December 2020 – Praying Pint

18.g. “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.”

John 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

James 1:13-17 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

Mark 4:19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

Some people are like the ground on a hard-packed pathway. This is hard ground because people walked on it all the time and hardened it. When people are hard to the word of God, they allow no room for the seed of the word in their lives – it never enters. “There are some that hear the word, but never meditate upon it, never lay it to their hearts, never cover it with second thoughts.” (Poole) Some people are like the ground that is rocky but covered with a thin layer of dirt. They receive the seed of the word with a flash of enthusiasm that quickly burns out. Some people are like the seed that falls among the thorns. They receive the word but allow the interests and cares of this world to choke it out.

We ought to be able to rightly see and understand the world we live in, its lures, lies, fears, temptations, and false hopes. But how is this to occur? When we are in God’s Word. When we hunger and thirst for His Word. When we have surrendered our life in this world to victoriously living to bring honor and glory to Jesus Christ. This does not happen by walking hand in hand with what this world has to offer or giving head nods toward Christian values, the bible, attending church, or listening to Christian music. Head nods are not the same as a heart surrendered. There is a big difference. Head nods do not let the word of God into their heart. These people play at being a Christian but there has never been a heart change that only comes through repenting, confessing, and surrender all hope of eternal life into the hands of Jesus Christ. No thought of being good enough enters their thoughts. They understand they were lost and without hope and then the Light of the Gospel flooded their heart and mind. They realized there is only one way to eternal life and that is through hope and faith in Jesus Christ. God’s Word allows them to see this world and what it has to offer. This allows them to reject temptations that come at them in all kinds of forms. Greed, lust, passion, hate, anger, fear, worry, pride, self-worth, and self-reliance are some of the many forms this world will tempt. Hunger and thirst for His Word with a desire to live so that all you think, say, and do honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

18.f. “hough the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever;”

Psalms 92:7    that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever;

Psalms 37:38    But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Psalms 103:15-16    As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field;  for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

Psalms 92:12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Isaiah 61:3    to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

“Sometimes we go through seasons of darkness, when our circumstances are not sunny and our spirits aren’t as bright as usual. But God works in our hearts during such times, and He can use these periods to increase our sturdiness and fruitfulness.

He also makes the sun arise right on time, replacing fear with joy and sadness with gladness. With Him near, we never need to fear the dark. It’s sometimes where negatives develop into pictures of grace.” (David Jeremiah)

With eyes of scripture opened to our heart by and through the leading of the Holy Spirit we can see evil. We are able to see the lies that are proclaimed by those who are influenced by and through Satan’s persuasion. We can see acts of this evil being proclaimed as good or justified by the many who agree. There are so many things that come to mind when I think about Satan’s influence and persuasion.

Fear of the unknown when God’s Word says to cast out all fear. He is in control, always has been and always will be.

Anger and hate against people who don’t agree with what is being done or said or allowed. God’s Word tells us “if possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men.” “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.” Let our eyes be on Jesus Christ and let the hatred of the evil we see be allowed to be carried in His hands. “There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.” Hate and anger against evil are common but when it is allowed to take root in our heart rather than given over to Jesus Christ bad things happen. Jesus is not glorified or honored this way.

Lies that are accepted as right and just. Abortion, pornography, LGBTQ, etc… are culturally accepted but absolutely wrong in the eyes of God. For certain we will see more and more of this type of life-style should the Lord Jesus tarry in His return.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

“And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. 25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

18.e. “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God,”

John 12:44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

1 John 4:14   And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Luke 9:26     For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Hebrews 2:3    how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

Hebrews 10:29-31    How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?  For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 12:25    See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

“for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” – In the first advent, coming of Jesus, Jesus came as redeemer, savior, sacrificial lamb. He came to bring light to the world – God with us. He came to proclaim the day of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, eternal life. He came to give hope and display God’s grace, mercy, and love. He came to shine light into and onto the darkness – the void and separation from God created because of sin. He came to redeem each person from this void and separation. This void has bright lights as it were. This void and separation have bright lights and worldly lures that entice the soul to reject the Light of Jesus Christ. The light of this world shines bright on self and offers to each person what the world has to offer. It tries to entice, lure, blind us from the Love of God. Sad to say, when the choice is given, we choose to run toward this-worldly light and we grab hold of its blinding power. Pride, lust, greed, hate, anger, fear, anxiousness, self-reliance, self-worth, self-first, and self-satisfaction are all manifestations of those who are captivated by this worldly light. It offers temporary tangible things of this world with the promise that it will satisfy your soul but in the end, it leaves the soul hungry and thirsty for more. This light is a lie. This lie leads people away from the Light of Jesus Christ.

