Remembering God: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Pride
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the theme of our new series, "Chasing Ghosts," which focuses on the importance of remembering God and the dangers of forgetting Him. We explored how taking our focus off Jesus leads us to chase after things that ultimately disconnect us from God. These "ghosts" can be anything from success and comfort to false narratives and idols. The key to avoiding this pitfall is simple yet profound: remember. The Bible emphasizes the act of remembering over 1,200 times, underscoring its importance in maintaining our connection with God.
We examined the story of King Uzziah from 2 Chronicles 26, who started his reign faithfully seeking God and was blessed with success and strength. However, as he grew strong, he became proud and forgot the source of his success, leading to his downfall. This narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and self-reliance, which can grow when we forget that God is the source of our strength and success.
We also discussed practical ways to strengthen our "memory muscle" to keep God at the forefront of our lives. This includes slowing down, journaling, and expressing gratitude. Neuroscience even supports the idea that gratitude can enhance our memory, making it easier to remember God's past faithfulness and rely on Him in the present.
Finally, we touched on the unique pressures men face in feeling the need to carry the world on their shoulders. The message was clear: we are not meant to bear these burdens alone. By remembering and relying on God, we find freedom and peace, knowing that He is the source of our strength and success.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Remembering God: The Bible mentions the act of remembering over 1,200 times, highlighting its significance. Remembering who God is and what He has done keeps us connected to Him and prevents us from chasing after things that ultimately lead to our spiritual downfall. [30:02]
2. The Dangers of Pride and Self-Reliance: King Uzziah's story serves as a powerful reminder that success and strength can lead to pride if we forget that God is the source of these blessings. Pride grows in the fertile soil of forgetting God, leading to our eventual downfall. [44:28]
3. Practical Steps to Strengthen Our Memory Muscle: To keep God at the forefront of our lives, we need to slow down, journal, and express gratitude. These practices help us remember God's faithfulness and rely on Him in the present. [59:21]
4. The Role of Gratitude in Memory: Neuroscience shows that gratitude activates parts of the brain responsible for memory. By expressing gratitude, we can make short-term memories long-term, helping us remember God's past faithfulness and rely on Him today. [55:42]
5. Unique Pressures on Men and the Need to Rely on God: Men often feel the burden of having to carry the world on their shoulders. However, we are not meant to bear these burdens alone. By remembering and relying on God, we find freedom and peace, knowing that He is the source of our strength and success. [53:32]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[27:33] - Introduction to "Chasing Ghosts"
[28:04] - The Concept of Chasing Ghosts
[29:00] - The Dangers of Forgetting God
[30:02] - The Power of Remembering
[31:38] - Biblical Examples of Remembering
[32:06] - The Israelites and the Jordan River
[33:12] - The Importance of Communion
[34:12] - Psalm 77 and Remembering God
[35:13] - The Gospel in 2 Corinthians 5
[36:14] - The Dangers of Forgetting the Truth
[37:16] - The Importance of the Old Testament
[38:17] - The Story of King Uzziah
[44:28] - The Dangers of Pride and Self-Reliance
[48:06] - The Subtlety of Self-Reliance
[50:46] - Paul's Plea and Jesus' Response
[52:21] - Remember and Rely
[53:32] - Unique Pressures on Men
[55:42] - The Role of Gratitude in Memory
[59:21] - Practical Steps to Strengthen Memory
[01:03:48] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Chronicles 26:1-23 (The story of King Uzziah)
2. Psalm 77:11-12
3. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the key to King Uzziah's success according to 2 Chronicles 26:5? How did his attitude change over time? [38:47]
