REMEMBER WHERE GOD BROUGHT YOU FROM

REMEMBER WHERE GOD BROUGHT YOU FROM

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Ephesians 2:11-12

Key Verse: “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” — Ephesians 2:12 (KJV)

Supporting Texts: Ephesians 2:1-13; Deuteronomy 8:2-18; Psalm 40:1-3; Psalm 103:1-5; Isaiah 51:1; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Titus 3:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:12-16.

Description: Remembering where God brought us from produces humility, gratitude, faithfulness and compassion, reminding us that every spiritual blessing and every transformation in our lives is the result of His grace.

INTRODUCTION

One of the greatest dangers in the life of a believer is forgetting the past after God has changed the present. People who once cried for help may become proud when they receive promotion. Those who once depended on God's mercy may begin to condemn others when their own circumstances improve. People who once prayed desperately for opportunities may forget God when their prayers are answered. This is why remembering where God brought us from is an important spiritual discipline.

In Ephesians 2:11-12, Apostle Paul reminded the Gentile believers of their former condition. They had been separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. Paul wanted them to remember their former position so that they would appreciate what God had accomplished through Jesus Christ. Their present privileges were not the result of personal superiority but the outcome of God's grace.

Every believer has a story of God's intervention. Some were rescued from destructive habits, some were delivered from fear and despair, some received forgiveness after serious failures, and others experienced God's provision in times of great need. Whatever your testimony may be, never forget the hand that brought you this far. Remembering your past should not keep you in shame; it should inspire gratitude, humility, obedience and confidence in the God who has brought you this far.

1. REMEMBER YOUR FORMER CONDITION WITHOUT CHRIST

Paul began by reminding the Ephesians of what they were before receiving Christ. They needed to understand the difference between their former condition and their present position in God's family. A proper understanding of where God brought us from helps us appreciate the greatness of His salvation.

The believer must never treat salvation as an ordinary experience. Before Christ, sin separated us from God, and we could not reconcile ourselves to Him through our own efforts. It was God's love and mercy that made the difference. Remembering our former condition helps us remain humble and grateful.

a) You Were Spiritually Dead (Ephesians 2:1) – Paul described the believers as once being dead in trespasses and sins. Spiritual death means separation from the life of God. Remembering this truth helps us appreciate that salvation was not self-improvement but a divine work that brought us into new life.

b) You Were Under the Power of Sin (Romans 6:17-18) – Sin enslaves and damages human lives, but God delivers those who come to Christ. Never forget the destructive power from which the Lord has rescued you, and do not return to the practices He has called you to abandon.

c) You Could Not Save Yourself (Titus 3:5) – Scripture says that God saved us not by works of righteousness which we had done, but according to His mercy. Your salvation is evidence of God's goodness, not proof of your superiority over others.

d) You Needed God's Mercy (Romans 5:8) – Christ died for us while we were still sinners. God did not wait until we became worthy before demonstrating His love. Remembering this should fill your heart with thanksgiving.

Biblical Example: Paul the Apostle (1 Timothy 1:12-16) – Paul never forgot that he had persecuted the Church. He acknowledged his former condition and celebrated the mercy he received from Christ. His past did not stop him from serving God; instead, it made him a powerful witness to the transforming grace of Jesus.

2. REMEMBER THAT GOD BROUGHT YOU OUT BY HIS GRACE

Your testimony is not merely that you struggled and eventually succeeded. It is that God helped you, strengthened you, delivered you and opened doors that you could not open by yourself. Recognising God's intervention protects you from the pride of thinking that you achieved everything through your own ability.

When God changes a person's story, the person must not forget the source of that change. Your wisdom, opportunities, strength, relationships and achievements should be handled with gratitude because every good thing ultimately comes from Him.

a) God Delivered You from Bondage (Colossians 1:13) – God has delivered believers from the power of darkness and translated them into the kingdom of His dear Son. Remember the spiritual freedom Christ has given you, and refuse to return to the bondage from which He delivered you.

b) God Lifted You from the Pit (Psalm 40:1-3) – David testified that God brought him up from a horrible pit, set his feet upon a rock and put a new song in his mouth. Your present stability may be the result of God's intervention during a season when you had no strength of your own.

c) God Supplied Your Needs (Philippians 4:19) – God promises to supply the needs of His people according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Remember the seasons when He provided for you, especially when your resources were insufficient.

d) God Opened Doors for You (Psalm 75:6-7) – Promotion ultimately comes from God, who is the righteous Judge. People may have assisted you, but never forget that God can use people and circumstances to accomplish His purposes.

