Remembering Your Know Jesus

Introduction

Research tells us that within one hour, you will forget an average of 50 percent of what I will say this morning. Within 24 hours, you will forget an average of 70 percent of this message, and within a week, you will forget an average of 90 percent of this message. There are some things we can afford to forget (i.e.: what you had for breakfast). There are some things you dare not forget (i.e.: your anniversary, etc.).

Today I want to show you the importance of remembering you know Jesus.

Remember What You Know

We are forgetful people!

God knew that we tend to forget important things, that is why God often calls us to remember.

Deuteronomy 6:6–9 ESV

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Why is remembering what you know crucial to your walk with Jesus?

There are two reasons in this passage that tell you why you need to remember what you know.

Remembering Is Essential For Your Growth - vs. 12

Peter’s intention was to remind and keep reminding you of your need to grow in your faith (“these qualities”).

Have you ever walked into a room to do something or get something, and then you forgot why you walked into that room in the first place? Yesterday I came up to the church to meet with someone, and I needed to get my tool bag out of my office. Well, after my meeting I walked into my office and completely forgot what I needed to get. I finally remembered, about five hours after I left the church. I knew what I needed, but I didn’t do what I needed to remember, I got distracted and forgot. As a result, I became ineffective.

It’s not enough to know, you must remember what you know. It’s not enough to be committed, you must remember why your committed. True godliness will only be sustained when you remember gospel truth.

Remembering Keeps You Alert - vs. 13-14

Peter knew that the best way to use the time he had was to keep you from falling asleep (“stir you up”) by reminding you of the gospel.

There are a lot of great things that happen at youth camp, but one thing almost always happens—someone usually gets pranked when they are asleep. You can pull off a prank you could never pull off if the person was awake. The same is true for us—if you are in a spiritual slumber you can be easily led astray by sin or false doctrine.

Peter knew something about this. Jesus warned Peter to pray, but Peter slept. When the moment came for him to stand, Peter gave in to temptation and denied ever knowing Jesus. This is why Peter used his last days on earth to “stir you up.”

Conclusion

Isaiah 17:10 ESV

10 For you have forgotten the God of your salvation and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; therefore, though you plant pleasant plants and sow the vine-branch of a stranger,

One of the things that plagued Israel was the fact that they continually forgot the Lord and all that He had done for them—we must learn from their mistakes. We can know the truth and even be committed to the truth, but forget that we are supposed to live out that truth.

There’s an old story of a man who applied for a job as a Mississippi Riverboat Pilot. And as they gave him the test, they said, “Do you know where the shoals are?” And he said, “No.” And they said, “Do you know where the sunken rocks are?” He said, “No.” They said, “Well, do you know where the hidden logs are?” He said, “No.” They said, “Well, how do you expect to be a riverboat pilot?” He said, “Because I know where the channel is.”[1]

[1] Adrian Rogers, “Blessed Assurance,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), 2 Pe 1:12–21.

Remember What You Know and allow what you know to direct your life.

Gospel Encouragement:

· Live for something that matters.

· Avoid practical amnesia.

Personal Application:

· What do you do to remind yourself that you know Jesus?

· How will remembering the gospel—making it a vital part of your life, change how you live?