Week 104 - Free Weekend Program for Children

Date: 16 Aug. 2025

Text: Genesis 18:1–2

Theme: Divine Visitation

In Genesis 18, the Lord appeared to Abraham in a remarkable way, as three men stood nearby. This raises an important question for us, especially here in Africa where superstition is deeply entrenched in our culture, often clouding the truth of God’s Word. So, how does the Lord appear to us now? He appears to us through the gospel—by Scripture alone.

We are often quick to cling to visions, dreams, or even consult the dead, chasing “mystical” experiences. But the gospel has been revealed, and the veil is torn. In the Old Testament, Christ was concealed in types and shadows, but today He is revealed plainly through the Holy Scripture—the gospel.

The Lord appears to us through His Word. The Father sent His Son, who is the Word made flesh, and the Spirit brings conviction by the power of His grace, stirring our hearts. This is the work of the Triune God, birthing new life in our hearts (John 3:3). The disciples on the road to Emmaus had the same visitation. They said, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as He opened and explained the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:26).

This is how God visits us today—through the gospel. Every confirmation we seek is found in the Scripture alone. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word is confirmed.” John declared, “That which we have seen, touched, heard, and witnessed, we declare to you.” The Scripture is complete and confirmed—everything we need has been given. It is written. Mr. Heshimu explained how no one can add anything to the foundation that has already been built by the apostles and prophets, otherwise we are damned for all eternity (Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 22:18).

However, if we chase after fleshly experiences, we risk falling into the same deception that ruined humanity in Eden—the very ruin from which Christ has redeemed us. Satan has no new tricks. It is the same old lies he used on Eve. Every scheme is carefully crafted to convince us that Scripture is not enough—that the Word of God is insufficient, and we need external experiences. Many have been bewitched, esteeming these so-called experiences above the Word of God, to the destruction of their eternal souls.

I love a popular quote by John Owen: “If private revelations agree with Scripture, they are needless, and if they disagree, they are false.” This underscores the sufficiency of Scripture and nothing else. The foundation of the Church—the canon of Scripture—has been laid once and for all by the apostles, and Revelation 22:18 warns against adding to it. We don’t need visions, dreams, or carnal experiences to validate God’s Word. It is received by faith, and that faith itself is the gift of God. Just as God came to Abraham by grace, He comes to us through the gospel (Romans 8:29); Nothing we do can bring us to Him, we were all banished from the garden of Eden. Only God can come to us and He does that today through the gospel.

Now, since we are surrounded by many false teachers who twist Scripture to deceive and be deceived—just as the Lord warned in Matthew 24:11—how then do we identify His true messengers, as Abraham identified the three visitors?

We know them by the message they bring. They preach the gospel with conviction given by the Spirit. The message we should expect from a true preacher is clear. Paul resolved in 1 Corinthians 2:2: “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” A true messenger points to Christ and His finished work—not morality, not human kindness, not self-help. He teaches Christ from beginning to end, just as Jesus, starting with Moses and the prophets, explained that the Scriptures were all about Him. As the message is preached, God’s chosen ones look to Him and are radiant, without shame or guilt (Psalm 34:5).

Stories may entertain, but only the gospel can give life (John 10:10). Morality, wealth, or even marriage cannot save—they are miserable comforters at best, just like the three friends of Job. Proverbs 11:4 says riches will not profit in the day of wrath. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 7:29 why we must live for Christ.

Nevertheless, Scripture also warns in 2 Timothy 4:3 that a time would come when people would not endure sound teaching but would turn to teachers who promise what their itching ears long to hear.

This is exactly what we see today. We chase after money, marriage, power, and empty moral lessons. But these things have no power in the Spirit to produce true Christian life—freedom from sin, joy, peace, holiness, and faithful obedience.

Recently, I read a quote that said: “Watch your thoughts while you are alone and watch your words while you are with others.” I knew this was impossible for me to accomplish on my own. I cannot successfully monitor every thought or word. I need Christ, with whom nothing is impossible. So I prayed like the psalmist: “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; let the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You.” We are called to look to Christ, not to ourselves. Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Victory over sin is only by His grace, not by striving or miserable self-effort.

In verse 2, when Abraham saw his visitors, he hurried to receive them, making their presence his priority. This should be our disposition as well. We must prioritize the gospel above everything else, letting Him nourish our souls. Then we can serve the Lord by serving others. Abraham sought to serve; he was passionate about Christ, just as the woman at the well, when she encountered Christ, went out telling others.

We are called to receive the gospel with gladness, eagerness today not tomorrow Hebrews 3:15, and to carry the message to others—offering living water to the thirsty, feeding the hungry with the bread of life, and pointing naked, self-righteous sinners to the robe of righteousness that takes away guilt and shame. We don’t wait to be appointed; we tell the story of how He saved our lost souls.

In conclusion, the Lord appears to us today through the Scripture—the gospel. True messengers are known by their Christ-centered message, filled with the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. We must reject superstition, reliance on physical experiences, and fleshly pursuits (self centred pursuits), holding firmly to the gospel by faith alone, which gives eternal life and transforms our lives.

Next week, we will continue by looking at Abraham’s response, God’s covenant promise reaffirmed, His rebuke to Sarah, His mercy and justice revealed, and what all of this means for us today.

Thank you for your encouragement and kind support, it was heartwarming to hear the children ask questions about the gift of righteousness that cannot be lost, as they tried to grasp the truth of eternal redemption apart from works. It seemed they finally came to an understanding of the gospel, and their curiosity was stirred deeply. They questioned Mr. Heshimu repeatedly on why “a last-minute sin” before death would not lead to eternal damnation. Let us keep them in prayer, that the Lord may continue to awaken their hearts and open the eyes of their understanding.

Sgafoundation.org