"LEST YE FORGET"

Deuteronomy 4:23-24  

Introduction: On a bumper sticker years ago, I saw these words: “Lest we forget”.  It was dealing with Pearl Harbor.  The problem with that bumper sticker is it is dated.  Many of the folks who lived at the time of Pearl Harbor are either dead or much older now.  For our generation, it is the date 9/11/2001.  But fifty or so years, people will forget that date too.  God wants us to remember some things.

      It is significant that there is only one exhortation in the Bible to forget.

                                                Philippians 3:13

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before”

Yet, there are over 100 references to "remember" and "forget not."  It would be marvelous personal Bible study to find these references.

      The past can make a good guidepost, but should never be used as a hitching post.  Too many folks are always moaning about how good it was in their past life.  I rather forget some of those memories.

      The Lord's Supper is to help us remember the broken body and shed blood of Christ at Calvary.

         Luke 22:19

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

      We celebrate Memorial Day as a day for us to remembering those who died fighting for our country.  For too many, it is just another day off.

      It is the job of the pastor to jog people's memory about certain things.

                                                1^st Timothy 4:6

"If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained."

                                                2^nd Timothy 2:14

"Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers."

                                                Philippians 3:1

"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe."

      Forgetfulness is common. It becomes even more common as you grow older and getting over 40.  One lady told me that her daddy used to say that a short pencil is better than a long memory.  We have herbal supplements to aid our memory.  We can remember people's faces, but forget their names. We usually remember a person's faults and mistakes, but forget all their benefits and goodness!

Here is a short list of items to remember:

* The brevity of time;

* The blessings of trials;

* The balance of patience;

* The business of employment;

* The benefits of character;

* The beauty of kindness;

* The bait of influence;

* The budgeting of economy;

* The bond of friendships;

* The benevolence of love

* The bliss of laughter.

      The background for our text is the end of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Moses is giving instructions to the children of Israel before crossing over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. He is calling them to not forget where God has brought them. 

I.   LEST WE FORGET THE DELIVERANCE THE LORD HAS WROUGHT.  

                                                Deuteronomy 5:15

“And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.”

                                                Deuteronomy 15:15

             “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.”

1. We must remember we were before the Lord saved us.

                              Ephesians 2:1-3

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

      There are four words that describe us before the Lord saved us in this passage.

1. We were dead.  We were alive physically but dead spiritually. 

2. We were disobedient.  If we were not then we would have no need for a Saviour.  He called us to salvation but we did not come immediately.  For many times, there were many calls to be saved.  I remember two distinct times in my life.  There may have been more but these stand out in my mind.  The first one was at an old-fashioned cottage prayer meeting when I was ten years old.  The second was on the day I was saved. 

3. We were depraved.  We walked according to the desires of the flesh.  That is exactly opposite of the desires of God.  His ways are always higher than our ways.

4. We were doomed.  We were only one heartbeat away from hell.  We were condemned already.  Without God, we are always doomed.

         B.  We must remember the bondage slavery God has freed us.  For some it was the slavery of drink or drugs.  Others it was the slavery of self-righteousness.  Whatever was in our lives, we were slaves without God.  The Lord never wants us to forget where He brought me.   

II.  LEST WE FORGET THE DIFFICULTIES THE LORD LEAD US THROUGH ALONG  THE WAY  Deuteronomy 8:2

“And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.”

                        Remember the lessons the Lord has taught us along the way  

2. The lessons of humility

      One of the lessons that I learned in humility was learned in my childhood.  I told my parents that a neighbor boy was racing down the street at great speed.  I made it sound dangerous.  Little did I know that my mom went to his mom.  Then they confronted me.  He was in big trouble.  But I had to confess my lie and apologize to that fellow.  One thing about eating crow, it never tastes good.  Humble pie is not delicious dish either. 

      Humility is the place that God wants us.  He hates pride.  He wants humility in His children’s lives and will stop at nothing to teach us those valuable lessons.

3. The lessons of hardness

      One of the things that I have learned in life is this- Life is hard.  Does Paul have some words of advice about hardness?

                        2^nd Timothy 2:3

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

      Let me give you some quick thoughts about enduring hardness as a good soldier.

1. A good soldier listens to his commander.

                     2. A good soldier has the goal in sight, which is the victory.

                     3. A good soldier takes correction the right way.

                     4. A good soldier stays in the fight because this is what he is supposed to do.

5. A good soldier is willing to die for the cause.

4. The lessons of Him

      We learn more about Christ in our difficulties most of the time than any other time. Smooth sailing does not make good sailors.   The disciples learned more about the Lord Jesus in the difficult times than any other. 

III.  LEST WE FORGET THE DISPLEASURE OF THE LORD AT OUR REBELLION

                                                Deuteronomy 9:7

“Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.”

                  A. Rebellion in our self will

      When I continue in self-will, I lose the blessings and power of God in my life.  What are some of the traits of self-will?

                        1. A stubborn, unteachable attitude

                        2. A spirit that is self-sufficient and knows everything and yet is insensitive to those      around

                        3. Harsh, sarcastic expressions when talking to others

                        4. An unyielding, headstrong attitude that doesn’t see the other person’s point of      view

                        5. A driving, commanding spirit which whips God’s people into service rather than      leading them

             6. A disposition to criticize and pick out flaws when you are set aside and left unnoticed

                        7. A fretful, anxious, unreasonable spirit

                        8. A disposition that loves to be coaxed humored and asked twice!

                        9. A spirit that seeks only its own interest to please itself

I don’t think I missed anything in this, have I?

5. Rebellion in our sinning willfully

      This is that sin that we know beyond a shadow of doubt that it is wrong and we do it anyway. 

IV.  LEST WE FORGET THE DELIGHTS GOD HAS BESTOWED  

                                                Deuteronomy 32:7-12

“Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.  When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.  For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.  He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.  As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.”

                  A. The Blessings of His Protection

      I need not to speak much on this.  I have said it over and over again these past few weeks and months.  We may go through problems, pains and such but our Lord is with us all the way.

                  B. The Blessings of His Provisions Philippians 4:19

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

                              We see the source of supplies- “But my God”.

                              We see the surety of supplies “shall”.

                              We see the supply of supplies- “all your need”.

                              We see the substance of supplies- “according to his riches in glory”

      We see the supreme of supplies- “by Christ Jesus.”

6. The Blessings of His Promises

      All the blessings are written in the pages of this blessed old Book.  They are there for the picking.

7. The Blessings of His Padding

      Even though we may not feel that way at the time of the padding, it is a blessing because of several reasons.  He still loves me and He sees what I need corrected in my life so that I can go forward for Him. 

Conclusion:  Let’s do our best not to forget.  Let me close with a verse and chorus of a song. 

LEAD ME TO CALVARY

King of my life, I crown Thee now,

Thine shall the glory be;

Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,

Lead me to Calvary.

Refrain

Lest I forget Gethsemane,

Lest I forget Thine agony;

Lest I forget Thy love for me,

Lead me to Calvary.