MERE STONES/Reminders-I—Joshua 4:1-24(:1-5)
Reminder/Recall/Memorial/Symbol/Post-it notes/String on finger
3 prisoners, a Frenchman, an Englishman & an American, about to be executed by guillotine.
Frenchman steps up/Offered hood—refuses/Stoops down, places head in position/Lever pulled—Nothing happens!/Declared an act of God & he’s released a free man!
Englishman steps up/Offered hood-refuses/Stoops down, places head in position/Lever pulled—Nothing happens!/Declared an act of God & he’s released a free man!
American steps up/Offered hood-refuses/Stoops down, places head in position/Lever pulled—Nothing happens!
Declared an act of God & he’s released a free man!
As the authorities stoop to untie his hands & while his head is still in position, he looks around at working of the guillotine contraption.
He Yells out, ‘Wait, hold everything, I think I see the problem!
Reminders can make all the difference in a person’s life!
Joshua had twelve stones removed from the Jordan River as a memorial to the crossing.
Memorials or Spiritual Reminders hold a great deal of significance to God’s people.
What is significant about spiritual reminders?
The potential of spiritual reminders.
Mere stones can take us to... OR...
1—Mere Stones can transport us to a Position of...
UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT(:1-3a, 5b)
Explanation:(:1-3a, 5b)
:1—“And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying:”
:2—“Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe,”
cf.--3:12—“Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe.”
:5—“...& each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,”
:3a—“& command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm....’”
“From here, out of the midst of the Jordan...”
That which was Unreachable/Unattainable by natural means
“From the place where the priests' feet stood firm...”
The tribal representatives removed the stones from dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River at flood stage!
*When we follow God’s call, Every Experience with Him is unique, it’s different, it’s remarkable, & worthy of remembrance!...Because He has called & taken us, uniquely to that particular place in His service, which no one else can fulfill.
We don’t know all the answers but we know the One who has all the answers. The true Christian knows the True & Living God personally & intimately. He is our Father, the One who Loves us, our Gracious Savior, our Healer, our Provider, our Head, our Guide, our Strength, our Trust. If you do not love God, you are no Christian!
While Jesus was before the Sanhedrin, Peter had denied being one of Jesus’ followers. Upon hearing the rooster crow(Mat. 26:74-75), he was immediately transported to Jesus’ own words—that Peter would deny Him before the rooster crows(Mat. 26:31-35).
Mat. 26:31-35—“Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered & said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.”
Mat. 26:74-75—“Then he began to curse & swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out & wept bitterly.”
Remember how He...transformed your life completely from abandonment & dereliction to acceptance, being treasured, & granted a meaningful purposeful life.
Jn. 10:10—“The thief does not come except to steal, & to kill, & to destroy. I have come that they may have life, & that they may have it more abundantly.”
That abundant life is lived individually & uniquely as each one is uniquely equipped & empowered of the Holy Spirit of God!
*Thus it is entirely necessary that the church gather together in unity on any set time for such gathering.
During our time together(worship, Bible Study, fellowship, outreach), We recall, individually & corporately, Where we have come from, We envision Where we are to be, & We are transported to Where we are now in relation to God’s reality.
Argumentation:
Jn. 3:6-8—“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, & that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ “The wind blows where it wishes, & you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from & where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
**1Cor. 12:12-27—“For as the body is one & has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--& have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; & our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, & members individually.”
Eph. 3:20-21—“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever & ever. Amen.”
2Cor. 9:8—“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
Gal. 2:20—“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; & the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me.”
Illustration:
Wedding Ring—An un-tarnishable symbol of a mutual commitment to one another in the Lord Jesus for mutual betterment/And one in which you will find unveiled abilities which were previously kept from your reach/UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT
Why did God have you commit to your spouse?
At Creek I found 3 baby Snapping Turtles/Took them home—Put in Washtub with Sand, Rocks, Fresh water—I fed them Flies, Bugs/I chose 1 particular rock which angled from water level to above water level & placed it in the center so they could come out of the water if need be/Center Rock took me to a Position of UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT
Why did God have you join this church?
Why did God have you commit to a certain task or many tasks there?
Application:
?Do ‘Reminders’ empower you for God’s UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT?
?Do ‘Reminders’ transport you to realignment with God?
?Does your relationship with Christ take you to places beyond where ‘natural’ desire can take you?
Reminders can make all the difference in a person’s life!
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Guillotine malfunction solved by the American prisoner.
Its the Little Things that can make all the difference in a person’s life.
Action:
Mere Stones/Reminders can transport us to a Position of....
1. UNIQUE ACCOMPLISHMENT(:3, 5)
Presented 09/25/2016am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
Pts. 1-3 Presented 01/16/2000pm to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Rd.
Whigham, GA 31797
