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Do Not Forget

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

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Some of us struggle with remembering what to do.  It may be as quickly as going into a room and forgetting why we went in there in the first place.  That might be a trivial matter.  But there are other things we must not forget.  The Bible describes some things we should not forget.  Let us consider these in our lesson tonight.

1. Our God and Savior – at the top of the list of things we must not forget is God and salvation.
   1. It was the downfall of Israel and Judah. Judges 8:34 we read after Gideon delivered Israel from the Midianites and died, we read, Thus the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side;  It was not long before they were again going after idols.
   2. Isaiah 1:3 – Isaiah was sent to Isarael as they faced Assyrian captivity and Judah faced His wrath as well. We read, The ox knows its owner And the donkey its master’s crib; But Israel does not know, My people do not consider.”  Later in Isaiah 17:10, 51:13 – we read their captivity and troubles came because they forgot the LORD their Maker.
   3. Hosea 2:13 – was sent to an idolatrous Israel, I will punish her For the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, And went after her lovers; But Me she forgot,” says the LORD.
   4. Jeremiah 23:27, in a context condemning the false prophets who prophesied who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal.
   5. Passages like these could be multiplied. God’s people had forgotten Him and it let them away from Him to following after other gods.
   6. We fail to remember God and His loving works toward us, whether daily or weekly, we place ourselves in danger of falling away and facing His condemnation.
   7. Romans 1:28 – speaks of perverse men who did not like to retain God in their knowledge and engaged in unfitting behaviors.
   8. Revelation 2:5 warning the church at Ephesus that had left their first love they were told, Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
2. Your past – Israel as they inherited and settled the land they were not to forget their past – they had been strangers in Egypt. But God remembered them (Exodus 2:24) and delivered them. Over and over, the prophets will remind them of what God had done for them to rescue them.  It was a cause leading them to forget God.
   1. There is something to be said about remembering our former conduct and what we have been delivered from. Ephesians 2:11-12 was a reminder of former conduct.
   2. Paul continually remembered his past – 1 Timothy 1:12-14, 1 Corinthians 15:9, Acts 26:9, etc. Paul wanted to remind those he sought to teach that he can change.
   3. Remembering the past so that you will not think to return there is always a good thing. Consider 2 Peter 2:20-22 speaks of the one who has escaped the pollutions of this world and returns  is like a sow having washed returning to wallow in the filth.  The end of such a one is not good.
   4. BUT consider also Philippians 3:13 – where Paul reminds us to forget “those things which are behind…” This is not a contradiction but about dwelling on your past.  You need to remember your past so that you appreciate your redemption, but do NOT let it consume and paralyze you so that you do not move forward!  If you have repented of your sins it is done!  You cannot change it so move on from where you are right now.
3. The poor and needy –
   1. Hebrews 13:16 – Do not forget to do good and to share – God is pleased with such. Doing good involves many things.  This includes considering those with physical (and spiritual) needs.
   2. Galatians 2:10 – as Paul is defending going to the Gentiles, the apostles accepted His apostleship but, They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I was eager to do. As Paul taught he was not to forget the poor.
   3. This is another principle that is frequently described in scripture is our need to consider those less fortunate than we are. As we have noted in Matthew 25:31-46, it is a criteria that will be considered when we stand before God in judgment.   Concerning needy brethren, James 2:14-16 and 1 John 3:17-18 make it clear we ought to be willing to help each other.
   4. James 1:27 speaks of visiting the orphans and widows in their distress. Ephesians 4:28 – labor so that you will not steal and may have something to give to him who has needs.
   5. This was yet another downfall of Israel and Judah as they exploited the poor and needy –
      1. Isaiah 3:14-15, The LORD will enter into judgment With the elders of His people And His princes: “For you have eaten up the vineyard; The plunder of the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing My people And grinding the faces of the poor?” Says the Lord GOD of hosts.
      2. Jeremiah 5:28, They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend.
