Welcome And Series Return

All right, welcome back to Daily Living for Christ. And we are back to our initial series on belovedness. So the series is titled Beloved Becoming Who You Already Are. As you remember, I did the first episode, and it's episode 216, and it was released on November 15th. And after that episode, there was an unction to go on a detour to talk about the wilderness and the desert. So we spent roughly about the last six or so weeks talking about the importance of the wilderness and how we are transformed and formed in the wilderness. So I want to do a quick review and I'll put a link in the episode for episode 216 so you can go back and listen to it. But I believe that this series that we're talking about, beloved, is extremely critical in the day and age and the time that we're living in. Because I don't believe that most believers and even people in the world do not understand or accept that they are beloved by God. Yes, I said, and people that are not in the church, they are loved by God. And it is important for us to acknowledge that God loves them. And what we're gonna find out is in this in the episode tonight, we're gonna find out what that transition is. Believers are people who have accepted the invitation that God has put forward. But God, through agape, is always pursuing, always pursuing us. There is not a time in our existence that agape or our belovedness was not present with God. What transpires is we don't realize that God is with us. And because we don't realize that God is with us, we think God is far away or that we are separated from God, and we tend to live life on our own accord or under our own rules. And then we become very protective, controlling, we become like hyper-achievers. All the saboteurs, the list of saboteurs begin to show up in our life because we are building a framework around who we are in order to survive and thrive in the culture or the community or the family in which we were born into. And there's nothing we can do about it. And the beautiful thing about this is God already knows. And God allows us to build this framework in order for us to survive. The challenge is that when we are supposed to let it go, roughly around age eight to 10, we hold on to those systems and those what's the word I'm looking for? Kind of, yes, systems for happiness, centers for happiness. We hold on to that. And then it goes with us into adulthood. And before you know it, we have this person that is showing up, but not truly us. And that's where you heard me say about the false self and the true self, or I kind of start saying now the protective self, because the protective self is that person that we show up in in order for us to survive or fit in into the environments that we work, that we live in. Okay. So what I want you the review here is the episode one was before anything else you are beloved. And I want you to understand that belovedness is a derivative, beloved is a derivative of the word agape. And agape is God's divine love or agape is love. You cannot you cannot separate agape from God. First John teaches us that says God is love. That scripture actually says God is agape. And it says, if anyone says that they love and they don't show agape, they do not speak truth. So what we have to truly understand that you can live from a place of human love. I've done it. And in 2020, God began to give me a revelation that it's not human love. And I shared with you the first revelation that I got. And it was we are created by love to be love and to love others. And over this last five-year journey, what transpired in in 2025 in July, that that revelation that we were created by love to be loved and to love others shifted. And once this divine revelation showed up, it's we were created by agape, by divine love to be agape. That word means to be, it means beloved. So agape in English, I'm saying means beloved, and to agape others. So the three words from a biblical perspective in that statement is agape, agape ton, and agapitos. So throughout the New Testament, there was roughly 232 mentions of agape in scripture. And we're gonna spend time after this series and throughout this year, we're gonna go through all of the scriptures that focus on agape and the derivatives. Because I believe God is inviting us into an awakening of agape within our lives. So in that first episode, I want you to go back and listen to it because I don't have a lot of time to put into this review, but here's the key. I'll sum it up with this. And when we begin with the foundational truth that rests beneath all spiritual foundation, so this beloved is the foundational truth that rests beneath all spiritual formation, all ministry, all callings, all divine purposes, all growth, all healing, and all ID. And it's this identity. It's this before anything else, you are beloved. I am beloved, and all of humanity is beloved, before anything else. This is the divine declaration. And here's the key: not one day, not when we get stronger, not when we earn it, not when we fix ourselves up, not after we improve, but right now we are beloved. And the scripture that I've been saying this over and over and over again, even while