17-4-13 AM, Discontent,Philippians 2:12-18

Rock wall near Potrerillos, Panama: The name "Potrerillos" means "Little Pastures," and is derived from the numerous stone walls built by the indigenous population several centuries ago. The walls were constructed through forced labor under the direction of Spanish settlers to form pastures and fields for the settlers' cattle and farms.

Rock wall near Potrerillos, Panama: The name "Potrerillos" means "Little Pastures," and is derived from the numerous stone walls built by the indigenous population several centuries ago. The walls were constructed through forced labor under the direction of Spanish settlers to form pastures for the settlers' cattle.

Where did the rocks come from? They were in the fields naturally. The rocks interfered with farming and ranching. Therefore, in order to get the most out of the land, they had them moved out of the pastures and used them for something more beneficial, walls.

Often a farmer must remove rocks so he can increase his yield. Jesus described our hearts as soil. His desire is that our hearts would hear His word and produce fruit 30, 60, and 100 times. However,

Our hearts are much like these fields. God wants to produce in us excellent results for His kingdom. He wants all of us to lead people to Christ and to learn obedience, but we have rocks strewn throughout our hearts which smother spiritual fruit.

In this series, we will identify these rocks as attitudes we carry.

God’s desire is to move these rocks out of your life. God wants our hearts to yield 30, 60, 100 times the seed that is planted.

I want my life to produce spiritual fruit for God’s glory and I hope you do too. I sure want to see people saved, baptized, and mature in Christ because God has worked in my life. Don’t you?

I want my life to produce spiritual fruit for God’s glory and I hope you do too. I want to be a faithful Great Commission Christian. I sure want to see people saved, baptized, and mature in Christ because God has worked in my life. Don’t you?

What are these rocks?

I sure don’t want to miss out because I held ungodly attitudes in my heart.

In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes our hearts as soil. If our soil is good, it receives His word like a seed and His word produces an abundant crop, which is spiritual fruit.

For the purpose of this sermon series, these rocks are attitudes that smother spiritual fruit in our lives.

God wants to use you to bear great fruit, but many of us miss out because we hold ungodly attitudes in our hearts.

My hope is this message will help us all identify such attitudes and support the Lord as He works to remove them from our hearts.

My hope is this message will help us all identify such attitudes and move on from them and on to the good things Christ has for us.

n the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes our hearts as soil. If our soil is good, it receives His word like a seed and His word produces an abundant crop, which is spiritual fruit.

We know good soil. It’s loamy, meaning a fertile mixture

In the ideal case, our hearts are like good soil (loamy), on which the seed falls (that is, Jesus’ teachings) and it produces a crop 100, 60, or 30 times what was sown. The crop is salvation, spiritual fruit, and spiritual growth and maturity.

In this series, I want to share with you from God’s word about rocks in your soil which smother spiritual growth. All of us have stones which prevent our lives from bearing an abundance of spiritual fruit.

Jesus wants these rocks out of the way say His word will have a greater yield in your life. He has this great plan for you to be spiritually strong in Him. Therefore, we must work these stones out of the soil.

In the parable, Jesus mentions several other kinds of soil (packed, rocky, and full of weeds) which do not bear fruit.

In this series, I want to look at attitudes we carry in our hearts which smother

The first attitude I want to address is discontent.

Philippians 2:12–18 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Philippians 2

Discontent means we are unhappy because of our life circumstances.

Unhappy=Joyless

Circumstances=people, possessions, profession, providence, purpose

We look at these and say “bah humbug!”

A. When we bear a spirit of discontent, it is impossible for us to be satisfied for very long. This is different than a hunger for excellence. Rather, it is an attitude of “Woe is me, things do not meet my refined preferences!” Really, it is dissatisfaction beyond what is reasonable.

When discontent takes hold in our hearts, it manifests itself through complaining, criticism, cynicism, worry, and general negativity.

When we become discontent, we become a Downer Debbie, Chicken Little, Eeyore, and a Nervous Nelly.

When we bear a spirit of discontent, it is impossible for us to be satisfied for very long. This is different than a hunger for excellence. Rather, it is an attitude of “Woe is me, things do not meet my refined preferences!” Really, it is dissatisfaction beyond what is reasonable.

Like having a melt-down because I put star wars toothpaste on the brush instead of Disney princess toothpaste.

It’s a hyper-sensitivity to things not being how you want them to be.

B. Discontent means we choose to suffer in our hearts because things do not measure up to our precise expectations.

Sure there are people who legitimately suffer and appear to be justified in their complaints, but the majority of us who foster discontent in our hearts choose to suffer because things do not measure up to our refined preferences.

It’s interesting that the wealthier a society is, the more indulged we become, the more discontent and complaining there seems to be! (JM)

There’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to such discontent: First World Problems.

