MEMORIAL DAY 2023
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN PART 1
INTRODUCTION: CURRENTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES A TOTAL OF 24 DAYS ARE REMEMBERED WITH REGARD TO OUR MILITARY. THESE DAYS SPAN FROM THE BIRTHDAY OF THE AIR FORCE TO VETERANS DAY. IN THE LIST I LOCATED, MEMORIAL DAY IS THE 18TH DAY REMEMBERED REGARDING THE MILITARY.
REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY DAYS WE TAKE TIME TO GREATER OR LESSER DEGREES TO REMEMBER PEOPLE AND ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH OUR MILITARY, THERE ARE A FEW THAT STAND OUT, WITH MEMORIAL DAY BEING ONE OF THEM,
MEMORIAL DAY IS THE DAY WE HAVE SET ASIDE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THE SECURING OF OUR FREEDOMS, THE SECURITY OF OUR FREEDOMS AND THE FUTURE OF OUR FREEDOMS.
MANY OF US WILL CHOOSE TO SPEND TODAY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. TRADITIONALLY THE GRILL IS FIRED UP AND THE AROMA OF A VARIETY OF ITEMS WILL BE EVIDENT TO ANYONE WITH A NOSE.
AND PROPS TO EVERYONE HERE TODAY WHO HAS DECIDED THAT STARTING THE HOLIDAY WITH WORSHIPPING OUR CREATOR.
TRANSITION: WHEN I THINK OF MEMORIAL DAY, THERE ARE THREE IMAGES THAT COME TO MIND VERY VIVIDLY: THE FLAG OF OUR NATION, THE SACRIFICE OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS, AND THE BENEFIT IT PROVIDED.
IT IS INTERESTING THAT GOD’S WORD HAS THESE SAME IMAGES RECORDED IN ITS PAGES. IT IS THOSE IMAGES; I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS MORNING.
I. THE IMAGE OF THE FLAG
EXODUS 17:15 MOSES BUILT AN ALTAR AND CALLED IT THE LORD IS MY BANNER.
a. THE BIBLE HAS QUITE A BIT TO SAY ABOUT FLAGS, WHICH FALL INTO THREE GENERAL CATEGORIES. WELL, THERE MAY BE MORE, BUT I AM FOCUSING ON THREE.
b. FIRST IS THE WARNING OF GOD AGAINST PUTTING TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON IMAGES
i. EXODUS 20:4–5 “YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF AN IDOL IN THE FORM OF ANYTHING IN HEAVEN ABOVE OR ON THE EARTH BENEATH OR IN THE WATERS BELOW. 5 YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM OR WORSHIP THEM; FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AM A JEALOUS GOD, PUNISHING THE CHILDREN FOR THE SIN OF THE FATHERS TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION OF THOSE WHO HATE ME,
1. THE BASIC THOUGHT HERE IS TO NOT HONOR THE IMAGE OF SOMETHING ABOVE WHO THE IMAGE REPRESENTS
2. SPECIFICALLY, GOD WANTS US TO AVOID THAT TAKES AWAY FROM OUR FOCUS AND DEVOTION TOWARDS HIM
3. AND IN REALITY, ANY IMAGE WE COULD CREATE OR CONCEIVE WOULD NOT DO JUSTICE TO GOD
4. SO THEN, WE ARE TO: 1 JOHN 5:21 DEAR CHILDREN, KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS.
a. THE CONTEXT OF 1 JOHN WAS OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST AND THE VALIDITY OF OUR WALK WITH HIM
ii. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR LIVES AS AMERICANS, WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL WE ARE NOT SWAYED BY FORCES WHICH WILL CAUSE US TO REPLACE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN WITH SOMETHING FAR DIFFERENT.
c. IT IS OFTEN EASY TO HAVE OUR ACTIVITIES OF MEMORIAL DAY OVERSHADOW THE REASON FOR MEMORIAL DAY.
i. TAKE A WALK THROUGH OUR CEMETERY
ii. TAKE A WALK TO OUR MEMORIAL AT THE FRONT OF THE PROPERTY
d. FLAGS WERE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION
i. THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL WERE IDENTIFIED BY FLAGS
ii. THESE FLAGS LOCATED THE TRIBE AT REST AND DIRECTED THE TRIBE WHEN THEY MOVED
iii. WHILE MOVING THE LARGER TRIBE WAS IN THE FRONT, THE SECOND LARGEST TRIBE WAS IN THE BACK AND THE SMALLER TRIBES IN THE MIDDLE
iv. WHEN CAMPED, THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE TRIBES IF LOOKED AT FROM ABOVE WOULD RESEMBLE A CROSS. PRETTY COOL!
