The CURE for COMPLAINING

(S1) — SERIES — ENOUGH ALREADY...

…asking God to help me to see the GOOD—Trying to keep a perspective of faith that keeps me looking up—my thoughts and my eyes fixed on Jesus.

Staying positive is having an unwavering expectation that our loving God is working in every situation for our good!

…Stay OPTIMISTIC!

— CLINGING to what is Good—thinking MORE of what is Good— being both HEAVENLY minded, and EARTHLY Good

Starve our fears (negativity) and feed our faith (Good)!

How are you doing church?

Title— The Cure for Complaining

(S2) — The ART of COMPLAINING

Some of us are REALLY GOOD at it—Degree/DNA/Spiritual Gift

— He’s NOT talking about ME!

Research says, that, ‘the average person complains 30 times each day”

— He’s FOR SURE, not talking ABOUT me!

Truth is, complaining COMES NATURALLY—complain to complain…about WAITING in line/on hold—CABLE/POWER out—WEATHER—CUSTOMER service—WORK—Church

‘How to Complain Constructively’

If we stop to think about it, It’s amazing how blessed we are and how are ungrateful we can be!

Series is EXACTLY what I NEED!

(S3)

GOOD NEWS—There is a cure—GRATITUDE

Proverbs 15:13 “A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.

Stay POSITIVE? Stay GRATEFUL!

Colossians 3:17 (MSG) Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

PRAYER

A man joined a MONASTERY—vows of CELIBACY and POVERTY—SILENCE. According to the rules he was allowed to speak only TWO WORDS per YEAR—Annual Review

1st year in absolute silence/permitted to speak...FOOD COLD—2nd year…BED HARD—3rd year…I QUIT!

Leader—“Your decision doesn’t surprise us. After all, you’ve done nothing BUT COMPLAIN since you got here.”

If only our complaining were limited to just 2 words per year, how much more positive would we be! Reality is, that complaining has become as American (culture) as apple pie!

GUATEMALA—CARRY ROCKS/TIN SHACK

Why we complain?

(S4)

1. ENTITLEMENT—become accustomed to certain things—Faster internet, better cell service, speedy checkouts/drive-thru’s

“I want it now” — give it to me now!

2. BOREDOM – Work not fulfilling…little to occupy our minds

3. Poor SELF-IMAGE – Those who feel miserable about themselves, pull others down...

OPTIMIST...glass half full—PESSIMIST...glass half empty—CHRONIC COMPLAINERS

A glass that is slightly chipped holding water that isn’t cold enough, probably because it’s tap water even though I asked for bottled, and wait, there’s a smudge on the rim, too, which means the glass wasn’t cleaned properly and now I’ll probably end up with some kind of virus. Why do these things always happen to me?

Is STAYING POSITIVE important?

(S5) — Complaining Is Unhealthy!

According to Stanford University...A half hour of complaining every day physically damages a person’s brain, Whether you’re the one griping or you’re the one listening, exposure to negativity peels back neurons in the hippocampus–problem solving and cognitive function.

Steeping yourself in negativity has seriously consequences to our mental and physical health.

“Stress caused by complaining, is terrible for your body”—When your brain is firing off these synapses…you’re weakening your immune system; you’re raising your blood pressure, increasing your risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, and a plethora of other negative ailments,” https://www.inc.com/, Complaining Is Terrible for You, According to Science

Gratitude however...

Releases toxic emotions—Reduces pain—Improves sleep quality—Aids in stress regulation—Reduces anxiety and depression. positivepsycology.com

(S6) — Gratitude is the GATEWAY to a HEALTHY life!

With the goal of STAYING GRATEFUL, Where do we go for answers? — No shortage of complainers in the Bible!

Moses dealt with it—Israel’s complaint: no food/not the right kind

Exodus 16:8 Moses...“You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.

When we were kids, we ate what was on our plate!

God had something to say about it

Numbers 11:1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

Scriptures are full of it!

Psalm 106:25 “They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord.”

Jesus confronted complainers regularly...

— The Pharisees’ complained about Jesus...disciples complained the Pharisees and each other...James/John’s complained about the Samaritans...Martha complained about Mary...

You can bet Jesus had a specific word for each of them….

The apostle Paul…

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining and arguing...

(S7) — Simply stated (Pastor Groeschel)

”Complaining is giving expression to one’s self-centered discontentment. It’s a heart murmur with vocal chords.”

