Rise and Shine! 

Don’t Rise and Whine!

(This post is a summary of sorts from notes from my Ladies Bible Study lesson given on 13^th Feb. 2021, so they are not written out in as clear form as usual, but prayerfully, they will be a help, blessing and encouragement to you. Sorry for the length of the post, but if it was written with every word I spoke in the lesson, it would take you a lot longer to read it! If you want the whole lesson in detail, you’ll have to attend one of our Bible studies some time :) God Bless. And get out there and shine! )

 

Philippians 2:14-16 KJV - Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

In reading over the book of Philippians recently, I was drawn to a very familiar verse in scripture. Chapter 2 verse 14. Reading on, my eyes were opened to the reason, the why, of verse 14, found in verse 15, and it seemed to me, that God was leading me to do some more study on this passage as I realized the importance of knowing why it is we are told not to murmur and dispute.

First, let’s look at verse 14. The word ‘murmuring’ in the Greek literally means “a secret displeasure in the heart and a sullen discontent that leads to criticism”.

The dictionary defines is as 1. A low, indistinct, continuous sound: spoke in a murmur; 

                                                   2. An indistinct, whispered, or confidential complaint; a mutter.

Most of us translate this word murmur, into a word more relatable. We would call it complaining. And we usually don’t keep it at a murmur. We complain audibly and loudly at times.  I feel like the year 2020 may be titled, “The International Year of Complaint”.  How often do we complain? How often have we found ourselves complaining over the past year? Lockdowns. Closed businesses. Loss of jobs. And the list goes on. But on the flip side, how much do we have to be thankful for? Despite the difficult circumstances, we have been blessed beyond measure.

Let’s take a look at the book of Philippians. Where was Paul when he wrote this epistle? Righe. Paul was in prison or house arrest, while writing Philippians. And yet it is a book of joy. He begins the book by asking God to bring the church grace and peace and thanking them for their love.

Philippians 1:2-3 KJV - Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

He doesn’t begin by bemoaning his dreadful situation or telling them how miserable he is. How easy it would have been for him to murmur and complain. But no, he didn’t let his circumstances steal his joy.

What is it that dictates your joy? Is it your circumstances or is it Christ?

If we look down to chapter 4 and verse 11, we see the reason for Pauls ability to write with joy.

Philippians 4:11 - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ...

Paul had learned to be content. Contentment doesn’t come naturally. It has to be learnt. The reason he could write a book of joy, despite his circumstances is that he had learned to be content.

Fanny Crosby was a hymn writer born in 1820. She wrote over 8000 hymns, many of which we sing regularly. Because of a doctor’s mistake at the age of 6 weeks, she became blind.  

At the tender, young age of 8, she penned this poem.

Oh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see!
I am resolved that in this world contented I will be!
How many blessings I enjoy that other people don't!
So weep or sigh because I'm blind, I cannot - nor I won't.

What wisdom beyond her years!

About her blindness, Fanny said:

"It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me."

If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind...for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour."

Today many of her hymns continue to draw souls to their Saviour for both salvation and comfort: " Blessed Assurance," "All the Way My Saviour Leads Me," "To God Be the Glory, " "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Saviour," " Safe in the Arms of Jesus," "Rescue the Perishing," "Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross," "I Am Thine, O Lord," and many more.

This is a woman who had learned to be content. She wasn’t murmuring. She knew how to be content with what God had brought into her life, and she didn’t let it stop her from praising and worshipping God.

A grateful heart will be revealed and expressed by thankful words, while an unthankful heart will manifest itself in murmuring and complaining. Our complaining shows that we have an unthankful heart. Our words come from our hearts and a complaining spirit reveals to all that we have an ungrateful heart.

So, what does God think about complaining?

God hates complaining. In 1 Cor 10, apostle Paul gives a list of sins: idolaters, fornicators, those who tempt God and MURMURERS! It’s included in this list. Who knew that murmuring was such a sin? Murmuring is listed alongside sins we see as very wicked and yet, God had Paul write it into the list to remind us that yes, murmuring is sin too!

He goes on to say that the sin of murmuring was severely punished.

