D.J. Gorena

Have you ever had one of those days? You know, one of those days where you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? I’m not really sure what that means except that the side you normally sleep on is not the side where you woke up!

At any rate, I know that I have had times in my days where I tend to just complain. I complain about something I’ve done. I complain about something someone else has done. I complain about something that someone hasn’t done. I complain about something I haven’t done. I complain, complain, complain. Quite frankly, it’s in my nature to complain.

As a Pastor I have to admit, I don’t like admitting my sin! In reality, I’m not so sure that any of us like to admit when we sin. James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” I really want my prayer life to be effective so it means confessing my sins!

What about you? Do you find yourself complaining about different things? Perhaps something in your home isn’t right or something with your work. What about something at church that you don’t think is right? Ever complain? I do. But I’m discovering that my complaining–and others who complain–isn’t something that we should just allow to slide by. We need to be mindful of our complaints. After all, when we are dissatisfied wtih something, the truth of the matter is that we have feelings of emptiness and unfulfillment, at either a physical or spiritual level. This is why we complain, and it is sinful to be unfulfilled when we have everything in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

But the Bible tells us as believers that we are supposed to think differently–that we are supposed to find our fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Read how the Bible speaks of how we should then live without complaint:

1. A spirit of complaining is not to be part of a Christian’s walk. Philippians 2:14-16 – 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I wil have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. James 5:9 – Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
2. Let your outlook and manner be that of patient acceptance. Ecclesiastes 7:8, 9 – 8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. 9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. Romans 15:7 – Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
3. Christ’s peace and contentment are vital ingredients for a positive spirit. John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. Colossians 3:12, 13 – So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

These are but a few verses for us to consider when it comes to our complaining. I know that it is convicting for me to read these things when I am naturally a complainer when I don’t see my preferences being met or when I allow myself to be irritated with something or someone. As my son once said after explaining to him that I’m a germaphobe and he has germs, “Dad, you’ve got issues!” Yes, I do have issues. But in the scheme of life, we all have issues and the answers to these issues are found in the Scriptures.

So, what am I complaining about today? I had to repent on my drive over to my office this morning because traffic is fierce and hectic coming from Carrollton where I live. I had to repent about the post office where I picked up a package because it was not delivered the way they said it would be.

What I’m saying to you is this: we all have complaints but in the grand scheme of life, are they really worth it? Are they worth it if it breaks our fellowship with the Lord because we’re not living according to His Word and by His Holy Spirit? This is what’s on my mind this morning. I guess it’s because I have confessed my sin of complaining this morning and have repented of my thoughts toward traffic and the lady behind the counter at the post office not delivering my mail as I thought it was supposed to be.

One thing for sure, I’m glad that God promises to forgive in 1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

As I’m sitting in my office this afternoon, I’m thinking of different spiritual disciplines. I know that we don’t always think of things like this, but as I said in this morning’s message, “We live our theology everyday.” That means that whatever we believe is how we live. Unfortunately, the more that I study the Scriptures, the more I come to realize that there are things in my thinking–opinions, preferences, expectations–that really don’t fit in with what God desires for me. In fact, I find that this is true for all of us. But for what reason? The reason is that He is God and we are not! The Bible is pretty clear about who He is and who we are, don’t you think? Isaiah 55:8, 9 says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher thant he earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

“Yikes! You mean to tell me that I don’t always have the right thinking?”

Yep! That’s right! None of do compared to the Wisdom of the ages!

So how then shall we live? I quoted this morning John Frame who wrote in his book The Doctrine of the Word:

“Christians sometimes say that Scripture is sufficient for religion, or preaching, or theology, but not for such things as auto repairs, plumbing, animal husbandry, and dentistry. And of course, many argue that it is not sufficient for science, philosophy, or even ethics. That is to miss an important point. Certainly, Scripture contains more specific information relevant to theology than to dentistry. But sufficiency in the present context is not sufficiency of specific information but sufficiency of divine words. Scripture contains divine words sufficient for all of life. It has all the divine words that the plumber needs, and all the divine words that the theologian needs. So it is just as sufficient for plumbing as it is for theology. And in that sense it is sufficient for science and ethics as well.”

That’s pretty powerful if you ask me! Frame says that the “Scripture contains words sufficient for all of life.” That is, as we continue our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, He has given us everything that is suffient to walk in Him in this journey called life in love of HIm and in obedience to Him.

