#S062 - “Rolling Stones” (Part 1) 00:00:05.57\00:00:12.74 Joshua Chapter 00:00:19.85\00:00:21.35 four and we're going to begin together at verse number one. 00:00:21.38\00:00:25.22 When you get there, let me use the bathroom there. 00:00:25.25\00:00:27.39 Joshua Chapter four, an inverse number one. 00:00:28.86\00:00:32.46 John Joshua Chapter four. 00:00:33.46\00:00:35.20 And we're going to begin together in verse number one. 00:00:35.23\00:00:36.93 Pray for me. 00:00:36.97\00:00:37.97 Two, I stayed with the kids here at air last night 00:00:38.00\00:00:41.50 and that was way past my bedtime. 00:00:42.24\00:00:44.17 So I'm struggling a little bit 00:00:44.97\00:00:46.11 today is the only break for the pastor this afternoon. 00:00:46.14\00:00:48.34 Joshua four In verse one, 00:00:48.98\00:00:51.58 the Bible says, and it came to pass 00:00:51.61\00:00:54.45 when all the people had completely cross over the Jordan 00:00:55.58\00:00:58.45 that the Lord spoke to Joshua saying, 00:00:59.35\00:01:01.69 Take for yourselves, 12 men from the people, one man 00:01:02.76\00:01:07.40 from every tribe, and commend them saying, 00:01:07.40\00:01:11.13 Take for yourselves 12 stones from here 00:01:12.07\00:01:14.00 out of the midst of the Jordan, 00:01:14.70\00:01:16.40 from the place where the priest's feet stood firm. 00:01:16.44\00:01:19.34 You shall carry them over with you and leave them 00:01:20.41\00:01:22.68 in the lodging place where you lodge tonight. 00:01:22.71\00:01:25.98 Then Joshua called the 12 men whom he had appointed 00:01:26.01\00:01:29.08 from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe. 00:01:30.25\00:01:32.59 And Joshua said to them, Cross over before the Ark of the Lord, 00:01:33.82\00:01:37.13 your God, into the midst of the Jordan. 00:01:37.16\00:01:39.79 And each one of you shall take up a stone on his shoulder. 00:01:40.96\00:01:43.33 According to 00:01:43.73\00:01:44.80 the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 00:01:44.83\00:01:46.90 that this may be a sign among you 00:01:47.67\00:01:50.11 when your children ask in time to come saying, 00:01:51.07\00:01:55.01 What do these stones mean to you? 00:01:55.04\00:01:57.38 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan 00:01:58.58\00:02:01.45 were cut off 00:02:01.48\00:02:02.12 before the Ark 00:02:02.15\00:02:02.98 of the Covenant of the Lord, 00:02:03.02\00:02:04.89 and when it crossed over the Jordan, 00:02:04.92\00:02:06.59 the waters of the Jordan were cut off. 00:02:06.62\00:02:09.09 And these stone shall be for you. 00:02:09.12\00:02:11.46 A memorial to the children of Israel forever. 00:02:11.49\00:02:14.60 And the children of Israel did so just as Joshua commanded 00:02:15.83\00:02:19.07 and took up 12 stones from the mist of the Jordan 00:02:20.17\00:02:22.30 and the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number 00:02:23.47\00:02:26.04 of the tribes of the children of Israel, 00:02:26.07\00:02:28.31 and carried them over with them to the place 00:02:28.34\00:02:31.31 where they lodge and lay them down there. 00:02:31.35\00:02:33.75 Then Joshua set up 12 stones in the midst of the Jordan, 00:02:34.95\00:02:37.85 in the place 00:02:38.25\00:02:39.05 with the feet of the priests 00:02:39.09\00:02:40.46 who bore the Ark of the Covenant stood and there they are 00:02:40.49\00:02:45.29 to this day today, Saints, for just a little while, 00:02:46.39\00:02:49.56 I want to talk to you under the subject the Rolling Stones. 00:02:49.60\00:02:54.67 The Rolling Stones. Let us pray together, 00:02:54.70\00:02:57.17 Father, 00:02:58.21\00:02:59.34 would you allow your spirit 00:03:00.74\00:03:03.81 to settle heavily upon not just the service, 00:03:05.18\00:03:09.35 but upon the throne of each and every one of our hearts? 00:03:10.55\00:03:14.46 Lord, my prayer today is that in the preaching of the word, 00:03:14.49\00:03:17.43 that faith would be multiplied exponentially. 00:03:18.43\00:03:21.20 So, Lord, 00:03:21.80\00:03:23.03 would you allow me to be hidden in the shadow of the cross that 00:03:23.06\00:03:26.94 Jesus alone might be seen, that Christ alone would be heard? 00:03:26.97\00:03:31.47 And at the end of our time together, may Jesus alone 00:03:32.61\00:03:34.64 be praised. 