1 Corinthians 10:10 KJV - Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

This is referring to the Israelites and God destroying many of them with a plague due to their complaining spirit.

Numbers 16:41, 44-45, 49 KJV - But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD. ...

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. ...

Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

Is God serious about this complaining business or what?

Another passage just to drive my point home is found in Numbers 11.

Numbers 11:1 KJV - And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

God definitely sees murmuring as a sin!

There is a bracelet made of rubber that you can purchase called a “Gripes be Gone” bracelet. The idea of the bracelet is that you wear it on one wrist and every time you find yourself complaining you take it off that wrist and put it on the other wrist, so that you are taking mental notes throughout the day or week of how many times you switch hands.

I've thought about doing something like that, but I think I need something a little more drastic! Like a rubber band on my wrist and every time I find myself complaining, I pull it real hard and snap it onto my wrist, leaving a red mark. The number of times I find myself complaining, I might very well have a very red wrist by the end of one day. I do like the idea though. Sometimes we need a painful reminder of all the times murmuring crosses our lips.

You know, it’s not just the complaining God hates, it’s the attitude behind the complaining. And did you ever notice that complaining never makes you feel better? A bad mood turns into a bad attitude and a bad attitude carried long enough becomes part of your character. You can become known for your complaining, whingeing spirit. Nobody wants to be around that.

Complaining is basically forgetting that God has delivered us. Having an ungrateful heart. Selfishness.  We have lost focus on what He has done for us and begun to dwell on what we see as the negative, everything that is wrong.  It’s the opposite of trusting. We have forgotten Romans 8:28.

The Israelites’ grumbling, turned what should have been an 11-day trip into 40 years of wandering in the wilderness because of their disobedience and unbelief and constant complaining.

Our actions and reactions will show the world who we trust in. Our testimony is so important and the world judges us more harshly then we judge ourselves and they will be quick to recognize a complaining and unthankful heart.

I love this little saying and I remind myself of it frequently.

“Your attitude is contagious – is yours worth catching?”

Complaining causes church splits – it’s contagious. Murmuring and gossiping divide. They do not bring unity.

The antidote/remedy for complaining is rejoicing. We can’t rejoice while complaining and vice versa. There is always something to be thankful for. Worship or whine. We can’t do both at same time. Thankfully, God can turn our whining into worship.

Psalm 30:11-12 KJV - Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

I found it interesting to note that the word murmur, and variations of the word is mentioned 39 times in the Bible, whereas the word rejoice, and variations of the word is 267 times in the Bible. Big difference! There is great importance placed on rejoicing in the Word of God.

Now, let’s look at verse 15 in Philippians 2

Philippians 2:14-16 KJV - Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Here is the why. Why should we do all things without murmurings and disputings?? So that we can shine as lights in the world. The reason we are not to complain and argue is so that we can be a testimony to a lost world. Not just because complaining is annoying. No! We do all things without murmuring to bring God glory.

The apostle Paul tells us that as sons of God we are to shine like the stars in a dark world. Just as the stars shine in the heavens, so are we to shine for the Lord. The word ‘lights’ has to do with being illuminators. It also refers to the stars and the heavenly bodies that shine. We are to make manifest or make clear the gospel and good news to all.

We are told to be lights in the world.

Matthew 5:14-16 KJV - Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Another verse in the book of Daniel tells us that we will shine as we witness to others.

Daniel 12:3 KJV - And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

There is a lot in the Bible on subject of light. Light is used to represent knowledge, truth and purity. Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is used to represent evil, ignorance and sin. When people see us, they should see Christ. They should gain a better understanding of what God is like.

Have you noticed that the darker the night, the brighter the stars seem to shine. This world is dark. Our light should shine even brighter.

Remember: It’s not our light. The light we reflect comes from another source. Like the moon reflects the suns light, we are to reflect the Sons (S.O.N) light.

John 8:12 KJV - Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

It’s not all about us. It’s all about Christ and His glory. Jesus is the light.  We are just reflectors of His light. And when our lamps are all smoky and we let our testimonies get tarnished, we need to clean them up and repent, so that we can shine brighter.

