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Complaining against God… (4 things)
Galatians 5:16 – “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
1st – Life is too hard… vs. 1-3
No sooner had the people set out – they began to complain…
They had gotten comfortable at Mt. Sinai – set into a daily routine of life…
Now they had to break down their tent every time the cloud/pillar moved…
It was hot in the desert – they had to depend on the Lord daily for food and water…
But it was A LOT better than being beaten as slaves by godless Egyptians…
Now they were not alone – the Tabernacle – God dwelt in the midst of His people…
And the journey had a purpose – it was only for a season – the Promised Land…
When hard times come in life perspective is so important…
God makes no promises the Christian walk will be easy – but there is a purpose…
The Journey may take us through valleys – we are heading for our Promised Land!
Psalms 23:4 – “Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me…”
And the Lord is right beside us every step of the way – watching over us!
The anger of the Lord blazed out…
Fire broke out among the tightly packed tents – spreading quickly through the camp…
The fire began on the outskirts – those who were the farthest from the Tabernacle…
The suggestion is this is where the ‘complaints’ had originated…
Those who were the farthest from God – were the ones to begin complaining…
Complaints that spread through the camp like fire – igniting the hearts of the people
So God sent His fire to consume them – stop them from infecting others!
The farther we are from the Lord – the more likely we are to complain in life…
When we complain about their husband/wife – upset about our family…
When we complain about how little money we have – our work…
We will find others pick up the same tone – also begin to complain along with us…
If we don’t stop – God will step in to stop us – keep the bad example from spreading
God does not play around when it comes to stumbling His kids…
* Mark 9:42 – “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.”
In Acts 5 – Ananias and Sapphira lied about giving to the Lord – bad example…
God’s solution was swift – God killed them both – to keep the church safe!
The result of the fire – they cried out to the Lord – and the fire stopped…
We can choose instead to be a good example – crying out to the Lord…
As we draw close to the Lord – we become a godly pattern for others to follow!
2nd – Not content with what we have… vs. 4-9
A bad example…
There were foreigners among Israel – Egyptians who came with them – Exodus 12:38
They ‘remembered’ all the good food of Egypt – longingly talking about it with others…
Soon all of Israel began to complain – we want meat / fish / fruits / vegetables…
I Corinthians 15:33 – “Bad company corrupts good character.”
We are foolish if we think those around us do not affect us…
If you hang out with people who gamble – tell bad jokes – and get drunk…
But you think to yourself – I will not be like them – I am a godly Christian – foolish…
Choose VERY wisely who you spend time with – because you will become like them!
Not content with what we have…
There is nothing but this ‘manna’ – we have to look at it every day!
We make manna bread / manna soup / fried manna – we are TIRED of manna!
Every morning with the frost – the Lord reigned down the manna from heaven…
When the people saw it they asked – ‘what is it?’ – the word in Hebrew is ‘manna’
It tasted like sweet pastries – it was the food of Angels – Psalms 78:25…
Yet the people were not content with Angel’s food…
They remembered what the world had – and they thought that was better…
So often in Christ we look at the things the world has – and think it is better…
We have church – Bible studies – we have Jesus – but we get tired of them…
We want the Discos / the drinking / parties / boyfriends – girlfriends…
We think the world will make us happier than life in Jesus Christ…
We would trade in the eternal rewards of God – for the momentary pleasure of sin!
The best this world has to offer – only last only a few years…
What Jesus has in store for us is eternal! Why do we sell ourselves short
3rd – Leading a stubborn and rebellious people… vs. 10-30
Moses heard all the complaining – and he became very agitated… vs. 10-15
He began to complain to the Lord – do you hate me – what did I ever do to deserve this!
These are not my children – I am not their father – why must I take care of them…
Why do I have to carry these crying babies to the Land YOU promised them!
All they do is want – but it’s never enough – I can’t carry this burden alone!
Better to just kill me now – it would be a kinder fate than leading these people!
People are sinners – and given half a chance – they will prove it to you…
There have been days when I could really relate to Moses – ‘why me’…
When people you love make poor choices / when you give all you have – not enough…
A leader / pastor – must never forget that they are not his people – they are God’s…
It’s not my church – and you cannot blame me for it!
