Women's Ministries Programs

Women’s Sunday

Sunday Morning Message

Introduction

Opening Illustration Options

A. Show a video clip from “Finding Nemo,” starting at DVD scene seven. This humorous clip portrays Dory, the fish, struggling with her short–term memory loss. The scene starts with Nemo’s father, Marlin, searching for the boat that took Nemo. Start the clip at Marlin’s words, “Has anybody seen a boat?” End the clip with Marlin saying to Dory, “Something’s wrong with you. You’re wasting my time. I need to go find my son.”

B. Illustration: Two elderly ladies have been friends for many years and naturally they have gotten to know each other pretty well. One day, while chatting over a cup of tea, one of the ladies suddenly looks at the other and says, “I realize we've known each other for many years, but for the life of me, I just can’t bring it to mind, would you please tell me your name again, dear?” There is dead silence for a couple of minutes and the other lady responds, “How soon do you need to know?”

How good is your memory? We often laugh at jokes or comedies that show us the funny side of memory loss; but when forgetfulness intrudes into our own lives, it can be, at the very least, irritating, and at the worst, tragic and devastating. Think of the young wife who is hurt when her husband forgets their anniversary—again, or the evening news report of a parent who forgot their small child in a car on a hot day with tragic results. And what about the memory loss associated with amnesia and Alzheimer’s disease?

Both are serious conditions that strike fear in our hearts. Not to be able to remember your loved ones or your own life story—how tragic!

How good is your memory? It’s a question we need to ask ourselves in terms of our spiritual lives as well. Throughout the Bible we see story after story of people and the consequences that come from either remembering or forgetting God.

I. The Pain of Forgetfulness (Jeremiah 3:21)

Many students sign high school yearbooks with phrases like, “I’ll never forget you,” “Best Friends Forever,” or “2 great 2 be 4 gotten.” Do you ever wonder how many students actually remember their yearbook promises ten years later? With a few notable exceptions, they have lost contact and forgotten those friends, even after sweeping promises to remember them always. Perhaps names are remembered vaguely, but over time, as life takes people in different directions, many of those yearbook declarations

end up being nothing more than empty promises. If forgetting about promises made to old friends is sad, how much more is forgetting about God, the One who really is “2 great 2 be 4 gotten!”

In the Old Testament time and time again, God’s people forgot Him. After all the miracles He performed on their behalf, they turned to other gods (Exod. 32:1–8). They also forgot the benefit of God’s redemption from the pain of their oppression and slavery and actually wished they were back in Egypt instead of heading for the Promised Land.

Even in the New Testament, we see people forgetting God. The Pharisees were wrapped up in God’s law, but forgot the God behind it (Matt. 23:13–23). In Revelations 2:4 we read God’s chastisement of the Church of Ephesus, “You have forsaken your first love.” They did some good things, but forgot God. Before we get too comfortable pointing a finger at others, we must admit that even today we find it easy to forget God.

Many people have heard the story about Jesus and how He gave His life on the cross to provide salvation for them. They have heard how He conquered the power of sin and death by rising again on the third day. But when it comes to accepting the gift of

salvation, it’s as if they’ve forgotten everything they heard. They ignore the offer of forgiveness and salvation. They forget about God.

Even those who have accepted Christ, sometimes get busy and forget about Him. We can have every good intention of remembering God and His purpose and will for our lives, but somehow we still forget. We hear a sermon that convicts us to repent and turn away from sin. We commit to change and yet, a few weeks later, we’re back in the middle of it again. God answers our prayer for His help and we forget to even thank Him. The hand of God moves miraculously in a difficult situation and yet, when we face another similar situation, we’re full of doubt because we have forgotten. Our daily needs are met and we take it for granted. We get distracted by other things and deliberately don’t take the time to remember.

When we forget God, we feel the pain that comes from God’s judgment and punishment. The children of Israel faced the judgment of God when they turned away from Him. As

a result they had to endure military failure, economic difficulty and ultimately exile and captivity, all because they forgot about God. “A cry is heard on the barren heights, the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel, because they have perverted their ways and have forgotten the Lord their God” (Jer. 3:21).

Ultimately, we will face eternal separation from God if we continue to forget about Him. Continually forgetting is a grave sin. Romans 6:23 reminds us that “the wages of sin is death.” We will feel the pain of missing out on the blessings that come from remembering God. All the good things promised to those who remember the Lord and live for Him each day are lacking in the lives of those who choose to forget Him.

When we forget God, He feels pain too—the pain of betrayal. “I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols” (Ezek. 6:9). After all the love God showers on us, how can we

betray Him by forgetting Him? In our spiritual lives today, we can’t afford to forget God. The cost is too great.

