God Remembers: Encouragement for Faithful Believers

 

Summary

In the book of Malachi, we find a message that resonates deeply with the challenges faced by believers both in ancient times and today. The people of Malachi's day were disillusioned with their leaders, experienced disruptions in worship, and were surrounded by a growing coldness of heart towards God. Yet, amidst these challenges, there were those who remained faithful, described as those who "feared the Lord." They found strength and encouragement in speaking with one another, drawing near to God in the company of fellow believers. This principle is beautifully illustrated in the story of the road to Emmaus, where Jesus draws near to those who speak of Him.

Today, we explored the second encouragement from Malachi: God not only hears but remembers. When we feel that our service to God is in vain, we are reminded that God keeps a "book of remembrance" for those who fear Him and esteem His name. This is not about the book of life, but rather a record of the acts of faithfulness that God will never forget. Just as the Persian kings kept records of deeds to be rewarded, God remembers our work, words, tears, and desires.

God's remembrance is a profound encouragement. He sees the love and care we put into our work, even when it goes unnoticed by others. He hears the words of faith we speak to one another and remembers our tears and deepest desires. This truth sustains us in patience, knowing that a day of reward is coming. Moreover, it challenges us to grow in grace, to extend the same mercy and kindness to others that God extends to us. In Christ, God chooses not to remember our sins, and we are called to do the same towards others, covering their scars with love and mercy.

Key Takeaways:

- The Power of Fellowship: In times of skepticism and unbelief, drawing near to fellow believers and speaking about Jesus invites His presence among us. This fellowship strengthens our faith and reminds us that we are not alone in our journey. [01:19]

- God's Book of Remembrance: God keeps a record of our faithfulness, ensuring that our service is never in vain. This divine remembrance encourages us to continue serving with love and dedication, knowing that our efforts are seen and valued by God. [12:42]

- God Remembers Our Tears: Every tear and troubled thought is known to God. In our moments of pain and struggle, we can find comfort in knowing that God collects our tears and remembers our deepest fears and desires. [17:23]

- The Grace of Forgetting Sins: While God remembers our acts of faith, He chooses not to remember our sins, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus. This grace invites us to extend the same mercy to others, covering their faults with love. [24:12]

- Growing in Grace: In a world that often lacks kindness and forgiveness, we are called to reflect God's grace. By focusing on what is honorable and commendable, we can shine as lights in a darkened world, embodying the love and mercy of Christ. [31:46]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction to Malachi
- [00:44] - Faithful Believers in Malachi's Day
- [01:19] - The Road to Emmaus
- [02:09] - Encouragement for Faithful Believers
- [02:37] - God's Response to Discouragement
- [03:37] - The Struggle of Feeling in Vain
- [05:37] - God's Answer to Our Fears
- [06:25] - The Book of Remembrance
- [09:18] - Acts Recorded by God
- [11:11] - Mordecai's Story in Esther
- [13:01] - God Remembers Our Work
- [15:29] - God Remembers Our Words
- [17:23] - God Remembers Our Tears
- [18:56] - God Remembers Our Desires
- [22:04] - The Grace of Forgetting Sins
- [26:22] - Applications of God's Remembrance
- [30:42] - Growing in Grace
- [35:14] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Malachi 3:16-18
- Psalm 56:8
- Colossians 2:14

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Observation Questions:

1. What were the challenges faced by the believers in Malachi's day, and how did they respond to these challenges? [00:27]

2. According to Malachi 3:16, what did those who "feared the Lord" do, and how did God respond to their actions? [06:10]

3. In the sermon, how is the "Book of Remembrance" described, and what is its significance for believers? [06:25]

4. What examples from the Bible were given to illustrate the concept of God remembering our deeds? [11:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of God keeping a "Book of Remembrance" challenge the feeling that serving God might be in vain? [12:42]

2. What does it mean for God to remember our tears, and how might this provide comfort during difficult times? [17:23]

3. How does the sermon explain the difference between God remembering our acts of faith and choosing not to remember our sins? [24:12]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that believers can grow in grace by reflecting God's mercy towards others? [31:46]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt your service to God was in vain. How does the idea of God's "Book of Remembrance" change your perspective on that experience? [12:42]

2. Consider the relationships in your life. How can you draw near to fellow believers and speak about Jesus to invite His presence among you? [01:19]

3. Think about a recent struggle or pain you have experienced. How does knowing that God remembers your tears and desires impact your approach to these challenges? [17:23]

4. Identify a person in your life who has wronged you. How can you extend the same grace and mercy to them that God extends to you by choosing not to remember their faults? [24:12]

5. In what specific ways can you focus on what is honorable and commendable in your daily life to reflect God's grace and shine as a light in the world? [31:46]

6. How can you practically apply the principle of covering others' scars with love and mercy in your interactions this week? [32:41]

7. What steps can you take to ensure that your words of faith and encouragement are heard by God and remembered in His "Book of Remembrance"? [15:59]

Devotional

Day 1: The Strength of Fellowship
In times of skepticism and unbelief, the power of fellowship becomes a beacon of hope and strength. When believers gather and speak about Jesus, His presence is invited among them, creating a space where faith is nurtured and doubts are dispelled. This fellowship is not just about being together physically but about sharing a common purpose and encouraging one another in the journey of faith. It serves as a reminder that we are not alone, and through the support of fellow believers, we can find the courage to face challenges and grow in our spiritual walk. [01:19]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today to encourage and share in fellowship? How can you create a space for Jesus to be present in your conversations?


