Don't Forget to Remember

Good morning, welcome.

I know John just prayed, but I want to just ask the Lord for a little bit more.

! Father, in a moment we are opening your word.

And we recognize that this is your very heart. You've revealed yourself to us through your word.

So this morning we want to lift up your word faithfully.

We ask, Lord, that you, your spirit would work in us.

You would have your desired effect in our lives. That we would look more like Jesus Christ.

And we do recognize right now, whether here or at home,

there are some among us who are really struggling.

Some whose faith is just right on the brink.

And God, we lift them before you.

You are our sure foundation.

There is no other hope.

There is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

We love you.

We honor you.

Father, we pray this morning might be to the glory of your son, Jesus Christ.

We pray in his name. Amen.

Well, I'm Tom Zentz, one of your deacons.

Carrie, my wife, and I have enjoyed being members here at Maranatha for about 42 years.

I'm sorry, but that's hard to believe.

One of the things about getting older is the area of forgetfulness, especially names.

And so forgive me if I come up to you and ask you your name.

And you've been like a 12-year member here or something, you know.

But names.

And then the Lord refreshed my memory this week.

I was helping Carrie with laundry and pulled out some of her stockings or socks.

And I couldn't remember where they go.

And she said, well, we've only been married 42 years.

So you should know where these go, right?

So forgetfulness is something that we all struggle with, isn't it?

We need days like tomorrow, by the way.

Just as constant reminders so that we don't forget to remember those who have sacrificed their lives in service to our nation.

If you'd allow me, I think it's fitting to remind us all of what Memorial Day in the United States is about.

And then to use that to launch into our text this morning.

Memorial Day is a national day of remembrance in the United States.

It's set aside to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Its roots trace back to the years following the Civil War when Americans began decorating the graves with flowers of all these fallen soldiers.

In fact, early tradition, we know it as Decoration Day.

Over time, the observance expanded to honor all service members who gave their lives in every American conflict.

And in 1971, it became an official federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May.

We observe Memorial Day not simply as a long weekend, but as a moment to pause and reflect on the cost of freedom.

It invites us to remember the courage, the sacrifice, the selflessness of those who never returned home.

It invites us to express gratitude for the liberties their service helps secure.

And whether through ceremonies, quiet reflection, or the national moment of remembrance at 3 o'clock on Memorial Day,

this day calls the nation to honor the fallen and to carry forward the memory of their service with respect and gratitude.

There have been many calls of remembrance throughout American history.

As I was preparing for this, I got to thinking about different ones like, remember the Alamo.

It was the battle cry of the Texas Revolution.

It symbolized sacrifice and the fight for independence.

Or maybe you remember this one.

Remember the Maine.

I bet most of you don't remember that one.

That was the 1898 Spanish-American War outcry when the battleship, the USS Maine, was sunk in Havana Harbor.

It propelled our nation into war.

How about remember Pearl Harbor?

December 7th, 1941, when the Japanese attacked us on U.S. soil.

It inspired a nation to unity and resolve.

More recently,

Never Forget became the defining memorial phrase after that terrorist attack on American soil, September 11, 2001.

It cost nearly 3,000 lives.

These were all calls to remembrance.

But, see, they're not just calls to remember.

They're calls to respond.

Similarly, throughout biblical history, there have been a number of calls.

I have a list here.

But, as I was preparing this, the scores of verses to remember, it's amazing.

Deuteronomy chapter 8, the whole chapter is about remembering and not forgetting.

Deuteronomy 8 · chapter mention

But, verses 1 and verse 18 say,

Remember the Lord your God.

It's a call to remember, but also to respond.

Ecclesiastes 12, 1 says,

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.

Exodus chapter 20, verse 8.

Exodus 20:8

Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

In 1 Chronicles chapter 16, in verse 12.

1 Chronicles 16 · chapter mention

Remember the wondrous works that He has done.

His miracles, all the judgments He's uttered.

And then, down in verse 15.

Remember His covenant forever.

The word that He has commanded for a thousand generations.

And then Jesus Himself said to His disciples there in the upper room,

as they were partaking of that communion,

He says,

Do this in remembrance of me.

I didn't have it on here, but remember Lot's wife, right?

I always wondered about that verse.

Why?

You know, it's not Lot's wife in particular that you're supposed to remember.

You know what you're supposed to remember?

God is holy.

This is a consequence of veering away from His character.

Why do you think there's so many Bible verses calling God's people to remember?

It's because we're so prone to forget, aren't we?

