Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP120107
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00:30 For our sin He is crucified.
00:35 For our sin He is crucified. 00:37 We might be saved. 00:43 Crucified, laid behind the stone 00:51 You lived to die rejected and alone 00:58 Like the rose trampled on the ground 01:06 You took the fall 01:09 And thought of me above all 01:21 Above all powers, above all kings 01:29 Above all nature and all created things 01:36 Above all wisdom and all the ways of man 01:44 You were here before the world began 01:50 Above all kingdoms, above all thrones 01:58 Above all wonders the world has ever known 02:05 Above all wealth and treasures of the earth 02:13 There's no way to measure what You're worth 02:20 Crucified, laid behind the stone 02:27 You lived to die rejected and alone 02:33 Like the rose trampled on the ground 02:40 You took the fall 02:43 And thought of me above all 02:54 Above all powers, above all kings 03:02 Above all nature and all created things 03:09 Above all wisdom and all the ways of man 03:16 You were here before the world began 03:23 Above all kingdoms, above all thrones 03:29 Above all wonders the world has ever known 03:36 Above all wealth and treasures of the earth 03:44 There's no way to measure what You're worth 03:51 Crucified, the laid behind the stone 03:57 You lived to die rejected and alone 04:04 Like the rose trampled on the ground 04:11 You took the fall 04:14 And thought of me above all 04:23 Like the rose trampled on the ground 04:30 You took the fall 04:34 And thought of me above all 04:53 Thank You for the cross, Lord 04:59 Thank You for the price You paid 05:06 Bearing all my sin and shame 05:11 In love You came and gave amazing grace 05:20 Thank You for this love, Lord 05:26 Thank You for the nail-pierced hands 05:33 Washed me in Your cleansing flow 05:38 Now all I know, Your forgiveness and embrace 05:48 Worthy is the Lamb 05:55 Seated on the throne 06:01 Crown You now with many crowns 06:08 You reign victorious! 06:14 High and lifted up 06:21 Jesus, Son of God 06:27 The darling of heaven, crucified 06:37 Worthy is the Lamb! 06:44 Worthy is the Lamb! 06:51 Thank You for the cross, Lord 06:57 Thank You for the price You paid 07:03 Bearing all my sin and shame 07:08 In love You came and gave amazing grace 07:16 Thank You for this love, Lord 07:22 Thank You for the nail-pierced hands 07:29 Washed me in Your cleansing flow 07:33 Now all I know, Your forgiveness and embrace 07:43 Worthy is the Lamb 07:49 seated on the throne 07:56 Crown You now with many crowns 08:02 You reign victorious! 08:08 High and lifted up 08:14 Jesus, Son of God 08:21 The darling of heaven, crucified 08:30 Worthy is the Lamb! 08:35 Say worthy. 08:37 Worthy is the Lamb! 08:43 Worthy is the Lamb! 08:51 Worthy is the Lamb 08:57 seated on the throne 09:04 Crown You now with many crown 09:10 You reign victorious! 09:16 High and lifted up 09:22 Jesus, Son of God 09:29 The darling of heaven, crucified 09:36 What worthy is the Lamb! 09:43 So worthy is the Lamb! 09:49 What so worthy 09:52 Worthy is the Lamb! 09:59 Worthy is the Lamb! 10:06 Thank you, Jesus. 10:20 I wonder as I wander 10:25 Out under the sky 10:29 How Jesus the Savior 10:33 Did come for to die 10:38 For poor on'ry people 10:43 Like you and like I 10:47 I wonder as I wander 10:55 Out under the sky 11:02 When Mary birthed Jesus 'twas in a cow's stall 11:10 With wise men and farmers 11:15 And shepherds and all 11:19 But high from God's heaven 11:24 A star's light did fall 11:28 And the promise of ages 11:36 It then did recall 11:44 If Jesus had wanted 11:48 For any wee thing 11:53 A star in the sky 11:56 or a bird on the wing 12:01 Or all of God's Angels 12:05 In heaven to sing 12:10 He surely could have it 12:18 'Cause he was the King 12:26 I wonder as I wander 12:31 Out under the sky 12:35 How Jesus the Savior 12:39 Did come for to die 12:44 For poor on'ry people 12:49 Like you and like I 12:54 I wonder as I wander 13:04 out under the sky 13:20 Oh, King Jesus, we do wonder 13:26 how could it be that You would empty Your throne. 13:33 Come down to this planet and be born 13:38 for the solitary reason of dying. 13:41 Your birth, Your death... 13:47 let them both be upon our hearts 13:49 as we continue our worship. 13:52 And holy Christ, our hearts must respond 13:59 to what You teach us today. 14:03 Grant us Your grace and Your courage 14:04 we pray in Your name, amen. 14:10 True confession time. 14:16 I'm not afraid of snakes. 14:21 I just don't want to be there when they are there. 14:27 Are you the same way even that a picture 14:30 of the snake makes you recoil? 14:34 Take a look at this. 14:36 Yeah, just a picture of snake. Hey, mercy look at this one. 14:39 Oh, boy. Hey, about this one? 14:44 This one oh, would not be able to hand that one, 14:47 how about the next one. 14:51 So be warned the story you are about to hear 14:55 is a real life snake story. 14:59 I should be correct. 15:00 It's actually is a thousands of poisonous snakes stories 15:04 It's the stuff of nightmares. 15:06 Take your Bible out, open to the fourth 15:08 book of the Bible, the Book of Numbers. 15:11 Our series "The Chosen" is moving towards its wreck. 15:14 Not today, next weekend, final installment. 15:18 By the way next Sabbath is sadist 15:20 and the gladdest story of all. 15:22 Don't shoot they miss next Sabbath. 15:25 All right. 15:26 Numbers fourth Book of the Bible. 15:29 And by the way if you didn't bring the Bible 15:31 you have got to follow this one for yourselves. 15:33 So grab the pew Bible in front of you, 15:34 it's the saying translation new King James Version 15:36 that I'm in here. 15:38 It will be page 109 in your pew Bible. 15:43 Story begins in verse 4, Snakes in the Cradle. 15:47 That's the title of today's teaching. 