HOW TO REMEMBER THE MEMORIAL

Psalm 135:13

Pastor Rick Jackson

- Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.

 

“Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.” Someone has said, "Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American G. I. One died for your soul; the other for your freedom." For American service personnel we have a national holiday in which many people forget why they are off from work, for the former I offer these suggestions:

 

I. STAY CLOSE TO THE CROSS

1. Take Up the Cross [Mark 10:21, Gal. 2:20]

- Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

- I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

2. Preach the Cross [1 Cor. 1:17-18, 23, 2:2]

-For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

-But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock , and unto the Greeks foolishness;

-For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3. Glory in the Cross [Gal. 6:14]

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

 

II. STAY CLOSE TO THE CHRIST [Eph. 2:13]

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

1. Be Molded in the Love of Christ [Rm. 12:1-2]

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2. Be Motivated by the Love of Christ [2 Cor. 5:14-15]

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

3. Be Mighty in the love of Christ [Eph. 3:16-19]

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

 

 III. STAY CLOSE TO THE COMMISSION [remember the reason]

1. To Glorify the Father [John 15:8]

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

2. To Please Christ [2 Timothy 2:1-4]

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

3. To Not Offend the Holy Spirit [Eph. 4:30, 1 Th. 5:19]

- And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

-Quench not the Spirit.