1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,400 Well, hallelujah, he's good, isn't he? 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:06,000 Praise his name, look what he's done. 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,740 Anybody ever been touched and healed 4 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:09,880 by the hand of the Lord? 5 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:14,880 How many remember when he picked you up 6 00:00:16,340 --> 00:00:19,480 and cleaned you up and put you on a rock to stay? 7 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:21,920 Amen, you got that testimony saved? 8 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,760 How many redeemed to the hand of the Lord this morning? 9 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:27,960 Well, give him a good praise offering, would you? 10 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,900 Hallelujah. 11 00:00:30,900 --> 00:00:35,900 Amen, so good to see you in the house of the Lord. 12 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:42,900 Be turning with me to the book of Psalms, chapter 61. 13 00:00:46,780 --> 00:00:51,780 Psalm 61, gonna be our launch pad this morning. 14 00:00:51,780 --> 00:00:56,780 Psalm 61, anytime you see me break out this color of paper, 15 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,300 you know the Lord been talking to me this morning 16 00:01:09,460 --> 00:01:13,300 because it hadn't made it to TypeScript, 17 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:18,300 so this is the handwritten, I call them the scrolls. 18 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:21,300 Yeah, and with the breeze, it's blowing. 19 00:01:21,300 --> 00:01:22,400 It's liable to be out there 20 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,140 where you're at here in just a minute. 21 00:01:25,140 --> 00:01:27,840 We're gonna take our launch today from Psalm 61, 22 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,840 but also before I read scripture this morning 23 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,520 and we go to the Lord in prayer, 24 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,780 remember Brother Ron Wood, Brother Al, 25 00:01:37,780 --> 00:01:40,420 his father passed away this weekend, 26 00:01:40,420 --> 00:01:43,220 so remember, remember Brother Ron 27 00:01:43,220 --> 00:01:46,420 as they are making arrangements this morning. 28 00:01:46,420 --> 00:01:48,400 They'll be traveling to South Georgia 29 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:49,660 for the burial this week, 30 00:01:49,660 --> 00:01:51,900 so they got a long, hard week ahead of them, 31 00:01:51,900 --> 00:01:55,000 so remember, remember them in your prayers. 32 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:56,700 Also remember Brother Ledford, 33 00:01:56,700 --> 00:01:59,040 he needs a touch in his body today 34 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,580 as he's battling some sickness. 35 00:02:01,580 --> 00:02:04,540 And remember Brother Doug Simpson this morning, 36 00:02:04,540 --> 00:02:07,320 who's sick, needs a touch from the Lord. 37 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:11,320 As we read our text this morning from Psalms 61, 38 00:02:12,180 --> 00:02:14,960 just a few verses here, it's a short text 39 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,120 but I'm not gonna read it all. 40 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:20,800 Hear my cry, O God, attend unto my prayer. 41 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,160 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee 42 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,000 when my heart is overwhelmed. 43 00:02:30,340 --> 00:02:34,100 Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 44 00:02:35,100 --> 00:02:38,680 for thou hast been my shelter for me 45 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,680 and a strong tower from the enemy. 46 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,680 A man, that's so rich right there, isn't it? 47 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,960 Lead me to the rock that's higher than I, 48 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:51,360 I wanna preach to us on this memorial weekend, 49 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,420 on this simple thought. 50 00:02:53,420 --> 00:02:56,960 Remember the stone of the memorials. 51 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,140 Remember the stones of the memorial. 52 00:03:00,140 --> 00:03:01,960 Amen. 53 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:04,480 Let's see what the Spirit of the Lord has to say to us today. 54 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,340 Father, we love you, we thank you for your goodness 55 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:08,480 and your mercy and the abundance of your grace and love. 56 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,140 I thank you for your grace and your love. 57 00:03:10,140 --> 00:03:12,140 In the abundance of your grace and love, 58 00:03:12,140 --> 00:03:16,580 I ask God that you would be with us as you are already. 59 00:03:16,580 --> 00:03:19,860 Draw even more near to us, close to us, 60 00:03:19,860 --> 00:03:21,360 sweet heavenly Father. 61 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,820 And Lord, as we encounter your goodness and your mercy 62 00:03:23,820 --> 00:03:26,360 and your grace and the power of your word, 63 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,760 Lord, let us leave here enriched by it, 64 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,040 strengthened through it, 65 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,000 overcomers by it, in Christ's holy name. 66 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,400 And the church said, amen. 67 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,400 Okay, you neighbor, let's remember the stones. 68 00:03:44,780 --> 00:03:48,420 Some of you just had a flash of a kidney stone. 69 00:03:48,420 --> 00:03:51,120 Yeah, I knew it, I knew it, I felt that. 70 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,620 I thought somebody just thought, I remember that stone. 71 00:03:54,620 --> 00:03:58,220 Brother David, it's gonna take a few minutes 72 00:03:58,220 --> 00:04:01,120 for him to get back here with us. 73 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,940 On this Memorial Day weekend, 74 00:04:06,940 --> 00:04:09,100 when we think about memorial, 75 00:04:09,100 --> 00:04:11,100 it's a call to remember. 76 00:04:13,340 --> 00:04:16,040 That's what memorials are for. 77 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:20,040 They are placed, dotted throughout our landscape, 78 00:04:22,420 --> 00:04:24,580 which calls us to remember. 79 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,660 For our nation, we need to be reminded 80 00:04:28,660 --> 00:04:30,660 and we need to remember. 81 00:04:32,220 --> 00:04:34,660 For this weekend tomorrow, especially as a day 82 00:04:34,660 --> 00:04:38,840 where we take into account the sum 1.3 million lives 83 00:04:40,940 --> 00:04:43,940 of servicemen who died on active duty. 84 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:50,040 Some 646, 47,000 of them lost their lives in battle. 85 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:56,380 Another 540,000 lost their lives in service 86 00:04:58,460 --> 00:05:00,620 in non-combat situations. 87 00:05:00,620 --> 00:05:03,460 For the church, a call to remember 88 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:13,440 that 13 Christians are killed daily around the world. 89 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:15,840 At least 13 a day. 90 00:05:15,840 --> 00:05:19,580 Some 5,000 believers a year lose their life 91 00:05:22,580 --> 00:05:26,740 in the service for the Lord, simply because of their faith. 92 00:05:26,740 --> 00:05:30,920 When we stop to think about this, we cannot forget. 93 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,660 As we look around the landscape from coast to coast, 94 00:05:37,660 --> 00:05:41,020 we have the Vietnam Memorial to remind us 95 00:05:41,020 --> 00:05:44,460 of a nation's call to remember. 96 00:05:44,460 --> 00:05:48,460 We have the latest monuments for the World War II 97 00:05:48,460 --> 00:05:52,640 servicemen and women who lost their lives to remind us. 98 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,980 We cannot forget the price that was paid 99 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,720 for the liberty that we have this morning, 100 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:02,080 for this liberty. 