Remember And Rejoice

Remember and Rejoice

Memorial Day Message - 2001

Joshua 4:1-9

Introduction

I. The USS Arizona

This Memorial Day a new movie hits the theaters; Pearl Harbor. It is a dramtic re-telling of the December 7th battle where the Japanese launched a surprize attack on the US naval base in Hawaii.

In this battle the Japanese damaged or sank 8 battleships and 13 other naval vessels. In addition, nearly 200 airplanes were destroyed and approximately 3,000 military personnel were killed or wounded.

Over the sire where one of the battleships was sunk a memorial was placed to commemorate those who were killed at Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona monument stands as a reminder of the supreme sacrifice made by those on that December morning.

II. The Importance of Memorials

Memorials are important. They help us to remember the challenges and victories of the past. They help us to renew commitments and sacrifices we have made in this journey we call life. They help us to remain faithful to our heritage and focus on our future.

This morning I believe that it is fitting for us to look at another memorial that was set to help the people of Israel to remember the mighty acts of God

READ TEXT – Joshua 4:1-9

Body – Key lessons we learn

I. Remember where you were in life

A. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt

1. The children of Israel were in a terrible position

a.) Foreigners in a foreign land

b.) They had become a race of slaves forced to do the will of the Egyptians

2. They were in complete bondage

a.) Physical

b.) Spiritual

c.) Emotional

The story is told of a young girl who accepted Christ as her Savior and applied for membership in a local church. "Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your Life?" inquired an old deacon. "Yes, sir," she replied. "Well, are you still a sinner?" "To tell you the truth, I feel I’m a greater sinner than ever." "Then what real change have you experienced?" "I don’t quite know how to explain it," she said, "except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved. I’m a sinner running from sin!" she was received into the fellowship of the church, and she proved by her consistent life that she was truly converted.

B. The Israelites wandered in the Wilderness

1. The Israelites were away from God’s plan

2. They were lost and without a home

C. Personal application

1. You had a terrible position in life

a.) Living life dead from the inside out

b.) You were once a slave to your sinful nature

c.) You were living a life of bondage

2. Wandering and lost

a.) You were wandering through life without God

b.) You were without a spiritual home

Q – How has God changed you life?

II. Remember what God has done for you

Dr. Helen Roseveare, missionary to Zaire, told the following story. "A mother at our mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby. We tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle we had was beyond repair. So we asked the children to pray for the baby and for her sister. One of the girls responded, ’Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won’t feel so lonely.’

That afternoon a large package arrived from England. The children watched eagerly as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle! Immediately the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to dig deeper, exclaiming, ’If God sent that, I’m sure He also sent a doll!’ And she was right! The heavenly Father knew in advance of that child’s sincere requests, and 5 months earlier He had led a ladies’ group to include both of those specific articles."

A. God performed many miracles for His people

1. While in Egypt

a.) The ten plagues

b.) The bricks without straw

c.) The calling of Moses

2. In the Wilderness

a.) The crossing of the Red Sea

b.) The Manna from heaven

c.) The water from the rock

d.) The military success of the nation

B. God was still working

Percentage of adults who mostly agree or completely agree with the statement, "Even today, miracles are performed by the power of God": 82.

1. The crossing of the Jordan

a.) The waters parted to remind them of God’s power

b.) The people safely crossed to renew their confidence in God’s provision

2. The building of the memorial

a.) The memorial was a symbol of the fact the God wasn’t finished with them