Complaining & a Critical Spirit

Complaining & a Critical Spirit Philippians 2:14-16

Complaining & a Critical Spirit • Phil 2:14 - Phil 2:16 (TLB) 14 In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing 15 so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights, 16 holding out to them the Word of Life. Then when Christ returns, how glad I will be that my work among you was so worthwhile.

Complaining & a Critical Spirit • Purpose: To examine God’s view of people who complain & have a critical spirit. • Objective: To understand that change is needed if you are known as a person complains and is critical about everything. A witness for Christ is suppose to be the exact opposite.

Complaining & a Critical Spirit • Situation • Paul states that the purpose of Philippians is to thank them (4:10-20); but writing from prison (probably in Rome), he also wishes to address some other issues, including the likely further persecution the *church will face and an exhortation to work together. • As much as the Philippian church (probably made up of several house churches) loved Paul, its members were divided among themselves; thus the recurrent exhortations to unity (1:27; 2:2, 14) and mutual service (2:3-11).

Complaining & a Critical Spirit Three Points • Stay away from complaining and arguing • Live clean, innocent lives • Shine out like a beacon light

Complaining & a Critical Spirit Point 1: Stay away from complaining and arguing: • Paul said “In everything you do stay away” • 14 In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing 15 so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. • Home, Work, Church, Neighborhood, Sick, Healthy,. • Avoid negative and/or argumentative people.

Complaining & a Critical Spirit Point 2 Live clean, innocent lives • Paul said, “ 15 You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn.” • Be clean cut, be sharp, be professional, • Be a straight shooter, have integrity • There should be something different about you from others who not have Christ as their moral and spiritual compass. • We should stand out form others who are living in darkness, and are crooked and stubborn.

Complaining & a Critical Spirit Point 3 • Shine out like a beacon light • 16 holding out to them the Word of Life. Then when Christ returns, how glad I will be that my work among you was so worthwhile. • The word in our life is what gives us light. The beacon light provides direction. • What path or direction does your light point? • What are you holding out? Mischief, drugs, drunkenness, anger, mediocrity

Complaining & a Critical Spirit Three Points • Stay away from complaining and arguing • Live clean, innocent lives • Hold out the word - be a beacon light

Complaining & a Critical Spirit • Sometimes I think we just forget who we are, whose we are. • We need to remind ourselves from time that we need to be good witness all the time: • At Home • At Work • At School • At the Church. • In everything you do.

Complaining & a Critical Spirit • Phil 4:4 - Phil 4:9 (TMNT) 4 Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! 5 Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! 6 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Complaining & a Critical Spirit • Phil 4:8 - Phil 4:9 (TMNT) 8 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. 9 Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. Content Whatever the Circumstances

Complaining & a Critical Spirit • Phil 2:14 - Phil 2:16 (TLB) 14 In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing 15 so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights, 16 holding out to them the Word of Life. Then when Christ returns, how glad I will be that my work among you was so worthwhile.

Complaining & a Critical Spirit • Purpose: To examine God’s view of people who complain & have a critical spirit. • Objective: To understand that change is needed if you are known as a person complains and is critical about everything. A witness for Christ is suppose to be the exact opposite.

Complaining & a Critical Spirit