II. The Peace of Remembering

(Psalm 119:165)

While forgetfulness is at the very least irritating and at the worst tragic, then remembering, on the other hand, is helpful and good. Think how we enjoy creating

and thumbing through scrapbooks and photo albums. Reliving the wedding day, the family vacation and those happy times of long ago brings us joy. Think, too, of how you feel when you remember those important things—buying a gift for a friend on their birthday, celebrating your own anniversary —these remembrances bring peace and satisfaction to our hearts. They simply make us feel good.

While forgetting God is sure to bring pain, remembering God brings us peace. We need to remember God each day. If we do, we will reap great benefits.

1. Remembering Leads to Healing

*In terms of painful, difficult events—dealing with abuse, grieving the loss of something, dealing with the guilt of sin—suppressing the memories will bring difficulty, struggle and bitterness. Remembering and acknowledging the difficult memory is always the first step to healing. It’s the first step to working through the pain and back to wholeness.

* Remembering and dealing with our sinful past, in light of God’s love and forgiveness, brings us ultimate healing —our salvation.

• Biblical example: In John 4,—the story of the woman at the well—during the conversation Jesus brings her immoral past to her remembrance. She then was able to understand who Jesus was, receive His salvation and be used by Him to bless others.

1. Remembering Leads to Harmony

• Remembering God develops a harmonious relationship with Him.  When we remember to communicate in prayer, and know Him through the reading of His Word, we find ourselves enjoying a close relationship.

• The Bible promises peace with God for those who remember Him and His statutes. “Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for Your salvation, O Lord, and I follow Your commands” (Ps.119:165).

1. Remembering Leads to Holiness

• We sing a chorus that says, “When I remember that He died for me, I’ll never go back anymore.” It affirms that remembering God and what He did for me keeps me on track with Him. It helps keep me holy. It’s hard to sin when you’re thinking about the Lord.

• Biblical example: Joseph remembered God when tempted by Potiphar’s wife. He ran away from her saying, “How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Gen 39:9).

We too will be blessed in our spiritual lives with healing, a harmonious relationship

with God and holiness if we make sure to remember God on a daily basis. It’s a peaceful way to live. How can we make sure to remember God?

III. The Power of Reminders (2 Peter 1:12–13)

Many people use devices, such as a formula or rhyme, to aid their memory. These are called “mnemonic devices.”

• Most simple: A string tied around the finger.

• Grammar: I before E except after C.

• Music: Lines of the treble clef:

“Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.”

Spaces of treble clef: F–A–C–E.

• Calendar information: Thirty days has September, April, June and November. In the Bible, God’s people had reminders that would point them back to Him and His purposes. We can benefit from these reminders as well. What are some reminders God uses to

help His people remember Him?

A. Other People

• The Old Testament prophets reminded people of what God wanted from them (2 Kings 17:13).

• The New Testament apostles and church leaders did the same (2 Pet. 12–15).

• Today, Christian friends and pastors can remind us of truths of God’s Word and keep us accountable to them.

B. The Holy Spirit

When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit of God resides in us and reminds us what He said (John 14:26). The Spirit will prompt us to do what we know we ought to do and will help us to live in a way that pleases Him.

C. Reminders We Ourselves Create

Joshua 4:1–9 recounts the Israelites building a memorial altar in the middle of the Jordan River as a reminder of the miracle God performed to bring them into the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 gives an Old Testament example of God’s helpful tools for  remembering Him and His commandments. He tells His people to talk about the commandments often; to teach them to their children; to write them on their door posts, and tie them to their hands and foreheads. Just like these examples from Scripture,

we can set up reminders to help us remember God and keep us on track with Him.

Some Practical Ideas

• Write out Scripture verses on sticky notes and place them in places where you’ll see them daily.

• Meet regularly with a group of trusted Christian friends, an accountability group, whom you commission to remind you of the truths of God’s word and His will for your life.

• While you’re on your way to work, use landmarks to guide a prayer time. Pass a school, pray for your children or grandchildren; pass the post office and pray for overseas missionaries. Go over a bridge and pray for the lost people you know, that you will be the

bridge between them and Jesus.

• Create an “Ebenezer Memory Box.”

Mount a box on the wall with little compartments in which you place small objects that symbolize significant blessings provided and miracles performed by the Lord on your behalf. Review the displayed contents often and talk about them with family members and guests,  remembering to give thanks to God.

Conclusion

God really is 2 great 2 be 4 gotten. When it comes to God, we don’t want to be guilty of any empty yearbook type of promises. We really do want to be friends with God forever. We want to remember Him. Forgetting brings only pain, while remembering brings

us peace.

How does God want us to remember Him today? First, by remembering Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and accepting His gift of salvation. Then, by remembering to live each day for Him—using the reminder of His Holy Spirit within us; other Christians alongside

of us; His Word, and maybe even little reminders we strategically place in our lives to make sure we experience the abundant life of peace that comes when we remember God.