Preaching | THE BIBLE VIEW

The BIBLE VIEW #968 — Murmuring

In This Issue:
Against God’s Anointed
Misery of Murmuring
Do We Dare Murmur?
Danger of Murmuring
Murmuring and Contentment

Volume: 968 July 22, 2024
Theme: Murmuring

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Against God’s Anointed
Bill Brinkworth

God uses men and women for His different purposes. God has delegated many of the needs of His people to different ministries He knows are paramount. One such need that God knows is important is to have a shepherd of a local assembly of believers. That man is called a “pastor” or “preacher”.

Maybe because of jealousy that they are not called to the position of pastoring, or knowing they are not scripturally qualified for such a role of leadership, or perhaps they disagree with how he is performing his ministry, or have the belief they can do a better job than their pastor, many talk against and about their preacher. What a dangerous mistake they make when they do so.

Throughout the Bible there are examples of how God dealt with those who rose and spoke against God’s man, such as:

When Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, Miriam was plagued with leprosy (Num. 12:9-10).
When the people of Israel spoke against God and Moses (Num. 21:5-6), God sent fiery serpents to chastise them for their sins.
When Korah and over 250 others spoke against Moses and Aaron (Num. 16:2-3), God allowed the earth to swallow Korah and the others up.
When children mocked God’s man, Elisha (II Kings 2:22-23), God allowed two she bears to destroy 42 mockers.
History tells us that Pontius Pilate, who ordered Jesus’ death, died by suicide.
Judas turned against Jesus and became so miserable about what he had done against Jesus that he killed himself (Mat. 27:5).
The thief who perished on the cross with Christ spoke against Jesus and did not get saved and go to Heaven.

David would not go against King Saul, even though the King did wrong several times against him. David’s heart was, “The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed:…” I Samuel 26:11. David knew it was wrong to oppose God’s man. However, today, many do not restrain themselves from talking against or doing ill against the leader God has placed over the local church.

The pastor of any church certainly is not perfect. No one will agree with everything anyone does, let alone the many decisions the local shepherd has to make. He probably would not agree with all we do, either. However, he is the leader of the local church that God has for this time and should be obeyed, respected, and encouraged. Unless scriptural error is involved, God takes him home, or God relocates him, he is to stay the church leader.

** Murmur: A muttered or subdued grumble or complaint **

Belittling and questioning his ministries does much damage:

Murmuring against God’s man is a sin, and sin can only harm one’s life. One will not be all one can be with any iniquity in one’s life.
Murmuring about another’s work for Christ will put one in a position of judging (Mat. 7:1), and that is the Holy Spirit’s job, in most situations, not ours.
Complaining about the pastor or any other church leader or facet of the church will only spread discontent among others. It will sow seeds of discord and, in most cases, will only hinder, not build, the ministry (Proverbs 6:16-19). Division among members will result when leadership is opposed.
Speaking against the pastor or another God-appointed leader could hinder the Holy Spirit of God from working in lives or could bring the wrath of God on violators.
Speaking ill against God’s leader will not encourage the pastor to do all he can. It discourages most pastors, and the body of Christ will surely suffer.
When we talk about or question what the pastor is doing (or other church leaders, for that matter), we are negating his authority to the listeners. If our children hear us roast the preacher after a sermon, it may not be long until the children lose respect for his ministry and do not heed the biblical advice that is delivered from the pulpit or classroom.

One day, the parent may wonder why their children are not following what was taught in church from the Bible. They would never suspect their bad-mouthing of the preacher in their home had taught them that if the parents do not respect the pastor, they do not have to either.
Murmuring against the man of God will hinder the effect any ministry has on the neighboring community if any disunity among church members is heard by them.

Aaron and Hur knew a principle about helping the man of God that would encourage and support any pastor today. They noticed that when Moses’ arms were up while directing a battle, Israel had the victory over the enemy. When the leader was tired and had no strength to lift his arms, the battle was in the favor of the enemy. Aaron and Hur made sure their leader’s arms were held high so that they would get the victory. They physically held up their leader’s arms.

If more people would realize that honoring God’s man is honoring Godand His work and would encourage and help their pastor, more spiritual battles would be won. More pastors would be encouraged. Lift your leader’s arms, do not force them down!

“If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything!” — My Mother

Misery of Murmuring?
T. Brooks

Every murmurer is their own executioner.

Murmuring vexes the heart.
It wears and tears the heart.
It enrages and inflames the heart.
It also wounds and stabs the heart.

