Sermon Notes,
May 26, 2019 AM
Relevant
Reminders
Of Redemption
Steve W. Reeves
stevewreeevessermons.blogspit.com
INTRODUCTION:
A.
During World War II a little boy was sent on an errand by his mother to the old
country store in their rural community. As
the young man stood at the counter waiting to make his purchase he saw a poster tacked to the wall. On the poster was a picture
that seared itself into the young man’s memory for the rest of his life. It as the picture
of an American Solider lying dead, face down in the blood stained sand of a South
Pacific Island. Beneath the picture was a caption, “What have you done for your
country today that was worth him dying for it yesterday?”
B. We need powerful reminders of the things that are truly important in life. Have you
ever walked the battlefields of Vicksburg, Shiloh or Gettysburg? Have you ever
visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to see the submerged remains of the U.S.S. Arizona?
Have you ever visited the Vietnam War memorial in Washington, D.C. and seen the
thousands of names of men who died in that conflict? All of these places are powerful
reminders of the sacrifices that have been made for our nation through the years.
C. The Bible contains many memorials that have been used throughout history to
remember the powerful provisions and promises of God.
1. In Genesis 9:13-16, God established a covenant with Noah that He would never
again destroy the earth by flood. As a reminder of this promise God set a rainbow
in the sky.
2. In Exodus 12 God established a memorial to remind the Israelites of their
deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The bread without yeast reminded them of how
quickly they had to leave. The bitter herbs reminded them of the harshness of their
burdens. The sacrifice of a lamb and the shedding of its blood was a powerful,
vivid reminder of redemption.
3. Esther 9:28 records the establishment of a feast called, “Purim,” which
commemorated the deliverance of the Jews from Hamaan’s wicked plot to
destroy them.”
4. Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20, record the establishment of the Lord’s Supper
which Christians partake of on the first day of the week. The bread and fruit of the
vine are a memorial to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
D. On this “Memorial Day:” I want to examine a memorial recorded in Joshua 3 and 4 as
we consider “Relevant Reminders of Redemption.”
1. When the Israelites were delivered from Egypt they had numerous opportunities to
see the power of God in a variety of miraculous works.
2. In Joshua 3 and 4 a new generation of Israelites had come of age. Joshua had
assumed the mantle of leadership. Once again God wanted to demonstrate His
promise, power and provision.
a. For forty years they had wandered in a land of barrenness. Now they were ready
to enter the land of blessing.
b. After forty years of difficulty and despair they were ready to experience the
promise of deliverance and delight.
E. As they entered the land, God provided the Israelites with four relevant reminders of
their redemption. These four reminders are just a relevant for us.
I. RESPECT (3:1-6)
A. Between the land of barrenness and the land of promise lay the Jordan River.
1. We hear the word “Jordan” used as a metaphor in a lot of religious songs.
2. The word “Jordan” means “descending.”
3. The river stretches 156 miles. It begins in the north of Palestine where three
streams combine at the base of Mount Herman. This water flows into the Sea of
Galilee (nine miles wide by thirteen miles long). From the southern end of the
Galilee the Jordan flows into the Dead Sea. The spot where Israel crossed was
just north of the Dead Sea.
B. As Israel prepared to cross the Jordan, they were told to do two things that
demonstrated a profound and reverential respect for God.
1. The Levites were told to take up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people.
(vs. 4). The Ark of the Covenant was a chest that was approximately two feet
tall, two feet wide and four feet long. On top of it was the “Mercy Seat,” with two
statues called “Cherubim” facing each other. Inside the Ark were the tablets
containing the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s staff and a pot of Manna that never
spoiled. Everything about the Ark of the Covenant pointed to Jesus. It was made
of wood but covered with gold reminding us of Jesus’ humanity covered with
Deity. The tablets of law represented righteousness. The staff of Aaron
represented power. The pot of Manna represented provision. The Cherubim
represented honor and the Mercy Seat stained by sacrificial blood was where
atonement for sins was made. The Ark was where the presence of God dwelt
among the people of Israel
a. No one was permitted to touch the Ark. Only the priests were allowed to carry
it by means of inserting poles through rings placed along its side. In 2 Samuel
6:6-7 Uzzah was struck down by God when he reached out to steady the Ark
as it was being carried in an unauthorized manner aboard a cart.
b. On this occasion, the Ark, carried by the priests was to lead the procession.
