What Kind of Memorial Are You Building?
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· 16 viewsGod instructs the Israelites to construct memorials to remind future generations about God's deliverance of Israel.
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Joshua 4:1-8, 21-24
1 When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,
2 “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe.
3 Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’ ”
4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel.
5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’
7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”
8 So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.
21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’
22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’
23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over.
24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
INTRODUCTION:
I- PURPOSELY CONSTRUCTED (Joshua 4:1-8)
I- PURPOSELY CONSTRUCTED (Joshua 4:1-8)
1 When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,
2 “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe.
3 Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’ ”
4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel.
5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’
7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”
8 So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.
A- The memorial was constructed on purpose.
A- The memorial was constructed on purpose.
1- The construction of this memorial is not accidental.
2- The construction of lasting life-memorials do not occur accidentally.
B- The memorial was constructed through work.
B- The memorial was constructed through work.
1- The construction of the memorial requires work.
2- The construction of lasting life-memorials require diligence on our part.
(James 2:17-20)
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
II- DIVINELY DESIGNED (Joshua 4:5, 8)
II- DIVINELY DESIGNED (Joshua 4:5, 8)
5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
8 So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.
A- The construction of the memorial follows God’s plan. (Joshua 4:1-4)
A- The construction of the memorial follows God’s plan. (Joshua 4:1-4)
1 When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,
2 “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe.
3 Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’ ”
4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel.
1- God had the plan for the memorial’s construction, just as he ad the plan for the crossing of the Jordan River by Israel’s people.
2- God has the plan for how you and I can build a lasting memorial for Him for our lives.
2- Trying to make our own plan of refusing to use God’s plan will result in disaster.
B- The construction of the memorial utilizes God’s materials. (Joshua 4:5-8)
B- The construction of the memorial utilizes God’s materials. (Joshua 4:5-8)
5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’
7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.”
8 So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.
1- God used materials that He provided.
a. Stones from the middle of the river.
(1) These were stones that God had created and had been sculpting for centuries!
(2) Notice that the Israelites were not instructed to do anything but pick them up and stack them as God instructed.
2. God wants you and I to use what He has provided for us to build our life-monuments.
a. Salvation (Hebrews 2:3)
3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?
b. Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
c. Sanctification tools he has ordained:
prayer (1 Thess. 5:17)
17 Never stop praying.
study (2 Timothy 2:15)
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
serving (1 Peter 4:10)
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
suffering (2 Timothy 3:12)
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
III- GOAL ORIENTED (Joshua 4:21-24)
III- GOAL ORIENTED (Joshua 4:21-24)
21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’
22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’
23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over.
24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
A- The memorial aims at instructing future generations about God. (Joshua 4:21-22)
A- The memorial aims at instructing future generations about God. (Joshua 4:21-22)
21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’
22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’
1- One purpose for the memorial was to instruct the children in successive generations about the mighty works of God.
2- One of the purposes for having a lasting life-memorial is to help our children understand all that the Lord has done for us.
His love
His faithfulness
His power
One of the things that helped Timothy learn to follow the Lord was the instruction through the life-memorials of his mother and grandmother.(2 Timothy 1:5)
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
B- The memorial serves as a witness to the unsaved people around us. (Joshua 4:23-24a)
B- The memorial serves as a witness to the unsaved people around us. (Joshua 4:23-24a)
23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over.
24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
1- We must live our lives in ways that help us to fulfill our Acts 1:8 challenge!
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
C- The memorial promotes a God-Centered focus for our own lives. (Joshua 4:24b)
C- The memorial promotes a God-Centered focus for our own lives. (Joshua 4:24b)
24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
1- The purposeful construction of a life-memorial that follows God’s plan helps to keep us focused on following the Lord Jesus!
CONCLUSION: