Good Snakes Turned Bad
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July 9, 2006
Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church
The most dangerous snake is a good snake gone bad. -- Haddon Robinson
2 Kings 18:1-7
(page ??? in pew Bible)
…deals with a good snake turned bad and …
King Hezekiah, who dealt with it.
God used Hezekiah to bring a revival.
Revival always has three things in common:
· Dealing with sin RADICALLY
· RETURNING to God and His Word
· RENEWING worship
Hezekiah was unique; he held fast to the Lord (verse 6) –
glued to God
Verse 4 - Hezekiah broke the snake Moses had made…
The story is found in Numbers 21.
What was once an object lesson became an object of worship.
In our faith, idols are often the way we do things.
God was doing a work and many of those churches missed it!
It’s true today, too. We live in a world that is desperately looking for God – but it never occurs to them to come to our churches to find their answers.
If ANYTHING is more important than what God is doing in the midst of His church…,
it’s a good snake gone bad.
Remember that an idol is anything that takes center stage in our affections. An idol is a God-substitute.
Father, may my faith not be in the methods of a church or what I have become comfortable with, but may my faith find a resting place in You alone.
My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
It’s not about how we do church or what we grew up with; it’s about Jesus and that He died for me!
Revival will happen when the church…
· Deals with sin RADICALLY
· RETURNS to God and His Word
· RENEWS worship