Introduction
Most people in today’s world grow up without a sense of identity, purpose and direction in life. Many also grow up without love, without a sense of belonging, a sense of worth, confidence to perform in life, without a sense of direction and more. Today’s message seeks to address all of the above innate needs we possess. I’m using the acrostic LOVED to address these issues.
L – Loved by God
O – Owned by God
V – Valued by God
E – Equipped by God
D – Destined for heaven by God
1. LOVED BY GOD
Not all children grow up with love in the home, and because of that, love is sought outside the home, and sometimes in wrong places and people, and one can end up feeling a lot less loved than before they commenced the search for love. This search can go on for all of life, until one discovers the love of God, which is really what all humans both need, and are searching for unconsciously.
We as The Church, need to bear in mind that we are Loved by God, and therefore don’t need to embark on this search for love, unless of course we do not realise that we are loved. Below are a few facts about God’s love that we should never forget as believers in Jesus.
God’s Love…
• Is free, and for all - John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
• Is everlasting - Jeremiah 31:3 - “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.”
• Is unconditional - Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Is unfailing - Romans 8:38-39 – “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 13:8 – “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.”
• Is reconciling - 1 John 3:1 – “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God…”
• Is poured out in our hearts through God’s Holy Spirit - Romans 5:5 – “…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
• Was best demonstrated through Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection - 1 John 4:9-10 – “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
FORGET-ME-NOTS ABOUT GOD’S LOVE
• God’s love for us has nothing to do with who we are or the way we live our lives – it has everything to do with who God is - God loves because He is loving.
• We’ve all experienced, and continue to experience God’s love every day in our lives, but it’s only when we comprehend God’s love and respond to it, that any change can take place in our lives.
• We can never do anything to deserve God’s love
• Many are searching for this love – but in the wrong places
SO WHAT
• We need to love God because he first loved us - 1 John 5:1-3 – “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 4:19 19 We love Him because He first loved us.
• Obedience is the best evidence of our love for God - John 14:15 - “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
• We need to love people like we were loved by God - John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 15:12 – “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” 1 John 3:10-18 – “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 4:7-8 – “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:11 – “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”1 John 4:20-21 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
• The evidence to the world, that we follow Jesus is our love - John 13:35 - By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
• Obedience to Jesus’ commandments helps us abide in God’s love - “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:13 – “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
• Obedience to Jesus’ commandments proves we comprehend His love – and proves He is in Christ - 1 John 2:5-6 – “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 4:12 – “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:16 – “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”
• We cannot love the world and love the Lord at the same time - 1 John 2:15 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
• When we love God, we are not scared of God - 1 John 4:17-21 – “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
2. OWNED BY GOD
• Jesus Chose us - John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
• We belong to God - Leviticus 20:26 – “And you shall be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.” Isaiah 43:1 - “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” Isaiah 49:16 – “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…” John 10:1-4 - “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” John 17:6 - “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.”
• God created us and so He owns us - Psalm 100:3 – “Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
• Jesus purchased us - Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price;…” 1 Corinthians 7:23 – “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” Ephesians 1:7 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood…” 1 Timothy 2:5-6 – “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all…”
• God adopted us - John 1:12-13 – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” 1 John 3:1 – “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Romans 8:14-17 – “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
• God knows us by name - John 10:14 – “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” He rediscovered Life - John 10:28-29 – “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” Romans 14:8 – “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
• God Transforms us - John 15:5 -“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
FORGET-ME-NOTS ABOUT BEING OWNED BY GOD
• Since we don’t own ourselves, we don’t have authority over our lives
• Since God has authority over our lives, He has ultimate authority over our lives.
• Since God owns us, we are mere stewards of life
• Since God owns us, we should not become slaves of men
SO WHAT?
• Glorify God with your body - 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 – “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
• Live Holy - 1 Peter 1:15-16 – “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
3. VALUED BY GOD
• We are most valuable in all creation - Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 10:29-31 – “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 6:26 – “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:30 – “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
• We are precious to God - Isaiah 43:4 – “Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you…” Psalm 139:14 – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
• God will protect us - Zechariah 2:8 – “…For he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.”
