2. LUKE 12:1 AMPC
IN THE meanwhile, when so many thousands of the people had gathered that they were trampling on one another, Jesus commenced by saying primarily to His disciples, Be on your guard against the leaven (ferment) [venom]* of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy [producing unrest and violent agitation].

3. THE VENOM OF
COMPLAINING

4. VENOM (POISON)
Something with an inherent property that tends to destroy life or impair health.

5. NUMBERS 13:28-33 (AMP)
28 But the people who dwell there are strong, and the cities are [a]fortified and very large; moreover, there we saw the sons of Anak [of great stature and courage]. 29 Amalek dwells in the land of the South (the Negeb); the Hittite, the Jebusite, and the Amorite dwell in the hill country; and the Canaanite dwells by the sea and along by the side of the Jordan [River]. 30 Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it. 31 But his fellow scouts said, We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are stronger than we are. 32 So they brought the Israelites an evil report of the land which they had scouted out, saying, The land through which we went to spy it out is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the Nephilim [or giants], the sons of Anak, who come from the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

6. Complaining is a poison that can infect our memory, destiny and identity with a lie-induced hopelessness that can make life miserable.

7. NUMBERS 14:1-3 NLT
Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?
NUMBERS 14:6-10 NLT
Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey. Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle.

8. Complaining spreads and infects others with a toxic way of thinking that makes freedom seem foreign, impossible and sometimes even threatening.

9. Complaining keeps us trapped in the very circumstance we are complaining about. When we complain – we remain.
NUMBERS 14:28-30 NLT
Now tell them this: ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very things I heard you say. You will all drop dead in this wilderness! Because you complained against me, every one of you who is twenty years old or older and was included in the registration will die. 30 You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
PROVERBS 6:2 KJV
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

10. The quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.
THE ANTIDOTE FOR COMPLAINING
GRATITUDE
The quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.

11. HOW DO WE CULTIVATE A HEART OF GRATITUDE???
Our lives are built from the inside out. A grateful heart helps to create a faith-charged lifestyle in which miracles, favor, destiny and the powerful presence of God explode on our behalf.
HOW DO WE CULTIVATE A HEART OF GRATITUDE???

12. Focus on receiving, not doing.
EPHESIANS 2:4-7 AMPC
But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us [b]joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

13. Take time daily to think on the things God has done and is doing for you.
PSALM 116:12,17 AMP
What will I give to the Lord [in return] For all His benefits toward me? [How can I repay Him for His precious blessings?]
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call on the name of the Lord.

14. Arrest complaining thoughts with thankful words.
PSALM 27:13 AMPC
[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!

15. Express gratitude to others.
HEBREWS 13:15-16 NLT
Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.