The Four Truths
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Your children learned four truths this week at VBS, so I thought it would be good to share those same truths with you.
Day one’s theme: God made me special.
Consider with me Psalm 139:13-16.
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
What does it mean to be fearfully and wonderfully made?
God made your body in a really special way—like He was building something amazing. Yet, sin has broken our bodies, and God has decided to remake them through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Your body is like a present God gave you, and He has gone to great lengths to save it.
God made you wonderful. Sin has broken you. God wants to make you wonderful again by making you a new creation and giving you a new identity in Jesus. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Go live in your new identity as a child of God.
This brings us to Day Two’s VBS theme.
God helps me be content.
Turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 6:19-21 and Hebrews 13:5-6.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Why can we be content with what we have and stand against temptation?
Because God is always with us.
Why does God’s presence with us help us be content?
Because He promises to take care of all of our needs.
“When you’re with someone you love and trust, you don’t worry as much about what you have or don’t have—you just feel safe and happy. That’s what God wants for us. When we know God is always there for us, we can be happy with what we have instead of always wanting more.” John MacArthur, Strength for Today (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1997).
“Even if you don’t have everything you want right now, God has promised to take care of you. That promise is like holding something safe in your hand—it helps you feel okay, even when things are hard.” Chad Brand et al., eds., “Contentment,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 335.
“Feeling happy and peaceful doesn’t depend on having lots of toys or things—it depends on knowing someone who loves you will always be there. God is always present and caring for you,” providing you with an escape from the perils of temptation/discontentment. Chad Brand et al., eds., “Contentment,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 335.
Will you revel in God’s presence, finding your satisfaction in him?
Day three’s theme: God gives me courage.
Turn with me to Deuteronomy 31:6; Ephesians 6:10-20.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
God gives you and me the ability to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching, through his empowering presence with us.
Paul illustrates Yahweh’s empowering presence through the donning of armor.
How many of you get dressed in the morning? We all do.
This is a perfect opportunity each day to remind ourselves of the Spirit’s empowering presence in our lives as we get dressed. Have each item of clothing correspond to the armor of God.
Go, be strong and courageous, clothed in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Day four’s theme: God wants me to know Him
Consider with me 1 John 5:20.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
What do you think it means to know God?
There are different levels of closeness when it comes to knowing. Examples would be:
Knowing the president or knowing a famous singer. You really only know about them, but you don’t really know them.
Knowing someone like a boss or a coworker. You know them, but normally not very well.
Knowing your closest friend. You feel safe telling them anything because you know they are going to stick with you and support you no matter what.
What kind of knowing do you think God wants to have with us?
Consider John 15:15 with me.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
God wants to be our closest friend and has gone to great lengths to make that happen by sending Jesus, born of a virgin, crucified under Pontius Pilate, and raised on the third day, to validate that he had paid the price for our sin. For he who knew no sin became sin so that we in Jesus might become the righteousness of God. A good way to remember this is the GOSPEL acronym.
The bible says that today is the day of salvation.
I invite you to begin a relationship with Jesus today if you have not done so. This morning you received a card with the GOSPEl acronym on it and a prayer. Please pray that prayer with conviction and let me or someone know so we can celebrate and encourage you in your new relationship with Jesus.
If you know Jesus, then commit to knowing him better through prayer, the Word, and fellowship.
Here are your four encouragements:
Go live in your new identity as a child of God.
Go revel in God’s presence, finding your satisfaction in him
Go be strong and courageous, clothed in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Go and know Jesus better through prayer, the Word, and fellowship.
