“Grumbling in the Wilderness”
(Philippians 2:14-16)
Dr. Richard S. Koole
Chapel Pointe
August 17, 2008
I. Introduction
A. Grumbling in a restaurant
1. My dad and his sisters
a. Refused to go out to eat with them
b. They complained about everything
c. Coffee not hot enough
d. Coffee cup is empty
2. Complaining kids at meals
a. Anything green
1. Peas
2. Spinach
3. Broccoli
b. They like anything cooked in grease
3. Not the first to grumble about food
B. The Exodus
1. Miraculous escape from slavery in Egypt
a. In a desolate wilderness
b. No food or water
2. God provided manna to eat
a. And water to drink
3. But they soon grew tired of it
a. Numbers 11:4-6
(4) The rabble (mixed multitude) with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! (5) We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. (6) But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”
b. Poor babies!
4. Sent the quail
a. Soon they complain about it
5. God warns us against complaining ….or grumbling…or murmering
6. Text (Phil 2:14)— “Do everything without complaining or arguing”
7. Paraphrase – “Stop your whining!”
C. A nation of complainers
1. Senator Phil Graham comment about Americans being “whiners”
2. We are so blessed
a. Food
b. Shelter
3. Clarissa Barton…..later in the service
a. The Belgian Congo
b. The Central African Republic
4. Yet we complain morethan them
D. What does God have to say about complaining?
II. Text….Phil. 2:14-16
A. Begins with a brief instruction….v.14
“Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Phil. 2:14)
1. “Do everything”
a. Means every aspect of your life
b. Without exception
2. “Without complaining”
a. “gon goz mos”
b. “grumbling”
3. “or arguing”
a. Intellectual dispute
· Debating God’s wisdom
b. “blaming God for your circumstances”
4. That’s the “What” now explains “Why?”
B. The damage done by complaining
1. You damage your relationship with God…..v.15
(14) Do everything without complaining or arguing, (15) so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
a. The fringe benefits of not complaining…you become:
1. “Blameless”
a. A life above criticism
2. “Pure”
a. Innocent in God’s eyes
3. “Children of God without fault”
b. I want God to be pleased with me
1. Complaining brings Him displeasure
c. The story of Israel in the Wilderness
1. Miraculous escape!
2. Israel began to complain “again”….Numbers 11
a. About their circumstances (v. 1-3)
b. About their food (v. 4-9)
3. God was so patient…..sent quail
a. But His patience was running thin
b. Then they blew it big time! (Numbers 13)
d. The Kadesh Barnea debacle (Numbers 13-14)
1. Finally reached the promised land
a. Flowing with milk and honey
b. Just like God had promised
2. The twelve spies were sent in to spy out the land
a. Reconnaissance report
3. The report
a. It was all that God said it would be…and more
1. “It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit”
2. Clusters of grapes
4. Then the complaining began
5. “Nevertheless”
a. Walled cities
b. The sons of Anak
*giants
c. Chariots of steel
6. Soon all of the people grumbled
7. Caleb and Joshua pleaded with the people to stop grumbling
a. Or else
b. The “or else” was catastrophic
8. Showed a lack of trust in God
e. When we complain about our circumstances
1. After all God has done for us
2. It must break His heart
3. Brokenhearted parents
2. You hurt the people around you
a. Complaining is Contagious
1. Back to the Exodus
a. It started with the Rabble and the 10 Spies
1. “They poisoned the well”
2. Try to imagine how it started
b. Focused on the obstacles…not on God
2. Don’t let your complaining lead others to sin
a. Don’t let your kids hear you complain
1. An easily-acquired habit
2. The Dennis clan
b. Don’t complain about your church
3. Complaining is divisive
a. Formed a division from their leaders
1. Joshua and Caleb were ready to roll
b. God didn’t ask the spies to vote “yes” or “no”
1. Just follow orders
c. Watching churches split over stupid issues
4. Complaining can be devastating
a. God’s judgments – Numbers 14:20-35
5. You question God’s plan for your life
a. Shows a lack of trust in God
1. Does God know what He’s doing in your life?
2. Yet we complain!
a. About your job
b. About the weather
c. About your spouse
b. Only trust Him when things are easy?
c. “Circumstantial Trust”
6. You sacrifice both contentment and power
a. “but godliness with contentment is great gain” (I Timothy 6:6)
1. Contented people are not complaining people
2. Don’t wait till life is perfect to be content
a. It’ll never happen
b. Are you content with your life?
1. Some of you should not be content
a. If living an ungodly life
b. If living a lazy life
c. But if living a life close to God
1. Don’t complain about your circumstances
2. Your job, house, car, etc.
d. If you can fix something…fix it and stop complaining
1. Paul later in Philippians (4:11-13)
(11) …for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (12) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
…..therefore…..
(13) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
a. Realizing what the favor of God brought to him
b. Contentment precedes blessing and power
7. You ruin your testimony to the unsaved
(14) Do everything without complaining or arguing, (15) so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe (16) as you hold out the word of life
a. You are a star in “a crooked and depraved generation”
1. God wants each of us to shine
b. “In which you shine like the stars in the universe”
1. Out of the blackness a small light shines
2. You are that star
3. Complaining dims your light
c. “as you hold out the word of life”….v.16
1. The unsaved are drawn to the light
2. You’ve got the answers they are seeking
3. “hold out”
a. By word and attitude
1. “So why is this lady complaining?”
a. “She’s no happier than I am”
d. Grumbling hinders your evangelism
1. Hides light under a bushel of complaints
e. “Tell it not in Gath”
1. David…Saul…and the Philistines
f. Don’t tarnish your testimony
8. You disappoint your pastors……v.16
(16) as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
1. “that I may boast on the Day of Christ”
a. Pastor Paul looking toward his eternal reward
1. More fruit…rewards
2. Bring more glory to Christ
b. Paul had labored hard
1. Toiled day and night
c. Didn’t mind
1. As long as it wasn’t in vain
2. I love to pour myself into this ministry
a. I love the people
1. …and I’m looking forward to my heavenly reward
b. It would be tragic to see it self-destruct
c. Watching a person falling into self-destruction
1. Fighting to stop the slide
3. “that I did not run or labor for nothing.”
4. You are capable of bringing me great joy….or sadness
(III John 4)— “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth”
IV. Summary
A. Everything rises or falls by word-of-mouth
1. Buying a new car
a. Letting a cousin drive my car
b. “ I’m 100% happy with it!”
c. Or…. “I’d never buy another one”
1. Forget it!
2. Word-of-mouth is powerful
2. You, your church and your faith
a. When Christians grumble about their church
b. When Christians are excited about their church
“children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” (v.15)