Memorials of Faith: Remembering God's Faithfulness Together
Summary
In today's gathering, we delved into Joshua chapter 4, a continuation of the miraculous story of Israel's crossing of the Jordan River. This chapter is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of remembering His works in our lives. As the Israelites crossed the Jordan, God instructed Joshua to have twelve men, one from each tribe, take stones from the riverbed to serve as a memorial. These stones were to be a lasting testament to God's deliverance and a teaching tool for future generations. The act of setting up these stones was not just about commemorating a past event but about instilling a legacy of faith and reliance on God.
We explored the significance of these memorials, not just as historical markers but as spiritual anchors that remind us of God's presence and power in our lives. The story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan is paralleled with the challenges we face today. Just as they stood before a seemingly insurmountable river, we too encounter obstacles that test our faith. Yet, the message is clear: God calls us to move forward, not to settle for "good enough." Our faith journey is about trusting God to lead us through our trials and into His promises.
We also reflected on the importance of sharing our stories of faith. Just as the Israelites were to tell their children about the stones, we are encouraged to share our testimonies of God's faithfulness. These stories serve as encouragement and inspiration for others who may be facing their own "Jordan Rivers." By sharing how God has worked in our lives, we not only honor Him but also strengthen the faith of those around us.
In a practical application, we were invited to take a stone as a personal memorial of God's work in our lives. This stone is a tangible reminder to reflect on God's past faithfulness and to trust Him for the future. It also serves as a conversation starter, prompting us to share our stories with others.
Key Takeaways:
- Memorials of Faith: The twelve stones taken from the Jordan River serve as a powerful reminder of God's deliverance. They are not just historical artifacts but spiritual symbols that encourage us to remember and share God's faithfulness with future generations. [46:06]
- Moving Forward in Faith: The story of Israel's crossing of the Jordan challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones and trust God to lead us through our trials. Faith is not about settling for "good enough" but about stepping into the promises God has for us. [55:39]
- The Power of Testimony: Sharing our stories of God's work in our lives is crucial. These testimonies inspire and encourage others, reminding them that God is active and faithful. Our stories are not just for us but for the benefit of others who may be facing similar challenges. [01:10:28]
- Remembering God's Faithfulness: God calls us to remember His works not to dwell in the past but to strengthen our faith for the future. These memories remind us of His power and presence, equipping us to face new challenges with confidence. [01:06:49]
- A Call to Action: We are encouraged to take a stone as a personal memorial of God's faithfulness. This act serves as a reminder to reflect on God's work in our lives and to share our stories with others, fostering a community of faith and encouragement. [01:25:44]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [46:06] - Introduction to Joshua 4
- [48:56] - The Significance of the Twelve Stones
- [50:32] - Historical Context and Personal Stories
- [52:36] - Facing Our Own Jordan Rivers
- [54:04] - The Scale of the Challenge
- [55:39] - Moving Forward in Faith
- [57:09] - Examples from Scripture and Church History
- [58:08] - Personal Reflection and Application
- [58:52] - Experiencing God's Miracles
- [01:00:11] - The Excitement of God's Deliverance
- [01:01:31] - God's Command to Remember
- [01:02:47] - The Importance of Memorials
- [01:04:17] - God's Call to Remember
- [01:06:49] - Remembering for Future Reliance
- [01:08:13] - Joshua's Additional Memorial
- [01:10:28] - Sharing Stories of Faith
- [01:11:56] - Freshwater's Story
- [01:20:48] - The Eads Bridge Analogy
- [01:21:27] - The Importance of Asking and Telling
- [01:23:52] - Personal Memorial Stones
- [01:24:37] - Invitation to Take a Stone
- [01:25:44] - A Call to Move Forward
- [01:26:45] - Closing and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Joshua 4
Bible Reading:
- Joshua 4:1-24
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions did God give to Joshua regarding the twelve stones from the Jordan River? ([46:06])
2. How did the Israelites respond to Joshua's command to take the stones from the Jordan River? ([48:56])
3. What was the significance of the stones being set up at Gilgal, and what were the Israelites instructed to tell their children about them? ([01:21:27])
4. How did the sermon describe the emotional journey of the Israelites as they faced the Jordan River and witnessed God's miracle? ([58:52])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might God have chosen to use physical stones as a memorial for the Israelites, and what does this signify about the nature of faith and remembrance? ([01:06:49])
2. In what ways does the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River parallel the challenges faced by believers today? ([54:04])