00:03:34.68\00:03:35.88 Bless us. 00:03:35.91\00:03:36.95 To this end, we ask in the wonderful name of Jesus, 00:03:36.98\00:03:39.11 our Lord, let those who believe say together, amen, and amen. 00:03:39.15\00:03:43.62 You may be seated in the House of the Lord today, your friends. 00:03:44.85\00:03:57.63 In around 2016, 00:03:57.67\00:04:00.47 my wife and I took our kids down to Orlando 00:04:01.40\00:04:05.04 so that they could have the Disney World experience, 00:04:06.17\00:04:08.94 and so we wanted them to have a good time. 00:04:09.91\00:04:12.35 And so we paid obscene 00:04:12.38\00:04:16.05 prices for tickets. 00:04:16.08\00:04:19.99 We sat in hours of traffic in Atlanta. 00:04:20.02\00:04:23.26 It was as if we stopped every 30 minutes so 00:04:24.89\00:04:27.83 someone could go to the bathroom room. 00:04:27.86\00:04:31.10 We walked through a urine 00:04:31.13\00:04:32.83 soaked rest stop so they could get there. 00:04:32.87\00:04:36.20 And even on the day we were at the park, 00:04:37.14\00:04:39.64 my wife's hair was defeated 00:04:39.67\00:04:41.61 by the central Florida humid humidity 00:04:41.64\00:04:44.15 so that our kids could have the Disney experience. 00:04:45.25\00:04:48.32 But fast forward to about two years ago, 00:04:49.18\00:04:52.45 while my daughter was watching a Disney commercial, 00:04:52.49\00:04:55.96 she looked at me with some contempt and said, 00:04:56.96\00:04:58.99 Daddy, when are you taking us to Disney World? 00:04:59.03\00:05:02.03 And with some protests? 00:05:02.76\00:05:04.17 I had to remind her, Baby, 00:05:04.20\00:05:05.67 you've already been there before. 00:05:05.70\00:05:08.14 But because she was only about 00:05:08.84\00:05:10.37 four at the time, she had no recollection of attending. 00:05:10.41\00:05:14.11 And so I scrolled through years of pictures on my phone 00:05:15.24\00:05:18.58 to create some reminders that she had already visited 00:05:19.71\00:05:22.28 that place. 00:05:22.32\00:05:23.59 And so I said, 00:05:23.62\00:05:24.65 Here, baby, are pictures of you and The Incredibles. 00:05:24.69\00:05:27.89 Here are some pictures of you at Elsa's parade. 00:05:28.96\00:05:31.46 Here are some pictures of you and Mickey Mouse. 00:05:32.53\00:05:34.73 And she looked at the pictures and reminders. 00:05:35.70\00:05:37.97 There was a sense of justice and fairness 00:05:38.90\00:05:41.24 that begin to return to her disposition. 00:05:41.27\00:05:44.57 And for a moment, 00:05:45.07\00:05:46.21 I was somewhat frustrated because she did not recall. 00:05:46.24\00:05:49.51 And I realized that 00:05:49.54\00:05:50.71 my mistake is that I wanted her to remember. 00:05:50.75\00:05:54.62 I did not put in place some reminders. 00:05:55.52\00:05:59.29 And can I suggest that sometimes the same is true 00:05:59.32\00:06:03.02 for us as adults in the journey of faith? 00:06:03.06\00:06:05.69 You see, the issue is not that we have not seen God 00:06:06.80\00:06:09.80 do great things. 00:06:09.83\00:06:11.57 The fact is that some of us have seen God open up doors. 00:06:11.60\00:06:15.54 Some of us have seen God make ways out of no ways. 00:06:16.64\00:06:20.11 Some of us have seen God come through right on time. 00:06:21.18\00:06:24.28 But the problem is 00:06:24.78\00:06:25.91 that in the course of time, memories are going to fade 00:06:25.95\00:06:29.82 and current realities are going to clutter our thinking. 00:06:29.85\00:06:33.92 And one of the things we've got to be mindful to do 00:06:35.06\00:06:37.13 is to not just depend upon memory. 00:06:37.96\00:06:40.56 We've got to set up some reminders of what God has done. 00:06:41.66\00:06:45.00 In fact, Prince, 00:06:45.43\00:06:46.47 I want to suggest that in the times of Scripture 00:06:46.50\00:06:49.37 that there were times where they would set up altars 00:06:50.51\00:06:52.34 to remind them what God had done in Joshua 00:06:52.37\00:06:55.38 before they set up stones to remind them what God had done. 00:06:55.41\00:06:59.21 And if you're going to have a current level of faith, 00:07:00.45\00:07:02.78 you've got to have some things in place to remind you 00:07:03.92\00:07:06.59 that you serve the God that always comes through. 00:07:06.62\00:07:10.16 Am I preaching to somebody today? 00:07:10.19\00:07:12.26 In other words, friends, one of the things you need to do 00:07:12.29\00:07:15.06 is you need to learn to keep some crazy receipts. 00:07:16.13\00:07:19.03 Not now. 00:07:20.27\00:07:20.80 See, the problem with us 00:07:20.84\00:07:21.77 is we keep receipts on all of our curses. 