How To Destroy A Complaining Spirit

We all want to experience the presence and power of Jesus in our lives every day but then we work against it. We want it but we don't realize what we have to set aside to experience it. Our behaviour and attitude have a big role in our sensitivity to the Spirit. Jesus is always with us, he promised, but it doesn't mean we are cultivating a relationship that makes us sensitive to this presence. Let's pick on one thing today, that we all do, which acts as a dampener to sensitivity.

We may be surprised to discover how much we complain in a day. It would be interesting to track it one day, just to note every time we complained and then add it up at the end of the day. For some of us complaining comes as easily as breathing. Even when we try to hold it in it always finds a way of coming out. We complain from the weather right up to complaining against Yahweh and everything in between. We are not alone as complainers.

The Israelites were huge complainers after Yahweh had rescued them from Egypt. They complained about the food, the water, the leadership, about Yahweh himself. It was enough to make any leader quit. Worse than that, it led that generation to rebel against Yahweh when they were told to enter the Promised Land and possess it. Their complaining revealed a dissatisfaction and mistrust of Yahweh. That entire generation died out in the desert and the generation that emerged was the strongest generation Israel ever produced, and they were non-complainers.

Jesus also received his unfair share of complaints. Every time he did something great, like heal a man with a withered hand, there were people there to complain about it. There was one incident where a chief tax collector was trying to get close to Jesus. Obviously Jesus offered something the man felt was lacking in himself. Jesus accommodated this by pointing Zacchaeus out and then inviting himself to his home for a meal. This man's life was about to be changed for the better and what do we hear from people nearby:

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” (Luke 19:7)

Praise the Lord, he still has meals with sinners and how glad we all are for it. These people would try to dampen the sensitivity of Zacchaeus to Jesus but he would have nothing to do with it. In the face of it he stood and demonstrated evidence of salvation as he pledged restitution for any evil he may have done. That's how we need to deal with any complaints within ourselves, stand up against them with a demonstration of love.

The first step in dealing with this is to admit that we do it. Yes Lord, I am a complainer. I complain against my neighbour, my friends, my church, my government, even you Lord. Then ask that he would renew your heart, to remind you again of his great mercies. Worship also helps to kill a complaining Spirit at the roots but make sure it is worship that springs forth from the Word. Worship Yahweh for who he is not for who you think he is. Ask that he would renew his love in you for other people, especially sinners, and you will begin to see things change. Then face that complaint and pour love all over it. Love Yahweh with your all and love your neighbour and you will have no room for a complaining Spirit and you will again experience sensitivity to his presence.

Counting My Complaints

What are you thankful for this morning?

I actually have to stop to think about that. Strange, because I can easily list my complaints. I have already spent a good part of my morning complaining to people about one thing or another, and most people would never consider me a complainer. That's how common it is. Complaining is just a natural part of our day.

But should it be?

Yes, there are all kinds of things that go wrong every day. We live with the reality that we are in a fallen and imperfect world. We live in a system that is in rebellion to God on top of the small every day imperfections. So we have a whole slue of things we can legitimately complain about. But just because it is legitimate does not mean that it is conducive for a heart that is one with Jesus.

I look at where my heart is right at this moment and I can feel that I have allowed my "legitimate" complaints to disturb my peace. And to what end? What has my complaining accomplished? Has it made me or anyone else feel better? Has it changed the situation or circumstances? Not at all.

Although our God will listen to our complaints, as he did with the psalmists, he is really looking for his children to maintain a thankful heart. I shouldn't have to work at it. With all the great stuff that our Father does for us, thanksgiving should be an ever flowing stream from our mouths. It should be a natural product of an ever increasing relationship with Jesus but we have to be aware of the need for it. We need to cultivate it until it takes root in us. It is the Spirit transforming us. Paul wrote to the Colossians:

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. (Colossians 3:15)

I like the the word "let" in this verse. Let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. We have to give it permission, to allow it to control. This is fundamental if we desire to live life with a grateful heart. The things that rob us of our thanksgiving are usually things that are beyond our control and belong to someone else. We have to overlook those things to let the peace control our thoughts and to be thankful.

It's true. When I examine each subject of my complaints this morning I see that it was the result of someone else's actions. Each thing was either out of my control or something I was not brave enough to deal with directly. So I need to accept what I cannot control and take action on what I can deal with, all the time allowing Jesus' peace to control my thoughts.

Suddenly those things don't seem so important. Suddenly I remember who holds my day. Suddenly I begin to remember all the good things for which I am thankful. It's a much better way to start my day, praising my God from the overflow of my thankful heart.

The Problem With Complaining

What are you complaining about today? What is the thing that is disturbing your peace and joy? For me it is the fact that I am being accused of not attending an online training session yesterday. I got up at 4 am so that I could attend a 5:30 am session. However, the company had made a mistake and I was unable to sign in for the 5:30 am session so I tried the 6 am with the same result. They resolved that problem but then the room would not load at 6:30 am. Finally at 7 am I was able to get in. Then this morning I received an email accusing me of not being in attendance. As soon as I saw it that complaining spirit rushed through the door and filled my heart.