This morning I'm here echoing Peter's sentiment from 2 Peter chapter 1, verses 12 through 13.

2 Peter 1:12–13

Let me just read it for you.

Let me just pause.

The things we're going to be talking about are things most of you already know.

You know them.

But I'm bringing them back to you by way of reminder.

Peter continues.

He says,

Well, what truth is that?

I'd invite you to open your Bibles, please, to 2 Timothy chapter 2.

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

We'll be looking particularly at verse 8.

If you have a pew Bible, it's page 995.

And as you're turning there, 2 Timothy chapter 2,

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

just remind you that Paul, he's an old soldier of the cross by now.

He's sitting in a Roman prison, and he's writing to Timothy.

And Timothy's a younger pastor.

He's tired.

He's discouraged by the ministry.

He's under a lot of pressure.

Paul's going to give him one central command.

And here it is in verse 8.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,

the offspring of David as preached in my gospel.

Period.

The scripture here calls God's people to remember Jesus Christ.

Not merely recalling factual information about Jesus Christ,

but responding with our hearts, with our choices, and with our very lives.

Remembering is always tied to a response.

Devotion, love, obedience, worship, courage, faithfulness, resolve.

I wonder, church, this morning for you,

which of these responses does God want for you?

And maybe there's something you're dealing with this morning.

Some struggle, known or unknown.

This morning, the Lord wants you to respond as you remember Jesus Christ.

On a weekend built around remembrance, Paul's words ring out loudly.

Timothy, don't forget to remember.

Now, by way of context,

before Paul ever tells Timothy about verse 8,

he's going to give Timothy three images, three pictures.

These are Memorial Day-like pictures of endurance.

He's going to tell them about the soldier,

about the athlete,

and about the farmer.

And there in verses 3 and 4,

with this soldier image,

Paul is telling Timothy,

I want you to remember something.

I want you to remember your commander.

Let me read verses 3 and 4 for you.

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

No soldier gets entangled in the civilian pursuits

since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Paul's telling Timothy,

there are three responses for the soldier who remembers his commander.

Here they are.

Endures hardship without complaint.

The soldier accepts suffering as part of the mission.

It's not an interruption to it.

This good soldier, he stays focused.

He's not getting entangled with all these civilian thoughts and ideas.

And I will tell you,

this is one of the ones that I struggle with.

The disruptions,

the distractions of life.

Paul says,

a good soldier keeps his eyes fixed on the mission.

He's not divided by the distractions of ordinary life.

A good soldier,

Timothy,

lives to please the one who enlisted him.

Has Jesus Christ enlisted you into his family?

Has he died for you?

If he has,

he's your commander.

Listen to him.

The good soldier's ultimate loyalty is not to comfort,

but it's to his commander.

This Memorial Day,

we honor soldiers who gave everything

because they remembered their mission and commander.

They lived and they died

with focus,

courage,

and devotion.

Well,

then Paul's going to tell Timothy about this next image.

It's the image of an athlete.

He's saying,

Timothy,

as an athlete,

you must remember the rules.

Verse 5 says,

an athlete is not crowned

unless he competes according to the rules.

The word here for competes is this word,

athleo.

We get our word athletics from it.

It describes the discipline

and the integrity

that it takes to do the job,

to run the race.

The athlete is faithful to his training effort

with unrelenting pursuit.

And guys,

there's no shortcuts.

This athlete,

he follows the plan

to win the prize.

Been watching some of the basketball tournament.

Some of you have,

some of you don't care.

But those basketball teams,

they're meeting with their coaches

and the coaches

and the coaches are laying out

their game plans, right?

And the coach expects these athletes

to play according to plan,

to execute the plan.

That's what we're talking about here.

The athlete follows the plan

to win the prize.

He's directed by the playbook,

not by personal preference.

And our playbook

is the very word of God.

It's not how I feel.

It's what does this say.

And will I obey?

The athlete realizes

that it's not just about effort alone.

You can have great effort,

but if it's misdirected,

if it's not skillfully directed,

it can go really badly.

We have a Southwest Church Golf League

and I can put a tee in the ground,

put a ball on top

and I can stand in front of that ball

and swing with all my effort.

But if I don't swing with skill,

it's not good.

In fact,

it could be out of bounds

easily.

And so you have to learn the skill.

You have to learn the grip.

You have to learn the stance,

the swing and so on.

Zeal without obeying the rules

can get you disqualified.

You're in your Bibles

in 2 Timothy 2.

If you go down to verses,

I don't have it up here.

It's like verses 17 and 18.