Every murmurer is their own destroyer. No man is as miserable as the gossiper is. No man hath such inward gripes and griefs, and bitterness and heaviness as he who complains. Every murmurer is their own tormentor.

Murmuring is a fire within that will burn up all.
It is an earthquake within that will overturn everything.
It is a disease within that will infect all.
It is a poison within that will prey upon all.

“The very word murmur, how simple it is. It is comprised of two infantile sounds — ‘mur mur’. There is no sense in it; no wit, or no thought in it. It is the cry rather of a brute than of a man. Murmur — just a double groan.”
— Spurgeon

Do We Dare Murmur?
John Bate

The Lord of the harvest has the right to come and take any part of His grain from the field, in whatever condition it may be. He may pluck it up in the tiny spiral blade or in the blooming ear. He may let it grow until it bends under its weight and shines its golden richness.

It does not become the grain to murmur at the proprietor’s conduct. It was his grain before it was sown, his land in which it was planted, and his servants who sowed it.

Has the grain any right to complain of its proprietor? No more have we of God in any of His doings with us. Can He not do as He chooses with His own? Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right?

“If you’re busy rowing the boat, you won’t have time to rock it!”
— Author Unknown

Danger of Murmuring
T. Brooks

Caesar prepared a great feast for his nobles and friends. Unfortunately, it was a miserable day. He was so displeased by the rainy weather that he commanded all the men who had bows to shoot up their arrows at Jupiter, their chief “god,” in defiance of him for the rainy weather. When they shot them, they, of course, fell short of their target, and the arrows came back to Earth. In so doing, the arrows fell upon their heads so that many of them were wounded.

All of our murmurings and complaining, which are as so many arrows shot at God himself, will one day return upon ourselves. They will never reach Him, but they will hit us. They will not hurt God, but they will wound us. Therefore, it is better to be mute than to murmur.

Murmuring and Contentment
Trench

Some murmur when their sky is clear
And wholly bright to view,
If one small speck of dark appear
In their great heaven of blue;
And some with thankful love are filled
If but one streak of light,
One ray of God’s good mercy, gild
The darkness of their night.

In palaces are hearts that ask,
In discontent and pride,
Why life is such a dreary task,
And all good things denied?
And hearts in poorest huts admire
How love has in their aid
(Love that not ever seems to tire)
Such rich provision made.

“Ten minutes’ praying is better than a year’s murmuring.” — Spurgeon

The BIBLE VIEW #900 — Preaching

In This Issue:
He Was Right!
The Preacher’s Advice

Volume: 900 February 20, 2023
Theme: Preaching

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He Was Right!
Bill Brinkworth

Although I was saved at 12, I did not live right and for the Lord. A spiritual change did not occur until I was 28, in the late 70s.

When I finally got right with the Lord, I looked for the right church. After about six months, I found the one I knew God wanted me to attend. The pastor was Paul Fedena, a wise, godly man who knew the Word of God well.

His preaching often touched on current events and how Christians should react and spiritually examine them. Pastor Fedena touched on many “hot” topics. Many people were glad about the warnings; others got mad and pouted off, never to change their life nor darken the ministry’s doors again.

One sore spot for many was the time spent watching television preachers. The pastor warned that their doctrine was often unbiblical, and many were in it for the money. He cautioned not to send them tithes and offerings as the money would go to the continuance of false teachings and often their personal bank accounts.
“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Philippians 3:18-19

Many got very mad when their favorite television “pastor” was pointed out for doing wrong. Some stormed out. However, it was not long before the pastor’s discernments proved true. Some evangelists were found out, and some were sent to jail. Others had their scams revealed, as were the large amounts of money absconded for personal use. The preacher was right!

There was also preaching against the charismatic movement. Well-researched information was given to the congregation about how the spiritual gifts for the early church were not for today’s believers who were to live by faith and not sight.
“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” I Corinthians 13:8

Scams of some false teachers were revealed, yet many Christians got mad and stormed out of the church when unbiblical teachings and deeds were exposed. Again, the pastor was right!

Another very sore spot was touched upon. The preacher repeatedly revealed what the Bible said about the dress and appearance of men and women.