3. How does the act of sharing testimonies of God's faithfulness serve as a tool for strengthening community and faith within the church? ([01:10:28])
4. What might be the significance of Joshua setting up additional stones in the midst of the Jordan, and how does this relate to remembering God's presence during trials? ([01:08:13])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a "Jordan River" in your life. How did you see God's faithfulness during that time, and how can you use that experience to encourage others? ([58:08])
2. Consider the "stones" or memorials in your own life that remind you of God's work. How can you make these more visible to others as a testimony of faith? ([01:24:37])
3. What are some practical ways you can move beyond your comfort zone and trust God to lead you through current challenges? ([55:39])
4. How can you actively share your stories of God's faithfulness with others in your community or church? What impact do you hope these stories will have? ([01:10:28])
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel you are settling for "good enough." What steps can you take to move forward in faith and embrace God's promises? ([55:39])
6. Think about someone in your life who might be facing their own "Jordan River." How can you support and encourage them with your own experiences of God's deliverance? ([01:21:27])
7. How can you incorporate the practice of remembering God's past faithfulness into your daily routine to strengthen your faith for future challenges? ([01:06:49])
Devotional
Day 1: Memorials as Spiritual Anchors
The twelve stones taken from the Jordan River were not merely historical artifacts but spiritual symbols that served as a powerful reminder of God's deliverance. These stones were intended to be a lasting testament to God's faithfulness, encouraging the Israelites to remember and share His works with future generations. In our lives, memorials of faith can take many forms, such as personal testimonies or physical reminders, that anchor us spiritually and remind us of God's presence and power. These memorials help us to reflect on God's past faithfulness and inspire us to trust Him for the future. [46:06]
Joshua 4:6-7 (ESV): "that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever."
Reflection: What is one tangible item or symbol in your life that reminds you of God's faithfulness? How can you use it to share your story of faith with others?
Day 2: Stepping Beyond Comfort Zones
The story of Israel's crossing of the Jordan River challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones and trust God to lead us through our trials. Just as the Israelites faced a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, we too encounter challenges that test our faith. However, God calls us to move forward, not to settle for "good enough." Our faith journey involves stepping into the promises God has for us, trusting Him to guide us through difficulties and into His blessings. [55:39]
Isaiah 43:2 (ESV): "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? What practical steps can you take today to move beyond your comfort zone?
Day 3: The Power of Sharing Testimonies
Sharing our stories of God's work in our lives is crucial for inspiring and encouraging others. Just as the Israelites were instructed to tell their children about the stones, we are encouraged to share our testimonies of God's faithfulness. These stories serve as reminders that God is active and faithful, providing hope and strength to those who may be facing similar challenges. By sharing how God has worked in our lives, we not only honor Him but also strengthen the faith of those around us. [01:10:28]
Psalm 66:16 (ESV): "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul."
Reflection: Who is one person you can share your testimony with this week? How can your story of God's faithfulness encourage them in their own faith journey?
Day 4: Remembering for Future Reliance
God calls us to remember His works not to dwell in the past but to strengthen our faith for the future. The memories of God's power and presence equip us to face new challenges with confidence. By recalling His past faithfulness, we are reminded that He is with us in our present circumstances and will continue to guide us in the future. This act of remembering is not passive but an active engagement with our faith, preparing us to rely on God in all situations. [01:06:49]
Deuteronomy 7:18-19 (ESV): "you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So will the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid."
Reflection: What is one past experience where you clearly saw God's hand at work? How can remembering this experience help you trust Him with a current challenge?
Day 5: A Call to Action
We are encouraged to take a stone as a personal memorial of God's faithfulness, serving as a reminder to reflect on His work in our lives and to share our stories with others. This act fosters a community of faith and encouragement, as we collectively remember and celebrate God's goodness. By actively engaging in this practice, we create opportunities for conversations about faith and inspire others to recognize God's presence in their own lives. [01:25:44]
1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV): "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, 'Till now the Lord has helped us.'"