Living in a wealthy society in which we have escaped most life and death threats regarding,disease, hunger, and safety, we make up things to complain about. A person in a developing country would scoff at such complaints.

I am so mad at Amazon Prime because they didn’t deliver my package in two days!

first world problems. Thing

This discontent can shape your perspective and feelings about your country, your job, your church, your family, your health, your bank account.

C. With an attitude of discontent, we are constantly on the hunt for whatever will satisfy the hole in our hearts. The discontent believes the grass is greener on the other side and tells others how non-green the grass is on this side.

John MacArthur Sermon Archive Stop Complaining, Part 1

And as I’ve said to you on a number of occasions, it is a curiosity to me that the most indulged society is the most discontent society, that the more people have the more they seem to be discontent with what they have and the more complaining they seem to be.

When we become discontent, we become a Downer Debbie, chicken little, and nervous Nelly.

Grass is greener on the other side

D.

When discontent takes hold in our hearts, it bears fruit- complaining, criticism, consumerism, cynicism, whining, worry, and general negativity.

When discontent takes hold in our hearts, it manifests itself through complaining, criticism, cynicism, whining, worry, and general negativity.

When we become discontent, we become a Downer Debbie, Chicken Little, Eeyore, and a Nervous Nelly.

How the Soviets used to negotiate. Take shoe off and slam on the table.

When we become discontent, we become a Downer Debbie, Chicken Little, Eeyore, and a Nervous Nelly.

E.

Some use discontent and complaining as a power tool. They’ve learned from an early age that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. From childhood, parents gave them what they wanted just to keep them from crying and whining. Unfortunately, in adulthood, they keep on with this immature strategy.

F.

Discontent wreaks havoc on the Lord’s church! It smothers spiritual fruit in a church.

1. People who are discontent tend to not be soul winners. Others are not a priority.

Discontent wreaks havoc on the Lord’s church! It smothers spiritual fruit in a church. People who are discontents tend to not be soul winners. Typically, those with discontent distract the prayer warriors and soul winners who give their time and attention to trying to satisfy them. The stones of discontent smother the spiritual fruit of joy and gratitude.

There is an amazing correlation between

2. Typically, those with a discontent attitude distract the prayer warriors and soul winners who give their time and attention to trying to satisfy them. These are experts at throwing wet blankets.

3. The stones of discontent smother the spiritual fruit of joy and gratitude.

4. And it is incredibly contagious! Misery loves company. Discontents are Merchant of Muck, they breed dissatisfaction by attracting others who know he’s more than willing to listen to, and elaborate on, things that are wrong in the church (Shelley, M. (1985). Well-intentioned dragons: ministering to problem people in the church (Vol. 1, p. 40). Carol Stream, IL; Waco, TX: Christianity Today; Word Books.)

It’s a rush to form a group who can really shake things up through complaining!even if it splits up a church! church wreckers

Shelley, M. (1985). Well-intentioned dragons: ministering to problem people in the church (Vol. 1, p. 40). Carol Stream, IL; Waco, TX: Christianity Today; Word Books. It’s a rush to form a group who can really shake things up through complaining!

I think it is safe to say, this attitude affects us all at times. Especially in me.

This morning we must recognize this attitude does not belong among the Children of God! It greatly displeases the Lord! It is a rock in the field preventing exciting spiritual fruit in your life.

Philippians 2:12–18 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Text:

Paul wrote the Philippians from prison in Rome.

This is a sign of immaturity. Usually you see this attitude in children and your train the children that whining is not the means to get what they want. In fact, we have a rule in our house that if the children must whine and cry about things their lot in life, they can do it in their rooms

Phil

He is writing to thank the Philippians for standing by him as he endured imprisonment and to encourage the Philippians to progress to spiritual maturity.

In the letter, Paul gives instruction about progress in Christian maturity. He encouraged the Philippians to bear Christlike attitudes:

1. Being willing partners in the gospel ministry ()

2. Have joy in the midst of suffering ( ),

3. Give love and sacrificial service to one another (), and

4. Be pure and undefiled character ().

These attitudes and actions comprise the "working out your own salvation” which Paul refers to in vv.12-13.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:

This phrase refers to the sanctification I mentioned earlier.

It means to working with God as He works on you. Let your effort be consistent with God shaping you to look like Christ His Son. As God removes rocks from your field, yield to Him. This passage is not about getting saved. It’s about Semper Refomanda. This is God removing rocks.

Then Paul pinpoints and attitude and action which is contrary to “working our your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Philippians 2:14 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

Philippians 2:13 ESV

13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

It refers to an attitude of discontent and the action of complaining.