2. In Psalm 77:11-12, what actions does the psalmist commit to in order to remember God's deeds?
3. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, what happens to someone who belongs to Christ? How does this relate to the concept of remembering and forgetting? [34:41]
4. What practical steps were suggested in the sermon to strengthen our "memory muscle" and keep God at the forefront of our lives? [59:21]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of King Uzziah illustrate the dangers of pride and self-reliance? What can we learn from his downfall? [44:28]
2. Why is the act of remembering emphasized so frequently in the Bible? How does this practice help us stay connected to God? [30:02]
3. How does expressing gratitude help us remember God's faithfulness, according to both the sermon and neuroscience? [55:42]
4. What unique pressures do men face, and how can remembering and relying on God provide relief from these burdens? [53:32]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced success. Did you remember to thank God for it? How can you make gratitude a regular part of your life to avoid the pitfalls of pride? [55:09]
2. Identify one "ghost" you have been chasing that has distracted you from focusing on Jesus. What steps can you take this week to refocus on God? [29:00]
3. How can you incorporate the practice of journaling or another form of reflection to help you remember God's faithfulness in your daily life? [01:01:18]
4. Men, do you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders? How can you start to rely more on God and less on your own strength? What specific burdens can you hand over to God this week? [53:32]
5. Think about a recent challenge or hardship. How did you respond? Did you remember God's past faithfulness during this time? How can you remind yourself of God's promises in future challenges? [31:02]
6. What are some practical ways you can slow down your pace of life to make more room for remembering and focusing on God? [59:21]
7. How can you make expressing gratitude a daily habit? Identify three things you are grateful for today and share them with the group. [55:42]
Devotional
### Day 1: The Power of Remembering God
Remembering God keeps us spiritually grounded and connected.
The Bible emphasizes the act of remembering over 1,200 times, highlighting its significance in maintaining our connection with God. When we remember who God is and what He has done, we are less likely to chase after things that lead to our spiritual downfall. Forgetting God can lead us to pursue success, comfort, and other idols that ultimately disconnect us from Him. By keeping God at the forefront of our minds, we can avoid these pitfalls and stay spiritually grounded. [30:02]
Deuteronomy 8:18 (ESV): "You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day."
Reflection: Think of a specific moment when you felt God's presence in your life. How can you remind yourself of this moment daily to stay connected to Him?
### Day 2: The Dangers of Pride and Self-Reliance
Pride and self-reliance grow when we forget God’s role in our success.
King Uzziah's story serves as a powerful reminder that success and strength can lead to pride if we forget that God is the source of these blessings. Uzziah started his reign faithfully seeking God and was blessed with success and strength. However, as he grew strong, he became proud and forgot the source of his success, leading to his downfall. This narrative warns us about the dangers of pride and self-reliance, which can grow when we forget that God is the source of our strength and success. [44:28]
2 Chronicles 26:16 (ESV): "But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you have become self-reliant. How can you acknowledge God’s role in this area and shift your focus back to Him?
### Day 3: Practical Steps to Strengthen Our Memory Muscle
Slowing down, journaling, and expressing gratitude help us remember God’s faithfulness.
To keep God at the forefront of our lives, we need to slow down, journal, and express gratitude. These practices help us remember God's faithfulness and rely on Him in the present. Slowing down allows us to reflect on God's work in our lives, journaling helps us document His faithfulness, and expressing gratitude reinforces our memory of His blessings. By incorporating these practices into our daily routine, we can strengthen our "memory muscle" and maintain a strong connection with God. [59:21]
Psalm 77:11-12 (ESV): "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."
Reflection: Take five minutes today to write down three things you are grateful for. How do these moments reflect God’s faithfulness in your life?
### Day 4: The Role of Gratitude in Memory
Gratitude enhances our memory, helping us recall God’s past faithfulness.
Neuroscience shows that gratitude activates parts of the brain responsible for memory. By expressing gratitude, we can make short-term memories long-term, helping us remember God's past faithfulness and rely on Him today. When we practice gratitude, we are more likely to recall the ways God has been faithful to us, which strengthens our trust in Him for the present and future. This scientific insight aligns with biblical teachings, emphasizing the importance of gratitude in our spiritual lives. [55:42]
Colossians 3:15-16 (ESV): "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did God show His faithfulness during this time, and how can you express gratitude for it today?
### Day 5: Unique Pressures on Men and the Need to Rely on God
Men often feel the burden of carrying the world but must rely on God.
Men often feel the burden of having to carry the world on their shoulders. However, we are not meant to bear these burdens alone. By remembering and relying on God, we find freedom and peace, knowing that He is the source of our strength and success. This message is particularly important for men who may struggle with the pressure to be self-reliant and strong. By acknowledging our need for God, we can release these burdens and trust in His provision and support. [53:32]
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV): "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Reflection: Identify a burden you are currently carrying. How can you surrender this burden to God and rely on His strength instead of your own?
