Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Apr 13th, 2013 A Critical Spirit – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Good morning. Have you ever been criticized for something that you did? Can I urge you to pray for those who have critical spirits. Why? Let’s take a look at the situation that took place in Matthew chapter 26…

“Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.” (Matthew 26:6-16)

Here we have a woman with ointment, expensive ointment. She may have been rich, or she may have had her life savings wrapped up in this ointment. Either way, the ointment was her’s to do with as she saw fit. She saw fit to annoint he Lord’s head with it. Outrageous! It could have been sold for much, and the money given to the poor! What a waste! But Jesus did not see it as a waste. Jesus saw the woman’s deed as a good work, and He told them so. And this is why we should pray for those who critisize us: Judas Iscariot. The last versee says, “And from this time he sought opportunity to betray Him.”

Is it possible that if Judas did not develope this critical spirit, that he would not have betrayed the Lord? Maybe the betrayal would have fallen to someone else. But it didn’t. And Judas cast away the money he received, went out and hanged himself.

Have you ever been critical? After seeing the results in your life, do you wish that someone would have prayed for you? I have three  steps that will lead to peace.

1) Forgive them. Jesus said from, from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

2) Pray for them. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…”

3) Mind your own business. John 21:21-22 tells us that, “Peter seeing him [John] saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.”

Having a critical spirit does not help anyone, it can only destroy a work that God may be doing in someone’s life.

Peace. (Romans 2:10)