Complaining is characteristic of those who believe God doesn't have the right to exercise His will in their lives. Remember the Hebrew slaves when they came out of Egypt? They pretty much complained the whole way from Egypt to Kadesh Barnea, then they were excluded from entering the Holy Land. God doesn't look lightly on complaining, but sees it as a lack of faith in Him. Moses got to the root of the problem when he told them, "Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord" (Exodus 16:8). God hears all complaining as complaints against Him.
How can we, who have been given the mind of Christ, continue to be complainers and argue against God? Some have made being argumentative their lifestyle, a habit that marks their attitudes and words. Arguing (disputing) is just another form of complaining, is it not? How can we have unity and one mind while we complain and argue?
Paul said, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings" (Philippians 2:14). Neither complaining nor arguing has any place in the church of Jesus Christ. Instead we are to be lights in the world, illuminating a better way to live. And that better way is characterized by three traits; we are to live blameless, harmless, and spotless. This Sunday, we will be looking closely at the causes of murmuring, griping, and complaining.
Griping, Complaining, & Murmuring (part 1)
June 29, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett
The Joy of Contentment
September 14, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett
Contentment is a highly prized, but elusive virtue. Though it comes only from being rightly related to God and trusting His loving, purposeful, sovereign, providence. People nevertheless seek it where it is not found - in money, possessions, power, prestige, relationships, jobs, education, promotions, or freedom from difficulties. But by that definition, contentment is unattainable, for it is impossible in this fallen world to be completely free from problems. In sharp contrast to the world's understanding of contentment is the simple definition of spiritual contentment penned by the Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs: "Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition". The Bible has much to say about contentment.
The Joy of Right Thinking
September 7, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett
A doctor who conducted a long-term study of worry discovered the following: 40 percent of the people worried about things that never happened, 30 percent worried about things in the past over which they had no control, 12 percent worried about their health even though they had no illness, 10 percent worried about family or friends though without substantial reason, and 8 percent of those studied actually had a legitimate cause to worry or be concerned. So more than 90 percent of the worrying was for no reason. But Paul said, "Even when you have legitimate concerns, don't worry!" Fortunately, Paul didn't leave the Philippians or us wondering how to go through life without worrying. He wrote out the prescription in the book of Philippians.
The Joy of the Peace of God
August 31, 2014 • Pastor Danny Lovett
Here is a proven prescription for unhappiness: let little things bother you, lose your focus, worry, be a perfectionist, always be right, be suspicious, compare yourself unfavorably to others, take everything personally, don't commit to anyone or anything, refuse to take the bad along with the good. If that prescription doesn't appeal to you, and I hope it doesn't, you can look with me this Sunday at how we can have the Joy of The Peace of God in our lives regardless of what we are going through. This Sunday we will look at three things we must do to ensure our joy and peace in the midst of our trials. We will be looking at Philippians 4:1-7.