Do not forget the grace of God.

[The Four Stages Storytelling Sermon: Proposition-Problem analysis-Gospel presentation-Consequence]

 

Deuteronomy 8:11-20 (Summary)

Do not forget the grace of God.

 

A. Do not forget the grace of God (Verse 11).

Moses proclaimed the Israel descendants to remember the grace of salvation experienced by their ancestors. “brought you out of”(Verse 14), “led you through”(Verse 15), “gave you water”(Verse 15) and “fed you manna”(Verse 16). God rescued and led Israel people. But the grace of God has not ended, but continues. So Moses warned the Israel descendants not to forget the grace of God and obey the law of God.

 

B. Being arrogant is a big problem (Verse 14).

Moses was afraid that his descendants, who had no experience of exodus from Egypt, will be arrogant when they enter Canaan, eat well, live well. “When you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lives in them”(Verse 12). “and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies”(Verse 13). When a man becomes comfortable and rich, he is higher than God and ignores God.

 

C. Remember that God gave all we have (Verse 18).

Then what is the secret of not being arrogant and thanking God for grace?

In the text, “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth.” It is the secret of gratitude to remember that everything is from God. God gave our life the most precious thing. We must remember that everything is from God and give thanks and glory to God.

 

D. Blessed are those who know the grace of God (Verse 18).

God still provides the grace of salvation for his children of God. We must work out our salvation(Philippians 2:12). There is a maxim. “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” In here Thomas Edison's focus was on inspiration of one percent. We must do our best and strive, and then confess that everything is grace of God. This is a good faith. When we know that all is grace of God and live with thanks, we are finally blessed.

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Text

Deuteronomy 8:11-20 (NASB)

11  “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;

12  otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them,

13  and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies,

14  then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

15  He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint.

16  In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.

17  Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’

18  But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

19  It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.

20  Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God.