How To Conquer Complaining

How to Conquer Complaining

By Pastor Fernando Cabrera

Philippians 2:14-16

„X Story of the man who wanted to become a monk

„X Could only say two words per year

„X First year ¡V ¡§Nasty food¡¨

„X Second year ¡V ¡§Bad bed¡¨

„X Third year ¡V ¡§I quit¡¨

„X The master monk said, ¡§I am not surprise, all you done is complain since you got here!¡¨

1. Four types of complainers

a. The Whinner: Murmurs

i. ¡§I don¡¦t like the deal I got¡¨

ii. Numbers 14:2 ¡§All the sons of Isreal grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, ¡§Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness

b. The Martyr:

i. ¡§Why is everybody picking on me?¡¨ Charlie Brown Syndrome

1. Number 11:11 ¡§Why have you been so hard on your servant? And why have I not found favor in your Sight, that you have laid the burden of all this people on me?¡¨

c. The Cynic

i. It is not going to work, what is the use?

1. Eccl. 1:3 ¡§What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?¡¨

2. you are only as big as the thing that annoys you

d. The Grouch

i. No one makes him happy

1. Luke 7:¡¨To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ¡¥We played the flute for you and you did not dance, we sang a dirge, and you did not weep. For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ¡¥He has a demon!¡¨ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!¡¨

2. Why is it important to conquer complaining?

a. Disruptive

i. It will rob you of your peace

ii. It breaks unity and fellowship

iii. It quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit

1. Numbers 11:1 ¡§Now the people become like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the Lord; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.

b. Destructive

i. Destroys your confidence and authority in Christ

ii. Destroys relationship (ex. Husband vs. wife)

1. instead of complaining , start complementing

iii. Destroys future and destiny

1. all you see is the bad and not what God has promised

a. some people destroy their future by what they say

iv. Destroys your faith

1. complainers have their focus on others or circumstances and not on God

c. Demoralizing

i. Complaining is contagious

1. If you are a complaining parent, you children will grow up becoming complainers; if you are a complaining boss, your workers will become complainers;

2. Behind every complain, you will find at the root an unsatisfied complainer

ii. Complainers sap the courage out of the weak

3. How does complaining start?

a. Gap ¡V Grind ¡V Gripe ¡V Grumble - Complain

b. Complain ¡V what happens in the outside

c. Grumble ¡V what happens in the inside

d. Gripe ¡V Develop a case against someone or get fixed on an issue

e. Grind ¡V Discontent

f. Gap ¡V Desire outcome and reality don¡¦t match

4. What is Satan role in our complaining

a. Seed

i. Satanic suggestion

1. an argument in our lives

a. God

b. Guardians

c. Giants

i. Grasshopper mentality

ii. The devil loves to plant seeds of doubt

1. Doubting is damaging because is make God look like a liar

b. Conceive

i. It begins to have a life of its own and spreads of every aspect of your life

c. Deed

i. It become part of your life or lifestyle

5. How do we then conquer complaining

a. Admit your wrongs when you are wrong

i. Wisdom: When I start looking fault with all I see, it is time to start looking for what¡¦s wrong with me.

b. Think about the best and blast the rest

i. Focus on the good (2 Cor. 4:17-18)

1. The good news is that bad news become good news when you change your attitude

ii. Becareful what you allow into your heart

iii. Put the right thoughts in your mind, before the devil does

1. renew you mind through the Word

2. Get into the Word and let the Word get into you

c. Develop an attitude of gratitude

i. It is impossible to be grateful and grumble at the same time

ii. Be content

1. Discontent people are prone to complaining