Stones of Remembrance

Dr. Tony Evans says there's lasting importance of recognizing who it is that lives interesting. Don't get God is your source celebrating 40 years of faithfulness. This is the alternative Dr. Tony Evans father speaker, pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas Texas and president of the alternative. There are times when the path ahead of may look impassable. Dr. Evan says we need to remember how God has established a record of helping his children successfully navigate treacherous ways. Let's join him as he elaborates for 40 years for them to learn what for their habits to be corrected 40 years to be humbled 40 years to be trained and now it was time the crossover at the end of the 40th year and what a miracle crossover. It was, I made it with something to behold. Because we are told when they cross over the Jordan.

They crossed over the Jordan in one across the Jordan is in flight season, that's the most dangerous time.

That's the time when you most likely to run into a problem water to drown the time when the human capacity would be at its lowest.

But I just want you to know God does some of his best work influences when the water is to have the problems that you great the needs are too daunting. In other words, way beyond you, where God makes it hard in order for you to see only one God and you. I saw wasn't flood season that God would perform this miracle. It was no different than when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea they got Pharaoh coming on 1 inch I got the red seal on the other hand there in a Catch-22. They had a conundrum they can go either way and find a solution that unless God shows up and does something supernatural about layout application. If you happen the data be in flood season being overwhelmed by life's realities of life circumstance, you may not be in a bad position as it looks, because it may be the impeccable season for the Almighty God, to demonstrate how exactly Almighty he is still God told them in flood season to tell the priest to take the ark of the comet which contained the 10 Commandments, the word of God and to tell the priest to put their foot in the bank of the Jordan. Why, because before you can ever see what God does in flood season. He wants to see you walking by faith to see you talk about faith of feeling by faith he wants to see you moving by faith or says let the priest put their foot on the bike. I got to see that they don't trust me until he gets these representatives.

The principle of representation, so the representatives on behalf of the nation put their foot in the Jordan and a couple Americans to place during flood season, God blocked the water from flowing down the Jordan River so that now God wall the ball down the box so that the water would stop flowing up with one miracle in and of itself within the Bible says they crossed over on dry land, not wetland dryland and had to be land but I could walk over their feet not give money when they can roll wheelbarrows of of their goods and not get stuck in the Barbara horses could still try to cross walk across and run across and not get stuck in what is that for years and centuries and decades had been wet with the Bible says God not only been the water. He hardened the soil so that when they walked over they want the book of John Young and all happened in flood season. It was in this context of the supernatural intervention of God. God tells Joshua to get a representative again. The principle of representative whether leaves would represent the 12 tribes of Israel to go back into the drive Jordan and pick up a boulder, a stone that is what the parable is the major stone because we have a carrier to says each one on his shoulders so it was a major rock and he says what I want you to do with his rot is I want you to build a memorial. I want you to build stones of remembrance, I want you to build something so you'll never forget what was done here and who did it. I want you never to forget that the only way you to where you from where you came from is because God brought you in flood season where you were to wear you off.

I don't want you to get the big envelope Judah thing that is by your PowerBook or your life that you are in this place. 40 years later.

I want you to have a perpetual reminder that the only reason you are where you are today versus where you were 40 years ago is because I supernaturally intervene in your situation now. Why does God want to go tell Joshua to build a memorial because God knows we are subject to forget God knows we are prone to forget while you may forget a lot of things in life. God is not the one you want to forget. I want to show you a few of the Scriptures that drives this home.

In Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse nine we told these words only give heed to yourself give you to yourself and keep your soul diligent so that you do not forget the things which arise and see, and that they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life, but make them known to your sons and grandsons in chapter 6, verse 10, then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you great and splendid cities which you did not build in houses full of all good things which you did not feel and you sisters what you did not dig vineyards and olive trees.

