January 22, 2006

God Remembers"
New Life
Genesis 8: 1-17

Today I want us to celebrate new life. To rehearse the wonderful goodness of God who, though he must by His nature judge the earth and the sins of man, yet already had a new life, a new earth prepared and planned. I want to look at the scripture and see the goodness of God in the phrase; And God remembered".

In Genesis 7 we've seen the hand of God mete out His terrible justice. Now in Genesis 8 our great God shows the forgiveness he has toward those who obey Him. Look at verse 2 & 3.

Look at that... remember that God has no plan B? Recall that God didn't just make a safe haven from the storm, but He prepared a safe resting place after the storm was past.

God is a gracious God and though many question His love because of His judgment, they would do well to consider that in spite of perfect justice, He planned a perfect escape for those who would trust Him and believe Him and follow His ways.

Turn to Genesis 19 for a moment and lets see another time when God has to exercise judgment on a people, and lets see there if God remembers. In Ch. 18 God decides to let Abraham in on his plans

20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

Now you will recall how Abraham went to bat for Sodom, or at least for the idea that there might be some righteous ones there? And remember that God was willing to spare that wicked city for the sake of a few?

He couldn't find even 10 and so in Chapter 19 The Powerful Angel of the Lord Descends on Sodom, that wicked city. Read Gen. 19 2-, 24

NOW GET THIS! And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt. And God remembered Abraham.

Now over to Exodus Chapter 2 -25

The Children of Israel sang Psalms unto God who remembered them, Psalm 136:23 says "Who remembered us in our low estate, for His mercy endures forever.

Listen to one more time with me when God remembered, and then we'll apply what we learn of God to us, OK? Jer.30:1-14

The references here are two fold. God speaks of a time when He will in the future, raise up "David's kingship" Again But now these people are on the eve of a time of 70 years of captivity, a time when Babylon holds seeming power over them and listen to the God who must be just:

You see? God remembers his creation. In Noah's time he delivered them from the flood's destruction and landed them in a new green lush live; land. And remember that He spared Lot when he destroyed Sodom because he "remembered Abraham".

Then recall that He heard the cry of his captive people in Exodus and brought them out of the land of slavery and bondage into an eventual land flowing with milk and honey. And in Jeremiah we see that though He had to deal with their disobedience, there was to be a time of restoration and God, the loving Father had good plans for them.

Recall that I said this was two fold? Speaking of the immediate 70 years of captivity? But it also looked ahead to a future time and a future king that would restore the line of David to the throne of Israel.

Now look a verse or three ahead in Jeremiah chapter 31:31-34

There you have it and here is the point for today!

Luke 2: 1 -5 and Luke 22: 1 Following.
And it came to pass...God remembered.... And in that last holy feast before He drained the cup of God's wrath and judgment on the sin of all man kind Jesus was saying in verse 20...Listen Guys, recall Jeremiah's writings of what my Father said? The part about God not remembering your sin any more?

Well my beloved disciples, GOD REMEMBERED! YOU!

And I stand here today saying to you that Jesus Christ said when He went away that He would return in like manner as He went from us and God who has always remembered His people will not become a forgetful God now. He does not suffer from any memory lapse and there indeed will be a new
world where sin does not exist and where pain and sorrow are myth and where death is no more.

God will not forget to fulfill all His wonderful words and as He came to die for your life, He will return for you everlasting Glory with Him ....Because GOD REMEMBERS.

Listen: Do you feel as if God has forgotten you because your life is hard and much stuff happens?

Listen good: GOD REMEMBERS!!!! He remembers your faithfulness, and your love Hebrews 6:10 For God [is] not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

GOD, the faithful and righteous and holy and wise and everlasting Father. GOD REMEMBERS