“Stay Humble, Stay Grateful pt. 3”
Pastor Jim Lowe III
Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 11/23/25 (4th Sunday Message)
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{All scriptures are NIV84 unless stated}
Message Title:
“Stay Humble, Stay Grateful pt. 3”
We’ve been talking about biblical humility.
Biblical Humility - a mindset of honoring God and considering others above yourself.
Considering others greater than ourselves.
This goes against our own egos. Our ego is related to US.
Ego - related to you/me thinking of you/me
If you say someone has an ego…
we tend to think that means they’re full of themselves.
But that’s not necessarily true. The Ego is us.
we all have one!
“Inflated ego” - thinking very highly of yourself. thinking overly positively of yourself.
vain thoughts conceited thoughts
You’re better than them - you know what’s best.
“Deflated ego” - thinking very negative of you. low self esteem
not believing in yourself.
your low esteem controls your thoughts opposed to what the Lord says about you.
We talked about people in the bible who have had issues with Inflated Egos. Nebuchadnezzar and Uzziah
But today we’re gonna talk about other’s who have issues with ego.
Sometimes inflated… some times deflated.
But has JUST as big of a problem with egos… Who are we talking about?
God’s Own People
Because our egos can get us into some DANGEROUS problems.
This is where dying to self comes in.
Part of our walk will constantly be checking our ego.
We have to check what WE want… versus what the Lord wants for us.
We probably still want some things God didn’t want us to have. The problem is we’re with US all the time.
And our ego - US.
our thoughts…
how WE feel.
get the best of us VERY often.
And how do we SHOW Our Egos and LACK of Humility?
We Show Our Egos And Lack Of Humility By Grumbling and Complaining!
Y’all know some complainers?
Y’all work with some complainers? Y’all live with some complainers?
Are your spouses married to some complainers? Are y’all the actual complainers??
Let’s talk about it.
Complaining Is A Natural Thing People Do When They Experience A Significant Gap Between Their Expectations And Reality
when what people expect
doesn’t line up with what happened.
Someone didn’t do what we thought they should. it gives us cause to complain.
{https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-second-noble-truth/202104/the-psychology-complaining}
An article in Psychology Today states that humans judge naturally. and they judge others based on their mindset.
this reinforces a sense of self.
{from psychology today:}
“For example, when you judge the decisions of the government as ridiculous, you feel smarter (or more honest) than those creating policy.”
Because why?
we feel a lot of those in government aren’t that smart… Let’s look at Israel in Egypt.
how many times did they complain?
They stayed complaining… they wanted something… then when they got it…
they complained about that. complaining about where they’re going…
they’re hungry, thirsty think they’re gonna die
but the Lord told them they were going to the promised land!
Let’s see how the Lord sees complaining.
- it’s more than he just doesn’t like it.
and how our egos might be keeping us from some SERIOUS things.
Numbers 11:1
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
The Lord Gets Angry At Complaining!
So we have to be careful about the words that come out of our mouths….
ESPECIALLY against others… Because when we complain…
what are we saying?
“That doesn’t make sense….” “They shoulda done this….” “I don’t like this…”
The Lord Doesn’t Like When We Say Things Like That!
When you complain about others and say… “that doesn’t make sense…”
“their way doesn’t make sense…”
You’re actually saying…
“I don’t like their way…”
So they should do it differently. “my way makes sense.”
“My Way Is Better!”
My way is better than your way. My way is better than their way….
My way is better than the boss’ way.
My way is better than the man/woman of God’s way.
But There’s No Way We Would Challenge The Man/ Woman Of God Right??
Oh other people have done it…
{Don’t Complain, Give Thanks!}
Miriam And Aaron Against Moses {Numbers 12}
Numbers 12:1-2
Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this.
They began to talk about Moses. not because of him…
but because of who HE married.
They were talking about him because she was a Cushite.
Also known as an Ethiopian…WHY is that their business?
What do they say about Moses?
“The Lord doesn’t only speak through Moses…” “he talks to us too!”
so the Lord calls them out and says:
Unlike other prophets…
who he talks to in visions and dreams…
Verse 8
8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
He says I speak to Moses differently than I speak to any other… you know this…
and yet you’re comfortable talking bad about HIM? when you know I can kill you for it?
Verse 9-10
9 The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.
10 When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam—leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy;
She had it for 7 days and had to be put out the camp…
all over words.
The Lord doesn’t tolerate people putting their mouths on others… especially those he called?
James 5:9
9 Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
When you judge others through your words… judgment is waiting for you!
1. Be Careful Of What You Say! The Lord Is Listening!
But not just the words YOU say.
It’s also the words you LET others say to you also!
{Don’t Complain, Give Thanks!}
The Spies and God’s People {Numbers 13}
The Lord tells Moses to go see the promised “land…” the LAND that he is GIVING them.
Moses tells the people to look at more than just the land.
In Verse 17
Moses says go look at the Land and the PEOPLE….as well as other things. The Lord said JUST the land….didn’t matter who was there.
Make Sure You’re Focusing On What The Lord Said! The Other Stuff Is A Distraction!
The spies are looking at what THEY think is important… not what the Lord told them to focus on.
Numbers 13:26-27
They come back and talk about what the Lord sent them to do. the LAND is great!
just like the Lord said!
but then they start talking about the people there.
