WHAT ARE WE TEACHING BY EXAMPLE? MAKE PRAISE A HABIT?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (Two part lesson, or just do part of it?)
TEXT:
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Be honest? Do you love life? Do you love what you are doing?
I READ MANY PEOPLE ARE SPENDING MORE MONEY THAN THEY EARN TO BUY THINGS THEY DON’T NEED TO IMPRESS PEOPLE THEY DON’T LIKE… We try to change other people’s habits, minds and actions with words. WORDS FALL SHOORT OF THE MARK OF REAL CHANGE.
GOD GAVE DAILY PROVISIONS FOR THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL… 40 years of free food. It tasted good and had all the nutrients for the human body needs
THERE WAS A TEST TO RECEIVE THE MANNA. God’s directions were very clear: only gather one homer of manna a daily. No less, no more. The day before the Sabbath each household was to gather two homers per person. Seems some people refuse to follow the directions God gave. If God freely gave the manna, then God has the right to define how much they should gather.
Wouldn’t you know there are stubborn, rebellious people that demand to do things their way? Life is not like a Whooper and have it your way. Every disobedient family found worms wiggling in their gathering excessive amounts, stinky worms.
OFTEN WE FIND PEOPLE HABITUALLY SEEM TO LOVE TO COMPLAIN. THERE ARE BIBLICAL RECORDS THAT SPEAK OF 14 MAJOR COMPLAINTS THAT ISRAEL MADE AGAINST MOSES AND GOD IN THE 40 YEARS OF THE DESSERT…
The children of Israel were thankful for the manna at first. They praise God for the daily food provisions. How quickly can things go downhill? They were thankful and grateful for the free food. It tasted good and provided all the nutrients that the human body needed. The manna tasted good. But soon the thankfulness wears away and the people expected the manna. Then comes the complaining and complaining before the norm. COMPLAIMING IS CONTAGEOUS AND INFECTOUS.
Exodus 16:15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.
HOW QUICK CAN PRAISE AND SINGING TURN INTO COMPLAINING? GRATEFUL HEARTS MELT AWAY…
Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
ONCE COMPLAINING, GRIPPING, DIS-SATISFACTION AND MURMURRING STARTS IT BECOME HABITUAL.
There grows a focal point of murmuring… Those called of God and trying to do God’s work come under a vicious attack. Rebellion takes root and speaks through the mouth. The attack is justified by backslidden, cold, indifferent, unthankful people.
Exodus 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
WHAT A SICK ATTITUDE WHEN THE COMPLAINING TURNS TO THE ATTIITUDE, JUST WISH WE WOULD DIE?
So god has a plan to try to please the people. God promises: in the morning you shall see God’s hand at work. Because God HEARS YOUR MURMURS AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST GOD! DO YOU THINK THIS WILL MAKE THE MURMURING PEOPLE HAPPY?
Exodus 16:6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: 7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?
God loves his people. But their negativity will soon anger God.
Exodus 16:8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.
Exodus 16:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God. 13 And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
CAN WE HONESTLY SEE THE REAL ISSUE IS BEYOND MANNA AND MEAT? THE REAL ISSUE IS ABOUT NOT CONTENT AND NEVER SATISFIED.
The issue is not appreciating and loving their leaders. Seems the people REMEMBERED EGYPT AS A WONDERFUL PLACE… This had to hurt the very heart of God.
Numbers 11:18 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. 19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 20 But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
Why did they not remember every male baby being killed? Why did they not remember the bricks? No straw? Hard manual labor? Why did they not remember SLAVERY and BONDAGE? Seems God’s children forgot they were despised and rejected in Egypt. DID THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FORGET THEY CRIED AND PRAYED FOR YEARS TO BE DELIVERED?
OK, HAVE IT YOUR WAY… HAVE VOMIT AND PUKE COMING OUT OF YOUR NOSE… NOW WILL THEY LEARN? 14 MAJOR TIMES WE FIND ISRAEL COMPLAINING AND UN-THANKFUL AGAINST MOSES AND GOD! WHY CAN’T WE LEARN?
COULD COMPLAINING AND MURMURING BECOME A HABIT THAT GROWS SPIRITUAL CANCER THAT WHEN IT IS FINISHED IT BRINGS DEATH? NOT ONLY DOES MURMURING BRING SPIRITUAL DEATH, IT MAKES THE DAILY LIFE WE ARE LIVING ALMOST HELL.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
CAN WE REALIZE THAT THANKFULNESS AND APPRECIATION SHOULD THRIVE DAILY?
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
QUIT CRYING MY FRIEND! BE HAPPY, DON’T WORRY… JOY AND PRAISE ARE DAILY CHOICES…
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
WHY DON’T WE TRY SOMETHING NEW? Let us study how we can make other people happy? Then let us study what can we do to make ourselves happy? HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE! How happy you will be is a choice. Make this observation? The happier you make others the happier you will be?
DID YOU KNOW THE MORE YOU WORRY THE LESS YOU PRAISE AND GIVE THANKS?
DID YOU KNOW THE MORE YOU GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE THE LESS YOU WILL WORRY?
Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
We were designed to run on a FULL JOY TANK… and that our JOY would REMAIN, LAST AND BE COMPLETE.
John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
AT THE ROOT OF MURMURING AND COMPLAINING GROWS THE CANCER OF SELFISHNESS.
THE THORN IS AN INVOLUTED LEAVE… WRAPPED UP IN ITSELF… ME, MINE, MYSELF, AND I.