What you did not plant and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Look at chapter 8 verse 11. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments's ordinances of the statutes which I am commanding you today. Verse 14 then your heart will become proud, you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Verse 18 you shall remember the Lord your God is he was giving you power to make wealth, that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is this day it shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them as surely against you today will testify and you shall surely perish like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you. Did you get the message your bed not forget. I like that phrase in chapter 6, you better watch yourself because this is to forget it isn't a think you are your own source. If you think is all on you about you from you to you through doing because of you.

It is when you've gone from nothing to something to forget how you got there, don't forget that God is your source.

Don't forget that where you are now compared to where you were when you met me is not but same place because I want with you even though your rebellion, even in your disobedience even in your disregard. He said that you in the wilderness called you in the wilderness preserve do it even when you're out of followership with me so he says that if the truth were told if we got there we wouldn't be here today if God didn't protect us in that situation, deliver us out of that situation we wouldn't even be but because God oversaw didn't let what could happen happen and he present out and walked us through what he says don't you forget and so he tells them. I want you to build the stone memorial. He said not forget the goodness of God alone is your source and when we align ourselves the godlike. He wants us to align ourselves to him. He says you will see me even in flood season demonstrate your glory.

So he sends them he sends them to get the stones you know we we believe in reminders we have memorial day parades. You know that's a reminder of the people will sacrifice their lives for our freedom in America until they have a report that they don't want you to forget there's an Independence Day Parade on July 4 and all kind of independence celebrations to remind us of the battle from England that led to the founding of the nation. What because they don't want you to forget. When I was in Washington DC not too long ago that all memorials of the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial why so you don't forget they got the great statements by the statesman on the wall so that you can be reminded of what it took for us to be what they're trying to say is we don't want you to forget what God is saying is if come and go. Don't want you to forget what you think about the God want you to forget you could let me tell you the big difference between don't want to be forgotten and God who says don't forget me. The focal don't want to be forgotten when they're gone they're gone, you can go to them for everything else. UK region reach when there were lots something we dramatically so they can do absolutely nothing from them. Memorial but the God who brought you from yesterday is alive today and you go to medium low back.

Not again yet the problem the problem is everybody wants to remember God for what he can give them nothing. We use influences when you will between a rock and a hard place at the Red Sea. When you didn't know how you will get out of this when you didn't know whether you will go make when the phone gave up on you when you saw on the way out.

Remember that showed I met you in that place. Do not forget the Lord your God, so gather the stones gather the stones and when you gather the stones question. The question is what bestows me a Memorial should always provoke a question.

What does this mean we have trophies in the fellowship Center got a trophy case, trophies from different things different teams have one from a sports ministry trophies. People don't even stop at the trophy case and noted have you been over there but you most of the reading anymore. You know what, because all that is representative of the past trophy and there is yesterday's news, so you know that I have trouble reading anymore.

You look at them people because they mentioned that you folks don't revisit because it's yesterday's news. The reason why God doesn't want to forget you is that he's not just yesterday's news. I love his name. He told Moses, I am that I am I personal pronoun in present tense is the right now God took his trophy cases continue to be filled with current day realities of his presence and purpose in our lives individually and that the community is never old news says I want you to build a memorial to remember to call my people to remember that the right now God based on the past. So he told Israel circumcise your sons and every generation after that he said remember the Passover have been in the New Testament, Jesus is around communion. Remember me why because of what I do right now based on what I have already done. Dr. Evans will have more on remembering God's faithfulness when he returns in just a moment.

Stay with us says to man up there talking about things you can see money, status, social media followers was God said to be a man to rise up in society can leave God out of the difference between good and great greatness isn't achieved if demonstrated every single day legacy moments done well in the sequel to the best-selling kingdom man Tony Evans kingdom man rising challenges meant to overcome the way to leave a legacy of influence man rising. Discover how you can do just that by no more Tony Evans.also makes a great gift all this month we been celebrating the release of this book by making available to our listeners a special package of resources that includes the kingdom man rising book, along with all 12 full-length messages from the current kingdom man rising series available both on CD and digital download this entire resource package is our gift to you and thanks for your donation that helps us keep Tony's teaching here on the station and if you want to explore this topic even further.