So you want to have success in life? You want to have prosperity in your life? Success and prosperity does not by necessity mean material wealth. Rather, success and prosperity in life means that we have a good walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is foundational to our spiritual success: keep close to Jesus Christ! This theme of being close to Jesus Christ is equivalent to “walking” or “lifestyle” and how we conduct ourselves as we go through life. Maintaining that relationship with Jesus Christ is essential.

So here are some basics for you to consider when walking with Jesus Christ:

1. God’s words to us through the prophets are insightful for what is needed. Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (ESV)
2. A major aspect of this walk experience is remaining close to Christ. John 15:7, 10 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. … If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (ESV)
3. Depending on the Holy Spirit produces fruit of the Spirit rather than deeds of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 says, “But I say, walk by [means of] the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desirs of the flesh.” (ESV)

Here are some specifics for each of us to learn this week:

1. Romans 6:4 – Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (NASB)
2. 2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight. (NASB)
3. Ephesians 5:2 – And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (NASB)
4. Ephesians 5:8-10 – Walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. (NASB)

“So how do you do this, Pastor Denny?” Here are some practical steps to help you this week:

• Take time to review what you truly value (relationship with God, spouse, family, health, etc.). Examine your values very carefully to see if they line up with the Scripture. Write out Biblical goals to help support the values you have that are Biblical and goals to rid yourself of the values that don’t match what God says in His Word.
• Practice journaling. Writing the events of the day, good and bad, will help remind us of our constant need to walk closely with Jesus Christ. Review your thoughts from time to time to check your progress. Evaluate! Examine!
• Daily time spent in the sufficient Word of God, the Bible, and daily prayer is the key spiritual discipline for maintaining this close walk.
• Charles Ryrie writes that “walking is by its very nature a succession of dependent acts.” First, we need to make up our minds to do it. And then “progress can only be made by trusting.”

As we walk with Jesus Christ individually, we will find that collectively our Fellowship is growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:23-25, NASB).

(Adapted from Quick Scripture Reference Guide.)

It is amazing that after five years I still mourn the loss of twin sister, Denise. Although I know that she is fine in Heaven–and I do believe that she is in Heaven–and although I know that she is healed from cancer, there are times that I just want to speak with her and hear her voice. She encouraged me. Yes, we had our moments of disagreement, sometimes heated disagreement, but she was always the one who asked for forgiveness first and apologized. I would always let it go just as she would and we were back to normal. She would always let me know that we were always best of friends and that we were always going to be just fine no matter what.

It’s true. She’s fine and I’m not doing too bad either. In fact, when she first passed away I thought that half of me died. We always referred to each other as “1/2” of each other. That is mostly found in identical twins; we were obviously not identical as she was a girl and I am a boy (and there’s no confusion about that!). I realized after about a year and half of her being gone that I’m 100% me! Even though I identified myself as 1/2 of another, I know that I am me and Denise was herself. When I finally came around to this thinking, I was relieved that half of me had not truly died with my twin sister. However, we did think alike. We would agree Biblically, theologically, politically, and philosophically. I understood her and she understood me. That’s rare it seems to have siblings actually understand each other. We had a lot of the same likes and dislikes. We had similar tastes in music, drama, action, and comedy. If there was one thing I loved to see was when she would laugh. Her eyes were get real squinty and her shoulders would go up and down from laughing so hard. It was great to see her laugh.

She was delicate and gentle but at the same time she could hold her own. She didn’t put up with people being rude to her and could snap back at them just as they snapped at her. Yet, she seemed to have so many friends. Whenever I went somewhere with her she always introduced me to someone as her twin brother and would let them know that we were close. When someone would ask if we were identical twins, I’d always respond, “No, but we look alike when she grows her beard!” She would always retort, “Or when he grows his hair out and puts it in pig tails!” We’d laugh and then as the person walked off we’d roll our eyes at each other because we’d heard the question so often in our lives.

We understood each other. I miss that. Death stinks when it’s your twin. Death stinks when it’s your closest friend. Death stinks when you miss someone so much that you can’t stop thinking about them so often. And, yet, I know that I will see her again. And when I see her again, we will understand each other more fully because we will be changed to be just like Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52). We never truly understood everything about each other; we couldn’t even understand ourselves much less each other to the fullest. But we know the One who knows us perfectly well (Jeremiah 17:9, 10). He knows us–everything about who we are. She knew that and knows it perfectly well now! I know it but I don’t get it all right now.

Well, I’m just remembering her again today. I miss her. I love her more today than I ever have. I’m sure that I’ll love her more tomorrow and that I’ll miss her more. That will never go away.

I know that she loved flowers. I have a number of pictures of her sitting in fields of flowers. She was beautiful inside and out. There is no flower on this planet as fair as my twin sister.