15:51 Snakes in the Cradle, Numbers 21:4 then, they, 15:54 that will be children of Israel the chosen. 15:58 "Then, they journeyed from Mount Hor" 16:00 oh, boy sad story don't you miss next week. 16:04 Aaron has died a top Mount Hor, 16:07 the high priest of the community 16:09 40 years number two in leadership is been buried. 16:14 "Then, they journeyed from Mount Hor 16:16 by the Way the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom" 16:19 now I need to tell you what happening in here. 16:20 Edom will be the land of children of Esau. 16:23 These are the children of Jacob. 16:24 So, there's cousins are in Edom and God is absolutely clear 16:27 you don't put the finger, you don't put a finger 16:30 on those Edomites they are my children. 16:32 God is still that way with the children of East. 16:36 By the way still loves the children of the East. 16:39 And so He says the only way 16:40 here is the Promise Land here's Edom 16:42 they are coming up from the south. 16:43 The only way you can get to the Promise Land 16:46 I want you to go East. 16:47 You go East, you go around Edom 16:50 then you come to the Jordan next week. 16:53 But every step they take eastward 16:56 they realize we are getting 16:58 further and further from the Promise Land. 17:01 Hence, the rest of verse 4 "and the soul of people 17:05 became very discouraged on the way." 17:10 Verse 5, "And the people 17:11 spoke against God and against Moses. 17:14 'Why have you brought us up 17:15 out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? 17:17 For there is no food and no water, 17:19 and our soul loathes this worthless'" 17:22 this "worthless bread." 17:28 And the words of the former Yankees pitcher Yogi Berra, 17:31 "it is deja vu all over again." 17:36 I mean, can you believe it? 17:37 It's a different reading the same story 17:39 we've been reading all this semester 17:41 the same people, the same murmuring, 17:43 the same complaining, the same meltdown 17:47 different incident, different story 17:49 might feel familiar it's a different story. 17:56 For 40 years they have been bearing 17:59 and entire generation behind these kids backs 18:04 and a little burial mounts and hot sand of their parents. 18:09 But I notice some thing about a negative spirit. 18:13 Maybe you have too. 18:15 You meet a person who when you looks at the cup 18:17 he always tells you it's half empty. 18:19 You meet a person who is by nature negative 18:21 and I'm telling you what, you can trace it back 18:25 to the parents like father like son, like daughter, 18:30 like mother, like daughter. 18:33 Some times it is like daughter like mother. 18:38 Its kids they got it naturally they got earnestly. 18:41 There grown up in a home. 18:43 We sit around the dinner table 18:46 and mom and dad were ripped apart of the Church, 18:48 ripped apart of the leaders, ripped apart their work, 18:50 complain about the world every thing 18:52 neggy, neggy, neggy, they it earnestly. 18:58 The negative spirit never forget this, 19:01 a negative spirit is highly contagious. 19:07 Especially, in groups by the way 19:09 which is why every-- every leader knows 19:12 that you had got the cut this thing off 19:14 at the past or the entire group, 19:16 the entire congregation, the entire community 19:19 will going to melt down. 19:23 So the people spoke is verse 5. 19:25 "And the people spoke against God and against Moses, 19:27 'Why have you brought us up 19:28 out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? 19:30 There is no food and no water, 19:31 and our soul loathes this worthless bread.'" 19:33 Which being interpreted means 19:34 we are sick and tied of this awful manna. 19:39 And by the way, I would go the same way, wouldn't you? 19:41 Forty years with that same die wouldn't you get sick? 19:45 I would, but I want you to remind you 19:47 before you are too quick to sympathize with the people. 19:49 I want to remind you it was never God's plan 19:51 for them to have 40 years of manna. 19:52 God's plan was for that generation 19:54 goes straight in at the Promise Land 19:56 but because of their unbelief 19:59 they've been struck with that bread for 40 years. 20:05 A hundred years ago, these words were written 20:08 I'm reading to you. 20:12 For 40 years did unbelief and murmuring 20:14 and the rebellion shout out ancient Israel 20:17 from the land of Canaan. 20:18 Now listen, "We too 20:21 may have to remain here in this world 20:22 because of our insubordination. 20:28 We too may have remain in this world many more years 20:31 as did the children of Israel but for Christ sake" 20:34 that is strong language by the way, 20:36 "but for Christ sake His people should not add 20:38 sin to sin by charging God with the consequence 20:40 of their own wrong course of action." 20:41 You can't blame God, you cannot blame Moses 20:44 for these 40 years. 20:46 We are here because you choose. 20:50 So we have verse 5 "And the people spoke 20:52 against God and against Moses. 20:53 Why have you brought us up, why have you brought us up 20:55 out of Egypt the die in the wilderness? 20:56 For there is no food and no water, 20:58 and our soul loathes this worthless bread." 21:00 The leader God knows 21:01 that He has got mild down on his hands again. 21:03 Deja vu all over again, here we go again. 21:08 It's just days from the promise Land. 21:11 And so verse 6, "So the Lord sent fiery serpents 21:16 among the people, and they bit the people, 21:19 and many of the people of Israel died." 21:24 I know, this sounds awful 21:26 but I got to tell you something guys, 21:28 there is a breath taking portrait of God 21:31 in what we had just read. 21:34 You got to get this don't ever forget this. 21:37 God is so committed to our human freedom 21:40 that he has elevated free choice 21:42 as the highest of all universal liberties. 21:46 You think about it. 21:48 In God's kingdom there is no greater freedom 21:53 than the freedom to choose. 21:56 That point is so critical 21:57 to understand in this story that are, 21:58 I wish you take out your study guide right now. 22:00 Would you? 22:01 Take out your study guide and write it down. 22:03 Let's get that point while it is fresh in our minds. 22:05 If you didn't study guide thank you ushers, 22:07 just hold your hand up in the balcony, 22:09 back front where we are and we make sure 22:11 the ushers gets that study guide. 22:13 I want to say a word to you 22:14 who are watching on Television right now, 22:16 you can get the same study guide 22:18 we are delighted to have you. 22:19 Let me put it on the screen for you. 22:20 That's a website, you go to our website www.pmchurch.tv. 22:25 This is a series "The Chosen." 22:26 And by the way this is the next and last of The Chosen. 22:28 It all wraps up. Don't you miss next week. 22:31 But today's teaching is entitle "Snakes in the Cradle." 22:34 You see right besides "Snakes in the Cradle" 22:35 the word study guide, the word study guide 22:38 click there you have the same study guide we have right here. 22:42 All right that's right down 22:43 while it's fresh, fresh in our minds. 22:45 Jot it down. 22:46 God is so committed to our human freedom 22:48 that He has elevated free choice, free choice. 22:51 You got a free choice, baby. It is your choice. 22:54 "He has elevated free choice 22:55 as the highest of all universal liberties." 22:57 Keep riding, "In God's kingdom 22:58 there is no greater freedom than the freedom to choose. 23:03 Without the freedom to choose," write it down "reciprocal." 23:06 You know reciprocal means? It means I give it back. 23:08 You give to me I return it. 23:10 "Without the freedom to choose, reciprocal love could not exist 23:12 because love must not only give you 23:14 the right to say YES 23:16 it must also grant you the right to say NO." 23:21 If you are a young man on this campus 23:24 and you being longing to go out with a girl, 23:26 you finally get up the courage to take reside 23:29 and you put a gun at her head 23:31 and you announce love me or I will kill you. 23:34 Trust me what she gives you will never be love. 23:39 You can called him rape but you cannot call in love. 23:42 Because love in order for the love to be loved 23:44 it has to give you the right not only to say yes, 23:46 but it must give you the right to say no. 23:49 Well, why don't you tell that to God? 23:51 I mean, he is the one who is kill all the people 23:52 because they said no to Him. 23:54 No, not so fast watch out, watch this. 23:59 Deuteronomy is out theme book. 24:00 I want to take it to a verse in Deuteronomy Chapter 8 24:03 we'll put on the screen 24:04 because we need to put the finger right here. 24:06 Let me show you some thing interesting 24:07 about the wilderness terrain which for 40 years has been 24:11 that the tram and camping grounds. 24:12 All right, this is the wilderness. 24:14 Moses fairly addresses, he says 24:16 I want to remind you about God. 24:17 Look what God did for. 24:18 "He led you through that great and terrible wilderness, 24:21 in which" were what? 24:23 "In which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land 24:27 where there was no water, 24:28 God brought you water out of the flinty rock." 24:32 Now please note ladies and gentlemen, 24:33 that the fiery serpents and by the way there are fiery 24:37 because of there rapid fire, killer venom, 24:42 burns as it goes in and soon death in minutes. 24:46 These fiery serpents 24:47 the wilderness is there natural habitat. 24:50 There are the logical inhabitants. 24:52 They already lived in. 24:53 In fact, would you write it down please? 24:55 "God did not suddenly create 24:57 a slithering horde of fiery serpents 24:58 to punish the children of Israel, 24:59 the snakes were already there." 25:03 Don't you put this one on God. 25:04 Well, what kind of mean You are to come up for these snakes. 25:06 He didn't come up for them, the snakes are already there. 25:10 For 40 years God's presence. 25:13 And 1 Corinthians 10, reminds us 25:14 it is the presence of the pre-incarnate Christ. 25:16 For 40 years Christ himself has been the divine shield 25:20 to protect these wandering liberate slaves. 25:26 Forty years He's been that shield and wall. 25:29 "But it is clear in response 25:32 to the people's dark and murmuring wishes," 25:34 jot it down "God honors their free choice." 25:37 He values that more than any thing in the world 25:39 even if you saying no to Him, 25:41 He values that more the new having to say yes to Him. 25:44 "God honors their free choice and removes himself 25:48 from their midst thus lifting the divine shield 25:50 that had protected them all these years." 25:53 Why? 25:54 Because God is love 25:55 and in order for love to be loved 25:57 it must not only grant you the right to say yes, 25:59 it must give you the right to say no. 26:02 And when Israel says no, once again 26:05 this time God quietly takes no for an answer. 26:07 He says, all right, 26:09 I got the point, I got the point. 26:10 I'm out of here. Good bye. 26:13 And he walks away. 26:18 Want you to hit the pause button 26:19 here for just for one quite moment. 26:23 Some of you have been going through some difficult time, 26:27 tough, tough, I understand. 26:30 You may be tempted, you may be tempted 26:32 to just kiss God off. 26:35 Tell Him I've had it with You. 26:38 I begged You to do this, I asked You to intervene 26:41 You have done nothing for me, adios. 26:44 I want you to think very carefully my friend, 26:45 before you say no to God do you know 26:49 what He has kept you from all these years. 26:55 You be careful, won't you say no on the borders. 26:58 Won't you say no on the borders of the Promise Land? 27:01 You're hanging there with that yes. 27:05 Verse 6, "So the Lord, 27:06 sent fiery serpents among the people, 27:08 and they bit the people 27:09 and many of the people of Israel died." 27:12 You say, Dwight, look it says the Lord sent them. 27:14 I told you God is the one who came up with these. 27:16 Hey, hold on, hold on. 27:19 There's an important Old Testament principle 27:21 you need to keep in mind 27:22 this will help you through the Old Testament. 27:24 We'll put it on the screen for you. 27:25 Here it is. 27:26 "God is often shown as doing that which he allows." 27:31 So, when Bible says 27:32 " God hardened Pharaoh's heart," 27:34 He didn't hardened Pharaoh's heart. 27:36 He gave Pharaoh an opportunity to make a choice 27:37 and Pharaoh chosen in that moment of decision 27:40 to say no to God 27:41 but the Old Testament portrays God 27:43 is often doing that which He loves. 27:46 Says the Lord, sent the venomous adders. 27:49 He did not. 27:51 He simply allowed them, He step backs. 27:53 All right you don't want Me here, 27:55 here what's I have been keeping 27:56 from you for 40 years, you may have them now. 28:00 Well. 28:03 Did I already mention to you 28:04 that I'm not really keen on snakes? 28:07 I mean, you try to imagine with me. 28:09 Imagine it. 28:11 I can't-- man, I cannot fathom the horror of a deadly adder, 28:17 some how slithering up into my bed. 28:23 I like to sleep with the leg out of the covers. 28:27 So he find out he's looking for warm, he finds that hole. 28:30 I can't imagine what would be like to wake up 28:33 in the middle of the night 28:34 with something cold and clammy 28:35 moving slowly up the side of my torso. 28:40 I mean, do you get the heebie jeebies 28:41 like I do just think about this? 28:45 I know my problem is I'm telling this is the truth 28:47 I'm the baby boomer, all right and so I grew up, 28:49 I grew up with a whole lot of missionary stories. 28:53 A lot of you haven't heard Missionary stories 28:54 but boy, we baby boomers grew up with them. 28:56 And I'm the missionary's kid anyway 28:58 but I think grew up for the Africa or India. 28:59 I grew up in-- you know, civilized Japan as it were 29:03 but they told the stories. 29:04 I remember those stories 29:05 some of you might remember them where 29:07 you know the missionary wakes up 29:08 in the middle of the night and they are cocked and coiled 29:10 that hooded mantle cobra as just is a stuff. 29:17 It's a stuff of nightmares and this is it. 29:21 Patriarchs and Prophets 29:22 let them put it on the screen for you. 29:23 "In almost every tent" isn't is something 29:26 "almost every tent in it were the dying or the dead. 29:30 None were secure. 29:32 Often the silence of the night was broken 29:33 by piercing cries that told of fresh victims." 29:39 Yeah, therefore verse 7, 29:43 you got to handed to the people. 29:46 They may be slow but there are quick. 29:51 Bless them. 29:53 "And Therefore the people came to Moses, 29:55 and said, 'We have sinned, 29:56 for we have spoken against the Lord and against you, 29:59 pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.' 30:01 So Moses prayed for the people." 30:03 The very leader that hours ago they had cursed off, 30:06 they are coming to and pleading you, 30:08 you got to pray for us please. 30:11 I tell you what, I worked for few leaders in my life. 30:17 It takes a very big leader... 30:27 to after he or she is been rejected 30:33 be willing to still lead the same people. 30:42 Moses immediately praise for his stricken people. 30:47 You know what, it occurs to me you may be a leader. 30:50 Leader in your dormitory room, leader in your marriage, 30:52 leader in your home, leader in your office, 30:54 leader in your school, leader in your place of work, 30:57 leader in your neighborhood. 30:58 You may be a leader. 31:00 Guess what leader friend, 31:02 the spiritual mission of a leader 31:05 is to pray for her people, pray for his people. 31:08 You got a roommate you pray, you pray. 31:12 You pray for your people. 31:15 Moses prays and God responds 31:16 with this most unusual three fold instruction. 31:19 Watch this. 31:20 Verse 8 "Then the Lord said to Moses," 31:22 after Moses pleaded on behalf of the people. 31:24 Verse 8, Number one " I what you make a fiery serpent." 31:27 You make one just like these snakes 31:28 that would come into this camp. 31:29 I want to look just like these snakes. 31:31 Number one, "you make a fiery serpent." 31:32 Number two "you set it on a pole." 31:34 Hebrew word is for a military standard 31:36 and I want that pole to be so high 31:37 that it could be seen a across the desert sands, okay. 31:40 Number one, serpent. 31:41 Number two, high on a pole and Number three Moses, 31:43 you get the people this instruction 31:45 every one who is bitten, 31:46 when he looks at the pole with the serpent you live. 31:51 "So Moses" verse 9 "made a bronze serpent, 31:53 and he put it on a pole, and so it was, 31:55 if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked 31:58 at the bronze serpent, he lived." 32:01 The end, because it's was the end. 32:06 For those who did not or would not look, 32:10 I'm too pride for this. 32:12 I'm too intelligent. 32:13 You don't just look at some thing 32:15 and get healed, I refuse. 32:18 For those two bright for raw faith it was the end 32:26 but for those victims who tenderly carried 32:29 or urgently drag to that-- thrown open tenth flap. 32:33 I mean, you can't try to put it 32:34 put yourself there it's your mother, 32:36 it's your mother who's been bitten. 32:38 You got your mother in the corner of the tent 32:39 what you gonna do? 32:40 The word is if you get your mother, 32:41 so that she can turn almost glazed eyes 32:44 and faced that serpent she live. 32:46 What you gonna do it in momma? What you gonna do with brother? 32:49 He's been bite. Your wife is almost comatose. 