00:07:21.80\00:07:24.57 We all that today church. 00:07:24.61\00:07:26.24 In other words, we keep receipts about everybody 00:07:26.27\00:07:29.11 that's wronged us. 00:07:29.14\00:07:30.38 We've got receipts for everybody that's disappointed us. 00:07:30.41\00:07:33.95 We keep receipts over everybody that's let us down. 00:07:35.02\00:07:37.52 And my question today 00:07:38.09\00:07:39.39 is, why do you keep receipts about the curses of man? 00:07:39.42\00:07:43.43 But you have no receipts about the blessings of God. 00:07:44.56\00:07:46.90 And I'm suggesting, friends, that if you go 00:07:47.86\00:07:49.16 keep some receipts, 00:07:49.20\00:07:50.50 you ought to keep receipts on how God pays the bills 00:07:50.53\00:07:53.80 every month. 00:07:53.84\00:07:55.04 You ought to have some receipts over how God healed your body. 00:07:55.07\00:07:58.81 You ought to have some receipts about how God protected 00:07:59.94\00:08:02.18 your home. 00:08:02.21\00:08:03.38 And I want to suggest that we ought to keep some receipts 00:08:03.41\00:08:06.11 for the blessings of God in yesterday, 00:08:06.15\00:08:09.08 because it gives us faith and courage 00:08:09.98\00:08:11.79 to face the traversed adversities of today. 00:08:12.79\00:08:14.86 Can the church say, man? 00:08:15.42\00:08:16.96 And so go back with me, if you don't mind, to Joshua. 00:08:16.99\00:08:19.56 And I want you to look over with me in Joshua, chapter three 00:08:20.76\00:08:22.70 and verse 12, Joshua three and verse 12. 00:08:22.73\00:08:26.10 This is the night before the miracle, 00:08:26.13\00:08:29.20 and I want you to see the instructions of Joshua. 00:08:30.31\00:08:32.47 Joshua three In verse 12, the Bible says Now, therefore, 00:08:33.68\00:08:36.28 take for yourselves 12 men from the tribes of Israel, 00:08:36.31\00:08:41.48 and the Bible says they are to take one man from every tribe. 00:08:42.75\00:08:46.55 Now go to chapter four and verse number eight, the Bible says, 00:08:47.79\00:08:50.93 and the children of Israel did so just as Joshua commanded 00:08:50.96\00:08:55.26 and took up 12 stones from the midst of the Jordan. 00:08:56.40\00:08:58.80 As the Lord 00:08:59.20\00:09:00.44 has spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes 00:09:00.47\00:09:03.94 of the children of Israel, and carry them over to the place 00:09:03.97\00:09:08.28 where they lodge and they laid them down there. 00:09:09.31\00:09:12.71 Now, friends, I need you to get that. 00:09:13.55\00:09:15.15 I believe that there are several noteworthy elements 00:09:15.18\00:09:19.09 to this story, 00:09:19.12\00:09:20.46 but the first thing it teaches saints 00:09:20.49\00:09:22.89 is that your certainty ought to be in his assurances. 00:09:24.03\00:09:27.46 Let me say it again that your certainty 00:09:27.50\00:09:30.93 should not be in your circumstances, 00:09:31.80\00:09:34.17 your circuit certainty should be in his divine assurances. 00:09:35.34\00:09:39.14 Are you all with the pastor today? 00:09:39.17\00:09:41.51 In other words, friends, God gave Joshua some instruction 00:09:41.54\00:09:45.48 that when they passed over the Jordan, 00:09:46.38\00:09:48.85 they were to collect 12 memorial stones 00:09:49.75\00:09:52.75 for this miracle, 00:09:52.79\00:09:54.19 so that in days to come, when the children ask 00:09:54.22\00:09:57.56 what mean these stones, some older person could bear 00:09:58.69\00:10:02.26 testimony about how God opened up the Jordan River. 00:10:02.30\00:10:06.63 And so what God was doing for this current generation, 00:10:07.80\00:10:10.27 he was giving them a reason to look back 00:10:11.21\00:10:13.34 and he was giving future generations a point of reference 00:10:14.48\00:10:17.55 for God's ability to be able to come through. 00:10:18.58\00:10:21.45 But the thing I find interesting today, Saints, 00:10:22.42\00:10:24.89 is the timing of Joshua's instruction. 00:10:24.92\00:10:27.86 I need you to notice that the Bible says in Chapter 00:10:28.96\00:10:31.69 three that Joshua chose the 12 men 00:10:31.73\00:10:35.50 the night before the miracle took place. 00:10:35.53\00:10:38.87 And did you notice that God did not wait 00:10:39.80\00:10:42.10 until the waters receded for them to gather the stones, 00:10:42.14\00:10:46.27 but they would be gathering 00:10:46.94\00:10:47.91 stones while the water was still in the air, 00:10:47.94\00:10:51.98 when the people were still somewhat in danger. 