If Stones Could Talk - #1 Remember to Remember
If the stones of the Bible could talk, what might they say to us? The usage of pillars (stones) in the Bible were always used to communicate something of importance...the things God wants us to remember.
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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. Our next Meet & Greet will be held on May 25th following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
Each Saturday in May is an opportunity to help prepare the church grounds for summer at a Grace Church Work Day! Come join in on the fun & fellowship between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm on a Saturday in May. Contact Ryan Hickey with any questions ([email protected]).
May 5th - Pastor Don & Evie Roscoe
May 6th - Rick Vessecchia, David & Elesha Smith
May 9th - Tonia Webster
May 6th - Rick Vessecchia, David & Elesha Smith
May 9th - Tonia Webster
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Our series this month will deal with the thought of remembering, memories, and memorials.
Have you ever tied a string around your finger to help you remember something?
This and other memorization strategies help us to remember things.
Talk about something you may have lost, misplaced, or forgotten. Also, what things have you done to try to remember?
Have you ever tied a string around your finger to help you remember something?
This and other memorization strategies help us to remember things.
Talk about something you may have lost, misplaced, or forgotten. Also, what things have you done to try to remember?
As we think of remembering, memories, and memorials we can look at what the Old Testament had to say about these subjects. From Exodus to Joshua, God told the Israelites dozens of times to remember WHO God is and WHAT He had done for them.
An example of this can be found in Numbers 15:37-41 [NLT]
An example of this can be found in Numbers 15:37-41 [NLT]
Numbers 15:37-41
BSB
37 Later, the LORD said to Moses,
38 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.
39 These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes.
40 Then you will remember and obey all My commandments, and you will be holy to your God.
41 I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.”
38 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.
39 These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes.
40 Then you will remember and obey all My commandments, and you will be holy to your God.
41 I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.”
BSB
Often in the Old Testament people used stones as objects to help people remember specific people, places, events, and moments.
Today there are technical differences between the word stone and rock even though the words are often used interchangeably.
For the sake of our series, stones will be understood as moveable and manageable pieces of rock. In Israel, stones were everywhere and used for so many things.
Today there are technical differences between the word stone and rock even though the words are often used interchangeably.
For the sake of our series, stones will be understood as moveable and manageable pieces of rock. In Israel, stones were everywhere and used for so many things.
A stone referred to as a pillar is usually a rectangle piece that is placed in a vertical position so that you could see it better.
The usage of pillars in the Bible were always used to communicate something of importance...what God wants us to remember.
God and people used stones to commemorate or memorialize a vow, a historical event, a relationship, and even as a representation of a person or group of people.
Exodus 24:1-4 speaks of the Twelve Pillars for the Twelve Tribes.
In the book of Genesis, we see Abraham's son Jacob placing several pillars during his lifetime: identifying places of revelation, separation, transformation, and affection.
Each week this month we'll look at one of these pillars, explore it's significance and gain some insights for our life.
The usage of pillars in the Bible were always used to communicate something of importance...what God wants us to remember.
God and people used stones to commemorate or memorialize a vow, a historical event, a relationship, and even as a representation of a person or group of people.
Exodus 24:1-4 speaks of the Twelve Pillars for the Twelve Tribes.
In the book of Genesis, we see Abraham's son Jacob placing several pillars during his lifetime: identifying places of revelation, separation, transformation, and affection.
Each week this month we'll look at one of these pillars, explore it's significance and gain some insights for our life.
Exodus 24:1-4
BSB
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.
2 Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”
3 When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”
4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
2 Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”
3 When Moses came and told the people all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all responded with one voice: “All the words that the LORD has spoken, we will do.”
4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early the next morning he got up and built an altar at the base of the mountain, along with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
BSB
#1 - The Pillar of REVELATION
Genesis 28:10-19
Genesis 28:10-19
Genesis 28:10-19
BSB
10 Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.
11 On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
12 And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder.
13 And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.”
17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”
18 Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,
19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz.
11 On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.
12 And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder.
13 And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie.
14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.
15 Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16 When Jacob woke up, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.”
17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!”
18 Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,
19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz.
BSB
Jacob had left his family in southern Israel to return to his family's homeland. He was on a mission to find a wife from his own ethnic group.
Genesis 28:1-9 gives us some of the necessary background.
In verses 16-17 we see that this revelation from God really impacts Jacob's life and creates a sense of wonder. God's revelation is always for the purpose of our obedience to His will.
This leads to verse 18 where Jacob responds with a sense of worship. He poured olive oil on top of the pillar as an anointing. This was a cultural practice to acknowledge God and His divine favor. It was a symbol of submission and sacrifice. This is the first time something is anointed in the Bible.
In verse 19 Jacob calls the place Bethel (meaning the House of God) even though the city used to be called Luz. Abraham had an encounter near Luz in Genesis 12:8.
In later years, the city of Luz was forgotten, and the new name of Bethel became predominant. The spiritual replaced the carnal and temporal.
Genesis 28:1-9 gives us some of the necessary background.
In verses 16-17 we see that this revelation from God really impacts Jacob's life and creates a sense of wonder. God's revelation is always for the purpose of our obedience to His will.
This leads to verse 18 where Jacob responds with a sense of worship. He poured olive oil on top of the pillar as an anointing. This was a cultural practice to acknowledge God and His divine favor. It was a symbol of submission and sacrifice. This is the first time something is anointed in the Bible.
In verse 19 Jacob calls the place Bethel (meaning the House of God) even though the city used to be called Luz. Abraham had an encounter near Luz in Genesis 12:8.
In later years, the city of Luz was forgotten, and the new name of Bethel became predominant. The spiritual replaced the carnal and temporal.
Genesis 12:8
BSB
8 From there Abram moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to the LORD, and he called on the name of the LORD.
BSB
If we really dig in to this section of scripture, there are numerous insights, principles, lessons and things to remember. Here are a few:
1. God wants us to remember who He is and what He has done.
Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 19-20
1. God wants us to remember who He is and what He has done.
Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 19-20
Deuteronomy 8:10-14, Deuteronomy 8:19-20
BSB
10 When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you.
11 Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day.
12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses in which to dwell,
13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied,
14 then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.
20 Like the nations that the LORD has destroyed before you, so you will perish if you do not obey the LORD your God.
11 Be careful not to forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes, which I am giving you this day.
12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses in which to dwell,
13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all that you have is multiplied,
14 then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.
20 Like the nations that the LORD has destroyed before you, so you will perish if you do not obey the LORD your God.
BSB
2. God will get our attention through a variety of ways.
Proverbs 4:20-27
Proverbs 4:20-27
Proverbs 4:20-27
BSB
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
BSB
3. God’s revelation is for obedience and application to our life.
James 1:22; 4:17
James 1:22; 4:17
James 1:22
BSB
22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
BSB
James 4:17
BSB
17 Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
BSB
