Summary

Don't allow a critical spirit to keep you from being an effective witness for Christ. A critical spirit will block your faith and hinder its ability
to function in your life. Examine the spirit behind criticism and be
sure you have the right motive and attitude when giving and receiving
criticism.

1. Don't allow a critical spirit to keep you from being an effective witness for Christ.
   1. Being critical is harmful to our witness.
      1. A critical spirit is fault-finding and judgmental (Luke 6:6-9).
   2. A critical, negative spirit is what drives people from the church.
      1. God didn't send His Son to condemn the world, but to make it right again (John 3:16, 17, The Message).
   3. Your witness should be pure, honest, and sincere; never critical.
      1. Judge yourself daily so that you're not deceived.
         1. God knows your thoughts and He wants to help you with them.
         2. God's supernatural ability can help you overcome a critical spirit.
            
            
   
   
2. A critical spirit will block your faith and keep it from functioning at its highest level.
   1. Your faith is blocked when you don't walk in love toward others (1 Timothy 5: 12, 13).
      1. Faith works by love.
      2. Love is not critical or fault finding.
   2. We should not be idle or busy with other people's affairs (2 Thessalonians 3:11, The Amplified Bible).
      
      
3. Examine the spirit behind criticism.
   1. Use the right attitude and motive when giving criticism.
      1. Constructive criticism builds people up.
      2. Destructive criticism tears people down.
   2. Understand the difference between positive and negative criticism.
   3. Your ability to accept criticism can make or break you.
      1. Examine when the criticism is given and why it's given.
         1. Is it constructive or destructive?
      2. Don't take yourself so seriously.
         1. Don't be so uptight and serious in every situation; laugh sometime.
      3. Look beyond the criticism and see the critic.
         1. Know who and what you're dealing with.
      4. Watch your attitude toward the critic.
         1. We should be an example and follow the steps of Jesus (1 Peter 2:21-23).
         2. Jesus didn't have a critical spirit. iii. When Jesus was wronged, He didn't sin or criticize people.
      5. Don't criticize yourself.
         1. God forgives you, so you can forgive yourself.
      6. Realize that good people get criticized.
         1. Jesus was criticized and you too will be criticized.
      7. Keep yourself in the overflow.
         1. When your spirit is empty you are weak and susceptible to Satan.
      8. Determine if there is any truth to what is being said.
         1. Prove the critic wrong by obeying God's Word.
      9. Surround yourself with positive people.
      10. Stay focused and determined to walk in love.

Scripture References:

• Luke 6:6-9
• John 3:16, 17, The Message
• 1Timothy 5:12, 13
• 2 Thessalonians 3:11, The Amplified Bible
• 1 Peter 2:21-23