Day 2: Divine Remembrance of Faithfulness
God's book of remembrance is a profound assurance that our acts of faithfulness are never forgotten. Just as Persian kings kept records of deeds to be rewarded, God keeps a record of our service, love, and dedication. This divine remembrance is not about the book of life but a testament to the value God places on our efforts, even when they go unnoticed by others. It encourages us to continue serving with love, knowing that our work is seen and valued by God, and that a day of reward is coming. [12:42]

Malachi 3:16 (ESV): "Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent act of service or kindness you performed. How does knowing that God remembers and values this act encourage you to continue serving others?


Day 3: God’s Compassionate Awareness
Every tear and troubled thought is known to God, who collects our tears and remembers our deepest fears and desires. In moments of pain and struggle, this truth offers profound comfort and assurance. God’s compassionate awareness of our struggles means that we are never alone in our suffering. He sees and understands our pain, and His remembrance of our tears is a promise that He is with us, offering comfort and hope in the midst of our trials. [17:23]

Psalm 56:8 (ESV): "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?"

Reflection: What is a current struggle or fear you are facing? How can you invite God into this situation, trusting that He sees and remembers your tears?


Day 4: The Grace of Forgiveness
While God remembers our acts of faith, He chooses not to remember our sins, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus. This grace is a powerful invitation to extend the same mercy to others, covering their faults with love. In a world that often holds onto grudges and past mistakes, the grace of forgiveness shines as a testament to God’s love and mercy. It challenges us to let go of past hurts and to forgive others as we have been forgiven, creating a cycle of grace and healing in our relationships. [24:12]

Isaiah 43:25 (ESV): "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins."

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive today? How can you begin to extend God’s grace and forgiveness to them, releasing any bitterness or resentment?


Day 5: Reflecting God’s Grace
In a world that often lacks kindness and forgiveness, we are called to reflect God’s grace by focusing on what is honorable and commendable. By embodying the love and mercy of Christ, we can shine as lights in a darkened world, offering hope and encouragement to those around us. This call to grow in grace challenges us to be intentional in our actions and attitudes, seeking to reflect God’s character in all that we do. [31:46]

Philippians 4:8 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can reflect God’s grace in your interactions today? How can you focus on what is honorable and commendable in your thoughts and actions?

Quotes


We saw that when the chill winds of skepticism and unbelief begin to blow around us what faithful believers do is that they move closer to one another, they speak to one another often, and we saw the principle beautifully illustrated in the story of the road to Emmaus that when faithful believers talk together about Jesus while Jesus himself draws near and walks with them. [00:57:36]

Now, if you have been tempted to feel that your work, your service, your labor, your love, your ministry, your faithfulness, if you've been tempted to feel that they have been wasted, well Malachi chapter 3 is the chapter for you because right here, God answers the charge that serving him might be in vain. [05:27:36]

Now God knows all things, and God does not need a book to remind him of what we have done, but God speaks in scripture in a way that we can understand and here Malachi is telling us that God will never forget what those who fear him have done. [06:32:72]

Now, perhaps you feel that no one sees what you do and that no one cares about what you do. Who knows the love and the care that you are putting into the work that has been trusted to you by Almighty God? And the answer to that question is God sees what you are doing, and he will not overlook your work. [13:09:20]

God hears us when we speak to him, but what we're seeing here is something else: God hears when we speak about him. Those who fear the Lord spoke to one another and the Lord heard them. God hears what we say to one another when you speak to a brother or a sister when you speak even to someone who does not believe and you speak with faith and you speak with hope and you speak with love and you speak with courage. [16:12:88]

God knows your highest hopes, and God knows your deepest fears, and on a night when you cannot get to sleep, God knows how many times you turn over in your bed. It's all known to him. If the hairs of your head are numbered by your loving heavenly Father, you can be very sure that every troubled thought that ever goes through your mind or through your heart is completely known to him. [17:54:48]

God knows what you want to be and he knows that you haven't got there yet, and God knows what you want to do. This is a wonderful encouragement by the way in times of disappointment. Perhaps there was something that you thought you might do, wanted to do, something good and the door just didn't open, or perhaps a door that seemed to be open was closed. [19:45:12]

Now what God remembers is wonderful, but what's even better is what God chooses not to remember. You see there are other things about us that the Bible tells us are also written down. Jeremiah tells us the sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart and on the horns of their altars. [22:15:76]

In Jesus Christ, God remembers your work, your words, your tears, and your desires, but in Jesus Christ, God does not remember your sins. Jeremiah chapter 31 and verse 34, God says I will forgive their iniquity, I will remember their sin no more. [23:59:60]

Now, how are we to use this wonderful truth that we've been focusing on in Malachi chapter 3 and verse 16 that God remembers? Well, let me suggest four ways that we can make this very practical and use this wonderful truth in our lives, and the first is very simply, use this to help you treasure Jesus. [26:10:96]

Brothers and sisters, you don't need me to tell you how desperately our world needs an infusion of kindness, of grace, of love, of patience, of forgiveness, and of peace. We live at a time where people have so often become used to thinking the very worst about each other, and we're not immune from the effects of that in our own hearts and in our minds. [30:48:96]

God puts a finger of mercy on the scars of his children. His love covers a multitude of sins, and if God can remember our works and our words and our tears and our desires and yet not remember our sins, then we can learn also to do the same towards others. [34:79:28]

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Transcript
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