"Yesterday" 11-7-21

Overview

Total Thanks: Giving Thanks for Our Yesterdays

Scripture's call to thanksgiving cannot be confined to a single day on the calendar. Psalm 92:1 declares it good to give thanks to the Lord, and Colossians 3:15 commands us to "be thankful" as the peace of Christ rules our hearts. Thanksgiving is meant to permeate every part of life—our yesterdays, our todays, our tomorrows, and our forevers. We begin where memory lives: with our yesterdays.

In Joshua 4, after God dried up the Jordan so Israel could cross on dry ground—just as He had done at the Red Sea—the Lord commanded Joshua to have twelve men, one from each tribe, carry stones from the riverbed and set them up as a memorial. The purpose was twofold: a permanent reminder of God's faithfulness, and a teaching tool for generations to come. When children would ask, "What do those stones mean?" parents would retell the story of God's deliverance—and in retelling it, the parents themselves would be blessed again. Scripture is full of such markers: Jacob's pillar at Bethel Genesis 35:14 and Samuel's Ebenezer 1 Samuel 7:12, declaring, "Thus far the Lord has helped us."

Thanksgiving comes easily for the bright yesterdays—the conflict resolved, the promotion received, the healing granted. But what about the harder yesterdays: the phone call in the night, the persistent trial, the loss of someone we love? When Paul writes in Ephesians 5:20 that we are to give thanks "at all times and for everything," he is not requiring us to call tragedy wonderful. The same apostle who recounts beatings, stonings, and shipwrecks in 2 Corinthians 11:24-25 did not pronounce those events themselves as gifts to celebrate. Rather, we give thanks for how God picks up the pieces when our lives lie shattered, how He uses hardship to deepen our dependence on Him, and how He reveals His grace in the wreckage.

Ultimately, every memorial stone of thanksgiving points back to one decisive yesterday. In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul prays that believers would joyfully give thanks to the Father "who has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." The cross is the yesterday that shapes all our days. Because Christ died and rose, even our most painful memories are held within the larger story of His redeeming love. Set up your stones. Tell the story to your children. Remember—and give thanks.

Transcript

Would you open your Bibles, please, with me this morning, to the book of Joshua in the Old Testament, 3s

the fourth chapter, if you're using a Pew edition of Holy Scripture, you're going to find that on page 181 in the Old Testament. 8s

Joshua, the fourth chapter. 16s

We begin a new sermon series for a week's long that is entitled, total thanks, embracing 19s

thanksgiving, each and every day. 26s

You know, when you hear the call to give thanks, that is a pervasive call, is it not in 31s

Holy Scripture? 38s

I think, for example, in Psalm 92, the Scripture says, it is good to give thanks to the Lord to sing 39s

praises to your name, almost high, or Colossians 3. 47s

Above all, close yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony, 53s

and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts to which indeed you were called in the one body, 61s

and be thankful. 70s

Verse, after verse, after verse, this call for thanksgiving. 73s

The giving of thanks, it really can't be relegated to one day, can it? 79s

It is to permeate all of our lives. 88s

And so, beginning today, and then the three sermons that are going to follow, we're going 94s

to focus very simply on giving thanks for today, giving thanks for our tomorrow's, giving 100s

thanks for our forever's. 109s

And today, let's start with giving thanks for our yesterday's, our yesterday's. 113s

To examine this topic today, I want to look at Joshua IV chapter with you. 127s

Joshua is just a key figure in the Old Testament. 134s

He was, remember, one of the faithful spies that went into spy out the Promised Land, and 138s

he and Caleb came back with a positive report with regard to the land. 143s

The others had the negative and pessimistic and fearful report as they left the promises 148s

of God and were relying on their own ingenuity. 154s

When not Joshua, Joshua comes back, confident in God's word, confident in the future 158s

that was ahead of them. 167s

Joshua was Moses' lieutenant. 170s

And so, Joshua was the one that God had chosen to replace or succeed Moses. 173s

When you look at the Old Testament, one of the great, great miracles was the crossing of 187s

the Red Sea. 195s

You recall when Moses was leading the people out of the slavery in Egypt, they were 197s

under the hand of the very, very oppressive Pharaoh. 203s

God propelling them to the Promised Land, they come to the vast red sea. 206s

They hear the hoof beats of Pharaoh's army behind him and the seas in front of them. 212s

