Relationship with God is very important. God wants to live in and through us. He is interested in every detail of our lives. We must cultivate a transparency with the Lord, a deep intimacy with the Lord. We will continue in this topic: Not Surviving but Thriving II.
1 Corinthians 10:10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
The children of Israel right from the time they were in Egypt till the time they were at the edge of entering the promised land, they constantly murmured and disputed. They constantly stood against the Lord.
Numbers 14:1-4 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
The children of Israel murmured and complained following a false report from the majority of the spies.
Numbers 14:5-10 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.
Numbers 14:26-30 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Murmuring is having a secret debate, a secret displeasure not openly avowed. Disputing means to reason, deliberate, think within yourself. It is to hesitate or doubt.
Murmuring and disputing is not just the enemy of thriving and enjoying the abundance of God but it also hinders us from maximising the best position we have in Christ. Remember, that maximising our vantage position is walking deeper and higher.
We want to go deeper in God and go higher in Him too. That means knowing His heart and his ways.
The problem with the children of Israel is that they were always turning away in their heart and therefore not knowing his ways.
Hebrews 3:10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’
Murmuring and disputing is a slow, slow poison. It eats and eats till nothing is left. Because its effect is overtime, it is not easily detected.
You can be born again, cleansed from sin, having all the benefits of Christ in you and still not know His ways. We all have his heart but not all know His heart.
Things to know about murmuring and disputing:-
- Murmuring and disputing was a byproduct of the fallen state of man – Genesis 3: 7-13 Complaining and disputing assumes someone else is responsible. It is always to ward off or not accept responsibility for something. Cain and Abel.
- It focuses your mind on the problem or perceived problem – the children of Israel believed an evil report and focused on it. You set your affection on what is temporary, not what is eternal. It makes one short sighted. Just being in the here and now.
- It attempts to solve situations outside the counsel of God – the children of Israel sought to set a captain over them to take them back. When you attempt to resolve issues on your own, you will make yourself a god or make a god out of it.
- Murmuring and disputing comes from a perceived lack or thirst for more – Like the children of Israel, who murmured and disputed for food and water, when you set your sights on basic necessities, you miss God and His ways.
- Murmuring and disputing loves company – the temptation in hearing someone murmur and dispute is in doing the same thing. Think of it, All but two people murmured and disputed amongst the children of Israel.
How did Jesus deal with it?
Matthew 16:21-23
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.
Peter reasoned after man and not according to the will of God but Jesus dealt with it immediately. He rebuked Peter by addressing the Spirit behind complaining and disputing. When we dispute and murmur, we mind merely human concerns and not what concerns God. It is satanic.
How do we deal with disputing and murmuring to thrive in Christ?
Hebrews 12:1-4 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Jesus took on everything for us and never murmured or disputed. No matter what we face in life, it will never compare to the sacrificial blood of the lamb Jesus Christ endured for us. It is about perspective but this should give us hope and confidence in God.
- The antidote for disputing and murmuring is first and always rooted in our relationship with God. No matter how complex or dire a situation, event or circumstance is, you must resolve to lean on God and surrender for direction and clarity. Jesus Christ our forerunner left us an example. 1 Peter 2: 21-25 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. You will have many opportunities to dispute and murmur. You must resolve in your heart to trust in the Lord and heed to his instruction. Trust him with all your heart. Commit to God whatever it is. Let go and let God. No matter what, you cannot solve it on your own. You don’t have the capacity to do it on your own. At its best, it’s foolishness. Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
- God’s Word rooted deep in you will set safeguards in your heart and therefore in your words – Understand first that having relationship with God can never be separated from His Word. Going by Col 2:6-7, the focus is Christ – rooted, built and established in the faith as you are being taught. It also tells us that Christ is the Word and was manifest. So we must give priority to the Word of God. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. When we give attention, priority, delight to Gods Word, it becomes our life guard, setting the course of life for us. When we intentionally order our lives to God’s word, it shields us, our mouths from saying negative things. Your life will go in the way of your words. No matter how unpalatable your situation may be, set a guard on your mouth. Don’t confess your situation. This is where your relationship with God comes in. God has spoken over your life. He has given you promises. That is what you declare over your life. You are reminding your heart of His goodness.
- Joseph – Acts 7:9-10 “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him [10] and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace. tells us that till what he had said came to pass, God’s word tried him. The word of God was fused to Him. God’s Word was committed to Joseph. We see that his life had various opportunities to dispute and murmur but he never did.
- David – had an opportunity to dispute and murmur but instead he strengthened himself in the Lord. 1 Samuel 30
- Let your light shine bright at every opportunity – Whatever is placed before you, if its not contrary to God just do it. You are positioned as a son of God and we must recognise God working his good pleasure in us per time. Part of not disputing and murmuring is to do all things that you shine forth as lights in the world! Philippians 2:12-16 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. [14] Do everything without grumbling or arguing, [15] so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky [16] as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. Again, you are still feeding in from your relationship with God. There will be situations and clear direction from God not to take a particular path and you must be sensitive to that. We like the scripture that says that the path of the just is a shining light that shines brighter and brighter to the perfect day. The light shines brightest where it is darkest. The light of Christ in you shines brighter where it is darkest.
- Live as a son, walk as a servant, reign as king – As sons, we learn from the Father. We have relationship, intimacy with the Father. We understand his ways and heart. But we walk as servants – acknowledging God not just as Father but Lord. We know Him as a good Master and we can confidently follow His instructions knowing it is for good. 1 Peter 4:1-2 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. Philippians 2:5-13 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him Jim to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. When you do these things, you are immediately set apart from the majority. It will invite persecution and mocking. People will think you as passive but remember that they did likewise to Jesus and at the end, was given the highest seating position, exalted above every other.