The presence of God was to lead the way.
c. The people were commanded to keep a proper distance from the Ark
(approximately 3000 feet) as a sign of respect.
2. According to verse 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for
tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
a. This ritual cleansing is described in Exodus 19:10ff.
b. Consecrating themselves was a sign of respect for the holiness of od.
B. How should we approach God today?
1. In an article by ·Ethan Renoe in “Relevant,” he asserts that for the past two
hundred years churches have been dumbing down God by teaching less and
less about doctrine and Biblical knowledge and more about emotional
experience and feeling. Because of this, he argues, most Christians are poorly
equipped to defend their faith against the assaults being waged by atheism and
agnosticism.
2. Our approach to God has become one of casualness and convenience rather
than conviction. We have lost our sense of respect and reverence for God.
C. Joshua told the people (vs. 6) that God was about to do something astounding and
amazing. It was imperative that they exhibit the attitude of respect. As we think of
the redemption that is ours through Christ do we treat His sacrifice with the respect
it deserves? Do we seek to grasp the significance of what Christ has done for us?
II. RESPOND
A. Although redemption comes from God we must never think that this eliminates the
necessity of our obedience to God.
1. In verse 13 the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant were commanded to
step into the water of the Jordan. According to verse 15 the waters of the Jordan
at this time of year were out of their banks. This was not a thrilling brook or a
shallow stream.
2. God was requiting a step of faith. When the feet of the priests touched the edge
of the water God stopped the flow of water from the north. The water level
receded and the river-bed became dry. All of Israel was able to cross on dry
ground.
3. The forefathers of these people had witnessed the parting of the Red Sea. Now
this generation had the opportunity to witness a similar occurrence. God was
giving them assurance that He was with them.
B. Suppose the people had refused to obey?
1. What if the priests had said, “We don’t want to get our feet wet,” or “we don’t feel
like it is necessary to go into the water.”
2. What if the people had refused to follow the leadership of Joshua or the priests
carrying the Ark?
C. Although our salvation is a gift of God’s grace He still calls upon us to respond by
faith. That faith is more than intellectual consent. It consists in obedience to God’s
commands to repent of our sins, confess our faith and be baptized into Christ.
III. RELY
A. Israel’s crossing of the Jordan was a demonstration of reliance on the power of
God.
1. According to verse 17, “And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of
the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel
crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.”
2. From the time of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt God had been faithful to them
even thorough they had not been faithful to Him.
a. He had given them food and water. He had kept their clothes from wearing
out. He had protected them from foreign nations. He had kept the promise of
covenant with Abraham.
b. God has been faithful to you when you have not been faith to Him!
B. So often, instead of relying on what God is doing we try to improvise with our own
plans. A seven year old boy was asked what he had studied in “Sunday School.”
He replied, “We talked about Israel crossing the Red Sea. Moses ordered a huge
suspension bridge built. Israel passed over. When Pharaoh tried to cross Moses
ordered the bridge to be blown up!” The questioner asked, “Surely your teacher did
not tell you that,” the boy responded, “If I were to tell you what she told us you’d
never believe it!”
IV REMEMBER
A. In Joshua 4 God commanded Joshua to select twelves men, one from each tribe,
to take a stone from the midst of the riverbed where the priests were standing and
place them in the camp where Israel lodged. Notice verses 6-7, “Let this be a sign
among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones
mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan
were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan,
the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to
the sons of Israel forever.”
B. The stones were set up at a place called Gilgal located east of Jericho. According
to verse 24 they were a monument to the mighty hand of the Lord.
C. What are the monuments in your life that bring remembrance of what God has
done for you?
CONCLUSION:
A. Imagine another poster. Upon it is the picture of a man hanging on a cross. His
clothes have been stripped from him revealing a body that has been beaten, and
bruised by horrendous torture. On his head is a crown made of long, thorns deeply
embedded in his scalp. His face is covered with dried blood, grime and perspiration.
From his hands and feet blood seeps from nails that attach him to the rough wood.
Surrounding him is a crowd of people whose faces convey emotions of anger, fear,
sorrow and disbelief. Nearby are Roman Soldiers gazing sternly at the scene.
Beneath the picture is this caption. “What have you done for Jesus today that was
worth Him dying for you?”
B. I am thankful for the relevant reminders of redemption that God provides for us.
