This past Sunday, the morning message was from Numbers 11 and dealt with the grumbling against God and Moses by the children of Israel. There was a post here about grumbling a short while ago.
At the close of the message I gave a list of hints about how to work against the sin of grumbling that we all commit. Here they are.
1. Get a proper understanding of the seriousness of this sin. I Cor. 10:6-13
2. Know and believe the promises of God
a. Romans 8:28 is true even in this thing. See Psalm 119:67, 71, 75
b. Faith in future grace – Isaiah 55:12
3. Expect Change
a. I Cor. 10:13. If you are a believer, there is not a reason in the world why you cannot stop your whining. There are far too many “that’s just the way I am” believers.
4. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude
a. Start your prayers with a list of things to be thankful for. And recite them – out loud. Let yourself hear the things that God has done for you. Read the great texts of Scriptures that speak of the marvelous things that God has already done for you.
5. Go to the cross
a. Can you go to the cross dear child of God and grumble? Can you look into the face of the eternal Son of God who left glory for you and died for you and now lives to present Himself to the Father for you so that you are not destroyed as you deserve to be – and still grumble about your lot?
b. “But Ken” you say “I have very serious issues.” I know you do, so hear Paul speaking to us about his issues – II Cor. 4:17-18 and II Cor. 11:23ff. He learned contentment even in these trials and God can enable you to do the same.
c. Our grumbling dear ones, comes from forgetfulness. We forget what our lives before Christ really were like and where they really were sending us and what God really thought of them.
6. Christian fellowship – James 5:19-20, Galatians 6:1-2, Hebrews 3:12-13
a. Do you have a Christian confidant who really knows you and with whom you can really share everything? One who will pray for you and pray with you and help keep you on the straight and narrow? If not – you will fall into grumbling and the more you grumble the less likely you are to find someone who is willing to meet with you.
7. Time
a. Hear the Apostle Paul – Phil. 4:12-13 – I have learned to be content. Do you seriously want to stop your griping? Paul had to learn how to be content and this is more than a matter of simply praying a couple of times and then being zapped with a sweet disposition.
8. Prayer
a. Have you ever prayed about your grumbling? Some of us only pray about the issues that make us grumble. “O Lord, you know that I need …….” Pray about the fact that you have a complaining spirit, a grumpiness to you. Ask forgiveness and do real repentance. I John 1:9
b. This is too big for you but it is not too big for God.
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