Greetings in the Name of Jesus and welcome to the PLN Sunday Night Bible Fellowship!

 

When folks are going through HARD TIMES, one of the results is that we tend to complain more than usual about what we're going through, especially in the area of finances. That's just the way we are. But we've carried that tendency to new levels of discontent since the recession fell on us at the end of 2007. Recovery from that event has been historically slow and as a result people have become really expert at their complaining; in fact, complaining has become a defining aspect of our current environment. Many people even do a form of daily "research" to make their complaining more credible by faithfully boning up on all the latest bad news. Then armed with the negative information of the day, they're eager to tell everybody about their own particular HARD TIMES and want others to agree with them that their situation is just about the worst anyone has ever heard of.

 

Many Believers take it even further and blame God for their HARD TIMES. Because of faulty theology they think He's responsible, that He must be disciplining or judging them for something even though they can't figure out what it is. Their faith fails them in the worst of times and they grumble and complain to God because they're not where they think they should be or they're not where they think they deserve to be. And, they FEAR that God has abandoned them in the wilderness, that He's purposefully withholding His favor during the HARD TIMES.

 

Let's set the record straight: God is not abandoning anybody (Hebrews 13:5) so let's summarize a few key theological points so we can make a scriptural response to the HARD TIMES instead of murmuring and complaining and blaming God for them:

 

* First, God is not the problem; the problem is the THIEF who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10) and we're supposed to actively resist him OURSELVES (James 4:7) instead of complaining to God.

 

* The Lord is NOT PRESENTLY the god of this World, the devil is (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:2 and 1 John 5:19). Consequently, God is NOT personally orchestrating the World's HARD TIMES. According to Scripture He's RESTING now (Hebrews 4:10) and there are NEVER any HARD TIMES in His Kingdom.

 

* Said another way, HARD TIMES represent a condition that's unique TO THE WORLD. It has resulted from Man's sin and greed and bad stewardship. God has nothing to do with it EXCEPT that now by the Holy Spirit, He's working to lead us through it to victory in Christ.

 

* God is not yet judging the World and natural disasters are not God's judgment; they are a result of sin and the related curse on the earth. So far God has only judged Jesus who consequently was able to obtain ETERNAL redemption for all mankind (Hebrews 9:12). Jesus will Himself judge the World later (Revelation 20:11-15).

 

* Likewise, God is not presently judging ANYBODY for their sins (2 Corinthians 5:19, Romans 4:8, 5:13). In fact, by His grace and mercy He's chosen to not remember our sins (Hebrews 8:12) and because of Jesus we've ALREADY been redeemed from the Curse (Galatians 3:13) including its HARD TIMES.

 

* The main reason people have so little faith in the midst of HARD TIMES is that they've neglected the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). If your faith were strong ENOUGH, you'd scarcely notice any HARD TIMES because you would be hanging out all the time in the Kingdom of God.

 

* The bottom line is Believers DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN THE WORLD (Colossians 2:20). We're supposed to DIE to it which means that if you're all depressed about what's going on in the World, you haven't died to it yet.

 

God Does NOT Like Complaining

 

Another bottom line is that God doesn't like complaining at all...period. Why? Because it demonstrates a lack of trust in Him and in His Word; a lack of trust by definition is a lack of faith which is particularly not pleasing to Him (Hebrews 11:6) especially under the New Covenant which is a covenant based on faith (and love). If we don't trust God then we'll start relying on our own Flesh which ALWAYS leads us into fear and defeat. Also, lack of trust is in direct conflict with God's objective of developing a personal and loving relationship with each Believer. How can you be in a love relationship with someone you don't trust or that you're mad at all the time?

 

Scripture confirms for us that God particularly dislikes complaining and certainly one example would be how He dealt with the Israelites after He had led them out of slavery in Egypt. During those ensuing 40 years of wandering around, God provided for their every need yet most of the way they were dissatisfied with His provision and grumbled at every trial. Their grumbling was a manifestation of their ingratitude; rather than THANKING God for what He WAS providing, they complained to Moses for their perceived deprivation. Rather than persevering on through to the Promised Land, they wanted to go back to their bondage in Egypt so they could eat and drink and satisfy their flesh in the ways they had become accustomed to during the years of their slavery. They disregarded God's promises and became a faithless and unbelieving people (Hebrews 3:19, 4:2), unwilling to trust and depend on the One who had miraculously delivered them from bondage.

 

As a result, almost all the adult Israelites who had departed Egypt permanently lost the opportunity to actually go into the Promised Land. Yes, their basic needs were taken care of while they were in the wilderness but they never came close to the point of overflowing surplus; they never became eligible for the prosperity God wanted to give them in the Promised Land. In fact, the Bible says their hearts became hardened because they were UNGRATEFUL AND UNWILLING TO THANK GOD for what He was doing (Psalm 95:8-11). THANKSGIVING would have softened their hearts, brought them out of their HARD TIMES and propelled them into His prosperity.

 

Consider also the example of Hezekiah, one of the kings of Judah (2 Chronicles 29:1 through 32:33). Hezekiah was a good king who trusted in the Lord and because of that Judah was saved from certain defeat at the hands of King Sennacherib of Assyria. After the victory, King Hezekiah was exalted in the sight of all nations; but soon he became sick to the point of death. Once again though God performed a miracle and the king was healed spectacularly. The favor of God had thus produced two miracles for King Hezekiah; but even after the victory over Sennacherib and even though he had been miraculously healed, the Bible says that Hezekiah's heart was proud and amazingly he didn't THANK God for His favor. So, the Lord released His WRATH against Hezekiah, which means He was real mad at him. But it didn't take the king very long to repent and the Lord retracted His anger before major damage was inflicted postponing it for a later date.