00:10:53.01\00:10:55.38 And the notice saints that the stones 00:10:56.28\00:10:58.72 make it a cross before the people make it a cross. 00:10:58.75\00:11:02.42 In other words, friends, they are carrying out 00:11:03.39\00:11:05.66 the elements of the celebration even before 00:11:06.59\00:11:09.40 the situation is established. 00:11:09.43\00:11:11.77 They're carrying the trophies of victory 00:11:12.63\00:11:15.34 even before the victory is complete. 00:11:16.14\00:11:17.97 Y'all not with me. 00:11:18.01\00:11:19.27 They're acting like they've already won. 00:11:19.31\00:11:22.18 Even before the victory has been established. 00:11:23.14\00:11:25.75 And friends, this is the disposition 00:11:26.55\00:11:28.78 of someone who believes in the assurances of God. 00:11:29.88\00:11:32.82 Because when you believe in the assurances of God 00:11:33.82\00:11:36.56 that you don't wait until it's done to rejoice, 00:11:37.53\00:11:40.40 you begin rejoicing as soon as you get the assurance 00:11:41.43\00:11:44.50 from the most high God. 00:11:44.53\00:11:46.20 In other words, if they do this 00:11:47.30\00:11:49.67 without an assurance from God, it is an act of presumption. 00:11:49.70\00:11:54.31 But when they act upon the word without seeing evidence, 00:11:55.44\00:11:58.48 it is an act of faith. 00:11:58.51\00:12:00.45 And see, there are some of us that take this very passive 00:12:00.48\00:12:03.95 and timid posture. 00:12:04.45\00:12:05.62 When we are waiting for the promises of God to come to pass. 00:12:05.65\00:12:09.26 We feel like we've got to be cautious and careful 00:12:10.33\00:12:12.69 and wait to see things happen before we believe. 00:12:13.76\00:12:16.23 But I need you to know 00:12:16.80\00:12:17.83 that your certainty is not in the circumstance. 00:12:17.87\00:12:21.27 Your certainty comes as soon as God gives the assurance. 00:12:22.40\00:12:26.01 We all know that today. 00:12:26.04\00:12:26.94 Church In other words, I need you to know 00:12:26.98\00:12:29.48 that when the mouth of the Lord speaks it in His promises, 00:12:29.51\00:12:33.68 or whether God cements it through His Spirit, 00:12:34.72\00:12:36.85 it's not a matter of if God is going to come through. 00:12:37.92\00:12:40.79 It's just a matter of when God is going to come through. 00:12:41.99\00:12:44.93 In other words, I want to say to somebody 00:12:45.89\00:12:48.13 who's dealing with some sickness today 00:12:48.96\00:12:50.87 and the Lord has told you all will be well, 00:12:51.87\00:12:54.20 you start planning for your birthday party six months 00:12:55.34\00:12:58.07 from now because the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 00:12:58.11\00:13:01.74 There is somebody that ought to plan your house blessing 00:13:02.94\00:13:05.61 even before you close on the house. 00:13:06.41\00:13:08.38 There is some sister that needs to choose your wedding dress 00:13:09.58\00:13:12.22 even before you meet your man. 00:13:12.92\00:13:14.22 Y'all not hear me today? 00:13:14.26\00:13:15.86 There is somebody that needs to plan your graduation dinner 00:13:15.89\00:13:19.59 even before you take your final exam. 00:13:20.46\00:13:22.50 There is some parent that needs to plan the baby 00:13:23.57\00:13:25.47 dedication even before you get pregnant. 00:13:25.50\00:13:28.40 Because when the Lord speaks, it's not a matter of 00:13:29.50\00:13:32.34 if it's going to happen, 00:13:32.37\00:13:34.28 it's just a matter of when it's going to happen. 00:13:34.31\00:13:37.65 And let me be clear, I don't believe in presumption. 00:13:38.71\00:13:41.62 It's only presumed sin 00:13:42.18\00:13:43.32 when you're celebrating your own idea, but it's faith 00:13:43.35\00:13:47.06 when you are acting on the Word of the living God. 00:13:47.09\00:13:50.36 And see, I need to just relieve somebody of this false notion, 00:13:51.59\00:13:55.06 because there are some who believe, Pastor, 00:13:56.03\00:13:57.33 I don't want to say it out loud. 00:13:58.03\00:13:59.53 There are some that believe they can't pray out loud 00:14:00.74\00:14:03.00 because the devil will be able to hear it and sabotage 00:14:04.17\00:14:07.18 what God wants to do about how many of us know 00:14:07.21\00:14:10.35 that God is so powerful that you can say it out loud. 00:14:10.38\00:14:14.85 You can give the Devil the specs of your prayer. 