The Power of Remembering

The Power of Remembering 2 Peter 1:12-15 May 9, 2021 A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE PLACE OF REMEMBERING IN THE BIBLE ü Deuteronomy 7:18 says, “… but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,” ü Deuteronomy 8:2 "You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you …" ü Deuteronomy 9:7 "Remember and do not forget…" ü Joshua 4:1-7 “stone of remembrance” ü 1 Chronicles 16:12 “Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered,” ü Isaiah 51:3 "You have forgotten the Lord your Maker.” ü Psalm 88:12 “Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your ü ü ü ü ü righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you …” John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Acts 20:35 “… we must remember the words of the Lord Jesus …” 1 Corinthians 11:24 “Do this in remembrance of me.” Jude 17 “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. RECALL THE PURPOSE OF LETTER: To encourage Christians to grow in their faith through the knowledge of Jesus and stay true to Gospel, rejecting false teaching. 2 Peter 1:12-15 (ESV) 1 12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. Timeless Truth 1. We need not only to learn Truth and then be reminded of what we’ve learned. [v. 12] 2. An important part of teaching and discipling of our family and friends is found in a ministry of reminding. [v. 13a] 3. We all need to practice the discipline of remembering. 4. There is great motivation and power in staying aware of how brief a time we have in this life. [vv. 14-15] 5. One of the most meaningful parts of your spiritual legacy will be in what your friends and family remember of what you said and did. [v. 15] Key Verse: 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV) “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” The Big Idea: There is great power in repetition of God’s Truth as we remind ourselves and teach others. There is equal power in remembering the Truth as we seek to live out that Truth. The Lord uses both repetition and remembrance to shape our lives in Christlikeness. Questions for the Next Week § Who is in my life that I’m trying to lead to faith in and faithfulness to the Lord Jesus? § Is there anything I say so often and with so much conviction that when I’m gone people will smile and say, “I can still hear her/him say that!” § What have others taught me which I need to remind myself of each day? § Am I living like this could be my last week of life?