Remember the Stones (Memorial Day Weekend)

Text:

Joshua 4:1–7 KJV

And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

Remember the Stones

Intro:

This week is Memorial Day Weekend. It is the weekend that we honor all of the fallen veterans who have died serving and fighting for out country. I would like at this time for all the veterans to stand in honor of the fallen and the missing in action. You may be seated.

Anyone who served in the military no matter what branch you were in will remember times in which when we marched or we ran, we carried flags. Those flags that we carried usually detailed the unit or company we belonged to. But we also carried a flag that said Pow/Mia, it was a black flag with an image of a person on it.

I use to wonder “why are we always running around with the flag and what in the world does “pow” and “mia” mean. Well over time, I learned that “pow” meant “prisoner of war” and “mia” meant missing in action.

I then understood that the reason why we ran those flags was to remember those who served our country who became prisoners of war and to honor those who were missing in action.

It was a motivating reminder for us to do the best that we can do in our training and to push our bodies to the limits because we never know what situation we may find ourselves in and we too could become “Pow/Mia”.

I want to motivate you this morning, we not going to run around the church with a prisoner of war, missing in action flag. But I want you to remember the stones. What do you mean pastor?

Let’s look at the text

I want to build on the text, bare with me:

Joshua 3:15 KJV

And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

The tension:

The Israelites had somewhere they needed to be, but they had something blocking them from reaching to where they needed to be. (Flow off this point) (etc. places in God, goals, wishes, and dreams).

There was an obstacle that stood in their way. The obstacle was the Jordan River. The could not cross the Jordan River because it was in the midst of the flood season. I said a flood season and if it is a season it suggests that this flood is here to stay for a good little while, there is no waiting this out. (Expound) Some of us are in situations that we need God to act on our behalf right now.....because their are things that are possibly blocking us....there are things that are hindering us and that if God doesn’t move now.....we will be stuck on the opposite side of the banks of the Jordan, we will be stuck in a place that we don’t want to be in, some might be stuck in a cycle or season of sin that unless God comes through......and works a miracle in your life.....you’ll remain on this side of Jordan.

If you want a break through, if you need deliverance, if you want to go higher in the LORD, IF THERE IS AN OBSTACLE IN YOUR WAY AND YOU CAN’T GET PAST IT....MAYBE YOU CAN’T GET PAST THE HURT, MAYBE YOU CANNOT GET PAST THE DISAPPOINTMENT. You are trying to get to the place in which God wants you to be....but there are some obstacles. Watch this:

Let’s go back a chapter.....I’m going to lay out to you what the scriptures says we need to do:

Joshua 3:1–3 KJV

And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

See the Holy Ghost told me....the reason why some of you are stuck....is because you’re use to doing things a certain way. You’re uncomfortable going into uncharted territory.

This can be a great many things......

Your use to praying 5 minutes a day.....maybe God is saying spend more time with me.

You never fasted a day of your life....you’re use to eating. Fast.

You’re use to kneeling down on your knees or sitting. Get on your face.

You’re use to come to church and being quiet....get that miracle on your mind you need God to do......and give him an all out Shabach praise.

You’re use to having the pastor or elders pray for your situation. Believe God, get on your knees, if you need 2 or 3 grab two or three and touch and agree on the situation.

You think God only moves when you feel his presence and speak in tongues, how about praising God even when you don’t feel anything, even when you don’t see anything, even when it gets worse, even when the trouble increases.

IMPORTANT POINT:

BECAUSE SOMETIMES TO GET YOUR BREAKTHROUGH TO GET PAST YOUR OBSTACLE YOU NEED TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU ACT.....AND DON’T ACT ACCORDING TO HOW YOU FEEL YOU SHOULD ACT.....ACT ACCORDING TO WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS AND POSTURE YOURSELF IN HIS WILL!!!!

The text says in Josh 3:1-3 that the people got up EARLY the next morning to get ready to move. And they arrived at the banks of the Jordan River. But there was a probably.....it was flooded and they couldn’t cross. So they spent the night thinking “oh we will wait it out......SOMETIMES YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO WAIT.....I KNOW THE SCRIPTURES SAYS WAIT ON THE LORD.....BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIFE THAT WE ARE SO DESPERATE FOR GOD THAT IF GOD IF YOU DON’T COME RIGHT NOW......I WON’T MAKE IT......IF YOU DON’T HELP ME RIGHT NOW.....I CAN’T CONTAIN MYSELF.......IF YOU DON’T HELP ME RIGHT NOW....I’LL DIE!!!

They WAITED for THREE DAYS.

The Bible then says that “the Israelite officers went through the camp, giving these instructions to the people:.......(watch this) ‘When you see the Levitical priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God, move out from your positions and follow them.’

POINT:

To get through your enpasse, to get through your obstacle that is blocking and hindering you......you have to look for the presence of the LORD and follow the presence of the Lord. The ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God. Inside the ark were three things, the commandments, Moses budding rod, and manna. Three things to remind them that God would be with them, three things to remind them that God would fight for them. Three things to remind them that God would go ahead of them. The word of God was in that ark and the covenant was in forced by blood.

