Numbers 21:4-9 | The Serpent Who Saves | Rich Jones

all right good morning good morning go ahead and have a seat there if you do that please and let's take our bibles and open to numbers chapter 21 and we're gonna begin in verse 4 the title of our message this morning is the serpent who saves Lord thank you for your word we know that you send it by your spirit you sent it in power and we want to hear your heart Lord so we open our hearts to receive speak life speak to us from your word we pray in jesus name amen the serpent who saves is an intriguing thought is it possible how is it possible that there could be a serpent that saves but what's very interesting is that it is actually a picture of Jesus himself on the cross and what's even more interesting is that Jesus is the one who taught it connecting himself directly to these verses that we're studying today now when you come to numbers 21 Israel has been in the wilderness now almost 40 years so since the time that we met together last week almost 40 years has passed and even if you have set your clock back an hour the issue in this chapter is complaining and grumbling by the sons of Israel against God and against Moses and I say again it's been 40 years and it's still about grumbling and complaining what had happened was this Israel was getting near to the time that they were going to enter into the promised land so they wanted to pass through the land of Edom in order to get to that land but Edom controlled the trade routes and and passing to through their territory was the most direct passage so Moses sent emissaries to request permission from the to pass through their land saying to them we will only stand or stay on the king's highway we will take nothing but the refused to let Israel pass through in fact they said if you come into our territory we will come out with a large force so this was discouraging this was very disheartening to hear because the Edom if you remember were direct descendants of Esau Jacob and Esau were brothers so Israel saw the as their brothers like this is very disheartening and because they were brothers Israel did not wish to fight them so Israel had it south in order to go around the land of Edom traveling south so far as to pass near to the Red Sea in the Gulf of Aqaba now Israel became impatient on the journey many commentators believe this would have been in perhaps the hottest time of the year but frankly any time of year in that part of the world would be difficult it's hot it's a wilderness it's a desert and they went very far out of the way now in their complaining the people spoke against God they accused God in it and they spoke against Moses with the same complaint that we've heard many times why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness and then they insulted God even further there is no bread or water but there was and then they took their complaining - - to new heights when they said and we loathe this miserable food they're speaking here about that miraculous provision that God gave to them how do you feed two main people in the desert for 40 years he did a miracle every day in the providing of this manna which it was wonderful and taste and very good for them very nutritious and now we ate Bulow's we load this miserable food now God uses difficulties adversities to prepare for what he knows is coming into your life God is building character God is strengthening faith I like to ask this question when I look at what is happening here in the Book of Numbers what did God expect what did God want what did he expect he expected them to persevere he expected them to master the wilderness before the milk wilderness mastered them to endure you see because God uses difficulties and adversities to bring about spiritual maturity wouldn't it have been so much better if they could have reached funded by saying yes this is hard this is adversity but God is preparing us for that which he has promised to give us yet to come to stand firm would have been such a glorious declaration so let's read it chapter 21 we'll begin in verse 4 really gonna read five verses then they sent out from set out from mount or by the way of the Red Sea the Gulf of Aqaba then is an extension of the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom and the people became impatient because of this journey and the people spoke against God and against Moses why have you brought us up out of the land of Egypt to die in the wilderness there's no food there is no water and we load this miserable food so the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people so that many of Israel died so the people came to Moses and they said now would you read this verse because it really is a key it's actually a monumental shift into something that's good it says they said to Moses we have sinned it's a glorious day when they acknowledge we have sinned because we have spoken against the Lord and against you intercede with the Lord that he may remove the Serpent's from us so Moses did he interceded for the people but notice verse 8 because it really is a key the Lord Jehovah said to Moses now make a fiery serpent he's gonna make a an image out of a out of bronze make an image of this bronze serpent and set it on a standard a pole would and pole lift it up that everyone who was bitten by the serpent shall look upon this fiery bronze serpent lifted up and he shall live so Moses made a bronze serpent set it on the standard and it came about that if a serpent bit any man when he looked upon the bronze serpent he lived this is very very in monumental in the history of Israel and there's a lot for us to apply to our lives and I like to begin with an understanding of human nature and maybe say it this way complainers complain it's the nature of the complainer to complain that tree is known by its fruit the root of discontentment complaining is the heart complainers complain there's always something to complain about but here's what I want us to see out of the story these are their children these are the children of the complainers in other words here's the question do the sons really have to be like the fathers does this need to be passed is it so do children must must they be like their fathers now if you've had a great father then praise God for that stand on their shoulders in be even greater but if you've had a difficulty with your father and many people have the question still remains must it be do we have to carry those sins can it end I want to give you a very key verse numbers chapter 14 verse 18 Moses is quoting the