Beware Lest You Forget The Lord n The Jews were about to be led into the Promised Land. Moses...

Beware Lest You Forget The LordBeware Lest You Forget The Lord

The Jews were about to be led into the The Jews were about to be led into the Promised Land. Moses emphasizes the Promised Land. Moses emphasizes the commandments, statutes and judgments of the commandments, statutes and judgments of the Lord as being instrumental in their receiving Lord as being instrumental in their receiving the promised inheritance. The security and the promised inheritance. The security and prosperity of the Jews in the Promised Land prosperity of the Jews in the Promised Land depended on complying with God's law. God depended on complying with God's law. God promised to bless them when they obeyed and promised to bless them when they obeyed and curse them when they disobeyed. Everything curse them when they disobeyed. Everything depended on their hearing Moses' law and depended on their hearing Moses' law and obeying it (Deut. 11:26-29; Lev. 26:9).obeying it (Deut. 11:26-29; Lev. 26:9).

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Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: 27the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today; 28and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods

which you have not known. 29Now it shall be, when the LORD your God has brought you into the land which you go to possess, that you shall put the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.

Deuteronomy 11:26-29

For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you.

Leviticus 26:9


The land is described to them as The land is described to them as wonderful. It is called the land wonderful. It is called the land “flowing with milk and honey” “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8). In this reference there is (Exodus 3:8). In this reference there is a proverbial description of Canaan. It a proverbial description of Canaan. It was a land rich in pasture for flocks was a land rich in pasture for flocks and abounding in flowers from which and abounding in flowers from which bees extract their honey.bees extract their honey.

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The gift of the land included goodly The gift of the land included goodly cities which they had not built, cities which they had not built, houses they had not built and full of houses they had not built and full of things they had not nor earned, wells things they had not nor earned, wells they had not dug and vineyards and they had not dug and vineyards and olive trees they did not plant.olive trees they did not plant.

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Now comes the warning - Deut. 6:12Now comes the warning - Deut. 6:12

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then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Deuteronomy 6:12


Danger Always Runs With Danger Always Runs With Complacent SecurityComplacent Security– The Jews are a classic example.The Jews are a classic example.

» For forty years they had wondered in the For forty years they had wondered in the wilderness and flourished.wilderness and flourished.

» They settled the land and relatively, had They settled the land and relatively, had nothing to do but obey God.nothing to do but obey God.

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» They soon began to think they were the They soon began to think they were the source of their own strength.source of their own strength.

They began to trust in Jerusalem rather than They began to trust in Jerusalem rather than Jehovah - Amos 6:1Jehovah - Amos 6:1

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Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes!

Amos 6:1



» They soon began to think they were the They soon began to think they were the source of their own strength.source of their own strength.

They deemed the city impregnable. They They deemed the city impregnable. They kept back the Assyrians for 3 years before it kept back the Assyrians for 3 years before it fell - 2 Kings 18:9-10fell - 2 Kings 18:9-10

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Now it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it. 10And at the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.

2 Kings 18:9-10


Danger Always Runs With Danger Always Runs With Complacent SecurityComplacent Security– Consider the implication of being “AT Consider the implication of being “AT

EASE” in Zion - Amos 6:1; Zech 1:15EASE” in Zion - Amos 6:1; Zech 1:15

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Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, And trust in Mount Samaria, Notable persons in the chief nation, To whom the house of Israel comes!

Amos 6:1

I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped-but with evil intent."

Zechariah 1:15



EASE” in Zion - Amos 6:1; Zech 1:15EASE” in Zion - Amos 6:1; Zech 1:15» They became indifferent to dangers. They They became indifferent to dangers. They

made their religion convenient for made their religion convenient for themselves and ignored the “day of themselves and ignored the “day of doom.”doom.”

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EASE” in Zion - Amos 6:1; Zech 1:15EASE” in Zion - Amos 6:1; Zech 1:15» Was apparently the day of the their Was apparently the day of the their

downfall, punishment God would give downfall, punishment God would give them - Amos 6:3them - Amos 6:3

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Woe to you who put far off the day of doom, Who cause the seat of violence to come near;

Amos 6:3


Danger Always Runs With Danger Always Runs With Complacent SecurityComplacent Security– It is True In The First Century It is True In The First Century

Church.Church.» The church began enthusiastically, and The church began enthusiastically, and

grew because of the dedicated hearts and grew because of the dedicated hearts and lives of its members - Acts 5:42; 6:1; 6:7lives of its members - Acts 5:42; 6:1; 6:7

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And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 5:42

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

Acts 6:1

Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:7



Church.Church.» By the time letters were penned to the By the time letters were penned to the

seven churches of Asia, complacency and seven churches of Asia, complacency and lethargy had set in like rigamortis.lethargy had set in like rigamortis.

Sardis was “dead” - Rev. 3:1-6Sardis was “dead” - Rev. 3:1-6

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And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3Remember therefore how

you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes shall be clothed in white

garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

Revelation 3:1-6



Church.Church.» By the time letters were penned to the By the time letters were penned to the

seven churches of Asia, complacency and seven churches of Asia, complacency and lethargy had set in like rigamortus.lethargy had set in like rigamortus.

Laodicea was “lukewarm” - Rev. 3:14-18Laodicea was “lukewarm” - Rev. 3:14-18

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“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold

nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' --and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- 18I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you

may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Revelation 3:14-18


Danger Always Runs With Danger Always Runs With Complacent SecurityComplacent Security– It is True In The Church Today.It is True In The Church Today.

