Philippians 2:14-15

Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. NLT

I. Don’t Complain and Argue

Matthew 20:11-12 – When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ NLT

Luke 5:29-30 - …Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.

30But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

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John 6:53 - …“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.

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1 Corinthians 10:10-11 - And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. NLT

Submitting to God’s will must not only be external but internal.

Externally submitting to God’s will with internal

complaining or arguing is sin.

Matthew 15:19 - For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. NLT

Romans 14:1 – Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. NLT

1 Timothy 2:8 - In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. NLT

II. Why not Complain and Argue?

First Issue

Sovereignty of God

Matthew 5:16 - In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ESV

Second Issue

A Problem in Our Hearts

Ephesians 5:1 - Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. NLT

2 Corinthians 4:5 - You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. NLT

Shine

among the

crooked and perverse people.

Acts 2:40 – Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” NLT

Matthew 17:17 – And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? … ESV

Crocked is what people are

Perverse is the way they act

III. Meditation and Application

Genesis 1:14-15 - Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them mark off the seasons, days, and years. 15Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. NLT

John 17:17-18 – Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.

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John 17:14 & 16 – I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 16They do not belong to this world any more than I do. NLT

Not complain or argue about God’s choices for your life.

Darkness only exists where light is not present.

The reason we have darkness is because there is an absence of

light.

Shine like Stars to extinguish the darkness in

that place.