Introduction

“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men axe created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great battle‑field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But in a larger sense, we can not dedicate‑we Can not consecrate.‑we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here. dedicated to the great task remaining before us‑that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion‑that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

You probably recognize those words. It may be one of those things we still remember, to so extent, from school. The great Gettysburg Address as delivered by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. It is a day that many will enjoy with very little thought of what the day is all about. Memorial Day has been observed on different days of the month, and with respect to different wars, but the general consensus is that Memorial Day began with the Civil War. The ideas expressed by Abraham Lincoln are fitting as we think of the multiplied thousands of men who have lost their lives on the battlefield to defend our American freedoms and beliefs.

September 11, caused us to think again of those who have died for others: The firemen, policemen, and many others who worked to save the lives of others. Today, we are at war against terrorism. It is a different war. It is in many respects a war because of religious beliefs.

Body

I. Jesus talked about war in ways that may surprise us.

(Mat 24:6-8 NKJV) "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. {7} "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. {8} "All these are the beginning of sorrows.

A. Jesus speaks of war in a matter of fact way, and then adds, “See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

B. Jesus did not speak of the loss of life as the greatest tragedy.

(Mat 10:28 NKJV) "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

C. We appreciate those men, who as Lincoln put it, “gave the last full measure of devotion.”

1. Yet we must always remember that everything we see is only temporary, and is passing away.

(2 Cor 4:17-18 NKJV) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, {18} while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2. This morning, we will focus our thoughts on other things to remember.

II. Jesus recognized that memory is very important.

A. Jesus wants us to learn spiritual truths from life and remember them.

(Mark 8:17-18 NKJV) But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? {18} "Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

B. Jesus followers had failed to learn and remember what He had told them about His death.

(Luke 24:6-8 NKJV) "He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, {7} "saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" {8} And they remembered His words.

C. Jesus said to remember Lot’s wife.

(Luke 17:32 NKJV) "Remember Lot's wife.

1. Remember, and learn from her experience so that we do not have to suffer because we are too attached to the world.

D. Jesus told of things to come, and gave a reason for doing it.

(John 16:4 NKJV) "But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

1. I believe we ought to be better students of prophecy.

III. Paul also told us to remember.

A. We need to remember the teaching of the Lord and to live accordingly.

(Acts 20:35 NKJV) "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

B. Paul also told the Corinthians of one of the great things that the Lord left behind for us to remember.

(1 Cor 11:23-29 NKJV) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; {24} and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." {25} In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." {26} For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. {27} Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. {28} But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. {29} For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

1. We are to partake in a worthy manner.

a. We need to reflect on what Jesus went through, and what He did for us.

b. We need to give thanks for His wonderful life and sacrifice.

2. We need to keep our thoughts focused on Him and what He did.

Conculsion

I. Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Let’s take time to thank God for our country and for those who have given their lives that we might be free.

II. But today is Sunday. Let’s remember the things of God, and the lessons that God wants us to remember; especially, today, we remember our Lord’s death, burial and resurrection.

III. Memory can sometimes be a haunting memory of how things could have been if we had done what we should have.

(Luke 16:25 NKJV) "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.

Sermons I have Preached Back to Home Page

Hit Counter