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This special double offer ends this weekend. However, to contact us right away to get your package again. You can do that it Tony Evans.org or call our 24 hour resource request line at 1-800-800-3222 where one of our friendly team members will be happy to help you with your request, I repeat that contact information for you after part two of today's message. Here's Tony.

Everybody is followed by a smart phone which means about taking pictures of everything all the pictures pictures pictures pictures to you my people to pictures to build members. They pictures do you want to remember something or someone some circumstance we got was picture taken family history of picture taking families weeks we got volumes and volumes and volumes and volumes of picture books from over the years. I was looking with my son Anthony through one about a year ago gone through his I guess every kid got ill book we were going through in one picture after another one picked up another will pick up another intricate management day what is it we going to this book and I just noticed a somewhat set every page you. That would mean you've been there all my life. If you turn the pages of your life. You look close, you discover your heavenly father has been all your life, even in the unsaved days you will not be here today so he says I want to build this memorial and then processing. He says when your children ask you, what do these stones mean then you will say because of the waters of Jordan were cut off before the covenant of the Lord crossed the Jordan award of the Jordan were cut off, so the stone shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel after we are supposed to have a transferable face. It supposed to be transferred from one generation to the next generation. You know what we in the chaos we in the day because there has been a transfer problem. We have a generation of young people who have not had their faith transferred by their mothers or thoughts until there is a massive transfer problem in verse 24. I love this says that all the people on the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty so that you may fear the Lord your God forever who wants this license Israel uncle bless you, even though in the promised land.

You will be surrounded by evil Jericho – is always evil people can make Hittites and rush they still in the promised land use surrounded by people.

But in the middle of the people that surround you touch all around but I got you, but the risen you installed the rest of the world may know them. I did not have the rights I want them to know that I am in your next because I want them to hear stories about you. I want them to hear the miracles I'm doing in your midst, I want that may have the transformation of the marriages that say that is all rising up the spirituality that's taking place. I want to show that when doing, they will be made right now because I'm making a great year. God has given us this promised land on Wisdom, but it's just not doing they so that God can keep your miracle on camp with the rats about player and all God, and shall not at 1800 block on camp with shower not been able to do that, the paper that you able to change that.

That the ability to own ability to do that we can give testimony to the law of God sees no you may be surrounded by evil, but God says if you remember the Lord your God in your house when you say out for me and my house we will serve the Lord. I don't care what the rest of the homes are doing around is that I will make great because you remembered me even though you're surrounded by all kind of people should be ashamed of God. Don't you be ashamed to name his name, don't you be a shame to do good works of his name to be ashamed of. Praise him to be ashamed of glorifying.

If you don't want to hear about my God, if you don't want to hear about Jesus compensation my job is individually and our job is to do it collectively and no matter how big we get what what God gives. Remember that when you're on the top of the pyramid. Nelson's holding up if something happens with the folks underneath you.

You come crashing down.

So no matter how we get all the notes that God wants away from where it will collapse. You will collapse, because it's all about Dr. Tony Evans talking about the importance of always keeping God's faithfulness at the front of our minds. And with that he's wrapped up his month-long series called kingdom man rising.

That means this is the last chance to take advantage of that special double offer mentioned earlier, all 12 full-length messages in the series, bundled along with Tony's powerful new book kingdom man rising will send them to you as her.

Thank you gift when you help support this ministry with a generous contribution and don't forget Tony has created a complete companion Bible study that goes along with the kingdom man rising series get all the details and make a request online it Tony Evans.org you can browse through a huge library of resources and sign up for Tony's free weekly email devotional again that's Tony Evans.org or call us at 1-800-800-3222 team members are standing by around-the-clock to help you with your resource request. Again, that's 1-800-800-3222 on Monday. Dr. Evans will take a thought-provoking look at why sin matter as he begins a brand-new series called consequences sure to join us for the alternative with Dr. Tony Evans is brought to you by the urban alternative celebrating 40 years of faithfulness, thanks to the generous contributions of listeners like you