OUR LOVING GOD

Acts 17:24-28 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor

is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath,

and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the

earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they

might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and

move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.’

OUR LOVING GODA. We are His offspring, we are His children. - 1

John 3:1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

B. We need to be obedient children - 1 Peter 1:14-15 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

OUR LOVING GODC. We are to be without fault. - Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

D. There are some things we need to understand about our loving God and Father.

I. HE'S LOOKING A. You were in his mind while in your mother's womb.

1. Jeremiah 1:4-5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

2. Isaiah 49:5 "And now the LORD says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, And My God shall be My strength),

3. Psalm 139:13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.

I. HE'S LOOKING B. He sees you, knows you and ready to help you. -

Psalm 139:7-12 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

I. HE'S LOOKING C. Jesus taught us not a bird falls from the sky without his

notice and he provides for them. How much more does he care about you. - 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?

D. He sees you as you are. You sin, your successes, your strengths and your struggles.

E. You are never outside the loving gaze of the Heavenly Father. - Hebrews 4:13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

II. HE'S LISTENINGA. Share your heart with Him. - 1 Peter 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

B. You can trust Him. - Psalm 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

C. He can handle whatever you may have to say to Him. - Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

II. HE'S LISTENINGD. Be honest and voice what's on your heart with

Him. - 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

E. Just talk to God. It will require the faith to believe He is out there, but that is a place to start. When you acknowledge Him, He will begin to make known to you who He is and will lead you to a greater understanding. He says when you seek Him, you will find Him. Take that step.

III. HE'S LOVINGA. He loves you so much He gave His Son to die for

your sins so you could know His love. - 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.

B. He loves you so much He sent His Spirit to shed His love abroad in your heart. - Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

III. HE'S LOVINGC. He loves you right now regardless of who you are,

where you are, or what you are doing. - Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

D. He loves you completely - 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.

E. God is love! - 1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

IV. HE'S LONGINGA. He is waiting for you to come home to Him.

(Luke 15 tells us of the Father waiting for his prodigal child to return home.)

B. He's does not want anyone to perish but all to come to Him in repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

IV. HE'S LONGINGC. He's has an awesome future planned for those who will

allow Him to adopt them into His family. - 1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

D. He wants you to want to. That is, it's your choice. His answer is, "Whosoever desires, let him come….." - Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

YOUR LOVING GOD?

A. Are you a child of God?B. Are you an obedient child of God? C. God is looking – He knows what you are

doing.D. God is listening – He hears what you are

saying.E. God is loving – He loves you always.F. God is longing – He wants you to return to

Him if you have wandered away.

TONIGHT’S SERMONGOD’S HEART AND YOUR HEART