Title: 12 Stones of the Memorial
Theme: To be part of a family we must lay out memorials for our children and tell them about what the Lord has in store for them.
Text: Joshua 3:1-5, 13, 4:1-7
Read Joshua 3:1-5, 13 4:1-7
INTRODUCTION:
Joshua was about to lead Israel into the promise land. The crossing of Jordan was the last step into the promise land. Surely there are going to be some more fighting, but that is always true when receiving from God. But this is a symbolic step into a new journey for the Lord.
Notice verse “for you have not passed this way before” In other words you are about to walk on new ground. You are about to go in to new territory. You are about to go to a place that you have never been before.
We are about to go places and see things that we have never seen before.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
I believe that this is the direction that God is leading our church. We are going to walk where we have never walked before. We are going to see things that we have never seen before. We are going to do ministry as we have never done before.
Follow the Ark
As they walk in the new endeavor of life they are about to go places they have never been. They are about to go into territory and meet nations they have never heard of. This can be a very fearful thing. God was preparing them the keep focused on His presence, the ark. God already knows what is ahead of us.
We mentioned this last night as we talked about seeking the face of God. Not seeking his hand but seeking his face.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,
"When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
The ark represented the presence of the Lord.
Stay in reverence with the Lord “Don’t let the uncommon become common”
Joshua 3:4 "Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it
Keep God out front so you can see him clearly
Don’t become too familiar with the Lord and his glory.
When we become too familiar and think that we have this “line” to God and he is our puppet then we start doing crazy things. Like Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus. They were the sons of Aaron the high priest. God had chosen them to keep the fire going in the tabernacle. Yet they had become too familiar with the Lord and the sacrifice. It had become common to them.
Leviticus 10 Death of Nadab and Abihu “strange fire”. Nadab and Abihu had become familiar with the things of God.
Don’t become too comfortable with His presence.
Sanctify-set yourself apart
Joshua 3:5v "Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."
“Prepare yourself for tomorrow the Lord will do miracles among you.”
Cleanse yourself and make yourself holy. In other words conform in character to the Lord. Purify
Strongs: AV-sanctify 26, hallow 2, be holy 1; 29 “To make holy, consecrate, sanctify”
1) to dedicate, separate, set apart for God
1a) Of things {#Mt 23:17,9 2Ti 2:21}
1b) Of persons: Christ {#Joh 10:36 17:19}
2) To purify, make conformable in character to such dedication
2a) Forensically, to free from guilt {#1Co 6:11 Eph 5:26 Heb 2:11 10:10,14,29 13:12}
2b) Internally, by actual sanctification of life {#Joh 17:17,19 Ac 20:32 26:18 Ro 15:16 1Co 1:2 7:14 1Th 5:23 Re 22:11}
2c) Of a non-believer influenced by marriage with a Christian {#1Co 7:14}
The word sanctify here means “to dedicate, separate, make conformable in character to such dedication”. We are preparing and making are self like Him.
We can’t do it like others do it. I believe we need to be involved as possible with what is going on in this community. Yet God is saying that he wants us to do more. We are called to be different. You will be held to a higher standard. You will be expected to get involved.
Sanctify is as if we are cleaning ourselves up to prepare ourselves for victory of the Lord.
Walk by faith
Joshua 3:13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap."
After the walk had been taken. The priests and to walk in the water. There was an element of faith. This is what God says is the final reminder when walking on new ground. Walk by faith. Don’t question what the Lord is doing. Just know that he is. When we begin to question, that is different than discerning. Discerning we are being sensitive to the spirit not our feelings. When we walk by faith we allow God to work.
He doesn’t ask for a lot of faith he just asks us to have faith and trust him.
Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, "For assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Just keep walking. Ask less questions and follow more by faith. You will not be able to understand everything. Just trust the Lord.
SETTING UP OF MEMORIALS (Joshua 4:1-7)
After they had crossed they were commanded to take 12 stones from the river and place it on the banks. There were three reasons why they had to set up these stones.
First, the memorial stones were to be a reminder of their own personal experience. Notice that in verse six this memorial will cause the children to ask; “What do these stones mean to you?” These stones are first of all to be a reminder of their personal experience, what they saw, heard and felt. “Tell your story, Keep a clear memory of what God did for you. Keep on telling your stories so that you never lose your own sense of awe and wonder of what God has done in your life.”
Secondly, the Memorial stones were to serve as a basis of sharing faith with their children In two places in this chapter, parents are reminded of their responsibility for the communication of God’s Word --, generation to generation.
The intention of the memorial was to provoke questioning especially from future generations. Christianity is never more than one generation away from extinction. If we are not careful America could well be the exhibit “A” for this truth. Just think for a moment how far our country has drifted away from its foundation in just one generation.
God’s warning to Israel was not to let the environment of the pagan society that surrounded them dictate their values and steal their children from them – we need to heed the same warning!
Third, the memorial stones were to be a signpost to a lost world.
It has always been God’s plan that the whole world should “know” that He is the only living God. Not only was the crossing of the Jordan a stirring event for Israel, but it was also a terrifying event for all the people living in the land of Canaan – And the stones would stand as a
constant reminder to all the world – of the Power and Majesty of God.
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Train
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Original: חנך - Transliteration: Chanak - Phonetic: khaw-nak’
- Definition:
1. to train, dedicate, inaugurate
a. (Qal)
1. to train, train up
2. to dedicate
How?
1) In the values and beliefs that God has given you
2) Helping them to understand the giftings and callings that the Lord has for them
How?
a) Time
b) Taking interests in their interests
CONCLUSION:
The Lord set up memorials. He did this throughout the Old Testament. He knew that Israel had a short memory.
Communion
1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; (24) and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken [34] for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
