Introduction: Nothing hurts the church as much as a culture of complaining among its members. Joyce Meyers said: “complain and remain or praise and be raised.” In my 32 years of shepherding God’s people; I have found nothing as detrimental as whining individuals. A whining tongue is a sign of a bitter heart. Obedience with murmuring is not genuine obedience at all. John Piper says; that “patience is the capacity to wait in the unplanned place and endure at an unplanned pace. “ One great thinker declared the following: oh, that we could but convince men and women that a murmuring spirit is a greater evil than any affliction, whatever the affliction! EM Bounds says: “gratitude and murmuring never abide in the same heart at the same time.” The essence of murmuring is a dissatisfied and unappreciative heart. It’s usually low and continuous. It’s usually repetitious and agitating to the one who hears it. It’s a constant grumbling about of discontentment expressed by an often bitter individual. In most cases; the person is not very concerned about what he / she are mumbling about. They are usually bitter for some other reason. It’s like a bad canker sore. No one that’s trying to get close to God wishes to be around a murmuring person. Imagine what God thinks about it! He hates it. Note; that murmuring usually causes discord among the brethren. (Prov. 6:19) In (Prov. 16:28); murmuring divides best friends. It destroys new converts. It hinders the free flow of the gospel. It replaces the sheep mentality with a herd mentality. People become suspicious of one another. However; where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Moreover; it also means that where God rules, murmuring cannot abide. Let’s look closer at a murmuring spirit:
I. Murmuring will prolong our Wilderness.
II. Murmuring will quench the Fires of our Joy.
III. Murmuring will mitigate the effect of our praise and worship.
IV. Murmuring will hinder the growth of the church.
V. Murmuring blinds our faith-eye.
VI. Murmuring will hurt our prayer life.
VII. Murmuring destroys the harmony in the church.
VIII. Murmuring produces an ungrateful heart.
IX. Murmuring out-volumes and squelches appreciation.
X. Murmuring robs God’s of His glory.
The End Result of a Murmuring Tongue:
• Rebellious heart.
• A pre-judgmental mind.
• The wrath of God
• Loss of Blessings
• Physical ailments
• Life of bitterness
• A lonely person
• Frequently suspicious of others.
• Hatred of self and others.
Here are reasons not to murmur:
• I am still breathing.
• I am saved from a burning hell.
• I am justified by faith in God.
• I am sanctified by the Spirit of God.
• I am sealed by the Spirit of God.
• I am kept by the power of God.
• I have the life of God’s Spirit dwelling in me.
• I have food and raiment.
• I am clothed in my right mind.
• I am reasonably healthy.
• I am undeservingly blessed.
• I am loved by God.
• I am covered by the blood of Jesus.
• My sins are paid for.
• I have a mansion awaiting me.
• Goodness and mercy follows me.
• My steps are ordered by God.
• I have become a son of God.
• I am the righteousness of God.
• I have a Savior who constantly pleads my case.
XI. How to Replace a Murmuring Spirit? (Eph. 5:19-20)
Speaking to the inner-man in the following manner:
• Psalms
• Hymns
• Spiritual songs
• Singing
• Making melodies to God
• Expressing constant gratitude to God
Conclusion: The best way to avoid murmuring is to thank God for His goodness and consider His mercy towards us.
