Stones of remembrance
Joshua 4:1-7
Hebrews 12:1-3
Introduction-
Turn to Joshua 4:1-7
Tomorrow is Memorial Day.
A day that most have off to get with family and friends, have a cook-out , or just enjoy some down time.
I would guess that there is many who so not know what Memorial Day stands for or why we have off.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and was established as a day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers from the Civil War.
The purpose was to not forget the sacrifice made by others for what we have today.
Memorial Day officially proclaimed in 1868, with a purpose of remembrance.
It was a time to be thankful.
I believe as time went on, more graves were not decorated, more people forgot about the sacrifices others made so they could enjoy freedom.
Dec. 2000, congress passed a “National moment of Remembrance”
“To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect.”
Congress later enacted a bill for Memorial Day to fall under the “National Holiday Act” and made it a 3 day weekend instead of a day of remembrance. (no wonder, most don’t know)
People have a way of forgetting! Especially in a country of great blessing!
We forget where we came from.
We forget we enjoy freedom on the back of those of great sacrifice.
So this morning, how do we remember the important things?
Where we came from as a nation?
Where we came from as a believer in Jesus Christ?
I don’t know about you, but as messed up as this country is right now, there is no place in the world that I would have wanted to be born in. it is still the greatest place to live.
I want to take a minute this morning to thank each person who has ever served this country to keep our freedom free and honor every man and women who has paid the ultimate sacrifice of their life that I can be free this morning.
I also want to say that if we don’t purposefully make it a point of remembrance, that things that were once important lose their place of value.
Book of Joshua gives us an account of the Israelites lead by Joshua going across the Jordan.
Details of crossing the river parallel Israel crossing the Red Sea to freedom from bondage.
Instructions given to Israelites from Joshua
Joshua 3:3
When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, who are Levite carrying it, you are to move out to your positions and follow it.
Keep your distance of 1000 yards from the Ark
Consecrate yourselves (tonight) for tomorrow The Lord will do amazing things.
Consecrate meant that they must wash their clothes and their bodies and abstain for a time from sex and be consecrated (set apart) for God.
So Israel led by the Ark of the Lord crossed the Jordan on dry ground and as soon as the Nation of Israel crossed, as soon as the Ark of the Covenant was back on dry ground, the Jordan closed up and returned to flood stage
Joshua 4:1-7
The problem is we forget!
Illustration
Maybe you heard of the guy named John who had a serious memory problem. One day John ran into a friend he had not seen in a long time. He greeted him and said, “Bill, do you remember what a bad memory I had? Bill answered, yes, I certainly do. Well, it’s not bad any more. I went to a seminar that taught us how to remember things. It was great, and now I have a wonderful memory. Bill answered, that is great! What is the name of the seminar? Well, John said, wait a minute, my wife went with me. I’ll ask her. He turned and saw his wife nearby. Then he turned back to Bill and said, what is the name of that flower with a long stem and thorns and has a red bloom? Do you mean a rose? Bill answered yeah, thanks, John said. Hey Rose, what’s the name of the seminar we attended?
People tend to forget and we need help to jog our memory.
God needs to jog our memory. We need to help each other remember.
Illustrations
Asbury revival in 1970- many of my colleagues will never forget what God did in that Kentucky University. 40 years ago, and they still remember. God showing up at a prayer meeting and it lasting for weeks and they saw the power of God in action and in people lives.
Altersgate experience of John Wesley in London in 1738. Wesley attended a evening worship service which he did not want to be at, where God did something amazing that moved him deeply. He records in his journal “in the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Altersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while the leader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strongly warmed. I felt I did trust Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.
Listen, I don’t know the date, but about 1980, while I was studying my Bible in Corpus Christi Texas, the Holy Spirit of God fell on me and I was in God’s presence like never before and I fell on the ground as if I was standing in front of Him. I cried out to Him like I have never have before, and all I could get out was words of praise!
Believe me when I say that all knees will bow and all tongues will confess Jesus Christ as Lord! The presence of God will not allow anyone to stand- you will fall face first in His presence.
Our times of meeting with God must never be forgotten.
They must never lose their place of value.
If I live 100 years, I will never forget that moment, it keeps me going when I am having a bad day.
God realizes that we often forget what He has done for us, that is why He tells us to make a memorial to remember.
Moses issued this warning to Israel before entering the Promised land.
Deuteronomy 6:12- “Beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt.”
The twelve tribes of Israel were to take up a stone on their shoulder and carry it over to the Promised land and set up a memorial to remember how good God had been to them and how He has delivered them.
Each of you is to grab a big stone from where God had brought you out of and place it where God has taken you to remember how good God has been to you.
When your kids ask you about it- Tell them! Tell them how the Lord delivered you!
What do the stones mean?
It means how good God is to you!
How do you celebrate Memorial Day? By remembering how good God is.
Hebrews 12:1-3
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Listen,
we are not spectators, we are runners!
It is not a short sprint; it is a long distance race.
We are called to be witnesses, martyrs, testifiers.
The only way is to run the race and persevere.
The only way we can do that is to remember the power and faithfulness of God. Make a memorial on our hearts!
Very quickly, how do we do that?
I. Remember to move forward!
With God out front of you – cross the river!
Remember we have a cloud of witnesses that went before us, and remember the reason we move forward.
Did you know that Christianity is always one generation away from being extinct. Remember to move forward and remember to share your faith. Tel your story!
God does His best work with ordinary people. In fact, He does extra-ordinary work when we allow Him to work through us.
What stops us from moving forward?
Hindrances- excess baggage not given to God.
Entanglements- stumbling and moving away from God.
Endurance comes from not forgetting the God we serve and what He has done for us.
II. Remember to stay Focused
Take up your stone to serve as a reminder.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Keep your eyes on the Ark Israel
Church- Keep your eyes on Jesus- focus on Him! Not your problems!
Until you get your focus on Him, you will never have the relationship he wants you to have!
Note to Self;
Stay Focused!
III. Remember to stay faithful
What price are you willing to pay for your relationship with God?
Illustration-
Susanna Wesley, mother of 19 kids, 8 of them who died in infancy, taught her kids to leave her alone whenever they saw her with her apron over her head. That was her place of prayer. Our prayers can be as complex as a Cathedral or as simple as an apron.
Hebrews 12:3
“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Remember what Jesus has done for you!
Be encouraged that Jesus goes before us- and stay faithful!
Closing,
The art of remembering is setting a memorial for you to be reminded of what God has done for us.
I. Remember to move Forward
II. Remember to stay Focused
III. Remember to stay Faithful
Stay on track,
Be encouraged, that Jesus goes before you.
Be empowered, you don’t have to do it alone.
Amen.