101 00:06:04,280 --> 00:06:07,960 Thousands, millions around the world are able 102 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:12,800 to exercise liberties that they would not have 103 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,000 been privileged to had it not been for those 104 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:20,160 500 plus thousand men and women who gave their life 105 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:23,840 in combat, 600 plus thousand that gave their life 106 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:27,700 around the continents so that people could have 107 00:06:27,700 --> 00:06:29,600 freedom from tyranny. 108 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:31,440 Amen? 109 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:33,440 So we can't forget that. 110 00:06:34,540 --> 00:06:38,720 For people of God, we can't forget the scores of millions 111 00:06:42,580 --> 00:06:46,120 that have died since Christ's birth and death. 112 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:50,300 Millions, tens of millions have died because of their faith 113 00:06:53,300 --> 00:06:57,400 in Christ and their acceptance of Christ as Lord 114 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,540 and Savior and the Son of the living God. 115 00:06:59,540 --> 00:07:02,640 Millions of fellow brothers and sisters 116 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:07,540 have given up their life. 117 00:07:07,540 --> 00:07:09,380 Think about that, we think that's over. 118 00:07:09,380 --> 00:07:12,520 We let our minds go to the Roman Coliseums 119 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:14,920 and the lions devouring their bodies 120 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:17,960 and we think that is martyrdom. 121 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:19,820 But people are dying today. 122 00:07:19,820 --> 00:07:23,460 13 people around this world will die today 123 00:07:23,460 --> 00:07:26,960 because of their faith in Jesus Christ. 124 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:28,260 I don't know about you but that seems 125 00:07:28,260 --> 00:07:31,160 such a foreign thought to me. 126 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,900 It's hard for me to grasp that idea 127 00:07:33,900 --> 00:07:37,700 until you get around the world and you see the oppression 128 00:07:37,700 --> 00:07:39,240 that the world brings against. 129 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:44,040 So I am grateful and thankful that I live in a nation 130 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:48,220 where I can express my freedom and worship of Jesus Christ. 131 00:07:48,220 --> 00:07:49,060 Amen? 132 00:07:50,220 --> 00:07:52,720 So as people of God, we have to be reminded, 133 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:56,900 Deuteronomy 6 and 12, we see Moses reminding the Israelites. 134 00:07:58,300 --> 00:08:02,160 He's telling them to beware lest you forget the Lord 135 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:04,800 who brought you up out of the land of Egypt 136 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:07,040 from the hands of bondage. 137 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,380 Jeremiah 18, 15, the prophet reminded the people 138 00:08:13,380 --> 00:08:17,380 because my people have forgotten me, the Lord said. 139 00:08:17,380 --> 00:08:18,540 Why? 140 00:08:18,540 --> 00:08:20,420 They're about to be carried away into captivity 141 00:08:20,420 --> 00:08:22,180 because they had forgotten the Lord. 142 00:08:22,180 --> 00:08:25,580 Earlier in Jeremiah, I was writing 143 00:08:25,580 --> 00:08:30,420 second chapter 32nd verse, can a bride forget her attire? 144 00:08:30,420 --> 00:08:34,600 Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. 145 00:08:36,540 --> 00:08:38,500 I would think and from what we read 146 00:08:38,500 --> 00:08:41,700 and this is just a very scratch of the surface, 147 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:44,300 God desires relationship with us, 148 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:49,140 I think at a greater level than many of us desire with him. 149 00:08:49,140 --> 00:08:50,740 It was his heart who was broken 150 00:08:50,740 --> 00:08:52,820 because his people had gone astray. 151 00:08:52,820 --> 00:08:56,620 It was he who was devastated because they had forgotten him 152 00:08:56,620 --> 00:09:01,580 and he's actually numbering the days, days without end. 153 00:09:01,580 --> 00:09:04,820 They have forgotten me and turned away from me. 154 00:09:04,820 --> 00:09:07,860 But if they would just be reminded, amen, of who 155 00:09:07,860 --> 00:09:12,300 and how faithful God is and God had been for their lives, 156 00:09:12,300 --> 00:09:15,140 then they would live in the fullness 157 00:09:15,140 --> 00:09:18,140 of the blessings of God throughout Israel's history, 158 00:09:18,140 --> 00:09:19,980 throughout our nation's history. 159 00:09:19,980 --> 00:09:24,480 There are stone monuments resurrected all over the landscape 160 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:28,680 that remind us of where we have been 161 00:09:28,680 --> 00:09:31,480 and to be reminded that we don't wanna go back 162 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,060 that way again. 163 00:09:33,060 --> 00:09:35,180 There is, and you've heard me say it before, 164 00:09:35,180 --> 00:09:38,700 there's an attack on monuments in our society 165 00:09:38,700 --> 00:09:41,020 because of what it reminds people of. 166 00:09:41,020 --> 00:09:43,540 But you wanna tell some people, duh, 167 00:09:43,540 --> 00:09:45,240 that's what it's there for. 168 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,540 It's supposed to offend you. 169 00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:52,180 It's supposed to remind us of our offenses 170 00:09:52,180 --> 00:09:55,380 against each other and remind us of our offenses 171 00:09:55,380 --> 00:09:58,940 against God and we're not to go back by that way. 172 00:09:58,940 --> 00:10:02,280 If our landscape is removed of our memorials, 173 00:10:02,280 --> 00:10:05,720 how will our children know what has taken place 174 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:06,980 in our history? 175 00:10:06,980 --> 00:10:09,460 They're sure not gonna get a good dose of it in school. 176 00:10:09,460 --> 00:10:11,160 I can tell you that right now. 177 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:14,420 But when we're driving across the landscape, 178 00:10:14,420 --> 00:10:17,440 you can drive around Cleveland and you'll see monuments 179 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:20,660 that mark the history of our city and of this town. 180 00:10:20,660 --> 00:10:23,940 And it would behoove us to know it would behoove me 181 00:10:23,940 --> 00:10:26,500 to stop and to learn about some of the history 182 00:10:26,500 --> 00:10:29,540 that has taken place here so that we might not repeat 183 00:10:29,540 --> 00:10:33,380 some of it and that we might repeat other forms of it. 184 00:10:33,380 --> 00:10:34,780 They're not all bad. 185 00:10:34,780 --> 00:10:37,680 Some of our memorials are there to mark reminders 186 00:10:37,680 --> 00:10:39,280 of the goodness of humanity. 187 00:10:40,220 --> 00:10:41,260 Amen? 188 00:10:41,260 --> 00:10:42,560 Of the goodness of humanity. 189 00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:45,460 But yet there are the others that are on the landscape 190 00:10:45,460 --> 00:10:49,400 to remind us we do not want to repeat these offenses again 191 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,060 because thousands died and bled here. 192 00:10:52,060 --> 00:10:54,140 Think about a Gettysburg monument. 193 00:10:54,140 --> 00:10:58,540 The 50 plus thousand men that died there at Gettysburg 194 00:10:58,540 --> 00:11:01,700 in battle because of the atrocities of humanity 195 00:11:01,700 --> 00:11:03,580 against each other. 196 00:11:03,580 --> 00:11:04,780 Amen? 197 00:11:04,780 --> 00:11:05,940 We don't want to go back by that way again, 198 00:11:05,940 --> 00:11:08,320 but if you were to remove all the memorials 199 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,620 and you try to displace the history, 200 00:11:10,620 --> 00:11:15,220 then history will inevitably repeat itself. 201 00:11:15,220 --> 00:11:17,060 And so with us as believers, 202 00:11:17,060 --> 00:11:20,260 we have to be reminded of where the stones are. 203 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,360 The stones are memorials. 204 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,240 They are placed for reminders. 205 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:28,460 And so I found a few stones that we want to talk about 206 00:11:28,460 --> 00:11:32,100 before we, I'm gonna try not to be too lengthy 207 00:11:32,100 --> 00:11:33,900 so we can get on about today. 