Memorials Set Up - Part 1 of 2

Baptist Bible Lord comes to you under the direction of Elder Lucero Bradley Junior, pastor of the Cincinnati primitive Baptist Church will and this share. Bradley Junior inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace will and in a time you see below and I like to be able to send you a sample copy of our publication.

The Baptist witness their articles in it that I believe will be a blessing to you and help you in your study of God's word just requested when writing a set Baptist Bible hour box 17 old, 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217. We do depend on the list for support to keep the program on the air. So if you can help us with certain to be thankful for that address. Again, this Baptist Bible hour box 17 old 37th Cincinnati, OH 45217 in her messages from the book of Joshua we reached the point that the children of Israel were coming across the river Jordan Prescott had rolled back the waters and made it possible for them to come across and it's interesting to note the orderly movement of the people as the events unfold, think about this nation of people got well over a million people. So this includes men, women, children, baggage tanks Phlox herds and never cross this river just thinking about what a challenge to have them all in place orderly marching across trusting God that indeed his. He has rolled back the waters that they will be able to have safe passages. Jocelyn received his instruction from the Lord. He then instructed the priests and they instructed the people and the people obeying as you know from our recent studies. The book of Hosea, that there came a time that God's people were not doing a very good job of obeying. In fact, throughout the prophets of the Old Testament we find that there was word of rebuke frequently being delivered because of their departure in their favor serve God as they all being intrigued by the false God's worship with the pagans around them. But at this juncture.

People are very receptive to do exactly what God has commanded the word being delivered through his servant Jocelyn so let's look at chapter 4 of the book of Joshua begin reading with verse one and it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying take you 12 men out the people out of every tribe, a man I command ye them saying take you hints of the midst of Jordan out of the place where the priest feet stood firm 12 stones and he should carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you show logs this night.

Then Joshua called the 12 man whom he had prepared of the children of it out of every tribe and now it's interesting to note here when were talking about the orderly arrangement with which things transpired that was determined that would be one man out of every tribe of the 12 tribes of Israel to bring a stone to set up this memorial so there was full cooperation wasn't a tribe that said, we really do want to cooperate with don't think it's necessary to set up that kind of memorial where it is not comfortable with that. So just step back and not be part of the spirit did not prevail. Hope there were times indeed where the people were antagonistic difficult even as they came to the wilderness, they were often full of complaints but at this juncture, there is complete obedience complete cooperation and so all the 12 tribes of upon man come to participate in the setting up of this memorial. Joshua said unto them, pass over before the ark of the Lord your God in the midst of Jordan and taking up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder so it's going to be a large stone that there transporting large enough that it will be necessary for to be put on the man's shoulder for him to be able to carry it. According to the number the tribes of the children of Israel that this may be a sign among you that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying mean he by the stone, then ye shall answer them that the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off, and the stone shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

The children of Israel did so, as Joshua commanded and took 12 stones out of the midst of Jordan is the Lord spake under Jocelyn according to the number the tribes of the children of visual and carry them over with them under the place where they logs and laid them down there.

Joshua set up 12 stones in the midst of Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests, which bear the ark of the covenant stood and they are there to this day. So at the time this scripture was written. Those stones were still there is a perpetual reminder of the great deliverance that God had wrought on their behalf for the priests, which bear the ark stood in the midst of Jordan until everything was finished, that the Lord commanded. Just saying the attitude of the priests were pointed to carry the ark of the covenant, which of course represented the very presence of God, and they were to stand in the midst of the river and you must recognize that it took a long time 4 million people with their flocks and herds to pass through the river so here they are standing having to stay in place they are not to move. I didn't get impatient didn't say is this really necessary or I'm wearing out. I just don't think I got the strength to continue. They stayed in place until such time that everything was finished at the Lord commanded Joshua to speak with people sure there's a lesson there for us. We sometimes grow weary. Get the book of Galatians tells us that we are not to be weary in well doing get to the point of this ad over I can stay in place that I can feel my role that I can do what's required of me that I couldn't be diligent in carrying out the commands of the Lord.

But these men set a great example because they continued standing there hour after hour as the people passed through this place into the promised land. According to all that Moses had commanded Joshua and the people hasted and passed over the fact that it says they were moving with haste. I don't think indicates that they were fearful because it was clearly evident that God had rolled back the waters in the secure but they didn't want to be unmindful of the fact that the priests were having to stand there all this file and so they moved along. They didn't hold back.

