Cornerstone Community Church
God is already giving you what is best; don't complain about what you don't have.
Speaker: Pastor Nate Herrlin
Numbers 11:1-35 NIV
THE TRUTH ABOUT COMPLAINING:
1. Complaining is NATURAL.
Numbers 11:1-3
“On the 20th day of the second month of the second year…”
Numbers 10:11
THE TRUTH ABOUT COMPLAINING:
2. Complaining is usually INACCURATE.
Numbers 11:4-6
“If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost – also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions & garlic.”
Numbers 11:4-6
THE TRUTH ABOUT COMPLAINING:
3. Complaining is CONTAGIOUS.
Numbers 11:10
THE TRUTH ABOUT COMPLAINING:
4. Complaining is AN INSULT TO GOD.
Numbers 11:10b, 18-20
THE TRUTH ABOUT COMPLAINING:
5. Complaining unchecked leads to DEATH.
Numbers 11:31-34
“But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the Lord burned against the people, and He struck them with a severe plague.”
Numbers 11:33
Kibroth Hattaavah
“graves of craving”
“Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did…
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us”
I Corinthians 10:6,10
THE TRUTH ABOUT COMPLAINING:
1.Complaining is NATURAL.
2.Complaining is usually INACCURATE.
3.Complaining is CONTAGIOUS.
4.Complaining is an INSULT TO GOD.
5.Complaining unchecked leads to DEATH.
What tempts you to complain?
Romans 8:20-23 NIV
What would it take for you & me to be at the place where we are able to maintain a positive spirit even when things are going wrong?
Is there a way to maintain a spirit of joy & gratitude even when life isn’t going exactly the way I want it to?
Your JOY is not attached to your SITUATION anywhere near as strongly as it’s attached to your PERSPECTIVE.
Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
LIFE LESSON #6:
God is already giving you what is BEST; Don’t complain about what you DON’T have.
Ways to maintain a healthy, God-centered perspective:
1. Keep a GRATITUDE JOURNAL.
2. Make time for SILENCE.
3. SURROUND YOURSELF with the right people.
4. FIGHT THE FIGHT – resist complaining with gratitude & humility.
1 Peter 1:6-7 NIV
My next step with God, THIS WEEK is to…
Think about what negative consequences you have experienced as a result of complaining or unhealthy craving.
-- Choose one of the “Ways to maintain a healthy, God-centered perspective” and put it into practice.
-- Read the account of Jesus’ crucifixion (Mark 14:12-16:8) in one sitting as a perspective-shaper.
-- Join the follow-up discussion at one of the three home groups.
-- With God’s help, abandon a specific way I complain and replace it with gratitude (use “The Truth about Complaining” from your notes as a helpful reminder).
-- Other
Perspective Shaping Passages:
Philippians 4:4-7 -- “The Lord is NEAR”
I Peter 1:6-7 -- “Trials are given to REFINE and REVEAL my faith.”