208 00:11:33,900 --> 00:11:36,080 You know we wouldn't be lengthy if we was outside. 209 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:39,180 15 minutes, we'd been already eating hamburger. 210 00:11:39,180 --> 00:11:41,220 But we're in here today, 211 00:11:41,220 --> 00:11:43,380 and it's gonna be a little bit more than 15 minutes 212 00:11:43,380 --> 00:11:45,220 before you get your burger. 213 00:11:45,220 --> 00:11:46,520 Amen? 214 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:48,980 Because the Lord has stirred me today to remind the church 215 00:11:48,980 --> 00:11:52,960 that we need to remember the stones of the memorials 216 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,800 of our lives and of our history and of our faith. 217 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,060 The people of God must be reminded. 218 00:11:58,060 --> 00:12:00,260 So what I want to look at first of all 219 00:12:00,260 --> 00:12:01,940 is the teaching of the stones. 220 00:12:01,940 --> 00:12:05,580 The first stone we'll find is in Joshua chapter four, 221 00:12:05,580 --> 00:12:07,540 after the Jordan crossing, 222 00:12:07,540 --> 00:12:09,980 after they pick up their 12 stones, 223 00:12:09,980 --> 00:12:12,980 after the faithfulness of God over the Israelite people, 224 00:12:12,980 --> 00:12:15,820 after Jordan has stood at attention on the right 225 00:12:15,820 --> 00:12:18,120 and on the left and they have crossed over, 226 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,920 Joshua gets an instruction from the Lord. 227 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,460 Pick you out 12 men, tell them to go back out 228 00:12:23,460 --> 00:12:26,460 where the priests were standing holding the ark, 229 00:12:26,460 --> 00:12:27,760 where my presence is, 230 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:31,200 I want them to pick up a stone and bring it back, 231 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,640 and I want you to erect it together, 232 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,240 put it together, pile it one upon another, 233 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,740 and make a memorial of it there. 234 00:12:38,740 --> 00:12:41,340 And so the teaching aspect comes in this, 235 00:12:41,340 --> 00:12:42,540 and I can see Joshua saying, 236 00:12:42,540 --> 00:12:44,780 God, why do we need to do that? 237 00:12:44,780 --> 00:12:46,380 Good question, Joshua. 238 00:12:46,380 --> 00:12:48,640 This is what I want you to tell the people, 239 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,880 that in the future when your children are passing by 240 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,060 and they're coming by the banks of the Jordan 241 00:12:54,060 --> 00:12:56,220 and they see these stones stacked up 242 00:12:56,220 --> 00:12:59,700 and they're gonna ask you, what meaneth these stones? 243 00:12:59,700 --> 00:13:02,520 And here's what I want you to tell them, 244 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:06,660 I want you to remind them of the 400 years of bondage 245 00:13:06,660 --> 00:13:08,700 that I delivered them from. 246 00:13:08,700 --> 00:13:11,940 I want you to remind them of all of the aspects 247 00:13:11,940 --> 00:13:14,600 of that deliverance, remind them of the 10 plagues 248 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:16,580 that were in Egypt, you tell them, 249 00:13:16,580 --> 00:13:20,480 you remind them of Moses who stood at a burning bush 250 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:25,020 and heard my voice and my declaration, I am that I am. 251 00:13:25,020 --> 00:13:27,920 You remind them that's what these stones stand for. 252 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,960 You remind them of the 40 years of rebellion 253 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:33,560 when you didn't do what I instructed you to do. 254 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:37,120 You remind them that they had to walk around for 40 years 255 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,060 and waiting till we come back to this full circle, 256 00:13:40,060 --> 00:13:42,260 if you will, to get to these stones. 257 00:13:42,260 --> 00:13:44,900 You remind the children that while they marched 258 00:13:44,900 --> 00:13:48,300 for 40 years, their clothes didn't grow old, 259 00:13:48,300 --> 00:13:50,180 their shoes grew with their feet. 260 00:13:50,180 --> 00:13:52,280 You remind them that manna fell, 261 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,420 that I fed them every single day 262 00:13:55,420 --> 00:13:57,040 that they were in the wilderness. 263 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:59,480 You remind them that it wasn't just manna, 264 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,620 but fowl fell out of the air, 265 00:14:01,620 --> 00:14:03,120 quail would be at their feet 266 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:04,660 and so that they would have me. 267 00:14:04,660 --> 00:14:06,860 You remind them of the rock 268 00:14:06,860 --> 00:14:09,260 that followed them through the wilderness 269 00:14:09,260 --> 00:14:11,460 and the water come out of it every day. 270 00:14:11,460 --> 00:14:14,000 Even though they were in a dry, thirsty, 271 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,200 barren wilderness that I watered and I fed 272 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,800 and they had fresh supply every day, 273 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:22,240 they didn't pick up a week's worth on Monday, 274 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:23,500 they had fresh supply. 275 00:14:23,500 --> 00:14:25,640 Can I preach to somebody today? 276 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,880 I'm here to remind you that you've got a fresh supply 277 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:30,520 every single day. 278 00:14:30,520 --> 00:14:33,980 Tell your children that I was with them. 279 00:14:33,980 --> 00:14:36,520 You remind them that when Aaron and her 280 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,860 sustained the hands of Moses, 281 00:14:38,860 --> 00:14:41,260 when he's tired of interceding for them, 282 00:14:41,260 --> 00:14:43,900 that I swayed the battle, hallelujah. 283 00:14:43,900 --> 00:14:46,500 You let them know that I was with you. 284 00:14:46,500 --> 00:14:50,300 Tell your children the law that I have commanded you. 285 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:53,800 Don't forget the stones of Jordan. 286 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:57,340 They are there for their teaching and their instruction. 287 00:14:57,340 --> 00:14:59,800 My Lord, we talked a little bit about the anchors 288 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:01,340 of Pentecost last week. 289 00:15:01,340 --> 00:15:04,440 I could have saved that for stones of Pentecost. 290 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,440 Amen, we need to remind our church today 291 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,640 of the power that God has promised 292 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:12,080 and the provision that he is making on our behalf, 293 00:15:12,080 --> 00:15:15,760 on your behalf, the battles that he's interceding for, 294 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,960 the healing that he tied for. 295 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,000 We need to tell our children not only the testimonies 296 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,600 of yesteryear, but I think they need to see the power 297 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,760 and the manifestation of God in their day 298 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,300 as they are walking about. 299 00:15:29,300 --> 00:15:31,640 When they come into church, may it be they 300 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:35,000 who had to pick up a stone and make a memorial 301 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,240 so that they'll always be reminded. 302 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,440 They can never forget the goodness of God. 303 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:46,080 That's what it was all about. 304 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,420 That's what it was all about, it's the teaching stone, 305 00:15:49,420 --> 00:15:53,600 the goodness of God that they would not fail to remember 306 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:57,960 that there was a shadow of a cloud by day, 307 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,640 but there was a fire to illuminate by night. 