God Is Able To Turn Our Complaints Into Praise Series

God is able to turn our Complaints into Praise

Moses and Miriam lead in praise for deliverance

Complaints come

God alone is able to deliver

DBF Sunday Sermon, 10/27/02

You know I like most people are apt to Praise God for the many blessing that HE brings into our lives every day.

When I survey the past few years of work that God alone could have accomplished here, I am amazed.

In 1999 as a new birth plant, God brought in 12 people to present a Vacation Bible School and start to plant seeds for the youth of this region of Bristol Bay and for some people who were willing to listen.

In 2000, God again were blessed with people who volunteered to come out and do a Vacation Bible School in Dillingham and Aleknagik, a Spring revival and also opened the Alaska Native Youth Camp for Native youth throughout the state to be able to come together in Christian fellowship and build support networks that could assist them in fighting the bitter battles of alcohol, assaultiveness, abusiveness, and hopelessness that many face daily in their remote communities. God raised a tremendous amount of funding to bring about this great and glorious work that we were praying would one day be the seed that we as Christians and Southern Baptists have sown throughout this great land. Gloria and Lou Ann started the Big A/Team Kids club every Sunday afternoon to work with 6-12 year old youth.

In 2001, we again were blessed with people who volunteered to come out and do Vacation Bible School in Dillingham and Aleknagik and we added a sports outreach daily during the week, and the Alaska Native Youth Camp became the single biggest group to every converge on Laverne Griffin Youth Camp in Wasilla. Many decisions for Christ were made and the youth from the first camp became co-counselors assisting in many ways during the camp. God again, through HIS gracious people scattered throughout the United States provided what I consider a tremendous amount of funds in order that God’s will would be realized in “Bush” Alaska.

This year has shown God’s continued care in providing the Alaska Native Youth Spring Leadership conference throughout various locations in the state, Vacation Bible School and a one month sports outreach provided by several different missionaries from Alaska, Mississippi and Texas. The light of Christ has truly been shown to the youth and adults in this area.

Yet, when I get up in the morning and place my bi-vocational hat on and go out the door to the Office of Juvenile Justice I am reminded that there is so much work to be done here. The 30-50 kids we minister to have hundreds more that tell them the things in and of the world are far more rewarding than being a member of the Dillingham Bible Fellowship, the Big A Club, or any other Holy Bible Christian Teaching and Preaching Church.

You see the deceiver comes wearing many different masks, but the message is always the same: eat, drink, and be merry—you deserve it…take it easy, party, have a blast while you can.

I see people who seem to be on the verge of total commitment…which we find is the basic commitment of truly born again believers…that turn and run back fully into the world. And as the word of God says their lot is worse that it had been with 7 demons replacing the one that they followed previously.

Let us look as the nation of Israel in one breath praises God for the glorious victory HE has shown and vow to live and trust in him, yet in scarcely no time turn and complain bitterly against God. God calls us to have absolute childlike trust and faith in HIM in every situation of our lives. Let us do so with gladness.

Moses and Miriam lead in praise for deliverance

Exodus 15

1Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. 4Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. 7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. 8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. 9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 10Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away. 16Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. 17Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. 18The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. 19For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. 20And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.