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SermonsandOutlines

WHATDOESGODTHINKOFME?
Intro: Let me ask you a question: Do you ever wonder what people think about you? Do you even
care?Tosomeextent,mostofusdocarewhatothersthinkofus.Now,letmeaskyouanotherquestion:
Hasanyoneevertoldyouwhattheythinkaboutyou?Whentheydo,youareoftensorrytheydid.There
havebeentimes,whenapersontoldmejustwhattheythoughtofme,andIwasgladtheydid. There
havebeenothertimeswhenfolkshavesharedtheirthoughtsaboutmeandIwasnotpleasedatall.That
isonereasonIdonotaskpeoplewhattheythinkofme.Iamafraidtheywilltellme!
Today, I want to look at this matter from a spiritual perspective.If you were to ask Satanwhat he
thinks about you, he would probably say, Youareafailure!Ifyouasked society what they think of
you,theymightsay,Youareafool!Ifyouaskedself,thatis,yourownheart,selfmightsay,Youare
afake!Haveyoueverheardthesethings?Manyhaveandonadailybasis!
But,doesitreallymatterwhatSatan,societyandselfthinkaboutyouandme?No! All that really
matters,intheend,iswhatGodthinksaboutus.Have you ever wondered just what God thinks about
you?IsitpossibletoknowwhatGodthinksaboutus?DowereallywanttoknowwhatHethinksabout
us?Well,thispassageclearlyrevealsexactlywhatGodthinksaboutus.
PauliswritingtoTitus,ayoungPastorontheislandofCrete.In chapter two he wrote about how
believers should behave in the church. In this chapter, he talks about how believers should behave in
society.PaulcallsonTitustoputtheminmindaboutcertainthings.Hewantsthesaintstoremember
whotheyareinJesuswhattheyhaveinJesuswhatGodhasdoneinthemthroughJesusandwhatGod
expectsofthemasbelieversinJesus.
Intheseverses,PaulanswersthequestionIposedafewmomentsago:WhatDoesGodThinkOf
Me?Inthispassagedesignedforinstruction,wecanfindawordofencouragement.Someofyoumaybe
discouragedasyouwonderhowGodseesyou.Well,ifyouaresaved,youareabouttofindout.Ifyou
arenot,thenyouaregoingtolearnhowGodwouldseeyouifyoucametoJesus.Letslookintothese
versestogetherasweaddressthequestion:WhatDoesGodThinkOfMe?

I.v.36GODTHINKSYOUAREPRECIOUS
(Ill. Satan says, God doesnt care about you at all. God says something completely
different.TheseversesteachusthatGodlovesusmorethanwecanpossiblyunderstand.)
A.v.3TheExtentOfHisLoveVerse3paintsavividpictureofwhatthebelieverwasbeforeheor
shemetJesus.
FoolishIgnorantofeverythingtodowithGod.
DisobedientRebellioustowardanyauthorityinstitutedbyGod.
DeceivedContinuallyleddeeperanddeeperintosinbySatan.
ServingdiverslustsandpleasuresAslavetoourfleshlyappetitesandpassions.
LivinginmaliceGivenovertoalifestyleofevil.
EnvyNeversatisfiedwithwhatwehave,butalwaysgraspingformore.
HatefulThisisthenaturalfruitofalltheabove.Thiskindoflifemakesusmeanspiritedand
hardtogetalongwith.
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HatingoneanotherWalkingwithoutloveforourfellowman.
Thisiswhatwewere,andwhatsomeinthisroomstillare.Itisaterribleconditiontobein,yet
thatiswhattheBiblesaystimeandtimeagain,Eph.2:131Cor.6:910.Eveninthatcondition,
Godstilllovedus:Jer.31:3.HecouldhavewrittenusoffandjustallowedusgotoHell,butHe
lovedusanddidsomethingaboutit!
B.v.4,6bTheEvidenceOfHisLoveThisversessaysafterthat.Inotherwords,inspiteof
what we were and are, God chose to display His love for us. How did He do that? The
answerisinverse6.ItsaysthroughJesusChrist.God gave evidence of His love for fallen
manbysendingHisSonintotheworldtodieforoursins,Ill.Rom.5:68John3:161John4:9
10.
IfyouneedevidencethatyouareprecioustotheLord,thenlooknofartherthanCalvary!You
dontneedafeeling,justlooktothecross!LookawaytoJesusasHediesonthecrossforyour
sins,2Cor.5:21,andknowthatyouarespecialtotheLord.Helovedyouandthatisthereason
fortheawfuldeathofJesusChrist.Thecrosssays,Iloveyou!YouarespecialtoMe!
C.v.56aTheEnergyOfHisLoveWhatdidthiswonderfulloveofGoddoforus?Partofthe
answerisfoundinthewordbutinverse4.Godknewwhatwewere.He saw us with all our
sinsandourbaggage,yetHestillchosetobuttintoourlivesandsaveusbyHisgrace.Ill.The
but in Eph. 2:4 and the but in Luke 15:22, the prodigal deserved judgment, but received
mercy!
LookatallHisloveandgracedidforusinverse5.
HeextendedHisgraceandmercytouswhenwedeservednothingbutHell.
Hesavedusfromthepenaltyofoursins(saved).
Hecleansedusfromthedefilementsofoursins(washing).Hemadeanewcreatureoutofus
(regeneration).
And,HeplacedHisSpiritwithinustoleadusdeeperinHimdaybyday(renewing).
Goddidallofthiswithnohelpfromus!Ourworks,ourreligion,oureffortscannotsaveus,
theyonlycompoundtheproblem!
Godsloveforuswasnottheloveofasecretadmirer.No!HelovedussomuchthatHewent
to work to see us saved. Satan will tell you that God doesnt love you all the evidence says
somethingquietdifferent!TheevidencesaysthatyouarepreciousinHiseyes!