Too much for one man… vs. 16-17…
God told Moses to bring 70 leaders of Israel to the Tabernacle…
God would take some of the Spirit that was on Moses – and put it on them as well…
They would help Moses bear the burden – he would not have to do it alone…
If we try and do all the work on our own…
We end up burned out – tired – frustrated – unable to get anything accomplished…
Because we are trying to juggle so many things – nothing get’s done at all!
We end up upsetting others – because we tell people we will help them out…
But we spread ourselves so thin we end up not doing what we said we would…
We keep others from being able to help out…
Because we said we would help – or because we did not ask for help…
Other people do not have the opportunity to step out and serve…
The Lord heard their complaints – and He would provide meat for the people… vs. 18-23…
Not just enough for a day – or even five or twenty – but for a whole month!
They’d have meat till they gagged on it – throwing it up because they had so much!
Because they had rejected the Lord – complaining about going back to Egypt!
When we say the world looks better – we are saying God is not enough…
Moses argued with God – ‘but how’…
Moses saw the numbers – there were over 600,000 men (plus women and children)
Imagine if God told you to feed all of Negros 3 full meals a day for a month!
Not just a little rice and sudan – but enough meat that they would gag on it!
If they killed every animal in their herds – it still would not be enough…
All the fish in the sea (exaggeration) – would not be enough to feed so many!
Is there any limit to God’s power…
Moses was still making the mistake of thinking it was his responsibility…
Moses certainly could not feed the millions of Israel – no matter what he did…
So often we get caught up with looking at what we have – what we can do…
We may think that we don’t have enough money – enough time – or talent…
Our problem is we are focused on ourselves – but it is not about us…
We miss the point completely – it is not about us – it is about Jesus!
Full of the Spirit… vs. 24-30
The Spirit fell upon the 70 – and they began to prophesy…
We cannot be effective for the Lord in our own strength – we need God’s strength…
It is only when we are full of the Spirit – we will be effective for God…
The night Jesus was betrayed – He told Peter he would deny Him 3 times…
Peter adamantly denied it stating he would go to prison – even die for Jesus…
But he was trusting in his own ability – his flesh – so he failed…
Yet 50 days later – when the Holy Spirit was poured out – he preached – 3000 saved!
II Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
If we are full of ourselves – our flesh – then we will be ineffective for Jesus…
But when we are emptied – not depending on ourselves – full of Jesus – Holy Spirit
We will find God changes our hearts – our desires – gives us His power…
So that nothing is impossible for us – the ability to do anything for the Lord!
Eldad and Medad…
Two of the 70 leaders had not come to the meeting at the Tabernacle…
But God’s Spirit still fell on them – they began to prophesy in the camp of Israel…
Joshua – Moses’ assistant found out and told Moses to forbid them…
Perhaps upset they had ‘refused’ to come to the meeting – not listened to Moses…
Yet Moses replied – ‘I wish that all of the Lord’s people were full of the Spirit!”
The Good news is God’s Holy Spirit is available to EVERYONE who asks!
* Luke 11:13 -“Your heavenly Father [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask…”
Not just once – but asking over and over and over again for – for the Holy Spirit…
* Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
You need gas to run a car – but you need to keep filling that car up with gas…
We need also need to be daily filling up on the Holy Spirit to be effective for God!
4th – The price of lust… vs. 31-35
God sent a wind – bringing with it quail from the sea – filling the camp…
For miles around there were quail – flying only 3 feet off the ground (easy kill)…
For 2 days the people gathered quail – no one got less than 750kg of meat!
While they were eating – the anger of the Lord blazed…
A severe plague broke out among the people – killing many of them…
The place became know as the ‘graves of craving’…
Because they buried there those who had a craving for meat from Egypt…
When we live to satisfy ours lusts – we are playing with fire…
Proverbs 6:27 – “Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not be burned?”
Lust can never be satisfied – we will always want more
I love (lust) after chocolate chip cookies – when I was a kids I’d eat them all
I could never eat just one – I always wanted one more – then one more…
Till I was sick because of all the cookies – and still I wanted more
Lust wants – more money, more pleasure, more things, more power…
But it is never enough – in the end it costs us everything – for nothing
One more drink – one more cock fight – one more peso – always one more…
The price we pay – sick (drinking), broke (gambling), broken family (always gone)
When we are driven by our lusts – we will only hurt ourselves
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