Grumbling…This word in onomatopoeia. It sounds like murmuring under ones breath.

Disputing…Debating, arguing, making a case

Disputing…Debating

The idea here includes expressing discontent with others, but it emphasizes expressing discontent with your lot in life to God.

Paul tells the church to stop it.

When Paul tells the church to stop it.

You know this former Pharisee had in mind the OT examples of grumbling.

1. The Israelites complain by the Red Sea that Pharoah is coming after them ()

2. They complain about the bitter waters of Marah ()

3. They complain about the bitter waters of Marah ()

3. They grumbled in the wilderness about not having food ()

4. The Israelites complained about not having water at Rephidim ()

5. Then , the discontent hits a high note. The people complain about their hardships and the Lord responded in anger.

Numbers 11:1 ESV

1 And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.

6. Then they wail about the food in vv. 4-34 and God responded

Numbers 11:19–20 ESV

19 You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the Lord who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?” ’ ”

Numbers

7. Then Miriam and Aaron oppose their brother Moses ()

8. Then the biggest one, the people rebel when they learn there are giants in the Promise Land

In their spirit of discontent, they:

Forgot the mighty ways God provided for them in the recent past.

They expressed that they did not trust God to provide for them in the present.

They were disloyal and ungrateful.

They forgot their place before the sovereign and magnificent God

Romans 9:20 ESV

20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”

Paul tells us that God hates grumbling and complaining. It grates on His ears.

There are a few sounds which are as intolerable as children whining. They can cry and whine in their room, but not in the common areas. They hit such high pitches the neighbors dog starts to have conniptions!

Why does God dislike whining?

It portrays Him as a God who does not meet the needs of His own. It defames His name in the eyes of outsiders.

1. It portrays Him as a God who does not meet the needs of His own.

It portrays Him as a God who does not meet the needs of His own. It defames His name in the eyes of outsiders. It expresses that we dissaprove of His providence and plan in our lives.

2. It defames His name in the eyes of outsiders.

3. It expresses that we disapprove of His providence and plan in our lives.

Paul calls on us to abandon discontent for three reasons:

A.

Abandon discontent for your own sakes.

Philippians 2:15 ESV

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

That we might be the kind of children that God saved us to be.

We are to abandon discontent so that we will be blameless and harmless children of God.

Now those two words, blameless and harmless, or some of your translations will say blameless and innocent, really are not a great deal apart in terms of meaning. They both speak of moral purity.

Blameless simply means a life that can’t be criticized, a life that can’t be criticized. There’s nothing for which you can be held responsible by way of sin, evil, wickedness. It’s a life without blame, it’s a life that has no blemish, no blot on it, no sinful stain which people can discern and see. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Panorama City, CA: Grace to You.)

Now those two words, blameless and harmless, or some of your translations will say blameless and innocent, really are not a great deal apart in terms of meaning. They both speak of moral purity. Blameless simply means a life that can’t be criticized, a life that can’t be criticized. There’s nothing for which you can be held responsible by way of sin, evil, wickedness. It’s a life without blame, it’s a life that has no blemish, no blot on it, no sinful stain which people can discern and see. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Panorama City, CA: Grace to You.)

MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Panorama City, CA: Grace to You.

So he’s simply using two somewhat basic terms, saying that your life is to be a life which cannot be criticized for sin and which is pure and undefiled and unadulterated and unmixed with evil.

So really two ways to say essentially a pure life … a life without fault and a life without flaw. That’s God’s desire for His people that their character and their conduct should be so pure that they cannot justly be accused, that they are above criticism that is legitimate, there is no foreign element which contaminates their life. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Panorama City, CA: Grace to You.)

But you don’t have this reputation if you grumble and complain. Maybe its because grumbling or complaining reveals a motive which makes you a suspect for wrongdoing.

If you’re always complaining about the neighbor’s dog, and the dog goes missing, you might find yourself a suspect!

Further, If you are a child of God then you are to live the way a child of God should live, manifesting the character of God. JM

Grumbling and complaining is contrary to the character of God and His holiness.

In summary: By abandoning the attitudes and actions of discontent, you will make great progress in bearing spiritual fruit and maturity in your life. You will be well esteemed by others.

B.

Abandon discontent for the sake of the lost.

Philippians 2:15 ESV

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

For the sake of the lost

When you and I stop grumbling about our lot in life, we become distinct from the world. There is a marked difference in our quality.

Evangelism is primarily a matter of God’s children shining as lights in a dark world. But doing that effectively comes down to a few things … character and content, personality and proclamation. It’s not just what you say, it’s also what you are. And we know that. This is good reminder. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Panorama City, CA: Grace to You.)