How much more.....if Jesus shed his blood for us and we have his word in us, if he has provided for us like he did for the Israelites in the wilderness, if he took something that dead that had no hope and caused life to appear in something that was dead......how MUCH MORE WILL GOD DO FOR US!!!! JUST TELL SOMEONE FOLLOW HIS PRESENCE!!!! Let the Lord lead you and guide you and WHATEVER HE SAYS TO DO.....STOP FIGHTING AGAINST IT.....EVEN WHEN YOUR FLESH DOESN’T WANT TO DO IT......OTHERWISE......YOUR NOT GOING ANYWHERE......YOU WILL BE STUCK!!!!

The scripture says in verse 4 “Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you......why.......because they are carrying God’s presence which is the ark and God will lead. Tell someone.....don’t follow your own lead.....follow his lead. You’ll get lost......YOU WILL BE LOST.....IF YOU FOLLOW YOUR OWN LEAD. Stay a half of mile behind and follow.....don’t get no closer.

NEXT POINT:

There are two points in verse 5 to take notice of:

Joshua says purify yourselves. If you want a breakthrough.....trying to help you Holy Ghost seekers. If you want to get past this obstacle in your life.....then you need to purify yourself. You may need to ask God for forgiveness, you may need to apologize to someone, yall don’t here me this morning....yall getting mad already. You may need to go to your cabinet and start throwing some things away, you may need to let go of that relationship that doesn’t glorify God. BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT A BREAKTHROUGH.....I PREACHED LAST WEEK.....HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT!?!? PURIFY YOURSELF!!!!

The second thing that Joshua says is “for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you. Now watch this.....up until this point.....the LORD hadn’t said anything to Joshua about what he was going to do. But Joshua SPOKE AFFIRMATION......HE SPOKE FAITH OVER THEIR SITUATION. I DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD IS GOING TO DO BUT HE’S GOING TO DO SOMETHING.....WE’VE GOT TO GET ACROSS.....GOD DID NOT BRING US THIS FAR TO LEAVE AND NOT ENTER THE PROMISE LAND. AND WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS START SPEAKING WORDS OF FAITH AND AFFIRMATION EVEN THOUGH THINGS ARE DARK.....YEAH I BEEN THERE ALL WEEK BUT THEN I STARTED SPEAKING AND I’M OPENING UP MY BIG MOUTH AND SPEAKING IN FAITH THAT GOD IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING!!!! ANYBODY IN HERE GOT A BIG MOUTH AND BIG FAITH....CAN YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SAY “GOD IS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING”. If you believed what you said.....I shouldn’t have to tell you to praise Him....you ought to feel a praise on the inside.....you ought to feel that when you opened your mouth in faith and declared the word of the Lord that something shifted in the atmosphere.

After the priests gather the people.....they didn’t ask no questions.....they followed directions, after they purified themselves. After Joshua declared a word of faith over their situation.......THE LORD SHOWS UP!!!! YALL MISSED THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.....AFTER THEY OBEYED.....AFTER THE WORD HAS BEEN SPOKEN GOD SHOWS UP.......I FEEL THE HOLY GHOST RIGHT NOW!!!! HE IS HERE!!!

The Lord then tells Joshua “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, they will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses”.

Verse 8:

“Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: when you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.” Just tell someone take a step.....take a few steps.

Joshua tells them (real quickly) select 12 men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. Watch this.....apparently....God told Joshua the plan.

HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD:

VERSE 13 “The priests (who are carrying the presence of the Lord.....they are letting God go before them.....they are letting God handle it) will carry the Ark of the LORD, the LORD of ALL the earth......that is a statement of faith.....because if He is the LORD of ALL the earth.....than he can handle any problem we face in the earth. Joshua says.....As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall!

Close:

So the bible says that when the people started following the priests who had the Ark, and the priests stepped in the water.....the hinderance.....HAD TO BACK UP!!!! THE OBSTACLE BEGAN TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY......WE TALKING ABOUT FLOOD WATERS YALL. IT BACKED UP ALL THE WAY BACK TO A TOWN CALLED ADAM AND THE WATER BELOW THEM FLOWED OUT UNTO THE DEAD SEA UNTIL THE RIVERBED WAS DRIED!!! AND GOD’S PEOPLE CROSSED OVER JORDAN ON DRY GROUND.

JUST TESTIFY TO THREE PEOPLE AND TELL THEM IF HE DID IT BEFORE HE’LL DO IT AGAIN. TESTIFY TO SOMEONE ELSE AND TELL THEM....”IF YOU DO WHAT GOD SAYS TO DO.....EVERYTHING THAT IS HINDERING YOU, EVERYTHING THAT IS BLOCKING YOU, EVERYTHING THAT IS PREVENTING FROM GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL......GOD IS GOING TO MAKE IT BACK UP.....HE’S GOING TO MAKE IT SPLIT!

After all of this, they went over, the priests stopped in the riverbed until everyone got over on the other side of Jordan. And the LORD told Joshua....get 12 large stones from where the priest are standing and build a memorial.....and remember the stones. And when your children ask what is the meaning of these stones....you tell them “they remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across and these stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.

If God has brought you through....don’t forget the stones.....WHEN GOD BRINGS YOU THROUGH THIS SEASON....METAPHORICALLY GATHER SOME STONES TO REMIND YOURSELF OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE.