Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain

HOOK

We are way well into the third week of our anniversary month— We are “On Our Journey to Being Forty”

We look forward to see you all at the grand celebration of our 40th year church anniversary on Sunday the 27th— It will be an evening Service that starts at 5:25pm, followed by dinner for everyone— it will be a night of fun, food and fellowship! — Bring your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers— bring everybody!

40 years is a long period of time! At the beginning of this month, we started looking into the journey of the Israelites that lasted for 40 years

What could’ve been a 2-week journey from Egypt to Canaan ended up lasting for 40 years— why?— because they were not ready to set their feet into the land promised to them by God [land of milk and honey]

To learn from the Israelites, we focused our eyes on the book of Exodus— one of the first five books of the Bible called the “Pentateuch”— believed to have been written by Moses

This book contains the covenant with God [10 commandments], the Mosaic laws, and many other detailed instructions about the consecration of priests, building of the “ark of the covenant”, the construction of the tabernacle, and many more

But among the highlights of this book was the teaching about “tithes & offerings” and about the grumbling of the Israelites

About their “tithes & offerings”, they were told to:

Give a tenth of their produce back to God— in modern language, 10% of what we make belongs to God

They were also told to give it to a designated place of worship— in other words, we must give our “tithes & offerings” to the church where we worship— where we are fed to grow spiritually— where we belong

And they were also told that “tithing” is a way to learn how to revere God— giving is reverence to God

Whenever we hear exodus [which means mass departure of people]— what resonates to mind is their grumbling [whining & complaining]— they cry a lot! they cry like a baby

Whenever we experience pain, we complain!— that’s why today, I’d like to talk to you about “Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain”— a common quote goes, “no pain, no gain!”

Just merely 3 days into their journey, the Israelites begun to grumble— in their thirst, they complained about water to drink— because the first place where they encamped after victoriously crossing the Red Sea, and after witnessing God’s great miracle that delivered them from the Egyptians— was a place called “Marah” [Hebrew word for “bitter”]— because the water was bitter and not fit for drinking

But their journey did not end in Marah— but instead, God actually used that occasion to teach them four things to grow better and not bitter— they were taught to:

Listen carefully to the Lord their God

Pay attention to His commands

Keep all His decrees

Do what is right in His eyes

Moses did what is right in God’s eyes— to be all God wants you to be, you need to choose “short-term pain for long-term gain!”

Hebrews 11:25 NCV

25 He chose to suffer with God’s people instead of enjoying sin for a short time.

When we are in pain, we always complain… like what I said earlier, the Israelites complained a lot while they were in their 40 year journey— among the top reasons for their whining is about their Fear, water to drink, and food to eat

When the Egyptians ran after them towards the Red Sea they said:

Exodus 14:11 NLT

11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?

They cried out in FEAR!

On their first stop— just 3 days into the journey— just 3 days after seeing God’s great deliverance they said:

Exodus 15:23–24 NLT

23 When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means “bitter”). 24 Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded.

They whined in their THIRST

And some time after when they reached the Desert of Sin:

Exodus 16:2–3 NLT

2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. 3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”

They complained due to their HUNGER

What makes us complain is the negative energy in us— For the Israelites, it took them 40 years to deal with their negative energies

Jon Gordon blamed everybody! Took a lot of flip and turns in life before he realized that it’s only Jesus that can rid off his negativity in life— let’s listen to his story [PLAY VIDEO]

If Jon complained about almost everything, the Israelites complained about their fear, thirst and hunger

Fear is the most common reason for their grumbling— they also complained about provision— water to drink and food to eat

What about you? What is the common cause of your whining?

One of the major miracles God performed during the 40-year journey of the Israelites was the His divine providence of Manna and Quail

Let’s take a look at what happened when God gave them Manna and Quail— Open your Bible to Exodus 16— I’ll just read the first nine verses and I’ll summarize the rest of the passage

BOOK

Exodus 16:1–9 NLT

1 Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. 3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they will gather food, and when they prepare it, there will be twice as much as usual.” 6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 7 In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?” 8 Then Moses added, “The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.” 9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Announce this to the entire community of Israel: ‘Present yourselves before the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’ ”

WHAT: When God gave them Manna & Quail

WHEN: 15th day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt

WHERE: Desert of Sin [in between Elim and Sinai] SHOW MAP

WHO: Moses, Aaron and the entire Israelite community

WHY: God taught them about Provision and Rest— He taught them of lessons about “short-term pain for long-term gain”

LOOK

IN THE EVENING YOU WILL HAVE MEAT, AND IN THE MORNING YOU WILL HAVE ALL THE BREAD YOU WANT

That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp— [migratory birds] because of long migration, they often tire and fly very low to the ground, enabling people to catch them by nets or by hand

And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew— when the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground

They were puzzled not knowing what it was— they asked each other, “what is it”— that’s why it was called “manna” meaning, “what is it?”

EACH HOUSEHOLD SHOULD GATHER AS MUCH AS IT NEEDS

They told to gather what they need, but not to keep any until morning— in other words, just get what you need— do not be greedy!

