Spiritual Markers in our Lives

Introduction

Good morning,

How did you come this morning to Worship?

Has the worship service to this point brought you into a state of worshiping the God who created us, sustains us and restored the broken relationship that we once had with Him.

I use to always say that there are two types of people.

Optimist and Pessimist. But I have discovered a third. Before I tell you the third,

This morning’s passage is inviting us to consider the third.

My favorite description of the two is the story of two children put in two different rooms. One room is filled with every possible toy a child could ever want. The other filled with manure.

After leaving the children in the rooms for an hour you come back to find the one in the toy room, sitting in the middle of the room crying. Toys are thrown around the room and the child begins to describe the problems with each toy.

The second room, you open the door and find that child sitting in the middle of the pile throwing manure. The child looks up and states, with all this manure in here, there must be a pony somewhere.

Optimist and pessimist, but the third, that child would look at each room and say, boy there is a lot to clean up today in both rooms. That is what we would say is a realist.

I could imagine if you are like me, there is a little of all three in each one of us. Times when we feel, everything is going wrong, hopeful that things will change and the strength to live in the moment.

With each one there is a full spectrum or pendulum swing to each.

Extreme to Mild to very little.

If your life is marked by one and not the other you are set at the extreme end of the spectrum.

Today’s passage will invite us to have both in our lives as we walk as believers.

It will also get us to examine how we look at a different spectrum. That of the Past, the Present and the Future as we walk with God

These two have pendulum swings in our lives. We often find ourselves or labeling others who view things differently than us as extreme.

For the types of people who are always looking back we call them ultra conservative. They begin conversations with, “Remember When...”

“Wasn’t it exciting back........I miss the Good old days!”

Chuck Swindoll describes the good old days as those with a lack of memory and a vivid imagination.

Now before you begin to tune out if you like to review the past, I am talking the extreme folks. Always centered around the past.

What about the other end of the swing.

Those who are looking forward and all that matters in what will be next.

They have sometimes been given name of radical, careless, head in the clouds, dreamers, on to the next new thing before the current becomes old.

Now if you find yourselves in this camp and are wanting to tune out, wait, this is a description of the extreme case of people who are always looking in the future.

As we look into this text this morning, both are needed in our lives.

As one writer puts it.

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 6: Joshua (Scripture Outline)

The problem with the ultraconservative and the ultraradical is that both are escaping from the present into a fantasy world. The present isn’t perfect, but neither was the past nor will the future be on this earth. I’m convinced that both the ultraconservative and the ultraradical are hungrily searching for meaning—a meaning that tends to elude them.

There is a third way, this way will be found in today’s passage, so turn with me to

Joshua chapter 4

Joshua 4:1–7 ESV

1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’ ” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

Let’s Pray

Context of the Biblical Text

Like last Sunday, this passage must be understood in the context of the story.

We are looking into the narrative of the Nation of Israel after they have been wondering for forty years in circles.

I suppose if they have GPS in those days, Every day when turned on, it would say,

“Recalculating”

The nation finds themselves after 40 years wandering because a failure of trust in the almighty.

40 years of watching your parents pass away for their lack of trust.

The old way of not trusting is gone and the new way of trusting is here.

The untrusting generation had seen God part a sea, a body of water that was expansive, yet this new Generation approaches a fast moving, flood raising river to pass.

The Old generation approached the sea and waited till it was good to go.

The new generation had to step out in faith and step into the river in order for God to act.

Look at the map in comparison from one crossing to another.

In both Cases, God performed a miracle. One to open a sea the other to stop the raging waters.

Chapter 4 begins after they started the crossing of the Jordan river

This narrative is not just about stones, but spiritual markers in our lives.

Do you have spiritual markers in your life that you can show others?

I have handed out a paper, that near the end of the service, I will be asking you to write out some of the markers.

Times in your life that you can look back at.

This passage is more than the miracle, but a way we are to live.

One person wrote:

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 6: Joshua Scripture Outline

This fourth chapter of Joshua, however, grapples with the fact that a basic component of life is a hope for the future that is based on the memories of the past—which help bring meaning to the present. Memories are important! They are the soil of our present experiences into which our roots sink deeply and from which we receive nourishment. The superstructures of our lives are built upon the foundation of our memories. We are instructed by our memories as to the most creative way to live in the present, and they help equip us with a positive hope for the future.