32:52 She's going, going. What you gonna do? 32:56 You haven't been bitten yet. 32:58 You gonna drag that body, you don't care how heavy. 33:00 How you gonna tenderly, 33:02 you're gonna get that body to the open flap 33:04 and then you're gonna take your two hands 33:06 and you gonna cup them around that face 33:08 that is precious to you 33:09 and you're gonna said come on papa, 33:10 come on papa, look, look, open your eyes daddy, 33:12 you can see look at the snake. 33:16 Wouldn't you? 33:20 It would not been academic exercise, 33:21 it would not be little theatrical 33:24 one, two, three with all the passion you have 33:27 you would move that person to a life giving gaze. 33:31 And oh, by the way, 33:33 had it been you-- had it been you. 33:39 I know, I like you be pleading somebody get me to the door, 33:46 get me to the door. 33:49 I have to see this now. 33:54 Was it the bronze serpent that saved Israel that day? 33:58 You think, the bronze serpent did it? 34:01 Scholars believe that God asked Moses 34:03 to make that serpent bronze or brass 34:06 to reflect the color of these inviting guest, the killers. 34:12 So I went on Goolge, I said okay, 34:13 give me yellow or bronze snakes 34:15 so this is what I get. 34:17 I tell you what, take your pick, 34:19 I wouldn't want one of them in my sleeping bag, 34:20 not a one of those. 34:24 Do you think, do you think 34:26 that the replica hanging high on that standard, 34:29 do you suppose, that there were 34:30 some sort of divine magic in that twisted brass. 34:34 You think people believe that it was magic. 34:36 Are you kidding the people? 34:37 No exactly what's going on, 34:38 there is no pizza, bronze in the world 34:41 that can possibly save me from what I got. 34:42 I'm going, baby. 34:45 They know, the God has simply called for raw face. 34:51 Is God who is prescribed the bronze serpent 34:55 you see it, you look at it. 34:57 You hear me? You look at it and you live. 35:01 And given the fact, that Israel and murmuring complaint 35:05 had just abandoned their trust in God. 35:07 It is clear that this divine remedy is case specific. 35:10 I'm making it exactly for you. 35:12 Where you fail, you got to come back. 35:14 I need raw faith right here. 35:15 I need you to trust me, you just look at this thing, 35:17 you just look at it and I'll heal you. 35:20 You don't look your gone. 35:25 The remedy was simple, write it down. 35:27 "Look and live!" Look and live. 35:34 Raw faith which was precisely 35:38 Jesus point in that clandestine midnight 35:44 take to take conversation with Nicodemus 35:46 wouldn't been seen dead with him during day light. 35:50 John 3, I want you to turn to John 3, 35:53 we're not coming back to Numbers. 35:55 John 3, the gospel saying St. John Chapter 3 35:58 take a look at this. 35:59 Everybody knows John 3:16, come on, we know it. 36:01 The two verses before John 3:16. 36:04 John Chapter 3, John 3. 36:12 Red letters, if you got Red Letters Bible 36:13 there's a bright red, hallelujah. 36:16 Jesus speaking midnight under the shadow, 36:22 of an outdoor encounter. 36:27 John 3:14, "And as Moses lifted up 36:30 the serpent in the wilderness, 36:33 even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 36:36 that whoever believes in Him 36:39 should not perish but have eternal life." 36:47 You need to remember, ladies and gentlemen, 36:49 this is pre-incarnate Christ, 36:51 this is the same one who was pre-incarnate Christ. 36:53 He is the one who came up with the divine remedy 36:55 in the first place and said Nicodemus, 36:56 listen to me, look at Me. 36:58 I'm the serpent, do you understand that? 37:00 I'm the serpent, there must have been-- 37:04 shock on the face of that sanctimonious rabbi. 37:07 I'm the serpent. 37:11 When I'm lifted up you look at me, you live. 37:17 You don't look at me, its curtains. 37:23 And then He speaks say it out loud with me come on. 37:25 "For God so loved the world 37:28 that He gave His only begotten Son, 37:30 that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have" 37:34 eternal life "everlasting life." 37:37 You get it if you raw faith trust me. 37:42 Which is why ladies and gentlemen, 37:43 the story of the serpent on the pole 37:44 is much more than a snake story. 37:46 God is seizing the opportunity 37:48 for one more sandbox illustration 37:51 before they march into the Promise Land. 37:57 Did you have sandboxes in your Sabbath school 37:59 when your kid growing up? 38:01 I don't think young adults had sandboxes. 38:04 I asked the two younger adults 38:05 I'm working with to put this PowerPoint together. 38:07 No, no we didn't have sandboxes. 38:08 Did you have sandboxes? They didn't. 38:10 He have phonographs, right. 38:11 Put the things little story they tell the stories 38:13 on the boo, phonographs. 38:17 But when I grew up we had sandboxes. 38:18 If you-- chook, chook, chook, chook, chook. 38:20 Let me ask you this, did you have a sandbox, 38:21 did you have a sandbox outside your house 38:23 as your kid grown up? 38:24 Did you have those? 38:26 They still have those, don't they? 38:27 Yeah. 38:28 Every kid knows about the sandbox. 38:29 You know, what's been going on, 38:30 40 years of a literal burning sandbox 38:34 in the wilderness and God's been sticking 38:36 I'm gonna give you the plan of salvation. 38:37 Watch it-- puts the sanctuary down. 38:38 See, this is what happens. 38:40 There's a holy place, there's a most holy place. 38:42 See that gold that is golden ark is my throne. 38:46 He telling the story of salvation, 38:47 you see the bread, Shewbread. 38:49 I'm the bread of life. 38:50 You see the water, I'm the water of life. 38:51 You see the light, the candelabra, 38:53 I'm the light of the world. 38:56 You see the sacrifice on the altar I'm the Lamb, 38:58 I'm the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. 