Replace a Complaining Attitude with an Attitude of Thankfulness

Transcription

1 Replace a Complaining Attitude with an Attitude of Thankfulness

2 Are we responsible for our thoughts, words, actions? Are we responsible for our choices in friends? Are we responsible for our pop culture consumption? ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CHOICES OR ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE PASSIVE IN OUR CHOICES AND LET GOD BE IN CONTROL? FIRST OFF GOD IS IN CONTROL BUT DO NOT GET LOST IN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD S SOVEREINTY AND ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME LOST AS A SPECTATOR TO LIFE YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS TO DRIVE THE CAR OF YOUR LIFE HONK THE HORN A FEW TIMES

3 REMEMBER: God expects us to make choices and to be responsible for the good and bad consequences of those choices AND we are commanded to seek out God s will and to walk therein BUT we rely on God to maintain control of situations after we have done all that we can and we rely on Him to do what we cannot do Looking for a job send resumes or wait on God to provide? Have a child try to get pregnant or wait on God to provide (only worked once in recorded history Mary) Get an education go to school or wait for God to provide?

4 Raise your right hand Stick out your tongue at the person beside you Smile at the person on the other side of you

5 You see it is as simple as that nothing more nothing less A choice is a decision (sometimes deliberate sometimes out of habit) to do/not to do something INSURANCE LAW: the reasonable person (upon whom our justice and contract system is based) is a person endowed with no special characteristics/intelligence/etc. who does what a prudent and reasonable person would do and does not do what a reasonable and prudent person would not do in the same set or circumstances IE: this is a person who makes choices based upon current and past decisions/patterns of thinking Our legal system is based on reasonable choices we make choices these choices are sometimes made because of the way we think sometimes reasonably/sometimes not patterns of thinking (more to come on this)

6 This talk is about choices, complaining, thankfulness, and attitudes in general We often associate such talks with kids, teenagers, etc. This is not a talk to/about them it is a direct talk to adults, parents, people in-and-out of the workplace, and then to those who model their behaviour after us so listen up mom and dad in particular If you want your kids to make good choices, you need to start having the right attitude before God so they can model what they do after you not just after your words or after Pastor Shawn

7 What is this word? What does it mean? It sounds the way it is (drip, drip, drip what complaining sounds like) It is a choice a choice to complain, to be covetous, to be critical, to doubt, to be rebellious (MURMURING DEFINED AS THESE FIVE SPECIFIC ATTITUDES FOUND IN NUMBERS 11-14) OR it is also a choice to be thankful, content, loving, filled with faith, submissive WHY IS IT THAT WE FEEL THAT IT IS A CHOICE TO BE THE POSITIVE SIDE OF THIS EQUATION BUT THAT LIFE FORCES UPON US THE NEGATIVE? - THAT IS A LIE BUT IT IS ALSO A CHOICE (whether or not to believe this lie/become a victim) The point is this, THOSE WHO CHOOSE MURMURING AS THEIR LIFESTYLE WILL SPEND THEIR LIFETIME IN THE WILDERNESS.

8 Attitudes: PATTERNS OF THINKING DEVELOPED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. Patterns same thoughts over and over that become engrained in our thinking Developed they did not occur by accident deliberate allowed to fester/grow can be positive or negative learned Over a Long Period of Time these grew over time and will take time to change the change must be as deliberate as the gestation period

9 1) Became like people who complain 2) The Lord heard it 3) The Lord s anger was kindled because of it 4) The fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp

10 Notice the first part of Numbers 11:1 The people became like those who complain. What is complaining? Definition: To express dissatisfaction with a circumstance which is not wrong and about which I am doing nothing myself to correct.

11 EXPRESS: thinking, actions, words, writing, artwork, etc an expression DISSATISFACTION: not enough, not the right amount, too much, not the right colour, not from the right person, not in the right context think of your next family get together, your work, your home, your friends, WITH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT WRONG: IE: dissatisfaction with the pastor, with the church, with your paycheque, with your spouse, (before you look to see something wrong in anything/anyone, see if it is really wrong or just not your preference) WHICH I AM DOING NOTHING MYSELF TO CORRECT: write in GOSSIP here, write in TOO LAZY here, write in I AM DOING NOTHING MYSELF TO CORRECT here

12 Did you know that? He is listening all the time He hears what you say, He knows what you think, He knows what you do Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. God knew us before we were and HE CONSECRATED US/CHOSE US/MADE US the point is your attitude is not your own dirty little secret By the way God knows you true attitude, so do your kids, so do your co-workers, so does your spouse the only person you really fool is YOURSELF Everyone else gets it and is hoping/praying you will soon get it too

13 God hates complaining WHY? Why do you hate complaining from your kids? Ungratefulness, grating on the ears, negativity, leads to depression, leads to health issues (that studies show that those who are generally thankful in life avoid), leads to isolationism (do you want to have you over for dinner?) AND this is not just an Old Testament thing: see 1 Corinthians 10:6-12. God may not send us into a literal wilderness in this age but how many of you feel that your spiritual life is a dry, desolate, boring place? IE: a spiritual wilderness IT IS BECAUSE OF YOUR ATTITUDE

14 If you still do not think that God HATES complaining see that it made Him so angry ABOUT THEIR ATTITUDE that some of the camp was destroyed by fire Remember who these people were: His chosen people, redeemed from slavery in Egypt, brought through the Red Sea, provided for with manna from Heaven, and lead by God and Moses Yes it was a harsh life and they were marching through a desert with all sorts of adversity, BUT, God still did not see that as a reason to complain see definition of complaining again God did not see their circumstances as being wrong The reason is because even though their circumstances were incredibly difficult He was with them and He was providing for them how does that appear in your life?