We can’t take the land…
“AND SPREAD A BAD REPORT among everyone else….”
Their ego…was deflated…their fear… made something happen.
Numbers 14:1-4
That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
It was BETTER to die in Egypt!
it didn’t make sense to come here! Why would the Lord LIE to us??
We need to abandon this plan… We can do better than this…
They said ALL of these things based on LISTENING to others.
They even considered killing Moses, Aaron and Joshua because they tried to tell them to trust the Lord….
Numbers 14:26-27
26 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: 27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.
The Lord has heard the grumbling…. the complaining…
the inability to please the people he’s TRYING to take to the promised land. and he’s sick of it.
So he drops the hammer.
Verse 28-32
28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29 In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled
against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 31 As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. 32 But you—your bodies will fall in this desert.
The Lord says he’s sick of it.
he’s sick of the complaining…
he’s sick of everyone having something to say. he’s sick of all of it…
He was taking you to the promised land… and BECAUSE of you…
now NONE of you are are gonna get there.
Why did they get judged?
Because of two things.
They were talking….
and they let others talk TO them!
{Don’t Complain, Give Thanks!}
This right here lead to the DEATH of ALL of them over 20. their words…their complaining…their egos.
Complaining Makes The Lord Angry!
It goes DIRECTLY against the word of the Lord!
Philippians 2:14
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
Do Everything…
Don’t argue!!
But that’s exactly what we do when something doesn’t go the way WE think it should.
With All The Complaining Today’s Church Does, You’d Think THAT Was The Most Popular Ministry In The Churches!
“I Serve In The Grumble Ministry” “On the Complainer Board”
“The Harvest Is Plentiful but the Laborers Are Few….
In today’s church “The Harvest Is Plentiful and so are the complainers…” But God doesn’t want that!
Ephesians 4:29
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Stop it…
Feel how you want to feel…. but STOP talking about it!
Especially when you don’t have all the facts!!
You don’t like what others did… talk to THEM.
or pray about it.
Be Careful With Your Words, Especially Against Other Men/Women of God! When You Challenge Them, You’re Challenging Him!
You might not like something the church did…. but:
talk to the Bishops… talk to the Pastors….
talk to the church leaders…
stop TELLING OTHER people about it.
because if the Lord PUT them in the position they’re in. and YOU don’t agree with it.
because if the Lord told them to go this way… and YOU don’t agree with it…
because if YOU don’t see the whole picture…. and YOU complain about it.
you’re challenging the Lord. And who are we to question what the Lord does?
we might not agree but are we REALLY gonna challenge him?
That’s an EGO right there!
The Lord get’s tired of people questioning him… especially those who think they know better!
Job 38:2-3
2 “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
Darkens his words without knowledge? meaning unless complaints…
you don’t know what you’re TALKING about.
Why do we think we know better than him?
Verse 4-5
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
Complaining makes the Lord angry because we position ourselves… like WE can have an opinion. And we don’t!!
He doesn’t want us complaining…
and he doesn’t want us letting people complain to us!
The Next Time Someone Comes To You Complaining About One Of God’s People, Ask Them What The Lord Told Them To Do About It?
How are YOU going to fix that problem?
Are you gonna head that ministry to do that?
Sometimes…we just need to stay in our lane. Because The Lord doesn’t play about this!
Do Not Let Your Words Turn The Lord Against You!
James 1:26
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Why is about keeping a rein on their tongues?
Because the spies caused the others to BELIEVE what they believed…. their egos (thinking about THEM) caused them to doubt God…
to say what they can/can NOT do…
and that the people should believe them!
That caused ALL of them to die in the wilderness!
Jude 14-16
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
To convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they’ve done. Who are these ungodly people?
Verse 16
16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
People who complain…who have an inflated ego… They are ungodly…
“well I believe in Jesus…”
a tree is known by it’s fruit…
Out of all the Battles The Lord Fights For Us, Don't Let US Be One Of Them!
When we know better we do better…
So How Do We Stop Complaining So Much?
We find ways to be grateful.
Be Thankful That The Lord Has Plans For You!
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God Is Leading EACH Of Us To Our Own Promised Land! His Plan Is To Take You Somewhere Greater!
His plan is to take YOU somewhere! The journey is NOT going to be easy.
there WILL be things you don’t like… because it’s not YOUR plan.
But remember to take your complaints to the Lord. and not to each other.
and if you’re the “ear” for grumblers and complainers… Remember Israel…
listening to the spies kept THEM from seeing the land the Lord promised. they LOST the promise because of their grumbling.
This means you can lose your OWN promises… things you’re praying for…
because either YOU are complaining…
or you’re letting others do it to you.
Many of us really want to see the best in others.
we want to see our friends and family do well. we want to see our job succeed
we want to see our church succeed.
but ALL of these things will let you down. a LOT.
But true humility comes from how we deal with it.
Because the more we talk to others.... The more we create trouble for ourselves.
We Need To Either Stop The Complaining, Or Get Away From The People Who Do....Because God Will Hold Us Accountable!
He will KEEP you from his plan for you…. because you’re showing yourself ungodly.
What are we stopping God from doing in our lives.... Only because we can't shut our mouths.
And what's even crazier is we spend time complaining about stuff that doesn't even concern us.
This Thanksgiving, Let’s Be Thankful For His Promises. Let’s Not Let Our Words Keep Us From Those Promises!
