How Can I Resist a Critical Spirit?

Ask Pastor John
Episode: 1714

[barbieburton]

Thank you for this message. Lately I have been grumpy, dissatisfied with everything and everyone, including myself and those around me. This message hit home and gave me a clear perspective. Count every blessing not our problems. I truly love God, I just tend to be critical of those who cheat, trick, do everything wrong, yet get ahead in life. I’m not materialistic and never have been, coming from a larger family of 11. It would be nice to see good people blessed for all to see. I’m weary of this world and all the “things” that hold such high esteem. Anyway, thank you for this message which was timely while I’m waiting to pick my grandson up from school. God is Great!

[wesley]

God blessed me with my wife because I’m an INTJ too and she’s the opposite of me in that way. She has been an eye opener for me to my critical spirit.

[simplywhittneyk]

So rich! “There’s always room for improvement” 🥴 thanks for the revelation! God is faithful ❤️

[suedawkes]

Thankyou lord for how you chose me and died for me on that cross fill me with your love I had so many years of pain of rejection but lord you adopted me in your family ❤

[amachildofmosthighgodinjes]

Pray for me, as Iam really struggling with all this for the last 3yrs, may good God deliver me from these thoughts, irritation from noise and physical pain.
Iam under going atough time.
May good God strengthen me and anyone going under the same situation, to fill me with His inner peace, joy and love in Jesus name I pray 🙏.
Thank pastor of this.

[godsdaughter]

This man is my spiritual father-in-law… I just love him so much! John Pipers wisdom through there word of God, his exposition. This really really helped me as I have been CONSUMED by the failures of other today. Thank you, Jesus!!!

[judypayton]

Thank you, Pastor John. This gives me some sound steps to rid a critical spirit!

[VicCrisson]

It's amazing I was just praying for guidance on this and it appeared on yt. I'm intj as well

[aineo]

Thank you for another excellent answer. INTJ here!

[neatstuff]

Thank you for letting us know the real John Piper. Your humbleness and honesty encourages so many wonderfully.

[heidio]

Amazing that received this session within hours of confession. Thank you for the practical help!

[YBMKSquad]

First to comment. All the way from Africs. Thank you for your helpfulness pastor John. And Tony you summarise the questions well.

[TheCreepypro]

fantastic question and answer may we always be filled with thankfulness and praise for our Lord and the many wonderful things both material and immaterial that he provides

[Aqua-plqw]

I want to add some thoughts on point 5 (a critical spirit doesn't do us any good). Ultimately that's true. But it can feel different for a short time.
I think one of the reasons we put others down is to make us feel better about ourselves. It may
work in the sense that we FEEL better about ourselves for a while when we look down on others.
The problem is that it never MAKES us better. In reality it makes us worse. I believe it's
a way of self-deception. God never measures us by the fact that there may be worse people around us. Instead we are called to Christ-likeness (which I too need to be reminded of).
And for us watching this video: God probably expects more of us than from most people we me say so strongly criticize. I get this from Jesus saying "to whom much is given much will be required".
The teaching of John Piper is very much in accord with Jesus so there is much truth for us to live by.

[mrjim]

I am thankful to the Lord for this ministry. Thank you both. Yeshua Amen

[NomosCharis]

This was an excellent question! John's answers are always good, but I was actually more surprised by the quality of the question here.

[deemisquadis]

You can vent to Jesus and then things will fall in place. It is very rewarding. 😊❤

[mrjim]

Matthew 7 “Do not judge, or you will be judged. 2 For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Ephesians 2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath. 4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! Yeshua Amen!

[edwardtorres]

Thank you lord for this mornings word. Thank you for this home my brothers and uncle God bless us and protect us from evil and to learn the path of peace

[claud]

I remember my pastor saying this is a heart problem, not a world problem. I pray for my mean thoughts to quiet and my heart to be a place the Holy Spirit will want to dwell. Maybe plant some growing things, make it like the Garden Of Eden in there so it will want to stay.