But some of them did not listen and kept some until the morning— but by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell— Moses was very angry at them

After this the people gathered the food every morning— each family just getting according to their needs

As the sun rises, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared— God provided them exactly what they need.. But..

ON THE SIXTH DAY, THEY GATHERED TWICE AS MUCH AS USUAL

God allowed them to get twice of what they usually are permitted to get— they put aside until the next day [sabbath day of rest], just as Moses had commanded— And in the morning the leftover food was wholesome and good, without maggots or odor… Moses said....

YOU MAY GATHER THE FOOD FOR SIX DAYS, BUT THE SEVENTH DAY IS THE SABBATH

There will be no food on the ground during sabbath— God taught them the value of rest and time of worship

That’s why God gave them a two-day supply on the sixth day— so they will have enough even for the day of their rest and worship

They were instructed not to go out to pick up food on their day of rest and worship

HE EVENTUALLY PLACED IT IN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

Moses was commanded by God to fill a two-quart container with Manna and preserve it inside the Ark of the Covenant [in front of the stone tablets inscribed with the 10 commandments]

He was told to this so that later generations will be able to see the food the God gave them in the wilderness

SO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ATE MANNA FOR FORTY YEARS

They ate manna & quail until they came to the border of the land of Canaan

Wow! ano kayang ibat ibang putahe ginawa nila sa “pugo”?

Adobong Pugo pag Lunes

Inihaw na Pugo pag Martes

Ginataang Pugo pag Miyerkoles

Relyenong Pugo pag Huwebes

Sarsiyadong Pugo pag Biyernes

At Pinaupong Pugo pag Sabado!

Hay nako! Pugo, pugo, pugo, puro na lang pugo! Oh ayan nagrereklamo ka nanaman!

Today God is teaching us about “Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain”

This global pandemic has brought us a lot of pain— the pains caused by separation or isolation— as a church who is on it’s “Journey to Being Forty”, we had gone through many and different kind of pains

We are reduced to small gatherings at home churches— some are longing to get back to normal— but God is reminding us today that our sacrifices shall define our success— our short term pain will bring us long term gain!

Anybody who’s ever played sports knows this one— You’ve got to practice and work hard in order to play in a championship game.

You don’t just walk out and compete for the title— If you’re going to be good at anything, you’ve got to accept short-term pain for long-term gain.

That’s not just true in sports. It’s true in finances and relationships, too. I have a good marriage, but Joan and I have worked hard at it for years— It didn’t come easily— You’ve got to work to make your marriage thrive, just like anything else in life

Why is this resolution important in your life? Because most problems in life come from the inability to delay gratification.

Society teaches us to say, “I want everything and I want it now and I want it free and I want it easy.” Life doesn’t work like that!

Moses made a choice:

Hebrews 11:25 NCV

25 He chose to suffer with God’s people instead of enjoying sin for a short time.

This verse says he chose to be mistreated—to endure the short-term pain for the long-term gain of doing the right thing.

You’re going to experience pain in life. But if you choose to do the hard thing right now and put in the effort and discipline to learn, grow, become strong, and mature, then later in life you get to benefit from all of that.

When you choose the short-term pain like Moses did, you’re going to see God deliver you so that you can enjoy the long-term reward.

What short-term pain are you facing that calls for an eternal perspective?

I will leave you with that question by giving you...

THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER TO ENDURE SHORT-TERM PAINS

TOOK

GOD’S PROVISION IS A TEST

Exodus 16:4 NLT

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.

The Lord’s instructions was just to gather enough for that day— do not be greedy!

Another instruction was about the bringing of tithes and offerings

Malachi 3:10 NIV

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

GOD KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT I NEED

Exodus 16:17–18 NLT

17 So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. 18 But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

When Paul encourage the church in Corinth to give generously— he quoted this scripture

2 Corinthians 8:15 NLT

15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

GOD MADE SURE THAT MY NEEDS FOR TIMES OF REST AND WORSHIP ARE MET

Exodus 16:22–23 NLT

22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much as usual—four quarts for each person instead of two. Then all the leaders of the community came and asked Moses for an explanation. 23 He told them, “This is what the Lord commanded: Tomorrow will be a day of complete rest, a holy Sabbath day set apart for the Lord. So bake or boil as much as you want today, and set aside what is left for tomorrow.”

God blessed the seventh day [Genesis 2:3]

We are told to keep it holy [Exodus 20:8]— 4th commandment

It’s a day of complete rest [Exodus 31:15]

God made the importance of the day of rest and worship very clear— he made sure that they are provided for that day! — if you are tempted to work 7 days a week, pause, think and pray

To those of you who are working 7 days a week— re-evaluate where you stand— you have to control your finances, before your finances controls you!

APPEAL

Choose “Short-Term Pain for Long-Term Gain”

Remember that:

God’s Provision is a Test

God Knows Exactly What You Need

God Made Sure That Your Needs for Times of Rest and Worship are Met

SERMON NOTES

God’s provision is a test

God know’s exactly what we need

God made sure our needs for times of rest are met