Title: The Importance Of Remembering
Text: I Chron 16:7-13; Job 36:22-26
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Introduction:
- This week is remembrance day.
- A day where we remember the sacrifices made for our freedom.
- Many people gave there lives so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today.
- One freedom that I am grateful for is the freedom of religion.
- I can serve Jesus in church without the threat of being hurt or shut down.
- Many Christians around the world don’t have that freedom and are suffering for there faith.
- So we need to be thankful and remember the awesome price that was paid, and the price that is continuing to be paid right now.
- Our men and women are fighting for our freedom and safety and they are doing a great job!
Transition:
- This morning in honor of Remembrance Day that is coming up, I wanted to talk about the importance of remembering.
- And in particular what God remembers.
- There are 4 areas I have found in the Word of God that God always remembers that we can take great joy in.
- But before we talk about that, I want to give you some funny stories about why it’s important to remember:
Patient to his psychiatrist: Doctor, I can’t remember anything! I forgot what happened yesterday. I forgot what my car looks like. I can’t even remember my own name.
Psychiatrist: How long have you had this problem?
Patient: What problem?
The man looked a little worried when the doctor came in to administer his annual physical, so the first thing the doctor did was to ask whether anything was troubling him.
"Well, to tell the truth, Doc, yes," answered the patient.
"You see, I seem to be getting forgetful. No, it’s actually worse than that. I’m never sure I can remember where I put the car, or whether I answered a letter, or where I’m going, or what it is I’m going to do once I get there -- if I get there. So, I really need your help. What can I do?"
The doctor mused for a moment, then answered in his kindest tones, "Pay me in advance."
- So this morning it’s important to remember
- What does God remember? Let me give you 4 areas that God remembers in.
Point 1: God Remembers Covenant
Gen 9:14-15 says, “Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.”
Ex 2:24 says, “God heard their groaning and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and with Jacob.”
Psalm 111:5 says, “He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.”
- What is a covenant?
- A covenant is an agreement between two partners.
- In the Bible we have many covenants made by God to His people.
- For example: Noah and the rainbow; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; The Sinai Covenant; The Davidic Covenant and the New Testament Covenant.
- The two partners both have responsibilities to make the covenant work.
- For example the patriarchal covenant had two promises from the Lord,
1. The multiplication of Abraham’s offspring and the inheritance of the promised land.
2. There part was to be fruitful and multiply and go and conquer.
- Time does not permit us to look further into covenant, but the promise is clear. God always fulfills His end of the bargain.
- God never fails, we still have the rainbow, the Jewish people are still going the promise land and are being blessed.
- People are still being saved today, because of the covenant made by Jesus on the Christ for the world.
- God is still honoring His covenant with us, His people.
- I am reminded in this story of God’s faithfulness to us all when we pray:
Two Pastors wives were visiting and sewing their husbands pants. One wife said: My husband is just beside himself, he does not know what to do anymore and he is so tired and depressed he said he is ready to just give up and resign.
The other wife said: I am sorry to hear that because my husband has never been happier. Our membership is growing and we are out of our financial burden, we have such a large and loving congregation. Life could not be any better than it is right now.
One woman was mending the seat of her husbands pants, the other was mending the knees.
- God will always honor His covenant He has made with people, but we need to respond to God’s covenant and apply it to our lives.
Point 2: God Remembers Compassion
Psalm 103:13-14 says, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.”
- God has compassion on His children because He knows our weaknesses and infirmities.
- Even the best of His followers stand in need of His compassion.
- As a father has compassion on his own children when they are hurt or mistreated, so also is God towards us.
- God is not uncaring or unconcerned, but rather we must remember that His eyes look to us with compassion, and He will help us according to our need.
Luke 7:12-13 says, “As He approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and he said, don’t cry.”
- This morning whatever your need is, God will have compassion on you.
- According to this scripture Jesus compassion for this widow shows that God has a special love and care for widows or for any person who is left alone in the world.
- His heart goes out to all who are in need.
- Whatever your situation this morning, God wants to help you overcome the struggle you are facing.
Point 3: God Remembers Charity or Love
Psalm 98:3 says, “He has remembered His love and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
- Listen to this story:
Grandma and Grandpa were sitting in their porch rockers watching the beautiful sunset and reminiscing about "the good old days". Grandma turned to Grandpa and said, "Honey, do you remember when we first started dating and you used to just casually reach over and take my hand?"
Grandpa looked over at her, smiled and obligingly took her aged hand in his. With a wry little smile, Grandma pressed a little farther, "Honey, do you remember how after we were engaged, you’d sometimes lean over and suddenly kiss me on the cheek?"
Grandpa leaned slowly toward Grandma and gave her a lingering kiss on her wrinkled cheek. Growing bolder still, Grandma said, "Honey, do you remember how, after we were first married, you’d kind of nibble on my ear?" Grandpa slowly got up from his rocker and headed into the house. Alarmed, Grandma said, "Honey, where are you going?"
Grandpa replied, "To get my teeth!"
- And because God remembers love, shows us certain characteristics of God.
- Because God remembers love, He is patient, kind, not envious, nor boastful and proud. God is not rude, self seeking and is not easily angered. God keeps no records of wrongs and God does not delight in evil, but rejoices in truth. God always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres for us. (I Cor 13)
- That should bring us all great comfort knowing that God is committed to us to that degree.
- God will never fail, will always be perfect and never gives up on us.
- God remembers love and faithfulness. He will be those to you everyday of your life.
Point 4: God Remembers Commitment (Both Good And Bad)
Eze 18:21-22 says, “But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.”
Eze 33:12-13 says, “Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, the righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness. If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered, he will die for the evil he has done.”
- God judges everyone righteously and justly.
- God is committed to judge according to our commitment to Him.
- Meaning if the righteous turn away from God and back to sin will be held accountable for their sins and will die in them if they do not repent.
- They cannot count on their past righteous deeds to save them.
- On the other had, the wicked who turn to God and away from sin will be saved, and none of their sins will be remembered against them . (Vs 14-16)
- They will receive the gift of eternal life.
- So our relationship to God is very important because God remembers commitment whether good or bad.
- People who say, “I am all right because I am such and such religion” or “My wife or husband have enough religion for the whole family” Saying those statements will prove to be spiritually fatal.
- The person who turns to God in sincere repentance and true faith, He will accept us, regardless of our past sins and life.
- Let me give you this story of a committed person, you can decide if it’s bad or good:
A woman decided to have her portrait painted. She told the artist, "Paint me with diamond rings, a diamond necklace, emerald bracelets, a ruby broach, and gold Rolex."
"But you are not wearing any of those things," he replied.
"I know," she said. "It’s in case I should die before my husband. I’m sure he will remarry right away, and I want his new wife to go crazy looking for the jewellery."
Conclusion:
- Why is it important to honor Remembrance Day?
- Because without remembrance day and our present troops fighting as we speak, would not give us the freedom that is ours today.
- And the same goes for God. Because God remembers
1. Covenant
2. Compassion
3. Charity
4. Commitment
- We would not have the freedom that is ours in Christ Jesus.
- So it is important to remember, let us never forget where we have come from.
Lets Pray!!!
