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Memorial Stones Joshua 4:1-9; 19-24

Memorial Stones Joshua 4:1-9; 19-24. April 1863 Columbus, Mississippi. After decorating graves of her two sons killed serving in the Civil War, an elderly woman also decorated two graves of Union soldiers in the corner of the cemetery

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Memorial Stones Joshua 4:1-9; 19-24

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  1. Memorial Stones Joshua 4:1-9; 19-24

  2. April 1863Columbus, Mississippi • After decorating graves of her two sons killed serving in the Civil War, an elderly woman also decorated two graves of Union soldiers in the corner of the cemetery • "I also know that somewhere in the North, a mother or a young wife mourns for them as we do for ours" • These ladies set in motion what became Memorial Day • May 30 officially recognized in 1868, as a day to honor those who died in the Civil War • Later changed to honor all those who gave their lives in the armed forces • Changed to the last Monday in May • Today - a day set aside to honor any individual who has an impact on our life, but especially those who died to protect our freedom and democracy in this country

  3. World War II Memorial Washington, D. C.

  4. World War II Memorial Washington, D. C.

  5. Field of Stars • WWII - gold star was the symbol of family sacrifice • 4000 Gold Stars – 400,000 Americans who gave their lives

  6. Memorials - Pillars of StoneA Biblical Concept

  7. Memorials - Pillars of StoneA Biblical Concept Joshua 4:1-24 • Israel crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land • God instructed Joshua to set up a MEMORIAL of stones, as a VISUAL REMINDER to all who passed that way • Memorial Stones are a VISUAL SERMON • These stones were to become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever

  8. Our Need for Memorials • God’s warning - Deuteronomy 6:12-15 • beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. • You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. • You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you • (for the LORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.

  9. Our Need for Memorials • Our short memories • Our lives are and our world is filled with “memorials”, things to help us remember • Plaques • Wedding bands • Tombstones • Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial • The Lord’s Supper • Baptism • Why? Because we have short memories and we need to be reminded lest we forget!

  10. Our Need for Memorials • When the danger is past, we often forget the God who helped us • In Christ, we can move out of our past into a meaningful present and a future with purpose • But we should never forget what we were and where we were headed before Christ redeemed us • These stones were there to REMIND them of what God did for them at the Jordan River • What are some “stones” that we can erect to help remember what God has done in our lives?

  11. Use of Memorials Write it down - Joshua 24:26-27 • Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. • And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.”

  12. Write it down • God likes to write things down • All the names of the redeemed in the Lamb’s Book Of Life • The works of the lost, and at the Great White Throne Judgment, the books will be opened, and they will be judged out of those books • A “book of remembrance”, where He has written down those who faithfully worship Him - Malachi 3:16 • A book where He records our tears - Psalm 56:8 • God wrote the 10 Commandments on 2 stone tablets – Exodus 20 • It is important to God so it ought to be important to us • The Bible … The “Word of God” • Keep a journal of the blessings of God in our lives

  13. Teach Our Children Joshua 4:6-7 • that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ • Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” • Memorial stones were to serve as a basis of sharing faith with their children

  14. Teach Our Children Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge

  15. Use It As A Guide Romans 15:4 • For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope • God uses our past to guide us into our future • God wants us to remember the past … our past failures, as well as our past victories • We tend to forget • That’s why Memorial Day is important • We need some “stones of remembrance” in our lives … to remember what a great God we have!

  16. Reach Others with Our Message Joshua 4:24 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever Matthew 5:14-16 • “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. • Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. • Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

  17. Reach Others with Our Message • W. A. Criswell • You cannot hide a city set on a hill, nor can you hide a noble, worthy, steadfast Christian life" • We need to publicly share how God has blessed us! • To remember the blessings • To re-live them • To rejoice in them • To encourage others

  18. The Nature of Memorials They should endure forever - Joshua 4:7 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever • Secular America is seeking to remove Christian landmarks • 1962 - Prayer in schools was declared illegal • 1963 - Bible reading in Schools was declared illegal • 1980 - declared illegal to post the Ten Commandments in the schools • Removal of any Christian meaning to our holidays

  19. The Nature of Memorials Clear and Unmistakable - Joshua 4:8 8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. • The 12 stones represented each of the tribes - deliverance was for all Israel • The stones came from the river bottom declaring the miraculous deliverance and power of God • 1 Corinthians 14:7-8

  20. Christian’s Memorial Stones • Baptism - Romans 6:4-5 • Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. • For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection • Lord’s Supper - 1 Corinthians 11:26 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. • To remind us and to show others the Lord’s death until He comes

  21. Christian’s Memorial Stones • Identification with The Church - 1 Peter 2:9 9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light • The Church is a body or collection of persons who: • Believe what Christ teaches • Do what Christ commands • Imitate His example • Make known His gospel to others

  22. Christian’s Memorial Stones • Our lives - 1 Peter 2:5 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ • We are “living stones” • When they looked at the stones by the Jordan River, the question was asked, “What do these mean?” • “What does this change in your life mean?” • Has there been a change in your life since you were saved? • Do you remember the day you were saved? • That’s the greatest memorial stone you have!

  23. We Have a Tendency to Forget • That’s why we need • Memorial Day • Souvenirs from vacations • To write things down • To observing the Lord’s Supper • “Lest We Forget” • All around us are “stones” that we set up as memorials • They remind us of how great and mighty God is • We need to look for them … recognize them • God can use YOU, as a “living stone” … to be a blessing in someone else’s life

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