Never Forget - Pastor Stacey Shiflett
- Pastor Shiflett
- Dec 31, 2023
- 5 min read
Never Forget
2 Peter 1
· 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
· 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
· 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
· 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
Intro: As we close out 2023, and enter into a new year, I have a tendency to be a bit nostalgic.
I look back over the past year and I like to relive some of the highlights of the year.
On the back of our Christmas card, we highlighted some key events of 2023.
That was just a few of the amazing things we were able to experience.
We took pictures of these things and they pop up from time to time on our phones and social media as a “memory.”
One of the concerns that I have as a pastor that we will enter into the new year and if we are not careful, we will forget some things.
In our text, the Apostle Peter was also concerned about this.
A. The Admonition that is Passionate
Peter was nearing the end of his ministry. (see verse 14)
But he was greatly concerned about the propensity of the believer to forget key truths.
He used language like:
1. I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things – vs. 12
2. I think it is meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance – vs. 13
3. I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance – vs. 15
B. The Awareness that is Prevalent
Twice, Peter said that we should ALWAYS have these things in remembrance.
That means we shouldn’t forget them for one day; not for one minute!
They should be on our minds constantly.
Twice, Peter emphasized remembering “these things.” (vs. 12, 15)
C. The Appreciation that is Pertinent
One of the greatest forms of disrespect to God is to forget what he has done.
What better way to demonstrate our gratitude by never forgetting “these things.
In the last days, one of the characteristics of people is being “ungrateful…”
· Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
I. Never Forget Where God Brought You From
2 Peter 1
· 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
· 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
David didn’t forget where God found him!
Psalm 40
· 1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
· 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
The Apostle Paul never forget where God brought him from.
He shared his testimony multiple times, and every time, it got better.
Every time Paul shared his testimony of where God brought him from, he got more excited.
Acts 9:3 says “…there shined about him a light from heaven.”
In Acts 22:6, he said “…suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.”
In Acts 26:13, he said “I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun shining round about me…”
In Acts 22:21, notice the reaction of the people that heard his testimony:
· 22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
· 23 And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,
In Acts 26, notice the response of Festus when he heard Paul’s testimony:
· 24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Does this sound like the testimony of a man that forgot where God found him??
II. Never Forget What God Blessed You With
· Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
When we start to list all that God has done for us, it ought to humble us beyond measure.
· Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
III. Never Forget What God Burdened You About
A. When it Comes to His Work
· 2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
· Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
How many people have surrendered to serve God, and then allowed other things to distract them?
Mark 4
· 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
· 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
As Brother Ingram said, “Kill the cow and burn the plow!” (reference to Elisha)
Go all in for God and don’t allow anything to pull you back.
B. When it comes to His Word
James 1
· 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
· 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
· 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
· 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
· 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Don’t be one of those people that God has blessed to be exposed to truth, and then forget it!
Being a forgetful hearer is a tragedy.
God will bless those that NEVER FORGET!!
