- Comment
- Reblog
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Insight's to the Word with Pastor Teague!
May 3, 2010 Luke 24.6-9
At the tomb the angels said to the women – “Remember!” Oh that we could remember everything we want to remember and forget the things we too often remember that we don’t want to! Does that make any sense to you? I hope so.
When the angels spoke to Mary Magdalene and the others with her he was provoking the gift of memory to engage. All of us have this special “bank” in our mind that stores information. We are like a hard drive where information is stored. Information stored by default. It is stored automatically. Both good and bad memories are stored in our memory bank. From time to time something happens that provokes entrance into this cherished and guarded bank. It can be a gathering of family where good times are recalled. Over the weekend our student ministries pastor got married. Family and friends came in that we have known for many years. It was good to sit around and reminisce about the years we spent together in Michigan ministry. We laughed and enjoyed the company and fellowship.
But this memory bank can also remit memories of events that aren’t so good. It could be the image of a relative, a place, a business, a person or an event that didn’t go right. It could be a bad date, a bad accident, a bad marriage…a bad life. It could a million things but the bottom line is that our mind stores memories. When this memory bank is provoked – it releases images that can be upsetting. I can’t tell you the people that we have ministered to over the years that have to deal sometimes daily with memories that serve to haunt as opposed to encourage. Memories that keep you awake at night. Memories that provoke tears into the early morning hours. Memories that keep you from developing relationships with someone due to the pain of a previous relationship gone bad. Memories that cause physical pain when they pop up. Memories. They’re stored in our mind and are waiting to be recalled. We can only pray we are ready to recall the bad ones as well as the good ones.
The angels actually were attempting to provoke the memories of these women regarding the messages Jesus taught about His resurrection. They wanted Mary to reach back into that memory bank and recall the Words of Jesus. Those words would explain the momentary immediate pain and grief she was dealing with. Take note of this, please. The angel could have talked to Mary for hours. The angels could have attempted to convince Mary with encouragement and relevant dialogue. The angel told Mary to “remember how He spoke to you”. Remember His words. Remember He prepared you for this moment. Simply remember!
How many times have we faced issues or events that attempt to empty our bank of memories? The pain and frustration is hard to bear. Simon Peter said on the day of Pentecost, “Then remembered I” in reference to what the prophets had prophesied. He recalled the Word. To deal with the current issue – Simon Peter’s memory was provoked. Jesus taught us that the Holy Spirit would bring things that Jesus had said back to our memory.
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 said to you.
There are two things Jesus says here. First of all He references the Holy Spirit as a teacher and then He says that the Holy Spirit will bring what He (Jesus) said to our remembrance. The Holy Spirit in us will teach us and also bring to our recall the Word of the Lord. The role of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Son – Jesus Christ. He glorifies the Son by teaching us and then provoking us to remember His Word. This combination job description will get us through some tough times. What an awesome dual role. Both teacher and provoker of memories of the Word!
I want to challenge you to ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what you need to know about His role in your every day life. Ask the Holy Spirit to enable you to recall His Word. He will get you through the situation, the circumstance you’re going through. Trust me. He will. He will become your teacher and He will teach you by provoking your memory bank. Out of your memory bank He will bring back the Word. Embedded into your memory is the Word of God. Out of your memory bank will come the Word. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God – you will be a victor. Search the Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. He will take the Word and breathe life in to it. It will come alive! It will teach you. It will bring you through the difficulty you’re facing. Try Him. Remember. Simply let the Holy Spirit help you to remember.
Pastortimteague's Blog 
remembering changes with age, but you are correct; our mind is a memory bank and stores info, good and bad. to be reminded about an event does still give you a choice. thanks for reminding me about the teacher and provoker. there is wealth stored up [his word], it just needs to be accessed! thanks tim