      3. Ezekiel 18:4-9 describes restoration to Israel. Notice what their repentance included: “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. But if a man is just And does what is lawful and right; If he has not eaten on the mountains, Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, Nor defiled his neighbor’s wife, Nor approached a woman during her impurity; If he has not oppressed anyone, But has restored to the debtor his pledge; Has robbed no one by violence, But has given his bread to the hungry And covered the naked with clothing; If he has not exacted usury Nor taken any increase, But has withdrawn his hand from iniquity And executed true judgment between man and man; If he has walked in My statutes— And kept My judgments faithfully— He is just; He shall surely live!” Says the Lord GOD.
      4. When we think of the needy and look for ways to help them it can put our lives in perspective. It can help us to appreciate how blessed we really are.
4. To entertain strangers –
   1. Hebrews 13:2 – Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
   2. An interesting passage that reminds us to be good neighbors to all. When he speaks of entertaining “angels unaware”, this could simply mean that God is watching.  You MAY be helping someone that has a cause for Him.
   3. Romans 15:2 calls for us to seek to please our neighbor for his good…
   4. 3 John 5 notes, Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,
   5. Recall again Matthew 25:31-46 –helping strangers was included in His observations. They did not know who they were really helping OR that it was noticed.
   6. Another reminder directed at Israel was that they re strangers in Egypt.  Exodus 22:21 notes, “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
   7. Deuteronomy 10:18-19 reminds us that even God, administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore, love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. NOTE how this is tied to helping the needy (see previous point).  Continually throughout the Old Testament, Israel was reminded on their time in Egypt and how YHWH sustained them.
   8. When we consider others, it opens doors. We need to also consider this when we have visitors as we assemble.  How will we treat them?  Whether or not one will consider returning often depends on how they are welcomed.
5. The word of God –
   1. Recall James 1:22-25 – we are to be doers of the word and not hearers only. He then goes on to describe the hearer only as one who observes himself in a mirror, goes away and forgets who he is.   God’s word is a mirror to our soul.  But it is ONLY effective if we apply what we have heard.
   2. Nehemiah 8:8-9 finds the restoration of the temple and Jerusalem when Ezra comes and reads distinctly from the book of the Law of God. 9 notes that the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.  Why would they weep?  Consider how there had been a famine of God’s word for so long.  Amos 8:11-12 finds the warning, “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it.  When in captivity their worship city had been destroyed and they were unable to fully worship and consider God’s word.  So when it was finally again made available to them, they rejoiced.
   3. We live in a culture where we have ready access to God’s word in so many versions and different ways, but more and more are ignorant of His word. The amount of time devoted to studying His word is eclipsed by anything and everything.  The understanding of His word is superficial.  How tragic.  That is a habit that will lead to us forgetting God’s word.
   4. Jude 17 – remember the words of the Lord spoken to you by the apostles.
   5. Both Peter and Paul noted that they wrote letters to remind brethren – 2 Peter 1:12-15, Philippians 3:1.
6. Coming judgment –
   8. 2 Peter 3:5 – as Peter beginning to wrap up his letter with warning of coming judgment, he notes the indifferent attitude of the crowds. They willfully forget God’s previous judgments (i.e., the flood), AND His warning of another, greater and final judgment.  So they live as if there is nothing to worry about.  And because God’s timing is not ours, they forget that too  – 2 Peter 3:8.
   9. Peter will then remind them that there is a day coming – 2 Peter 3:10ff. And while some people forget this, still others seem to “forget” that ALL will be judged, both the righteous and the wicked – 2 Corinthians 5:10.
   10. Let us NOT forget that for every decision we make there is a day of reckoning on its way. Will we be prepared? Romans 11:22 notes, “consider the goodness and severity of God.

These are some things based upon God’s word that we ought not to forget.  But it is my hope in this lesson that we are simply reminded that there are things we must not forget!  These things have a bearing on our eternal destiny.  As we conclude let us consider Psalm 137:5-6, If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth— If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.  May that be our goal as we consider these things we should not forget. Are you forgetting something?  Think about it!