CRITICISM DISCREDITS THE CRITIC
Ephesians 4:29-32
Do not let any on hold some talk come out of your mouth, but only that which is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling, and slander Along with every form of malice, be kind, and compassionate to one another forgiving each other just as Christ forgave you.
MATTHEW 12:33-37
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
I. THE CRITIC DISCREDITS HIMSELF BY REVEALING THAT HE LACKS DISCIPLINE
JAMES 1:26 Anyone who says he is a Christian, but doesn’t control his sharp tongue is just fooling himself and his religion isn’t worth much either.
Proverbs 13:3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
II. THE CRITIC DISCREDITS HIMSELF BY REVEALING HIS DISLOYALTY
III. THE CRITIC DISCREDITS HIMSELF BY REVEALING A PRIDEFUL HEART
Proverbs 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride.
Psalms 12:4 Our lips are our own who shall prevail over us.
2 Corinthians 11:5 I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles.
2 Corinthians 10:17 “But he boast let him boast in the Lord.”
COLOSSIANS 2:2-10
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
DON’T REACH FOR ANYTHING…YOU ALREADY HAVE IT ALL