308 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,360 They never wondered they were led. 309 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,540 Can I get a witness right there? 310 00:16:05,540 --> 00:16:08,840 They didn't, some people think they wandered 311 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:09,940 through the wilderness. 312 00:16:09,940 --> 00:16:12,680 They did not wander through the wilderness, they were led. 313 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:14,520 They didn't move until the cloud moved. 314 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:16,520 Can I get a witness in the house? 315 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:18,620 They didn't move until the cloud went for it. 316 00:16:18,620 --> 00:16:21,220 Wherever the cloud stood still, they pitched camp. 317 00:16:21,220 --> 00:16:23,460 They laid out the camp the way God ordered the camp 318 00:16:23,460 --> 00:16:27,020 to be laid out and they waited for it to move, hallelujah. 319 00:16:27,020 --> 00:16:29,620 One of my favorite stories and a message I preached 320 00:16:29,620 --> 00:16:33,000 many, many years ago, what happens when the wheels fall off? 321 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:36,500 You remind your children of the day when Pharaoh's army 322 00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:40,340 was catching up to them and God dispatched an angelic pit 323 00:16:40,340 --> 00:16:43,480 crew and took every wheel off every chariot 324 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,040 until they drug in the sand. 325 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:50,520 My God, what a story to be reminded that God dispatched 326 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,080 an angel and the angels took the wheels off of the chariot 327 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:57,120 until they drug in the sand. 328 00:16:59,860 --> 00:17:01,160 I love that story. 329 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,840 It's a teaching moment, it's a learning moment for us 330 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:07,800 that nothing is too difficult 331 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,740 nor too outlandish in our thinking for God 332 00:17:12,740 --> 00:17:16,540 but do on our behalf. 333 00:17:16,540 --> 00:17:17,780 So you got a teaching stone. 334 00:17:17,780 --> 00:17:19,320 Second stone I wanna look at this morning 335 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:21,080 for a little while is that witness stone. 336 00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:24,580 Woo, we need a witness stone. 337 00:17:24,580 --> 00:17:27,080 The stone of the witness, right? 338 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:28,760 The stone of the witness you'll read about 339 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:29,960 in First Samuel seven. 340 00:17:31,060 --> 00:17:33,360 It's after Eli the priest has died 341 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:35,960 and the Ark of the Covenant had been carried away, 342 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:37,800 they'd went and got the Ark. 343 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,960 It's been now 20 years at Abinadab's place. 344 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,500 Now I don't believe them, this is another story. 345 00:17:43,500 --> 00:17:45,200 Abinadab had took it to his house 346 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,580 and he had anointed and placed his son Eleazar 347 00:17:48,580 --> 00:17:50,380 to watch over the Ark. 348 00:17:50,380 --> 00:17:53,080 And it had been there for 20 years. 349 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:54,840 And Samuel comes before the people, 350 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,120 they're under the bondage of the Philistines 351 00:17:57,120 --> 00:17:58,780 and he reminds the people, 352 00:17:58,780 --> 00:18:00,960 hey, you need to turn back to God. 353 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:03,920 You remember what God told us, you remember what God said 354 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,720 and if you'll repent, God will be on our side. 355 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:09,060 And lo and behold, they told Samuel, 356 00:18:09,060 --> 00:18:12,460 we're gonna quit serving the gods of the Asherah poles 357 00:18:12,460 --> 00:18:15,260 and Balaam and we're gonna turn back to God. 358 00:18:15,260 --> 00:18:18,260 But they said this, when the Philistines heard about it 359 00:18:18,260 --> 00:18:21,640 and they began to gather around to make war against Israel, 360 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:23,300 the people come to Samuel said, 361 00:18:23,300 --> 00:18:27,080 would you continue to entreat the Lord for us? 362 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:28,580 What does that mean, pastor? 363 00:18:28,580 --> 00:18:30,780 Will you keep on praying? 364 00:18:30,780 --> 00:18:32,520 Will you keep on seeking God? 365 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,380 Will you keep on crying out to God for us 366 00:18:35,380 --> 00:18:37,580 because we are afraid of what the enemy 367 00:18:37,580 --> 00:18:39,260 is coming against us to do? 368 00:18:39,260 --> 00:18:42,860 And Samuel kept on praying and he heard from the Lord 369 00:18:42,860 --> 00:18:44,700 and when the Philistines come up against him 370 00:18:44,700 --> 00:18:47,160 to make battle, the scripture says 371 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:49,960 that the Lord thundered with a great thunder 372 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,100 and he disconfitted the enemy. 373 00:18:52,100 --> 00:18:53,940 Can I tell somebody today, 374 00:18:53,940 --> 00:18:55,940 if you'll just keep on interceding, 375 00:18:55,940 --> 00:18:57,480 if you'll just keep on praying, 376 00:18:57,480 --> 00:18:59,440 when the enemy comes up against you, 377 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:01,180 God will be a witness to you. 378 00:19:01,180 --> 00:19:03,320 God will witness against your situation. 379 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,480 If he has to thunder a great thunder, 380 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,280 if he has to send down an angel to take the wheels off, 381 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,760 it doesn't matter, he'll do whatever is necessary 382 00:19:11,760 --> 00:19:15,520 to redeem you, to restore you, to refresh you, 383 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,020 to deliver you. 384 00:19:17,020 --> 00:19:20,000 So he done exactly what needed 385 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:22,360 and so it's there after this encounter 386 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:28,640 that he recognizes, Samuel recognizes 387 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:33,080 that God has heard us and he's helped us. 388 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:38,080 So he raises up a stone and he calls it the Ebenezer stone. 389 00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:43,420 Ebenezer, which means the Lord has helped. 390 00:19:44,460 --> 00:19:45,920 The Lord has helped. 391 00:19:45,920 --> 00:19:50,160 Now, every time an Israelite from later on would come by 392 00:19:50,160 --> 00:19:53,160 and they'd see that stack of stones standing up, 393 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:54,460 what does that mean? 394 00:19:54,460 --> 00:19:55,760 Well, it's Ebenezer. 395 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:58,200 That means it was here that the Lord heard 396 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,240 and the Lord showed up and helped. 397 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,500 Now, God, somebody needs to get an Ebenezer stone ready. 398 00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:05,680 You need to start gathering up some things 399 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,440 to raise up a memorial because God is about to answer. 400 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:11,240 You're praying, you're interceding. 401 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,520 You need to know this today that we intercede for you. 402 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,520 Sister Kathy and I pray for you on a daily basis. 403 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,960 We ask God to help you so you don't have to worry 404 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,320 about your Samuel figure praying for you because we are. 405 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:25,500 We're calling out to God on your behalf. 