Resisting a Critical Spirit
July 12, 2015      |     By: Sam McVay, Jr.      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Romans 14:10-13 (AMP)

Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. 12 And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. 13 Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.

In your life you will be confronted with a critical spirit.

You will either be tempted to have one yourself or you will be the recipient of the criticism of another.

It is inevitable that you will be confronted by one and probably both.

The passage (Romans 14:10-13) reveals that a critical spirit:

1. Looks down on your brother

2. Despises your brother 

The call from this passage is to resist a critical, blaming, judgmental spirit.

Because these things will:

1. Create a stumbling block in a brother’s life

2. Produce a hindrance in the way of a brother

What to do when you are the recipient of a critical spirit:

1. Stop the chain reaction of death by speaking positive words

2. Refuse to listen to a critical spirit about others

3. Leave repayment to God (Romans 12:19)

Romans 12:19

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 

4. Pray for those that criticize you to be refocused upon Jesus and mission

What to do if you recognize you have a critical spirit: 

1. Repent

2. Pray for inward transformation

3. Consecrate your thinking to only think blessing

4. Consecrate your tongue to only speak blessing