INTRODUCTION
-We have been celebrating Memorial Day, or its forerunners, ever since 1868
-It is great to remember those who have died on our account
-We tend to be forgetful people
-But, this Memorial Weekend, let us take to heart remembering our fallen patriots, but let us also remember some tremendous spiritual things
I. Remember Your Sinfulness
-Christ throws them into the Sea of Forgetfulness
-But should we?
-Not with fondness, but with regret
-Seeing it for how ugly it is
-Ephesians 2:11-13
A. How evil it was
B. How far it took you from God
-Sin is walking the opposite direction of God
-You get farther away with every step
-It always takes you farther than you plan to go
-And keeps you longer than you plan to stay
C. How unsatisfying it truly was
-It may have been pleasant for a season
-But in the end it brought emptiness
1. By damaging your relationship with God
2. By hurting your relationship with others
3. By bringing inner turmoil
-Through guilt
II. Remember God’s Provision
-Throughout the Old Testament we see God reminding the people and urging them to remember what He had done for them
-Deuteronomy 5:15
-I Chronicles 16:12
-Psalm 77:11-12
A. For those in scripture
-All of the times God worked miraculously on account of those who were His
-Israelites in slavery
-Israelites in the wilderness
-Peter in jail
B. For you
-All that He has given you
-You have not died of hunger
-You have not died of thirst
-You have not truly suffered
III. Remember Christ’s Sacrifice
A. His passion
-I Corinthians 11:23-26
1. Its necessity
-Because of our sin (yours and mine)
2. It’s cruelty
3. It’s finality
-“It is finished.”
B. His resurrection
-II Timothy 2:7-8
-Let’s never make the mistake of leaving Him on the cross
-That would deny His power
-That would destroy our hope
-Let’s celebrate it weekly, if not daily
IV. Remember God’s Promises
-II Peter 1:2-4
A. Of continuing provision
B. Of His presence
C. Of eternal rest
V. Remember Your Commitments
-Psalm 103:17-18
A. Conversion commitments
-Altar Tears
-Are they sincere tears, or simply the alligator variety
B. Discipleship commands
-Following what He makes clear to us is usually the hardest thing to do
-It’s not what we don’t know that trips us up, it’s what we don’t do with what we know
-As you follow what He has made clear, He will make new things clear to you
-If you have received no new insight from the Lord, check and see that you are walking in all the light He has previously given you
CLOSING
-Today, we do remember all of these things
-In particular we remember Christ’s sacrifice through the institution of the Lord’s Supper
-As we come, let’s come not only remembering His sacrifice, but also our sinfulness, God’s provision and promises and our commitments to Him
