Introduction

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. What does it mean to you, and what will we do about it? What is the purpose of Memorial’s? My concrete man’s was asked by his crew if they were going to be off tomorrow for Memorial Day. He asked them what Memorial Day was about, and not one of them could tell him. He said, well, since you don’t even know what it is about, we will work tomorrow. Yesterday, I got a call, and he said he had worked so hard Saturday that he needed Monday off, so his men will get the day off even though they didn’t know the meaning of Memorial Day.

For many Americans, Memorial Day is nothing more than time off work to enjoy a holiday weekend of barbecues, sales at the mall, and the beginning of the summer vacation season. For many, the real meaning behind Memorial Day has been lost, and so in 2001, President Bush initiated the idea of a Moment of Remembrance.

The idea for the Moment was born when children touring the Nation’s Capital were asked by the Commission’s Director what Memorial Day means. They responded, “That’s the day the pool opens.” A Gallup Poll revealed that only 28% of Americans know the meaning of this noble holiday.

The White House Commission on Remembrance was established by Congress (PL 106-579) to promote the values of Memorial Day by acts of remembrance throughout the year. The major initiative of the Commission is the National Moment of Remembrance.

The National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day to pause in an act of national unity (duration: one minute).The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died for our freedom. It will help to reclaim Memorial Day as the sacred and noble holiday it was meant to be. In this shared remembrance, we connect as Americans.

Body

I. What does the Bible say about memorials?

A. It is a form of honoring.

(Rom 13:7 NKJV) Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

B. God Gave Memorials.

1. The Passover for the children of Israel was a memorial.

(Exo 12:14-16 NKJV) 'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. {15} 'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. {16} 'On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat; that only may be prepared by you.

2. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial.

(Luke 22:15-20 NKJV) Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; {16} "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." {17} Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; {18} "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." {19} And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." {20} Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

a. We keep this “Memorial Day” every Sunday as we remember what the Lord has done for us.

3. The Lord wanted them to always remember that they had been slaves in Egypt.

(Deu 5:15 NKJV) And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

II. God gave us government.

A. He gave us civil government to provide law and order.

(Rom 13:1-7 NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. {2} Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. {3} For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. {4} For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. {5} Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. {6} For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. {7} Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

B. God often brought enemy nations against Israel because of their sins.

(Judg 2:10-15 NKJV) When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel. {11} Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals; {12} and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger. {13} They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. {14} And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. {15} Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for calamity, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And We need to give thanks to God for our great nation.

a. We need to pray for our rulers.

(1 Tim 2:1-4 NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, {2} for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. {3} For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, {4} who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

III. Remember – to keep things in balance.

(Luke 16:19-25 NKJV) "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. {20} "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, {21} "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. {22} "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. {23} "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. {24} "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' {25} "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.

Conclusion

I. Remember! -- Today, Especially, remember the Lord and what He has done for us.

II. Remember! – Especially tomorrow – our service men.

A. Those who have given their lives – that’s the purpose of Memorial Day!

B. Some have been maimed for life.

C. Others have paid the price of other hardships of war.

III. Remember! – Always the Lord Who brought us out of the slavery of sin and put us in a right relationship with God.

Bible Study with Harley Sermons I have Preached

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