"MEMORIAL STONES!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

DEUTERONOMY 27:1-9

1. WE NEED TO ERECT THE MEMORIAL STONE OF GOD'S WORD:
1. Note that the Israelites were to whitewash the stones and then to write the terms of the Law on them. This was to keep the people mindful of God's commandments. When we are actively introducing our children and grandchildren or anyone else to the Bible, when we help them believe it, learn it, and live by it, we are erecting a memorial stone of God's Word. We never want them to forget it.
2. What I am saying here is that we need to firmly establish the word in our own life and in the lives of others. You see, what God says is what matters. Establish His Word in your heart as a Memorial Stone.
1. It doesn't matter what the popular public opinion is, what is God's opinion?
2. It doesn't matter what international law says, what does God say?
3. It doesn't matter what world religions teach, what does God teach?
4. It doesn't matter what our own feelings and desires urge, what does God urge?
5. It doesn't matter what circumstances tell us, what does God tell us?
3. Have you established God's word in your life? Is personal Bible reading, study, memorization and application part of your Christian life? Is the Bible prominent in your home and heart? Will there be others who are instructed in God's Word because you taught them? The key to successful Christian living is to store God's word in our heart. That is the task of the Sunday School, the youth groups, our gathering as a congregation, Wonderful Wednesday, small groups, Christian Endeavor and what have you. If we fail at this point, no matter what else we may count as success, we have failed miserably. If we succeed here and don't do so well on other things, we can feel a sense of accomplishment. May we be people who have love God's Word and have it inscribed, not on whitewashed stones, but on blood-washed hearts.
1. Job loved God's Word and said, "For I have stayed in God's paths; I have followed His ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from His commands but have treasured His word in my heart." Job 23:11-12 (NLT).
2. David loved God's Word and wrote, "How I delight in Your commands! How I love them! I honor and love Your commands. I meditate on Your principles." Psalms 119:47-48 (NLT).
3. Jeremiah loved God's Word and said, "Your words are what sustain me. They bring me great joy and are my heart's delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD God Almighty." Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT).
4. We are admonished to love God's Word. Peter said, "like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." 1 Peter 2:2-3 (NASB).
4. Woodrow Wilson, once said in one of his speeches, "It is very difficult for an individual who knows the Scriptures to get away from them. Their message haunts him like an old song and follows him like the memory of his mother. It remains with him like the words of a reverent teacher and forms a part of the warp and woof of his life!" Boy, wouldn't the ACLU and the biased liberal media like to get hold of something like that! But Wilson was right, and we need to establish the word as a memorial stone in our hearts.

Are you erecting the memorial stone of God's Word?

2. WE NEED TO ERECT THE MEMORIAL STONE OF WORSHIP:
1. See that Moses commanded them to build an altar of stones for the purpose of offering sacrifices. That was worship.
2. Worship is far more than what happens here when we gather together. It is more than singing songs, sharing communion or hearing a message. The Bible words for worship mean:
1. To give honor and glory to God.
2. To act reverently and humbly toward God.
3. To serve God.
4. To offer sacrificial gifts and offerings.
5. To kiss the hand of one to whom you want to show profound reverence and respect.
6. To fear or to stand in awe of God.
7. In short, it means to express in act and attitude that God is worthy and holy and exalted.
3. Let us worship God in the way we live our lives. Let us give God the glory and honor due His Name. In the world there is a horrendous irreverence for God these days. God is not worshiped as He deserves to be. His Name is used in every way but prayer. He is banned and blasphemed. But with sincere hearts, let us establish worship in our homes, our lives and our church. In every way: in word, and thought, in deed and attitude, let us give honor to God. Establish worship in your life as a Memorial Stone.
4. A little girl was in her room being exceptionally quiet. Her mother went to check on her and she was sitting on her bed with a picture of Jesus. Her mother said, "You are awfully quiet. Is everything okay?" The little girl said, "Yes, mommy - I was thinking about Jesus and I'm just sitting here loving Him." She had erected the memorial stone of worship, for sure!

What will your memorial be? Will it be that you were a sincere worshiper of God?

3. WE NEED TO ERECT THE MEMORIAL STONE OF HUMBLE OBEDIENCE:
1. Moses said, "Today you have become the people of the LORD your God. So obey the LORD your God by keeping all these commands and laws that I am giving you today."
2. There are some who know God's command and rebel against it; some know it and just ignore it; some know it and just want to consider it; some plan to do it at a more convenient time; and others jump into action and do it.
3. I read an article recently in which the author mistakenly separated faith and obedience. Excuse me?!? Faith without obedience is like light without lumination or heat without warmth.
1. Abraham, the prime example of faith, believed God and God said of him, "Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws." Genesis 26:5 (NASB).
2. "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going." Hebrews 11:8 (NASB).
3. Jesus put it like this, "You are My friends, if you do what I command you." John 15:14 (NASB).
4. Receiving the Holy Spirit hinges on obedience. Peter proclaimed, "We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. . . . And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:30-32 (NASB).
5. Salvation is related to obedience. It is written about Jesus, "And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation," Hebrews 5:9 (NASB).
6. Knowing God rests on obedience, for John declares, "And how can we be sure that we belong to Him? By obeying His commandments. If someone says, 'I belong to God,' but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the truth. But those who obey God's word really do love Him. That is the way to know whether or not we live in Him." 1 John 2:3-5 (NLT).
4. I had a little black dog named Boots. She was very teachable. She would roll over, play dead, jump, beg, sit, speak and other things on command. She didn't argue with me. She didn't hesitate. She obeyed. Would that we were that quick to do without hesitation, without murmur, without complaint all that God commands us to do. We need to erect that Memorial Stone of obedience.

It is good to remember those who have done so much for our national security, and other significant people who have gone on. But we need to be building a memorial of our own. We need to establish God's Word in our hearts, to worship God by our lives, and to give Him humble obedience. If you do, you will live a life worth living, and a life worth remembering when you are gone. Today is the day to erect those memorial stones. You can do it right now as you decide to live the rest of your life from this day forward for Jesus Christ. That's what pleases God. That's what puts you on the path to eternal life. It is to a life lived for Jesus that we call you today. How will you answer? Will it be "I'll live for Him, Who died for me?" If so, then come as we sing.

Wilson from NavPress Illustrator