This narrative has three key groups of people.

Groups of People

Priests

This job was to be responsible for the carrying of the Ark of God. This ark carried various items given by God to the People.

It was a symbol of God’s presence among them.

So Holy was this that if you were to touch it death would be a consequence.

Selected By God

This was not an occupation that you could go to school for in the day. You were selected by God as you were born into this family. They were called out by God and directed to follow the spiritual care of the people.

their marching orders were from God, through his chosen leader, Joshua.

They had to led the people in action faith.

They were the ones that had to step into the river first.

They stepped into water, the others walked on dry land.

What stories they could pass down from Generation to Generation of first hand experience of God’s Power.

Joshua

Joshua,

He was one of the spies that first looked at this land. It wasn’t new to him as he saw first hand what was promised to the people.

He had a faith in God’s Word and that Faith helped him move forward in his walk with God.

He has served several years under the leadership of a mighty leader named Moses

Called by God

Have you ever been in a position or place that seems all overwhelming and you wonder why you have been placed there?

Or maybe you were promoted to a job as someone has retired and you find yourself having to fill a large pair of shoes. You begin to ask yourself am I really up to the task?

If you have been in that position you can understand where Joshua was standing.

It is no wonder what God’s first words to him as a leader was to be strong and courageous.

Joshua 1:9 ESV

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

If any area of your life is needing the strength to move on, this is one verse you need to memorize.

Folks,

If God has called you to something, He will give you the strength to complete that calling no matter what life throws your way if you give it to Him.

He will never leave you or forsake you.

When Joshua heard God’s Voice speak, he took command of the nation.

The people followed as described in chapter 1

Joshua 1:16 ESV

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

The people began following Joshua’s lead, but Chapter four points out something changed. or something was about to change.

Folks,

There are times in every leader’s mind as to how successful they are as a leader. There are stages one goes through that involves both the leader, followers and God’s working in the lives of the leaders.

Joshua took on the leadership and the people followed, but chapter four was a stage in Joshua’s leadership that catapulted him to a higher level of God’s and the people’s endorsement.

God even said,

Joshua 3:7 ESV

7 The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

This event laid out in Chapter four was that milestone in the life of Joshua’s leadership that gave him a greater confidence on his Calling by God

The Nation

The last group of people were the nation.

You could say the rest of the people.

The had first hand experience of what it was like to not trust God and to be disobedient on the call from God and they were ready and willing to follow their new leader and to listen to God fully.

Called to be Obedient

You could say they were called to be obedient to God and to follow the chosen leader as God was speaking to them through Joshua.

They were told to wait till the ark went first and they waited.

They were told to cross and they crossed.

They did exactly what they were told to do.

The large group had group leaders,

12 men once again to carry the stones

The Bible describes these stones as ones that would be large and heavy that you would need to carry them on your shoulder.

I have collected stones: France, East coast, holidays etc

Joshua 4:5 (ESV)

5 ....and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder....

Joshua commanded they carry and bring them to the other side of the Jordan River at their camp.

They followed the lead

Joshua 4:8 ESV

8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.

They followed and were ready for the next part in their journey.

The story was set, but remember, it wasn’t about the stones.

Spiritual Markers in Our Lives

Spiritual Markers in our lives?

Have you given some thought as to what spiritual markers you have in your life?

Have you really thought about the purpose of those markers. To have them front and center.

Joshua was quite clear of the purpose of the markers.

Joshua 4:6 ESV

6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’

God set a pattern of spiritual markers to help us move along in our faith with Christ.

Spiritual Markers are not there to remind ourselves of the great accomplishments we have done.

Spiritual Markers are not there to bring glory and praise for ourselves.

Spiritual Markers are not there to think about the days and how good it was to be there.

Spiritual Markers in our lives are there to point to a time of God’s faithfulness in our lives.

A marker is there to show us that the future is clearer because the unseen future will be Good because God is faithful.

Before we move on, let’s read the rest of the narrative

Joshua 4:9–10 ESV

9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste.

It is at this point in the narrative the Joshua has a moment of Spiritual Markers for himself..

No where in the scripture do we find that God commanded him to place this monument in the water, but Joshua felt it must be done.