39:00 God puts in the sand 39:01 chook, chook, chook, chook, chook He has this 39:03 and now just before the Promise Land-- 39:08 a stick of the snake on top and it says look at this. 39:15 He is not just telling snake stories. 39:17 He is making a point about salvation. 39:20 All right, jot it down "Numbers 21 39:22 and John 3 introduce the healing metaphor 39:27 into the divine plan of salvation." 39:29 Healing, healing, healing. 39:31 What we have a lamb. We got a lamb. 39:32 No, no, no, the lamb is not enough. 39:34 Watch this, keep your pen moving. 39:35 "Whereas the lamb depicted the forgiveness of our sins, 39:40 the serpent demonstrated the healing from our sins." 39:46 It is the mysterious truth, keep writing, 39:48 "that in order to heal humanity, 39:51 the Savior must become the very poison" 39:55 He must become the "poison that was killing them." 40:00 It is a Healing metaphor. 40:04 And that's why physicians today, 40:07 you go to a doctor's office 40:08 some more in that doctor's office 40:09 may be unheard diploma, may be on this wall 40:12 you will see this symbol. 40:14 Take a look at that symbol. Do you know that symbol is? 40:17 That's Moses serpent on a pole. 40:21 It's a symbol of healing, healing, healing, healing. 40:28 You got some great biologists here 40:30 those of you that are science majors 40:31 or premed students or whatever. 40:34 You taken biology and I have talked to David Steen 40:36 and I've talked to Bill Chobotar 40:37 they teach biology, they teach immunology, 40:39 they teach the whole thing. 40:40 You know, what's happening a Cavalry what's this. 40:42 You know, what's happening on the cross? 40:44 Oh, you guys help me If I'm wrong 40:46 because I have been working on this. 40:47 What's happening on the cross is an antigen, 40:51 an antigen has been injected into the victim of the cross. 40:55 Sin as it were was mainline 40:58 directly in to the heart of Jesus. 41:02 An antigen, that's the poison. 41:04 When the antigen gets inside the system, 41:06 now help me outside scientist, 41:07 when the antigen gets inside the body if it has time, 41:10 if the body has time 41:12 it responds to the antigen by creating antibodies. 41:16 True or False? Antibodies. 41:20 Calvary is where God's mainline did to himself 41:24 the poison that is killed the entire human race 41:27 so that in that divine human body 41:29 there might become antibodies 41:32 and if you take the antibodies now hold on, 41:34 if you take the antibodies 41:36 out of one who has been injected 41:38 or has been bitten with the antigen. 41:42 If you take the antibody out of that one 41:44 and you come to me 41:45 because I also have been bitten by that same serpent 41:48 and you inject his blood straight into me, 41:51 my body immediately receives it as an antidote. 41:58 Isn't that fascinating? 42:01 You know, look like you get it 42:02 but I thought that pretty fascinating myself you know. 42:11 The fact is we don't have a lot of science majors 42:15 with us today that's the problem. 42:19 Is not some thing guys, isn't that something 42:21 what you getting in your classes 42:22 is what happened to Calvary. 42:24 The antigen goes in, the poison goes in. 42:26 My sins what are your sins? What are your favorite sins? 42:30 You have a little catalogue keep in your wallet, 42:31 this is what I love to do. 42:33 What are your favorite sins? 42:35 What ever there are-- mainline into the heart 42:39 the broken heart of the eternal God himself. 42:43 Antibody so that if we go to that cross there is life 42:50 where the serpent is strung up. 42:55 Centuries later it is much more clearly articulated 42:57 than I just do it 42:58 and so, let's do it in your study guide. 42:59 We'll put it on the screen these verses from the Bible. 43:03 Isaiah 53 speaking of the coming Messiah, 43:06 you know, this great prophesy. 43:07 "Surely he has borne our grief's" 43:09 the Hebrew word for grief, can we translate 43:11 "He has borne our sickness i.e. poison" 43:13 was mainlined in to him. 43:14 He has borne our poison and carried our sorrows 43:18 and by His stripes," what is it say? 43:20 We are what? "Healed." 43:22 Ladies and gentlemen, 43:23 the serpent is about the healing metaphor. 43:24 Write it down, we are healed. 43:26 Please go to the next verse please, 43:29 1 Peter 2:24 "Christ himself bore our sins 43:32 in his body on the tree," antigen injected into Him, 43:37 "so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness, 43:40 by his wounds you have been healed." 43:43 There is a healing metaphor again. 43:45 Final verse, 2 Corinthians 5:21 43:47 " For He, the Father made Him, Christ 43:50 who knew no sin to be sin" 43:52 he injected it straight into him 43:53 the Lord, had laid on him the inequity of soul. 43:56 He made Him to be 43:57 "who knew no sin to be sin for us, 44:00 that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 44:05 The story of serpent on the pole 44:06 expands the shinning truth of salvation. 44:08 The power of the Cross not only pardons us over our sins 44:13 it can heal us from our sins. 44:19 Mercy, which is exactly what this is all about. 44:26 A hundred years ago, you got it right there 44:28 in your study guide you have to fill it in. 44:31 "As the serpent was lifted up in the wilderness, 44:34 so the Son of God was lifted up on the cross, 44:37 that sinners from the ends of the earth" 44:39 hundred nations represented at Andrew's University, 44:41 there is no nation outside the reach of Calvary. 44:43 "Sinners from the ends of the earth 44:44 might look and live. 44:45 Multitudes are still suffering" 44:47 notice the metaphor that medicine-- 44:49 the medical metaphor, the healing metaphor. 44:51 "Multitudes are still suffering from the deadly sting 44:54 of that old serpent, the devil. 