IF THE MOON LISTENED TO EVERY HOWLING DOG?
HOW WILL I HANDLE CRITICAL SPIRITS AND WORDS OF NEGATIVE CRITICISM?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
THIS IS A TWO PART LESSON.
Illustration:
I have this little thermometer, it is cheap, it is clamped to the measuring chart behind it. I loosened the little fasteners so I can slide the tube with the red fluid up and down. Thus you can look at it being slid down and it reads 90*, you can slide the tube up and it is 60*?
I call two people up to read the temperature, I slide the tube up or down --- when they trade places and they both read the temperature the way they see it ---
their reading is 30* different from the same thermometer?
I. MANY WILL SEE THE PROBLEM AND THE PAST PERFORMANCE
--- JESUS COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL AND THE CHANGE.
A. I was standing between two artist in eastern Kentucky as they were talking.
Both men’s artistic work was known in their state.
The one artist was talking about when he started painting --- he made all trees and grass green. He painted the trees near in the picture green, and the trees in a distance green.
B. Then came a TEACHER that explained to him ---TREES IN THE DISTANCE ARE NEVER GREEN, THEY ARE BLUE.
The other artist said, I had to learn the same lesson, I too painted everything green until I was corrected by a master.
C. I just listened to the two artist and I could not wait to get outside and see a lesson I had never learned, and sure enough --- the trees and grass are green up close --- but in a distance they are blue.
I was amazed at the correction to my perspective of color being wrong all my life.
D. So the teacher that looks at an all green picture and tells the student you need to make an adjustment will make the artist a better craftsman, IF RECEIVED.
II. IF THE MOON LISTENED TO EVERY HOWLING DOG ---
IT WOULD QUIT BARKING!
A. Some people will have an unhealthy view of another’s different view.
We need to listen and then evaluate WHAT WAS SAID? and HOW IT WAS SAID?
B. THERE IS A LESSON IN DATING AND MARRIAGE!
AT FIRST OPPOSITES ATTACH, BUT AFTER TIME TOGETHER OPPOSITES WILL ALWAYS ATTACK!
C. WHAT HAPPENED?
Years ago I traveled picking southern Gospel Music. (not singing) We played on Saturday night in a Methodist Church, they had some congregational
singing before we went up. I sang, and during the handshaking time, a lady in front of me turned and said --- I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE PRETTIEST VOICE I HAVE EVER HEARD!
The very next morning we were playing in a church near Knoxville. I was remembering what the lady said the night before, so as everyone sang, I really sang. Later a woman turned to me and said: Your singing is terrible. My heart was broken?
D. WHAT HAPPENED?
I would like to think the first lady was right?
Probably neither lady was right.
I do not have the prettiest voice in the world, I probably don’t have the worse voice in the world either.
E. ACCEPT A GOOD BALANCE TO BE HEALTHY?
Don’t always believe everything you hear!
Thank God for fans that think you can walk on walk on water.
Thank God for critics that find fault with everything you do?
F. DON’T GET ALL TORE UP AND FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE CROWD’S DOOM AND GLOOM! GOD USED A DONKEY --- HE CAN USE ME!
G. There is a terrible battle --- WHAT WILL I DO WITH THIS CRITICISM?
How do I hand criticism short term?
How do I handle criticism long term?
F. Do I hear criticism and get defensive and pull in a shell of self protection and refuse to listen and evaluate myself?
III. JESUS CAME TO DO MORE THAN FIND FAULTS AND MISTAKES! THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPERATIVE COMMANDS SPOKEN BY JESUS THAT WE NEED TO GIVE HEED TO:
A. JESUS LOVES YOU, HE WILL NOT BREAK YOUR BACK WITH NEGATIVE PUT DOWNS!
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the
world through him might be saved.
B. If you have a red letter edition, note that these imperative commands were spoken
from the lips of the Son of God, Jesus!
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
C . ONE MORE QUESTION AS WE DIG INTO THIS LESSON:
WHAT COLOR ROBE DOES OUR SAVIOR GIVE EVERY BELIEVER?
WHITE!
WHAT COLOR ROBE DOES A JUDGE WEAR? BLACK.
What is the lesson here?
D. Jesus highly suggests that believers avoid judgmental --- critical spirits that are usually kissing cousins with sharp, razor blade tongues.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
IV. SOME HAVE RECEIVED THE CALL TO BE GOD’S LITTLE HEAD SCHRINKERS.
A. We can grow within the church self-appointed, self-anointed knockers that think they have a spiritual duty to tell everyone what is wrong with them.
