1 Samuel 007:012

Samuel then took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Jeshanah and named it Ebenezer (meaning, "the Stone of Help"), for he said, "The Lord has certainly helped us!" 1 Samuel 7:12

The church has many markers to show God''s goodness

Have you ever received an award? Was the award a special plaque or a trophy? Perhaps it was a certificate or some other token of recognition. The purpose of an award is to recognize and to praise persons or groups that have made noteworthy accomplishments and contributions. They generally contain the name of the honoree, a description of the deed accomplished, a date, and the name of the presenters. Recognition of some accomplishments may get bigger than a mere plaque or certificate. Statues, busts and memorials are erected around the world to note the lifetime contributions of those who distinguished themselves in the course of time or to note the site of an historic event. Whether a small certificate or a towering obelisk, awards have a way of recognizing and marking important moments in time.
Tributes usually follow a significant accomplishment. Often those receiving the tribute feel undeserving and are puzzled at the praise they receive from others. We know how to recognize people for their accomplishments, but how do we recognize God when he has helped us? That was the question that puzzled David in Psalm 116:12 when he asked "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?" David concluded that he would drink from the cup of salvation, pay his vows and continue to call upon his name. He decided that was the best way to give tribute to God.
As Christians, we recognize that God has helped us in many ways. We cannot begin to pay him or reward him for his benevolence toward us. The trail of life that marks our journey is speckled with markers, large and small, that testify of the help we have received from God. Without him, we can do nothing. If we have accomplished anything, the glory is his, not ours.

Exposition

This text focuses on the prophet Samuel as he raises a stone that recognizes God for his past, present and future work in the life of Israel.
The Ark of the Covenant had been out of Israel''s hands for 20 years. Over the course of the 20 years, they labored in hope and in prayer, that God would bless them with its return. Assembled in the wilderness the people prayed to God for forgiveness of sin. In an elaborate ceremony, they poured out water on the ground to symbolically demonstrate their humility before God. They made a public confession of their sin, condemning themselves and praising God for his goodness.
As they met in the wilderness, committed to living for God, the Philistines saw them and prepared to attack them with a vengeance. However, God confused the Philistines in their attack amidst a great thunderstorm. Despite the Philistine''s overwhelming numbers, Israel, for the first time in a long time defeated its enemy and arose victorious.
In an act of Praise, the prophet Samuel erected a great stone to commemorate God''s great work in their lives. He called the stone "Ebenezer" which means "the stone of the help."
Erecting stones, altars and monuments was not unusual to Israel.
When Noah descended from the Ark, he erected a stone altar on Mt. Ararat to give thanks for being saved from the flood. The flood was over the deed was done and the stone altar marked the spot.
Abraham etched Mt. Moriah into the hearts of believers when he prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac on an altar, but learned that God had a lamb in the bush. He called the stone altar that marked the spot "Jehovah-Jireh" meaning the Lord will provide. The test was over and Abraham passed. The stone altar marked the spot.
Jacob took a stone which had been his pillow and turned it into a pillar that marked the place where he saw a ladder reaching into heaven. He named the place Bethel, saying the place was none other than the house of God. Jacob saw the vision and it was over. His stone simply marked the spot.
When the children of Israel crossed the river Jordan, they took 12 smooth stones marked the spot where the priests feet touched the Jordan. Those stones would be reminders to children who would later ask, "What mean ye by these stones," and be told of the great deed God performed for their forefathers. At Jordan, the stone simply referred to a past accomplishment.
Israel was accustomed to stones, yet there was something different about the Ebenezer Stone. It was different from all of the others. In naming this site, Samuel says "hitherto" the Lord hath helped us.
The word Hitherto in Hebrew is "Ad" which suggests a continuum in time. It is different from the "has" helped us which suggests that the time of God''s help has passed. It is different from “did" help us because it suggests that the help is over. Hitherto, being a continuum reaches back to what God has done, brings it to what God is presently doing and carries it further to what God will do in the future.
The Ebenezer stone therefore was different from all other stones. It marked what God did on a certain day in time, what he continues to do and what is expected in the future.
Samuel had it right. The Ebenezer stone was not the end of God''s work with the people. His defeat of the Philistines a few days earlier was not the culmination of blessings they were to expect but rather it was the beginning. In a mighty way, God moved with the nation as they won successive victories over the Philistines, final victory under David and enjoyed peace under King Solomon.
The Ebenezer stone was a stone of recognition for God''s work in the past. It was a stone of praise for God''s continuous work and it was a stone of hope for the great work that God would do in the future.
Change This Title For Your Sermon Points