Quotes
1. "Whenever we take our focus off of Jesus, whenever we take our focus off of God, we tend to forget God. And whenever we forget God, that never takes us to a good place. Like that's always going to end really poorly. And usually whenever we take our focus off of God, when we forget him, a lot of times it's because we're chasing after something else. Something that we think we're missing out on. Or man, if I have this, then I'll be set. We end up chasing things instead of focusing on Jesus." [28:33] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The key to not chasing after any kind of ghost, the key to not ending up somewhere you don't want to be or be something that you don't want to be, the key to that is to remember. That's it. It's that simple. To remember. And I know that sounds very underwhelming. But don't gloss over it. The word remember is used over 1,200 times in scripture. 1,200 times. The word forget comes up over 300 times. So obviously there must be something to this concept of remembering or forgetting." [30:02] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If forgetting is really destructive, there's also great power in remembering. I mean, think about this. Why do we set up things like memorials and monuments? So that we remember, right? We remember a leader, remember some history, remember something that happened, greatness, leadership, something that we get to be excited about. When God's people, the Israelites, when they crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land in the book of Joshua, God tells them as soon as they cross over, he says, here's what I want you to do. I want you to go grab 12 different stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel." [31:38] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The reason why we do communion here every single week is so that we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. If there is one thing in life that you never want to forget, it's the fact that the Son of God willingly went to a cross thinking of you to pay the penalty for your sin. The greatest act of love and mercy that the world has ever seen, that's something that we want to remember. We don't want to forget that. And we want to remember how great our God is for doing that. Because there's tremendous power in remembering." [33:12] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The first step to believing a lie is forgetting the truth. The first step to believing any kind of lie is always forgetting the truth. And the enemy in our world would love to do anything possible so that you would forget the truth. Like using fear. Fear is a very popular tactic. And I'm going to bring this one up to you a lot. Because you're getting fed fear all of the time. So I want to confront it for you. Fear is used to control you. And one of the ways it's going to be used right now fear is used so that you'll forget." [36:14] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Success can seduce you into self-reliance, and self-reliance can confuse the source of your strength. What the confusion will do is it will start to make you believe that you are the source of your own strength and your own success. That was Uzziah's downfall. Whenever you think that you are the source of your own strength and your success or your gifts or your talents or your resume or whatever, all that is is miracle girl for pride. Don't make that mistake. Every single one of us can fall into that." [48:38] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Success will be one of the things that you struggle with the most in your life. Success will be. For one of two reasons. Well, hold up, Matt. I'm not really a successful person. I do fine, but if you look at what we would define as a culture as successful, I really don't fit into that mold. It doesn't matter. Just because you're not successful doesn't mean you won't struggle with it. Maybe because you don't think you're successful, the way you'll struggle is you will focus on nothing but achieving success instead of focusing on faithfulness." [49:13] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The problem is not that God has made you strong. That's not the problem. The problem is when you think you're strong outside of God. When you think you're strong apart from God. And Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians 12. He's pleading with Jesus in prayer. He's saying, hey, I've got this thorn in my side. We don't know what it was. We have no idea what that thorn in his side was. But he's pleading with Jesus. Hey, would you just remove this? Here's Jesus' response. My grace is sufficient for you. He doesn't say yes. He says, my grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness." [50:46] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "I've got this little sign on my desk and all it says is remember and rely. That's it. Remember and rely. Remember who God is, then I can remember who I am. Remember what God has done in the past, so I can rely on him in the present. Remember what God has promised, so I can remember what I'm being faithful for. Remember what God has said, so I don't start believing the lies because I forgot the truth. Remember that God is the source of any strength and any success that I have. Remember and rely. And I'm telling you, there is freedom in that." [52:21] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Gratitude actually does far more for your brain especially with emotions and anxiety. We're going to get to that in a couple months in Philippians, but for right now, neuroscience says that if you want to remember something, it becomes much easier to remember if you just say thank you. If you're grateful. Now the flip side of that, it's much easier to forget something if you're not grateful. So if you want to remember what God did for you yesterday so that you can rely on Him today, say thank you. Any kind of success that any of us experience should be a trigger for gratitude, never self-importance or pride." [56:13] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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