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ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM 4: Memory like an Elephant

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM 4: Memory like an Elephant

There are lots of interesting idioms in the English language–sayings from region to region that people understand about their daily life.

  1. Under the weather
  2. The ball is in your court 
  3. He spilled the beans 
  4. Going down in flames 
  5. Don’t sit on the fence (the devil owns the fence)
  6. The best thing since sliced bread 
  7. He eats like a bird
  8. Through thick and thin 
  9. Jump on the bandwagon
  10. Miss the boat

Cowboy idioms: 

1. Ace in the Hole- A hideout; safe house, or a concealed gun. A back up plan. A hidden advantage 

2. Baker’s Dozen- Reference to the number thirteen.

3. Pull In Your Horns- A warning to stop and back off.

4. That Dog Don’t Hunt- That argument or idea won’t work or come to fruition.

5. Yellow bellied.  You’re a coward. 

6. He bit off more than he can chew.  He started something he couldn’t finish or handle the outcome 

“Bite the dust”

Origin: Psalms 72:9 (KJV)   – “They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.” 

“Broken heart”

Origin: Psalms 34:18 (KJV)  – “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”  

“By the skin of your teeth”

Origin: Job 19:20 (KJV)  – “My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.”  

“A drop in the bucket”

Origin: Isaiah 40:15 (ESV) – “Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he takes up the isles as fine dust” 

Fly in the ointment:

A fly in the ointment is a drawback or a downside.

“Before we go ahead with the proposal, we need to check carefully for any flies in the ointment.”

“Fly in the ointment” 

Origin: Ecclesiastes 10:1 (ESV) – “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.” 

“Lamb to the slaughter”

Origin: Jeremiah 11:19 (NIV) – “I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me”

“Nothing but skin and bones” 

Origin: Job 19:19-20 (NIV) – “All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. I am nothing but skin and bones;” 

“At your wit’s end”

Origin: Psalm 107:27 (KJV) – “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.” 

“The writing is on the wall”  – Daniel 5

“The straight and narrow”

Matthew 7:14  – “Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

“Memory like an elephant” – He never forgets

“They’re long-lived animals, and memory would be a benefit to a long-lived animal, making it more adaptive to circumstances.” – Scientific American 

The elephant in the room has been a series on dealing with things that most people are not comfortable with and this Memorial Day weekend we are given the charge to 

Honor by Remembering 

Deuteronomy 8:11 – “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today,”

In communion, Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” 

Honoring God by what we remember and being watchful are qualities of Kingdom people in covenant with God. 

One of the ways we finish well is we MARK VICTORY AND WE GIVE GOD GLORY FOR IT.

WE PARTNER WITH THE SPIRIT. HE HELPS US REMEMBER THE RIGHT THINGS.

John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Remembering the right things will motivate you to win battles. 

Remembering the wrong things discourages you to the point of defeat.

King David is famous for saying 

Psalms 20:7– Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we will remember the name of the lord our God. 

Horses are all about the strength of man and chariots are man’s clever inventions–his weapons of war. These are not mighty to save you. David is saying, “All I need for certain deliverance is to remember the name of the Lord.” 

“How I know God personally”   

God is such an awesome God that He can choose what He remembers and He can choose what He will never remember again.

He is world-famous for His “sea of forgetfulness” because He chooses to remember His love for us and His covenant with us more than He remembers how we have wronged Him. 

I will not forget 

God is like that. 

He will not forget you. He will not leave you. He will not forsake you. 

Genesis 9:16– And the bow shall be in the cloud that I may remember the everlasting covenant… (a bow of strength) 

Even the thief on the Cross turned to Jesus and said, “Remember me, Lord, when you enter into your kingdom.” 

Since God refuses to remember what we have done against Him and He refuses to forget how much He loves us, we should be people who refuse to forget.  

“Remember” is in the King James Bible 148 times.  

attached to it

DON’T FORGET. DON’T FORGET. DON’T FORGET. 

Let’s look at a few of these today. 

THERE IS A KINGDOM PRINCIPLE OF REMEMBERING 

Remember certain things causes certain things to happen. 

THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE OF REMEMBERINGThe promises God has given you  

(this list will keep you in times of trouble) 

Galatians 4:28

In Galatians 4:28, you and I are called “Children of promise.” 

Psalms 27:13 – I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Start off by doing a Google search on scriptures on God’s promises. Then begin to seek the Lord and ask Him to help you know His specific Promises for you personally. 

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE WITH HOPE YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE WITH THE CONSTANT MEMORY OF THE PROMISES GOD HAS GIVEN YOU 

THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE OF REMEMBERINGThe miracles God has done in your life  

(This list will keep you trusting God)

God Almighty warned the people of Israel, “Do not forget the miracles that I did for you. Don’t forget how I brought you out of Egypt. Don’t forget. You have good reason to trust me. 

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. Psalms 77:11

For thy testimonies are my meditation.                                                                                                                           Psalms 119:99

IF YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE YOUR LIFE TRUSTING GOD, YOU ARE GOING TO REMEMBER HOW GOD HAS DELIVERED YOU OVER AND OVER AGAIN 

 THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE OF REMEMBERINGThe privileges and things you love about your life 

(This list will keep you thankful) 

John 1:16, NLT From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE A LONG LIST OF WHAT YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR, YOU HAVE A LONG LIST OF WHAT YOU GRIPE ABOUT .

Remembering how blessed you are will cause you to be thankful. 

 THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE OF REMEMBERINGThe prayers God has answered in your life

(This list will keep you praying)

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE OF REMEMBERINGThe people God has placed in your life 

(This list will keep you relational)

Rick Warren writes in The Purpose Driven Life, “I have been at the bedside of many people in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity, and I have never heard anyone say, ‘Bring me my diplomas! I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my medals, that gold watch I was given.’ When life on earth is ending, people don’t surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people – people we love and have relationships with. In our final moments we all realize that relationships are what life is all about.”

Philippians 1:3-4,  I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.

THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE OF REMEMBERINGGalatians 2:10   – Remember the poor.

(This list will keep you humble and keep you effective in the Kingdom) 

THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE OF REMEMBERING2 Timothy 2:8  – Remember that Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. 

REMEMBER THAT life has slapped death in the face. 

Remember that JESUS “called The Shot” and prophesied that on the third day, He would rise again. Remember that for those of us who are in Christ, death has no sting and the grave has no victory. 

Remember that  Jesus didn’t just raise from the dead for Him. He is risen for all of us believers for all time. 

This is what I remember when I am facing my own mortality. 

This is what I think of when I begin to feel overwhelmed. 

I will remember that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.  

And when I remember that Jesus is raised from the dead, I remember that nothing is impossible. 

REMEMBERING AND BEING WATCHFUL QUALIFY US TO ESCAPE TERRIBLE THINGS AND ENTER INTO WONDERFUL THINGS. 

Why? Because the culture of heaven is a culture of honor and stewarding what you remember is a vital part of honor and loyalty

Be loyal to King Jesus and remember the right things