Biblical Example: The Israelites at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10-31) – Israel faced an impossible situation with the sea before them and Pharaoh's army behind them. God made a way where there seemed to be no way. Their deliverance demonstrated that their future depended on God's power, not their own strength.

3. REMEMBER GOD'S FAITHFULNESS IN YOUR DIFFICULT SEASONS

It is easy to remember God when prayers are answered publicly, but believers must also remember His faithfulness during seasons of tears, waiting, rejection and uncertainty. Difficult seasons often reveal the depth of God's sustaining grace. Even when you did not understand what He was doing, He could still be preserving and preparing you.

Remembering God's faithfulness builds confidence for future challenges. The God who helped you yesterday has not lost His power today. Your past testimonies can strengthen your faith when new battles arise.

a) Remember How God Led You (Deuteronomy 8:2) – Moses told Israel to remember the journey through the wilderness and how God led them. Their journey included hunger, testing and uncertainty, but God used it to teach them dependence upon Him.

b) Remember How God Sustained You (Deuteronomy 8:3-4) – God sustained Israel in the wilderness and preserved them through difficult conditions. Remember the times when you lacked answers but God gave you the strength to keep moving forward.

c) Remember His Compassion (Lamentations 3:22-23) – God's mercies are new every morning, and His faithfulness is great. Your survival through difficult seasons is a reason to thank Him rather than assume that you succeeded entirely by your own strength.

d) Remember His Past Deliverances (1 Samuel 17:34-37) – David remembered how God delivered him from the lion and the bear when he faced Goliath. Previous testimonies strengthened his confidence to face a new challenge.

Biblical Example: David Facing Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-37) – David did not approach Goliath as someone who had never experienced God's help. He remembered God's past deliverances and trusted Him for another victory. Your history with God should strengthen your faith for the battles ahead.

4. REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM SO THAT YOU WILL REMAIN HUMBLE

Success can become dangerous when it causes a person to forget God. Some people begin with prayer, humility and dependence upon the Lord, but when they experience advancement, they become proud and self-sufficient. God does not condemn progress; He warns us against pride and forgetfulness.

True humility is not denying the blessings God has given you. It is acknowledging that your abilities and opportunities are gifts to be stewarded faithfully. Remembering where God brought you from helps you treat others with respect and avoid looking down on people who are still passing through difficult seasons.

a) Do Not Forget the Source of Your Blessings (Deuteronomy 8:11-14) – Moses warned Israel not to forget the Lord when they became prosperous. Blessings should draw us closer to God, not make us independent of Him.

b) Do Not Boast in Your Own Strength (Deuteronomy 8:17-18) – God warned His people against saying that their own power had produced their wealth. Remember that the strength and opportunities you possess are gifts from the Lord.

c) Remain Humble Before God (James 4:6) – God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. A humble believer recognises God's help and remains teachable, regardless of position or achievement.

d) Treat Others with Compassion (Ephesians 4:32) – Remembering the mercy we received should make us kind, tender-hearted and forgiving. We should not treat people harshly simply because they are experiencing the same kind of struggle from which God delivered us.

Biblical Example: Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28-37) – Nebuchadnezzar boasted about the greatness of Babylon as though his power had produced everything. God humbled him until he acknowledged the sovereignty of heaven. His experience warns us never to allow success to erase our dependence upon God.

5. REMEMBER YOUR PAST SO THAT YOU WILL APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENT

Gratitude grows when we compare where God found us with what He has done in our lives. We may still have challenges, but we must not allow present difficulties to blind us to past mercies. A grateful heart recognises God's hand in both dramatic miracles and daily provisions.

Appreciation is more than saying “thank You” with our lips. It involves worship, obedience, generosity and faithful service. When we remember God's goodness, we become more willing to honour Him with our lives and use our blessings to help others.

a) Count Your Blessings (Psalm 103:2-5) – David commanded his soul not to forget God's benefits, including forgiveness, healing, redemption and loving-kindness. Deliberately remember the ways God has shown you mercy.

b) Offer God the Sacrifice of Praise (Hebrews 13:15) – Praise should not depend only on favourable circumstances. We honour God because He is worthy and because His faithfulness remains true even when we face challenges.

c) Serve God with Gratitude (Psalm 100:2-4) – We are called to serve the Lord with gladness and enter His presence with thanksgiving. Gratitude should lead to joyful and faithful service.

d) Use Your Blessings to Bless Others (1 Peter 4:10) – Every believer should use the gifts received from God to serve others as a faithful steward of His grace. Your testimony should make you more compassionate and generous.