B. Unhealthy critics can be so mean and cruel and wonder why their ministry is so
ineffective.
C. DO YOU HAVE TO PUT OTHERS DOWN TO LIFT UP YOURSELF?
D. CRITIC:
One that finds and points out faults or disapproval.
One who expresses an opinion of judgment of value, beauty, righteousness, or technique.
Often becomes one given to harsh or captious judgment.
E. CRITICISM:
In mass fissionable material it is a sufficient size to sustain a chain reaction.
The judgment of critics.
The inclination or act of criticizing severely and usually unfavorably.
Good criticism is an art of evaluation for improvement.
F. LET THIS BE A TURNING POINT!
CRITICAL:
Critical of, relating to, or being a turning point or specially important juncture.
Critical relating to or being the stage of a disease at which an abrupt change for the better
or the worse may be expected.
V. HEALTHY OUTLOOKS ON CRITICISM WEIGHS THE SOURCE AND THE MOTIVE
OF THOSE OFFERING CRITICAL OPINIONS.
A. When I was a teenager, my Dad pastored in Jellico, Tennessee right on the Kentucky state line. My older brother played the clarinet and saxophone, I played the guitar.
My Dad required that we were playing music 15 minutes before the service started.
One day a lady called my Dad over and rather hotly discussed something with my Dad.
Dad started to come over to us, and a man called him over and said something to Dad.
He had not heard what his wife said.
Afterward Dad came over to my brother and I and whispered:
GOOD JOB, SONS, KEEP IT UP!
B. MONTHS LATER I REMEMBERED THAT NIGHT AND I ASKED DAD WHAT THE LADY HAD SAID? Dad reluctantly told me, The lady was very angry and said we were playing the
music too loud.
Then I asked my Dad --- what did her husband tell you when he called you over?
Dad explained --- HE SAID I BELIEVE THAT IS THE PRETTIEST MUSIC I EVER HEARD!
C. Same couple, sitting on the same pew, but what a difference in what they said and the attitude in how they said it?
D. When Dad whispered to us, the lady thought he was telling us off, the man thought he was bragging?
E. How will we handle critical spirits and critical words?
Part of how I will handle this CRITICAL SPIRIT should recall the source and what the motive behind the criticism really is?
F. ELIJAH LISTENED TO JEZEBEL AND PAID TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO HER CRITICISM.
If Jezebel and Ahab are offering the criticism, remember there is a hidden agenda.
JEZEBEL HAD MANIPULATION AND CONTROL ISSUES AND HER CRITICISM WAS MEAN AND AGAINST THE MAN OF GOD AND THE WORK OF GOD.
1 Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.
G. Criticism can be the death gargle of the dying?
I WOULD RATHER BE AN ARTIST THAN AN ART CRITIC!
VI. WE HAVE BATTLES IN CRITISM FROM WITHOUT?
A. I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PREACHER.
HE DID NOT HANDLE THIS THE WAY I THOUGHT...
I AM THINKING THE RIGHT WAY --- SURELY HE IS WRONG!
B. THERE ARE MANIPULATION AND CONTROL ISSUES HERE THAT NAAMAN MUST SUBMIT --- OR DYE SICK?
2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a
rage.
C. THE PREACHER’S SERVANT GEHAZI THOUGHT ELISHA MISSED IT.
ELISHA WOULD HAVE LIKED TO PLEASED HIS SERVANT AND THE GREAT MAN!
D. CALM DOWN, HEAR THE WORD --- AND DO IT!
2 Kings 5:13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a
little child, and he was clean.
VII. CRITICISM FROM WITHOUT? IF JESUS REALLY KNEW WHO SHE WAS? --- IF JESUS KNEW WHAT SHE WAS?
A. Remember the rule of what is the source of this criticism? The motive?
MANY SEE THE PROBLEM AND THE PAST --- JESUS COULD SEE THE POTENTIAL AND THE CHANGE.
