What do I Choose to Remember?

What do I Choose to Remember?

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Context for our text: This account happened just after Israel had lost the “ark of covenant” to the Philistines, and God devastated any place the Philistines tried to set it up as a trophy. So the Philistines sent it back to Israel.

Text:1 Samuel 7:1-13

Where Samuel set up this “Ebenezer stone” is the same battle site where the Philistines had defeated Israel and captured the ark.
The word Ebenezer = “Stone of Help.”

How important is our memory?
How important is what we choose to remember?
Losing our memory can be tragic, but not as tragic as misusing our memory.

Years ago, Don Johnson preached a message about altars we build to remember.
All of us have good and bad memories that are significant in our lives.

When I talk about misusing our memory, I am referring to which altar of memories I choose to worship at.
I believe God gives every one of us “Ebenezer Stones.”
But on the opposite side of the issue there are memories we can retain that are negative, harmful, and create doubt towards God.

Which altar do we worship at?

Sometimes those memories have helped us remain safe – helped us be cautious at the right times.
But too often those memories have embedded themselves into my identity.

I come from a dysfunctional family. This is the reason I can’t …..

Last week in preparation for this message, my mind kept cycling back to some statements I said about our memories in last Sunday’s sermon.
The devil wants to control what I remember - what I dwell on - he wants to control my perspective, my perception of truth / reality.

This being memorial weekend, there are things we SHOULD remember.
And there are things we are told NOT to remember!
Phil 3:13-14 “… one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press…”

Psa.77:11-12 “I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.”

I want to end with taking this opportunity to recall “Ebenezer stone.”
Something you look back to as a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

I feel like I am to stress in our text – this was the exact same place where Israel had experienced a HUGE defeat.
The loosing of God’s presence.
This is an exact place where God wants to “help” us taste VICTORY!

Are there memories that have pledged your life? Places where the enemy wants you to go and worship?
Today is a time where God wants to deliver His people from the occupation, domination, threat, fear of the enemy.

Ver.13