Now what do you mean by shine? We demonstrate the light of God. What is that? It’s the life of God. I’m not going to go into a whole study, but light and life are one. Life, the life of God in us emphasizes the character of that life. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Panorama City, CA: Grace to You.)

John MacArthur Sermon Archive Stop Complaining, Part 2

So stop grumbling, Paul says, stop complaining, stop arguing with God, obey God joyfully, work out your salvation without complaining and in the process of shining as lights in the world hold out the gospel that saves and you will find there will be a ready reception because a transformed life is the greatest advertisement for the gospel. Not a negative, griping, complaining spirit. So it’s your joyful, thankful, positive, enthusiastic trust in and love for and obedience to God that makes your witnessing effective.

So stop grumbling, Paul says, stop complaining, stop arguing with God, obey God joyfully, work out your salvation without complaining and in the process of shining as lights in the world hold out the gospel that saves and you will find there will be a ready reception because a transformed life is the greatest advertisement for the gospel.

Not a negative, griping, complaining spirit. So it’s your joyful, thankful, positive, enthusiastic trust in and love for and obedience to God that makes your witnessing effective. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Panorama City, CA: Grace to You.)

C.

Abandon discontent for your leadership.

Philippians 2:16–17 ESV

16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Philippians 2:

John MacArthur Sermon Archive Stop Complaining, Part 2

No, but to give me a greater joy in eternity. Why? I believe it’s very simple. This isn’t proud, this isn’t self-serving. Paul’s saying this, look, “I love God. I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I live in this life to serve God. And I look forward to heaven for one great reason, I want to glorify God. And the more effective my service has been in this world, the greater my capacity to glorify Him will be in the world to come. So don’t limit my capacity to glorify Him in the world to come by rendering my labors here in vain because you have not followed through.”

And so here’s his third and compelling motivation, do it for your sake that you might be a proper child of God. Do it for the lost’s sake that you might shine as a light in the world holding forth the Word of life. And do it for my sake that out of love for me and esteem for me and desire to see me fully able to glorify God in eternity, do it.

Paul’s saying this, look, “I love God. I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. I live in this life to serve God. And I look forward to heaven for one great reason, I want to glorify God. And the more effective my service has been in this world, the greater my capacity to glorify Him will be in the world to come. So don’t limit my capacity to glorify Him in the world to come by rendering my labors here in vain because you have not followed through.”

And so here’s his third and compelling motivation, do it for your sake that you might be a proper child of God. Do it for the lost’s sake that you might shine as a light in the world holding forth the Word of life. And do it for my sake that out of love for me and esteem for me and desire to see me fully able to glorify God in eternity, do it. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2014). John MacArthur Sermon Archive. Panorama City, CA: Grace to You.)

Further, Do you want to be a part of a ministry team that does something effective for the kingdom? Don’t discourage your team leaders with discontent.

Friends, the word of God tells us to dismiss discontent from our lives.

It’s going to be gone some day anyway

It’s going to be gone from our lives some day anyway, so why get rid of it now.

It is worthless for now and eternity

It hurts our life purpose, taints us as saints, ruins our witness, and discourages pastors.

It is a heart issue at is core.

This is a heart issue.

It is daring to criticize God for the life He’s given you to live.

It is failure to recognize what God has done with gratitude. In truth, it makes us look like the unredeemed.

Discontent looks bad when you consider how many people in the world have it worse of than you and me.

Romans 1:21 ESV

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:20 ESV

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

How do I get rid of discontent, this gnawing unhappiness over my life which leads me to gripe and complain?

Romans

How do I get rid of discontent, this nawing unhappiness over my life which leads me to gripe and complain?

1.

Take your complaints to God and His word.

Let Him really have it. Let the Lord be the ear to whom you “vent”.

Take it to the throne before the phone

I think after a little while of praying and reading His word, you’ll see His Spirit has started to pry that rock in your field free.

He will work with you to identify why you are so unhappy with all He’s given you.

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians

2.

Practice joy and gratitude.

Philippians 2:18 ESV

18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

I have a friend who spent 30 days texting items he was thankful for to me and a few others. Make a daily habit of giving thanks, counting blessings, and considering those who are worse off than you.

3.

Different than effective evaluation and constructive criticism done in a spirit of love and care.

Learn to recognize the difference between vocal discontent and constructive criticism.

One is purposeful, done in a spirit of love and care, and for the kingdom

The other is unwholesome, unproductive spewing.

THINK before you speak, ask

Is it True?

Is it Helpful?

Is it Inspiring?

Is it Necessary?

Is it Kind?

Does it improve upon the silence?

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Repent of discontent

Repent

Maybe you need a partner and a buzzer

Embrace joy and gratitude

17-4-13 AM, Discontent,Philippians 2:12-18

Rocky Soil Introduction

Discontent

Discontent