How? We have to stay connected to the power source or we become weak and ineffective. We need constant recharging – walking and talking with God 24/7. Just like a mobile phone will slowly be depleted of its power and battery life, when it is unplugged from its power source, we too will run low on power if we are not in the Word of God daily, refreshing our souls and talking with the Lord and listening to Him speak to us. We have to recharge daily.

The devil doesn’t want us to shine. He would rather we were lukewarm and mediocre in our Christianity and our walk with the Lord. He wants the eyes of the lost to be blinded.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6  - But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But the great God who commanded the light to come into being, back in Genesis, is the same God who tells us to shine. He pours his light into our hearts and expects us to reflect that light back onto a dark and lost world.

So, where are we to shine?

It’s simple. Everywhere. Not just on Sunday as we worship together with other Christians. It’s easy to shine our light there, but what about during the week at our workplace, in the grocery store, in our homes? We have to have our light on a candlestick, for all to see.

Why are we to shine? 

So that God may be glorified. If we are joyful, and not complaining, we bring glory to God.

Blameless – free from fault or defect

Harmless – unmixed, pure

Without rebuke – cannot be censured, blamed or condemned.

We are to do all things without murmurings and disputings so that the world will see us as pure and blameless. So that they can’t fault our walk with the Lord. It’s a bad testimony when we complain and argue.

We are to shine so that others may come to know Christ as their own personal Saviour. The world is watching.

How are we to shine?

By NOT complaining or arguing. By keeping ourselves pure. By living is such a way that the world cannot condemn us. By not giving the world ammunition to shoot us down with. They are watching. By holding forth the word of life – witness in preaching the gospel and sharing with others (eg kindness, friendliness)

What are some ways to shine?

Keep your cool - James 1:19-20  - Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Self-control is a fruit of the spirit and something we should strive to have. It is a good testimony. Keep cool under difficult situations. Don’t lose your temper.

James 4 tells us that wars and fightings come from our lusts and desires. Our wrong desires drive us to lose our self-control.

Watch your words – Ephesians 4:29  - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Our speech will show where our heart is. We can tear down our testimony and dim our light by what we say and how we say it.

Luke 6:45  - A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Stop worrying - Philippians 4:6, 8 KJV - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ...

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

“Worry is allowing problems and distress to come between us and the heart of God. It is the view that God has somehow lost control of the situation and we cannot trust Him”. 

By not worrying about things, the world can see that we are trusting God. If we let them know that we are not anxious because we have faith in God, it can be a real testimony.

Be Zealous for God’s Glory – Being zealous means burning with zeal (great energy or enthusiasm) It means to vehemently contend for something. To eagerly desire something. That being God’s glory.

We often see sports fans very zealous about the game. We need to be zealous for things of eternal value. Giving glory to God.

Titus 2:14 KJV - Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

We also need to be doing things for God. Not complaining. God told the Laodicean church to repent. They were not zealous. They were lukewarm.

Revelation 3:16, 19 KJV - So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. ... As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Don’t be afraid to speak out against wrong. If someone is preaching a different gospel, speak out against it.

Give comfort to those who are hurting – giving comfort to the lost will show them the love of Christ.  “People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care”. The world will not listen to what you know until you are able to show them that you care about them and you love them.

Intercessory prayer- Praying for others and letting the unsaved know that you are praying for them and the difficulties they are facing is a way to shine and share God’s love.

Cheerfulness – Smile! Being cheerful, giving a smile and a kind word to those you meet on a daily basis can cause others to ask about the hope that lies within you. People are drawn to cheerfulness and what better way to show you are different and have an eternal hope than to share a smile.

In order to shine we need to be always seeking God’s glory not our own. We are to shine for Christ. Not for ourselves. Remember whose light we are reflecting. All glory must go to God.

We are ambassadors for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV - Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

We represent Christ. What picture are we giving the world of Christ?

Are we complaining and arguing and tearing down our testimony and hindering the gospel because of the way we act? Or are we shining? Do our lives radiate God’s love to all we come in contact with?

Every day you make a choice. 

Rise and whine or rise and shine? 

The choice is yours!