Do All Things without Murmuring and Disputings

1. Read: Philippians 2:14

2. About the Text:

1) Paul is writing to the church at Philippi about being united through humility.

2) He gives Jesus Christ as the quintessential example of what this means.

3) “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil.2:8).

4) Jesus humbled himself to the point of death and did the Father’s will.

5) Jesus prayed, “Let this cup pass from me,” but he did not complain about the Father’s will.

6) With Jesus as the basis of our service, how should we approach Christian living?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Murmuring

1) The Greek word gongusmos.

2) To express discontent secretly; secret debate.

3) Translated “grudgings” in 1 Peter 4:9.

2. Disputings

1) The Greek word dialogismos.

2) Debating, disputing, questioning with hostility and ill will.

3) Translated “evil thoughts” in Matthew 15:19.

3. What “all things” does not include…

1) Doctrinal errors – Galatians 2:11-13 – Paul rebuked Peter

2) Matters of morality – Acts 6 – Grecian Widows

3) Sincere questions or discussion about truth – Acts 17:11 – searched the scriptures

4) Prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:6 – pray without ceasing

5) Asking for help with problems – James 5:16 – confess and pray

4. What “all things” includes …

1) Our common work as Christians – 1 Corinthians 3:9: “we are God’s fellow workers.”

2) Personal relationships – Ephesians 5:21: “submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

3) Employer/Employee relationships – “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

4) Following the leadership of the local church – “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).

5. Examples

1) The children of Israel murmured against the Lord on more than on occasion.

2) “Nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:10-11).

3) “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Luke 5:21).

4) “Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest” (Luke 9:46).

1. A sin of the tongue – James 3:2-12

2. Disunity – 1 Corinthians 1:10-11

3. Backbiting – “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults” (2 Corinthians 12:20).

4. Slander – “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” (Galatians 5:15).

5. Christians should not gravitate toward this behavior.

1) Who do we identify with?

2) What was His attitude?

1. Blameless and Harmless as opposed to Blameworthy and Harmful

1) “Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).

2) “I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (Romans 16:19).

3) The Christian will use his tongue wisely.

2. Children of God as opposed to children of the Devil

1) “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him” (1 John 3:1).

2) “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

3) The Christian is always mindful of his Father.

3. Shining as lights instead of participating in darkness.

1) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

2) “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness” (1 Thess 5:5).

3) The Christian remembers his example.

1. Let’s resolve to do all things without murmuring and complaining so as to . . .

1) Obey the Command.

2) Not commit sins of the tongue.

3) Avoid the negative and enjoy the positive consequences.

2. Invitation