Things to Remember

Text: Ecclesiastes 1:3-11

 

I.         There are so many things to remember!

            A.        Need to tie a string around my finger, but then I wouldn’t be able to bend it – there would be so many strings tied there.

            B.        Then there are organizers: paper and electronic, for the technically inclined, which work so long as you remember to bring them and keep them up-to-date.

            C.        But there is the convenient excuse: “I’m getting older”

            D.        However, no matter how hectic our lives become, there are things we need to always remember.

II.        Remember God

            A.        Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Build a habit of remembering God early in life

            B.        Showing a strong desire to remember God - Isaiah 26:7-10

            C.        God built many memory aids into the Old Law

                        1.         Tassels to remember to be obedient - Numbers 15:38-41

                        2.         Sabbath day to remember freedom from slavery - Deuteronomy 5:15

                        3.         The feast of Unleavened Bread was remember the exodus - Deuteronomy 16:3

            D.        Young people were to ask their elders about the past - Deuteronomy 32:6-7

            E.        Parents were to teach and thus help their memory - Deuteronomy 4:9-10; 6:4-9

            F.        Why? Because complacency breeds forgetfulness - Deuteronomy 6:10-12

            G.        We need to remember too - II Timothy 2:7-9

            H.        Israel managed to forget God - Judges 8:34

                        1.         They forgot for countless days - Jeremiah 2:32

                        2.         The result is condemnation - Psalm 9:17

            I.         God authority is eternal and His memory will last - Psalm 135:13

                        1.         Man may forget, but God will not forget - Isaiah 49:15-16

                        2.         Though man doesn’t deserve salvation, it is why God offers it - Hebrews 2:6

III.       Remember God’s Word

            A.        Don’t forget, as it will benefit us - Proverbs 4:1-9

            B.        Paul taught to remember Christ’s words - Acts 20:35

            C.        Remember the words of the apostles - Jude 17

            D.        Israel was destroyed by forgetting - Hosea 4:6

            E.        We must not be forgetful hearers - James 1:21-25

            F.        The 119^th Psalm is filled with the phrase “I will not forget.” - Psalm 119:16, 61, 83, 93, 109, 141, 153, 176

                        1.         How do we remember? By considering God’s word - II Peter 1:15

                        2.         By doing God’s word - James 1:25

IV.      Remember others

            A.        Others’ kindness and service

                        1.         Paul remembered others in his prayers - Philemon 4-7; I Thessalonians 1:2-4; Ephesians 1:15-16; Philippian 1:3-6

                        2.         When was the last time you prayed thanking God for those around you?

                        3.         Remember those who work for your good - Hebrews 13:7

            B.        Others’ who need help

                        1.         Hebrews 13:2 - Don’t forget to entertain strangers

                        2.         Hebrews 13:3 - Remember those imprisoned for Christ

                        3.         Hebrews 13:16 - Don’t forget to do good

                        4.         Galatians 2:10 - Remember the poor

                        5.         Galatians 6:10 - Do good as we have opportunity

            C.        Others might forget, but God remembers - Hebrews 6:10

V.        Remember God has offered forgiveness

            A.        When we don’t grow, we forget - II Peter 1:8-11

            B.        This is why we are urged to remember Christ’s death - I Corinthians 11:23-26