Forget-me-nots about Valued by God
• We are of more value to God than everything in the world put together
• Our value to God does not change with time or on account of the decisions we make
• It’s only when we realize our value to God, that we will value ourselves
• It’s only when we realize our value to God will we realize another person’s value
SO WHAT?
• Let’s not worry about our needs being met, and let’s trust God and serve Him whole-heartedly
• Let’s not fear man, but reverence God instead and live for Him each day
• If God values us, it doesn’t matter if others don’t – let’s not live to seek people’s approval
• If God values us, then He values others too – we need to value others too
4. EQUIPPED BY GOD
• We have the Holy Spirit in us - Ephesians 5:18 – “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,” God will use us - Matthew 4:19 – “Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
• We need to be pure vessels for God’s service - 2 Timothy 2:20-21 – “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.”
• We were chosen to serve God - Ephesians 2:10 - “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
• We have specific roles of service - Ephesians 4:11-12 – “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”
• We need to wear protective gear while serving God - Ephesians 6:10-18 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness 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.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”
• God is still at work in us - Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Hebrews 13:20-21 – “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
• God will meet our needs - Philippians 4:19 – “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
• We are Spiritually Gifted - 1 Corinthians 12:7-12 – “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 12“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” Ephesians 4:7-8 – “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
• God’s grace is sufficient, even in our weakness - 2 Corinthians12:9 - “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
• We have all we need - Colossians 3:13-16 – “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
• We have the Power - 2 Peter 1:3 – “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,”
• God helps us - Ephesians 3:20 – “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 2:12-13 – “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Jude 24- “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”
Forget-me-nots about being equipped by God
• We are not called to live this life on our own – we have the Holy Spirit to help us
• We have all we need to live the life God called us to live
• We have the grace we need to be and do what we’re called to – when we feel weak and inadequate, God will show His strength in and through us.
• We have the power to live the way God would have us live
• God is both with us and for us
• Reflecting Christ is more important than serving Him
• We are able – not unable to be and do what God would have us be and do
• Let’s never depend on things of the world instead of on God to be and do what we need to
• God can do more than we can ask or imagine
• God is at work in us – we’re not working on our own
SO WHAT?
• Depend on God to help us live the way He wants us to, and obey His leading whole-heartedly
• Stay clear of addiction to sin again so the Lord uses us as vessels of honour
• Since God has prepared work for us to do, let’s seek His guidance as to what to do
• Let’s work in the area of our gifting so we maximise our God-given potential
• Wear the armour of God, since we’re in a spiritual battle
• Trust in the Lord to meet our needs
• Trust the Lord to complete what He began in us
• Let God work in and through us and don’t get in the way of God working
5. DESTINED FOR HEAVEN BY GOD
When we know where we are destined…
• It creates a longing to get to God
• It makes the journey more interesting and exciting
• We overcome difficulties easier
• We persevere and never give up
• It gives difficulties a temporary perspective
Philippians 3:20 – “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”
Hebrews 3:1 – “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus…”
Matthew 5:10 – “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Luke 10:20 – “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but [f]rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
1 Corinthians 15:48-49 – “As was the [k]man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we[l] shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.”
Matthew 6:19-21 - “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.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 – “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
John 14:2-4 – “In My Father’s house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, [b]I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
1 John 3:2-3 – “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
2 Corinthians 5;1-5 – “For we know that if our earthly [a]house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our [b]habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as [c]a guarantee.”
Revelation 3:21 – “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
Acts 1:10-11 – “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Revelation 3:5 – “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”
Matthew 7:21 - “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
1 John 2:17 – “…The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Revelation 21:2-4 – “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the [h]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 John 5:11 – “…God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
John 3:36 – “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Conclusion
As believers in Jesus, the above are things we should always be mindful of, else we’ll find ourselves drifting away from the truth about our identity and purpose in life. Not only are we to remember these important truths, but let’s also do all we can to help other believers, young and old remember this as well, and finally, let’s do all we can to train our children and others children in these truths about ourselves.