Gratitude is an ATTITUDE of unwavering expectation that our loving God is working in EVERY situation for our GOOD!

Bibles/App — Colossians 3:12-17

Four ways to live a positive life by STAYING GRATEFUL

CONTEXT (3:1-11)—What Christians should do/Rules for Holy living

(S8)

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

To clothe oneself…is to intentionally a positive attitude of gratefulness

’PUT ON’ (endyō)—Two meanings

First, to clothe oneself is a VISIBLE application

Ever been around someone with an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE?

Luke 15:22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.”

ROBE—The fathers GRATEFULNESS to God, for one who was lost is now found (visible)— Being grateful is to be dressed with thanksgiving to God—Visibly giving God credit for your blessings?

Phil. 4:5 Let your thankfulness be evident for all to see

GRATEFULNESS BEGETS GRATEFULNESS!

To PUT ON...to clothe oneself is to..Let it SINK IN—to be or become clothed…

Putting on clothes can change the way a person feels and acts”— UNIFORMS/STYLE—says a lot about you and how you feel...

‘ENCLOTHED COGNITION’ – “The effect clothing has upon a persons mental process – the way they think, feel, and function

(S9)

1. Stay grateful by…WEARING gratitude on your sleeve!

It means intentionally getting dressed with Christ everyday by giving thanks.

Just as clothing can change our attitude…giving thanks can bring inward transformation in an outward expression—because you are grateful, you become more compassionate...kind... kindness, humble...gentle and patient..

Get dressed with thanksgiving each day! Stay Positive…Stay Grateful

(S10)

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Paul is addressing believers who have been wronged and are probably complaining about it!

(KJ) “To bear or hold up”—It is an act if ENDURING the weight of being wronged—by forgiving as we have been forgiven

Ephesians 4:32 be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Marriage vows…love is patient…enduring all things

Who has faults? You, me everybody! Who needs grace from others? YME. How much more positive would be if forgave more?

(S11) Second way to STAY GRATEFUL...

2. Stay grateful by... extending FORGIVENESS to others!

Forgiveness is the flip side of gratitude—It’s easier for the one who is grateful.

Coming before God with ingratitude…

Mark 11:25 when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

The sinful woman who came to Jesus – pouring perfectly good perfume

Luke 7:47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

Gratitude is the GATEWAY to a HEALING in relationships

STAY POSITIVE…FORGIVE more

(S12)

15 Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

peace (eirēnē) — the exact opposite of the word for anxious—stay grateful? KNOW the peace of Christ!

heart (kardia) — seat of our thoughts, passions, desires—Stay grateful? RECEIVE the peace of Christ in your heart!

rule (brabeuō) — to put in control of—Stay grateful? Let peace RULE in your life

“The believer does not automatically experience the peace of Christ. He is supposed to, but he may not. The word rule (brabeueto) means to be or to act as an umpire. Peace is to be the umpire, the deciding factor in all circumstances and situations of life.” Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) (D. The Heart of the New Life, 3:15–17)

(S13)

3. Stay grateful by…giving Jesus the FINAL word in all circumstances!

John 14:27 My Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.

(S14)

Thank God for the Fleas/Corrie Ten Boom (article)

Gratitude is the GATEWAY to the PEACE of Christ!

(S15)

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

Mary/Martha encounter Jesus—Martha’s complaint

— Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”

— Jesus said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it – it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

What did Mary do? She went to sit at the feet of Jesus—to be with the very word of God!

(S16)

4. Stay grateful by…letting the WORD of Christ ENRICH every part of your Life!

(ESV) letting Christ Dwell in you abundantly…means to soak in...

Gratitude is the GATEWAY to Staying Positive

Four ways to stay grateful—what if you were to pick just one?

(S17)

What if you were to WEAR gratitude more? Put it on…let it sink in...become part of our DNA? Would we be more grateful?

What if you extended forgiveness to one person? Forgiving as we have been? Would we be more grateful?

What if you let Jesus have the final word in all your circumstances? The peace of Christ rule in your live? Would we be more grateful?

What of you spent more time at the feet of Jesus soaking in his every word? Would we be more grateful?

The cure for the common complaint is gratitude

(S18)

(MSG) 17 Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Gratitude is an ATTITUDE of unwavering expectation that our loving God is working in EVERY situation for our GOOD!

Stay Positive…Stay Healthy...Stay GRATEFUL

Resources

https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/how-jesus-handled-peoples-complaints-about-other-people-1352381.html