“When It’s Too Much”

Series Title: Under Pressure Pastor Jim Lowe III

Sunday Morning, 9:30am Stream 10/11/26 (2nd Sunday Message)

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{All scriptures are “NIV84” unless stated}

 

New Series:

Under Pressure

The message this month is for those who are tired. those who have given so much…

and the pressure seems to be unbearable. this is for those who are doing their best

but also are feeling overwhelmed We’re talking to those who come to church

but no one knows how tired they are.

Because for some reason there’s a thought that Christians don’t get tired.

Just Because You’re Doing The Right Thing Doesn’t Mean You Won’t Get Tired!

It doesn’t mean you don’t need relief!

it doesn’t mean life doesn’t seem unbearable sometimes!

We’re going to talk about this from different people’s lives… and today’s message is:

Message Title:

“When It’s Too Much”

Moses was a man who ran who didn’t struggle because he stopped his assignment.

He was struggling because he was carrying it.

Let’s talk about one of his struggles.

Numbers 11:1-2

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. 2 When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down.

So the people are again complaining of how difficult things are and the Lord gets angry. Fire comes out of the sky and starts burning things up outside of the camp.

the people cry out…Moses prays and the fire dies down.

But why was the Lord angry?

If we back up and look at everything:

The Lord told Moses to take his people out of Egypt into the promised land. Moses never thought he would be easy.

he went back and forth with God about his concerns.

he struggled with the idea of being the man to lead a nation especially out of HIS former home of Egypt.

But it would turn out that the soldiers of weren’t his biggest hurdle. even Pharaoh himself wasn’t the biggest hurdle.

The things that would end up being one of his biggest struggles… were those things he was actually there to save.

The Israelites - the people who were crying out about their situation.

became one of the biggest hurdles that made Moses even ask God to kill him.

 

Sometimes It’s Not The Journey - Sometimes It’s God’s People You Have To Deal With On The Way!

Because what did Israel do? here are a few examples.

Ex. 5:20 They complained that because of Moses, Pharaoh made life worse for them. The Lord leads them out of Egypt eventually.

Ex. 14:11 When marching out of Egypt and at the Red Sea, they complained and said they were better off in Egypt! The Lord moves the sea out of the way so they could cross.

Ex. 15:23 After the Red Sea, they went into the desert and when they found water that was bitter, they complained against Moses because they couldn’t drink it. Moses throws a stick in the water which makes it drinkable.

Ex. 16:2 They were in the desert and complained that in Egypt at least they had meat! Moses brought us all the way here so we could starve in the dessert! The Lord gives them bread from heaven.

Ex 17:2 Now they’re thirsty…and complaining against Moses for water! The Lord tells him to hit a rock with a stick and water comes out for them.

It was not long after when God started punishing them for all that talking. the Lord was tired of it.

But did that stop their complaining?? only for a short time…

Not long after they continued their grumbling!

And the Lord was getting fed up.

So THIS is why the Lord’s fire was burning around the camp. And Moses prays and the fire dies down.

And almost right after they’re complaining again!

they’re now upset over the bread the Lord was giving them!

Numbers 11:10

• Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled.

The bible says he could hear the wailing of every family.

Picture this…

you are just the messenger.

YOU carry the responsibility of leading the people.

YOU carry the responsibility of praying for these people so the Lord will respond YOU have to listen to the complaints…the mess…the problems…

and with each complaint…even your patience gets shorter. let’s be real a moment…

How Many Of You Have People Around You Who Complain All The Time? How Often Do You Want To Be Around Them?

We typically get off the phone with people like that. We tell those people we gotta go…and say by.

Moses can’t do that.

He now has to stand and hear… not just one complaint…

but the combined voices of EVERY family.

He can’t get away from it.

This never seems to end… The sound was getting unbearable.

and Moses knows the Lord is getting exceedingly angry… And Moses is the man in between.

So what does Moses do?

Numbers 11:11-15

• He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

Moses is praying a different type of prayer here.

He’s spent many times praying for the people… now he’s praying for himself.

Lord why is this trouble appearing for me? I’m only doing what you asked me to do!

are these my personal people? They come to me about everything!

Why can’t they leave me alone!?

I can’t carry this weight all on my own.

This burden is too much.

If this is how this is going to be…Lord just take me…RIGHT NOW. don’t leave me in this position just for me to fail.

Have you ever been in a position when this is “too much?”

 

Have you ever had a situation that you couldn’t see the end to?

 

Have you ever had a time where you were OUT of answers?

Have you even felt that you’re messing up…doing the thing the Lord told you to?

These are questions we come across occasionally.

Because regardless to what someone told you… life is NOT easy.

It’s one thing to handle problems one at a time…but what do you do when it’s everything all at once?

This is where Moses is.

What do you do when that thing you’re responsible for is heaver than the strength you have? Today we’re talking about those who are tired.

Those who are following the Lord…

those who know the Lord will lead them to greater things… but it feels like instead of going up…we’re going down.