406 00:20:25,500 --> 00:20:27,260 We're asking God to comfort you. 407 00:20:27,260 --> 00:20:29,100 We're asking God to deliver you. 408 00:20:29,100 --> 00:20:32,360 We're asking God to add the peace of his grace in your life. 409 00:20:32,360 --> 00:20:34,440 We're crying on a daily basis. 410 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:36,300 So I'm getting a stone ready. 411 00:20:36,300 --> 00:20:39,800 Every time a testimony comes of deliverance in your life, 412 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:43,780 I put one more stone on it because I have remembered 413 00:20:43,780 --> 00:20:46,580 the memorial of the stone of Ebenezer 414 00:20:46,580 --> 00:20:50,280 that the Lord has heard and the Lord has helped. 415 00:20:51,180 --> 00:20:52,220 Hallelujah. 416 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:55,320 It's the stone of the witness, 417 00:20:55,320 --> 00:21:00,320 the witness of God's help, the witness of God's grace. 418 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:06,000 Hitherto the Lord has helped us. 419 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,400 Anybody been helped of the Lord lately? 420 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:11,500 I guarantee you I have. 421 00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:13,040 I'm standing here this morning. 422 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,100 Had the Lord not heard and helped, 423 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:18,680 I probably wouldn't be standing here preaching 424 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,040 like I'm preaching this morning. 425 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:25,280 He's heard and I'm polishing up my Ebenezer stone 426 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:30,280 as a witness to the faithfulness of God 427 00:21:31,460 --> 00:21:33,280 and the goodness of God's grace. 428 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,020 Third stone to mention this morning 429 00:21:35,020 --> 00:21:37,560 is the stone of inspiration. 430 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:41,320 The stone of inspiration. 431 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:45,040 Back to that Joshua 4 declaration of those 12 stones. 432 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:50,940 In the 24th verse, Joshua told them, said that 433 00:21:50,940 --> 00:21:53,600 the reason these stones are going up, 434 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,880 as if you might fear the Lord your God forever. 435 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,120 That's an inspirational statement. 436 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,040 I want you to stack up these stones 437 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:04,620 and I want you to tell your children 438 00:22:04,620 --> 00:22:06,920 why they are there when you walk by. 439 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:08,760 Matter of fact, you might order to go out of your way 440 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:09,720 and take them by. 441 00:22:11,420 --> 00:22:12,260 Hello? 442 00:22:14,460 --> 00:22:17,120 It'd be good, I love it that our kids are in this service 443 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:19,040 every once in a while. 444 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:19,860 Why? 445 00:22:19,860 --> 00:22:20,840 Because they need to see the stones. 446 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:22,900 There's a day coming they're not gonna hear, 447 00:22:22,900 --> 00:22:25,800 they're not gonna hear a preacher throw it down 448 00:22:25,800 --> 00:22:27,400 like your fat preacher does. 449 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:31,040 It's slowly moving away. 450 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,840 This style of ministering the gospel slowly moving by. 451 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:35,220 They're gonna come a day they'll go 452 00:22:35,220 --> 00:22:40,120 and they'll not hear the drive of the preaching of the word. 453 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,060 I hate to say that but it's so you can look around you. 454 00:22:44,060 --> 00:22:46,120 Thank for the Lord has sent us some folks our way 455 00:22:46,120 --> 00:22:48,760 to help carry on the mantle. 456 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:49,600 Amen? 457 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,100 Okay, carry on the mantle. 458 00:22:53,100 --> 00:22:54,800 I've said over the years there's a little bit 459 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,200 of every pastor that I sat under in my ministry. 460 00:22:59,300 --> 00:23:01,800 I wish there were a few more ingredients of a few of them 461 00:23:03,800 --> 00:23:06,640 than some of the major ingredients I got from the others. 462 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:08,520 Amen. 463 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,820 The stone of inspiration, we need to be inspired 464 00:23:12,820 --> 00:23:14,620 by the memorials that are left around us. 465 00:23:14,620 --> 00:23:16,760 We need to be stirred in our heart 466 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,460 that we may never forget the Lord. 467 00:23:19,460 --> 00:23:21,760 That fear of the Lord is not to be just hiding 468 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:25,160 in a corner covered up to be away from God, 469 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:26,960 to be scared of God. 470 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:28,660 It's to be in awe of God. 471 00:23:28,660 --> 00:23:32,440 It's to revere God that you'll always revere him 472 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:34,580 and that you'll always allot him 473 00:23:34,580 --> 00:23:37,080 and that you will always have honor for him. 474 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:41,240 Amen, that you will always stand in awe of him. 475 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,480 I think sometimes we throw that word awesome around 476 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:46,120 just a little bit too much 477 00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:49,380 because there's only one awesome one and that is God. 478 00:23:49,380 --> 00:23:50,960 There's some good things on this earth, 479 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:54,220 but there's only one that I truly stand in awe of 480 00:23:54,220 --> 00:23:57,720 and who is awesome, the sum total of all 481 00:23:57,720 --> 00:23:59,600 and that is God himself. 482 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:01,860 And that's what Joshua is telling me. 483 00:24:01,860 --> 00:24:04,940 I want you to stand in awe in reverence to God 484 00:24:04,940 --> 00:24:07,900 and always have that fear, that godly fear 485 00:24:07,900 --> 00:24:09,540 that is in and over your life. 486 00:24:09,540 --> 00:24:12,820 Always knowing that he is high and lifted up 487 00:24:12,820 --> 00:24:16,080 and he's on the throne of eternity and he is your creator. 488 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:17,720 He is the author and the finisher of all 489 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:18,880 that is in your life. 490 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,060 I want you to stand in awe of him forever. 491 00:24:22,060 --> 00:24:23,380 Amen. 492 00:24:23,380 --> 00:24:25,560 Look at our culture today. 493 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,120 There's only one way that people could act the way they do 494 00:24:28,120 --> 00:24:29,320 and why they act the way they do 495 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:32,760 is because they have lost any fear of God. 496 00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:38,900 When we were children my age and back, 497 00:24:38,900 --> 00:24:43,080 if anybody even had an idea of desecrating a cemetery, 498 00:24:46,340 --> 00:24:47,840 they were in fear. 499 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:48,680 Right? 500 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:54,660 Desecrate, even most vile sinners wouldn't desecrate 501 00:24:57,760 --> 00:25:00,000 the church unless it was a Pentecostal church 502 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:04,800 and he's trying to blow them up and burn them down. 503 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,500 But that was just because of conviction. 504 00:25:07,500 --> 00:25:08,800 Hello? 