They were considered of other people hasted and it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over the ark of the Lord passed over, and the priest in the presence of the people. So when they had all passed over then the priests were able to respond and do what was commanded them and they could depart was many lack of consideration for anybody that might have been slow moving perhaps were those that were crippled and couldn't move with the same places others did, but they waited until the very last one had crossed and according to the direction that was given them moved on to the other side of the river. What a blessing when we can see God's people receiving the commandments that were given to them through God's servant, and when we can see today, God's people receiving in their heart, the truth of God is proclaimed from his word. The apostle noted in writing the church in Thessalonica that he was thankful that they received the word which he preached for what it was the word of God they receive it and they responded to it. They owe bated so we can say then that these stones were set up 12 stones in the river and 12 stones on the bank of the river of thought that since there were 12 stones in the river that they would never be seen, but the fact is that the river was at flood stage and so when it receded to its normal place.

The stones probably would have been seen so their true memorial set up. First, we consider the fact that they are set up to declare God's greatness, says the Lord your God. This is verse 23 of the chapter, the Lord your God dried up the waters. It was the Lord that accomplished. It didn't come about by some human plan are some effort on man's part that was the Lord himself rolled back to the waters of the river so that the people could save God always works in a way to bring glory to his name.

He says in Isaiah chapter 42 in verse eight I am the Lord. That is my name and my glory. I will not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. So when God works he going to work in such a way that brings honor and glory to his name is not going to give that glory to another is not going to bless in such a way that man is to be honored instead of giving the glory where it belongs to God himself. As we come to the New Testament we find this same principle laid out very clearly for us in first Corinthians chapter 1 read beginning with verse 2640 see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound those things which might, I can immediately say that this is contrary to the way man would ordinarily think man would think that God, being a God of power and greatness would choose those that are strong and capable to carry out its work, but if that were done.

Those individuals themselves receive notice. Please God, according to his shop and pleasure to make choice of those things that are considered to be foolish for the world those things that are confound the things which are mighty and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, may things which are not.

Bring to naught things which are that part of it and you see many examples of that in the Old Testament, using things that are not justice. On one occasion, the Lord called the Army that was opposing Israel to hear a great noise, and they were confused and frightened and on another occasion, they were dismayed because of the loud thunder God can use that which is not an bring about the Lord's night now what's the purpose of all this, that no flesh should glory in his presence. This is why God works this way is not to give glory to another, that no flesh should glory in his presence. Many goes on verse 30 but of him are you in Christ Jesus who God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that according as it is written either. Letting glory in the Lord. So first we see that God works this way in all the things in which he is involved as he sovereignly rooms that he's using that which is week that which is insignificant and not of men but it might bring glory to his name and then when it comes to the matter of salvation is is how is it that you are in Christ Jesus is of God and his back is free and sovereign grace that you are in Christ and he is made of the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption in the purpose of all this again.

It is written, even letting glory in the Lord talk you today believe that your soul has been say you can only glory can't take any credit to it yourself and not say because you were superior to somebody else or not saved because you informed enough good works to make it acceptable or not saved because of your efforts, not by works of righteousness which we have done that, according to his mercy that he saved us, and the purpose once again that no flesh should glory but he that will letting glory in the Lord. So they would always be careful to give the honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the salvation which he has given us. Now the setting up of these stones. Not only was to be simply to declare the greatness of God and acknowledge that the deliverance had been by his power, but was to be an ongoing reminder.

The people were prone to forget and we would have to admit that we ourselves often forget things. We know very well and things we should remember that we let them slip away from us many examples of how the people in olden times were forgetting the things that they should've remembered Psalm 78 verse 10 they kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law and forget works, and his wonders that he actually God had placed these people so abundantly and brought them out from bondage in Egypt had supplied that need, but they refused to walk in his law, and vivid contrast to the fact that when the law was given at Sinai and they said yes we will plant God said we would do not suit the part they soon went the way of the world.

After the Flexner for God's work.

