“Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (Luke 15:1-2)
There’s the sword of the Spirit which we know to be the word of God. The sword is words that come from God but they are spoken by humans. Jesus wields this sword when He comes back and it comes out of His mouth (Rev.19). There is also the sword of Satan which are also words. This sword kills. A sword is not for spanking, it is for killing. It is seeking a victim. Satan’s sword are words of criticism, murmurs, fault-finding, complaining, griping, gossip, and backbiting. This sword’s victim is your joy! Satan hates your joy because the joy of the Lord is your strength, and he wants you weak. Your joy in the Lord opens the door for the gospel you share.
Unless you are a really warped psycho, if you are at odds with others, you are not a joyful person. People who can’t get along with others (God or people) are not happy people. And “misery loves company,” which means misery is like a deadly virus, it will infect those it comes into contact with. So, don’t be critical and don’t hang around with people who murmur and complain. They will kill your joy, even the joy of the Lord, and sap your spiritual strength before you know it. Critical people hurt others and they will hurt you because if anyone will criticize you behind someone else’s back, they will criticize you behind your back. And their critical spirit will jump on you like a duck on a June Bug and stick to you like a cocklebur on a Collie. The next thing you know you will be critical of others and begin to murmur about them.
There is a spirit of criticism. Chronic critics can’t help themselves. If you get near them that spirit will jump on you and kill your joy. Critical people are not happy people, and if you listen to them you won’t be happy either.
These killjoys live to find the flaws in others. Joyless people come to church to find fault with people. They are like buzzards flying over the beautiful Arizona desert when all the cacti are in bloom and the sun is setting. (If you’ve ever lived in Arizona you’ll understand the phrase about the Arizona sunsets). So many beautiful things to see, but all the buzzard sees is some dead animal waiting for him to pounce on and devour.
Critical means, “inclined to find fault or to judge with severity, often too readily.” A critic is someone who is quick on the flaw. Jesus said that we would be judged by the same strictness or standard we use to judge others (Mt.7:1-5). Critical people condemn those who don’t agree with them, or do or say things differently than themselves. But the point of their criticism is not the problem. Their problem is their spirit; they are bent on finding fault and spreading their findings to others. Don’t let them do that to you. Stay away from these drama queens, and kings!
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