Lord here and he says the Lord is slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness forgiving iniquity and transgression but he will by no means clear the guilty visiting the iniquity of the father's on the children to the third and fourth generation what does that mean I tell you it's been misinterpreted for a long time many presume it means that he will take the iniquities of the father and put them on the children up to the third and fourth generation that is now what it means what it means is that he will visit the children to see does this thing continue is the sin still remaining he will go even to the third and fourth generation to see has this thing ended or you still carry this are you still doing this thing because you know children of alcoholics oftentimes become alcoholics my father was an alcoholic children of those who are abusers often times come abusers themselves does this thing does this thing need to keep going generation to generation or can it end I'll tell you one of the most glorious revelations that ever came to my life was when as a young man I understood the Lord pressing in this point to me no you do not have to carry the sins of the father with you anymore this thing can end and this thing can end with you this is the generation that it will stop and it is true for you as well I don't know what you're carrying that you brought with you from your father but I can tell you that it can end then they can end right here it can end this morning you can end right now because God is the one is doing a new work in you amen can we give the Lord praise and this is what he's showing us to apply to our lives and it's this rise above your circumstances because there is a bigger picture there is something deeper at work there's a greater spiritual meaning in life but some people they only live in the moment and they only live according to their circumstances if their circumstances are good and they feel good that their circumstances are bad than they complain there is a deeper work there's a greater picture ok Israel was worried they were impatient they were tired they had to turn south that's not the right direction and then made him discouraged but here's the thing it's one thing to complain but it's a whole different thing to complain against God so as to accuse him Jesus gave a parable that really did explain the condition of man and the problem of the heart he said the Word of God being sown is like a farmer sowing seed on different types of soils so there are different types of hearts the heart that is hard cannot receive the Word of God at all but the next type is the type of soil or the type of heart that I want us to see he said on that type the soil is quite thin because of the rocks in it it thin so it does receive the word and it even receives the word with joy but when the heat comes see it has no depth of root so when the heat comes it Withers which is to say when adversity comes when persecution arises when difficulty comes they shipwreck their faith because they accused God they're offended you say your Lord you say your God but look at the troubles of my life and they accuse God in this so for those who have a heart to complain there's always something to complain about because there's always something wrong we live in a broken world and I'll tell you right now there's always something wrong there's always something to complain about the question is this can you rise above your circumstances for there are other people who always seem to find that which to be thankful for they know that there's a deeper meaning in life they know that there are greater things and they're thankful they look and see what is happening and they can find that which is to be thankful for 1st of solonius 5:18 in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you in other words learn to be content it's a spiritual point of maturity you see if Israel cannot learn to be content they will not be content with anything if they cannot master the wilderness the wilderness will master them but if they could learn to be content in God then they can be content anywhere Paul said that he has learned a secret of being content he said I I've learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am whether he has much a little whether I have abundance or suffering need and he says this is it I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me he is the strength of my heart he is the strength of my life I can be content in him even if I am suffering need it tremendous lesson whenever I have an opportunity to speak to young people particularly single people I want to I want to help them to see the spiritual lesson of contentedness because you know some people single people oftentimes have the idea in their mind that if they could just be married it would solve all the problems of their life yeah see now those who are chuckle right now are no doubt married because you know it doesn't solve all the problems of life but see here's the thing that is so important to grasp because it's a spiritual principle if you are not contented in your singleness you will not be contented married but if you are contented in your singleness and contented in God then you are going to bring that contentedness into your marriage and you're gonna bring a maturity in Christ and you will find that you can rise above your circumstances the key is to learn to be content and God for when the soul is content in God you can rise above your circumstances and know that God is doing a greater thing that's why when we look at numbers 21 there's a tremendous application when we recognize this principle agree with God and acknowledge something monumental happens in these verses God sends fiery serpents among them more than likely they were called fiery because they were poisonous their bite would burn painfully many died now there are many serpents snakes Vipers in that region and God may well have been keeping them away from Israel in their journeys but now they're complaining is brought then face to face with the reality of their sin there's the serpent the Viper has long been a symbol in the scriptures been a symbol of sin a symbol of judgment when Satan appeared in the Garden of Eden he came as a serpent the point is that sin is poisonous and it is a mortal wound and there is no cure it's a mortal wound and there is no cure except for one except and only one that which God himself has provided that's why the serpent is a powerful representation here it's a powerful picture of that mortal wound of sin you