All mighty things got done for them, but they forgot got the wonders that he had showed another example of his in Psalm 106 verse 12 fathers understood not by wonders in Egypt they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies, but provoked him at the sea. Even the Red Sea. Nevertheless, he saved them for his namesake that he might make his mighty power to be known can't yet deliver them, not because they deserved it didn't deserve it failed in so many ways. But God was merciful to them, must we not all say today that the reason we're here.

The reason we have the hope of eternal life is because he has been so merciful to us over and over again.

His mercies are displayed so they had forgotten the wonders that God had performed on their behalf in Egypt. They forgotten about that great miracle of the rolling back the waters of the Red Sea. I'm sure it may have been somewhere back in their mind is a faint memory. But the point is, they were not living as though they remembered it.

Their life was not in conformity to the law of God. They were turning aside, but he saved them for his namesake that he might make his mighty power to be known he would Red Sea also and it was brought up and he led them to the depths as the wilderness verse 13. They soon forget works. They waited not for his counsel have dried up.

The Red Sea brought them safely across. They soon forgot his deliverance, his blessing versus an did not wait for his counsel moved her hand, according to their own plan according to their own desires and did not wait for the counsel of God is a lesson there for us. I think so many times have we been impatient.

How many times megahit. We rushed ahead in matters not resorting to the counsel of God, but moving according to our own desire and impulses. They waited not forgot his mighty works. Jeremiah chapter 2 in the 32nd verse the question is asked, can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire.

We would think not that the bride would not forget her wedding she would not forget this beautiful garment that was so special hers for a special occasion.

So it's considered, they surely would not forget. Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. That's got me not just a momentary slip up. But days without number.

They have gotten me convicting look at those places along the journey of life been so consumed with other thing so caught up with work projects so caught up with projects around the house so enamored with other interests.

Yes, we didn't deny the Lord is parsing on the play anymore, back to church and read the Bible know it public, but we weren't mindful of God in every intricate detail about life in every decision that was made in all that we were attempting to do.

We were forgetting the fact that whatever is done, whether in word we speak or impacts and perform all this to be done to cues glory once again Jeremiah chapter 3 verse 21 of their voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel, for they have perverted their way and have forgotten the Lord there every through these passages just to besides the point that these two were the chosen people of God highly favored of God. God cared for blasts and sustained in the most circumstances, thanks so they failed to honor him and worship him and do the things that he is enjoy them without concern for God's people being forgetful is not isolated in the Old Testament we turn to the book of second Peter, a passage that we looked at in some detail. Not long ago second Peter chapter 1 verse nine.

After describing the thing had to be added to our faith talks about the fact that you obtained the faith. It was the gift of God.David the faith to add to it and to virtue in kindness and love all of these things which are part of your spiritual development but verse nine says, but he that lack of these things is blind and cannot see how far off and have fun gotten that he was spurred from his old sins. The person then fails to grow in grace and adding these things to his God-given faith is blind you can see far off and as incredible as it seems he has forgotten that he was heard from his old sins reach such a place in such a state of confusion that he's not even mindful of the blessing of God's grace and the salvation of the soul, and that his sins had been.

So you see there is a tendency in the weakness of human nature to forget the most important things things occupy our minds and hearts on a continuous soap since there is this tendency to forget. There are many admonitions to remember. Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse two and dataset. Remember all the ways which the Lord thy God led the these 40 years in the Lord in advance, so that weakness needs reminding them to remember that set remember the ways of the Lord… Do not forget that in some 111 verse four made his wonderful works to be remembered. The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.

Surely as we go through the Old Testament and see those many displays of his power to say yes he is made his mighty works to be remembered God perform these great works in such a way that they stand out as being far beyond the ability of man is something that only the God who is omnipotent, the rain, who range in heaven accomplished and therefore made these wonderful works to be remembered that he wants us to remember them all will will as we can see there are many reminders in Scripture to keep before us the truth of God's wonderful power great glory is continued blessings poured out upon this way we never forget give him the honor that is to is I encourage you to write us this week and next week at the same time of the Lord richly bless you and will and will Baptist Bible hour is come to you under the direction of Elder Lucero Bradley Junior of the Cincinnati primitive Baptist Church address all mailed to the Baptist Bible hour Cincinnati, OH 45217. That's the Baptist Bible hour Cincinnati, OH 45217 will and in and will will and