The No Complaining Rule

If Jesus IS your life…

• You are not condemned.
• ALL your sins… past, present, future… are totally forgiven and God will remember them no more.
• Jesus was judged FOR you on the cross and took all your sins upon Himself.
• He set you free and gave you LIFE… His LIFE to live.
• He has promised to meet ALL your needs while here on earth.
• Your future is secure for eternity.
• But in the Meantime, Jesus Did Not Promise Us a Rose Garden

John 16:33 MSG— I’ve told you all this so that trusting Me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

James 1:2-4 NLT— Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

• Trials and troubles drive us back to DEPENDENCE upon Jesus and His Grace.
• Grace is what God does FOR us.
• If we get out of His way, Jesus will live His life THROUGH and FOR us.
• That’s when we can say with Paul:  “For me to live IS Christ.”
• Therefore, trials and troubles are good things if we have the MIND of Christ and His perspective.

Pride vs. Humility

• Our pride does not want to surrender control to Jesus or anyone for that matter.
• When troubles overwhelm our ability to conquer them, we either humble ourselves and ask for Jesus to do it FOR us…
• Or else we blame our circumstances, or people, for our lack of ability to overcome.
• The Greek word for that is GRIPING and COMPLAINING.
• God HATES it!!

Philippians 2:14 AMP— Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves].

• Did you notice that complaining is against GOD?
• Why?

Romans 8:28 AMP— We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

• When we complain, we are basically telling God that He does not know what He is doing.
• What is God’s design and purpose?
• For us to live in DEPENDENCE upon Him and in RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
• Without Jesus we can do nothing.
• Jesus delights in meeting all our needs.
• But He will never force His provisions upon us.
• He waits patiently for us to ask.

What Are We Going to Do About It?

• If without FAITH it is impossible to please God, how do you think He feels about our griping and complaining?
• This is a SERIOUS matter.
• Some of you are going to laugh and make light of a new SUGGESTION we are making today for our Journey Family, but it is no laughing matter.
• Can you imagine Jesus complaining?
• If Jesus is our very life, should we be complaining?
• Okay, then, let’s do something about it, shall we?

THE NO COMPLAINING RULE

“We commit to hold each other accountable for mindless complaining. We will not tolerate complaining about our brothers and sisters, or about things over which we have no control such as the weather and arthritis. We encourage one another to bring any issue that might prompt a complaint to the Manager (God) or someone to whom God has given authority to address the complaint. All complaints must be accompanied by one or two possible solutions for the complaint.”

NO COMPLAINING TOOLS

1. The BUT  Positive Technique.

• This strategy helps you turn your complaints into positive thoughts, solutions and actions.
• Whenever you realize that you are complaining, you simply add the word BUT and then add a positive thought or action.
• EXAMPLE:
  • I don’t like driving to work for an hour BUT I’m thankful I can drive and that I have a job.
  • I don’t like it that I am fat and out of shape. I feel bad.  BUT I want to feel better so I am going to the gym to workout 3 days a week and start eating healthier.
  • Use the complaint to remind you of your blessings, not what you are lacking.
  • Develop an attitude of gratitude.

2. Focus on “GET TO” instead of “HAVE TO.”

• Too often we complain and focus on what we HAVE TO DO like “I have to go to work.”
• Start shifting your perspective by focusing on what you GET TO DO.
• You get to go to work while many people are unemployed.
• You get to drive in rush hour traffic when many don’t even have a car or are too sick to get out.
• Focus on feeling BLESSED instead of STRESSED.
• Pastor Sam always says: “I’m too blessed to be stressed.”

3. Turn Complaints into Solutions.

• Our goal is NOT to eliminate all complaining.
• Our goal is to eliminate MINDLESS complaining that does not serve a greater purpose and allow complaining that is justified and worthwhile.
• The opposite of MINDLESS complaining is JUSTIFIED complaining.
• The former is NEGATIVE while the latter is POSITIVE.
• With MINDLESS complaining you spend all your energy focusing on problems.
• With JUSTIFIED complaining you identify the problem and focus your energy on a solution.
• For example: If your room is too cold, don’t complain about it. Instead, get off your “blessed assurance” and go turn up the heat.
• Every complaint represents an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive.

5 THINGS TO DO INSTEAD OF COMPLAIN

1. Practice Gratitude.

• Research shows that when we count three blessings/day, we get a measurable boost in both happiness and energy.
• It is physiologically impossible to be stressed and thankful at the same time.
• If you are focusing on gratitude, you cannot be negative.
• You will also energize the people around you by letting them know that they are a blessing to you.

2. Praise Others.

• Stop complaining about what others are doing wrong and praise them for what they are doing right.
• Praise creates positive energy that is the fuel which launches us toward our destiny.
• It’s not the people you believe in who transform your life.
• It’s the people who believe in you.
• It’s okay to point out mistakes if it is constructive, but still make sure you give three times as much praise as you do criticism. 

3. Focus on Success.

• Start a success journal.
• Put it beside your bed and before you go to sleep, write down ONE great thing about your day.
• A great conversation, accomplishment, eagle sighting, project completed, etc.
• Focus on successes and you will look forward to creating more tomorrow.

4. Let Go.

• Let go of the things that are beyond your power to change or control.
• Focus on the things that you have the power to change.
• You will be amazed how things work out when you stop trying to control everything.

5. Pray and Meditate.

• Scientific research shows that quietness with time to meditate and pray greatly reduce stress.
• It also boosts positive energy and promotes good health, vitality and longevity.
• Whenever you are faced with a huge urge to complain and stress out to the max, STOP.
• Be still. Whisper His Name…. JESUS…
• Plug into His mind, heart and wisdom.
• Rest in Him.
• If Jesus cannot handle it, then you can stress out.
• Until then, focus on those things that are TRUE, HONEST, PURE, LOVELY, JUST and RIGHT.
• His Peace will flood your soul before you know it.

A 24-HOUR Complaining Fast

• For the next 24 hours, completely abstain from mindless complaining.
• If the positive energy you create does not bless you, then ask Jesus if it is okay for you to start complaining again.
• Let’s create a positive environment in our JOurneY Family.
• The Lord knows it’s a negativity pit out there.
• Be a light in the darkness this week, Beloved.
• Get those happy feet moving!!!