There are two guys

that are mentioned there.

Hymenaeus and Philetus,

I think those are names.

You know what it says about them?

They swerved from what?

The truth.

They didn't play by the rules

and they were disqualified.

The athlete competes

with discipline,

with integrity,

and effort,

skilled effort.

He executes according to the plan

in order to win the prize.

Well, the third image

Paul gives to Timothy

is one of a farmer.

He's telling Timothy here,

I want you to remember

the reward, Timothy.

Let me just read verse 6.

It is the hard-working farmer

who ought to have

the first share of the crops.

Now, growing up in Indiana,

I met a lot of farmers.

A lot of farmers went to our church.

These farmers, for them,

they would work late,

work early.

They'd work when it's dark.

They'd work unseen.

And there was nobody there

applausing them

after they were done

with their work for the day.

There was no crowd.

There was only faithfulness

in the field.

Day after day,

laboring to the point of exhaustion.

It's hard work.

And that's what this

hard-working expression means.

Laboring to the point

where you just can't take it anymore.

You're just exhausted.

Paul's telling Timothy,

this farmer,

he trusts and he prays

that a good harvest will come.

Seeds are planted.

He has faith

that the soil will bear

the harvest.

The farmer,

he patiently labors

to produce an abundant reward.

Psalm 126.6,

you may remember this.

He who sows in tears

shall reap in joy.

The yield is worth the weight.

Wait on the Lord.

So the farmer,

he works early,

works late,

works unseen.

He trusts

that the harvest will come.

So what's Paul's point?

Well, there in verse 7,

he says this.

Timothy,

I want you to think over

what I say.

Think very carefully

what I say.

For the Lord will give you

understanding.

These three images

describe the kind of endurance

that Paul calls Timothy to.

And they also beautifully reflect

the character of Jesus Christ himself.

Think about this.

Jesus Christ was the perfect soldier

who remembered his commander.

Not my will be done,

but yours.

Jesus Christ was the perfect athlete.

He played by the rules.

And I don't use that word loosely.

He followed the rules.

He could have called down help

there in the Garden of Gethsemane.

He was also the perfect farmer.

He remembered that the reward

was worth it.

Isn't that Hebrews chapter 12?

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

He was looking for that reward.

Maranatha Baptist Church,

you and I are also called

to remember these things

and let these images

give us understanding.

Let them shape us.

Let them remind us

of what faithfulness,

of what Christ himself looks like.

And then this leads

to Paul's next point there

in verse 8.

And now Paul gives this command.

It's going to be a command

that anchors the whole passage.

Let me read verse 8 for you.

Remember Jesus Christ,

risen from the dead,

the offspring of David.

The word remember here,

it's a little bit hard to say.

It's neumonet or something like that.

You don't have to say it correctly.

It means more

than just call to mind though.

It's to continually,

remember.

It's to have this,

this always at the front

of your center

and focus Jesus Christ.

Constantly being reminded

that Jesus is there.

And then also

to let this recalling

of Jesus Christ

shape your identity.

We don't do it

in our family so much,

but I've heard

of other families say,

hey, you remember you're a,

I hope there's no Millers out here.

Remember you're a Miller.

Remember you're a Young.

Remember you're a Smith,

whatever.

What is that supposed to mean?

It says,

in your remembering,

there's an action,

there's a response

that I expect of you.

There's a lifestyle

that you should have

because you are this,

you're mine.

Let this recalling of Jesus Christ

shape your identity,

shape your decisions,

shape your actions.

This word,

pneumoneo,

it's the same word

we get from this English word,

and maybe you know this,

maybe you don't,

mnemonic.

You say,

well,

I only know that one.

Well,

you use it all the time.

When Pastor Conoyer

was up here,

I don't know how many times

I heard him say,

lefty,

loosey,

righty,

what is it?

Tidy.

Because we forget,

right?

There are five great lakes.

So you remember,

homes.

And so you have Huron,

Ontario,

Michigan,

Erie,

and Superior.

We use mnemonics

all the time.

And Paul's saying here

to Timothy,

hey,

don't let Jesus Christ

slip from your memory.

Keep him always

at the forefront,

front and center,

continually.

Don't forget

to remember him,

Timothy.

Don't get distracted

by other things.

And then from this one verse

in verse eight,

there come three challenges,

each one with an active response.

If you're in your outline,

this is point C.

The conduct

that comes

from remembering Jesus.

We see right at the outset,

remember Jesus Christ.

It's interesting

that Paul starts

with a name.

Not a doctrine.

