"NEHUSHTAN"
A. Hezekiah's ascension and action "broke in pieces
B. History of brazen serpent.
1. Israel's complaining.
2. Snake pits.
3. Brazen serpent.
C. Preservation of brazen serpent.
1. Moses wilderness; Joshua conquest; judges David Solomon.
D. Development of worship.
1. Interest grew to veneration.
2. Began to worship symbol.
3. Defied serpent of brass.
E. Story not so old.
1. Church of St. Ambrose - Milan 971 Milanese envoy to
Constantinople.
I. DEIFICATION - - - SIGN OF PEOPLE AT THE TIME.
A. Sign of their loss of consciousness of God.
B. People hungering after that which they lost.
1. Idol always means this.
2. Sense of need - sense of lack.
C. Sign of confusion, misinterpretation.
1. As though serpent was healing agent of past.
II. HEZEKlAH'S TWOFOLD ACTIONS.
A. Named the serpent "Nehushtan."
1. "A thing of brass."
2. He called it what it was.
3. It was a revelation and shame to the people.
a. they had left worshipping the 14-wing God
and began worshipping "a thing of brass."
B. He broke it in pieces.
II. MODERN APPLICATIONS.
A. God's gifts may be so abused as to become injurious.
1. Some of the things people burn incense to:
a. A building, selling the church.
b. Form of worship.
c. Certain evangelists or ministers "I know
if he would just pray for me."
d. Past experiences.
e. Creed or denomination.
f. Trust deed (terms of deed..
2. Sign of loss of fellowship with God.
3. Proper attitude toward these things.
a. Call them what they are:
church - bricks and mortar.
minister - a man exercise of
worship - forms.
creeds - human opinions trust
deed - paper.
experiences - past.
b. If these things come between you and God,
break it in pieces.
B. Paul to Phillipians:
"That which was gain to me I counted loss"
30 years later - "Ye, I count all things but loss"
"I counted yesterday no value unless still counting
today."
C. Light that shone on Damascus Road no value unless still
shining today.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.