B. HOW ABOUT AFTER I HAVE GIVEN MY ALL AND THE PREACHERS TALK BAD ABOUT ME AND MY GIFT??
C. Mary spends some time with Jesus!
Mark 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
D. MARY’S GIFT OF LOVE WILL BE KNOWN DOWN THROUGH TIME AND AROUND THE WORLD!
Mark 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
E. ELI AND HIS SONS WERE SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH GOD THEY THOUGHT HANNAH WAS DRUNK?
F. Don’t miss out on your miracle watching and listening to other people!
1 Samuel 1:14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
VIII. WE HAVE BATTLES OF CRITICSM FROM WITHIN! LITTLE OLD ME?
A. SOME OF GOD’S GREATEST MEN HAVE HAD BATTLES TO FIGHT FROM WITHIN!
Judges 6:11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon
threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
B. IF GOD IS REALLY WITH ME? ---
THEN WHY IS ALL THIS GARBAGE GOING ON AROUND ME?
Judges 6:13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
C. GOD’S ANGEL CALLS HIM A MIGHTY MAN?
GIDEON SAYS: ARE YOU A CRAZY ANGEL?
Judges 6:14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?
D. GOD NEVER ACCEPTS THE OFFERING OF EXCUSES.
GIDEON GET UP, GET OVER IT, --- GOD HAS A PLAN AND A PURPOSE!
Judges 6:15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.
E. WHILE GOD USED AN ANGEL, HE SENT HIS SON TO REASSURE GIDEON ---
Judges 6:23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.
IX. IF A PERSON HAS A NORMAL CRITICAL SPIRITED --- WITH THAT USUALLY COMES A SEVERE REBUKING TONGUE ---
DOES THE CHURCH NEED THERMOMETERS OR THERMOSTATS?
A. Here I use a GALILEO THERMOMETER I purchase for about $10 at Walmart.
Galileo lived from 1564 to 1642.
He was an Italian astronomer and physicist.
B. Galileo designed one of the first thermometers.
The Galileo thermometer is a closed tube of fluid with floating bulbs of colored fluid in them.
The Galileo thermometer is very slow in reading the temperature as all the fluid must adapt to the changes around it.
The lowest floating bulb tells the temperature.
C. IN THE CHURCH --- WE DON’T NEED THE LOWEST FLOATING BULB TO TELL OTHERS WHAT IS WRONG OR WHAT TO DO!
D. THERMOMETER:
An instrument with sealed tubes of mercury or alcohol with a scale of lines and numbers for measuring or determining the rising or falling of the temperature.
F. THERMOSTAT:
An automatic device to measure the temperature and provide the control of the gas
or electricity to a heating or cooling apparatus to raise or lower the temperature.
G. WE NEED CHRISTIANS WITH MORE THAN THE ABILITIY TO MEASURE WHAT IS
WRONG WITH THIS PLACE, WE NEED KIND, MERCIFUL PEOPLE THAT WILL PRAY,
AND IF NEEDED FAST AND BRING ABOUT CHANGE.
H. Paul was a basket case. People were out to kill him.
If Jewish history is correct, Paul was a heavy man.
But during the night, some people got a basket and lowered Paul to safety.
Paul’s ministry continued because there were people that were willing to help
and change what might have happened into continuing God’s work.
X. WE MAY FIND OURSELVES OR OUR FAMILY IN NEED OF MERCY, GRACE ---
WHAT IF WE DO NOT LIKE WHAT WE ARE GETTING?
WE MUST CHANGE WHAT WE ARE GIVING!
A. Poor soil will limit the fruit.
Too much fertilizer will kill the plant, find a balance!
B. It is very easy to fall in the rut of finding what is wrong, and never moving with what is
right!
C. NEGATIVE PESSIMISM WILL BECOME A DEATH TRAP TO FAITH AND GOD’S
MOVE TO A HIGHER GROUND.
Are we inclined to emphasize adverse conditions and expect the worse?
Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
D. FOR EVERY NEGATIVE PUT DOWN YOU FIND ---
GIVE 9 POSITIVE RE-ENFORCEMENTS OF LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
Romans 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
E. WHAT WILL WE CALL ON IN OUR TIME OF NEED?
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
F. WILL WE REPLAY OVER AND OVER THE NEGATIVE CAN’T DO IT MESSAGE IN OUR HEARTS?
I LOVE THIS SAYING:
IF THE HORSE IS DEAD --- DISMOUNT!
XI. IF ALL YOU ARE RECEIVING IS CRITICISM YOU MIGHT WANT TO EVALUATE WHAT YOU ARE GIVING ...
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
A. FOR HE THAT SOWS CRITICISM SHALL REAP THE BENEFITS OF A NEGATIVE SPIRIT?
B. MAY GOD’S SWEET SPIRIT BRING US A HEALTHY BALANCED RESPONSE TO CRITICISM!
His servant,
Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass it on.
