If You Don't Remember, You Can't Be Thankful
Dr RJ Sing, 32 min
Originally preached as “The Importance of Remembrance”
Sermon outline
God built remembrance into His ways because we are prone to forget, and remembering where He brought us from keeps us grateful, humble, faithful to our calling and kind to others.
Main text
- Deuteronomy 16:11-12
Opening
After praise and worship he thanks the team and Tommy, who preached the week before, and welcomes those watching on the internet and live stream. He takes his theme from Wesley's words at communion, 'we do this in remembrance of him', and reads Deuteronomy 16:12. He defines remembrance as the action of remembering and showing respect, which in Judaism includes an awareness of what the past means for the future, and briefly lists the evils that befall people who forget: they are demoted, they murmur and complain, they are rejected, they become disloyal and they repeat their mistakes.
1. Remembrance makes you appreciate salvation
We were in darkness and slaves to Satan, but God brought us into His light, and remembering it makes you appreciate salvation and bring others in, at work, at home and among family. Paul never walked with Jesus, yet he remembered his divine encounter on the road to Damascus and said he was what he was by the grace of God; you have had a divine encounter too. Only God can change hearts, even hearts bound by racism, because we all belong to royalty.
Illustration: When the hospital gives you your blood group after a blood test, they should add in brackets: royal blood.
“We have royal blood flowing through our veins.”
- Deuteronomy 16:12
- 1 Peter 2:9
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
- Acts 9:3-18
2. Remembrance makes you walk in your calling
He ran from God's call for many years while in the police, until the Lord warned him that his life would be cut short, and two weeks later he was in hospital fighting for his life until a pastor anointed him with oil. Remember the day God called you, because He called you for a purpose, including in the marketplace, where you are to let your light shine. The rejection he faced when he started the ministry means no one can say they made him; everything is by God's grace. Be thankful too for the missionaries who gave their lives to bring the gospel to Africa.
Illustration: Admitted to a Johannesburg hospital and delirious, with a diagnosis of 'fever of unknown origin', he whispered to Pastor Zubeda to call a pastor to anoint him with oil. He was healed the next day and discharged.
“He's got your number and when he calls you, you gotta go.”
- Matthew 5:16
3. Remembrance keeps you humble
Proud people have forgotten their parents, grandparents, teachers, lecturers and mentors, and the younger generation must realise that others paid the price for where they are. Paul took pleasure in his weaknesses, knew how to be abased and how to abound, wrote from prison, and took the gospel to the Gentiles, whom God grafted in. We are no better than anybody else, so respect every person, not only the rich and famous.
Illustration: The cashiers at the tills, the people who serve our food and the people who fill our fuel are human beings too; a smile and 'Hi, how are you doing?' costs nothing.
“Respect goes a long way.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
- Philippians 4:12
- Romans 11:17
4. Remembrance makes you a very grateful person
He is not asking anyone to dwell in the past. God put remembrance into the festivals and the tabernacle because after the fall man has the potential to forget, and that is why the Lord instituted communion. Your promotion, your achievements and the car you drive all came from God, and true humility, not false humility, makes you grateful to Him.
“Man has the potential to forget.”
- 1 Corinthians 11:24
5. Remembrance makes you helpful and kind to others
Why judge people or mix only with those of higher stature, when people in menial jobs are made in the image of God? Deuteronomy 16 commands Israel to rejoice together with servants, strangers, the fatherless and the widow. Remember Joshua and Caleb, who had a different spirit when the other spies forgot God: you are a giant slayer and a mountain remover, with the name of Jesus as your staff to part your Red Sea. Picture unsaved family walking to church with a Bible as you pray, because your household will be saved.
Illustration: At the garage he jumps out of his car to hug the petrol attendants and whispers that one day they too can get where he got to. He was the first in his family saved out of Hinduism; the brother he argued with became a pastor, his two sisters are Christians, and his elder brother accepted the Lord a day before he passed away.
“If God could do it for my family, he'll do it for you.”
- Deuteronomy 16:11-12
- Numbers 13:30-33
- Numbers 14:24
- Exodus 14:16
- Acts 16:31
My last point: remembrance makes you kind
When you remember the kindness the Lord showed you, you can show the same kindness to others. Wicked people do not remember their hardships. Some come from poor, broken or fragmented homes without a biological father, but God is your real Father.
Illustration: Brought up by his mother without his father, he often argued with God about it, until one day, while he was driving, God spoke to his heart: 'I am the greatest father you will ever have.' That set him free.
“So remembrance make you kind.”
Putting it into practice
- Remember where God brought you from, and thank Him for it.
- Remember the day God called you, and let your light shine at work.
- Honour the parents, grandparents, teachers and mentors who paid the price for you.
- Treat everyone with respect, including cashiers and petrol attendants.
- Picture your unsaved family coming to the Lord as you pray for them.
Closing
He closes with his own story of growing up without his father and God's word to him that He is the greatest Father he will ever have. He urges the church to remember everything he has shared, because it will take them a long way in life, and hands over to Wesley to conclude the service.
In his words
- “If you don't remember, you can't be thankful.”
- “People who forget also repeat their mistakes over and over again.”
- “We belong to royalty.”
- “Respect goes a long way.”
- “Man has the potential to forget.”
Every scripture in this message
- John 16:7
- John 14:16
- 1 Corinthians 11:24
- Deuteronomy 16:12
- 1 Peter 2:9
- James 4:6
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
- Acts 9:3-18
- Matthew 5:16
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
- Philippians 4:12
- Romans 11:17
- Deuteronomy 16:11-12
- Numbers 13:30-33
- Numbers 14:24
- Exodus 14:16
- Acts 16:31