“IS THE LORD AMONG US OR NOT?” (Outline)
August 14, 2022 – Pentecost 10 – EXODUS 17:1-7
INTRO: Doubts come from the devil. Satan wants people to doubt God’s promises. None are exempt from doubting. Peter was so excited to see Jesus he jumped out of the boat and walked on water. Yes! Walked on water as long as he looked at Jesus. Peter sank when he looked at the wind (not easily seen). "Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’" (MATTHEW 14:31). The Lord might ask us the same question: Why do you doubt? Doubting leads to grumbling. Complaining. Asking: “IS THE LORD AMONG US OR NOT?”
I. We really complain too much, often. II. The LORD freely provides enough, always.
I. WE REALLY COMPLAIN TOO MUCH, OFTEN
A. The Israelites were at the beginning of their 40-year wandering in the wilderness.
1. They had been at the Promised Land border. But they doubted God’s power to deliver.
2. 10 spies report: inhabitants are too many, too strong. 2 spies stated God is more powerful.
3. Israel takes majority report. Doubt God’s power. Living generation not see Promised Land.
B. Verse 1a. Sin was the name of the wilderness area they were leaving.
1. Verses 1b, 2. No water. God’s children were thirsty. Complained to Moses.
2. Moses asked them why they were testing the Lord. They saw his glory every day in the sky.
C. Verse 3. “Why let us…children…livestock die of thirst?” Doubted God’s ability to provide.
1. In chapter 16 the Israelites complained about the manna. Free, daily bread. Enough for all.
2. Lord miraculously provided quail. Waist-deep. They ate until sick. Doubting grumblers.
D. How often do we complain? Grumble? Doubt? Probably too much and too often. This is the natural condition of our sinful nature. Our sinful nature is never satisfied. The devil knows this truth. Satan uses the temporary things of this world to distract us from the eternal gifts of God. Our sinful nature listens and wants more possessions. Newer. Bigger. Better. Just a little bit more. This is our natural condition from birth. Our Christian nature, new Adam, does not doubt but trusts. "I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, while being full or hungry, while having plenty or not enough. I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me" (PHILIPPIANS 4:12b, 13). Learn the secret to be content. In plenty or want. In poverty or wealth. “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."
E. Do not ever underestimate the power of the devil. Satan is the father of lies. Deceit is his native language. Satan even tried to tempt Jesus into sinning by using doubt. (That temptation did work with Adam and Eve). Jesus was baptized. Then he walked in the wilderness for 40 days. Near the end of that time Satan comes to tempt Jesus. Hungry, Satan tells Jesus to turn a stone into bread. Jesus: Man does not live on bread alone. The devil tempted Jesus with power if he would worship him (Satan). Jesus: Worship the Lord your God only. Satan wanted Jesus to cast himself to the ground from the temple top. Angels would protect him. “Jesus answered him, ‘It says: “You shall not test the Lord your God.”’” (LUKE 4:12). Do not test the Lord by doubting and asking, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
F. How do overcome our natural fondness for complaining? Philippians [4:12b, 13 (above)] reminds us being content is something we learn. Consider our beginning and end of our earthly life. We learn the secret of contentment. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly cannot take anything out" (1 TIMOTHY 6:6, 7). We are born with nothing. Leave vale of tears with nothing. Godliness leads to contentment. We are content the Lord is among us. Lives in us.
“IS THE LORD AMONG US OR NOT?” We confess that we complain too often. Doubt does this.
II. THE LORD FREELY PROVIDES ENOUGH, ALWAYS
A. The wandering Israelites were upset with Moses. No water. Thirsty. Doubting Moses. God.
1. Verse 4. Moses knew who was the One who would and could help. Turns to the Lord.
2. “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me!”
B. Verse 5. Lord provides Moses with the solution for the current complaints of his chosen people.
1. Stand in front of the people. Take the elders with you. Take along your staff.
2. Moses’ staff was symbol of the Lord’s power. Authority. Used in 10 plagues in Egypt.
3. Moses used the staff, so Israel crossed sea on dry ground. Waters drowned Egyptian army.
C. Verse 6. The Lord would stand with Moses. Focus on the Lord. Strike the rock. Water for all.
1. Verse 7. Two names were given to that special place of the Lord providing.
2. Massah meant testing. Meribah meant quarreling. Descriptive names of Israel’s grumbling.
D. Doubt can ask the question: “Is the Lord among us or not?” Trust will also ask the same question: “Is the Lord among us or not?” Years quickly go by. We grow in spiritual wisdom. Our loving, heavenly Father opens our eyes to see his love and mercy. His care and concern. Only the Lord God of Armies can give us any comfort. God’s word reassures us again and again just how much the Lord loves us. "Yes, he who watches over Israel will not slumber. He will not sleep. The LORD watches over you. The LORD is your shade at your right hand" (PSALM 121:4, 5). The Lord protects and provides for us day and night. God does not sleep. The Lord watches over us. He freely provides abundantly for all our spiritual needs.
E. The Lord Jesus called Saul into mission work for the Gentiles. Saul became the Apostle Paul. His life was filled with sacrifice. Suffering. All this for the sake of the Gospel. Paul endured beatings. Prison. Shipwrecked. Near the end of his life Paul knew God always provided. "But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles would hear it, and I was rescued from the lion’s mouth" (2 TIMOTHY 4:7). Note: “I was rescued from the lion’s mouth". The devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking to devour. The Lord himself strengthens each of us against our enemy. Satan wants to devour our souls. We tell him no. We put the devil behind us with the powerful word of God. We flee from sin. The Lord provides for our spiritual welfare. Always.
F. The landscape of today’s society is littered with fear. We are killing the climate. The climate is killing us. Diseases, sicknesses, and plagues force people into isolation. The economy will ruin our lives. On and on the experts sound the warning alarms. Our Lord is still in control. Always in control. ALL things work for the good of those who love him. "Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (ISAIAH 41:10). We know the answer to the question: “Is the Lord among us or not?” YES!
CONC.: Doubting God’s sovereignty can lead us to complain. Grumbling is the natural condition of our sinful nature. “Is the Lord among us or not?” Listening, reading, and studying God’s word teaches us godliness and contentment. This is our great gain. “Is the Lord among us or not?” This is most certainly true! We can confidently pray with the Apostle Paul: "Now to him, who is able, according to the power that is at work within us, to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” (EPHESIANS 3:20, 21). THE LORD IS AMONG US… ALWAYS! Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENTECOST 10 readings: GENESIS 18:20-32; COLOSSIANS 2:6-15; LUKE 11:1-13; (PSALM 6)
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