e. OTHER USES FOR FLAGS
i. THE AWESOME SIGHT OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL MOVING WITH THEIR BANNERS WAS LIKENED TO THE BEAUTY OF THE BRIDE OF SOLOMON
ii. BANNERS WERE USED TO DESCRIBE JOYFUL CELEBRATIONS
f. GOD AND BANNERS
i. BANNERS SYMBOLIZED PROTECTION FROM GOD
ii. BANNERS SYMBOLIZED THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH
iii. ONE OF THE NAMES OF GOD IS “THE LORD IS MY BANNER” WHICH SPEAKS OF THE TRIUMPH GOD WILL HAVE
1. REJOICING IN THE SALVATION GOD HAS WON FOR US
II. THE IMAGE OF SACRIFICE
HEBREWS 9:11–14 WHEN CHRIST CAME AS HIGH PRIEST OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY HERE, HE WENT THROUGH THE GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TABERNACLE THAT IS NOT MAN-MADE, THAT IS TO SAY, NOT A PART OF THIS CREATION. 12 HE DID NOT ENTER BY MEANS OF THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES; BUT HE ENTERED THE MOST HOLY PLACE ONCE FOR ALL BY HIS OWN BLOOD, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION. 13 THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND BULLS AND THE ASHES OF A HEIFER SPRINKLED ON THOSE WHO ARE CEREMONIALLY UNCLEAN SANCTIFY THEM SO THAT THEY ARE OUTWARDLY CLEAN. 14 HOW MUCH MORE, THEN, WILL THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, WHO THROUGH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT OFFERED HIMSELF UNBLEMISHED TO GOD, CLEANSE OUR CONSCIENCES FROM ACTS THAT LEAD TO DEATH, SO THAT WE MAY SERVE THE LIVING GOD!
a. THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS OUR POWERFUL THAN ANY SACRIFICE
b. THE WORD REDEMPTION COMES FROM THE LANGUAGE OF THE SLAVE MARKET AND REFERS TO SOMEONE BUYING A SLAVE FROM WHERE HE WAS AND INTO A STATE WHERE HE HAS BEEN LIBERATED!
c. JESUS BUYS US FROM ANOTHER IN ORDER TO BECOME OUR MASTER. THE COST, HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. THE DEATH OF CHRIST FOR OUR REDEMPTION
d. WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE IN ORDER TO SERVE
i. THE ROOT HEBREW WORD FOR WORSHIP IS WORK OR SERVICE
ii. DOES NOT MEAN WORSHIPPING GOD WAS A CHORE OR JOB
iii. DOES MEAN THAT WORSHIP SHOULD HAVE THE ATTITUDE OF BEING DONE TO PLEASE GOD
iv. REAL WORSHIP IS NOT LIMITED TO WHEN I FEEL LIKE DOING IT
v. REAL WORSHIP IS DOING IT EVEN WHEN MY SITUATION DOES NOT FEEL LIKE WORSHIP
LET ME ILLUSTRATE HOW THE WORK OF JESUS ON MY BEHALF SHOULD PRODUCE A DESIRE TO WORSHIP, NOT JUST THE CHORE OR WORSHIP
SUPPOSE, LATE TO AN APPOINTMENT, I SPEED THROUGH BRADENTON, AT 85 MPH. GLANCING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, I SEE RED LIGHTS FLASHING AND REALIZE I’VE BEEN CAUGHT BREAKING THE LAW.
“SORRY, OFFICER,” I APOLOGIZE TO THE POLICEMAN WHO PULLS ME OVER. “I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS GOING THAT FAST.”
NONETHELESS, HE WRITES ME A FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR TICKET. AS HE HANDS IT TO ME, IT DROPS IN THE GUTTER, BUT HE PICKS IT UP, SHAKES IT OFF, AND SAYS, “I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT.”
LET’S SAY I AM IN A HURRY AND DRIVING THROUGH BRADENTON NI ORDER TO GET TO AN APPOINTMENT. MAYBE IT IS A HOSPITAL VISIT, OR A MEETING WITH ANOTHER PASTOR. I AM NOT LOOKING AT MY SPEEDOMETER AND UNKNOWN TO ME, I AM ACTUALLY DOING 85 MILES AN HOUR AND I GET STOPPED BY THE BRADENTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM HANDED A TICKET FOR $5,000 DOLLARS FOR RECKLESS DRIVING AND THE OFFICER TELLS ME THAT HE WILL SEE ME IN COURT. NOW AS HE HANDS ME THE TICKET, IT SLIPS FROM MY HAND AND FALLS IN THE MUD. THE OFFICER PICKS IT UP, HANDS IT TO ME AND SAY, “HAVE A NICE DAY.”