505 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:12,000 Just because of conviction, the devil stir them up. 506 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,580 A lot of those that lit the fuses and lit the matches 507 00:25:14,580 --> 00:25:17,280 ended up getting saved, fighting to fill the oligos 508 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,120 and regretted doing what they did. 509 00:25:21,780 --> 00:25:25,960 But it's a good thing to have a reverent fear of God. 510 00:25:27,620 --> 00:25:30,960 It brings a positive effect to our lives, 511 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,020 benefits from the fear of the Lord. 512 00:25:34,020 --> 00:25:35,500 Proverbs nine and 10 says, 513 00:25:35,500 --> 00:25:39,060 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 514 00:25:39,060 --> 00:25:41,800 10 27, it adds length to our life. 515 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:45,300 Proverbs two and five, the fear of the Lord 516 00:25:45,300 --> 00:25:47,080 helps us gain knowledge of God. 517 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,580 Proverbs 14 26, the fear of the Lord brings strength 518 00:25:50,580 --> 00:25:53,320 and confidence because of who God is. 519 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:58,080 Proverbs 16 and six, it'll cause you to depart from evil. 520 00:25:58,080 --> 00:25:59,280 The fear of the Lord. 521 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:01,520 Proverbs 22 and four, the benefit is this, 522 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:05,460 it will bring in riches and honor and long life. 523 00:26:05,460 --> 00:26:07,060 The fear of the Lord. 524 00:26:07,060 --> 00:26:08,360 Why? 525 00:26:08,360 --> 00:26:10,200 Because if you're in awe of him and reverence to him, 526 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:12,460 you'll do everything in your strength 527 00:26:12,460 --> 00:26:14,400 to keep from offending him. 528 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:15,640 Amen? 529 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,000 Because people have said in their heart these days, 530 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:21,300 there is no God, then evil begins to reign 531 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:23,380 and run rampant across the land. 532 00:26:23,380 --> 00:26:25,040 And I've told you before, you know, 533 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:26,840 the reason that they want the removal 534 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:28,880 of the 10 commandments from sight, 535 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,780 from school, from court, from any other place, 536 00:26:31,780 --> 00:26:34,360 because it brings man into the accountability 537 00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:38,160 that there is one who sits in judgment over all. 538 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:39,360 Amen? 539 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:40,800 And they're not on a bench in a courtroom, 540 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:42,660 but he's on the throne of heaven. 541 00:26:42,660 --> 00:26:43,760 Hallelujah. 542 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:46,400 And on earth is his footstool. 543 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:49,060 And there is a reminder there because of conviction 544 00:26:49,060 --> 00:26:52,600 that God is always watching and he sees all. 545 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:55,140 And that there is a reckoning day coming. 546 00:26:55,140 --> 00:26:56,780 Oh, let me remind you today, 547 00:26:56,780 --> 00:26:58,880 there's a reckoning day coming. 548 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,340 And that's the reason that we need to have a fear 549 00:27:01,340 --> 00:27:04,480 and an awe and be inspired by that 550 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:06,720 so that we do not offend God. 551 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:07,560 Amen? 552 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:08,780 Do not sin against him. 553 00:27:08,780 --> 00:27:11,260 That's why we raise up our children 554 00:27:11,260 --> 00:27:12,560 in the way that they should go. 555 00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:15,600 That one day, after they strive after him in their youth, 556 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,600 that they might not sin against him. 557 00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:18,640 Amen? 558 00:27:18,640 --> 00:27:20,440 And that's why we have the reminders 559 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:23,240 of the memorials that dot the landscape 560 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:24,600 throughout the scripture. 561 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:26,680 That we know that there is a God 562 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:28,480 who sits high on the throne. 563 00:27:28,480 --> 00:27:29,400 Amen? 564 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:32,040 And that he is the one who watches over 565 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,080 the stone of inspiration. 566 00:27:36,780 --> 00:27:38,180 Be the stone of Gilgal, 567 00:27:38,180 --> 00:27:42,720 where the reproach was rolled away 568 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:44,920 and a stone was raised up in Gilgal. 569 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:50,000 The reproach has been rolled away. 570 00:27:51,540 --> 00:27:54,640 So we have that stone of inspiration. 571 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:56,580 And then the final stone I wanna talk to you about 572 00:27:56,580 --> 00:27:57,840 this morning, I'm trying hard. 573 00:27:57,840 --> 00:27:59,040 Oh, we're gonna make it. 574 00:28:00,340 --> 00:28:01,340 We're gonna make it. 575 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,580 Talk to you about the faithful stone. 576 00:28:04,580 --> 00:28:06,580 The stone of inspiration. 577 00:28:06,580 --> 00:28:08,220 The faithful memorial. 578 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:10,720 The faithful stone. 579 00:28:11,860 --> 00:28:14,420 The psalm said in 1 18 22, 580 00:28:14,420 --> 00:28:17,660 the stone which the builders refused 581 00:28:17,660 --> 00:28:19,100 is become the head. 582 00:28:21,540 --> 00:28:24,700 In Matthew 16, Jesus approaches his disciples 583 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:27,600 and we have what is known as the great confession. 584 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:31,340 Jesus comes to his disciples and asks them this question. 585 00:28:31,340 --> 00:28:35,440 Who do men say that I the son of man am? 586 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:37,980 And then they begin to retort and to reply. 587 00:28:37,980 --> 00:28:40,620 Some say Jonah, some say Isaiah, 588 00:28:40,620 --> 00:28:43,320 some say Elias, some say no telling who. 589 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,520 But everybody's got an answer as to who they think you are. 590 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:48,900 And then Jesus pointedly looked at Peter and says, 591 00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:52,100 well, who do you say that I am? 592 00:28:52,100 --> 00:28:55,300 And then there was something stirred up inside of old Peter. 593 00:28:55,300 --> 00:28:57,340 It was a response he couldn't control. 594 00:28:57,340 --> 00:29:01,900 He said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. 595 00:29:01,900 --> 00:29:05,280 And then Jesus returns again and replies to Peter, 596 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,640 blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jonah, 597 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,980 for flesh and blood hasn't revealed this done to you. 598 00:29:10,980 --> 00:29:15,360 But upon this rock, I will build my church. 599 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:16,180 What rock? 600 00:29:16,180 --> 00:29:17,360 It wasn't Peter. 601 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:19,820 His name means Petros, means little stone. 602 00:29:19,820 --> 00:29:22,020 And that's not the reference that Jesus declared 603 00:29:22,020 --> 00:29:23,700 when he said, upon this rock, 604 00:29:23,700 --> 00:29:26,960 upon the Gibraltar of my being the Christ, 605 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:30,300 I am the chief and the head and the cornerstone 606 00:29:30,300 --> 00:29:32,200 all round up together. 607 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:33,980 The stone that the builders rejected 608 00:29:33,980 --> 00:29:35,380 has now become the head. 609 00:29:35,380 --> 00:29:39,340 And upon this rock, I will build my church 610 00:29:39,340 --> 00:29:42,620 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 611 00:29:42,620 --> 00:29:44,820 Let me say something to you this morning. 