“Remember”

Matthew 26:65-68 Exodus 20:2-3

Forgetting is a natural and normal part of how our memory works.

There are a number of factors that can influence why we forget things quickly if we don't practice them regularly and remember them well when we practice often.

One of the main reasons is due to the way our memory works. When we first learn something, it is stored in our short-term memory. Short-term memory has limited capacity and duration, which means that if we don't use or repeat the information, it is likely to fade away quickly.

However, if we practice or repeat the information frequently, it becomes easier to remember because it is transferred to our long-term memory. Long-term memory has a much larger capacity and can store information for much longer periods of time.

Another reason for forgetting is interference. Interference occurs when new information interferes with the recall of older information or vice versa. For example, if you learn two similar things at the same time, you may find it difficult to remember which information belongs to which item.

Finally, forgetting can also be influenced by a variety of external and internal factors, such as stress, fatigue, distractions, and lack of attention, which can make it more difficult to remember information.

In summary, we tend to forget things quickly if we don't practice them regularly because they are stored in our short-term memory, which has limited capacity and duration. However, with practice or repetition, the information can be transferred to our long-term memory, which makes it easier to remember.

Sermon manuscript (Introduction perhaps) (Following the quote)

To say the Human brain is fascinating would be a severe understatement. If there’s anything that can prove to unbelievers the existence of God, you would quickly assume it’d be a Human brain. Some argue that through the night, your brain clears unnecessary, unimportant information from your cortex. I never understood why the Psalmist said in chapter 63 when they said “When I remember thee upon my bed, And meditate on thee in the night-watches. For thou hast been my help, And in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.” Scriptures such as these, never made too much sense to me, until I got older. And it seems now, as I explore the intricacies of my mid-to-late twenties, I realize more and more that If I do not write something down, I will inevitably forget it. There are times, where if Facebook does not remind me that it is somebody’s birthday close to me, I will not not send a happy birthday text. (Don’t look at me like that) I know I’m not the only one who has trouble remembering. Your brain is wired in such a way, that though it does not remember to the exact detail what may have happened, it remembers something happened. There are times where I find myself early in the morning, like King Nebuccanadzer, not trying to just remember a part of the dream, but I can’t remember the dream at all. And the reason behind this is because your brain, as the quote informs us, has other varying factor(s) when it comes to your remembrance. Based on things like your job, your life, your finances, your spouse, it will categorize things that fit the build of the upmost importance in your life, and there are somethings that just do not make the cut (stay with me). (Transition now into speaking of regardless of how important it is in the general sense, somethings don’t make the cut).

And one things I’m learning about this complex entity called the human brain, is that though it is not a muscle, it can function in the exact same way. (Explain my affinity with old school body building and muscle memory) And this is no different than our brains and minds in the spiritual sphere, you can only remember what you put stress and tension on. You can only remember that which you make a priority, you can only remember that which is the most important to you. And here’s the tension of the believer and God, while God is a God who can not forget His child, His child, on the other hand often tends to forget about Him. And the problem with forgetting about how you arrived at a particular place or situation, is that you will fail to remember the One who got you there in the first place.

Some of you may have forgotten about this but we had a weekly challenge that was predicated around knowing your history; and while my parents were here I remember asking my Father about my grandparents, I remember asking Him about how we made it to this country some-20 years ago, and while He’s telling me our origin story my eyes began to swell up and my heart began to sink, because all the while He’s telling me about each sacrifice I could only remember my disobedience. While he’s telling me about the difficulty of finding a Job as an alien, I can only remember the arguments I had with Him about wanting an increase of my allowance, while He’s explaining to me how difficult life was, I can only remember the guilt I felt as I remember those prodigal years of my life where I did not want to listen to Him, and at that moment my Father inspired this Sermon in my heart when He told me this “Though it was not easy, we did it because we loved you guys.” And in a simple interaction on the way back home with my father, it put to rest all the years of anger and resentment I may have had toward Him or my Mother, all because they Reminded me how I got to where I am right now. All the money I may have (or not have come on say Amen) is because of their sacrifice. All the friends I have and don’t have, is because of their sacrifice. All the education I have, is because of their sacrifice. And This Sabbath morning I simply wanted to come up here and let somebody know that this New year, don’t forget the reason why you made it this far. Don’t forget the reason you can still breathe. Don’t forget the reason You still got your mind right. Don’t forget, the reason you can still praise and worship, because some 2000 years ago!

Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, looks over His disciples and says “This do, in remembrance of me” the Hebrew translation for remember quite literally means “to recall to mind”. In other words, whenever you gather and celebrate in the fellowship of the saints, don’t just do it to do it, but remember what I did. And this Sabbath morning, as I close this sermon, and usher us into communion, and end this new year, perhaps your question is Pastor, what exactly are we supposed to call to mind? You know we argue so much about things that to me, personally don’t matter. We argue over holidays, we argue over who to let do communion and who is not allowed, and while I agree with some, and don’t with others, I stand before you today simply to Remind you what we are supposed to recall to our minds. 2000+ years ago, God humiliated himself. The only begotten son, who stood at the right hand of the Father, left the very place that you and I are striving to get to, came down in the form of a baby. And if that wasn’t enough, He came swaddled and in a manger, to a virgin mother and because of systemic and societal pressures our savior had to go on the run. As a castaway, as a runway, as a foreigner in another land. He lived among us, dwelled among us, worshipped among us, and yet we did not receive Him. We chose an insurrectionist over Him. We chose a murderer over Him. We chose two thieves to be hung next to Him, and painted Him as the worse one in the middle. We spat in His face, we called Him names, we hit him, beat him, hurt him. And hung Him to a cross. And the Bible says, that He chose this avenue, to save us. To redeem us, this path of embarrassment, this path of humiliation this path of torture, He chose to die on a cross that had the name Justino on it. And as He sits at that table, He says, to his disciples, this do, in remembrance of Me. It’s not lost on me that some won’t participate in communion because they feel unworthy.

One of the enemies greatest deceptions is so that you feel that you were ever worthy. the Bible only says one person is worthy of any glory or praise and His name is Yahweh, one of the enemies greatest tactics is to make you feel that you were once so worthy, that you were once so Holy, and now you’re not, but the truth was, the truth is, and the truth will always be, that you and I are unworthy about the free gift and mercies of God, you and I will never do anything that will make us worthy of it, you and I will never be worthy apart from God, but here’s the good news, because I know that’s what you’re waiting on, the one who can make you righteous, the one who can make you perfect, the one who can keep you blameless, died for you, He lived for you, and now He sits as an intercessor for you. He’s the only one who can make you clean, the only one who can take your shame, the only one who can bear your disgrace, He’s the only one. And He did all of that, on a cross. With a crown of thorns on His head, pierced in His side, He did it for you. And as we celebrate communion, this occasion, has nothing to do with how unworthy we are, but about how awesome Christ is. As we remember His sacrifice today, we remember that He tore a veil between us and the Father, and because of His blood we can stand in the most holy place and communicate with our Father. This is what we remember, we remember, that on the night of his betrayal. He washed the feet, of a betrayer. As we remember His sacrifice, we remember that He looked many years in the future, he saw you, he saw me, and said I’m willing to lay down my life, so that they can live. In this new year, as we enter into another 12 months of mystery. Remember his sacrifice, remember His love. Remember his life. Amen