15 Reread Numbers 11:1 what did the people complain of? ADVERSITY In every life there is adversity a job you do not like, mixed marriages, difficult children, money, friends, lack of any of these ADVERSITY MOST TIMES ADVERSITY COMES FROM THOSE PERSONS OR THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES CLOSEST TO US WHICH WE CANNOT GET AWAY FROM AND THAT IS THE ONE THING IN PARTICULAR THAT GOD DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR US COMPLAINING ABOUT SEE: 1 Peter 1:13 and Job 38:3

16 Job 38:3, Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you will instruct Me! 1 Peter 1:13, Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. In other words, be strong and get rid of the excuses you are children of God, act like it There really is no middle ground here.

17 We do not just throw an attitude off of us we replace it we grow we are deliberate Thankfulness is a deliberate decision to express gratitude for all that we receive/have in life both the good and the bad because we are told that it is God who allows all things for us (see Job chapter 1 where God allowed Satan to test Job with troubles) Thankfulness is a discipline It has been said that gratitude is the attitude that sets the altitude for living

18 Luke 17:15-19 in particular: Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answered and said, Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except this foreigner? And He said to him, Rise and go your way, your faith has made you well. THERE ARE EXPECTATIONS TO WHAT GOD GIVES US HE EXPECTS US TO GIVE THANKS AND HE EXPECTS THAT GRATITUDE TO BE EXPRESSED THANKFULNESS IS NOT A SECRET AGENCY OF OUR OWN!!!

19 For even though, they knew God, they did not honour Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. God expects us to give thanks at the very least Did the sun come up today? Did you draw breath? Were you able to provide food and covering for yourself? Then you have much to be thankful for

20 1)Thankfulness is expressed 2)Thankfulness changes our lives 3)Thankfulness is deliberate 4)Thankfulness is a decision 5)Thankfulness is a discipline These are found in Luke 17:11-21 (reference verses)

21 The leper who was cleansed glorified God in a loud voice, he fell on his face in front of Jesus, and he gave thanks So what does thankfulness look like? It is a loud expression of gratitude to the One who provides for you and by extension to others in your life as well What does your speech sound like? Is your speech graced with personal demands, do you introduce yourself with your position? Do you have pronounced expectations on those around you (shopping, driving, in the marketplace)? OR, do you recognize that God has given you your sustenance, resources, and work? Therefore, you operate in life with grace giving to others as has been given to you If we were to poll those closest to you would they say that you operate with thankfulness or something short of thankfulness?

22 After the leper was cleansed he turned back, he fell on his face, he was a Samaritan, he operated in faith Thankfulness turns your life around what would your marriage look like if you expressed thankfulness daily to your partner? (also to your children, your workplace, those in the marketplace ) Thankfulness changes our posture the leper fell on his face HUMILITY you before me what would your marriage look like if you expressed humility daily to your partner? (also to your children, your workplace, those in the marketplace ) Even those outside the faith can express thanks it is not a secret society as Christians we should be the most thankful people on the planet but we are not BUT WE SHOULD BE THE MOST THANKFUL PEOPLE ON THE PLANET

23 After the leper was cleansed he went back to Christ to give thanks Thankfulness requires action Thankfulness is a show not for your own glory and not to appear to be something you are not but it does require action If it cannot be heard, it was not done let the person you are thanking know you are thanking them (daycare example) this is not your opportunity to operate as a secret agent (repeated)

24 The leper left those around him (nine others) and returned to Christ to give thanks It is a decision to leave your surroundings, friends, the crowd and do what is right It is the opposite of complaining getting down with others in the mud and getting into the sunshine It starts with an I WILL decision to go against your normal will and to operate in gratitude

25 Thankfulness tends not to come naturally to us it must be worked on we see this from parents to young children but it seems to stop for adults when we become aware of our rights Being aware of your rights negates a thankful heart being aware of your rights puts you first and everyone/thing else somewhere in the rear To replace a complaining attitude you must put others first and put off your awareness of self This must become a theme of your life that you work at daily otherwise a thankful attitude will be overcome by an attitude of complaining it is impossible for the two to co-exist either you will be thankful or you will be a complainer

26 Thankfulness is not just for the perceived good 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. THEREFORE, GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING (MAKE IT YOUR LIFESTYLE) SO THAT EVEN THROUGH SORROWS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO YIELD THE PEACEFUL FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. See that discipline requires training (for good and for sorrows) thankfulness is no different it requires daily training to which becomes a discipline before it will become a lifestyle that will take you out of wilderness living Thankfulness is part of the SANCTIFICATION process AND note Hebrews 12:14 without which non one will see the Lord. this is a bit of a Hey Martha moment

27 1) Am I a complainer? 2) When I review the expressions of my day do I complain more than I give thanks for? 3) Do I give thanks? 4) When I review the expressions of my day do I give more thanks than I complain about? 5) Am I more aware of the fulfillment of my own rights or am I operating in humility and putting others first? 6) Am I willing to get out of a spiritual wilderness? LORD CHANGE ME End.