The true Light from God is displayed in Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Belief in the Light of Jesus Christ is more than a head nod or acknowledgment of who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. It is a life-changing new birth. When the Light and Gospel of Jesus shines into the soul and exposes sin, darkness, void, and separation from God, an understanding of the consequences of sin – eternal hell, torment – is revealed by this Light. But, at this same time there is an understanding of the grace, mercy, and love of God through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and an urgent call to your soul to confess, repent, trust, obey and believe in Jesus Christ for the redemption of your soul. This trust and faith is a new birth for each person who believes. All things are new. Old ways of thinking and living are cast aside because their worth has become meaningless in the Light of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life.

Staying in God’s word will keep the lights of this world recognizable and enable each believer to reject and expose them for what they are, lies and distractions from living to give honor, glory, obedience, and praise to Jesus Christ.

18.d. “The word that I have spoken will judge Him”

John 12:42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God. Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day. For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

“The word that I have spoken will judge Him” – there are inescapable consequences for rejecting Jesus. Think about the consequences for either relying on Him or rejecting Him.

Eternal life or Eternal damnation and torment

Living in light or living in darkness

Forgiven or condemned

Power in Him or weakness in self

Love or hate and anger

Joy or misery

Peace or conflict and anxiousness

Kind or mean

Gentle or brutal

Patience or impatience

Refuge or fear

Humility or pride

Giving or greedy

Victory or defeated

Hope or despair

God honoring or self-honoring

Holy Spirit living within or Satan always tempting

Heavenly desires or worldly lusts

Living for God or living for self

Surrender to the Holy Spirit leading or Satan, world/culture, and self-leading

Belief, trust, and reliance in Jesus Christ or rejection and denial

Jesus came to rescue and save us by paying the price of our sin. He came because God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus gave His life so we might live. This life we live is to be lived in the LIGHT of this so that all that we do, all that we think, and all that we say is honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ. He did not come to this world to condemn man but to save man from their sins. Yet, in rejecting His redemption, sacrifice, and salvation all mankind is condemned. There is no other means of salvation, but by and through Jesus Christ. Belief in Him is more than words on our lips. It is heart, mind, and soul-deep. It is knowing and owning up to our sin and sinful nature and separation from God because of it, and reliance on, clinging to and trusting in Jesus for our redemption from this condemnation. When we surrender our self-reliance to Jesus only reliance there ought to be some change (new birth). Old things pass away and all things are new. We are promised the indwelling Holy Spirit when we believe and surrender and trust and rely (faith) upon/in Jesus Christ alone. The indwelling Holy Spirit will lead us on paths in our lives that honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Listen for the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit speaking into your life through God’s Word. It is there if we but spend the time in His Word and turn our ear towards Him. This new life in Him is not our own to live as we please. Our lives have been redeemed and ought to reflect the light of the price He paid to save us from hell and the promise of eternal life.

18.c. “Shouldn’t baby Jesus cost more?”

Luke 2:10-12 “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’”

A close friend of mine told me that while he and his 9 year old daughter was shopping they stopped and looked at a nativity scene for sale. As they were looking at it the daughter said, “ I don’t understand”, He said what don’t you understand?” She said, “everything in this nativity set costs the same, shouldn’t baby Jesus cost more?” This purity of this question hit me like a hammer to my heart. We understand that the price of these pieces is related to the cost to make it. She understood something more – how precious Jesus is compared to everything else.

We can go a thousand places with this. Is Jesus more precious than my family, friends, work, money, health, car, boat, guns, tools, clothes, possessions, etc….? Do I give lip service to saying yes but my actions do not reflect the glory and honor deserved for Jesus? Do I harbor greed, pride, self-worth, self-reliance, hate, anger, fear, and anxiousness? Do I rest in His sovereign hands? Do I surrender each day to His leading? Do I seek and desire to know Him more and more? Do I seek and desire to honor and glorify Him above self? Do I live to bring Him honor and glory? Do I keep my focus on eternity or the worldly?

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He came to earth to redeem mankind. He suffered and died for my sin, your sin. He did this out of grace, mercy, and love.

If the true worth of baby Jesus was revealed in the price in a nativity set, we could never afford it even if all of the fortunes in the world were combined. He is worth all you have, all you have to give, and worthy of all honor, glory, and praise in all we think, say, and do.

18.b. Merry Christmas!!!