44:56 The effects of sin can be removed 44:57 only by the provision which God has made. 45:00 Here, alone, hope and salvation can be found. 45:02 As the Israelites saved their lives 45:05 by looking upon the brazen serpent," 45:07 so sinners that would be you, that would be me, 45:09 "so sinners can look to Christ and live. 45:14 Unlike that inert and lifeless symbol," 45:16 that just hunk of brass on top of that stick 45:19 "Christ has power and virtue in himself," 45:21 write it down, to heal "to heal the suffering, 45:26 repenting, bleeding" 45:28 see the medical metaphor is kept alive, "bleeding sinner." 45:36 How than the shall the chosen be healed? 45:38 I'm telling you what guys, 45:40 just like Israel that's how we must look to the pole. 45:43 We must gaze upon the cross, 45:45 look to the cross, go to the cross, 45:47 kneel at the cross, bow before the cross. 45:49 It is the only antidote in the universe 45:52 with the power to heal you and me 45:55 of our crippling, paralyzing, 45:57 and fatal, fatal sins. 46:00 Fatal sins. See, I'm not dead yet. 46:04 I'm not dead. 46:05 No, it's eating you out from the inside out. 46:11 You'll die. 46:13 You'll die unless you are healed you will die. 46:19 So what is it that you struggle with? 46:23 What is the sin that you struggle with? 46:26 I know what I battle in my life. 46:29 I know. What is it? 46:33 This has been some series, 46:35 I mean, we've looked at all kinds of stuff, sex, 46:38 alcohol, drugs, diet. 46:45 There are sins of the flesh, 46:47 the sins of the mind, just a mouse, 46:53 sins of the eyes, sins of the ears. 46:58 So what is it? What is the poison? 47:02 I know what I've been injected with by my choice. 47:09 Ladies and gentlemen, whatever sin you struggle with 47:14 there is all sufficient power 47:16 at the cross of Christ to heal you and me. 47:20 Heal us, not just forgive us, hallelujah, but heal us. 47:24 We've got to be healed. 47:25 It's not enough to be forgiven, you've got to be healed. 47:31 You can't go on forever 47:35 and die this side of the Promise Land. 47:39 Look to the cross where flows a healing antidote 47:46 of the divine serpent that can save us. 47:50 We must look to the cross. Look to the cross. 47:56 Some of you are saying, you know, Dwight, I appreciate 47:57 you're going through this little exercise 47:59 of trying to job my memory. 48:00 I actually haven't been able to think 48:02 of very much at all. 48:07 Some guys just got it. 48:09 Let me tell you something, my friend. 48:12 I'm deeply concerned about 48:13 the toxicity of our spiritual pride. 48:16 It was a calculated list to even get into this series. 48:19 You know, why, because the moment 48:20 you start talking about behavior, 48:21 the moment you start talking about distinctive teachings 48:24 and countercultural behavior-- 48:27 and by the way we got into this series because of you. 48:30 The survey we did this last spring 48:31 you ask these questions, 48:32 one series could tie it all together. 48:34 I believe the Holy Spirit let us into the chosen. 48:37 But I've been deeply concerned 48:41 that as we've examined this countercultural life-- 48:44 the distinctive teachings of the chosen. 48:48 God has called us to embrace. 48:50 God has called us to embrace it 48:51 all the series we've examined that. 48:52 I have become deeply concerned 48:54 that somehow the chosen are in danger 48:56 of being duped, deceived into believing 49:01 that our salvation is somehow predicated 49:04 upon our counterculturalness and our radical obedience 49:06 and our distinctive teachings and one story 49:09 the serpent on the pole declares 49:10 it is not predicated on that. 49:13 I want to tell you something, 49:15 all the righteous living in the world, 49:16 all the righteous living in the world 49:19 will never say the righteous or the wicked or the chosen. 49:23 You can't, you just can't get saved 49:26 by how you live. 49:35 The chosen are not saved because they are chosen, 49:39 they are chosen because they are saved 49:43 and has a worldly difference. 49:50 Which is why we must look to His cross, 49:53 it is the only, it is the only antidote 49:57 that can save us. 50:02 And by the way, my friend, 50:04 there is no way you can back this out for you 50:10 because if you are not saved 50:13 and not chosen do you understand, 50:16 do you understand that chose people 50:18 who thought they were chosen died in that wilderness. 50:22 I got it, I got it, 50:23 I'm a part of that, I got the card. 50:25 I'm a part, look. 50:26 Nope, they never made it to the Promise Land 50:31 thought they were chosen 50:33 turns out they weren't healed they were not saved. 50:39 One more quotation look at this, 50:41 its in your study guide. 50:42 I love this one. 50:43 "If you will only do your part" what's my part? 50:45 Dwight, this is all you do, bow at the cross of Calvary. 50:49 Isn't that beautiful? 50:50 "Bow at the cross of Calvary, 50:52 you will receive the blessing of God. 50:55 God loves you. 50:57 He doesn't wish to draw you nigh to him to hurt you, 50:59 oh, no, but to comfort 51:01 you to pour in the oil of rejoicing, to heal" 51:03 there is that metaphor again. 51:04 "To heal the wounds that sin has made, 51:07 to bind up where Satan has bruised. 51:08 Will you bow low at the foot of the cross?" 51:11 I love this. 51:12 "Jesus will place his arms around you, and comforts you. 51:16 Will you do this without further delay?" 51:20 isn't that beautiful? 51:21 Just go to the cross, just look, just look and live. 51:29 As this old year veins and the New Year approaches us 51:36 is what I like to do. 51:38 I like to invite you to join me, make a little, 51:41 let's make a little covenant you and I. 51:43 I won't check up on you 51:44 if you promise not to check up on. 51:47 But here's what I would like to invite. 