Biblical Example: The Samaritan Leper (Luke 17:11-19) – Ten lepers were cleansed, but only one returned to thank Jesus. His return demonstrated the importance of recognising God's goodness. Do not receive God's blessings and continue as though nothing extraordinary has happened.

6. REMEMBER YOUR PAST, BUT DO NOT LIVE IN IT

God wants you to remember His faithfulness, not remain imprisoned by your former failures. There is a difference between remembering your past as a testimony of grace and allowing your past to become a permanent source of shame. When God forgives and restores you, you must learn to move forward in faith.

Your past can teach you valuable lessons, but it should not prevent you from fulfilling God's purpose. Do not allow former mistakes, rejection, disappointment or painful experiences to become the final definition of your life. In Christ, there is forgiveness, transformation and the possibility of a new beginning.

a) Receive God's Forgiveness (1 John 1:9) – God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we confess them. Do not continue carrying the guilt of sins you have genuinely confessed and forsaken.

b) Press Forward in Faith (Philippians 3:13-14) – Paul refused to be trapped by what was behind him. He pressed towards the mark for the prize of God's heavenly calling. Remember God's goodness, learn from the past and keep moving towards His purpose.

c) Believe God for New Things (Isaiah 43:18-19) – God called His people to recognise the new thing He was doing. Do not assume that because one season was painful, every future season must be the same.

d) Walk in Your New Life (Romans 6:4) – Those who belong to Christ are called to walk in newness of life. Let your remembrance of the past inspire holiness, wisdom and obedience rather than a return to former sinful patterns.

Biblical Example: Peter (John 21:15-19) – Peter denied Jesus three times, but the risen Lord restored him and recommissioned him to care for His people. Peter's failure was not the end of his story. God's grace gave him another opportunity to serve faithfully.

CONCLUSION

Never forget where God brought you from. Remember the sins He forgave, the dangers He delivered you from, the tears He comforted, the doors He opened and the seasons He sustained you through. Remembering these things will protect you from pride, strengthen your faith and increase your gratitude. Like the believers in Ephesus, you must remember your former condition so that you can appreciate the greatness of God's grace in your present life.

However, do not remember your past to condemn yourself or look down on others. Remember it to praise God, remain humble, serve faithfully and show compassion to people who are still struggling. The God who brought you this far deserves your gratitude and continued obedience. May your life continually testify that it was not by your strength alone, but by the mercy, faithfulness and grace of God that you are where you are today.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, thank You for saving me and bringing me out of every situation that once held my life in bondage, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, deliver me from the spirit of pride and help me never to forget Your goodness, in Jesus name.

3. Father, open my eyes to recognise Your hand in every blessing and achievement in my life, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, let every testimony of Your past faithfulness strengthen my faith for the challenges before me, in Jesus name.

5. Father, forgive me for every time I have taken Your blessings for granted, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, give me a grateful heart that continually remembers Your mercy and celebrates Your faithfulness, in Jesus name.

7. Father, help me to treat others with compassion, humility and the same mercy You have shown me, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, heal every painful memory that is preventing me from moving forward in Your purpose, in Jesus name.

9. Father, help me to remain faithful to You in times of abundance as well as in times of difficulty, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, let my life continually testify to Your goodness, and help me to finish my journey faithfully, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You will never forget the goodness of God in your life; your heart shall continually overflow with gratitude for His mercy and faithfulness.

2. The God who brought you out of your former troubles shall strengthen you to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

3. You shall not become proud because of your achievements; the grace of God shall keep you humble, teachable and dependent upon Him.

4. Every painful memory that has held you in shame shall lose its power over your future as you receive God's forgiveness and walk in His truth.

5. Your past testimonies shall become sources of renewed faith, and you shall face future battles with confidence in the God who has helped you before.

6. You shall not forget God in the days of your prosperity; your blessings shall draw you closer to Him and make you more faithful in His service.

7. The Lord shall give you a compassionate heart, and you shall become a source of encouragement, restoration and practical help to others.

8. You shall not be trapped by the mistakes of your past; by God's grace, you shall move forward into His purpose for your life.

9. Your family, ministry and destiny shall continually bear witness to the mercy of God, and your testimony shall encourage others to trust Him.

10. The God who has brought you this far shall continue to guide, sustain and preserve you, and your life shall end in praise and thanksgiving to His name.