Today every saint can set up a stone or marker that shows a point in life in which God has intervened in their lives.
Like Noah, we have survived floods of trouble. We have remained afloat even though at times it appeared that we would sink.
Like Abraham, we have seen difficult times when our faith has been tested and the very lives of those we loved the most have been threatened. It was moments such as those that strengthened us when we learned that God truly does have a ram in the bush.
Like the Israelites crossing River Jordan into a new land, we have moved into new directions that we never thought we would take. We are bound for the Canaan land!
Who is it among us that can deny God''s handiwork? Who can claim to be the architect of his own destiny, responsible for his own success and achievement?
Somebody has an Ebenezer stone erected in an unseen corner of a hospital room. It marks the place where they asked for and received an answer to a prayer!
Somebody has an Ebenezer stone in the center of his or her home. It marks the place where God helped a failing marriage, strengthened a weakened husband and sustained a drained wife.
Somebody has an Ebenezer stone erected in his or her spirit. It marks the place and time when they met the Lord.
Perhaps that''s why Moses would declare in Psalm 90:1" LORD, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations."
David declared in Psalm 27:5, "For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."
In the wilderness, Moses was told to speak to the Rock and He would bring forth the water. In the same sense, the church has learned through its history, that there is power in talking to the Lord.
The church as a corporate body and as individuals has survived many difficult times because it learned how to talk to the Lord.
Hezekiah was appointed to die, but added 15 more years to his life, after he spoke to the Rock.
Elijah brought down fire from heaven and consumed the prophets of Baal, after he spoke to the Rock.
Peter and John were able to heal the sick and perform great miracles, after they had a little talk with the Rock.
Moses learned that there is no great blessing derived from yelling at the Rock, but from speaking to the Rock.
Likewise, he learned that there is no great blessing from striking out at the Rock, but it comes from speaking to the Rock.
The people learned that their blessing did not come from complaining and murmuring at the rock, but from speaking to the Rock.
The history of the church is filled with examples of believing men and women who weathered difficult times because they learned the art of speaking to the rock.
It has been the experience of many that when the church talked to the Lord, he heard its cries.
That is what prompted Dr. Watts to write, "I love the Lord, he heard my cries and pitied every groan. Long as I live while trouble rise I''ll hasten to his throne."
Maybe that is what the songwriter had in mind when he wrote, "What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege it is to carry everything to God in prayer."
Speaking to the rock was perhaps what the songwriter meant when he said, "Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right."

The church has been standing on a rock

Finally, brothers and sisters, the church has survived over 2000 years not because of its philosophy and historicity, but because it has been standing on the rock.
When the church stands on the rock, it super cedes the mortal capacities of mere humans because it is a spiritual entity; built upon a foundation that is sure and strong.
Jesus told Peter, that upon "this rock" he would build his church. This makes a distinction between the church that Christ builds and anything built by man. The church that man builds is a:
MOTEL: for people just passing through on Sunday on their way to some place else.
VACATION SPOT: where people come only once or twice a year.
ZOO: Where people come to watch other folk eat like hogs and act like monkeys
MUSEUM: Where people only remember, "What it used to be like" and the good old days.
FASHION SHOW: Where people come to display the latest styles and their new wardrobes.
PICTURE SHOW: Where audiences sit quietly as the deacons, preacher and choir put on a show.
CERAMIC SHOP: Where everyone becomes easily chipped and have to be handled with care.
ICE HOUSE: Where people with cold hearts give each other the cold shoulder.
But the church the God builds is different from man''s church. The Church that Jesus built is a:
LIGHTHOUSE: Giving light to a dark and stormy world
HOSPITAL: Ministering to those who are sick of sin and shame
DIVINE FLOWER SHOP: Only in the church can you find the sweet Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valley in the same place at the same time.
LIFE BOAT: Rescuing victims from the raging sea of life.
SIGN POST: Guiding the lost to the straight and narrow path. That''s why thousands cry out:
"Guide me oh thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak but thou art mighty, hold me in thou powerful hand"
Who is this rock? He is different things to different people.
To the astronomer He is the Sun of Righteousness.
To the baker He is the Living Bread.
To the banker He is the Hidden Treasure.
To the biologist He is the essence of Life.
To the carpenter He is the Sure Foundation.
To the doctor He is the Great Physician.
To the educator He is the Great Teacher.
To the farmer He is the Sower and Lord of the Harvest.
To the florist He is the Lily of the Valley and the Rose of Sharon.
To the geologist He is the Rock of Ages.
To the horticulturist He is the True Vine.
To the judge He is the Righteous Judge.
To the juror He is the True Witness.
To the jeweler He is the Pearl of Great Price.
To the toiler He is the Giver of Rest.
To the Sinner He is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.
To the Christian, He is the Son of the Living God, the Savior, the Redeemer and Lord!
Who is this rock? One songwriter said, "This rock is Jesus. Yes, he is the one. Be very sure your anchor holds and grips the Solid rock."
The church is standing on the solid rock of faith.
The church is holding on to the solid rock of hope.
No wonder the Songwriter wrote, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus, blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean of Jesus'' name.
On Christ, who carried a cross for me up Calvary''s hill.
On Christ, who let them drive nails into His hands.
On Christ, who died on Golgotha''s hill.
On Christ, who arose after three days and nights.
On Christ, the solid rock I stand.
All other ground is sinking sand.