Not a system.

Not a ministry strategy.

A name.

The name.

A person.

It's the person.

It's Jesus Christ,

the King of kings

and Lord of lords.

That's what matters,

Timothy.

That's what's going to be

your sure foundation

that we just sang about.

It's Jesus Christ.

When life gets hard,

Timothy,

remember Jesus' compassion.

He bore our sorrows

and our griefs

and he loved us

to the end.

He loved us

when we were unlovable.

Isn't that right?

Remember his authority,

Timothy.

All power in heaven

and under heaven.

They're his.

And by extension,

they're yours

because he gives you

his authority.

Remember his nearness,

Timothy.

He said,

I'm with you always.

I'm with you always.

To the end of the age,

I'm with you.

Remember his sacrifice.

He gave himself up fully.

He held nothing back.

Remember his lordship,

Timothy.

Jesus Christ

is Lord of lords.

He is Lord

over every other name.

He is Lord

over every other king.

And he is to be obeyed.

This Memorial Day,

we honor fallen soldiers

by remembering

who they were.

We honor Christ Jesus

by remembering

who he is.

He is our Lord

and Savior.

We remember him,

not just facts about him.

We trust him.

We obey him.

We submit

so that we're being

transformed by him.

What's to be the response?

It's loyalty.

Stay faithful.

Stay with him

when culture pushes you

to compromise.

Lovingly obey

with humility,

living out Christ

in you

before others.

Paul then says,

Timothy,

not only do I want you

to remember his person,

I want you to remember

his power.

And as a result,

I want you to conduct

yourself

with confidence.

The scripture says

here in verse 8,

this is Jesus Christ

risen from the dead.

He's alive,

isn't he?

He is alive,

church.

He's not dead.

And he's praying for you.

He's actively involved

in your life.

He is with you.

This is the heart

of our faith.

Paul's reminding Timothy,

you serve

a risen king.

Death is defeated.

fear has lost its grip.

And the hardship

that you're experiencing,

it's not the end.

I was just talking

to somebody this morning.

Things are tough.

10,000 years from now,

we're going to have

a different perspective,

aren't we?

The things that we think

are so impossible now,

they're not going to be

much of a weight

at all.

They won't be a weight.

What's to be

our response?

Loyalty.

Are you loyal

to Jesus Christ?

Well, Timothy,

he's discouraged.

Paul says,

lift up your eyes,

Timothy.

I want you to lift up

your eyes of faith.

Remember the empty tomb.

You know,

this Memorial Day,

we remember the cost

of freedom.

But we also remember

with thankfulness

the hope

that those who've

sacrificed their lives

have given,

they've secured.

And our response here

is to conduct yourself

with confidence.

Walk in courage.

Face trials

with resurrection hope.

Don't shrink back.

Some of you,

right now,

are going through

some difficulties.

It's dark.

You don't see

how the end

is going to happen.

You don't see

what the next step is.

And I would just say,

remember Jesus Christ.

Remember him.

It will be good.

It will be right.

Jesus is a good shepherd.

Isn't he?

He will lead you

by his word.

Remember him.

Be confident.

Not cocky,

but be confident.

Then thirdly,

Paul says to Timothy,

remember his promise.

And as you do so,

I want you to conduct yourself

with endurance.

See,

he says this.

This Jesus Christ,

he's the offspring

of David.

Now,

David lived about 700 plus years

before Jesus.

It's been a long time.

Almost three times longer

than our United States,

250 years.

But this phrase,

the offspring of David,

it points to God's

covenant faithfulness.

God is faithful.

He will keep his promises.

It points to the promised Messiah.

Jesus Christ is the son of David.

David,

he is God in the flesh,

living the perfect life

that Adam failed to live.

Isn't that good?

Pastor David,

this morning,

in his prayer,

was praying about Jesus Christ,

who lived the life

that we couldn't.

You know what he secured

for us in doing that?

His righteousness.

When he died on the cross,

he paid for our sins,

yes.

But he also gave us something.

He gave us his righteousness

so that in Christ,

you and I

are considered righteous.

Amen?

That's great.

The offspring of David,

this phrase also points

to the unbreakable plan

of salvation.

God's plan is unfolding

perfectly

and timely.

nothing is out of step.

It shows the certainty

of Christ's eternal reign.

He will reign.

I said it this morning

this way too.

I'm sorry.

It's not he will reign.

He reigns.

He reigns.

He is Lord now.

Jesus is the fulfillment

of every promise

God ever made.

This Memorial Day,

we remember the promises

of our nation.

