26/03/2026
WHAT ARE THE ‘BLESSINGS’ OF ‘CRITICISM’?
MARCH 26, 2026
THURSDAY ONLINE BIBLE STUDY
“THE LORD IS GOOD!” (NAHUM 1:7))
Intro Worship Video — Song Credits (Background):
– Famous One (Chris Tomlin) © Capitol CMG
– Kindness (Steven Curtis Chapman) © Sony / SESAC
– Hope — Lux-Inspira (licensed via Canva audio library)
All music used for worship and non-commercial ministry purposes. No ownership claimed. All songs remain the property of their respective copyright owners.
Full sermon notes + scriptures in pinned comment.
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LESSON:
WHAT ARE THE ‘BLESSINGS’ OF ‘CRITICISM’?
PROVERBS 9:8
“DON’T BOTHER CORRECTING MOCKERS; THEY WILL ONLY HATE YOU. BUT CORRECT THE WISE, AND THEY WILL LOVE YOU.” (NLT)
“PUNAHIN MO ANG MAPANGUTYA AT MAGAGALIT PA SA IYO, NGUNIT PAYUHAN MO ANG MATALINO AT IIBIGIN KA NITO.” (MBB)
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THE ARMOR OF GOD (EPHESIANS 6)
WE ARE IN A SPIRITUAL BATTLE AGAINST SATAN AND HIS DEMONS.
AND OUR ‘ARMOR’ CONSISTS OF ‘SPIRITUAL WEAPONS’ WHICH EQUIP US TO OVERCOME THE ENEMY.
THE BELT OF TRUTH
PROTECTS OUR INTEGRITY.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
PROTECTS OUR HEART.
THE SHOES OF PEACE PROTECTS US BY PROVIDING A STRONG FOUNDATION.
THE SHIELD OF FAITH
PROTECTS US FROM SPIRITUAL ATTACKS.
THE HELMET OF SALVATION
PROTECTS OUR MINDS.
FINALLY, THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
EMPOWERS US TO “STAND OUR GROUND AGAINST EVIL.” (EPHESIANS 6:13)
“AND TAKE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD.” (EPHESIANS 6:17 NLT)
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT – THE WORD OF GOD – IS A WEAPON BELONGING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE ‘SWORD’ – THE WORD OF GOD – IS TO MAKE US STRONG, AND USE IT TO OVERCOME OUR ENEMY, SATAN AND HIS DEMONS.
YES, THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ‘ARMED’ US WITH HIS ‘SWORD’ – THE WORD OF GOD – AND WE NEED TO USE IT TO OVERCOME ALL EVIL INFLUENCES OF THE DEVIL, INCLUDING ‘CRITICISM’.
CRITICISM IS AN UNAVOIDABLE PART OF LIFE IN THIS WORLD.
WHILE CRITICISM CAN BE DIFFICULT TO RECEIVE, THE BIBLE ENCOURAGES US TO MAINTAIN A TEACHABLE SPIRIT TO IMPROVE ONESELF.
IT CAN ‘STING’ TO BE CRITICIZED BUT IT’S NOT ALWAYS A BAD THING. IN FACT, CRITICISM IS A BLESSING IN MANY WAYS.
SO, WHAT ARE THE ‘BLESSINGS’ OF ‘CRITICISM’?
PROVERBS 9:8
“DON’T BOTHER CORRECTING MOCKERS; THEY WILL ONLY HATE YOU. BUT CORRECT THE WISE, AND THEY WILL LOVE YOU.” (NLT)
“PUNAHIN MO ANG MAPANGUTYA AT MAGAGALIT PA SA IYO, NGUNIT PAYUHAN MO ANG MATALINO AT IIBIGIN KA NITO.” (MBB)
1) CRITICISM IS A SIGN THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO YOU.
IF SOMEONE ‘CRITICIZES’ YOU, YOU SHOULD FEEL SEEN OR BLESSED.
“CORRECT THE WISE, AND THEY WILL LOVE YOU.” “PAYUHAN MO ANG MATALINO AT IIBIGIN KA NITO.” (PROVERBS 9:8 NLT/MBB)
CRITICISM IS A SIGN THAT YOU’RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
2) CRITICISM HELPS YOU IDENTIFY ‘IDOLS’ IN YOUR HEART.