00:14:15.92\00:14:18.02 You can tell him when you need God to come through. 00:14:19.12\00:14:21.36 Because I just know that what God has for me, 00:14:22.29\00:14:25.76 it just is for me. 00:14:26.26\00:14:28.13 And there ain't no devil in hell 00:14:28.83\00:14:31.43 that. 00:14:34.60\00:14:35.80 Can stop the will of God from coming to pass in your life. 00:14:35.84\00:14:38.47 Listen, friends, I remember it well. 00:14:39.54\00:14:41.38 Probably about 15, 16 years ago when my wife and I began 00:14:41.41\00:14:45.35 the journey of trying to start our family together. 00:14:46.48\00:14:48.72 And I remember my wife got pregnant. 00:14:49.58\00:14:50.49 I was very excited as a possible bad dad. 00:14:50.52\00:14:53.49 And so I went to the store and I got this little take home 00:14:54.66\00:14:56.73 powder blue thing 00:14:57.23\00:14:58.43 with footballs on it to carry the baby home from the hospital, 00:14:58.46\00:15:01.90 because I was praying for a boy and so I got it in faith. 00:15:01.93\00:15:05.63 And so we were excited that she had gotten pregnant. 00:15:06.77\00:15:08.34 But after about two months, 00:15:09.00\00:15:10.04 the baby's heartbeat, Addison appeared 00:15:10.07\00:15:12.27 and she lost the baby in miscarriage. 00:15:13.17\00:15:14.68 But we got our faith together and said, into every life, 00:15:15.88\00:15:17.75 some rain must fall. 00:15:17.78\00:15:19.25 And so we got pregnant a second time 00:15:19.28\00:15:21.52 and we got to about two and a half or three months. 00:15:22.65\00:15:24.25 And again, the baby miscarried. 00:15:24.95\00:15:26.45 And so, again, we were saddened, but we trusted God. 00:15:27.52\00:15:29.62 We got pregnant 00:15:30.06\00:15:30.56 a third time, 00:15:30.59\00:15:31.59 got to about three and a half months, and then 00:15:31.63\00:15:33.96 the heartbeat disappeared and the baby miscarried. 00:15:35.03\00:15:37.03 But we trusted God a fourth time, 00:15:37.83\00:15:39.20 got well into the second trimester to almost six months. 00:15:39.23\00:15:42.90 But then the baby still miscarried 00:15:43.74\00:15:45.81 and he is buried in Lexington to this day. 00:15:46.78\00:15:48.54 And I thought to myself, maybe I need to throw away 00:15:49.64\00:15:51.95 this little garment that I bought for our son. 00:15:51.98\00:15:54.45 Maybe it wasn't God's will. 00:15:55.12\00:15:56.72 But after we were leaving the hospital 00:15:56.75\00:15:59.12 from that fourth loss, God put a promise in my wife's 00:16:00.32\00:16:02.96 heart in the parking lot, and the Spirit spoke to her 00:16:02.99\00:16:07.03 that said, You will be the mother of many children. 00:16:08.10\00:16:11.10 And so guess what? 00:16:11.13\00:16:12.20 I didn't throw out the outfit I was going to 00:16:12.23\00:16:15.24 bring them home with. 00:16:15.27\00:16:16.67 We just waited for God to come through. 00:16:16.71\00:16:19.34 And I need you to know, 00:16:19.91\00:16:20.81 we put my oldest son in that blue outfit. 00:16:20.84\00:16:24.51 We put the youngest son in that blue outfit. 00:16:25.45\00:16:28.25 We got a new outfit for the baby girl. 00:16:29.15\00:16:31.35 Because when God promises, it's 00:16:32.05\00:16:37.16 not a matter of if God is going to come through. 00:16:37.19\00:16:40.30 It's a matter of when God is gone, come through 00:16:41.30\00:16:44.27 and you just got to be still and let God be God. 00:16:45.33\00:16:50.01 And in 00:16:51.44\00:16:52.47 other words, church, I simply believe that sometimes 00:16:52.51\00:16:54.94 you got to play in your celebration 00:16:54.98\00:16:57.78 even before the victory is a sure job. 00:16:58.68\00:17:00.78 Not quit yet. 00:17:00.82\00:17:02.08 I was just kind of like in football. 00:17:02.12\00:17:04.19 Anybody watch football? 00:17:04.22\00:17:05.72 Like one of the things that the great players do 00:17:05.75\00:17:08.42 is that during the week 00:17:08.99\00:17:09.92 they don't just practice the plays, 00:17:09.96\00:17:12.39 they practice their touchdown dance or y'all not hear me. 00:17:13.73\00:17:17.63 They don't just practice what they're going to run. 00:17:18.73\00:17:21.60 They also practice their celebration 00:17:22.47\00:17:25.27 because they know if they're diligent in preparation, 00:17:26.41\00:17:29.08 they're going to have an opportunity for celebration. 