Series: THREE16
Sermon: Snakes on a Plain
Scripture: John 3:1-15 / Numbers 21:4-9
Ice Breaker: Would you rather be covered with 100 snakes for 30 minutes or have to carry around 1 snake all day?
REVIEW:
This week we completed the context leading us to John 3:16. Nicodemus, the Pharisee, was still having a hard time understanding why Jesus was on earth and what he was trying to do. For the Jewish people, like Nicodemus, their hope was for Jesus to be the Messiah who would kick Rome out of Israel and build back the nations Kingdom.
Jesus had already made Nicodemus aware that he was here for a completely different plan. He wasn't going to focus on building the Kingdom of Israel - he was building the Kingdom of God. In order to enter the Kingdom of God, Jesus said you must be spiritually BORN AGAIN. Nicodemus does not know what that means or how it would work - so Jesus helps him understand by bringing up a story from Israel's history.
Centuries earlier, Israel was in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. They began to complain against God (again) and God allowed vipers to come into the camp and the serpents began to bite the people. The people cried out to Moses for help and God told Moses to build a bronze serpent and put it on a pole at the center of camp. Moses did this and instructed the people, if they were bitten, to take ONE LOOK OF FAITH at the bronze serpent and God would heal them.
Jesus used this story, that Nicodemus was familiar with, to make his point.
John 3
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
The same way that God required one look of faith to give the Israelites physical healing, He would require one look of faith towards Jesus for Spiritual Healing. This is the way to Eternal life in the Kingdom of God. This is how to be Born again. One Look of Faith is how we enter into Jesus' New Covenant.
APPLY:
We have all been bitten by the "Serpent" and have the poison of SIN in our lives. The Israelites knew the poison of the Vipers was killing them; however, we often ignore the devastating affects of sin in our lives.
Are you aware of what sin is causing in your life?
Do you find yourself trying to ignore it's impact?
Are you ever overwhelmed by the negative choices you have made?
Poison requires ANTIVENOM. We learned this week that the key ingredient to make ANTIVENOM is actually the Venom itself. A dose of the poison is inserted into a host animal - like a LAMB. The animal bears the effects of the poison and produces antibodies against it. Those antibodies are gathered THROUGH THE BLOOD of the lamb, and turned into a Cure.
Jesus, the Lamb of God, took the venom of our sin on himself and in his death and resurrection provided us the cure! All he asks is that we believe in Him.
If you have never put your faith in Jesus - it doesn't take any work or effort on your part. You must simply take one look of faith.
If you are overwhelmed by your sin - know that there is a cure. Jesus has already paid the price of that sin, so give it to him!
Share with your team how these truths speak to you and ONE THING you are going to do with what you have learned!
PRAY:
Focus your prayer on gratitude for what Jesus has done for you. Allow your hearts to be filled with the wonder of a God who loved you enough, to take the venom for you!
