"A May that Matters" Part Four

Looking Forward to the Future - Remembering the Past (Sermon by Bro. Rick Taylor 5/24/09)

Our future depends on the faith we have had in the past and the things that we have gone through.

"Choices, no matter how small, do matter. Your day-to-day decisions have a way of determining your destiny. The person you are becoming - situation by situation, decision by decision, choice by choice - is ther person you will be forever." David Ausburger

2 Timothy 1:3-7 "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembreance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 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. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Remembrance in Prayer

1. Paul had been taught how to pray. As parents, it is our responsibility to teach our children how to pray. Do they see and hear you pray to God on a regualr basis? Is prayer something that you do together? Do they know that you pray for them? Do they know how to pray?
2. Paul prayed without ceasing. "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." Colossians 4:2

Remembrance of Faith

1. Timothy had been shown what it meant to have faith by his mother and grandmother. *Women that have to be the spiritual leaders in your homes - do not give up! Keep the faith, and God will bless your homes for your faithfulness!
2. Timothy had a pure and uninhibited faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Remembrance of the Gift of God

1. The Gift of God is our salvation and the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." 2 Corinthians 9:15
2. The Gift of God is personal. You can't receive His gift unless you know Him. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21
3. The Gift of God should stir us up! Don't be afraid to get stirred up! "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7

God wants us to always remember what He saved us from and what He saved us to do. We can't move on to the future without remembering the past.