1. Scripture Reading Numbers 21:4-9 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food! Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 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.

2. 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.” 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, he lived.”

3. LIFTING UP CHRIST

6. I. REAL, GOD-GIVEN ITEMS OR EXPERIENCES CAN DETERIORATE INTO EMPTY, EVEN SINFUL THINGS II Kings 18:1-4 (They began to worship the bronze snake) Once powerful symbol of God’s care Became something else entirely

7. II. DRAWING POWER OF THE LIFTED UP CHRIST John 3:14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” John 12:32

8. Not by programs and gimmicks (People are accustomed to looking for the ever-present hook) In the New Testament Throughout Church history Recent years We are tempted

9. Jesus said, “When I am lifted up…I will draw all men to myself” Seen in the Book of Acts as the early church spread Seen in the Epistles (I Cor 2:1-5, Gal 6:14) We’ve seen it here (Nothing brilliant, nothing fancy, nothing new—just lifting up Christ)

10. Just attacking evil won’t do it Israel’s job was not to kill the snakes, but to look to the lifted up serpent. Our job isn’t just to withstand evil—but to lift up Christ

11. CONCLUSION: Let us not only refrain from and fight against the Evil One—Let us also follow and faithfully lift up the Righteous One! He said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”