612 00:29:44,820 --> 00:29:46,680 The faithful stone is the stone 613 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:48,480 and the rock of Jesus Christ. 614 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:49,760 Hallelujah. 615 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:51,460 He is the one that the psalmist said 616 00:29:51,460 --> 00:29:54,200 that lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 617 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:55,460 Hallelujah. 618 00:29:55,460 --> 00:29:56,700 He's the one he declared upon. 619 00:29:56,700 --> 00:29:59,660 He picked me up out of a pit, out of a miry pit, 620 00:29:59,660 --> 00:30:02,900 and he put me upon a rock and he established my going. 621 00:30:02,900 --> 00:30:05,840 I'm here to tell you, there's a faithful stone 622 00:30:05,840 --> 00:30:09,440 and I'm gonna let that memorial be made known today. 623 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:13,220 Call you to remember that God is faithful. 624 00:30:13,220 --> 00:30:14,040 Amen. 625 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:14,880 Amen. 626 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:15,720 Hallelujah. 627 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:16,720 Hallelujah. 628 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:17,720 Hallelujah. 629 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:18,720 Hallelujah. 630 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:19,720 Hallelujah. 631 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:20,720 Hallelujah. 632 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:21,720 Well, hallelujah. 633 00:30:21,720 --> 00:30:22,720 Hallelujah. 634 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:23,720 Hallelujah. 635 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:24,720 The faithful stone. 636 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:25,720 Hallelujah. 637 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:26,720 Hallelujah. 638 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:33,360 The stone which the builders rejected. 639 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:38,900 Never forget the rocky hillside of Calvary 640 00:30:38,900 --> 00:30:42,140 and it ain't nothing but one big rock. 641 00:30:44,540 --> 00:30:48,720 It's on that rock that the memorial stone was suspended 642 00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:51,560 between the heavens and the earth. 643 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:54,160 Jesus Christ. 644 00:30:55,740 --> 00:30:58,940 No wonder the old songwriter penned it well. 645 00:30:58,940 --> 00:31:01,600 Rock of ages, cleft for me. 646 00:31:03,640 --> 00:31:06,040 Let me hide myself in thee. 647 00:31:07,640 --> 00:31:10,640 There's something about them old hymns. 648 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:11,640 Hallelujah. 649 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:15,160 Why, they stir the memorials in your mind. 650 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:16,160 Hallelujah. 651 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:17,160 Hallelujah. 652 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:18,160 Hallelujah. 653 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:20,320 Rock of ages, cleft for me. 654 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:23,500 Amen. 655 00:31:23,500 --> 00:31:25,900 Let me hide myself in thee. 656 00:31:25,900 --> 00:31:27,740 It would be the rock who would be suspended 657 00:31:27,740 --> 00:31:29,000 between the heavens and the earth. 658 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:32,900 So let me remind you of a memorial called Calvary. 659 00:31:32,900 --> 00:31:33,980 It's a memorial. 660 00:31:33,980 --> 00:31:36,280 It's a place where we are called to remembrance 661 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:38,240 that Christ died for us. 662 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,820 The stone of the church. 663 00:31:40,820 --> 00:31:44,980 The headstone that was rejected died for you and I. 664 00:31:44,980 --> 00:31:46,880 He died for you and I. 665 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:52,240 So that we may live in an awe of a wonderful loving God. 666 00:31:53,420 --> 00:31:56,580 But never forget that wonderful loving God 667 00:31:56,580 --> 00:31:59,360 is also a God of judgment. 668 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:00,360 Why, pastor? 669 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:02,360 Because he is righteous. 670 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:09,400 Never forget Calvary. 671 00:32:10,460 --> 00:32:12,700 We cannot forget the cross. 672 00:32:12,700 --> 00:32:16,880 It's the memorial that reminds us of the faithfulness 673 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:20,440 of God and that while we were yet sinners, 674 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:22,180 Christ died for us. 675 00:32:23,580 --> 00:32:27,660 It is the ever reminding episode of John 3, 16 676 00:32:27,660 --> 00:32:31,820 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten 677 00:32:31,820 --> 00:32:35,760 son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish 678 00:32:35,760 --> 00:32:44,760 but have everlasting life. 679 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:48,780 I could take you to the memorial of my salvation. 680 00:32:48,780 --> 00:32:51,100 Used to be a church there but it's long since been 681 00:32:51,100 --> 00:32:54,280 dozed down and hauled off and a new one built up 682 00:32:54,280 --> 00:32:56,480 on top of the hill. 683 00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:00,480 But I guarantee you I could get you within a 10 foot circle. 684 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:04,640 I could get you right there, brother David, really close. 685 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:10,660 To where my stone memorial is. 686 00:33:10,660 --> 00:33:14,820 I can get you right close where I met the faithful stone 687 00:33:14,820 --> 00:33:17,060 and take you really near. 688 00:33:17,060 --> 00:33:21,220 I can remember the time I could take you to the place 689 00:33:21,220 --> 00:33:23,960 where the Lord saved me, right? 690 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:26,960 Where the Lord saved me, right? 691 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:33,400 I think there's a part of that I cannot tell you how 692 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,400 and I cannot tell you why. 693 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:41,800 But I'll tell you all about it in the by and by. 694 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:49,240 I'm doing my best to tell you about it in the here and now. 695 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:52,620 We have a memorial day that we're gonna celebrate 696 00:33:52,620 --> 00:33:55,960 tomorrow and we should do so with honor. 697 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:00,360 Freedom's not cheap, folks, and I don't have to tell you 698 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:03,000 that, freedom's not cheap. 699 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:07,160 It comes with the highest price, far above gold, 700 00:34:07,160 --> 00:34:11,340 diamonds, rubies, any other thing of value in this world. 701 00:34:11,340 --> 00:34:15,500 It came at the price of the son of the living God. 702 00:34:18,740 --> 00:34:21,920 Our freedom is there and the freedom of the living God 703 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:25,220 is there and the freedom of this nation comes 704 00:34:25,220 --> 00:34:28,120 from the highest price that man himself can give 705 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:30,860 and that's all his life's blood. 706 00:34:34,260 --> 00:34:38,360 So that others don't have to fight that battle. 707 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:39,960 But it's something we can't take lightly. 708 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,200 Stand with me, I'm closing. 709 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:45,800 And as you're standing out, those who are gonna hand out 710 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:47,740 and pass out the communion elements, 711 00:34:47,740 --> 00:34:49,300 would you come and get these? 712 00:34:49,300 --> 00:34:52,680 We're gonna participate in one of the greatest memorials. 713 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:54,580 Brother James and Brother Ken, 714 00:34:54,580 --> 00:34:56,580 I think they've got some coming upstairs for you. 715 00:34:56,580 --> 00:35:00,220 We're gonna participate in one of the greatest memorials 716 00:35:00,220 --> 00:35:02,960 left to us and that's this cup. 717 00:35:05,220 --> 00:35:06,600 Go ahead and begin to distribute it, fellas. 