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.
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…Is this a song that you sing unto God?
It is right to give God thanks and praise for all good things or of God.
The nation of Israel when found to be facing an army far superior in power and weaponry was delivered by the only power in their time that was able to deliver. Do you turn to that same power, which is available to you today and every day that we walk in the manner that God calls us to walk, for your answers?
the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea…These were signs of strength and speed in this day. A man could walk about 20 miles at most a day, the distances covered on horses could be much greater. For years the greatest maneuverable element of the armies of the world were their Mounted Calvary regiments. They could swoop down and break through the enemy lines, sweep forward against artillery, or rapidly ascend sloping battlefields. This greatest of military elements was shown to be of no effect under the mighty hand of God and could be swept away as a child sweeps away toys.
I am convinced that this same powerful hand of God is what swept in front of our forces during Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait.
If you purely looked at numbers or men and weapons…they had more.
But much as the nation of Israel had God watching over and caring for them, our forces were watched over and protected by our caring God and Father.
Yet as a nation, did we celebrate God’s mighty deliverance? No, we celebrated our technology and might.
As a nation, many screamed at God and God’s people on September 11, 2001, yet did our nation thank God that the casualties were not far greater which they easily could have been.
We still have signs that say we are a “nation under God” but from where I sit the God’s that are being worshipped and attended to are anything but the Lord God of Israel.
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…The enemy of God and of HIS people is still seeking to do this on an ongoing basis. They pursue, they overtake, they seek to spoil, and seek to bring lusting into your very lives. God tells us to come to HIM and HE will and has battled and won the war that day on Calvary.
Have confidence and stand firm in God, our creator and redeemer.
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…Are you as easily able to praise God today in your walk as the nation of Israel praised God this day?
I stand today and am able to easily say “Who is like you O Lord?” Who would have taken a sinner deserving of death and hell, and by sweet, sweet grace delivered them from hell and damnation and allow them to stand not only in YOU but stand and do YOUR glorious will. Amazing. Praise God.
Yet in all the awe that this song gives God, Oh how quickly it seems we forget the benevolent hand of God when troubles come our way. Let us look at the immediate walk preceding this great praise.
Complaints come
22So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
Ever notice that when we are covered in anything we never ask where it comes from and most rarely give praise for its presence in our lives.
When we have a roof over our heads, when we have fish, moose, and ducks in our freezers, rarely do we praise God.
Yet, when we don’t catch our fish or our moose then we look around us and say “Woe am I…for God has not seen fit to allow me to have…
You see it is difficult for one to be truly in awe and praise and in nearly the same breath doubt. This is a frame of reference thing of God.
If I praise God in any and all situations in my life, I will only consider times of want as times that God is truly fixing to show me some marvelous and awesome evidence of HIS great faithfulness in my life.
God calls us to this faithfulness as little children to come before HIM and believe that HE is able to bring all good things into your lives…even if you do not recognize them as good things at the time. Amen.
Whatever bitter water is coming into your lives today, know that God has a reason and is able to transform them as long as you lean upon HIM and not your own understanding.
Remember also that the people that are trapped in sin and degradation know only bitter water. They think that it is sweet, not knowing that the water of which they drink comes from a bitter and hot well founded in the very true place known as Hell.
Give them the word of God so that some may believe and call upon the Lord.
God alone is able to deliver
25And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. 27And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
25And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet…Oh the injustice. That God might deliver this nation and then abandon it in the midst of the desert.
Are you in a desert in your life right now?
Are you in the need of the life giving flow that is only available through Christ Jesus?
Didn’t God deliver the nation so many times and in so many ways in the recent past? Could HE not do so again and again?
John 15
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Here we see Jesus describing the flow of sustenance within God’s great garden. It is through our very connection to God that all good things flow to us.
There is a requirement that I abide in place on the vine to continue to grow and be sustained. This necessitates bringing my self serving will into accord with the will of God through the leading of Christ Jesus in and through my life.
Oh the hand that drew salvations plan. That very hand that was pierced on the cruel, cruel tree on the Hill called Calvary. Oh, how undeserving was I to have that precious hand extended to assist me, yet God did offer it.
You know God is offering HIS hand to you today.
If you have not had any reasons to praise in your life, if you are used to drinking the bitter, bitter waters of woe in this life, if you crave a drink of something pure and deep, Jesus is inviting you to ask HIM to bring this refreshing flow into your life today.
The transaction is so very uncomplicated.
Simple pray, Lord, I recognize that I am a sinner, unclean, deserving of not only death but eternity in Hell. Your righteous law says “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We know that your word says the penalty for sin is death and death apart from you means “Hell’.
Dear Lord, I ask YOU to come into my heart today and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Create in me a clean heart. Bring me to YOUR life giving flow and sustain me in YOUR ways, Oh Lord.
Through YOUR precious ways lead me as I commit myself to YOU for leadership and guidance in all my ways.
If you have said this prayer, please let your pastor or one of the church leaders know, so that they may assist you in becoming grounded in the vine of Christ in order that HE may bring fruit in this present world through you abiding in HIM.
God is always their, HE never walks away, so HIS people should continually be in prayer seeking HIS good and perfect will in their lives no matter whether you are walking on dry land in the midst of the sea or are walking through a desert towards bitter streams for a season. God will be faithful to carry you through any situation HE places you in.
Closing Prayer.