And what does God do? 217s

What God pulls the sea back and the people cross over on dry ground. 219s

Very important and credible miracle recorded in the Old Testament. 229s

It was a similar miracle. 234s

A pulling back of the waters with regard to the Jordan. 237s

Look at me, please, at verse 23 of chapter 4. 242s

There the Scripture says, for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you 249s

until you crossed over as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us 258s

until we crossed over. 266s

Well, this action of God occasioned then a command of God. 271s

Jump now, please, to the beginning of chapter 4. 278s

When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 283s

select 12 men from the people, one from each tribe and command them. 290s

Take 12 stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan from the place where the priests 296s

feet stood. 303s

Carry them over with you and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight. 305s

So there's the command of God and now Joshua relays the command. 313s

Verse 4. 319s

Then Joshua summoned the 12 men from the Israelites whom he had appointed one from each tribe. 322s

Joshua said to them, pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. 330s

And each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the tribes of these relays. 335s

Does that strike you as odd? 345s

Why they do this? 349s

What was the purpose of this collection of stones? 352s

But we see in Scripture is that formation of stones or pillars or collection of stones 361s

to commemorate an event of God. 370s

For example, Genesis 35. 377s

Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. 381s

And he poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 389s

So God called the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel. 394s

For Samuel 7. 399s

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mitzfa and Jessena and named it a benizur. 403s

For he said, thus far the Lord has helped us. 410s

So the actions here of the people is something that we see in the Scripture. 418s

This collection of stones, this erecting of pillars here. 425s

Why? 432s

The stones were to function as a reminder to the people of what God had done for them. 435s

In pulling back the water of the Jordan and they cross over. 445s

It was also a function as a teaching tool. 452s

Look at me please, it verse 6. 458s

Right after Joshua relays the command of the Lord, the reason is given, 460s

so that this may be a sign among you. 465s

When your children ask in time to come, what do those stones mean to you? 469s

Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the arc 474s

of the covenant of the Lord when it crossed over the Jordan. 480s

The waters of the Jordan were cut off. 484s

So these stones shall be to the Israelites, a memorial forever. 487s

It was a reminder, it was also a teaching tool. 495s

A teaching tool for the parents to teach the children. 502s

And when the parents would teach the children, the meaning of the stones, 505s

who else was blessed in addition to the children. 510s

It was the teacher, right? 515s

The parent who was telling once again of the goodness of God. 517s

We may have to be prompted with regard to our Thanksgiving. 529s

Perhaps sometimes reminded to give thanks. 536s

But it's easier to give thanks, is it not for the good things that happen in life? 542s

Why this giving thanks not only for the event of the Red Sea, 552s

but now also this similar miracle. 556s

That was a wonderful occasion. 559s

And in wonderful occasions, the giving of thanks can roll 562s

sometimes quite easily off of our tongues, can't it? 568s

The conflict that is resolved, the perplexing problem that now has a solution, 576s

the promotion that you get. 585s

The healing that is given. 589s

Those wonderful blessings of life, 594s

in which the stones, so to speak, are set up in the mind, 599s

and we are reminded of them. 604s

Why the Thanksgiving can flow easier, right? 608s

Or perhaps even easy as we reflect on those events? 613s

But let's complicate things a little bit this morning, 625s

what about the other events in life? 630s

You know, that conflict that just continues day after day after day, 636s

and like a rock in your shoe, it just wears on you. 648s

What about the phone call that comes in the middle of the night? 659s

And the tragedy is occurred. 663s

What about the loss of a loved one? 670s

Are we the give thanks for those yesterdays? 678s

Are we the give thanks for those yesterdays? 684s

I think of the Apostle Paul writing an Ephesians the fifth chapter. 694s

He says this, but be filled with the spirit as you sing songs and 703s

hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts. 709s

Giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 719s

Giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 731s

Does that mean then that everything that occurs in our yesterdays, 750s

we are to give thanks for the occurrence? 759s

I think of Paul, same author and Ephesians, he writes this in second Corinthians the 11th chapter. 769s

He says five times I've received from the Jews the 40 lashes minus one. 776s

Three times I was beaten with rods once I received a stoning. 783s

Three times I was shipwrecked for a night in a day I was adrift at sea and on and on it goes as 789s