718 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:07,800 We'll pray over it in just a minute. 719 00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:10,100 Just go ahead and start handing it out. 720 00:35:10,100 --> 00:35:13,440 It's the cup, the cup of his suffering. 721 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:18,500 In First Corinthians 11, Paul reminds the people 722 00:35:18,500 --> 00:35:21,100 that you're doing this all wrong. 723 00:35:21,100 --> 00:35:22,640 You're coming in here, you're partying, 724 00:35:22,640 --> 00:35:24,440 you're leaving here drunken 725 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:28,080 and that's not what that was all about. 726 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:32,880 Jesus established and Paul again tells them what Jesus said. 727 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:35,920 This bread is my body which is broken for you. 728 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:38,520 This cup is my blood which was poured out 729 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:40,260 for your redemption. 730 00:35:41,220 --> 00:35:43,060 And he said as oft as you do it, 731 00:35:43,060 --> 00:35:49,240 do it in remembrance of me and that's what we're doing. 732 00:35:50,640 --> 00:35:52,940 And he told them there in Corinthians, 733 00:35:52,940 --> 00:35:54,940 he said be prayerful. 734 00:35:56,480 --> 00:35:58,880 Many of your friends and neighbors are already dead 735 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:03,840 and gone because they mistook and misrepresented 736 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:04,680 this meal. 737 00:36:08,060 --> 00:36:11,220 He said let every man examine himself. 738 00:36:11,220 --> 00:36:12,720 Let him be worthy. 739 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:17,000 Well, we automatically begin to say, 740 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:18,740 well there's no way that I'm worthy. 741 00:36:18,740 --> 00:36:20,740 You're right, we can't be worthy of ourself 742 00:36:20,740 --> 00:36:25,400 but what makes us worthy is the righteousness 743 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:29,580 of Jesus Christ and the cleansing of his blood. 744 00:36:29,580 --> 00:36:32,180 I never take this cup, I don't care where I'm at, 745 00:36:32,180 --> 00:36:36,220 what I'm doing, I never put the bread across my lip 746 00:36:36,220 --> 00:36:40,880 or a cup to it until I've repented afresh and new. 747 00:36:40,880 --> 00:36:44,460 I examine my soul and I ask God if there's anything 748 00:36:44,460 --> 00:36:48,400 whatsoever between me and the purge me, cleanse me. 749 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:53,400 I repent before I take that cup 750 00:36:53,400 --> 00:36:54,900 and I encourage you to do the same thing. 751 00:36:54,900 --> 00:36:56,200 We're gonna do that together. 752 00:36:58,380 --> 00:37:01,380 I've had people tell me I'm afraid to take communion. 753 00:37:01,380 --> 00:37:02,640 Don't be afraid to take communion. 754 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:04,580 You don't have to be afraid of communion. 755 00:37:04,580 --> 00:37:09,580 You just have to make yourself right to partake of it. 756 00:37:11,020 --> 00:37:13,220 We all in our sinfulness would be unworthy 757 00:37:15,220 --> 00:37:19,000 but that's the whole purpose of that rock of Calvary. 758 00:37:21,860 --> 00:37:26,300 The faithful stone, Christ himself. 759 00:37:28,100 --> 00:37:30,140 You just take a moment and pray as I'm gonna pray. 760 00:37:30,140 --> 00:37:31,400 Father, I love you today. 761 00:37:31,400 --> 00:37:34,500 I thank you so much for your goodness 762 00:37:35,780 --> 00:37:38,640 and as we are about to and I'm about to participate 763 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:40,540 in taking of the cup and the bread, 764 00:37:43,220 --> 00:37:46,180 I do repent humbly before you today. 765 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:51,760 If I've committed any sins against you or against others, 766 00:37:51,760 --> 00:37:53,120 please forgive me. 767 00:37:54,500 --> 00:37:55,320 I repent. 768 00:37:56,660 --> 00:37:59,200 If I've omitted obedience, 769 00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:02,480 if I've omitted and sinned against you 770 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:05,640 by things I have not done and should have done 771 00:38:05,640 --> 00:38:08,020 in disobedience, forgive me today. 772 00:38:10,120 --> 00:38:11,620 Forgive me today. 773 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:14,920 Cleanse my heart and life 774 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:20,020 as I examine myself according to your word. 775 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:25,800 Forgive me today, Lord. 776 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:27,120 Forgive me today, Lord. 777 00:38:29,100 --> 00:38:30,660 Forgive me today, Lord. 778 00:38:31,640 --> 00:38:33,160 Thank you for your forgiveness. 779 00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:38,100 Thank you for your cleansing according to your word. 780 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:43,180 If any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, 781 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:46,020 Christ Jesus, the righteous. 782 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:52,160 And if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just 783 00:38:52,160 --> 00:38:55,200 to cleanse us of our sins and all unrighteousness. 784 00:38:56,500 --> 00:38:58,000 Now, Father, as I come today, 785 00:38:59,100 --> 00:39:00,740 would you peel that top layer back 786 00:39:00,740 --> 00:39:03,540 and get your wafer in your hand this morning? 787 00:39:03,540 --> 00:39:06,180 Sometimes those things are a little tricky. 788 00:39:06,180 --> 00:39:08,880 It's okay to ask your neighbor to help you if you need it. 789 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:17,720 Jesus, 790 00:39:17,720 --> 00:39:18,560 Jesus. 791 00:39:23,260 --> 00:39:25,260 Other fount I know, 792 00:39:27,300 --> 00:39:30,300 nothing but the blood of Jesus. 793 00:39:33,540 --> 00:39:38,540 Oh, what can wash away my sin? 794 00:39:39,720 --> 00:39:44,720 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 795 00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:49,720 What can make me whole again? 796 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:55,920 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 797 00:39:56,820 --> 00:39:59,560 Lord, on the night of your betrayal, you took bread. 798 00:40:00,400 --> 00:40:01,800 You break it, break it. 799 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:05,040 And you said, take and eat. 800 00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:07,040 This is my body, which was broken for you. 801 00:40:07,040 --> 00:40:15,040 Take of the bread today, in Jesus' name. 802 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:16,620 Thank you, Lord. 803 00:40:16,620 --> 00:40:19,320 Could you just thank him for his body that was given for you? 804 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:24,480 Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus. 805 00:40:29,360 --> 00:40:31,560 On that very same night, he took the cup. 806 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:35,740 He took the cup, and he said, 807 00:40:35,740 --> 00:40:37,400 this is the blood of the New Testament. 808 00:40:37,400 --> 00:40:42,400 This is my blood, which is given for the remission of sins, 809 00:40:44,980 --> 00:40:46,720 for the sins of many. 810 00:40:49,320 --> 00:40:50,820 And he said, take and drink. 811 00:40:50,820 --> 00:40:52,380 Take and drink of the cup today. 812 00:40:52,380 --> 00:40:57,380 Well, hallelujah. 813 00:41:00,420 --> 00:41:02,800 Go ahead and praise him for what he's done for you today, 814 00:41:02,800 --> 00:41:05,400 because this is personal, this is you. 815 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:08,360 He saved you, he forgave your sins. 816 00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:11,160 He's healed your body, he's delivered your mind. 817 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:12,900 He's done that for you. 818 00:41:13,800 --> 00:41:15,800 He went to Calvary for you. 819 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:21,100 He went to Calvary for you, thank you, Lord, 820 00:41:21,100 --> 00:41:26,340 for the stone of the witness, for inspiration, 821 00:41:26,340 --> 00:41:30,440 for the teaching, and for faithfulness, 822 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:33,020 the faithful stone, thank you, Jesus. 823 00:41:33,020 --> 00:41:38,020 Well, hallelujah.