CHAPTER 44: CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM 2024
Constructive and Criticism. Interesting combination. An impossible combination. It’s an oxymoron. What’s that? A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear together. I.e., it doesn’t make sense. It’s opposite of itself, in and of itself, which is the very definition of chaos. The term is used to hurt people, period. Let’s use ministry and Christ as an example. The whole world says,
“Jesus Christ is a myth, a legend of old, just some constructive criticism, you christians just made up a bunch of stories and all the rest of us know this — why don’t you, hey, we’re just trying to help you get along in this world a little better”
“A quote by many unknown and known fools”…”
Made up a bunch of stories? I’m going to show you something, you’ll never forget. First off, this last Sunday was Palm Sunday.
What happened in Israel on the actual Palm Sunday was in perfect alignment with scripture. That should cause the world to wake up and cut it out with Constructive Criticism of Christians, and I’ll tell you why. Let’s start with…
Zechariah 9:9
New International Version Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Did it happen? It exactly did. And it was written, foretold over 500 years before Jesus was born. That is just for openers. And Israel knew the scripture. Constructive Criticism for Jesus from the Pharisees this is what they said to the people to try and help them understand Jesus, get this:
Matthew 12:24 New International Version
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
Hard to believe, the truth was there right in front of them and all of Israel chose to disagree, especially given Constructive Criticism from their leaders. March 24, this past Sunday, 2021 years ago remarkable documentation of this day, Jesus entered Jerusalem for the first time on the back of a donkey. Luke 19:29-44 outlines the events perfectly.
Luke 19:33-44
New International Version
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: **38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a]“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.
The stones will cry out, the truth is that crystal clear and yet how many chose to see it differently? And today, the entire world offers constructive criticism, meant as a helpful tool, a helpful tool that ultimately in many cases leads to the martyr of those innocent believers in Jesus Christ. How it affects you, your business? It does, as a believer, you gotta know what you believe. Listen to these things that follow: I’ve listed prophecies of Jesus pertaining to the day of Palm Sunday, old testament prophecy and new testament fulfillment. I’ve listed 50 in my notes, I’m only going to mention a couple, you’ll get the idea. You can read them all in the notes. This is the argument apposing Christ. It’s a big story alright, the biggest, realest ever told. Okay, here we go Jesus foretold, from the study of, thank you Jack Hibbs.
Why am I making such a big deal out of scripture regarding Constructive Criticism? Because if you get this, nobody can fool you, deceive you, criticize things that need not be criticized.
Let’s keep going. March 14, 445 BC, Nehemiah was given a blank check by, King Artaxerxes, to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The prophecy given in the book of Daniel, chapter 9 anounced that it would be 173,880 from March 14, 445 BC, to Sunday, April 6th 32 AD, the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem, to the day. It was announced hundreds of years ahead of Jesus that Palm Sunday would happen on exactly that day.
Daniel 9:25-27
New International Version
25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[a] the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’
This is the day, if all of the Jews, the pharisee and Sadducees, all of them would have embraced the scripture they would’ve experienced the love of the Messiah. This is fact, based on the Gregorian calendar, used in those days, it is exactly 173,880 days…, the exact day Jesus rode into Jerusalem. Prophesied exactly to the day by Daniel’s writing. This is truth, actual history noted in many books not just the Bible. Do you understand how this affects your life, the decision you make in your business?
Luke 19:41-44 New International Version
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the jews this means “you chose to turn away from the true Messiah, based on the written word that you study, you refused actual scriptural history — now you face the Great Tribulation without Jesus.”
Luke 19:44 (NIV)con’t
43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Do you understand what can happen in your own business, your life, the life of your family, if you allow yourself to bend the truth or let the world or somebody bend your truth, or use Constructive Criticism to mold your children the wrong way? Constructive Criticism seems to be born of jealousy, envy — all packaged in the name of such a nice helpful thing, it comes with no solution, just critic.., and that is harmful, delivered always by those who have no business giving suggestion. Instead of truth, Constructive Criticism of Jesus Christ, was taught to the nation of Israel, born of jealousy, fear, envy and want of power, brought by the Pharisees and Sadducees governing the Jews, cost an entire people the Miracle of the Messiah. And those responsible for this heresy, did it, knowing full well, Jesus was and is the Messiah as foretold in history of God’s Word hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.
What I’ve seen of Constructive Criticism — it comes against the truth, to dishonor. I’ve never heard that phrase cause anything good. I have heard it create anxiety, always in the name of everything good and holy. Pride is the fall of Satan.
Proverbs 13:10
New International Version
Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
We all need direction, that’s different. Wisdom is found in solutions, not throwing darts at people. Constructive Criticism is without solution, fueled by a sinister motive.
Romans 14:19
New King James Version
19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may [a]edify another.
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
There are people that do not want to learn, rather they would injure your success, upset you, diminish your successes and enjoy any disaster that may befall you. How do I know when somebody is not operating for a good place?
Matthew 12:35
New International Version
35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
When people hurt you, ask why? When people blow up your plan, ask why? Following that question there is multiple good conversations that can occur. There is one that is the sure sign of evil. It sounds like this:
“I guess you just can’t take a little constructive criticism.”
Pay no attention to undermining myths, character assassination and interruptions —- all in the name of goodness. Hold in suspect Constructive Criticism and those that bring it into the room with them.
1 John 4:6
English Standard Version
6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Titus 1:12-16 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 One of the Cretans,[b] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”[c] 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
Titus 3:10 ESV
As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
Walk away from resistant, undermining, jealous, impudent, petty, belligerent and vicious characters.
I’ve seen only tragedy come from such lip service.
Surrounded by the flames of jealousy, the jealous one winds up, like the scorpion, turning the poisoned sting against himself.
Friedrich Nietzsche
The spirit of envy can destroy; it can never build.
Margaret Thatcher
The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you. Bette Midler
Ecclesiastes 5:2-3
Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in Heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words.
Chapter 44 outlines Constructive Criticism and those people who would, given the opportunity, crush you, just to be the one that shoots the hero. I say the following scripture to those who would deliver the poison arrow of Constructive Criticism…
Romans 14:12
Yes, each of us will give a person account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other.
Live in such a way that you will not cause another to stumble and fall.
Beware: Chapter 44 Constructive Criticism. Don’t let a bully steal your destiny. Keep close to the Lord in all your endeavors, my friends, ask for Discernment in all matters and then forge ahead, in prayer and the Word of God.
Deuteronomy 28 English Standard Version (ESV)
2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.
Psalm 14:1
New American Standard Bible
Foolishness and Wickedness of People. For the music director. A Psalm of David.
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed detestable acts; There is no one who does good.
God is good and so are you, don’t forget that, all creativity, all knowledge and wisdom come from Him.
Amen.
