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Based on two books by Tom Holland. Lesson 5: The Rewards of Remembering (Hebrews 10:32-35). The Power of Remembering. Remembering is the God-given ability through which past events in our lives may be present experiences
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Based on two books by Tom Holland Lesson 5: The Rewards of Remembering (Hebrews 10:32-35)
The Power of Remembering • Remembering is the God-given ability through which past events in our lives may be present experiences • Through the ages the Lord has emphasized the importance of remembering (Ex. 12:25-27; Deut. 5:15; Luke 22:19) • In appealing to His people and urging them to be faithful, God pleaded, “Remember the former days” (Heb. 10:32) • Memory of former days can be practical, powerful, precious
Remember the Enlightenment Heb. 10:32a • God’s people have been informed (by God’s Word) with “special spiritual insights” • About God, His love, His plan to save man • About the deceptive nature of sin & its power to overpower • Contrast: the ignorance of the world causes people to lose sensitivity to sin and openly live in it (Eph. 4:17-19)
Remember the Enlightenment Heb. 10:32a • To a wayward sheep: • Remember when you learned the truth about a life that gave you a clean conscience, integrity, self-respect, joy, peace, purpose, hope • Remember when you learned of God’s love for you and the sacrifice of God’s Son for you • Remember when you loved the Lord enough to trust Him with your life and your eternity • Remember when you learned that God’s Word has every answer we need to every problem of life • Remember when you learned that God’s Word is the only lamp and light we need to get to heaven
Remember the Courage Heb. 10:32b • God wants His erring children to remember the days of courage • When “endured a great conflict of sufferings” (Heb. 10:32) • The N.T. has several examples of Christians who were beaten, imprisoned, put to death (because they were Christians) • Even today, Christians are faced with ridicule, jeers, hurtful words, rejections, criticisms of people who don’t know or love God • Will they accept it? • How will they endure it?
Remember the Courage Heb. 10:32b • To a wayward sheep: • Remember when your devotion was being put to the test • Remember the courage you felt and exhibited • Remember how you were not deterred in your determination • Remember how you gladly bore your cross • Remember how real and precious Jesus was to you at that time • Remember how nothing could keep you from attending services • Remember that spirit of sacrifice in knowing that you were enduring these things for Him • Remember the satisfaction of knowing that your response of courage, conviction, devotion and love for the Lord is exactly what He wanted
Remember the Values Heb. 10:34 • Christians are called to understand the temporal nature of earthly things (cf. Matt. 6:19-21) • However, it is fairly easy to forget in a world that is so controlled by materialism
Remember the Values Heb. 10:34 • To a wayward sheep: • Remember the former days of your conversion to Christ • Remember when you came to a properly balanced relationship to material things • Remember when you were truly “rich toward God” (Lk. 12:21) • Remember when you were so enthralled with serving the Lord that “things” didn’t seem to matter much • Remember when life seemed so much simpler and the blessings of God seemed so much “fuller” in your life
A Personal Call (to Wayward Sheep) to Remember • Remember the day your mind embraced God’s truth about Jesus? • Remember when you decided that you would let Jesus be your Savior? • You believed in Him. You trusted Him. You were willing to obey Him. • You wanted to follow Him. Your turned to Him and away from your former life in the world. • Remember when you obeyed the Lord’s command to be baptized for the remission of all of your sins? • Remember the joy, the happiness, the peace, the hope? • Were those precious moments in your life? • Would you not love to have that peace restored, that joy refreshed, that hope renewed?
A Personal Call (to Wayward Sheep) to Remember • Memories of a Father’s riches, a Father’s love and a Father’s acceptance pulled a young man out of a pig pen and prompted him to resolve in his heart: “I will arise and go to my father” (Luke 15:18-20). • There is great power for good in remembering! • Remembering the joy of becoming a child of God and the blessings of being a child of God can be the lever of repentance. • There is great reward in remembering! • The possibility of turning away from the darkness of the world • The possibility of overcoming the deception of sin and Satan • The possibility of coming home to God the Father