Memorial Stones

Pastor Jamie Wright * MFC * May 28, 2006

Joshua 4:1-9

vs 6 What do these stones mean to you?

vs 7 And these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever

Hebrew word for memorial means- “To Remember”

Like the Viet Nam War Memorial

*Christians are prone to forget (fail to remember)

Deut 6:12 “Then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

Jeremiah 18:15 “Because my people have forgotten me…”

Jeremiah 2:32 “…can a bride forget her attire; yet my people have forgotten me days without number.”

*It’s time to make a memorial (EBENEZER)- Remember the Lord

Can you recall, bring to memory the things God has done for you?

David could- When going against Goliath the gaint- he recalled how the Lord helped him with the lion and the bear.

As he reviewed and remembered what the Lord had done

It encouraged him- Built up his faith

It energized him- Gave him courage

It excited him- God is going to do it again

*It’s time to remember what the Lord has done

Can you recall when the Lord saved you? Not just salvation

But times when he rescued you, delivered you, spared your life

In Deut 6:12- Moses had warned the children of Israel not to forgot what

God had done for them

In Joshua 4:7 the stones of memorial Joshua is sitting up is to help the people remember what the Lord had done for them

-They had been in bondage and slavery to Pharoah and the Egyptians for 400 yrs

-God had sent them a deliverer from the back side of the dessert

-God had caused plagues to come on the Egyptians

-God split the Red Sea

-He gave them manna and quail

-He gave them water from a rock

-He protected them and provided for them

-He led them by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night

-Now God has just miraculous worked on their behalf again-

Parting the Jordan River for the children of Israel

*Why can’t we remember what the Lord has done for us?

Pre mature babies, Financial Provision, Cancer gone, relationship restored, Prison sentenced reduced, extra ordinary move of God on your behalf

*When’s the last time you reviewed what God has done for you

*When’s the last time you rehearsed (go over, run through) what God has done for you with someone else

*It’s time to remember what the Lord has done

Mark 5:19 “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He has had compassion on you!”

I’ve heard people say- the Lord’s never done anything for me- Are you crazy?

You’re alive, you’re walking, talking, breathing

You’re a miracle to be here today- You SHOULD BE DEAD

What has He done for you!

He created you- formed and fashioned you

He put purpose in you- find it

He gifted you for your assignment

In Mark 5- this O’Boy had something to praise God about just like you and me

Let’s look at His story

Vs 3- this boy is living among the tombs- hanging out with death

People are always trying to chain him up and tame him- he is a wild animal

Vs 4 He had no control of his body- demon possessed

Vs. 5 he wasn’t sleeping he was always crying out- cutting Himself with stones

Vs 8 Jesus cast the demons out of Him/set him free

Vs 15 Then they came to Jesus and saw the one who had been demon possessed

He is now sitting- He had been running naked through the tombs

Clothed….in his right mind

He had been a wild man…possessed.

He had been cutting himself… Now he is healed

He had been among the dead… Now He is with the life Giver

He had been able to rest… Now He is seated peacefully at the Prince of Peace’s feet

*What had you been? Can you remember what the Lord has done for you?

Look what the Lord has done, Look what the Lord has done

He healed my body he touched my mind, he saved me just in time

I’m gonna praise his name

I believe the very stones this old demon possessed dude had been using to cut himself are now the stones he has piled up as a MEMORIAL to the Lord. Each time he sees them He REMEMBERS what the Lord has done for him

He’s telling everybody

When I think about the Lord and what he’s done for me

When I think about the Lord and how he set me free

It makes me want to dance, run shout spin jump ALL NIGHT

In Luke 15- The story of the prodigal Son