Fun week with VBS—first part less so for me (abcessed tooth)! We had around 40 kids Monday night, most since I’ve been here and I didn’t even get to enjoy it!

Grateful for the flexibility, for everyone who made our VBS a success. For all those who spent so much time, in particular Jena and Lizi (and their respectives husbands!) All those who helped, all those who prayed.

Last week, planted, watered, weeded, harvested. “None of them are anything, but only God, who gives the increase,” and we pray and trust He will.

There’s something about the energy kids bring into a church, isn’t there? You might be going “Yeah, that’s why I stayed home and prayed this week!” I get you, it can be overwhelming sometimes, but mostly in a good way.

We saw some of it as they were leading us in How Marvelous You Are this morning, but a lot of them aren’t here this morning; and there’s also that bit of shyness because they up here and you’re out there. It was even more energetic when they were out there during the Worship Rally at the beginning each night, and sometimes even at the end when they thought nobody was watching!

[play clip of kids dancing on stage]

It may not have been the motions Lifeway had in mind; in fact, I think the Macarena may have made a slight appearance there! But you can’t deny the enthusiasm! I wonder if that’s not at least part of what Jesus meant when He said that you come into the Kingdom like a little child?

Kids bring a lightness and perspective when things can get so heavy, even in churches.

I remember one time when I was 9–10, my Dad was pastor in Lick Creek, but we lived over between Cobden and Alto Pass, so it was a 13 mile drive through the country to get home.

The person who’d been leading the youth group had unexpectedly quit that night after some big fallout/blowup that happened during Bible study, involving his own daughters outing him on some stuff going on at home.

Obviously, Mom and Dad were talking about it on the way home, the whole 13 miles. We get home, just pulling up to the house, when a 4–5 year old voice pipes up from way back in the backseat of the conversion van, and proclaims loudly:

Ugh! It just makes me want to glue his feet together!

Andrea McCaherty, 1997

It’s amazing to watch kids interact with each other, isn’t it? (Adelaide & Adeline)

Dana’s not here this morning, she’s spending the week with MawGaw and PawPaw, but one of the things she learned about from her friends at school last year: the pinky swear!

Actually, I guess they call it pinky promise now. First time I heard that, I said, “What? No, it’s pinky swear, not pinky promise.” Walk away, “Nice going, pastor, teaching your daughter to swear!”

In reality, we shouldn’t really be doing either according to Jesus.
In the Sermon on the Mount, he said,

But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’
Anything more than this is from the evil one.

Matthew 5:37

Pinky swear is one thing, but as you grow up, you start to realize that there’s this paradox when it comes to promises: the more someone goes on about how they’re going to keep their word, the less likely it is that they’re going to keep their word.

Isn’t that true? “I promise I’ll pay you back!”

It’s like there’s an inversely proportional relationship between (a) time spent convincing you that the promise will be kept, and (b) the probability that the promise will be broken.

It ought not be like that among God’s people… because it’s not like that with Him. We should let our yes be yes, no/no.

We worship a promise-making, promise-keeping God. Amen?

Promises are essential to who God is.

Bible full of promises. Cheap trade paperback books at the Dollar Store.

From the beginning

He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.

Genesis 3:15

To the end

“Yes, I am coming soon.”

Revelation 22:20

In Between?

How many? Too many to count!

Everett Storms, Canadian schoolteacher, heard the number 30k, thought that was a bit extreme considering there’s only 31,102 verses.

So he decided to count himself, 27th time reading Bible, compiled/categorized promises as he went along, took him 18 months.

This book is jam-packed with promises.

Old Testament

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go

Genesis 28:15, ESV

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones

1 Samuel 2:9, ESV

For the needy will not always be forgotten; the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever.

Psalms 9:18

Based on who He is.

Like all promises are!

John Owen, all the promises stand on four pillars about God

  1. His holiness (he cannot deceive)
  2. His goodness (he cannot forget)
  3. His immutability (he cannot change)
  4. His power (he can accomplish)

In Hebrew, no special word for promise. Just “word.”

Also, term for “word” is the same as “deed”. It’s as good as done.

How do I know all these promises are for me?

Some of them aren’t! (Nation of Israel, 2 Chronicles 7:14?)

There’s way more than enough for every moment of your life.

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!

Lamentations 3:22–23

Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

But the best answer to that question will always be Jesus!

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you—Silvanus, Timothy, and I—did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.” For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him.

2 Corinthians 1:19–20A

And that’s how you know the promises are for you. The answer is yes.

Remember how Jesus said let your yes be yes, no/no? He didn’t just tell us to do it, he showed us what it looks like. When Jesus went to the cross, he didn’t waffle; he didn’t back down; didn’t change his mind. He kept his promise.

Me? Really, me?!

…but you don’t know me, what I did/said/thought last night.

Look at verse 20 again, “every one of God’s promises is ‘Yes’ in Him.” Not in you. All of them would be an emphatic no if it were only up to us. That’s the beauty and the mystery and the glory of the gospel—it isn’t based on your performance.

It’s based on His beloved Son, in whom He is well pleased.

And now, because of the only begotten Son, we’ve been adopted as His sons and daughters.

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!”

2 Corinthians 1:20A, NLT

He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all.
How will he not also with him grant us everything?

Romans 8:32
  1. God’s promises are essential to who God is.

God’s promises are fundamental
to my walk with Him.

There is no part of the Christian life that doesn’t depend entirely on faith in God’s promises. Try to

Amen means Yes

Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20B

Application

You know what an earworm is? That song that get’s stuck in your head?

You have to be careful what get’s stuck in your head… I once spent three weeks wishing I was an Oscar Mayer Wiener!

God’s promises are meant to be just that living as His followers. They’re meant to get stuck in our heads and instruct our hearts. They are to be what we meditate upon, feed on, and turn to. Like a familiar song with a catchy tune or meaningful lyrics, the promises of God should get stuck in our head.

Exposure to them will drown out the background music of this world, the pinching pressures of life, and by so doing God and his glory will take center stage.

But obviously, we don’t learn and know God’s promises by osmosis. We have to work at it.

Series Intro: Yes & Amen

Do they apply to you? [If they don’t, they can.