2021 – Year of the Lord’s Favour | In difficult times patiently wait on the Lord | June 6, 2021

Welcome to the Sunday service!

Today is yet again, another beautiful day that God has made. Be glad that Lord has allowed us all to praise and worship Him.

As today we are celebrating the Holy Communion service, we would like to begin with a beautiful set of verses.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Since last few weeks, we may have noticed several examples if people of God displaying the best example of being patient in the Lord. We will continue with our ongoing series, “In difficult times, wait patiently on the Lord!”

Understand this, that our God is coming soon and this should be sufficient for us to know why we need to be patient on Him.

The book of James talks about being practical about what we study in the word of God. If we have faith in Lord Jesus Christ, we will learn to patient.

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

Grumbling or complaining is the manifestation of thoughts deep down in our mind. We already have these things in us and thats what comes out. The word of God says, “Do not grumble!” So if we notice, what’s inside us will come out.

Let us focus on the significance of grumbling throughout the word of God…

There are many examples in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. Even today, we have so much of grumbling at our office, home, school, food that we eat, service at a restaurant, about family members, about other people etc. The Bible tells us, do not complain!

A person who is trusting in God and depending on God will not grumble or complain. The classical example can be found in the Old Testament during the times of Moses when he brought out the Israelites from the land of Egypt.

Let us take a look at what the word of God teaches us when it comes to grumbling and complaining.

Many people live their entire life grumbling and lose the time to live in joy and peace in Christ. Once we start complaining, it will do nothing good to us, rather bring us down and down and down and vice versa.

For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.

Who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.

I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.

God told people of Israel that He is going to take them on a journey filled with miracles and surprises. But people, all they did was grumble and complain.

They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Even though the past life of people in Egypt was a painful one, yet they grumbled and intended to go back to where they came from. Once we start grumbling, we will never cease to grumble.

And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them? I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.”

How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.

Let me tell you people, grumbling and complaining will leave you in the wilderness. One of the prime examples is people, who came out from Egypt.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

If we notice the book of Psalm, Chapter 13, 35, 95 and many other Psalms begin with thanksgiving.

Instead of focusing on negative things, we should look unto God and wait onto Him patiently.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Once you start thanking, things will turn beautiful in your life. However, if we start grumbling, things will start getting bitter and bitter for us.

Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

Do not despise what God is giving you today. Receive all with thanksgiving. Do not grumble because our God is a merciful and compassionate God. He is going to protect us, bless us, provide for us and He is going to satisfy our hearts.

Why we must be patient in Lord? Because He is coming – God is coming soon!

Instead of going to the promised land, people who Moses brought out with the help of Lord died. The question is why? Well, the answer is simple, “Grumbling and Complaining!”

People of God, grumbling, and complaining does nothing good to us, and not just that, it additionally brings bitterness in our life. Be thankful and remind yourself of the blessings from God. This will not just make your life beautiful, but also help you learn to be patient unto the Lord.

Do you think you grumble and complain a lot? If your answer is yes, then today is the day to seek God’s face. Look unto Him and be patient unto God. Ask and you shall be given! So let us all bow our heads and ask God for His intervention in our lives and that we can learn to be patient unto the Lord.

We hope that with today’s word, you have a very good reason to be happy in Christ. We look forward to see you all again next Sunday. God bless!