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
He left the presence of His father
He left the favor of His father’s house
He journeyed to a far country vs 13
Wasted all his possessions by prodigal living (WASTEFUL)
Vs. 14 He spent all he had- Sin will cost you
There arose a faminie- Had no where to get anything
Vs. 15 Joined with a citizen of the country
Vs. 16 He was eating with the pigs- SLOPE
Vs 17 But when he came to himself
HE remembered what it was like at Daddy’s house
*What are you doing in the pig pen eating the slope
Don’t you remember what it was like to eat at the Father’s table
He came to himself---just like the demon possessed man
He hadn’t been in his right mind
*Do you remember what it was like when you were serving the Lord
THRILLS ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE
Make the slope bucket a MEMORIAL-
Every time the devil brings it up say What do these stones mean to you-
They remind me of what the Lord has done for me
EBENEZER- LANDMARK- REMEMBER how he has helped
In Closing- the gospel says
Remember what the Lord has done Isaiah 53
Beaten and bruised
Spat up on and mocked
Ridiculed and rejected
Whipped
Tried as a criminal
Crown of thorns
Splinter filled cross on his bare back
Walked thru the busy streets and market place
Hung in the hot sun- Naked and ashamed
Side split wide open
Died
Buried in a borrowed tomb
Went to hell for me
AROSE on the 3rd day
Led the captives out
ASCENDED- preparing a place for me, interceding for me COMING
back soon
REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU
