Valuing People Lindsey Gatewood

July 14th, 2017

How do you see yourself as valued by God?

When did you first realize God truly does value you?

1. You are valued by God.

Isaiah 43:1(NLT)
But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who
formed you says, Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called
you by name; you are Mine.

a. If God had not valued us, none of us would have salvation.

2. We value others because God first valued us.

b. John 3:16 (KJV)

For God so loveth the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, and
whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have life everlasting.

C. John 15:12-13 (NLT)

This is my commandment: Love each other as I have loved you. There is no
greater love than to lay ones life down for ones friends.

- Our job is to make the invisible God visible to mirror and mimic what he is
like to the world. We can glorify God by doing our work in such a way that we
make the invisible God visible by what we do and how we do it.
John Mark Comer, Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human.

3. God values each of you:

A. Equally and Consistently

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Lamentations 3:21- 23 (NLT) Yet I still dare to hope when I remember

this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
 Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
B. Even in the midst of suffering
2 Corinthians 1:5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us
with His comfort through Christ.

Matthew 11:11 I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is
greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person person in the
Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

c. Think of the context when Jesus stated this.

i. What does that mean to you?

ii. Since John was in prison, questioning Jesus deity, and

approaching death, do you think Jesus valued him any
less than in the past?

iii. Did John think he was valued by God in this moment?

iv. How much did God value John the Baptist?

v. If John actually heard what Jesus says about him in verse

11, do you think John would have been encouraged?

vi. Are you allowing yourself to believe the value God has for
you? What about those who do not yet know God?

When was a time someone showed you are valued, by going out of their way to
love you in some way? How did this make you feel?

An Example from my own experience : Delaney - Making time, keeping in touch,

etc.

2. As followers of Christ, we should ___________.

a. Choose to value all people.

b. Romans 11:36
For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His
glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.
-We all exist because He has created us intended for His
glory.
c. Philippians 2: 3-4
 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more
significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but
also to the interest of others.

d. We have nothing to lose, for we are fully accepted by our

Father and are citizens of heaven. Meaning, no matter how
people may treat us, we should endure to love all.
e.

Now we know we are valued and are expected to value others, how do we
practically demonstrate it?

1. First, value ________ above all else, _______.

a. Christ always.

b. Philippians 3:8 Yes everything else is worthless when compared to the

infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake, I have discarded
everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

2. Recognize apart from God, we cannot value .

a. Without God

- Nor can we love someone without being in relationship with God for
God is love.

b. John 5:30a I can do nothing on my own.

c. 1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is
love.

3. We need to Pray.
 a. Ask God through _______ for eyes to _____ people as He does, to
_____people as He does, and _____ people as they are His treasure.
b. Prayer for the fruit of the Spirit to grow within you.
i.
ii. Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our
lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
c. John 15: 5- 11
d. John 17:21

e. Romans 13:9-10

4. By putting others _________ oneself.

a. Before

b. Philippians 2: 3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in

humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look
not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.

c. John 15:12-13 This is my commandment - Love each other in the same way
I have loved you. There is no greater love than lay ones life down for one
friends.

5. Be __________ and chose to value people.

a. Willing.
b. Proverbs 27:23 Know the state of your flocks, and out your heart into caring
for your herds.

c. Colossians 3:23 Work willingly at whatever you do as though you were

working for the Lord rather than for people.

d. Romans 15:7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you,
for the glory of God.

7. Pray for the ___________ to grow within and overflow to those around.
a. Fruit of the Spirit

- Galatians 5:22-23 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:
 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. There is no law against these things!
- The new life we have in Him will be seen in our effective practice, and our
efficacious prayer. - John Phillips

Which are the hardest to apply in your position of leadership?

Reflection Questions :

1. Was there a time when you first realized that God truly does value you?
2. In what ways do you know God values you? How can you practically see His
value towards you and how can you share that to others?
3. Prior to that, what was stopping you from believing you were valued by
God?
4. Knowing now what could stop us from knowing we were valued, what can
we do to show people who yet know that, they are still valued? How can we
love those who dont know they are valued and share that they are?
5. Since you value Jesus Christ most in your life, how are some ways you show
that love? Are you willing to be a fool for Christ? In what ways are you
showing Him you value Him?