Do All Things Without Murmurings

In this part of the sermon: The sermon delves into the meaning of 'murmurings,' explaining its scope to include all revealed duties and imposed providences. Martin emphasizes its vital importance for…

The murmuring of Grecian Jews against Hebrews in Acts 6:1 is used to illustrate complaining about perceived inequity in the administration of benevolence within the church.

We had a situation, or have a situation in this passage, in which the church was caring for its needy widows. But in the administration of that benevolence, the Grecian widows were being neglected in this predominantly Hebrew church situation. Now what happens when someone feels he's not getting a fair deal? Well, there's a grousing, there's a grumbling, there's a murmuring, and that's precisely the word used here.

17:51 - 18:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon delves into the meaning of 'murmurings,' explaining its scope to include all revealed duties and imposed providences. Martin emphasizes its vital importance for…

Peter's injunction in 1 Peter 4:9 to show hospitality without murmuring is used to illustrate complaining about the burden or unfairness of serving others.

And he says in 1 Peter 4 and verse 9, using hospitality one to another, and here's our word, without murmuring. In other words, it is not enough that people open their homes and their hearts and their tables to one another, but they must do it without grousing and grumbling. Why do I always have to be the one that entertains? Why can't some of the other people do it? It isn't fair to just a few. Ever hear that kind of language before? Human nature hasn't changed. Showing hospitality without grousing, without murmuring, without mumbling and grumbling. But now when we find this word in its verba...

18:49 - 20:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin extensively surveys Old Testament passages (Exodus 14, 15, 16, 17; Numbers 11, 14, 16; Psalm 106) to illustrate the nature of murmuring as a deep-seated sin of discontent…

The Israelites' fear and subsequent murmuring against Moses at the Red Sea (Exodus 14) is used as the first Old Testament example of complaining against God's providence.

Now you children will remember from your Bible stories that the people of God were down in Egypt for over 400 years, and then God brought them out of Egypt. The Bible says, with an outstretched arm by those mighty signs and wonders accomplished through the instrumentality of Moses, opened up the Red Sea and brought them across on dry ground. Well, here in the 14th chapter of Exodus we find them out of Egypt, but not yet. Across the Red Sea.

23:22 - 23:55 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin extensively surveys Old Testament passages (Exodus 14, 15, 16, 17; Numbers 11, 14, 16; Psalm 106) to illustrate the nature of murmuring as a deep-seated sin of discontent…

The Israelites' murmuring against Moses at Marah (Exodus 15) due to bitter water is used to illustrate discontent with present provisions, despite recent divine deliverance.

And when they came to Marah, they'd just come over the Red Sea, through the Red Sea, and they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, what should we drink? First thing they did was to grouse against Moses. Think of it.

26:11 - 26:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin extensively surveys Old Testament passages (Exodus 14, 15, 16, 17; Numbers 11, 14, 16; Psalm 106) to illustrate the nature of murmuring as a deep-seated sin of discontent…

The Israelites' murmuring in the wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16), longing for the 'flesh pots' of Egypt, illustrates discontent with provisions and a desire for past comforts over God's present leading.

With the vivid memory of seeing that wall of water on either side, and they pass over on dry ground, they turn back and they see the two walls of water enclosed over the entire Egyptian army, and Pharaoh included, and they're drowned in the sea. That mighty manifestation, of the grace and power of God, with that vividly stamped upon their minds. The first thing they do when they meet a problem, this side of the Red Sea, is they begin to grouse. They begin to complain. It says they murmured against Moses. Chapter 16, here they are, true to character again. And they took their journey for Elam, ...

26:37 - 27:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin extensively surveys Old Testament passages (Exodus 14, 15, 16, 17; Numbers 11, 14, 16; Psalm 106) to illustrate the nature of murmuring as a deep-seated sin of discontent…

The Israelites' striving and murmuring against Moses at Rephidim (Exodus 17) for lack of water, even threatening to stone him, illustrates rebellion against constituted leadership and God.

And now in chapter 17, the murmuring breaks out in terms of rebellion against their constituted leaders. Chapter 17, verses 1 to 4. And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of sin by their journeys according to the commandment of the Lord. And in camp in Rephidim, and there was no water for the people to drink, wherefore the people strove with Moses and said, Give us water that we may drink.

28:39 - 29:07 Read in full sermon

Driving home: This murmuring cannot exist. Apart from unbelief and rebellion, both directed to God.

Martin likens the Israelites' unbelief in their murmuring to 'deicide' or 'God is dead theology,' arguing that their actions treated God as if He were powerless or indifferent.

The God who was well able to meet that need. But what did their unbelief do? Their unbelief was a form of deicide. The God is dead theology was not spawned in the 20th century.

35:58 - 36:12 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Unbelief that says the circumstances are bigger than God, or that the situation is unknown to God, or that the need is a matter of indifference before the face of God.

God is described as the 'husband' of Israel, making their rebellion against Moses a deep-seated rebellion against God Himself.

You see, God says, I've heard their murmuring, it is against me. You see, God was their leader. God was the true captain of the host of His people. Moses was their appointed head, yes, but Jehovah Himself married Himself to His people, and He was their husband. Thy maker is thy husband. And in their growing rest against Moses and the way by which Moses led them, there was a deep-seated spirit of rebellion against God Himself.

37:59 - 38:34 Read in full sermon

Driving home: When the heart is under the influence of unbelief and rebellion, the mind will always come to its surface and attempt to give a rational justification for what unbelief and rebellion are dictating.

The scribes and Pharisees reasoning against Jesus' authority to forgive sins (Luke 5) is used as an example of 'evil reasonings' stemming from a heart blinded by unbelief.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason. There's the word saying, who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? But Jesus perceiving their, here's our word, reasonings answered and said unto them. He perceived their reasonings. Here they're figuring out, you see, according to their sphere of reference, that when one who has the form of a man and all the marks of a true humanity, whom they know as Jesus, the carpenter's son out of Nazareth, when they hear him say to a person, your sins are forgiven, their wicked hearts blinded by unbelief and rebellion, see ...

40:23 - 41:23 Read in full sermon

Driving home: If we didn't do it cheerfully, without murmuring and disputing, we got spanked until our attitude caught up with our action.

Martin shares a personal anecdote from his childhood where his mother disciplined him for doing a task with a 'lower lip out' (grumbling attitude), emphasizing that obedience must be cheerful and without murmuring.

My mother had about a half a dozen of them that she pounded and spanked and preached into our ears and into our hearts. And this was one of them. I can remember times when I was given a task and I went to do it, but I had my lower lip out. You know what it's like when you put your lower lip out?

54:27 - 54:44 Read in full sermon

The point: In the midst of trauma and pain, maintain a disposition that says, 'Oh, my Father, not my will, but Thine, be done,' and make a sanctified effort not to charge God foolishly.

Jesus' agony and prayer in Gethsemane is used to illustrate that 'without murmuring' does not mean stoicism, but a sanctified submission to God's will even amidst trauma and struggle.

No. Look at our blessed Savior. The will of God for Him was the cross. And there, the shadow of the cross is cast upon Gethsemane.

55:26 - 55:37 Read in full sermon