God Remembers Me

God Remembers Me

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - As we come to the close of 2024 and head into 2025 there are questions of what the future will be. People are struggling with the possibility of another pandemic looming, uncertainty of a government shut-down, presidential campaign promises being totally disregarded, the security and national symbol of strength is weakened, inflation is rising rapidly while the average salary has not increased. We are faced with wars and rumors of wars, hate, prejudice, racism is ever being portrayed without mufflers. So often it seems like our prayers have gone unanswered by God, and we even asked the question my God my God why hast thou forsaken me because it seems like God has forgotten us. Our cry and our theme is “Do Lord Do Lord - Lord Remember Me”,

The Children of Israel endured heavy burdens in Egypt, they faced persecution, slavery, and the death of their children, prompting them to cry out to the Lord Exodus 2:23 “and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage”.

They like us today wondered where was God in their time of need? What happened to His promise He had promised them? No doubt they even wondered could God be trusted after waiting so long.

Going into this new year I want to ask these questions as well and bring out the awesomeness of God and emphatically say Yes indeed we can depend on God because Exodus 2:24-25 says, “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them”.

God Remembered Me!

PRAYER: -

SCRIPTURE: - Genesis 8:1 “And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark:”

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “remember” as to “bring to mind or think of again,” or to “retain in the memory.” It comes from the Latin rememorari, which combines re- (again) and memorari (be mindful of). It doesn’t necessarily imply one has forgotten the thing one is mindful of, but rather that it is on one’s mind. So, for God to “remember” means for God to have it on God’s mind. The Hebrew word zakar, which means “to remember.” But the definition goes deeper, for it also means to bring someone to mind and then act on that person’s behalf.

Understand when we read of God remembered it does not mean God forgot about or that He forgets about anyone or anything. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do”.

When God Remembers it is not that He forgets something and then it suddenly returns to His memory. Because He is omnipotent “all powerful” and omniscient “all knowing” if He were to forget anything that would nullify Him as being God because He would not be that anymore. So, what does God Remembered mean.

When “God remembers”, it means that He acts according to His covenant promises, especially in a way evident to His people. When in Genesis 8:1 God remembered brought about the end of the flood.

When the Bible says that God remembered something, it is not implying forgetfulness. God always remembers it is part of His nature. The statement that “God remembered” places an emphasis on His faithfulness and everlasting care.

UNDERSTAND: - God remembered is an anthropomorphism. Anthropomorphism is a figure of speech in which certain traits of finite humanity are ascribed to the infinite God. Anthropomorphism helps us understand God’s work from a human perspective. Understand when God remembers sin, He punishes it and when God remembers His people, He blesses them.

When God Remembers it brings about a 3-fold process. Remember the number 3 means fullness Past Present Future is the fullness of time, Outer Court, Inner Court Holy of Holies is the full Tabernacle, Father Son Holy Ghost is the fullness of the Godhead, Death Burial Resurrection the fullness of the Gospel. So, God remembers is a 3-fold process that brings into effect the fullness of God’s plan, His works, and His rewards in our life.

TEXT: - Understand Noah his family and all the animals had been literally in a storm not just a rainstorm but a storm that was the wrath and judgment of God upon sin and wicked mankind. They had been in darkness no doubt tossed around and drifting, they could hear the thunder and the things happening on the outside but couldn’t see anything and didn’t know what was going to happen next. For forty days and forty nights they didn’t hear from God they were at a dark and lonely place just them and their thoughts not sure if the rain would ever stop, but God remembered Noah his family and the animals.