know in the book of Acts there is a picture of the very contrasting thing to this it's so interesting in its contrast we have to bring it up says in the book of acts that paul taken as a prisoner to rome he is on a ship and on the ship being taken to rome to stand before Caesar as a prisoner of Rome they encounter a storm two weeks there in this storm at the end of which they sense that they're near land so they begin to take soundings and then they decide because it's the black of night they decide to cast four anchors and it tells us that the anchors were cast at 90 feet interesting detail and then they waited for light when morning light came they could see that there was a beach so they decided to cut the anchors and make a run for the beach but they they stuck fast against the reef and the waves began to beat against the ship and destroyed it and everyone then had to cast into the sea fine planks or whatever to make it to shore interestingly on our last two or three trips back we went there to Malta I've actually been to the very sight of this shipwreck and it's amazing to see it all before your eyes because sure enough there's a beach there is a wreath and they found four anchors of Roman ships at ninety feet I don't know about you I think that's fascinating they come unto the shore of Malta and they begin to build a bonfire and Paul is throwing branches onto the fire and as you throwing branches a Viper comes out of the fire and latches onto his hand I think a lot of people at that moment would have panicked vipers have a tendency to do that in people I know I would have panicked I cannot stand poisonous snakes and in fact I remember I was visiting some relatives in Arkansas when I was a young man and we went down to the river and I saw a baby moccasin and it filled me with you know this this fear and I took a rock you know and I threw it at the thing and I hit it and I killed it and but I wasn't done a certain rage came up in me and I took a stone and I made water moccasins smudge soup out of it I just kept beating the thing Oh fear one time Jordy my wife tried to put a snake down my shirt yeah I know what happened was this I was in my office studying the Word of God and and so she and one of the kids was walking down to the church and so as they're walking they found a garter snake so she said oh I know what let's do let's play a prank on dad let's put this down his shirt and so I'm in my office and my my back was to the door and so she comes sneaking in there like this you know and she starts to put it down my shirt and so as soon as I feel a snake going down your shirt I jolt it right and that made her kind of a jolt and that made the snake whip around and bite her on the hand oh no it was good yes there is a God in heaven but here a lot of people in Paul's situation they would have been offended they would have been offended at the Lord and they would have shipwrecked their faith because they were offended Lord I've I've had it I've had all I can take Here I am I'm serving you I get attacked by a crowd there's a plot to kill me I said in prison in Caesarea for two years then I get taken as a prisoner on the ship and I'm in a raging storm for two weeks only become shipwrecked and then we get saved onto this Ireland and what should happen now but a viper latches on my hand how much can a man take you say your god you say your God but look at the troubles of my life and they accuse they accuse God in it and they shipwreck their faith many people would have reacted that way but not Paul he's been through so many trials and has seen the hand of God that he persevered he's not the first time he's been shipwrecked he's been beaten with rods left for dead oh he has endured he has endured and he has endured he knows the faithfulness of God after going through a raging storm for two weeks his ship wrecked and now a viper latched onto his hand what does he do he shakes it off into the fire the people are not Oh were shocked at this whole scene they said sin has found this man sin has found him out while being saved from the judgement of the sea yet he has been judged because a viper has latched on to his hand his sin has found him out he shakes it off in the fire and they watch the sea will he swell up will he die nothing nothing at all happens it's an amazing declaration and notice the contrast when you go back to numbers 21 here Israel he sends the fiery serpents it's a mortal wound but Israel immediately recognizes their sin and they ask Moses to intercede I tell you it's a wonderful day when someone acknowledges their sin it's a good day that's a day that God is going to do something and now person's life the day that they open their eyes the day that they acknowledge the day that they agree with God that's a good day because they have turned their heart to heaven for hope they acknowledge their sin there's a tremendous spiritual significance in the acknowledgment of sin notice Psalm 32 verse 5 I acknowledged my sin to you and my iniquity I did not hide lord I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the guilt of my sin that friends is a good day it's very key Moses intercedes but God didn't simply remove the Serpent's he gave to them this amazing powerful picture of the son who was to come who would arise on the cross to take the mortal wound that's why this picture is so important for us because it really is to be applied for us today look unto him look unto Jesus and be healed that's what he's telling us God told Moses make a fiery Serpent set it on a standard a pole of wood perhaps even a cross beam lift it up for the people to look upon and anyone who look upon this serpent that has lifted up in the wilderness would live God was giving them a prophetic picture of the cross of Jesus Christ and the healing of the mortal wound for there is no cure outside of the provision that God made through his son that's why the the key to understanding this is this word Jesus is the serpent of our sin now there that is it I tell you that is a deep understanding and some people will not understand it and some people will be offended you you say my lord is a serpent but I suggest to you that Jesus himself is the one who said it clearly this serpent is a picture of their sinfulness it's a picture of their own mortal wound it's a picture of their complaining of their discontent and their bitterness that was in their heart it represented the sting of death the mortal wound and it's a picture of the same thing for you and me for sin is a mortal wound today just as it was then it's a