December 16, 2007 |
| Encountering Complaints |
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Sermon: Encountering Complaints/ Danger of Complaining
Delivered by: Pastor William Lee Johnson Date: 12/09/07
Text: Numbers 11:1-25
I. The people complain vs 1,4-6
II. Moses complains vs 10-15, 21,22
III. God answers the complaints vs 1,2, 16-20, 23-25
Pastor Johnson likened the Israelites to the Church and Moses to the pastor. In his opening statement he said, "when the church complains it causes the pastor to complain". He added, "we need a pastor when we complain". Then he took a minute to describe the mixed multitude of verse 4, likening them to the make up of the church today. Basically, he said we have congregations that are made of both the saved and the unsaved.
Basically, Pastor Johnson made direct observations from the scriptures and expounded on the similarities between the Israelites and the church folks today. He elaborated on the fact that people do not like discipline or taking orders. And when they make complaints to counter leadership they often are deceptive or lying about the situation.
When the Israelites complained, they basically said to Moses, "we are starving". Nothing could have been farther from the truth. Numbers 11:7-9 describes in detail the manna and how God delivered it every night; while the people slept.
Moses responded by pouring out his soul to the Lord in verses 10-15. In verse 14, Moses decries his limits. Then in verse 15 he opts for death rather than to continue leading the complainers. Using these observations, Pastor Johnson said, "...then the preacher begins to think that he is the problem..... but God has the remedy for every complaint."
At this point, he began to unpack some applications. He said, "if you can't stand with the pastor, you are out of order. You can't do the pastor's work without the pastor's spirit. God speaks at the church. God will do what He says He will do. Don't break camp, just straighten it out. Set the camp in order."
He emphasized the fact that Moses had to be obedient to God and follow His instructions. (vs 16,17) When Moses gathered the elders, God took of the spirit of Moses (that He had placed on him) and put it upon the elders. (vs 25) Thus equipping them to help Moses bear the burden of the people.
Pastor Johnson concluded by encouraging the body to pray this way; "Lord, let your spirit fall on me. Lead me. Guide me." He said, "don't let trouble in the camp cause you to turn your back on the man of God. What God says He will do, He will do! Man of God, don't break camp, just straighten it out."
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2010
Don't Be...
2007
Although I have heard this passage preached on before, I had never thought of how the complaints of a church can cause the pastor to complain to God.
Happy to find your site, I'll be back as time permits.