00:17:30.28\00:17:33.55 And I need somebody to know 00:17:34.22\00:17:35.48 you ought to plan your celebration dance in advance. 00:17:35.52\00:17:39.09 There is some sick person that on a plane, your healing dance. 00:17:40.32\00:17:43.32 There are some senior that's a play in your graduation dance. 00:17:44.53\00:17:47.86 There is somebody that had a plan, your house closing dance. 00:17:49.06\00:17:52.00 There is somebody that had a plan. 00:17:52.83\00:17:54.14 Your promotion dance. 00:17:54.17\00:17:56.07 Because when God speaks it, it's just a matter of time. 00:17:56.10\00:18:00.44 You don't wait for it. 00:18:01.01\00:18:02.78 You simply believe for it can turn say man today. 00:18:02.81\00:18:06.28 And so the 00:18:07.48\00:18:08.38 word says to us here in Joshua, chapter four 00:18:08.42\00:18:10.95 and verse number two, notice what God says through Joshua. 00:18:10.99\00:18:14.69 He says, Take for yourselves, 12 men from the people. 00:18:14.72\00:18:19.19 And notice, he says, one man 00:18:19.86\00:18:22.13 from every tribe. 00:18:22.63\00:18:25.73 You see. 00:18:25.77\00:18:26.84 The second thing this teaches us friends is number two. 00:18:26.87\00:18:28.67 You can't just let anybody tell your story. 00:18:28.70\00:18:35.08 Now, notice that God gives Joshua some very specific 00:18:35.11\00:18:39.65 instructions about who is able to carry a stone. 00:18:39.68\00:18:44.62 And one of the things you'll notice 00:18:44.65\00:18:46.25 is that those 00:18:46.29\00:18:47.39 who carry the stones, they must be Jews ethnically. 00:18:47.42\00:18:51.39 They've got to come from one of the 12 tribes. 00:18:52.43\00:18:54.66 Now, even though they're 00:18:55.23\00:18:56.36 generally Jewish as a people, they are not a monolith 00:18:56.40\00:18:59.37 because they've got people that have joined to them 00:19:00.54\00:19:02.54 through the nations 00:19:03.07\00:19:04.07 they have subdued in their 40 years of wandering. 00:19:04.11\00:19:06.98 In other words, they've got servants that are from Egypt. 00:19:08.21\00:19:10.61 They've got some that are from Amman, 00:19:11.48\00:19:13.31 they've got some that are from Cain, 00:19:13.35\00:19:15.62 and they've got servants of all nations. 00:19:15.65\00:19:18.45 And understand the likely instruction 00:19:19.32\00:19:21.56 would have been to let one of the servants carry the stones. 00:19:22.82\00:19:26.16 But Joshua said, Don't 00:19:26.73\00:19:28.00 let someone from another nation carry the stone. 00:19:28.03\00:19:31.73 Somebody from your own people has to carry these rocks. 00:19:32.83\00:19:36.34 And the great commentator Matthew Henry says it this way, 00:19:37.51\00:19:40.84 that those who wear the gatherers of the stones, 00:19:41.91\00:19:45.01 that they would be the storytellers of this miracle, 00:19:46.15\00:19:49.32 that they would be the ones who would begin to be 00:19:50.39\00:19:52.95 the first ones to set foot in the promised land. 00:19:52.99\00:19:56.39 And for generations they would be the ones 00:19:57.36\00:19:59.49 to tell the story about what God did at the Jordan River 00:20:00.70\00:20:04.20 and understand that God made it clear that you can't let 00:20:05.33\00:20:07.74 somebody from the outside tell your story. 00:20:07.77\00:20:11.84 In fact, one of the things I have learned 00:20:11.87\00:20:13.81 the hard way 00:20:13.84\00:20:14.81 is that you got to be careful how you allow 00:20:14.84\00:20:16.91 folk to tell your story. 00:20:16.95\00:20:18.45 You see, on occasion I have to sit down 00:20:18.48\00:20:20.58 and do a print interview 00:20:20.62\00:20:22.45 or sometimes do a television interview. 00:20:22.48\00:20:24.72 And one of the things I've learned the hard way 00:20:25.79\00:20:27.16 is that the news they don't want to tell your story. 00:20:28.29\00:20:31.89 They want to use your words to tell their story 00:20:31.93\00:20:34.93 so that I can sit down 00:20:35.46\00:20:36.56 and talk with them for 15 and 20 minutes. 