Remember His Word

Luke 24:1-8

I will be honest, I can’t remember things like I used too. It reminds me of the elderly man who was talking with a friend.

"My wife and I tried a new Chinese restaurant the other night. It was really good. I think you and your wife would enjoy it."

Friend: "Really. We'll have to try it. What was the name of the Restaurant?"

Elderly man: "Oh, let's see, ....what WAS the name....I just can't quite think of it.....hmmmm.......................uhh, what's the name of a flower.....real popular..... long-stemmed.....thorns....?"

Friend: Rose??

Elderly man: Yes! That's it! ......Rose, hey Rose, what was the name of that new restaurant we went to the other night?

Yes there are many things we can forget in life, including names. But there are some things that we should never forget.

And perhaps the most important thing we should never forget, is not our Social Security number, it isn’t our anniversary, it isn’t even our address. All of those are important, but perhaps the most important thing we should never forget is the Word of God.

Now lets be honest, scripture is not often at the top of our list for remembering. Oh, there might be some sayings that we relate to the Bible, but it isn’t something we reflect on from day to day.

It is easy to forget what the Lord said, in fact, the disciples who walked with the Lord. Who interacted with him on a daily basis. They even forgot things that Christ told them to remember.

And today’s passage is a reflection on that, but it serves as a reminder to us, the importance of remembering what Jesus said.

(Read Scripture)

Now this passage is often a passage that is preached around Easter. It is the day of the Lord’s resurrection. The followers of Christ had comes to the tomb, but they find it empty.

And as they begin to panic and fret, they are reminded by two angels to remember the words of Jesus.

And that is what I want you to really focus in on, because in the day and time we live in, it is important and critical that we remember what Jesus has said.

Now there are three main times of life where we shouldn’t forget the words of Christ. And the first time is during…

Tribulation or Testing

· Obviously, as we read here in this passage, the disciples are frantic. The body of the Lord appears to be missing.

· Much of the religious sector of Israel are breathing down their backs. They are fearful and scared.

· But it is during this time, we find that they are reminded to remember the words of Christ.

· They had walked with the Lord for over three years, they had heard his teachings and instructions.

· But here was the problem, they had not let it sink in. The words had been just that, words. They hadn’t let the power behind those words abide in their life.

· You know, many of us have been in the church our entire lives. We have heard countless messages, regarding faith, and repentance.

· We have heard how we are to trust the Lord and follow him wherever he leads us.

· But what happens when the tribulations and testing come? What happens when we receive the bad news from the doctor?

· What happens when we hear about our children getting involved in drugs?

· What happens when we walk into a room where we know those around us are talking about you?

· That is often the times, where like the disciples we forget the words of Christ. But he has told us today, to remember his words!

· You see, it is the word of God that really sustains us. It is our strength and structure.

· You know you see kids building these little club houses in the back yard. They will find whatever they can to make a place that they can hangout in.

· But what happens when the storm comes? Often these makeshift buildings collapse and fall in on themselves.

· Mainly because there is no strength in it. So what do we do, we go into the house. I mean think about it.

· If there was a hurricane coming through, and it had 80-90 mph winds. Do you want to sit in a cardboard house or a house that has been built with wood and brick?

· Its like the three little pigs. We go to the house where it doesn’t fall in on itself.

· Well, in similar fashion, when the storms of life blow, we don’t rely on the knowledge of man, we cannot depend on the instructions of psychologist.

· What we must do is remember the strength that is found in the Word of God.

· We are in a war, and we don’t need to forget our weapon, we don’t need to leave home with it on the counter, and the enemy is attacking us left and right.

· We need to remember the words of Christ, and know that there is strength in the Word of God.

· Now there is a second time of life where we need to remember the word of God.

Teaching

· Now the disciples had been with the Lord for several years. And throughout that time, Jesus had shared with them valuable instructions in their relationship with the Father.

· These same instructions that he has told them here to remember, would be the same teachings that the disciples would carry out to the rest of the world.

· You know the Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

· Let me ask you this question, when someone comes and asks you where in the Bible does it show you how to be saved; do you know where to show them?

· Do you remember the verse of scripture that God shared with you in the morning devotion?

· How often we forget the words of Christ, especially when we are put on the spot.

· That we forget the truths of the scripture when trying to share it with others.

· If there was ever a time when we don’t need to forget what the Lord has said, it is when we are teaching someone else about Christ.

· But often we forget the truths and words of the scripture, when presented with moments of anxiety.

· You know what the Bible has called us all to do? In Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Host: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

· What we must remember is that Jesus has called us to be teachers. That we are to show others who the Lord is.

· That we not forget that is our role, our duty and responsibility.

· You know our teachers in schools have a tough job. They are responsible for educating young kids and teenagers with important subject matters that hopefully will help them in life.

· And to check the performance, the students are tested. Now if the students fail, the teacher has failed in getting the message across.

· Well, you are called to teach others, but if you can’t remember what you are to teach, then its not going to turn out so well.

· I mean think about it, if those in your life were tested and you were the teacher, how much of the Bible would they know?

· Years ago, when I was just a teenager, I was invited by a friend to go to a lock in at his church. Now we played lots of games and activities.

· The things you would expect at a lock in. Well there was one game we all played.

· And we were paired off into a bible tic-tac-toe competition. And I ended up winning among the youth.

· And so, I had to go against the pastor’s wife. And it was a challenge. But I came up just a little short.

· Now can I say, I had good teachers. I had people who taught me the bible.

· Friends we need to remember the words of the Lord, because you never know when you are going to teach someone about Jesus.

· Now there is a third moment we need to remember the words of Jesus. And that is…

Triumph

· Now the disciples had forgotten what Jesus had said to them numerous times before this.

· He had told them that on the third day he would rise again. But they just didn’t remember it.

· But when the angels shared the news with the disciples, that was a time to remember that the Lord had triumph over death.

· Jesus also shared with them these words in John 14:1-3, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

· I think we forget those words to often, I think we forget the words of Christ that says I am with you always.

· I think we forget the words that I will never leave you or forsake you.

· I think we forget the words that tell us that he loves us and that he is coming back for us.

· Listen, we see the things that are happening in Israel, and I remember the words of Christ that says these things will happen before his coming.

· Jesus said he is coming again, friend we need to remember that Jesus triumph over death, hell, and the grave.

· And we need to remember that he is going to part the eastern sky and call his children home.

· Why are we forgetting Christ. He is the one who has saved us, and we need to remember his Words.

Conclusion

· Now, like I told you at the beginning of the message, I have a hard time remembering some things. But I have no trouble remembering the day Jesus saved me.

· I have no problem remembering the words that the Lord has said, because I know that they are true, and worthwhile to pay attention to.

· And you might be here today, and you have forgotten that Jesus keeps his promises, he told these disciples he would rise again, and he did.

· And he has told us that he would come again to receive us to himself.

· I believe the day is quickly approaching, and this is a day we remember who Jesus is in our life.

· That we remember that we can pray to him, and that he will hear us. Don’t forget where you are today.

· Remember this is a place where you can meet Jesus one on one. Remember what he has said to you, that he loves you.

· I like how this text ends, and they remembered his words. It all came back to them. Maybe you need to remember the words of Christ today, by coming to the altar and being reminded of his love.