Feb. 13, 2022

“STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD”

“STONES THAT SPEAK”

JOSHUA 4:1-3

Five Types Of Stones You Need In Your Life:

You don’t need gallstones or kidney stone though.

1.   Symbolic Stones

Joshua 4:6 “That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?” The stones

Joshua 4:7 “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.”

They shall be a “memorial.”

Genesis 31:45-52- Jacob and Laban set a sign or memorial between them stones of memorial.

Exodus 28:12 “And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.”

High Priest had twelve stones on breastplate as a sign or memorial to the children of Israel.

Elijah set up twelve stones for the twelve tribes for victory.

1 Kings 18:31 “And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 

There are seven different piles of stones just in the book go Joshua.

We will see two of these piles of stones in Joshua 4

In Joshua 7:25-26- Achan was stoned

In Joshua 8:29- Defeated King of Ai- stone of remembrance.

In Joshua 8:30-32- Stones on Mount Ebal- a reminder of the Law.

In Joshua 10:18- Five kings sealed in a cave by stones.

In Joshua 24:26-27- Joshua leaves a stone of witness to his faith.

Proverbs 22:28 “Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.”

Proverbs 23:10 “Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless.”

2.   Stones of Life 

Joshua 4:1-8

Crossing over the Jordon for us is dying to the old life (sin) and crossing over to the new life in Christ.

2 Peter 1:4 “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 

Stones are symbolic of the new life they will have in the Promise land. To us it shows us the power of Christ’s resurrection.

Stones of life were connected with their place of dwelling. vs.3 “lodging place”- no victory for you or me if we don’t abide in the power of Christ, we need to lodge in Christ:

John 15:5 ““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

“Abide” is used nine times in John 15-there is no fruit unless we abide in Christ- fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23

Joshua 4:6-7

3.   Stones of Death

Joshua 4:9-13

Take twelve stones from the land and put in the Jordon and Joshua did this alone. These are stones of death. He set them up in the river.

Exodus 15:16 “Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O Lord, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased.”

Stonedead- death by stoning was common in ancient times.

Colossians 3:1-3

Die daily to self and sin and the flesh and also abide in the resurrection power of Jesus. You must have both aspects.

Joshua 4:9 “they are there to this day.” The stones- this speaks of permanence.

Do you know how many times they did this (setting up the stones)?

Romans 6:10 “For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.”

Salvation-takes place only one time, not over and over.

Matthew 3:6-9

Application: Do you have anything in your life that needs to be buried, an attitude, habit, a particular sin. Some type of stone can help us remember and keep us accountable. Coming forward at an invitation. What is a tombstone- a sign or memorial.

4.   Stones That Look To The Future

Joshua 4:11-18

The Bible is totally accurate in its prediction or in its prophecy of the future.

Joshua 4:14 “On that day…”- points to the return of Jesus.

It says they “exalted or magnified” Joshua in the sight of all of Israel, and one day God will exalt or magnify Jesus in the sight of all Israel.

Joshua 4:17 “Come up…”- one day we will be raptured or caught up.

5.   Stones That Speak

Joshua 4:19-24 

What type of landmarks are you leaving for future generations?

We need to set up stones that will continue to speak, long after we are gone.

1 Peter 2:5 “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.”

You and I are stones that speak! Romans 12:1-2

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? If not why not set up a stone today.