I guess he wanted to have a marker in the water to mark the place where the Ark stood to show people that the water was actually stopped.

As scripture doesn’t specify, we can only assume that it was a reminder for Joshua as he was the one who built it and decided where to place it.

A reminder for Joshua of the greatness of the God he serves.

Another way we can look at this is the story line in the next verses.

Joshua 4:11–14 ESV

11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

There sat Joshua building a tribute to the greatness of God as the people marched over the Jordan along with the other tribes ready for war.

Whatever the reason, one thing was certain.

In the faithfulness of Joshua serving God and leading the people, God exalted him in the sight of the people.

The story ends with the stones

Joshua 4:19–24 ESV

19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

This was a pattern set for the people to follow.

Have you set spiritual markers in your life?

Are there times in your life that you look back and are reminded what God had done in that situation? Have you marked those occasions?

You see all of us have those moments in time that we can look back on and see God’s working in our lives.

Spiritual Markers serve 3 purposes.

There are are reminders to show us what God has done in the past to drive us to the future while living in the present

Let me explain.

What God has Done (Past)

Today, I am going to challenge you to write out some some spiritual markers in your life that you can post on your wall, or your fridge.

Be specific. Name the event and the way God worked powerfully in your life.

Maybe that is even today.

Maybe God has been speaking to you lately that you need to give up something and let His Spirit take control of that which you need to surrender. Right it down. Give it to God.

Maybe it was a time in your life were you seemed to be on your last straw and God moved into your life in a powerful way to restore your faith.

Write it down.

We need to write down these in our lives so that we can look forward to what God will do..

It has been stated this way

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 6: Joshua (Memory Stones)

There is a place for memorials. We dare never forget this, and we must keep this thought before our people. These stones were to be an enduring sermon, directed not for the ears but for the eyes. They were to stand as a reminder to future generations that Israel crossed the Jordan not because of its own ability, its own strength, or its own cleverness, but because of God.We know that God has, through the centuries, given us signs, symbols, and memorials. We need to be reminded of the importance of these and occasionally to review them, both for ourselves and for the sake of our people. God gave Noah the rainbow as a perpetual reminder of His love, as He also gave Abraham and the Jews circumcision as a sign of the covenant. God gave Miriam’s poetry to commemorate the crossing of the Red Sea. He gave the ark, holding the law, and the manna as symbols of His continuing provision. The temple in Jerusalem reminded all of His dwelling. Worship is so basic to our faith. It reminds us of who God is and what He has done. He gave us the Cross and the empty tomb as historic statements of His love and grace.God gave us Himself, in human form, in the miracle of the Incarnation. And our crucified and risen Lord gave us baptism as a symbol of His death, burial, and Resurrection which frees us from any condemnation. The Lord’s Supper enables us to look back to the Cross and forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb as we handle the bread and the cup

What God will Do (Future)

You see when we write down these it gives us the confidence that the same God that brought about that event will continue to bring about His grace in our lives.

There will be times that we call out to God and we know that He will listen and continue to be faithful in the coming days because of those markers.

You see looking back and hoping to see God work again in the same way is not the point of the Spiritual Markers in our lives.

Looking back is to draw us to move forward with Great anticipation of what God will be doing in our lives.

What God is Doing (Present)

The final stage is the the present. What is God doing in the moment.

one preacher once said,

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 6: Joshua (Scripture Outline)

We will never be more alive in this life than we are right now. One of the great biblical affirmations with which we begin many a worship service is the statement “This is the day which the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” A Christian is a “now” person.

In Summary

As the worship team makes their way to lead us in a response to worship, will you respond.

What spiritual markers are in you life that are a reminder of God’s faithfulness to you. Will you right them down.

Is there something today that you need to place at the feet of Jesus and fully give you life over to him. To trust him to part whatever is in your life and to provide you with the strength you need.

Give it to him today.

Response to Worship

Benediction

Fellowship over Coffee.

Take some time today to meet a new person. I will be in the back for those who would like more information about the church, but it is a time for us to meet one another.

Whether you have been fellowshiping with us for years or weeks, come out, have a coffee, walk up to someone and say,

“Hey, you are new to me, my name is....”

And maybe, you can share your Spiritual markers with one another to see and hear God’s working in our lives.

2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.