Setting Up Memorial Stones
Notes
Transcript
Intro; One of the most beautiful things that you can find all over this great land of ours is monuments and memorials that pay tribute to people, places and special times or events in the history of our nation.
In nearly every town across America you will find some type of historical marker/monument depicting the founder of that town or maybe a monument about something or someone significant to its history.
Mt. Rushmore is one of this nations most iconic monuments carved into the side of a mountain in South Dakota. It tells the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country.
Stone Mountain is the largest bas-relief [raised] artwork in the world as well as the largest exposed piece of granite in the world.
The National Mall and Memorial Park in Washington DC covers 1000 acres of our nations history [Prayer March 2020]. It is a spectacular place to see.
Memorials/Monuments are often structures established to remind people of a person or event that is significant in their life. But not all memorials are structures.
A Wedding ring is a memorial of your commitment to God, spouse and your family
Your birthday is a memorial [reminder] of the days of your life here on earth
A rainbow is a memorial [reminder] that God will never again destroy the earth by flood.
This morning I want to preach on “Setting Up Memorial Stones” in our lives.
Text: Joshua 4:1-8, 24
1 And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying:
2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe,
3 and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ”
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe;
5 and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,
6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”
8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
There are three specific reasons that Israel was to set up this memorial to God;
First that it would be a sign to that generation entering the promised land of God’s power and promises. “That this may be a sign among you” [v. 5-6a].
Secondly that it would be a sign to the generations of Israelites to come, “What do these stones mean?” [v.6]
Third that “all the people of the earth may know the hand of the Lord.” [v.24]
1. Personal Memorial; 5-6a
1. Personal Memorial; 5-6a
These 12 men each represented their tribe in the nation of Israel. Each memorial stone was to personally represent each individual in the that specific tribe but also the nation as a whole. And when each individual looked upon this memorial, they knew it personally represented two things in their life; Salvation and guidance from God.
Salvation- preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss
God’s power had delivered them from all the above when He took them out of Egypt and brought them into His Promised Land.
The days ahead were going to be some tough days as they continued to battle and conquer the land God had given them. Some of those days might make some want to give up and give in. But when they looked at that memorial of their deliverance from bondage and coming across the swollen Jordan river on dry ground, they would be reminded of the power and faithfulness of their God who was with them, and leading them in their conquest.
When one comes to faith in Christ the christians walk [battle] is just beginning. But God is faithful! We never need to forget what we are delivered from [SIN], and who leads in victory each day. Amen!!
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
Guidance- Not only did God save them He also guided them into His promise.
God could have let them wander forever because of their stiff necks and hard hearts. But God is a loving God not wanting any to perish so He guided their steps to the Promised Land.
13 You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.
John 16:13 (NKJV)
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Where would we be today if God had not been here to lead and guide us to salvation in His Son Jesus Christ?
Everyone should set the day of salvation as a personal memorial in their life!!
2. Generational Memorials; 6-7
2. Generational Memorials; 6-7
Memorials are to be visible so people will ask questions about them. Our personal memorial of salvation needs to be visible to the next generation so that they would ask questions about God.
Church is a visible memorial [reminder] of Christ in a persons life.
When we worship God in Bible study, prayer, singing and preaching we are remembering [memorial] and rejoicing in the Father who guided us and saved us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Our kids need to know why we come and worship!
Baptism is a memorial [reminder] of obedience and identification in righteousness. It is an outward sign of an inward change in a persons life. We have died to self and been raised to newness of life in Christ.
Communion is a memorial [reminder] of what Christ went through for us as His body was broken and His blood shed for our sin.
The most tragic book in the Bible may be the Book of Judges.
6 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Look how it got this way;
8 Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old.
9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash.
10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.
The generation that saw God in Joshua didn’t take the time to pass Him on to the next generation. They got too busy claiming their inheritance, they forgot who gave it to them.
We often say “what’s happened to our next generation?” They don’t know God because we ain’t passing Him on like we should. We’re too busy winning ball games and going places we’ve forgotten what it means;
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
13 Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
14 You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
3. Public Memorials; 24
3. Public Memorials; 24
These stones were not just for Israel but for all the nations around them to see and know that God is the Lord, He is mighty and that all should fear Him!
The greatest memorial we have to the world in which we belong is our public testimony of Jesus Christ in us.
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
To know Jesus is a blessing. To share Him is a witness of spiritual memorials in your life.
Close;
Memorials are there to remind us of the goodness of God when we tend to forget Him in times of trouble.
Memorials are there to remind us when we fail He is willing to forgive.
Memorials are there to help us remember the past so that we might be more productive and prosperous in the future.
Memorials remind us that God is the same yesterday, today and forever!
Have you set up any spiritual memorials in your life?