» When the church was small, “on the other When the church was small, “on the other side of the tracks,” there was unity, side of the tracks,” there was unity, dedication, fighting the fight of faith, but dedication, fighting the fight of faith, but look at us now!look at us now!

» So many have forgotten the Lord!So many have forgotten the Lord!

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Memorials Have Been Given To Memorials Have Been Given To Help Avoid ComplacencyHelp Avoid Complacency– Passover - Lev 23:42-44Passover - Lev 23:42-44

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“You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” 44So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

Leviticus 23:42-44



– Stones at Jordan - Josh 4:2-7Stones at Jordan - Josh 4:2-7

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"Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, 3and command them, saying, 'Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.'" 4Then Joshua

called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6that this may be a sign among you

when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' 7Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

Joshua 4:2-7



– Stones at Jordan - Josh 4:2-7Stones at Jordan - Josh 4:2-7

– Lord’s Supper - 1 Cor 11:23-29Lord’s Supper - 1 Cor 11:23-29

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For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying,

"This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a

man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

1 Corinthians 11:23-29


Memorials Have Been Given To Memorials Have Been Given To Help Avoid ComplacencyHelp Avoid Complacency– Such are to keep mind on GodSuch are to keep mind on God

» We are to let the mind of God be in us - We are to let the mind of God be in us - Phil. 2:5Phil. 2:5

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Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:5


Memorials Have Been Given To Memorials Have Been Given To Help Avoid ComplacencyHelp Avoid Complacency– Such are to keep mind on GodSuch are to keep mind on God

» We are to let the mind of God be in us - We are to let the mind of God be in us - Phil. 2:5Phil. 2:5

» We are to “mind” the things above - Col. We are to “mind” the things above - Col. 3:1-53:1-5

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If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with

Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:1-5


Memorials Have Been Given To Memorials Have Been Given To Help Avoid ComplacencyHelp Avoid Complacency– Must keep purpose of memorial in Must keep purpose of memorial in

mind lest forget proper way to keepmind lest forget proper way to keep» i.e. We can keep the form of the Lord's i.e. We can keep the form of the Lord's

supper and condemn ourselves by not supper and condemn ourselves by not discerning the Lord's body.discerning the Lord's body.

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mind lest forget proper way to keepmind lest forget proper way to keep» Worship becomes routine, boring and just Worship becomes routine, boring and just

a matter of form to us.a matter of form to us.

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mind lest forget proper way to keepmind lest forget proper way to keep» Never forget God in the memorials he has Never forget God in the memorials he has

given us.given us.

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Idols Will Replace The Love Of God Idols Will Replace The Love Of God When We ForgetWhen We Forget– Notice the pattern set by the Jews - Jer Notice the pattern set by the Jews - Jer

2:26-282:26-28

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As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, So is the house of Israel ashamed; They and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, 27Saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' And to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble They will say, 'Arise and save us.'

28But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.

Jeremiah 2:26-28


Idols Will Replace The Love Of God Idols Will Replace The Love Of God When We ForgetWhen We Forget– Notice pattern set by Jews - Jer 2:26-Notice pattern set by Jews - Jer 2:26-

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– Dangers are expressed in the New Dangers are expressed in the New Testament - 1 John 5:21; Phil 3:19; Testament - 1 John 5:21; Phil 3:19; Matt 6:24; 1 Cor 10:14Matt 6:24; 1 Cor 10:14

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Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 John 5:21

whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.

Philippians 3:19

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:24

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.1 Corinthians 10:14


Idols Will Replace The Love Of God Idols Will Replace The Love Of God When We ForgetWhen We Forget– The ancients worshipped Bacchus, the The ancients worshipped Bacchus, the

god of intoxicating drink. Many god of intoxicating drink. Many worship at that shrine now – they have worship at that shrine now – they have forgotten God.forgotten God.

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Idols Will Replace The Love Of God Idols Will Replace The Love Of God When We ForgetWhen We Forget– The ancients worshipped Venus – the The ancients worshipped Venus – the

goddess of lasciviousness. Many goddess of lasciviousness. Many worship at that shrine today – they worship at that shrine today – they have forgotten God.have forgotten God.

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Idols Will Replace The Love Of God Idols Will Replace The Love Of God When We ForgetWhen We Forget– Plutus was the god of plenty and Plutus was the god of plenty and

money. When men forget God they money. When men forget God they find their way into the temple of find their way into the temple of Plutus. Money becomes their god.Plutus. Money becomes their god.

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The way back to remembrance is in The way back to remembrance is in repentance; deep contrition - Isa. repentance; deep contrition - Isa. 66:2; Matt. 5:366:2; Matt. 5:3

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For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.

Isaiah 66:2

Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3


It is time we “give the more earnest It is time we “give the more earnest heed” lest we let the knowledge and heed” lest we let the knowledge and love we have of God slip from us - love we have of God slip from us - Heb. 2:1-2Heb. 2:1-2

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Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,

Hebrews 2:1-2


Do not forget God in your obedience Do not forget God in your obedience to the gospel. Now is the time to to the gospel. Now is the time to “remember your creator.”“remember your creator.”

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Beware Lest You Forget The Lord n The Jews were about to be led into the Promised Land. Moses...

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