Numbers 21:4-9 is the account of the children of Israel being disciplined by God by sending firey serpents into the camp, but being told to look at the brazen serpent Moses had lifted up on a pole in order to be healed and live.  Why a serpent? This was what had been killing them, this was the consequence of their sin. 

The people had already come to Moses and repented and confessed their sin, however they were still dying what more needed to be done? This account shows us we need to look at the consequences of our actions in order to be healed and live. We are in a time when we continue to repeat wrong doing again and again and think if we just confess and pray for forgiveness we will be alright.  Yet we see we are still not alright, still dying. The reason we have not faced our consequences is pride and not wanting to admit that what is happening is a result of our own wrong doing, insted we blame someone else for what is happening.

  1John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  When we have a heart attitude that it really wasn't my sin that led to this consequence, we are not facing the consequences and his word is not confronting us.  We are so good at playing the "blame" game, or making excuses. When the Lord gives us a promise we are the only one that can stop His promises to us from coming to pass.  It was Moses failure that kept him from entering the land God had promised to him.

The principles of God are for everyone, no one is exempt from the consequence of our actions.  Be not deceived what you sow you will reap. We need to face our consequences and the Lord will be merciful as we obey and do whatever He tells us to do.  He has a future and a hope for us (Jeremiah 29:11), he came to give life and life abundantly (John 10:10b).  LOOK AND LIVE

This lesson was given at the Wednesday night adult Bible Study 3/11/09.

There are many aspect of prayer seen in scripture

1 Timothy 4: 4-5 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.   The greek word here for prayer is enteuxis, an interview, i.e. (spec) supplication, intercession, prayer. In view of the first imeaning an interview we see the idea of expecting a response from God about what we are about to eat.  I love this meaning for in our prayer life we should have the expectancy of a response from God. 

Luke 2:36-37 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Pha-nuel, of the tribe of Asher: she was of a great age,...and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  The greek word here is deesis,a petition, a solemn supplication or request  this word  expresses both the heart felt mood of her prayers and the type of prayer she was offering. 

1Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and make might perfect which is lacking in your faith.  The greek word here is deomai, to beg, again we can see the mood and type of prayer in this meaning. 

Our prayers should express to the Lord where our heart is in the situation we are praying about.  He wants us to know Him well enough to call upon Him in destress, or just to ask for a response from Him to sanctify our meal. The scriptures reveal the heart of God in that His greatest desire is that we KNOW Him, and recognize that He is GOD.  Over 90 times in the Old Testament He says, " Know that I am the Lord". In the New Testament Jesus prays in John17: 3...that they might know thee...  Prayer is all about getting to know our Heavenly Father.