• Spiritual Landmarks
• Landmarks were important in the Old Testament days.
• They are also important in our day.

• Introduction
• The ancient lands of Canaan were to be divided by the children of Israel and there were guidelines to see that each family kept possession of their family land.
• Careful genealogies were kept and rigid laws were enforced to see that land was kept in the families and that it could be reclaimed in the years of jubilee.
• Markers for this land were set up.
• Usually made of stone because of stability, they would serve as landmarks to let the families know where to allow their flocks to graze, where to plant their crops, where to build their dwellings and where to build their fences.
• Today, they use surveyors to kept tract of land purchases. Every home comes with a surveyors affidavit of legal status, along with every deed and property transaction.
• Landmarks can be rivers, hills, even trees.
• What is the danger of moving the landmarks?
• Landmarks give us boundaries.

• Moving Landmarks?
• Deuteronomy 19:14 (NKJV). "You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess."
• Deuteronomy 27:17 (NKJV) "Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen!"
• Proverbs 22:28 (NKJV) "Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set."
• Proverbs 23:10 (NKJV) "Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;"

• Some Moved The Landmarks
• There is a reason for not moving the landmarks.
• It keeps things stable, secure and correct.
• It keeps confusion away.
• It helps people identify what is mine and yours.
• Some did remove or move these landmarks and the Bible tells us they were wrong.
• Job 24:2 (NKJV) "Some remove landmarks; They seize flocks violently and feed on them;"
• Hosea 5:10 (NKJV) "The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark; I will pour out my wrath on them like water.“
• So moving a landmark is punishable.

• Spiritual Landmarks
• We need to learn that there are spiritual landmarks that God has given us.
• When we decide to move these landmarks or even remove them, there can only be confusion.
• 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV) "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."
• 2 Thessalonians 2:15 (NKJV) "Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."
• This gives a lot of people problems.
• Most grow up thinking that parents and the establishment is narrow-minded and out of touch with reality.
• They fail to grasp what life is all about.
• The zeal of youth wants to make a difference and they think that it can only happen with changes and by trying new ideals and anything new sometimes just for the sake of change.
• Ecclesiastes 1:10 (NKJV) "Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us."
• The warning from God is to continue in the ways that are established and true.
• Jeremiah 6:16 (NKJV) "Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"
• Philippians 3:17 (NKJV) "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern."
• 1 Timothy 1:16 (NKJV) "However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life."
• 2 Timothy 1:13 (NKJV) "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus."
• Titus 2:7 (NKJV) "..in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,"
• Ancient ways, patterns and examples; what have they got to do with us?
• Does this apply to the Church today?
• Yes!
• There are those who want to change the landmarks (rules, laws, or patterns) that God set up.
• They attack the old ways as old, outdated, and unnecessary.
• These people want to be progressive.
• That is alright if they want to get closer to God; but when they progress away from God, it brings forth sin and folly.
• James 3:16 (NKJV) "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."
• Many feel it is alright to go beyond the scriptures if your heart is in the right place.
• What does progress do?
• Denominationalism is one result.
• Division is another because people want to be progressive at any cost.
• Modernism has affected some so-called liberal brethren.
• They are now fighting this and calling for a return to the Bible because they have progressed (or digressed) so far from God.
• Even in the "conservative" ranks we see these problems.
• We look at other religions growing.
• We see members leaving the church and going to some human-made religion.
• So some try to follow the pattern of the denominations, and teach what they teach, which is not what the Bible teaches.

• Conclusion
• We are in a struggle to maintain the ancient landmarks.
• The landmarks we must keep are truth, patterns of sound doctrine, and God's word.
• We keep them by supporting and respecting them.
• Support the teaching and sponsoring of it, and knowing enough about them to recognize when the landmarks are different or removed.

By Carey Scott

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