Fiery Serpents Are Defanged

The one thing we need to understand from the passage in Numbers 21:4–9 (see below) is that the fiery serpents came into the camp because of the people’s attitude’s. They complained every time things did not go the way they wanted and every time they were tired and weary. The people provoked God when they spurned God’s miraculous provision of food. This is why we need to be aware of how we respond to God’s provision. We should be thankful for the good things we have, even if it’s not our ideal choice. When God is leading us, it’s not going to be all easy. The fiery serpents were brought about by their complaining, but the fiery serpents represent sin. Sin in any way, form, or fashion is displeasing to God, because it is rebellion against Him.

Romans 12:2 says we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our minds are transformed as we plant the Word of God and meditate in the Word of the Living God. It comes through making choices and doing those things that are pleasing and acceptable in His sight. We can desire to be in God’s presence. We must be conscientious to stop doing things which don’t please God.

Complaining is sin. Worry is sin. We as believers should trust in God. We are in a covenant relationship with God. In that relationship, we realize His responsibility to us and our responsibility to God. Then when tragedy comes, we don’t fall apart. Yes, we grieve in tragedy, but not as people without hope. These are troubling times. It’s difficult to deal with apart from God. But if we have a relationship with God, creator of heaven and earth, we don’t need to fall apart. In these challenging times, instead of keeping our attention and focus on the challenge (yes, we need to be aware of what’s going on, but we don’t need to have it consume all of our time), we need to focus on Jesus.

As the people realized that they had sinned against God and against Moses, they repented. When the bronze snake was made, those bitten needed to keep their focus on the bronze snake, so they could live. In John 3:14–15, Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” We need to look unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. As we keep our focus on Jesus, we can overcome the fiery serpents in our lives. Those things that come to claim our lives are like fiery serpents. Don’t let trouble drain the life force out of you. Don’t let troubles in your life become bigger than the Word of God to you. The Word of the Living God, Jesus, must always remain primary in our sight.

Instead, give thanks to the Lord for all things. Acknowledge that God is greater than anything that comes to harm us. Keep your focus on God, who provides us with strength, hope, and help. Fiery serpents are defanged when we keep uncompromised trust and faith in Jesus. For more insight, listen to this message delivered by Dr. Dowdy on June 14, 2020.

Key Scripture
Numbers 21:4–9 NKJV

4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,[c] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

Special Healing Prayer: Lion of Judah Worship Center includes time for Holy Spirit directed prayer. The service has been separated into three parts. We encourage you to feast on this three course meal!

Service:
Message:
Healing:

Foundation Scripture for LOJWC Ministry:

“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” Mark 11:23

What We Believe:

We believe in God, the Father, Almighty, and in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. On the third day he rose again according to Scripture. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father, from whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the third person of the God-head, who revealed himself on the day of Pentecost. We believe in the gifts of the Spirit and their continuous operation in the body of Christ. And we believe in one holy, universal, and apostolic church. Amen.

Faith Confession:

We conduct spiritual warfare. It begins with us as we speak God’s word and speak to our bodies, minds, and emotions. Therefore we make a faith confession which says: “Satan, in the Name of Jesus, I declare this body a sickness-disease-free zone. Every germ, virus, bacterium, etc., that touches this body dies instantly in the name of Jesus, who bore my sicknesses, carried my diseases, and by whose stripes I have been healed. Therefore I command life into every cell in this body, I receive healing for my emotions from every past embedded hurtful, fearful memory. I speak active deliverance from the law of sin and death, according to the finished works of Jesus the Christ, the anointed and His anointing.”

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Copyright © 2020 E. C. Dowdy. Written and audio material may not be reproduced without written permission.