Reflection: What is one way you can create a personal memorial of God's faithfulness in your life today? How can this memorial serve as a conversation starter to share your faith with others?
Quotes
And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded, and took up 12 stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told him. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. And Joshua set up 12 stones. stones in the midst of the jordan in the place where the feet of the priest bearing the ark of the covenant had stood and they're there to this day for the priest bearing the ark stood in the midst of the jordan until everything was finished the lord commanded joshua to tell the people according to all that moses had commanded joshua the people passed over in haste and when all the people had finished passing over the ark of the lord and the priest [00:47:06] (42 seconds)
And the Lord said to Joshua, Joshua, command the priest bearing the Ark of the Testimony to come out of the Jordan. So Joshua commanded the priest, come out of the Jordan. And when the priest bearing the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came up out of the midst of the Jordan and the soles of the priest's feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before. [00:48:14] (24 seconds)
And so all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mine. And so all the peoples of the earth may know That you may fear the Lord your God forever. Let's pray, church. Father, we come to you this morning offering you this service and this time and these words in our hearts. Lord, we thank you for the memorials you've put up in your church in the past, the memorials you put up in our lives in the past, the times of remembrance when we faced our own Jordan and you delivered us. [00:49:11] (33 seconds)
The story of faith, the story of God's plan for us, the story of the nation Israel is not a story of good enough. It's a story of moving forward. It's a story of facing trials and not saying I'm good, I won't go across. It's a story of moving forward. We see that throughout scripture, Abraham faced trials and God moved him forward. David faced trials and God moved him forward. His son Solomon faced trials and moved him forward. We see it with those who are exiled because of the lack of their faith and God still moved them forward. [00:56:35] (34 seconds)
In the gospels, we get to the New Testament, and the apostles and the disciples of Christ, they faced persecution in trying to expand the message of Jesus to the Jews and the Gentiles across the Roman world that didn't like them. They faced trials, and rather than saying, yeah, we're good enough, they moved it forward. If you're a fan of church history like me, the early church fathers were persecuted and sentenced to death in many cases just for following the message of Christ. [00:57:08] (28 seconds)
And I love, especially this church in our DNA, throughout the centuries, there's been missionaries, folks that have given their lives and their families and put themselves in danger to go out through the ends of the world here to try to reach people with Christ and move the message forward. That's what faith looks like. It's moving it forward. And it's not just for them, it's for us as well. [00:57:43] (24 seconds)
And God does this, think about it, for his people. He doesn't just want them to remember what happened. He wants them to remember what happened because he did something, because they had to rely on him, because he showed up, because he delivered them. And that's important because they were getting ready to go into the land and there was gonna be war and there was gonna be battle and there was gonna be things that they couldn't do and they needed to remember who he is. So they could rely on him, because folks after 600 years of waiting on the promise and 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they finally were delivered and their story is just starting. [01:07:08] (40 seconds)
And scripture doesn't really allude to why he did that, but I have to imagine that this is because we need to not just remember what God did after he delivers us from the river, but we need to remember who God is in the midst of the river. We need to remember who God is when we're going through the trial, not afterwards and then go thank him. We need God in the middle of our overflowing river, in the middle of the floods, in the middle of the things we can't do in our life. Yes, we need to remember and thank him afterwards, but we need him in the midst of it. And so Joshua puts those stones up there. [01:08:32] (39 seconds)
And it's awesome because people get on there and they read them. They're like, I just, I'm inspired. And I've seen God work in my life like that. And if by reading the story of how God got somebody else through trial, you can rely on God to help you in yours. That's what it's all about. That's why God calls us to remember. And here at Freshwater, at our church, this church over its years has faced some flood stage waters itself. [01:10:42] (29 seconds)
You're supposed to ask the people around you, how did God get you here? You're supposed to ask, how did God get this church here? How did you get past that struggle at work? How did God work with you in your marriage? We're supposed to ask. And those of us who have memorials in our life, those times where God got us across the river, don't keep them to yourself. We're supposed to tell those stories. Because that story wasn't just an encouragement for you. It's an encouragement for somebody else that you have no idea is facing that same river. We have got to share those stories. [01:22:03] (32 seconds)
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