DO YOU GET DEFENSIVE WHEN SOMEONE CRITICIZES YOU? WHY? OFTEN, IT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE TRYING TO DEFEND A SIN ISSUE IN YOUR HEART. BEWARE!
“IF YOU IGNORE CRITICISM, YOU WILL END IN POVERTY AND DISGRACE; IF YOU ACCEPT CORRECTION, YOU WILL BE HONORED.” (PROVERBS 13:18 NLT)
3) CRITICISM KEEPS YOU FROM GOING ASTRAY.
“WOUNDS FROM A FRIEND CAN BE TRUSTED, BUT AN ENEMY MULTIPLIES KISSES.” (PROVERBS 27:6 NIV)
WOUNDS HURT, BUT THEY PREVENT SOMETHING WORSE FROM HAPPENING.
THE LORD LOVINGLY BRINGS PEOPLE INTO OUR LIVES TO HELP US STAY ON COURSE.
4) CRITICISM HELPS YOU LEARN AND GROW.
“IF YOU LISTEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, YOU WILL BE AT HOME AMONG THE WISE. IF YOU REJECT DISCIPLINE, YOU ONLY HARM YOURSELF; BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO CORRECTION, YOU GROW IN UNDERSTANDING.” (PROVERBS 15:31-32 NLT)
THIS IS MOSTLY TRUE IF THE CRITICISM COMES FROM A CONFIDANT, LIKE YOUR SPOUSE OR BEST FRIEND. THESE PEOPLE LOVE YOU AND TRYING TO HELP YOU.
SO, IF YOU’RE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO DESIRES TO IMPROVE IN THE AREAS IN WHICH YOU ARE GETTING CRITICISM, YOU SHOULD NOT ‘HATE’ CRITICISM, BUT WELCOME IT. CRITICISM HELPS YOU IDENTIFY AREAS OF GROWTH.
5) CRITICISM GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO PRAY FOR ANOTHER PERSON.
WHEN YOU PRAY FOR YOUR CRITICS, IT REMOVES ANY POTENTIAL ANGER OR RESENTMENT, AND IT ALLOWS YOU TO PRACTICE MATTHEW 5:44 – “BUT I TELL YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU.” (JESUS)
PRAYING FOR YOUR CRITICS HONORS GOD AND HELPS YOU!
SHOULD YOU ALWAYS HEED CRITICISM? NO! SOME PEOPLE WILL GIVE YOU CRITICISM THAT IS FOOLISH. THE PROBLEM IS THEM, NOT YOU. THEY’RE THE ONES THAT ARE JEALOUS, AND THEY WANT TO TAKE IT OUT ON YOU.
SO, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT TAKE ACTION AFTER HEARING CRITICISM, IT’S USUALLY A GOOD IDEA TO LISTEN TO IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES FROM A LOVED ONE OR A TRUSTED FRIEND.
RECAP: WHAT ARE THE ‘BLESSINGS’ OF ‘CRITICISM’?
1) CRITICISM IS A SIGN THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO YOU.
2) CRITICISM HELPS YOU IDENTIFY ‘IDOLS’ IN YOUR HEART.
3) CRITICISM KEEPS YOU FROM GOING ASTRAY.
4) CRITICISM HELPS YOU LEARN AND GROW.
5) CRITICISM GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO PRAY FOR ANOTHER PERSON.
PROVERBS 9:8 (NLT/MBB)
“DON’T BOTHER CORRECTING MOCKERS; THEY WILL ONLY HATE YOU. BUT CORRECT THE WISE, AND THEY WILL LOVE YOU.”
“PUNAHIN MO ANG MAPANGUTYA AT MAGAGALIT PA SA IYO, NGUNIT PAYUHAN MO ANG MATALINO AT IIBIGIN KA NITO.”
EPHESIANS 6:17
“TAKE THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD!” (NLT)
RETURN. REPENT. REDEDICATE YOUR LIFE TO GOD.
PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO FOR MORE DETAILS. GOD IS SO GOOD!
