (1
  Sam.39-10,18)

8
2. Critical Listening

• Critical listening is important. Jesus instructs
  on listening (Mk.424 Lk.818 Heb.21 1225).
• The Bereans are a great example of critical
  listening (Ac.1711)

9
3. Personal Responsibility

• I the attitude of personal responsibility
• Balaam was pressured to curse Israel. The
  pressure was placed on him by Balak, the
  messengers and the land of Moab and Midian.
• Balaam, however, realized his personal
  responsibility to examine God's will, to do it
  and nothing else

10
3. Personal Responsibility

• Consider some examples of personal
  responsibility Joshua (2414-18), Isaiah (68),
  Ezekiel (1820,30 331-20), Peter and John
  (Ac.529), Paul (Rom.1410-12 2 Cor.510), and
  John (Rev.223)
• We won't do what we don't feel responsible to do!

11
4. Good Conscience

• Must the attitude of a good conscience
• Balaam acted, not because God forced him to, but
  rather because he knew this was the right thing
  to do and he desired to do God's will. His
  conscience would not let him do otherwise.

12
4. Good Conscience

• There are many "musts" in the Bible Jesus
  (Lk.249 Jn.94), Peter and John (Ac.529),
  Baptism (Ac.96 2216), Worship (Jn.421-24) and
  faith in God (Heb.116)
• The conscience is good when we do what we know is
  right (1 Jn.319-22)
• Our conscience will be judged (Rom.216)

13
5. Active Obedience

• Do the attitude of active obedience
• Balaam realized that he must do something, and
  that doing was controlled by God's word
• The religion of Jesus Christ is a religion of
  doing. Jesus is the example (Jn.434).

14
5. Active Obedience

• We must do Gods will Mt.721-27 Lk.646
  819-21 1025-27 1127-28 Jn.1514
• God does it all salvation is not in the Bible!