Stop Complaining

Covenant Life Church

What is a complaint?

Say what you need to say, but know the difference between saying something negative that needs to be said and saying it over and over establishing it as a belief.

The truth is it is okay for everything to not be perfect… as long as you respond to it by going to God first.

Example: King Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 20:12 AMPC

12 O our God, will You not exercise judgment upon them? For we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.

Complaining is Sin

Philippians 2:14-15 NIV

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky…

Example: The Israelites

1 Corinthians 10:9-10 AMPC

9 We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did—and were killed by poisonous serpents;

10 Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did—and were [a]put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).

Numbers 21:4-7 AMPC

4 And they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, and the people became impatient (depressed, much discouraged), because [of the trials] of the way.

5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, neither is there any water, and we loathe this light (contemptible, unsubstantial) manna.

6 Then the Lord sent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died. 7 And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord, that He may take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people.

When you’re so focused on what’s all wrong it tells us plainly there, you’re gonna get impatient, depressed, and discouraged.

God does not like complaining because it hurts us. It will quickly open the door to sickness and destruction.

Hebrews 10:31 KJV

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Numbers 14:34 NIV

For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’

What would happen if we lived with the thinking that one day of complaining could send us into a full 365 days of bondage or staying stuck?

Philippians 4:11 NIV

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Luke 3:14 NIV

14 “What should we do?” asked some soldiers.

He replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with your pay.”

There are pros and cons to everything in life as long as we live.

Vision to Change

Don’t bother praying about something if you’re going to complain about it

Don’t complain about something that you’re not willing to do anything about.

Habakkuk 2:1 ESV

I will take my stand at my watchpost
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

2 And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;
make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.

If you’ve got a complaint in your life, then get a vision about how you can fix it.

The Cure

James 5:9 ESV

Do not grumble against one anothe so that you may not be judged. The judge is standing at the door.

Hebrews 13:15 AMPC

Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

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