picture of our discontent in this our bitterness the sting of death on us but Jesus is the one who said that that serpent lifted up is a picture of himself this comes out of John chapter 3 John chapter 3 is one of the most powerful chapters in the Bible and the situation is this a leader of the Jews a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and he says rabbi we know that you are from God now right there is amazing statement we know that you are from God for no one could do the things that you do unless God was with him and then Jesus began to speak to him about being born again and the life that comes from the Spirit but it brings us then to John chapter 3 verses 14 through 17 Jesus himself is teaching now and he said this amazing word as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up Jesus himself made the connection as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so the Son of Man must be lifted up that whoever believes may in him how eternal life and that brings us to the most famous verse in the whole Bible John 3:16 for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life for God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world but that the world should be saved through him many people of course know John 3:16 but they don't know that it follows verse 15 where Jesus had called himself the serpent of sin it is a powerful understanding and it has everything to do with life that comes from God let me give you a verse perhaps one of the most important verses in all the Bible memorized this verse righted on the tablet of your heart it is so important second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 it says he made him who knew no sin that is Jesus clearly he made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf he was that serpent lifted up in the wilderness he took the mortal wound he became sin in our behalf but it then adds that we might become the righteousness of God in him that is amazing that is amazing what a glorious exchange he took the mortal wound that we deserved he became the serpent of which paid the price the penalty of our sin and what did he give to you and exchange he gave to you the very righteousness of God that was found in Christ Jesus our Lord that is good news that is a glorious day to recognize what God has done amen can we get the Lord praise for what he's doing in us through these verses and therefore we recognize this great truth hey God did what we could never do God did what we could not do the people are dying they cannot heal themselves it is a mortal wound God gave to them the provision and anyone would look and have life and he does the same for us Romans chapter eight verse three says for what the law could not do weak as it was through the flesh God did I just that's a powerful statement what the law could not do because it was weak because of the flesh God did it himself by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin he condemned sin in the flesh what was it that the law cannot do couldn't make you righteous it could not make you righteous that's why this understanding is so powerful he becomes the serpent that takes the mortal wound that we deserve this thing of death is gone and what does he give to you and exchange the very righteousness of God that's why it's goodness that's why it's the greatest news as world has ever heard and there brings us to this point that we want to close with simply look with eyes of faith in order to be healed in order to live the people simply and only needed to look upon this serpent lifted up in the wilderness you know this serpent on a tree has become a symbol of healing even today you go to doctors offices all across the land and you will see a serpent on the tree ambulance is all over a serpent on a tree but it's just a symbol the symbol doesn't heal the simple is that life is what God is done for you where you get life it's what God has done when he sent his son simply look unto Him and believe Hebrews 12:2 says to fix our eyes fixing our eyes setting your eyes looking upon him he is the author he is the Perfector he's the beginning of faith he is the finisher of faith isaiah 45:22 look to me he says and be saved all you ends of the earth I am God and there is no other I ask you a question what must a person do to be lost nothing there already lost what must a person do to be saved simply and only look upon him who took the mortal wound himself that you might have life and have it abundantly he's the answer he is the answer is the answer to emptiness lost us death lack of hope loneliness lack of meaning he's the answer look simply believe God has made away father thank you so much what can we say you are amazing but you've done for us God I asked today that you had move in power show us your heart after us show us your way show us your provision your son you've given us an answer ensures today as we're before the Lord even this day how many of you would say today to the Lord I'm asking that you have fill me with a life that comes from God I open my heart to you Church today we just say that the Lord would you open your heart he is the answer he's the answer to brokenness emptiness to death to lost this would you open your heart would you we just say that Jim today gotta open my heart to you I'm asking fill me fill my life fill my heart with the life that comes from God I need you I need you this very hour I need you I'm asking fill me with the very light that comes from God would you say that to the Lord today if you would I'm gonna ask that you would raise your hand in a bold way just raise your hand to the Lord and say God I'm opening my heart I'm asking I need you I need you this very hour I need you fill me Lord with your heart your life your way I need you and I'm asking that you fill me with your life anyone elses raise your hands of Lord father thank you for everyone who stirred of God moved up the Spirit God you give us life you give us hope you take our mortal wound what can we do what can we say we love you we thank you we honor you for all that you've done in us in Jesus name in a

Channel: Calvary Chapel Worship Center - Hillsboro, Oregon

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Keywords: The Bible, God, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Holy, Pastor Rich Jones, Pastor Matthew Dodd, Calvary Chapel, Faith, Grace, Revival, Truth, Prayer, Salvation, Calvary Chapel Hillsboro, Matthew, Numbers, Church, Christian, Jesus Return

Id: CmQsLGLJmdA

Length: 32min 48sec (1968 seconds)

Published: Sun Nov 03 2019