51:50 This community the chosen as it were. 51:55 What would happen if everyday of journey ahead-- 51:57 you start tomorrow not with the New Year, 51:59 but what would happen if everyday 52:00 we went to the foot of the cross to begin the day? 52:05 I learn this from my friend 52:06 who now sleeps in Jesus Roger Morneau 52:09 and I'll tell what it has made a difference in my life. 52:12 Roger taught me the best way 52:14 to begin your day even worship-- 52:16 the best way to begin your worship 52:18 is to go to Calvary, 52:19 read the story of the cross, read Matthew 27:24-54. 52:24 What is that? 52:25 Thirty little verses, you read it 52:27 every single day of your life. 52:28 You go to the place 52:29 where the unleashed power of God can heal you. 52:32 Go the foot of the cross. 52:34 And so since I learned that from Roger Morneau 52:36 by the grace of God I begin every worship 52:38 right there at the foot of the cross. 52:41 Every time I stand here, 52:42 this is the cross inlaid into this wooden platform, why? 52:46 Because it's at the foot of the cross 52:49 that you and I are secured. 52:50 That's the only place we are healed. 52:53 So what happened? 52:54 Come on, see now your Bible, 52:57 oh, go buy yourself a Bible for Christmas. 52:59 Don't like the Bible you have, buy yourself a new translation. 53:01 It's great to get a new translation now and then. 53:03 It makes a little more, I got to get into this. 53:05 Turn those nice crispy pages. 53:08 But what you say, you and I make a covenant 53:11 by the grace of God we will go to the cross 53:13 read Matthew 27:24-54 everyday. 53:17 Look out what else you do in worship, 53:18 start your worship at the cross. 53:21 Wouldn't it be something? 53:23 Whole community that's chosen, 53:24 you know, why, you now, why, that would be important? 53:26 I'll tell you why. 53:27 Because the chosen will never end their story 53:32 in the Promise Land until first 53:37 they go to the serpent on the pole. 53:41 You can't get there without that cross. 53:56 I need to make an appeal. I want to pray with you first. 54:02 Dear Father, what is this, 54:11 on the very borders of the Promise Land 54:15 they still need to learn the truth about the cross. 54:20 Could it be the same for us? 54:22 Got everything else down, 54:23 oh, that kind of cultural part got it, 54:26 distinctiveness, oh, got that one 54:28 but are we missing the quintessence 54:33 of what salvation is all about. 54:37 The healing of a divine physician, 54:41 we divine physician who was injected 54:45 with our antigen, our sin, our poison 54:52 and now because of Calvary can offer us eternal life 54:59 if only with raw faith 55:01 we will look to the cross that we might live. 55:06 Holy Father, please, 55:11 take us to the cross over and over and over 55:17 until Christ himself comes I pray. 55:23 Before you go I wanted to take one more moment 55:25 and let you know how glad I am 55:27 you shared this hour of worship and Bible teaching with us. 55:30 This is the Pioneer Memorial Church 55:32 and we're on the campus of Andrew's University 55:33 and the series is The Chosen. 55:36 This is a series that has been growing 55:38 and it's burned on my heart 55:40 and over the last few weeks before this new season began. 55:44 And some concentrated prayer time 55:46 I believe the Spirit of God lead me do this series, 55:49 out of the Book of Deuteronomy 55:50 for this generation within our community of faith 55:53 and outside this community of faith. 55:55 I believe both, both communities need to hear 56:00 the compelling Bible truth 56:03 captured in this series called The Chosen. 56:04 So thank you for joining me and all of us 56:07 as we continue our journey deeper and deeper 56:09 into the heart of this theme. 56:11 Living as you and I do and I'm-- 56:14 I know I'm preaching to the choir now, 56:16 living as we do on the edge of a civilization 56:19 that is surviving through constant upheaval and change. 56:23 I am so grateful and I know you are 56:25 for the bedrock hope we have in Jesus. 56:29 I'm thankful that you and I 56:30 have been given name the privilege by God 56:33 to partner to reach this generation 56:34 the world over through the satellite telecast. 56:36 I don't know how it works, 56:38 I just know that those satellites drop the signals 56:41 and those footprints all over the planet 56:43 are helping disseminate this divine call 56:46 to become a part of The Chosen, God's last generation on earth. 56:50 So please, here's what I want you to know, 56:51 I thank God for you in a generous way 56:54 you have partnered with us in the past 56:56 and making New Perceptions possible globally. 57:00 Your tax-deductible gifts are being multiplied 57:02 all across the earth I believe for such a time as this. 57:06 Look, would you like to order a copy of today's teaching 57:10 you can order DVD, you get all the PowerPoint, 57:12 everything is there, you can share 57:14 with your friends, share with your family. 57:15 I want to just insert this here, 57:17 if you go to our website 57:18 and we've been advertising our website all along the way 57:20 and I'm gonna insert it right here 57:21 www.pmchurch.tv, go to that website 57:25 you get a podcast of this. 57:27 We have people now subscribing to podcast 57:29 the world over, it's time for this message to get out. 57:33 Thank you for your partnership in helping us do that. 57:35 Call one of our friendly operators 57:37 to toll-free number, it won't cost you a penny 57:39 here in North America, 877-HIS-WILL. 57:42 You call that number, I promise you every penny 57:45 that you share we will invest your generosity 57:49 in God's mission to reach this final generation now. 57:53 Thank you very, very much. 57:54 And be assured, I'm looking forward to seeing you here, 57:57 right here again next time 57:59 as we continue our fascinating journey into The Chosen. 58:04 God bless you. |
Revised 2014-12-17