The problem with complaining is that it doesn't leave room for anything else. It also goes contrary to the Spirit of God. Complaining robs us of our thankful heart. If there is one attitude that should be constantly ours it is the attitude of thanksgiving, no matter the circumstances. Thanksgiving is provoked in us when we make the decision to trust Jesus with everything, and I mean everything.

There is a lot to complain about in this world and in our life. We could find things to complain about all day long but what does it do for us other than disturb our spirit, turn us into an ugly person and seed terrible things in other people. Complaining constantly got the Israelites in trouble. Complaining tells God that you do not trust or appreciate him. It also promotes ourselves above the needs of other people.

We are told time and again in the Word of God to be a thankful people. It is when we let go of the negative stuff, trusting God to deal with it, while we concentrate all the good things God fills our day with. You will find it throughout the Word but in Ephesians Paul wrote:

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

"Always giving thanks to God" keeps us where we need to be, in that place of peace and joy. Giving thanks is a decision that gets easier every day as we begin to recognize, more and more, the good things God is pouring out into us. Giving thanks leads to a life of rejoicing:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

In fact, it is in that same section that Paul writes:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Notice the place of thanksgiving  With thanksgiving, not a spirit of complaining, present your requests to God. There is the promise of peace.

Complaining does nothing but destroy the peace that Jesus promised to us. However, thanksgiving benefits not only us but everyone around us. Check yourself today. Is it a complaining spirit that fills your mouth or a spirit of thanksgiving? Are those complaints falling off your tongue or the sweet praises of our loving Father. No matter the situation, trust that Jesus has your back and rejoice. I repent of my complaining spirit this morning and pray blessing upon the company that God is using to provide for me and my family. Rejoicing because of the blessing of work today.

When God's Provision Is Not Enough

It is amazing how the complaining spirit spreads among us. We could take the most positive person we can find, stick them in a crowd of complaining people, and by the end of the day that wonderfully positive person would be a complainer.

Many of us do not think we complain against Jesus. We look at the Israelites coming out of Egypt and we can't believe what complainers they were. We think we would never complain against Jesus that way. Too bad there isn't a recording of some of the things we say so we can go back and listen to it. Just the fact there is so much personal debt in North America shows what complainers we are as we tell God, "What you provide isn't good enough. I have to go borrow money to get what I need". We look in the mirror and complain about how we look. We complain about a lack of friends. We complain about our job, our school, our teachers, our boss. In fact, what don't we complain about? And those complaints are against God, our provider and the director of our path.

You never thought of it that way, did you?

Imagine if there had been such a thing as credit cards in Moses day, as he and the Israelites followed God in the desert. Then again, they had all the gold and jewels of Egypt, so it wasn't a lack of money that was their problem. Instead it was a lack of restaurants, farms, fishermen. In fact, in the desert it was a lack of everything and the people complained. Perhaps their complaints were a little more legitimate than ours, a people who have the convenience of everything. All the Israelites wanted was some meat.

Moses got in on the act of complaining as well. He was complaining against the Israelites. They were wearing him down with all their complaints so Moses turned to God to complain. But complaining does a terrible thing in our relationship with God; it destroys our trust, hope and faith. As God told Moses that he was going to provide meat for the nation for a month, Moses stumbled.

After being part of all those plagues in Egypt, after walking through the divided sea on dry ground, after eating the manna al these days, after all he had experienced with God, Moses' reply seems a bit ordinary:

“Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?” (Numbers 11:21-22)

God's response is one of mercy, grace and patience. It is a response we would do well to take note of as we fray God's nerves with all of our own complaining:

The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you. ” (Numbers 11:23)

Is God's arm too short for you? Is he too small to take care of you? Maybe he has gotten too old? Perhaps he has over extended himself? Maybe he is a God who changes his mind? Perhaps he is too inconsistent? Well, just so you know what kind of God has promised to take care of you, who promised to be with you always, who promised you peace and rest, who promised you his love, let me tell you what he did for Moses and the Israelites to give them the meat they complained about:

Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them down all around the camp to about three feet above the ground, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. (Numbers 11:31)

Yes indeed Moses, God will do exactly what he said. Yes my friend, he is faithful to his promises. He will do for you exactly what he has promised. Stop complaining and wait on the Lord. His arm is not too short. He does not lack the resources. He is all that he said he is. Now trust him. He loves you. He will take care of you. He is investing in you. He has called you. He will equip you. He does have a plan for you. Just listen and obey. He is saying to you, "You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you".

Complaining vs. Disobedience

Remember the story Jesus told of the two sons. Each was asked to do something. The first said no but then did t. The second said yes but did not do it. The first might be considered a complainer whereas the second is simply disobedient. Discover which God can tolerate and which he cannot.