SundaySeptember 10, 2017 Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail:
Message: Christian Life Text: Deuteronomy 8:1-14;Judges 2:7-13; Psalm 78:1-11
How Soon We Do Forget
INTRODUCTION: The nation of Israel in the Old Testament era is a classic and stirring example of a rapid loss of memory. It was with that issue before him that Moses gave the new generation that was about to enter the Canaan land this warning in Deuteronomy 8:1-14 where we read,
“All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. (2) And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. (3) And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. (4) Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. (5) Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. (6) Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. (7) For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; (8) A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; (9) A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. (10) When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. (11) Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: (12) Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; (13) And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; (14) Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;…”
Now years later on another day, in another generation, we read these sad words of forgetfulness in Judges 2:7-13,
“And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. (8) And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. (9) And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. (10) And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. (11) And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: (12) And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. (13) And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. (14) And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.”
Stop and think about this from our text. After Moses and Joshua, the great leaders that they were, it says another generation rose up right behind them that knew not the Lord, neither the works that God had done for Israel. Can you fathom that? One generation after Joshua, the people did not even know the God of Heaven.
That worries me. Within another generation this church could become a modernist Church with beliefs that are radically different than what we believe today. The seeds for that happening may already be present in the lives of the people of the Green Street Baptist Chapel. So, please turn with me and follow as I read Psalm 78:1-11.
“Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. (2) I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: (3) Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. (4) We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. (5) For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: (6) That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: (7) That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: (8) And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. (9) The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. (10) They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; (11) Andforgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.”
Would you again notice in verse 7 the purpose of passing down the testimony from one generation to the next, “That they might set their hope in God, and not FORGET the works of God, but KEEP His commandments.”
Now over in the New Testament we find these words of warning from II Peter 3:1-2 where we read,
"This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: (2) That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour."
Quite apparently the men of God were aware of the forgetfulness of the people of God. Where memory should have been sharp, it was often dull and dysfunctional. Even now as I scan the current horizons of our faith:
As I watch our nation stumbling and stalling in the abyss politically, economically, and morally with a sexual revolution leading to homosexuality, gender uncertainty and deeply into an abortion death spiral,
As I see so many churches capitulating to the pressures of the culture through worldliness and their choice of music,
As I see so many clergy with no evident certification for being men of God, and
As I see professing Christians who are weak, waffling and waning with little knowledge of the Bible, less and less church attendance, and no real desire to live a godly life,
I can but confess,"How soon we do forget!"
Let’s look at all the ways we have forgotten Him:
Number 1:We have forgotten how good God Is! Romans 11:33, 36 tells us, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (36) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen."
He who is the Great God of the universe is the epitome of goodness. Whether at noonday or at midnight, we turn to Him with our burdens large and small. Someone wrote:
His resources are inexhaustible, and His responsiveness is unfailing. Congresses, parliaments and councils are unpredictable. Presidents, prime ministers and kings are human at best and devils at their worst. If we have no greater authority over us than that which men exert, we are destined for a lifetime of despair and an eternity of damnation.
As our Creator, God gave us life (Gen. 1:26, 27).
As our Redeemer, He has rescued us from our bankrupt moral state (Rom. 3:24,25).
As our Provider, He supplies our daily needs (Phil. 4:19).
As our Companion, He abides with us forever (John 14:26).
As our King of Kings, He is coming for us again one day.
In James 1:16-17 we read, “Do not err, my beloved brethren. (17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” God is good, and He is good to us. How foolish we are when we forget how good God is!
Number 2: We have forgotten how blessed we are! In Psalm 103:1-2 we read, “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:…”
When we breathe, we are blessed!
When we have an appetite, we are blessed!
When we have three meals a day, we are blessed!
When we have a livelihood to support ourselves and our families, we are blessed!
When we have a roof over our heads, we are blessed!
When we are saved, and on our way to Heaven, we are blessed!
When we have a good church, we are blessed!
Endless will be the list when we, with grateful hearts, attempt to itemize the abundance of blessing which has been awarded to us.
So much has been given so often. What ingrates we become when we swell our heads and harden our hearts in failing to acknowledge that our blessings come from God.
Number 3: We have forgotten our heritage! Christians, likewise, become so possessed with having fun that they lose sight of the heritage on which we should be building. I'm afraid that even in the average fundamental Baptist church, the folks, including the leaders and workers,
Have little or no idea about the heritage of our biblical faith.
Have so little or no knowledge of the historical Baptist heritage.
Have less and less knowledge of our American history, heritage and our constitution.
Ask a few questions, and the answers are in short supply!
Number 4: We have forgotten how we got where we are!
Somebody prayed!
Somebody walked with God and won souls!
