In this season of Thanksgiving, we will learn to fight against the attitude of complaining.
Philippians 2:12-16
Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Thanksgiving is...
1. Attitude
2. Mark
3. Lifestyle
Thessalonians 5:16-18,
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Numbers 11:1-3, 10-15
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.2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down.3 So that place was called Taberah because fire from the Lord had burned among them.
10 Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled.11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors?13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”
1. Complaining is a deadly sin
2. Complaining discourages others
3. Complaining is contagious
4.Complaining is a symptom of deeper sin
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
How do we fight against the attitude of complaining? How can we live a life of thanksgiving?
1. Have the Right Perspectives: attitude of thanksgiving
2. Hold on to the Word: Obedience
1 Corinthians 10:6–12 ESV
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.