00:20:36.60\00:20:38.83 But by the time 00:20:39.27\00:20:40.30 they chop up my words and move it out of context 00:20:40.34\00:20:43.17 and water it down to a 32nd sound bite at the end, 00:20:44.21\00:20:46.94 have nothing to do with what I was actually trying to say. 00:20:46.98\00:20:50.91 I've learned, even with print articles, 00:20:50.95\00:20:53.25 that there are times 00:20:53.78\00:20:54.92 where I'm like, No, I need to send the whole essay myself, 00:20:54.95\00:20:57.55 because by the time you mix it in and mangle it, 00:20:58.62\00:21:00.92 it's going to reflect your bias and the story 00:21:01.89\00:21:03.93 that you're ultimately trying to tell 00:21:03.96\00:21:06.26 and see the danger of friends of mine, 00:21:07.13\00:21:08.63 letting somebody else tell your story is that 00:21:08.66\00:21:11.63 they will overlook details that is important to you, 00:21:11.67\00:21:15.04 and they will implement details that are important to them 00:21:16.20\00:21:19.01 when someone else tells your story, they will summarize 00:21:20.14\00:21:22.58 when they should be elaborating, and they'll elaborate 00:21:23.68\00:21:26.28 in places where they should be summarizing and see. 00:21:26.31\00:21:29.48 One of the things Joshua says is, don't give this job 00:21:29.52\00:21:33.49 to someone else. 00:21:33.52\00:21:34.66 We've got to be responsible for telling our own story. 00:21:34.69\00:21:39.86 And can I suggest that 00:21:41.03\00:21:42.26 one of the reasons is African descendants living in America. 00:21:42.30\00:21:45.33 We suffer at times a corporate loss of I identity 00:21:46.40\00:21:49.37 is that too often we have depended upon others 00:21:50.41\00:21:52.61 to be faithful stewards and chronicles of our story. 00:21:53.74\00:21:57.35 Okay, y'all quiet today. 00:21:58.31\00:22:00.32 Have you noticed friends of mine that in our time 00:22:00.35\00:22:04.02 that there is a still full intentionality 00:22:04.99\00:22:08.12 about diluting the history of what has happened 00:22:09.16\00:22:12.39 in this country? 00:22:12.43\00:22:13.60 I'm not preaching to a woke church today. 00:22:13.63\00:22:15.66 Have you noticed that 00:22:16.23\00:22:17.27 in most school history books that African slavery 00:22:17.30\00:22:20.84 has been diluted in many cases down to two pages? 00:22:21.84\00:22:25.04 And the civil rights movement is always some arise. 00:22:26.17\00:22:28.98 And Dr. 00:22:29.01\00:22:29.68 King's I Have a Dream speech. 00:22:29.71\00:22:32.11 In other words, there is an intentionality 00:22:33.08\00:22:35.05 about watering down how bad slavery was 00:22:35.98\00:22:38.92 and how great 00:22:38.95\00:22:39.85 the atrocities were, and some simply label it 00:22:39.89\00:22:43.39 a practice of indentured servitude. 00:22:43.43\00:22:46.29 It is why there is let's just slicing afoot 00:22:47.20\00:22:49.16 to remove classes like critical race theory 00:22:50.17\00:22:52.30 from our schools because there is a story 00:22:53.17\00:22:55.47 that is attempted to be reframed and managed 00:22:56.40\00:22:59.17 and I need you to know that we will suffer great loss 00:23:00.38\00:23:02.44 if we are dependent upon somebody else 00:23:03.35\00:23:05.48 to tell our story. 00:23:06.48\00:23:08.48 And that's why in our churches and in our schools, 00:23:08.52\00:23:13.82 we've got to be faithful sentinels of our story 00:23:14.79\00:23:18.26 so that when the future generations ask 00:23:19.13\00:23:21.80 what means these stones, 00:23:22.36\00:23:24.40 there is something that we can tell them that 00:23:25.40\00:23:28.47 reminds them that God loves us to hear me today friends 00:23:28.50\00:23:33.14 thank you so much for joining us for the breath of life 00:23:34.24\00:23:37.31 television Ministries Broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell 00:23:37.35\00:23:41.38 We hope and pray 00:23:41.82\00:23:42.88 that you have been blessed by his powerful message. 00:23:42.92\00:23:45.89 Join us next week for part two of the message, Rolling Stones. 00:23:47.12\00:23:50.59 You don't want to miss it! 00:23:51.43\00:23:54.46 What's good family, 00:24:14.52\00:24:16.89 the ExcuseLess revolution is underway. 00:24:16.92\00:24:19.52 We've been having a good time testifying, praying 00:24:20.62\00:24:23.12 and receiving the word of the Lord. 00:24:23.99\00:24:25.53 But I want you to know that the revolution is not over yet. 00:24:25.56\00:24:29.20 The Bible says, I wish, above all things that thou me is 00:24:30.40\00:24:32.93 prosper and be in help even as not so prosperous. 00:24:32.97\00:24:37.04 The next leg of the journey revolves around our fitness 00:24:38.24\00:24:41.28 and our health. 00:24:41.31\00:24:42.84 I invite you to join me. 00:24:42.88\00:24:44.15 Starting on made the fit for an online 00:24:44.18\00:24:47.75 30 day fitness campaign under the theme, it's Useless. 