Imagine you are a shepherd in ancient Israel: Your job is mundane, dirty, and maybe even a little frightening. You’re out in the wilderness, away from town, and the only light you see at night comes from the fire around which you are huddled and the moon hanging overhead. With that small field of vision, you’re supposed to not only keep track of your sheep, but also protect them from attack.

Suddenly, a supernatural brightness—“the glory of the Lord”—blinds your eyes, and there’s somebody there, unlike anything you’ve seen before. Perhaps you immediately realize that it’s the angel of the Lord, or maybe you are so consumed with confusion that it takes a minute to sink in that this being is from the heavenly realm. Either way, you’re so awe-struck that the angel’s first words are, “Do not be afraid.”

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

The first people who were given this great news was lowly shepherds, not Jewish leaders. The first thing they did was go straight to Bethlehem to see. They hurried to Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. They reported the message proclaimed to them by the angels. The shepherds returned to the flock and were glorifying and praising God.

We celebrate Jesus Christs’ birth today. Let it be in remembrance of the gift of God. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Let us glorify and praise God in our tradition of gift exchange.

18.a. “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.”

Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

Jude 17 But you, dear friends, remember what was predicted by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They told you, “in the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.” These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit.

Psalms 14:1-2   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good.  The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

1 Corinthians 2:14   The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

James 3:15    This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Romans 8:9    You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

John 3:5-6    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The lure of sin was able to drag angels away from God. Certainly, it is possible for a man to be drawn away too. What is in this “lure” that is so appealing? Is it self-worth, self-control, self-reliance, power, greed, anger, lust…..? Some of these attributes we can see in the actions people take but many times they are hidden from observation and only known by God. They very well may be known by the person but more than likely they are denied or embraced. Jude speaks of these people who seem to disguise themselves as fellow believers. He calls them dangerous reefs, wild waves, fruitless trees, waterless clouds, wandering stars, and twice dead. There is a place called hell reserved for them, where utter darkness, torment, and anguish is eternal.

An individual Christian may not know it, understand it, or benefit by it, but to be a Christian is to be a part of a community. To be a Christian means you stand shoulder to shoulder with millions of Christians who have gone before. We stand with strong Christians and weak Christians, brave Christians and cowardly Christians, old Christians and young Christians. We are part of an invisible, mighty army that spans back through the generations.

“Upon other matters, there are distinctions among believers, but yet there is a common salvation enjoyed by the Arminian as well as by the Calvinist, possessed by the Presbyterian as well as by the Episcopalian, prized by the Quaker as well as by the Baptist. Those who are in Christ are more near of kin than they know of, and their intense unity in deep essential truth is a greater force than most of them imagine: only give it scope and it will work wonders.” (Spurgeon)

More people believe in “the faith that is in my heart” than the faith once for all delivered to the saints. In the book Habits of the Heart, Robert Bellah and his colleagues wrote about an interview with a young nurse named Sheila Larson, whom they described as representing many American’s experience and views on religion. Speaking about her own faith and how it operated in her life, she said: “I believe in God. I’m not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. It is ‘Sheilaism.’ Just my own little voice.” We might say that this highly individualistic faith is the most popular religion in the world, but the idea that we can or should put together our own faith is wrong. Christianity is based on one faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints.

We may occasionally meet or sit next to a person who believes like this and they go unnoticed by us, but not unnoticed by God. When we are aware we must contend for the faith that is found only in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It should never be watered down or added too. The first step in this direction is fruitless and robs Jesus Christ of His glory and honor. Contending for the faith is to proclaim the gospel and live to honor and glorify Jesus Christ through surrender, repentance, obedience, reliance, and trust.

18. From Billy Graham.org

While the birth of Jesus brought joy and peace to Mary and the shepherds, it was a worst-case scenario for King Herod. Through extensive alliances, gamesmanship, and innovation, Herod had a generally successful reign as king, but he was near the end of his life and had grown paranoid, jealous, angry, and unhinged. He was so desperate to maintain his throne that he murdered anyone he deemed a threat, especially his own family. He is said to have killed his beloved wife Mariamne and her two sons, as well as her brother, mother and grandfather, before finally murdering his own firstborn son Antipater.

That’s exactly what happened, of course. After the wise men were warned about Herod and slipped out of Jerusalem without returning to him, the king devised an evil, murderous plot. In a last attempt to stave off this potential insurrection, he massacred all boys two years old and under in and around Bethlehem. Many innocent children died, many families were left broken and devastated, because of the actions of King Herod.

