“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.”
Numbers 21:8–9

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In this Sunday’s message, we’re confronted with the reality that sin is poisonous and complaint is rebellion in disguise. Pastor Josh Kelsey reminds us that God isn’t calling us to hide our sin, strive harder, or fight the snakes ourselves. He’s calling us to look to Christ the One who was lifted up for our healing and salvation.

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Complaint and Poison

• Living in the in between is frustrating.
• God is providing manna to sustain Israel, but they complain about His miracle and provision.
• Complaints delay your journey to the Promised Land, because complaint is rooted in unbelief.
• God won’t release clarity until you recognize complaint for what it is: sin.
• Snakes—since Genesis 3 symbolize curse.
• Sin isn’t just a mistake, it’s a poison, it makes us sick and corrupts the very bloodstream of our soul.

The Paradox of the Serpent on the Pole

• Your sin is the very thing causing poison and consequences in your life.
• God says: take that sin, put it on a pole, and look at it.
  Don’t hide it look to it. And live.
• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— (Galatians 3:13)

The Scandalous Healing

• When we see something that has missed the mark, God puts the deeper heart issue in front of us to heal it.
  What does He require? Not an offering, not sacrifice, not performance, just look.
• In Hebrew, nebat means “to gaze, to behold.” What you look at, you become.
• Healing through beholding feels scandalous, because the world always requires more for your healing.
• The enemy isolates us in our complaints to keep us bitter, but God says: “Look and live

Christ Revealed

• John 3:14  “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.”
• At the cross, Jesus became the curse.
• Every other religion says do. God says look.

Stop Fighting the Snakes

• Healing doesn’t come from looking at yourself, your failures, or your sin.
• It comes from looking up and fixing your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
• The gospel says: not “work harder to drive the snakes away,” but look up and live.

Culture of NYC

In New York, people are poisoned by different serpents:
    •    The venom of achievement: “If I don’t succeed, I am nothing.”
    •    The venom of approval: “If I am not loved, I am nothing.”
    •    The venom of shame: “If they knew who I really was, I’d be rejected.”
    •    The venom of control: “If I lose my grip, I’ll fall apart.”

FOUNT Vision

• Vision (Jesus Christ): We fix our eyes on Him lifted up. Our vision is not self-improvement, but the crucified Christ.
• Reality (Freedom): Freedom is not the absence of snakes it’s the presence of a Savior who breaks the curse.
• Mission (People): We exist to lift Him high in this city, so that anyone who looks will live.
• Cause (Love): The cross is the great proof of love God Himself absorbing the venom so His people can be healed.

‍Discussion Questions

• How do you respond in seasons of “in between” with faith or with complaint?
• What complaints in your life might actually reveal unbelief or rebellion in your heart?
• Where have you been trying to fight the snakes instead of looking to Christ?
• What “venoms” of NYC (achievement, approval, shame, control) have poisoned your heart?
• How can you practically lift your eyes to Jesus this week instead of staring at your sin?

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