(Ill.Godseesusexactlyaswereallyare,butHelovesusanyway!)

I.GodThinksYouArePrecious

II.v.7aGODTHINKSYOUAREPERFECT
(Ill.Again,theenemiesofthebeliever,Satanandthefleshwilltellyouthatyouaredirty,wickedand
thatyouhavenohopeatall.Folks,thedevilisaliar,John8:44 and you cant believe a word your
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ownhearttellsyou,Jer.17:9!Verse7tellsyouwhatGodthinksaboutyourstanding.HesaysthatHe
hasjustifiedyoubyHisgrace.)
A.ADefinitionWhatdoesitmeantobejustified?Justifiedcomesfromawordthatmeans,to
render righteous or such as he ought to be. It is a word that speaks of God declaring the
savedpersontobeinaperfectandrightstandingbeforeGod.Thatissayingalot!
B. A Description Being justified is far different from being forgiven. Some people think that
justificationisjusttheforgivenessofoursins.Justification is far more powerful than that! When
there is forgiveness there is also the remembrance of the wrong committed. A man might be
convicted of murder and be forgiven by the victims family but everyone still knows what that
murdererdid.
Ontheotherhand,apersonwhohadbeenjustifiedhasbeentotallyacquittedandexonerated
ofallcharges.Thereisabsolutelynorecordofanywrongdoing.WhenwearejustifiedbyGod,all
recordofoursinisforeverbanishedfromthememoryoftheLord.Itisasifwehadneverorwill
neversin!(Ill.Jer.31:34Heb.8:12Heb.10:1617)Thebottomlineisthis:thelawhasnoclaims
againstajustifiedperson.ThelawofGodissatisfied,thereisnocaseagainsttheredeemedones!
TherearenochargesagainstthechildofGod.
C.ADefenseSomemighthearthisandsay,Well,thatisanexcusetosin.IftheLorddoesnt
remember and He has already declared me righteous, then I can do as I please with no
consequences.Ifyouthinkthatthenyouaredeadwrongandwayoffbase!Youcanbesaved
andstillsin.Whenyoudo,yoursinwillnotaffectyourrelationshipwithGod.Onceyouaresaved
by grace and justified by God, that condition can never be altered. However, when you as a
believersin,youcanexpecttwothingstohappen.
First,youcanbesurethatyouwillreapwhatyousow,Gal.6:78.
Second,youcanbesurethatGodwillbringHischastisementintoyourlife,Heb.12:612.
YoumightbesavedandforgivenasfarasHeavenandeternityisconcernedbuttherewillare
earthlyconsequencesforoursinfulactions.Lowlivingcarriesaveryhighprice.JustaskSamson!

(Ill.NotonlydoestheLordseeusaswereallyareHealsoseesusasHehasmadeusbyHisgrace.)

I.GodThinksYouArePrecious
II.GodThinksYouArePerfect

III.v.7bGODTHINKSYOUAREPRIVILEGED
(Ill.SatancomesbyandtellsthebelieverthatservingGodiswasteoftime.Thatitjustdoesntpayoff
toliveright,gotochurch,prayandreadtheBible.Well,asyoumightimagine,Godseesthingsjusta
littledifferently.Hetellsusinverse7thatweareaprivilegedpeople.)
A.PrivilegedBecauseOfOurEarthlyHopeIrealizethatasChristians,wearealllivingforwhat
is coming after this life. That is when we expect to receive our inheritance. Why? Well, an
inheritanceisusuallygivenafterthedeathoftheonewhoownstheinheritance.The One Who
promised us an inheritance has already died and risen from the dead. I am looking forward to
Heaven,butIamapartakeroftheinheritanceoftheLordtoday,Rom.8:1517.
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Heavenwillbewonderful,butIvegotitgoodtoday!
TheLordisalwayswithme,Heb.13:5Matt.28:20.
TheLordhaspromisedtomeetallmyneeds,Phil.4:19Matt.6:2534.
HecaresaboutallthatIfaceinlife,Heb.4:15.HelistenstomewhenIpray,Heb.4:16.
ItseemsthattheLordisdoingHisbesttospoilme,Luke12:32!
Youcantakeitanywayyouplease,butifyouaresaved,youareaprivilegedpersonrightnow!
B.PrivilegedBecauseOfOurEternalHopeNotonlyareweprivilegedbecauseofallwehave
herewearealsoprivilegedbecauseofallthatwehavewaitingonuswhenweleavehere. We
haveahomeinHeaven,John14:13.WehaveaperfectplacereservedforusinHispresence,1
Pet.1:35.Wehavethehopethatweareheadedtoacitywheretherewillbenomoredeath,
parting or sorrow, Rev. 21:4. We are a privileged people! We have the best here and
hereafter!WhataGodweserve!