Somebody worked long hours and fought the battles!
Somebody stood tall and stayed true!
Somebody paved a road on which we could travel!
Our selective memory so conveniently misplaces the facts when we so pompously strut about. Our pride takes credit for things we did not do. Our ego huffs and puffs with carnal arrogance.
Why can we not be honest and acknowledge that we are totally amazed at what the Lord has so graciously allowed us to do? Why can we not forget ourselves, honor others and give the glory to God?
Number 5: We have forgotten those who helped us! How many have been the precious people who stood by us and stepped up to help us when we needed them?
Remember those who nurtured us when we were young and helpless!
Remember the one who lead you to Christ!
Remember who it was that fed you when you could not feed yourself!
Remember the ones who knew you when you were yet unknown!
Remember who loved you — in word and in deed along the way!
Remember the friend who would tell you the truth when you needed to hear it!
Rememberthe someone who recommended you to the post you now hold!
Number 6: We have forgotten the way to success! So many are seeking, "the life of Riley." That elusive goal is the desire of many Christians. They want success and all that goes with it, but they do not want to pay the price such success requires.
Everybody agrees that the church should be growing, but the efforts are not properly channeled.
The time invested in going after the unsaved is minimal.
The doors on which we knock are few (if any).
The shoe leather we deposit on Main Street is so little as to be undetectable.
No! We are naive and our self-assuredness is given to other interests.
The Bible way is always the right way, but we have discovered other schemes that tantalize us and tickle us. We fuss at each other when our foolishness fails, but the way that is the way, we have forgotten!
Number 7: We have forgotten what a devil Satan is! In Ephesians 6:11 we read, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." May our memory be refreshed!
So let’s go back to Psalm 8 to ask, what caused the Ephraimites to turn in the time of battle?
First: They had a WEAK HEART. In verse 8 we read, "The Ephraimites were a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright." In Proverbs 4:23 we read, "Keep thy HEART with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." When our heart turns from God, every part of our life is harmed.
Neglecting God's Word is the first step to becoming spiritually weak because we cannot maintain strength for the warfare through the arm of our flesh.
Neglecting the place of prayer is another step to becoming spiritually weak. No daily prayer, nor family prayer time and neglecting the house of God’s prayer grating makes one very spiritually weak.
Neglecting the “House of God” and its services is another step to becoming weak. I want you to follow a progression here that I have seen over and over again over the 50 years of ministry.
The first generation is FAITHFUL to the LOCAL CHURCH. They are there every time the church doors are open. Nothing keeps them away from the “House of God.”
The next generation doesn’t think it is important to go to church all the time. You do God a favor when you show up once a week.
The third generation doesn't go to church but once in a great while. They don't need church. Even Sunday School is not on their list to attend.
Second: They had a WEAK SPIRIT. Again in verse 8 their "spirit was not steadfast with God." When my spirit is weak, I have no desire to march onward for the faith. But when my heart is strong, no matter what circumstances I face, my spirit can remain strong.
Third: They had a WEAK WILL. In verse 10 the Ephraimites''kept not the covenant of God." It's easy to make a commitment to God while sitting under the preaching of God's Word and during an invitation. But how long will you keep that commitment unto God.
Fourth: They had WEAK FEET. Again in verse 10 we read, "theEphraimites "refused to walk in his God's law." Week feet are the logical result of a weak heart, weak spirit and weak will. In Psalm 119:105 we read, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." By choosing disobedience and the easy way, the Ephraimites ended up refusing to walk in God's way.
Fifth: They had a WEAK MIND. In Verse 11 the Ephraimites"forgot His (God's) works." When we forget the works of God, God's Word becomes academic and no longer changes our lives.
By observing the Ephraimites, we ought to learn that a "GOOD HERITAGE DOES NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE A GOOD LEGACY.
Some of us had better wake up and get a hold of what is being said. We need to remember. We need not to forget.
Listen to these famous words, "ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS THE PRICE OF FREEDOM." And since that is true:
We must be eternally vigilante over our SOUL as the Devil like a roaring lion is still seeking to devour you, your family and this church.
We must be eternally vigilante over our MIND carefully conforming daily to God's eternal truth in order to KEEP OUR MIND RENEWED. Remember He who controls the MIND controls your LIFE.
We must be eternally vigilante over our MORALS. Remember you cannot run with the wrong crowd and come out living for Christ. For in a moment of weakness, you can lose a testimony of a life time.
If the Church of the living God and the believers that comprise its body would have in the last 60 years been eternally vigilante over our morals, the moral temperature of this nation would not be as it is today.
We must be eternally vigilante over our THEOLOGY. We must maintain a position that this Book IS the Word of God.