Nov. 03, 2024

Background:

• Some of our complaints comes from a lack of trusting God
• Some of our complaints comes from a lack of faith in God's divine plan
• As children of God, we must have unwavering trust in God's promises
• God will always be present...he will guide us and never abandon us
• He will never leave us nor forsake us
• Trusting God is difficult when nothing seems like it is happening (Deut. 31:8)
• With God, time doesn't matter, but timing
• God always knows what's best for us even when we don't
• We must learn to wait on God
• It's hard to wait on God, but even more difficult to deal with the consequences of not waiting on God (e.g. Abraham)
• There are consequences when we don't wait on God and trust him

Key Sermon Points:

1. The Lord is angry at our complaining
   • It's hard to be around people that complain a lot
   • As believers, we should not be complaining, but praising and thanking God for everything that he has done
   • In everything give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
   • The Lord is angry at our complaining
   • Why is complaining and arguing so dangerous? Because it displeases the
   • Lord and others will develop a false impression of the message of Christ
   • We ought to praise God instead of complaining
   • Despite meeting their needs, the people were still complaining...and the Lord heard them
   • Moses interceded for them
   • Complaining is harmful to others and affect others
   • After being delivered from bondage, the people complained (Exodus 16:2-3; Numbers 14:2-4)
   • Sometimes we complain after God has blessed us
   • God brought judgment to those that were complaining and killed some of the people
   • Moses prayed and the fire stopped
   • Then shortly after that, the mixed multitude also started to complain about food they had in Egypt
2. Some complaints come from a lack of trust in God
   • Soon after the wrath of God dissipated, some started to crave other foods
   • Sometimes our cravings can get us into trouble
   • They didn't think about how God provided for them on a daily basis and delivered them from Egypt
   • There are times when we just can't be satisfied even when God meets our needs (because of our flesh)
   • God showed his power and might, but some still couldn't stop complaining
   • They should have asked God to fulfill their needs instead of complaining
   • Complaining is a sign of not trusting God
   • God has us in situations to learn to trust him
   • When we try to fix things ourselves, we make it worse
   • We are quick to complain about things when God has blessed us
   • Complaining can be seen as an accusation against God that says his plan is not good
3. Some complaints are valid
   • The Israelites complain (invalid) and then Moses complained (valid)
   • God responded positively to Moses' complaints to God and negatively to the people's complaints to each other
   • We must take our complaints to God because he can change and fix things
   • God is the only one that can solve our problems effectively
   • We need to learn to take our problems to God and not complaining to each other
   • We should not forget the life that Jesus has given us day in and day out
   • Moses was so frustrated with the people and was angry with God for placing the people on him (Numbers 11:15)
   • The people were not Moses' people, but God's people
   • Moses confessed to God that he could not meet the people's needs or demands
   • Sometimes our complaining can not only burden other people, but can also burden the Pastor as well
   • Anytime we try to do things in the physical instead of letting God do what he does in the supernatural, we will get burdened down