Things like liberty,

justice,

and the ongoing work

required to preserve them.

And what's to be the response?

Conduct yourself

with endurance.

Keep going.

Don't quit.

Remember that God

keeps his promises.

So keep trusting him.

Even when you don't see it now,

keep trusting him.

We finish by looking up

this fourth point.

The consequences

and what remembering

produces in our hearts.

Paul shows Timothy

what this looks like

and he says there

in verse 9,

I am suffering

bound with chains

as a criminal.

But the word of God

is not bound.

Paul says,

there's courage.

I want you to have courage

in suffering,

Timothy.

Be courageous.

Paul is chained

but the gospel is not.

Isn't that good news?

There are people

around us.

People at work.

People that live next door.

People in our own families.

And their hearts

are just as stubborn

and hard.

And we believe,

don't we?

We are not ashamed

of the gospel of Christ

for it is the what?

It is the power of God

to salvation.

God can save

the most stubborn person.

He saved you,

didn't he?

He saved me.

I'm just blown away

by that.

We don't deserve it.

Wow.

Paul says,

external chains

cannot silence

eternal truth.

The word of God

will not be bound,

will not be chained.

And Timothy's suffering

does not signal

divine abandonment.

In fact,

it's not in my notes.

But sometimes

the only way

you're going to know

Jesus Christ

in the depths of suffering

that he went through

is to go through it yourself.

And if you find yourself

in the middle of heartache

and suffering

and pain right now,

and it seems so hopeless

and so hard,

allow that

just to bring your mind

back to who Jesus Christ is,

your loving Savior.

Allow that to help you

understand the depths

that he went through

even a little bit more clearly.

Remember Jesus Christ

this gives you courage

when life is hard

and when the way

is insufferable.

So not only are you

to have courage

in suffering,

Timothy verse 10,

you're to have purpose

in your pain.

Paul says,

therefore,

I endure everything

for the sake of the elect.

Pain becomes purposeful

when tied to God's mission.

There's a reason for it.

If that reason

is just to tell somebody else,

it's not me.

It's Christ in me.

That's why I can have joy

with this illness.

That's why I can have joy

when faced with this pain

or this lack of job.

that's why I can smile

because there's a living,

risen Savior

and my hope is in him.

There's purpose in pain,

every hardship.

It's an opportunity

to show

the grace of God,

isn't it?

That's what 2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 12:9

chapter 12,

verse 9 says,

my grace is sufficient

for you.

No matter how hard it is,

God's grace is there

and it is completely sufficient

for the moment.

There's purpose in pain.

Sacrifice that blesses others

was never wasted.

It's never wasted.

Paul says that his suffering

has meaning.

His mission

is worth the cost.

This Memorial Day,

we honor those

who endured hardship

for the sake of others.

Paul says,

I endure for the gospel.

Jesus Christ,

I endure to the end

for my sheep.

Are you willing to endure?

Let me just finish up

with this.

Tomorrow's Memorial Day.

Hopefully,

we're going to take a moment

to remember the sacrifice,

the freedom,

and the responsibilities

we have.

But here in this passage

in 2 Timothy chapter 2,

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

Paul also says this.

He calls us to remember.

Remember Jesus Christ.

Remember his person.

And Timothy,

respond with loyalty.

Be loyal to him.

Remember his power

and respond with confidence.

Remember his promise

and respond with endurance.

Church,

I would say,

let's remember Jesus Christ.

Let's trust

and obey him.

Let's pray.

God,

it is true.

You are totally sovereign.

You are the creator

and Lord

of the universe.

You've given us

your son,

Jesus Christ.

He lived the perfect life.

He died that death.

He was betrayed

and died that horrible death

for us.

We are so grateful.

Grateful for his willingness

to obey you,

his commander.

Grateful for the courage

to follow your plan.

Father,

we look to Jesus.

in doing so,

we recognize

our own failures.

And as it says

at the end of 2 Timothy,

we just turn these things

to you.

We give them to you.

We want to be fit

and clean vessels

for you.

Lord,

maybe there's somebody

here now struggling.

They know these things

to be true,

but it's still

hard to believe.

I pray that you would

strengthen them

as you did,

Timothy.

May the word of God,

may Christ himself

be their sure foundation.

May they go away

changed.

Lord,

help us to,

in our recalling

of who Jesus is,

to respond

in ways

that please you.

We thank you

for this church.

Lord,

help us to continue

to be a light

for the gospel

in our communities.

We ask this

in Jesus' name.

Amen.