(Ill.Heseesuslikeweare,yetHelovesus.HeseesusasHehasmadeus.And,Heseesusaswe
willbesomeday.Ill.madeheirsAllthatwehaveallthatweare,andallthatwewillbecome,is
becauseofHisamazinggrace!KnowyethattheLORDheisGod:itishethathathmadeus,
andnotweourselveswearehispeople,andthesheepofhispasture,Psalm100:3.
Weareapreciouspeople.HesavedusbyHisgrace,apartfromanyworksatallHehasmade
usaperfectpeople.HeblessesusinmarvelouswaysandpromisesusahomeinHeavensomeday
weareaprivilegedpeople.)

I.GodThinksYouArePrecious
II.GodThinksYouArePerfect
III.GodThinksYouArePrivileged

IV.v.12,8GODTHINKSYOUAREPROFITABLE
(Ill. Satan, or the flesh, often says, God cant use you! You will amount to nothing as a
Christian.Lookatthethingsyoudo.Lookathowyoulive.Youareafailure.Youeverhear
that?Well,thetruthisadifferentmatteraltogether.TheseversesremindusthatGodsavedusfora
purposeandpartofthatpurposeissothatHecanuseusforHisglory!)
A.v.1HeCanUseYourWalkPaulistellingthesefolkstowalkinadisciplinedmanner.Theyare
toobeythelawsofthelandandsubmittothepeoplewhoareinauthorityoverthem.Heistelling
themthattheirsimplewalkoffaithisproofthattheyaredifferentfromtheworldaroundthem.
Justthewayyoucarryyourselfdaybydayisapowerfulwitnesstotheworldaroundyou.As
youlivefortheLordanddemonstrateHisloveandgrace,youareallowingHimtolivethroughyou
and God uses that to touch hearts. A disciplined, holy life is a power tool in the hand of the
Lord,Matt.5:16.
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Youmightnotthinkthatbowingyourheadoveryourlunchisalot,butGodcanuseit.You
mightnotthinkthatreadingyourBibleatbreaktimeismuch,butGodcanusethattoo.Youmight
notthinkaboutitbutjustshowingupontimeanddoingadaysworkforadayspayisapowerful
testimonytoGodssavinggraceinyourlife.
B. v. 2 He Can Use Your Witness Paul tells these people that the way they treat others is a
testimonyinthehandsofGod.Theyaretoldtoavoidfightingandgossipingandjusttreatpeople
with gentleness and meekness. He is merely telling them to have the testimony that they are
different.
Thewayinwhichweconductourselvesaroundothers,andthewaywetreatothers,isas
powerfulawitnessasanywegivewithourlips.Someonehassaid,What you do speaks so
loudthatIcannothearwhatyouaresaying.Thatistrue!Whenweliverightandtreatothers
asJesuswouldtreatthem,Luke6:31,itisapowerfulwitnessandGodcanuseitforHisglory.Of
course,whenwedonttreatothersright,itisapowerfulwitnesstoo!
C.v.8HeCanUseYourWorksWhenyousetyourhearttogoafterGodtheresultwillbegood
works.YouwillsoondiscoverthatGoddidnotsavejusttokeepyououtofHellHesavedyouto
putyoutoworkforHim,Eph.2:102Cor.9:8Col.1:10James2:18.Youmightnotthinkthat
Hecanuseyou,butHecan.
If He can usea murderer named Moses a blasphemer named Saul ofTarsus an
adulterernamedDavidarebelnamedJonahoraloudmouthlikeSimonPeter,thenHecan
use you. If you will do what He tells, your life will be a life of immense profit for
theKingdomofGod!
SatanmighttellyouitisnttrueyourfleshmighttrytostandinyourwaybutGodsavedyou
knowingwhatyouwereandwhatyouwerecapableofbecomingbyHispower.Hesavedyouto
useyouandHewilluseyoubecauseHeseeswhatHecandothroughyouforHisglory.

Conc:

So,
what
does
God
think
of
you?

He
thinks
you
arePreciousPerfectPrivilegedandProfitable.ThatshowHeseesyou.Whatdoyouneedtodoin
yourlifetolineupwithHisvisionofyou?HasHeshownyouthatthereisroomforimprovementinyour
walkwithHimandyourworkforHim?Ifso,gettoHimanddealwiththattoday.
ThethingsIhavementionedtodayareonlytrueifyouaresaved.WhatdoesGodthinkofyouifyou
arenotsaved?Hethinksyouareintrouble.Hethinksyouarelivingadangerouslife.Helooksatyou
with love and knows that there is a way out. There is hope for you if you will come to Jesus and be
saved.Ifyouwill,HewillthinkallthewonderfulthingsIhavesharedtoday,andmore.Isntthatwhatyou
wanttoo?

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