WHEN MY TRIAL DATE ARRIVES, THE JUDGE LOOKS AT MY TICKET AND SAYS, “THIS IS A CITATION FOR SOMETHING, BUT I CAN’T MAKE OUT WHAT IT’S FOR BECAUSE IT’S COVERED WITH MUD. THEREFORE, I GUESS YOU’RE FREE TO GO.”
SO I GO MY WAY—NOT BECAUSE MY OFFENSE WAS TAKEN AWAY, BUT BECAUSE IT WAS COVERED.
AND
NOW SUPPOSE THE TICKET HADN’T FALLEN IN THE MUD. THE JUDGE WOULD READ THE TICKET AND SAY, “OKAY, PASTOR GLASS, YOU WERE GOING EIGHTY-FIVE THROUGH BRADENTON. THAT WILL BE FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.”
THEN I WOULD BE IN A HEAP OF TROUBLE BECAUSE I CERTAINLY DON’T HAVE FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. BUT IMAGINE JUST THEN MY BROTHERS AJ AND BILL WALK IN, WHIP OUT THEIR HEFTY WALLETS, AND AFTER BLOWING THE DUST OUT, TOGETHER PAY MY FINE, AND THEY DO IT WITHOUT SO MUCH AS DENTING HIS BILLFOLDS. THEN I WOULD BE FREE BECAUSE THE PRICE OF MY OFFENSE WAS NOT JUST COVERED BY MUD, BUT TRULY PAID.
NOW YOU CAN REALLY TELL I MADE THIS STORY UP!
e. SEE THE IMAGE OF THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST GOES FAR BEYOND THE SACRIFICES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
i. IF THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS STILL IN PLAY FOR THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, THEN AJ AND BILL WOULD HAVE TO KEEP PONYING UP
ii. AND JESUS WOULD HAVE TO KEEP DYING AND POURING OUT MORE BLOOD BECAUSE THE BLOOD HE SPILLED ON THE CROSS WAS NOT ENOUGH
f. IF YOU WERE TO WALK INTO THE TABERNACLE TODAY, YOU WOULD SEE HOW IT ALL POINTS TO CHRIST
i. THE CANDLESTICKS SHOW CHRIST AS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
ii. THE TABLE OF SHEWBREAD SPEAK OF JESUS AS THE BREAD OF LIFE AND OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM
iii. THE ALTAR OF INCENSE PICTURES CHRIST AS OUR INTERCESSOR STANDING BEFORE GOD THE FATHER ON OUR BEHALF
iv. THE MANNA PICTURES CHRIST AS THE BREAD OF HEAVEN, SATISFYING OUR SPIRITUAL NEED JUST AS THE MANNA SATISFIED THE PHYSICAL NEED OS ISRAEL
v. AARONS ROD THAT BUDDED. LIFE COMING FROM DEATH
vi. THE MERCY SEAT. THE MERCY OF CHRIST, THROUGH HIS BLOOD OUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
III. THE BENEFIT
a. SCRIPTURE IS FILLED WITH THE BENEFIT OF THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST.
b. WE GET TO KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SETS US FREE
c. THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN – WE ARE JUSTIFIED
d. THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
e. WE HAVE JESUS AS OUR INTERCESSOR
f. WE HAVE A PRAYER PARTNER
g. WE RECEIVE THE DIRECTION OF GOD
h. THE ADOPTION INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD
i. WE RECEIVE THE APPLAUSE OF THE ANGELS
j. THE CONFIDENCE OF HEAVEN – HEAVEN IS OUR INHERITANCE
k. WE WILL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE
l. OUR DEATH TO SIN
m. BLOCKS THE AGENDA OF THE DEVIL
n. WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD
o. OUR ETERNITY IS SECURE
p. WE START ON A PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
q. WE GET TO MEET HIM IN THE AIR
r. WE GET TO RULE WITH HIM IN HIS KINGDOM
THESE ARE ALL THE BENEFITS OF NOT WASTING WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST.
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN PART 2
THE HEADSTONE IN EVERY CEMETERY THAT HAS A FLAG NEXT TO IT IS A MEMORIAL THAT TELLS US TO NOT WASTE THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY
THE CROSS OF JESUS IS A MEMORIAL TO NOT WASTE OR SQUANDER THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
IN THE END, PRIVATE RYAN ASKED HIS WIFE TO TELL HIM IF HE WAS A GOOD MAN.
TODAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU IF YOU ARE A REDEEMED MAN, ONE WHO HAS NOT WASTED THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE.
AND EVEN MORE SO, ARE YOU USING THIS GREAT GIFT OF GOD TO THE FULLEST EXTENT YOU CAN?
IS IT EVIDENT IN YOUR WALK?
IS IT EVIDENT IN YOUR ACTIONS?
IS EVIDENT IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS?
EACH ACTIVITY WE DO AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IS A FLAG FOR EVERYONE TO SEE!