When It’s Too Much

• Don’t Be Afraid To Tell The Lord Where You Are!

Moses expressed the situation before the Lord.

he was honest with the situation and how it looked.

He asked questions to get understanding of what’s really going on. Did I conceive these people? Give birth to them?

why am I carrying these babies to this promised land??

Then he says a key phrase.

Numbers 11:14

14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.

He tells the Lord specifically it’s too much for him. There is very little more honest he can get than this.

The Lord Values Honesty

This is meant for those who think prayers have to sound a certain way… or we always have to be proper when going before the Lord.

But there are times when you’ve been through too much to say it the correct way.

Psalm 142:1-3

1 I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. 2 I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. 3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me.

This isn’t written like this if it’s impossible for you to get there.

Sometimes life gets more than rough…

it makes you feel like I don’t want to be here anymore.

and we’re still trying to keep a smile on our face and tell others “I’m fine.” but this is saying it’s okay to acknowledge to the Lord…

“I’m tired.”

“I’m frustrated.” “I need help!”

And you don’t have to be pretty and dignified doing it!

Ask Hannah

who in desperation was pouring her soul to the Lord in such a way even the Priest thought she was drunk!

You Don’t Have To Hide Your Exhaustion From The God You’re Asking To Strengthen You!

 

#2

 

When It’s Too Much

• Remember You Weren’t Meant To Carry It All Alone!

So after Moses prayed this prayer to the Lord.

Numbers 11:16-17

16 The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of

Meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them.

They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.

The Lord told Moses to go and get others who’d share the burden.

There was relief…

it was to use others.

Jethro told Moses that he didn’t have to do things alone.

it wasn’t his job to carry the burdens alone…but use others for that responsibility..

Many times we get to a place where we don’t want to ask for help.

Instead of saying what we need…

we are willing to let our pressures take us over… we get to barely making it…

breaking down…and for some reason…some of us would rather do that than to ask for help.

Needing Help Doesn’t Mean You’re Unqualified, It Means You Have A Limit!

The Lord already knows your limit! but you need to know it as well!

If you’re going through…

who has the Lord put in your life to help? is there a responsibility to be shared?

is there a shoulder that can be leaned on?

The Lord didn’t change Moses’ assignment…he shifted the weight. Sometimes we need to ask the Lord to shift some weight for us!

So the Lord tells Moses to tell the people to prepare themselves for the next day.

The Lord is going to give them meat…more than just a few days but for a whole month

until they’re sick of it!

 

When It’s Too Much

• Look For The Help The Lord Has Given - And Let Them Help!

So Moses is hearing that the Lord will provide some help for him.

Numbers 11:24-28

24 So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the Tent. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took of the Spirit that was on him and put the Spirit on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they did not do so again. 26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the Tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

So the Lord comes down

takes the same Spirit that is on Moses

he gives it to the seventy elders…and they start to prophesy. only for a moment…but they have the spirit.

There are 2 men who stayed in the camp.

they were elders…but stayed in the camp.

Someone comes and tells Moses they’re prophesying in the camp.

Joshua says they’re in the camp! “People will hear them! Stop them!”

Numbers 11:29-30

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” 30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

Moses responds with “are you worried about me?” This is what I need! I NEED this change around here!

I NEED an outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord here to stop all this complaining! We have to be careful not to try and stop things the Lord is doing.

Some of us are are overwhelmed with the tasks we have at hand.

We’re asking for help with life. We’re asking for help on our job.

The people we’re dealing with around us… or at church are a little too much.

But what Moses is NOW saying is…I don’t just need them to be quiet.

Yes they’re complaining and it’s loud…but silence isn’t the answer… I need an OUTPOURING of his Spirit on these people!

He might not silence the people…but he also gave others in the camp a different voice. now those who were wailing hear a different sound…

one of power to know that the Lord is moving in the camp.

To many times the help might not show up exactly how we expected… but it’s still the Lord moving.

When you ask the Lord for help…make sure you allow the Lord to help how HE sees fit! It’s HIS Spirit!

We don’t get to tell him where to help us!

So when we see what he’s doing… make room and get out of the way.

{Closing}

Being a believer doesn’t mean we don’t go through tough times.

In fact…as a believer you may go through some of your absolute worst times. In Psalm 23…it says that the Lord is our shepherd.

he leads us…

and sometimes he LEADS us to places that look rough.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Sometimes we’re led to difficult places.

but the scripture also says that you’re being led THROUGH difficult places.

But while being there…

sometimes the burden gets too heavy. sometimes the pressure gets too much.

we may even want to quit everything.

But in those times…

the Lord is still there.

Be honest with him.

tell him it’s too heavy.

Let him remind you that you aren’t meant to carry things alone.

And finally let him bring others to help you… and LET them help!

 

When It’s Too Much For You, Bring It To Him And Be Ready For The Help He Provides.

 

Be Honest With Him. Share The Burden. Receive The Help.