Paul is recounting some of the difficult things that occurred in his life. 796s

The same one that writes then in Ephesians we are to give thanks for all things. 805s

Also writes this in second Corinthians 11 this catalog this litany of the challenges and the 810s

difficulty that occurred in his life. I love how the late theologian R.C. Sproul. 818s

When he was addressing this portion of scripture he said, you know, 827s

I don't think that when Paul said five times I received from the Jews the 40 lashes minus one. 834s

I don't think that the apostle Paul offered up a prayer and said, isn't that wonderful? 842s

He said, I don't think that when he said three times I was beaten with rods once I received a stoning. 850s

Three times I was shipwrecked for a night in a day I was adrift at sea that he said, thank you God. 855s

That was wonderful. It's wonderful. 864s

And so the tragedy news that was given when you picked up the phone 875s

the loss of your loved one that event that when it plays again in this endless loop 889s

that sometimes is just activated and you don't know why but that event that just makes you sob inside 908s

are we to give thanks for that? 923s

No. No. The context of Ephesians the fifth chapter has to do with the worship life 933s

in the congregation. It has to do with the giving of thanks for the gifts of God 944s

and to use that as a verse that says to someone who's lost a loved one, 955s

you are to give thanks for that. That doesn't understand the context. 968s

See God doesn't put us under the bondage to give thanks for the particulars of those 979s

other events that are so difficult in our lives but what we can give thanks for is how God 986s

picks up the pieces of our lives when they lay all over the floor with that kind of news. 1000s

What we can give thanks for is how God uses those situations to teach us a greater dependence 1011s

upon him what we can give thanks for is what we learn in terms of the graciousness of God. 1020s

You see Thanksgiving can emerge from all of our yesterdays. 1034s

All of our yesterdays. Four not those tough days but four how God uses 1048s

and comforts and gives us his promises. One of the most beautiful things I think that you 1074s

can say to another person when you're talking with is to say how can I pray for you? How can 1087s

we know how to pray for another? But sometimes as you listen to someone that might not be clear 1099s

and so a beautiful expression of care and compassion is simply to say how can I pray for you? 1110s

Whenever I have used that line I have always seen in the person's eye this affirmation of that question 1124s

and they can distill how it is that they desire the prayer into always this petition 1139s

because they know exactly how they are praying and they know exactly how they desire you to pray. 1150s

In Colossians, Colossians the first chapter. It's an example of one of those times where Paul knew how to pray for them. 1160s

He says in verse 9 of chapter one he says for this reason since the day we heard it we have not ceased 1170s

praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and 1175s

understanding so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit in 1184s

every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. See Paul knew, Paul knew in this case exactly 1192s

how to pray exactly how to pray and then he goes on and expresses his desires. He says may you be made strong 1199s

with all the strength that comes from his glorious power and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience 1208s

while joyfully giving thanks to the Father. And then he clauses it and he gives the reason for the 1216s

giving thanks who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He's rescued us 1227s

from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son in whom we have redemption 1237s

the forgiveness of sins. Paul says here's the reason for your thanksgiving. Here's why I expressed 1246s

this desire for you to give thanks and it's rooted in what happened on a particular yesterday. 1256s

It's rooted in the yesterday of the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ rooted in the yesterday 1264s

when we were redeemed when we were bought back when our sin was atoned for when the blood of the 1271s

creation affected when the wrath of God for all of our darkness was laid upon the Lord Jesus Christ. 1283s

He took our sin and gives to us of his righteousness. The cause of your thanksgiving is rooted 1292s

in the yesterday of what Jesus did and the yesterday of what Jesus did dying and rising then forms 1301s

all of our days all of them. So these stones shall be to the Israelites 1311s

a memorial forever so that they would remember God's action. 1330s

Total thanks. Total thanks. Embracing Thanksgiving every day. We're going to see next week 1348s

about embracing Thanksgiving for our todays. We're going to see following bracing Thanksgiving 1362s

for our tomorrows. We're going to see on Thanksgiving Eve embracing Thanksgiving for our 1367s

forevers. And today we start with our yesterdays. Thanksgiving. 1373s

Not only not only for the those good days but also for what God can do 1386s

with those other days with those other days. 1404s