Complain or Compliment
Let Your Light Shine Series • Sermon • Submitted
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· 46 viewsDon't omplain, compliment and display with thanksgiving
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Why do lights go dim?
Why do lights go dim?
Why do lights, lamps, go dim? Now a light bulb can go out when it burns out, so we need to be careful of that, don’t burn out. Light bulbs will go out if there is no power. So stay plugged into the power that works in you. But when you think of a lamp, an oil lamp why do they grow dim? Is it the oil is running low? Is it that the wick is not trimmed? - - - - in this series let your light shine we he have looked at this passage from Php2:12-16 and gotten some direction and some hope.
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
Direction in working out our own salvation
Direction in working out our own salvation
How to work it out with fear and trembling
Hope we have seen that it is God who works in you. What a great assurance we have in that.
Today we are going to look at what can make our lamps, our lights grow dim and how to avoid it and in its place what we should display to others. we will look at
Murmuring (grumbling)
Complaining
and finish with displaying
Paul issues this as a warning, and warning are not given for no reason but with reason. So let’s see the reasoning behind this today and what we should be doing when contrasted against what we should not be doing.
I. Murmuring (grumbling)
I. Murmuring (grumbling)
Focus today is on (Php2:14) and we start with looking at murmuring, not murmuring, but looking at murmuring.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,
Some versions say grumbling, others complaining while others say murmuring.
So what is murmuring?
a subdued or private expression of discontent or dissatisfaction
Israel was good at murmuring, many died because of it (1Cor10:10-11)
10 Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
These things were written for our instruction so we don’t do these things!
So how about more examples of grumblers, murmurers (Jude3-4, 16-19)
Jude3:4
3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Ungodly people who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny Jesus Christ! - those are grumblers, complainers who do not want to accept the truth and want to lead others away from the truth.
16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. 17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Jude18-
18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.
Now Jude went on to describe more in the passage about the grumblers.
Grumbling can put your soul or the souls of others at risk.
Think about this, if you are sold out for something, do you complain about it or proclaim and compliment it?
As a Christian who is to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling are we grumbling, complaining, murmuring about it or are we in awe of God and what He has done for us through the Christ.
How can we let our light shine if we grumble, complain or murmur?
Replace murmuring, complaining, grumbling with thanksgiving.
Remember the definition of murmuring, part of it discontent or dissatisfaction.
As a Christian who has every spiritual blessing (Eph1:3)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Has the assurance that God will meet all of our needs (Mt6:31-33; Heb13:5-6)
31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
and then there is this passage in Hebrews
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
He knows what we need and will meet the need
Our part is to be content and have faith
Remember God works in us to will and to do for His good pleasure (Php2:13)
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
We should be filled with thanksgiving and known for that not for murmuring, or complaining.
Look at some solutions (Col1:12, 2:6-7, 3:15, 17, 4:2)
Be thankful for what we have in Christ, our inheritance
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
That should make us abound in thanksgiving
Col
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
The attitude of gratitude!
Have thanksgiving for the peace of God having rule in our hearts
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
And turn our thanks to thanksgiving to the Father through the SOn
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Be thankful, be prayerful
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
When we have an attitude of gratitude an attitude of thanksgiving then we can let our light shine in a wicked and perverse world, in a wicked and perverse generation we can do it without murmuring, grumbling and complaining!
How do people see us, do we constantly grumble, complain, murmur about the economy, our government, out healthcare or some other social injustice. Or do we shine the light of Christ in lieu of any circumstances and we look for the hope, we look for the good!
Whew, that is a lot just on murmuring, complaining and grumbling, but that is only 1/2 of the scripture isn’t it?
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
II. Disputing
II. Disputing
Simply put disputing means, arguing or disputing
It is not discussing differences
It is divisive wrangling condemned in (1Tim6:3-5; 2Tim2:14-16; Tit3:9)
3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
Advocates different doctrine, has morbid interest in controversial questions that bring about envy, strife, abusive language and constant friction.
14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,
We need to not wrangle about words, but be diligent to present ourselves as approved to God as workman.
Tit
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
Avoid the foolish unprofitable and worthless things that cause division by disputing, arguing and wrangling. These things can lead to devouring (Gal5:15)
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
It is ok to be different, be different in how we handle our differences
You can be different and not divisive in how you handle your differences
Be different but strive to have the mind of Christ, develop that (Php2:2)
2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Mentioned thanksgiving before now joy comes into the mix and that always comes with love. May our love be intent on one purpose the purpose of Christ that works in us both will and to do.
So until we are perfected and we have the mind of Christ and we have disputes, we can let our light shine in how we deal with them, without grumbling, complaining, murmuring, we can do it with the proper attitude (2Tim2:23-26)
of Christ and we have disputes, we can let our light shine in how we deal with them, without grumbling, complaining, murmuring, we can do it with the proper attitude (2Tim2:23-26)
23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Be not foolish, be not quarrelsome
Be kind, teachable, patient
Use gentleness in correction, and help by leading to repentance
We have the attitude and God has giving us the qualities, we just need to apply them (Col3:12-13)
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Put it on! Heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience bearing with one another, forgiving one another.
With the right attitude, and the God given qualities and our willingness we can forego disputing by at times not exercising our liberties (1Cor8:13)
13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
Let our light shine when we deal with disputes in a positive manner. We can impact the world for Jesus when we do! So next time you have a dispute, be different in how you deal with it!
What we display matters; here are some things to consider and we will move on.
What do we display?
How can we display the light of Christ in us?
Why should we display the light of Christ in us?
III. What do we display?
III. What do we display?
Don’t display grumbling, display thanksgiving
Don’t display disputing, display grace and understanding
Put on Christ (Rom13:11-14)
11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
We put on Christ when we are baptized (Gal3:27)
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
We need to put on the new man (Eph4:24)
24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
We do that when we do not grumble, complain, murmur or dispute and we are content when we accept what God has for us.
Mentioned what do we display, what should we display but now why should we display is whats left.
Let your light shine! (Mt5:14, 16)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
You are a light, you are the light of the world!
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Shine before man that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Let us be people of light not of grumbling, complaining, murmuring and disputing.
Let us be people of light that shines bright for Christ who works in us so we can work out our salvation with fear and trembling and develop Christ like character!
(Lead to invitation) - insert invitation slide (lighthouse)