Christ’s arrival troubled Herod greatly, to the point of violence, because it meant a shift of power. He was used to having all authority and things a certain way. He was aggressively protective of his rule and kingdom. But the birth of Jesus—the King of the Jews—meant that he might lose those things he held dear. In Herod’s mind, there was only room for one king on the throne, and he was not about to share it. The truth is, Herod was absolutely right! There is only room for one King on the throne, but Herod was not that king. Jesus is the King!

This year, what is sitting on the throne of your heart? What things are you elevating above Jesus in your life? Perhaps it’s your job, your relationships, your hobbies, or your vices? Maybe you’re living in a way that you know is not pleasing to Him? Don’t make the same mistake as Herod. Recognize that Christ is King and surrender all control of your life over to Him today.

17.z. “There should be no speculation or promotion of fear”

I have been reading numerous articles from believers and non-believers. The problem is that I can not find much difference in their comments. Don’t get me wrong. They each see the world in a different view but in the end, they all speculate and promote fear to get their points across.

Why are we not encouraged by all that we see going on around us, reported to us, and demanded of us? If it is a wake-up call to Christians to repent and turn away from worldly desires – this is a good thing. It reveals God’s unfailing love calling us back to Him.

If it is a wake-up call to non-believers to open up the door to their heart to Jesus Christ and surrender self-reliance, self-worth, and selfishness, it reveals, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

If it is a revelation to expose the lies of Satan and how easily people will blindly follow after them – it is a good thing. It reveals God’s love toward us in that He allowed us to see and know truth from lies.

If it is the fulfillment of, “But when these things begin to happen, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.” – this is a good thing. It reveals God’s unchanging plans and purposes.

There is way too much talk about fear from Christian people who should know better. They speak of the fear of COVID, constitutional rights, election results, hypothetical changes to the way it might be in the future. This fear is not God-honoring. It does not honor and glorify Jesus Christ. It does, however, give fuel and credence to Satan’s lies. This should not be found among us who believe. God loves us. God is in control. God is our refuge and hope in times of trouble. God will never leave us or forsake us. God will give us peace that passes all understanding. God will guide us into paths of righteousness.

If there be any fear, fear for those who deny and reject Jesus Christ and those who have hardened their hearts and minds to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for those who do not hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit guiding them to repentance.

Seek to make your desire to have Jesus Christ open your hearts and minds to the Love of God, hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit, and the light found in reading His Word. The line in the old hymn “Turn your eyes to Jesus, look full into His wonderful face, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”

17.y. From Pathway to Victory

In 1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe.”

Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

John 11:25 “He who believes in Me will live even if he dies.”

John 3:16 “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

James 2:19 “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”

John 3:14-15 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.”

The way to know whether you’re really saved or not is whether you believe. What does it mean to believe? Over and over again you see the word “believe” in the Bible. But what does it mean to believe? Belief is not an intellectual assent to a set of facts about Jesus. It’s not agreeing that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for the sins of the world, and that He rose again on the third day. We think if you believe intellectually all the right things about Jesus, then you can be saved. Did you know some of the greatest professions of faith in history were made by demons? In Matthew 8:29, the demons said to Jesus, “What business do we have with each other, Son of God?” In Mark 1:24, a demon said to Him, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!” The demons knew the truth. Demons know the truth about who Jesus is, but are demons going to be in heaven? No, “believe” is not just believing the right things about Jesus.

The word “believe” means to trust in, to cling to, to put your whole faith and trust in. The best illustration I know of what “believe” means when Jesus was talking to Nicodemus. Nicodemus wanted to know how he could be sure he had eternal life. Jesus talked about the importance of being born again by believing in the Son of God. Nicodemus didn’t understand that, so Jesus used an illustration that Nicodemus was familiar with. Nicodemus recognized the story from Numbers 21. The children of Israel were being disobedient to God, and they were bitten by fiery serpents. So they begged Moses, “Intercede with God; save us!” Moses went to God, and God said, “This is the way of salvation. Make a bronze serpent, put it on a pole, hold the pole with the serpent up in the air, and tell the people if they will look at the serpent, they will be healed.” God’s message was “Look and live.” All those Israelites had to do was to acknowledge they were dying and by faith look at God’s provision that was lifted up, and they would be healed. That’s the illustration that Jesus used of what it means to believe. Whoever recognizes they are lost (dying in their sin), the need for salvation, and trusts in Jesus’ provision (salvation, redemption, forgiveness) – whoever believes in Him, will be saved and have eternal life.