Give me this mountain

Memorial day

Joshua 14:6-14 “6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: “You know the word which the Lord said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me in Kadesh Barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back word to him as it was in my heart. 8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where your foot has trodden shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was…”

“Memorial Day is an official holiday in most states of the United States. It was observed on May 30 until 1971, when for federal employees,, the date was changed to the last Monday in May.

The custom of placing flowers on the graves of the war began on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, NY, and Waterloo has been recognized by Congress as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. In 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, then president of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared that May 30 would be a day to decorate with “flowers the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” After World War I the day was set aside to honor the of all American wars, and the custom was extended to pay homage to deceased relatives and friends, both military and civilian. The most solemn ceremony conducted on Memorial Day is the placing of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns located in Arlington national Cemetery. Tomorrow we will celebrate this day. Many people see it as just a day off; a 3 day weekend. But for those who have lost someone because of war or military action, it means much more than a day off.

In fact, every American ought to recognize this day out of his patriotic duty to his country and in honor of those who spilled their blood to make America what she is today--free, strong, and a nation worth fighting for.

Because men have died for this country, we have the right to preach God’s word freely. We have the right to live at peace in our own homes. We have the right to pursue peace, prosperity and happiness. Thank God for those who died to make us free.

As we prepare to enter into a day to remember those who died for liberty, it is fitting to remember the one who died to set us free from spiritual tyranny. Jesus fought the armies of Hell that we might have liberty in His Holy Name.

We celebrate Memorial day once a year to remember those who died for freedom, but every week is a celebration of the Memorial of Christ. Let’s parallel our nations Memorial Day with the memorial day of Christ. Because for the Christian, every Day is a memorial day in other words Our Lives should be living memorials or testimonies for God.

A. The Lord also gave us His memorials:

Rainbow

Passover feast to remind the children of Israel of their sojourn from captivity

River stones to memorialize the Ark of the Covenant crossing of the Jordan River

In the Scriptures, dozens of examples of remembrance in the bible Lord’s supper-“…do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24-25

It is important that we have days like Memorial Day to bring ourselves to remembrance of those things which are worthy of being remembered. We have many ways to memorialize that which we feel is important:

1. We have private memorials:

-Scrapbooks, diaries, photo albums, videos, websites

2. We have public memorials, often landmarks:

-Dams, bridges, highways, libraries, schools, and websites

All these things done so that we will be in remembrance of the importance of these past events or people.

II. Our Lives As A Memorial

I’d like you to consider this morning what kind of memorial you are building with your life, your personal living memorial. Each of us is building a memorial, whether consciously or not, it is happening. For our family, our friends, our co-workers, the brethren; we are building a memorial that will remain after we are gone. I’d like to suggest today a plan for the construction of our personal living memorial.

Preach for a Year #1 Give Me This Mountain

I. Introduction

A. A Day for Remembering and a Day for Patriotism

1. Remembering those who have fallen in battle

2. Remembering all loved ones who have died

B. A Text from a Book of Battles

1. After Moses, Joshua became the leader

2. The land divided among the tribes of Israel

3. The area given will have to be conquered and developed

C. Caleb: “Give me this Mountain”

1. Asks the most difficult task (v. 12)

2. What motivated Caleb to press on to higher ground?

II. Body

A. He Remembers God’s Promise to Him (vv. 6–7)

1. Caleb the spy (Num. 13:14)

a. Sent by Moses 40 years earlier to spy out the land

b. The fruit of the land, flowing with milk and honey

c. But Caleb saw beyond this to Hebron, where Abram met God

2. Caleb: “We are well able to overcome it” (Num. 14:23–24)

a. The majority had great giants and a little God

b. Caleb had a great God and little giants

c. The majority were problem-conscious, but Caleb was power-conscious

3. Caleb will now stand on the promises

a. He will never forget them

b. You will never find him part of the grumbling crowd

c. He is on his way to this better land all through life

B. Caleb Remembers his Own Commitment to the Lord (vv. 8–9)

1. “I wholly followed the Lord …”

a. Reminded of the time of his full surrender

b. A man of God, total dedication, committed

2. Remembers how he had stood apart from the crowd

a. Do you remember a day of victory?

b. What about the day you were saved?

c. What about the time of full surrender?

3. The sad story of Revelation 2:1–7

4. Have you left your first love?

C. Caleb Remembers God’s Faithfulness to him (vv. 10–11)

1. God hath kept me alive

a. Have you thanked God for keeping you alive?

b. Except for Joshua, all the rest had died

2. I am now fourscore and five years old (85)

a. Some senior citizen!

b. Not resting on his laurels

3. God had cared for him up to that hour

4. “Grace hath brought me safe thus far”

III. Conclusion

A. Now, Therefore, Give me this Mountain!

1. Give me your best

2. Give me your toughest task

B. Remembering Should Challenge us

1. Lincoln at Gettysburg

2. Accept the challenge

C. Move on to Higher Ground