WISDOM SERIES: WISDOM OF THE CROSS (III)
[Bible Nuggets 1031 Heb 12:2-4]
Heb 12:2-4
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Who do you want to emulate? Behold the glory of Jesus. That is the way you truly live and become reconciled to God. The more of Jesus we have in us, the more of God’s glory you have. Jesus stripped himself of all the glories of heaven to dwell among us to redeem man; hence no one can regard his situation as hopeless. This is why for example suicide is wrong which is common in North America because Jesus has paid it all. Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith. If you see someone who is suicidal, tell them “Look unto Jesus and live”.
Jesus testifying of himself and the cross before him said in John 3:14 -16
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness; even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Typology of the Cross by Moses
Moses made a typology of the cross, the victory of the cross over the serpent that had bitten any person who sinned in the camp of the children of Israel in the wilderness. Adam and Eve were “bitten” by the serpent the day they fell and became subject to the law of sin and death. That old serpent, the devil the bible says will finally be destroyed someday by the wrath of God in Hell Fire. Lets read the account of how Moses saved the those children of Israel who looked by faith on the remedy he provided for their sins.
Num 21:8-9
8And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
9And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
The children of Israel had murmured to Moses for lack of bread and water.
5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
They did not lack bread and water. They only had unbelief that they lacked. They should have trusted God as long as they see Moses holding the staff of authority and power. That staff could make anything in the wilderness. They were walking through the valleys and plains of the shadow of death because they actually had enemies lined up ob the way to the promise land.
No matter what we are going through in terms of our physical need, God’s provision is abundant to supply. Remove your eyes from the problem and look at the word of God
Psalm 23 v4
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Phil 4:19
19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
They missed the point because Jesus is the bread of life as we connect this with the other 2 scripture Num 21:8-9, John 3:14-16 and John 6:35
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
The water represents the holy spirit John 7:38
38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Earlier, the people murmured for water Numbers 20v1-4
1Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
2And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
3And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!
4And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
Moses in anger (the meekest man on the earth from scripture) struck the rock twice to get water for them for which God was displeased with him and he did not allow Moses to enter the promise land:
Num 20:7-13
7And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
8Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt
bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
9And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
10And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
11And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
12And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
13This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
Moses unbelief was what he was punished for. Its like the best athlete in a relay race not allowed to see the finish line or a general seconding his duty in a marathon battle and recalled to base early.
Moses was not ‘forgiven’ because water represents the Holy Spirit
Jesus describing sin against the Holy Spirit says
Mark 3:29
29But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
Moses was in danger of eternal damnation. Michael the archangel had to wrestle for his soul and told him the Lord rebuked thee.
Jude 1: 9
9Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
So it is with us today God is displeased with anyone who grieves the Holy Spirit. Eph 4:30
30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Prayer Points
1. Lord Jesus, I look unto you. Thank you for making me to pass from death to life in Jesus Name.
2. Satan, there is no controversy. Jesus is Lord. Everyone you are holding captive. I command you to release them from the bondage of sin. I break the yoke you have put on them in Jesus Name.