Oct. 30, 2022

“STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD”

“THE POWER OF REMEMBERING”

JOSHUA 24:1-14

The Power Of Remembering:

Joshua 24:1-14

Did Joshua imagine that the people had forgotten all of their history?

If you can’t remember where you have come from, you probably haven’t.

This is what life is about, we are not trying to beat each other to the finish line. I hope that is not your motivation. We are just trying to make it to the end in good shape, that is what life is about. But if you can’t remember where you have come from, you probably haven’t.

Are you 100% sure you will go to heaven when you die? Are you headed in the right direction?

1 John 5:13 “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Have you got out of the blocks? Can you remember?

If not you need to do it today!

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

“endurance” or patience, means to run with pacing.

There is tremendous power in remembering key events and elements in your life.

2 Peter 1:5-9

vs.9 “and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.”

Peter knew the power of remembering.

2 Peter 1:12-15

2 Peter 3:1 “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder).”

Peter understood the power of remembering.

Five Landmarks In Your Life That You Need, So You Will Never Lose Your Way.

1.   Remember Your Encounter With God.

Joshua 24:1 “Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem…”

This is no accident that Shechem was a place of great importance for Israel.

Genesis 12:6 “Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.”

The point is: Do you have a Shechem in your life where you had an encounter with God that you can return to when you lose your way.

Where is the Shechem in your life?

2. Remember Your Hopelessness Before You Met God.

Joshua 24:2-4

Why did God chose Abram?

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Ephesians 3:8 “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Paul understood who he was, he was helpless before he met God.

1 Timothy 1:12-14

Ephesians 2:11-13

3.   Remember Your Story Of Transformation.

Every follower of Jesus Christ has a transformation and you should not get bored of it. We are to remember it.

Write down the story of your transformation.

4.   Remember Your Greatest Defeats.

Joshua 24:7 “So they cried out to the Lord; and He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, brought the sea upon them, and covered them. And your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you dwelt in the wilderness a long time.”

They stretched their eleven day journey into forty years because of disobedience. 

5.   Remember Your Greatest Victories.

Joshua 24:8-13

Write down the greatest victories you have had in your life. Why did you have it? What did you learn? So you can have it again.

The Road Back:

Joshua 24:14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!”