00:24:48.92\00:24:52.49 I want you to join me each week, Sunday through Friday, 00:24:53.59\00:24:55.49 Sunday at 8 a.m.. 00:24:55.99\00:24:57.16 Monday through Friday at 6 a.m.. 00:24:57.19\00:24:59.39 When you join us online, 00:24:59.43\00:25:01.00 you're going to receive a spiritual bid. 00:25:01.03\00:25:04.37 Our coaches are going to lead us in a 25 minute online workout. 00:25:05.60\00:25:10.37 And then we'll conclude the day with my Health Avengers. 00:25:11.51\00:25:13.94 Some amazing chefs are going to give us some tools 00:25:13.98\00:25:17.01 on how to make tasty and affordable and healthy meals 00:25:18.08\00:25:21.25 that help push us forward over the course of this 30 days. 00:25:22.42\00:25:25.02 You can be a part of a weight loss challenge, 00:25:26.05\00:25:27.59 and each and every week 00:25:28.16\00:25:29.09 there's going to be a different challenge 00:25:29.12\00:25:30.86 that allows us to build community around our fitness 00:25:30.89\00:25:34.30 and our hope. 00:25:34.73\00:25:36.00 For too long, we've been making some excuses 00:25:36.03\00:25:38.17 about why we're not eating well, about 00:25:39.00\00:25:40.44 why we're not in shape, about why we're not in perfect health. 00:25:40.47\00:25:44.14 I need you to know it's time to cancel those excuses. 00:25:45.31\00:25:47.08 But when you join this leg of the journey, 00:25:47.98\00:25:49.51 those aches and pains are going to go away. 00:25:49.54\00:25:51.65 You're going to feel better as we continue the journey 00:25:52.81\00:25:55.08 toward becoming ExcuseLess. 00:25:55.75\00:25:57.62 Calling all leaders, 00:25:58.92\00:26:00.66 visionaries, dreamers, content creators. 00:26:00.69\00:26:04.13 We're inviting you to the 2024 00:26:04.83\00:26:07.13 Vision and Dreamers conference hosted by Breath of Life, 00:26:08.33\00:26:10.43 the theme for this year is a ExcuseLess. 00:26:11.37\00:26:13.23 We want you to know that this year's conference is not 00:26:14.40\00:26:16.57 about spreadsheets, budgets or accounting. 00:26:16.60\00:26:19.41 We're going to be talking 00:26:20.04\00:26:20.94 about the process your soul goes through 00:26:20.98\00:26:22.94 whenever you're developing or implementing a vision. 00:26:24.08\00:26:26.21 We're going to be equipping you with the tools 00:26:27.18\00:26:28.75 to develop a vision ethic. 00:26:28.78\00:26:30.92 We're going to be talking about 00:26:30.95\00:26:32.12 things like your frustrations, how to manage your fears, 00:26:32.15\00:26:35.62 dealing with criticism or enduring seasons of waiting. 00:26:36.73\00:26:39.66 Join us at the Oakwood University Church 00:26:40.60\00:26:43.20 May 17 through 19. 00:26:43.70\00:26:45.87 We're going to kick it off Friday night 00:26:45.90\00:26:47.67 with a vespers, a vision talk and a mixer. 00:26:47.70\00:26:50.91 Join us Saturday morning at 11, where I'm going to give a word 00:26:52.14\00:26:54.71 just for you. 00:26:54.74\00:26:55.84 We'll be joined in partnership by gospel 00:26:55.88\00:26:58.58 recording artist Myron Butler and Levi. 00:26:58.61\00:27:01.65 We're going to have lunch together. 00:27:02.45\00:27:03.59 And then that afternoon 00:27:03.62\00:27:04.79 there are going to be a number of plenary sessions 00:27:04.82\00:27:06.92 and breakout sessions and will conclude Sunday morning 00:27:08.02\00:27:10.46 with our vision brunch. 00:27:11.03\00:27:12.73 We have an amazing lineup of speakers and presenters. 00:27:12.76\00:27:16.36 Movie producer Devon Franklin. 00:27:17.07\00:27:18.90 YouTube influencers, the Onyx Family and Grammy Award 00:27:19.97\00:27:23.24 winning Kelvin Wooten. 00:27:23.27\00:27:24.77 And many, many more. 00:27:24.81\00:27:26.21 I want to invite you to go to our website and register 00:27:26.24\00:27:29.14 right now at www.breathoflife.tv. 00:27:29.18\00:27:33.25 Registration cost is $150, but I want you to know 00:27:34.32\00:27:37.22 that what you're going to 00:27:37.25\00:27:38.42 receive is going to be way more than what you actually get. 00:27:38.45\00:27:41.92 I believe 00:27:42.39\00:27:43.53 that God has put a huge vision or dream inside of you, 00:27:43.56\00:27:46.76 and we don't want to allow excuses to smother it. 00:27:47.76\00:27:50.13 I want to invite you to join us on the revolution 00:27:51.20\00:27:53.74 as we continue the journey of becoming 00:27:54.57\00:27:56.57 ExcuseLess 00:27:56.60\00:28:01.38