At that time, women were beginning to wear pants publically which were worn by men only for centuries. He also exposed men’s hair-styles as not biblical as men were not to appear “effeminate” and not to have the “hair of a woman.”
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5
“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” I Corinthians 11:14

His admonitions included that the respect and distinction of the sexes would be confused. He warned men would be doing what God assigned and prepared women to do, and women’s roles and abilities would also be changed and abused. The sin of homosexuality was discussed, and that changes in men’s and women’s goals and standards would cause that sin to be more prevalent.

People strongly disagreed with the preacher’s discernments, as “so many were doing it, so it could not possibly be wrong.” The pastor was mocked for his stand. Many ignored his warnings. Women wore pants in defiance, and men strutted their long hair. Pastor’s warnings from the Bible were disregarded by many.

Now, look at what has happened to society. The sexes are confused. Men are often not the leaders God desires them to be. Women wear the “apparel of man,” and men wear their hair however they choose. Family values and structures have changed, and divorces are at an all-time high.

Homosexuality and transsexuality, recognized as mental illnesses during that time, are now prevalent and even encouraged in some circles. Many are now angered when those practices and sins are mentioned and spoken about negatively. Again, the pastor’s warning against breaking biblical taboos came true. He was right!

Separation from ungodly living and worldliness were also preached against. It was made clear to the congregation that when Christians get too close to sin, they would soon become desensitized about it, would no longer be convicted by iniquity, and would soon be no different from the ungodly.
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” II Corinthians 6:17

Slowly preaching in other ministries caved into the pull to be more like the world “to get more to come to church.” They encouraged rock music to replace biblical-based hymns. Dress standards were removed. The reliable, preserved King James Bible was replaced with modern perversions of what God saved to direct His people.

Eventually, many churches became places of entertainment rather than stalwarts of the truth. Faithful and bold preaching of God’s Word was replaced by watered-down opinions and soothing sermonettes. Refusal to separate from sin and worldly places of fellowship stopped many churches from being healing institutions for sin-sick souls.

Again, the preacher’s warnings sadly came true. To the surprise of the modern preachers, church attendance diminished significantly, the Gospel was not emphasized, and the power of God was off many ministries.

Although we should heed what comes from the pulpit, not all preachers’ predictions and discernments come to fruition. However, when the Word of God is believed, trusted, and used as the only illuminating light, it will expose many sins, wrong doctrines, and guide one through the maze of temptations and iniquities.

The Bible’s exposing wrong activities, teachings, and behaviors is not limited to a preacher’s discernment. Any Word-of-God-grounded Christian can also determine what is of God and what is not.

Do not let popular beliefs and actions be your compass for finding God’s truths. Often, the majority is not right.

Dive into and diligently study His Word for yourself. Use it to direct your path in this sin-sick world, and you, too, can discern right from wrong and His will and way.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15

“To love to preach is one thing; to love those to whom we preach is quite another.” — Cecil

The Preacher’s Advice
Bill Brinkworth

In giving pastoral advice to another preacher, Titus, Paul showed us we could often face what the early church had to be wary. Churches had to be careful of false teachers undermining the work of God.

Paul’s warnings to Titus can help us identify some false preaching and teaching in pulpits today. Some of the telltale signs of a “false preacher” include:

They are preaching things that should not be preached or taught. Perhaps some of what came from the pulpit was not even biblical, as happens in many ministries today. Somehow, what was said was often motivated by the preacher’s desire to make more money for himself (Titus 1:11).
Much of what was said ruined families. Perhaps unwise preaching brought division rather than unity in families and caused problems (Titus 1:11). It may also have been teachings that encouraged families to leave the church.
Their having their own prophets (Titus 1:12) that supposedly got a “new message from God” and added their thoughts and philosophies. Today, we see this with Muslims following the teaching of their prophet, Mohammed, and the Mormons following their “prophet,” Joseph Smith. It also is seen in other religions and denominations throughout the world.
Their teaching of “fables, and commandments of men” (Titus 1:14). Instead of “thus saith the Lord,” it was “thus saith the preacher” or “thus saith our religion.” Today, we see this with many false religions having their own books and teachings that receive more credence than the Word of God.
Their works proved they were not from God (Titus 1:16). They claimed they were from God with their mouth, but their involvement in sin and ungodly actions was contrary to their profession.

Many claim that they will not “judge” others, and we should not. However, we must discern right from wrong and avoid what God does not approve. False religion is one danger we need to recognize as not being of God. It must be avoided before damage is done to our thinking, testimony, and Christian walk.

“There are only two types of religions: those that “do” to get God to overlook their sin and those that know that Jesus paid for their iniquities on the cross.”