John 19:5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
Do we have an internal war where we tend to focus on me? WHAT DANGEROUS THING DOES SELFISHNESS AND UNTHANKFUL HEART DO? WHERE IS THE PRAISE? WORSHIP? You focus on what you don’t have instead of focusing on what you do have… QUIT CRYING THAT ROSES HAVE THORNS… START PRAISING THAT THORNS HAVE ROSES…
ARE WE PRAISING GOD? HOW DO WE CHANGE OUR DAILY ATTITUDES AND THUS CHANGE OUR DAILY LIFES… A GOOD DAILY HABIT IS THANKFULNESS AND PRAISE.
Show me the problems that complaining solve… JOY and PEACE GROW IN THE SOIL OF FORGIVENESS AND PRAISE. TO PLEASE GOD WE MUST QUIT FINDING FAULT, COMPLAINING AND MURMURING!
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
IT IS EASIER TO LIGHT A FIRE THAN IT IS TO KEEP THE FIRE BURNING…HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THE FIRE GOING OUT… WE MUST FOCUS ON GOD AND THEN FOCUS ON HOW I CAN HELP OTHERS?
Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Do we daily live I WLL DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR YOU WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR ME?
DO WE JUST TAKE SPECIAL THINGS FORGRANTED? DO YOU THINK: WELL THEY OWE ME? WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME? IT IS UNFAIR, ONE PERSON DOES ALL THE GIVING THAT OTHER JUST RIDES IN THE WAGON…
Psalm 9:1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
THANKFUL: conscious of benefit received, glad, well pleased
WHAT ARE YOU CARRYING IN YOUR HEART? I LIFE ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE TEACHING? MUST BE PART OF A HEALTHY FAMILY. REAL THANKSGIVINGIS MORE THAN WORDS, IT IS A DAILY GIFT…
I say teaching is a great opportunity to lead to the well springs of life. I also say every living person is a teacher. Poor teachers teach with many words. GOOD TEACHERS TEACH BY EXAMPLE more than using many words. THANKFULNESS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. You have a greater opportunity of teaching real life lessons in the bad times, more than the good times. See this storm is a learning/teaching lesson.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THANKS IS GIVING… THANKS IS MUCH MORE THAN TAKING… We live in a society that will stand in line for something free. Free is usually worth exactly what you pay for it? I had someone give me a bunch of outdated material that could not be used. Then later I heard them boast about their giving. Come to find out the retrieved it out of the garbage.
The best way to GROW AND DEVELOP YOUR FAMILY IS BY PRAISE AND THANKGIVING… ENCOURAGEMENT DOES MORE THAN COMPLAINING.
WHAT A TERRIBLE SHAME THAT THANKSGIVING IS ONE WEEK A YEAR? WE NEED A DEEP ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE THAT IS SO ESTABLISHED IN OUR HOMES THAT IT IS A PATTERN WE FOLLOW DAILY… FROM THE TIME WE WAKE UP UNTIL THE TIME WE GO TO BED.
Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
WE ARE HABITUAL CREATURES… DAVID WAS A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART… DAVID LEARNED A GREAT LESSON ABOUT PRAISING AND GIVING THANKS TO GOD. COME GIVE THANKS… SEEMS GIVING THANKS AND SINGING GO TOGETHER LIKE A HORSE AND A CARRIAGE…
Seems the more we practice something the better we get. I often say the difference in a good musician and a bad musician is PRACTICE. The more you practice the better you get. Well, how often do we PRACTICE MURMURING? Say the word murmur 3 times? It even sounds bad.
Seems we practice murmuring, complaining, bickering, fault finding, and negative attitudes until we BECOME EXPERTS… IT IS SAID: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. Practicing murmuring perfects that which will bring harm to your spirit.
Singing a new song of joy overcome the woes, gloom, despair in which our enemy tries to bury us…
2 Samuel 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
Psalm 18:49 Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.
CONCLUSION: Can we teach our hearts to overflow with thankfulness and gratitude? I have eyes that can see. I have ears that can hear. I have knees that bend. I have lungs that can breathe. I have a dear family. I have a roof over my head. I am warm when it is cold. I am cool when it is hot. I have food to eat, clean water to drink. I have a good local church. I have good leaders. My hands I can lift in praise. I have electricity. I have friends. I own a Bible. I can read. I love to pray and talk to the Father. I have dependable transportation.
Psalm 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Psalm 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
HOW DO YOU SHOW THANKFULNESS? YES, WE MUST THANK GOD! BUT THANKFULNESS MUST BE MORE THAN THAT… WE MUST LEARN HOW TO SHOW THANKS TO OTHERS. ENCOURAGEMENT, PRAISE, THANKSGIVING THAT IS SILENT ACCOMPLISHES VERY LITTLE…
Tell the truth: poor spirited people are complainers and grippers… People rich in daily living start their day with praise. The praise all through the day, and when they lay down to sleep they have sweet praise and thanksgiving on their lips.
I have a friend that keeps an ATTITUDE JOURNAL by their bed. They have trained themselves before they get up to write 2 things they will be grateful for that day. Then at night they write two things that happened that day that they appreciated. I HEARD A SMART MAN SAY ONCE: People that fly into a rage, often make bad landings? He said: KEEP YOUR TEMPER NOBODY ELSE WANTS IT. COME WITH ME AND LET US SING PRAISE UNTO GOD. May we praise and encourage discouraged people.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
(This is a two part lesson. Or just cut into one part.) Help me? Tell others of my work?