 

Instructed to Give Thanks

 

Friend, ungratefulness used to make God very angry and even though His wrath has now been poured out on Jesus and we're living under a New Covenant, shouldn't Believers still want to please the Lord? We know from the Old Covenant that He doesn't like it so out of love we should want to avoid complaining. But in addition to that, something we seem to easily ignore is that we've been INSTRUCTED to give Him thanks: "Give thanks always for all things unto God" (Ephesians 5:20). Friend, this is not a suggestion; no, the Believer has been clearly INSTRUCTED under the New Covenant to give THANKS to God for ALL things. So therefore here's an important revelation: complaining about God is to DISOBEY His INSTRUCTIONS and disobedience is sin which opens a door to Satan in our lives. Therefore, if you want to change the HARD TIMES into GOOD TIMES for yourself, you need to stop murmuring and complaining to and about God so you can close the door to the devil. In short, being GRATEFUL is for our own good because it helps keep the devil away!

 

Along the same lines some additional scriptures in the New Testament we should consider are as follows:

 

Philippians 4:6 = Let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving for everything.

Colossians 1:12 = Give thanks to the Father for the inheritance we have received.

Colossians 3:17 = Whatever you do give thanks to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 = It's the will of God that we give thanks in all things.

1 Timothy 4:4 = Everything created by God is good and should be received with thanksgiving.

 

In truth, Believers who're real faith people aren't the complainers; it's impossible to walk in faith and at the same time complain to God about one's circumstances. Rather, people of faith are THANKFUL for God's grace and mercy and deliverance and salvation and blessings and healing and prosperity and inheritance. People of faith are THANKFUL for Jesus and for the Holy Spirit and for the Word of God. And people of faith are GRATEFUL fully recognizing that God is working continuously to lead all of us out of the HARD TIMES at the earliest opportunity. Jesus has already overcome the World (John 16:33) and by YOUR faith YOU can overcome it too (1 John 5:4-5).

 

1 Corinthians 15:57 = Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14 = Thanks be to God who ALWAYS leads us to triumph in Christ

 

Friend, the ALWAYS part demands that we be people of faith. Meditate on all these scriptures for yourself and replace any complaining with some genuine THANKSGIVING no matter how difficult your personal HARD TIMES seem to be. And, by studying Scripture you WILL cause your faith to grow and strengthen (Romans 10:17) and you WILL get the victory.

 

Some Final Thoughts

 

How many Believers are complaining to God these days because they've stopped trusting Him to overcome their HARD TIMES? Complaining to God is rooted in FEAR, which comes when our FAITH diminishes in strength, which happens when we stop trusting in the Word, which is the result of neglecting our study and meditation on that Word, which ALWAYS happens when we start trying to trust in our Flesh. So complaining is part of an inevitable cycle that always comes from spiritual neglect! Sorry, but the truth is what it is according to God's Word. Break the cycle by replacing complaining with THANKSGIVING and you'll soon come into victory over your personal HARD TIMES.

 

Thanks for stopping by tonight. We'll be looking for you again NEXT Sunday night on September 21. In the meantime may the Lord bless you with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), compelling you to PROSPER in every area of life!

 

Sinners' Prayer

 

If you've never invited Jesus to be the Lord of your life, you need to and you can do it today just by saying out loud the following simple prayer:

 

Jesus I declare today with all my heart that I believe in you and that God raised you from the dead. I acknowledge that my sins have been forgiven and I ask you to come into my life today and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for salvation and eternal life.

 

If you were sincere as you prayed this prayer, God has already come into your life and you are a new creation, a totally new species recreated in His image. Now ask the Lord to lead you to a good faith-based, bible-teaching church where you can be equipped to fulfill your potential in the Kingdom of God.

 

And, when you get a chance have someone help you look up the following scriptures because they confirm what you've done by saying this prayer today and believing what you said:

 

Romans 10:9

2 Corinthians 5:17

Ephesians 2:8

 

Prayer Requests

 

If you have a Prayer Request, please connect to the Link below and follow the promptings. The PLN staff members pray over Prayer Requests every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM eastern time. Agree with us for God to answer your petition.

 

http://www.creditcounseling.net/prayer-request.aspx 

 

Donations

 

If you've been edified by Prosperous Life Newsletter, you may want to consider making a SEED FAITH offering to support the Ministry (Galatians 6:6-7). God has instructed us to simply provide folks with an opportunity to sow seed into good ground so in due season you'll be eligible to reap a harvest and the rest is up to you as the Spirit leads. For your information PLN is a nonprofit gift to the Body of Christ so your financial offerings will usually be tax deductible (consult your tax advisor). Just go to the secure Shopping Cart on the Cornerstone web site by connecting through the following link. We appreciate your support and generosity.

 

http://www.creditcounseling.net/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1 

 

About Prosperous Life Newsletter

 

PLN is an outreach ministry of Make A Way Ministries and has been published continuously since January 1998. It's an e-publication about life in the Kingdom of God and is sent ONLY to our email list of MINISTRY MEMBERS. If you're reading this and aren't yet on our growing email list, please let us know and we'll be so very happy to add you to the list.