we were in the wilderness, the the episodes on the wilderness is Matthew 3:17. And it says, and a voice from heaven, a voice came from heaven, you are my beloved son, with you I am well pleased. The words sound the same as when God spoke in creation. Remember in Genesis, God saw that all that he had made and it was good. I just want you to get this now. From the beginning of creation, when God said, I saw it and it was good. And when Jesus now shows up to repair the breach for us to get back into relationship with the Father, the first act that God declares over Jesus and over our lives is that we are beloved. I want you to understand that. And now let's go into today's episode. So the episode today is I'm excited about it because here's the deal. I'm titling this episode in this series, it's called Chosen, Held in God's Heart. Oh, I just want you to grab that. It's held in God's heart. And we're picking right back up where we began in this study. And again, I said it's in episode 216, and I'll give you a link to it. And the last time and within that episode, we opened up with the foundational reality that before anything else, you are beloved. I want you to grab a hold of that. Can you grab a hold of the fact that before anything else you are beloved? And if you remember, I provided a link to the beloved prayer inside of that episode. It is a phenomenal prayer that you can start to pray over your life and speak into existence the ability for you to now become aware of your belovedness. And the prayer goes, Jesus, you are beloved. Jesus, I am beloved, and Jesus, we are beloved. Because our belovedness begins and ends in Christ. Can you grab a hold of that? It begins and ends in Christ. From him and through him and to him are all things. Without God, nothing would exist. Or without Christ, nothing would exist. Romans, Paul taught us that in Romans. Now, in this episode, we're gonna move one step deeper into identity, and this is so important because we have so many things trying to label us and put on us an identity, but our identity is in Christ and hidden in God. And I want you to grab a hold of this, but here's the key we're gonna move deeper into that identity, our beloved identity, into the truth that you are chosen. I want you to let I want it, I want that to say, you are chosen. Notice what the title says: chosen, held in God's heart. And here's the key: you're not chosen instead of somebody else. This is what most people think about us in the West. That's not what it is. We don't think that we're better than someone else's Christians. We should never think that we're better than somebody else because all of God's creation, all of humanity is beloved. The only difference between us, a believer, and a non-believer, is the grace of God, and we've accepted the invitation into. I'm not going to tell you until I get there. So accepted the invitation into put a question mark and hold on to that. Because the key here is that I want to say it again. We're not chosen instead of somebody else. We're not chosen to compete or to compare. Right? Because remember, I've said this before: comparison is the root of all evil. Because the moment you began to compare, you lessened who you are in God and in Christ. But we but we are chosen for relationship to be held in the heart of God. So I want to read to you chosen. I want to define chosen from the Marin Webster Dictionary. Now, this is a secular dictionary, and I want you to listen to this definition. The definition says one who is the object of choice or of divine favor, an elect person. So let me let me let me let me help you understand this. So the fact that Jesus came for us, God declared that every person in humanity is chosen. John 3:16. We see it, we read it, we know it. But that scripture is actually declaring the belovedness of God that is poured out for the world. It said, God so agape the world that he gave his only begotten son. And why to restore us back to intimate relationship, not just a casual relationship, he restored us back to the relationship that we can come into with the understanding that we are not separated from God, and God is not separated from us. There is no longer a deep chasm between us and God. So let me read John 15, 16. I got a couple of scriptures here that I want to point out for you. John 15, 16 in the NIV, right? It says it this way. And Jesus is speaking. Jesus is saying, He said, You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. And whenever you ask, in my name, the Father will give you. I want you to get this. And verse 17 says, This is my command. Agape each other. The word says love, but that word in the actual Greek says agape. Express the divine love of God to each other. Doesn't that change the way this scripture actually shows up? When we understand that you can't manufacture agape. Agape has to be received. And once agape is received, it fills the vessel that it is being poured into. You're getting this. Now you see, I'm tying all this is tied in. Remember the ceremonial jugs that were waiting for Jesus' command to be filled with water. And what did they do? Once those jugs were filled, Jesus said, take them to the bride and groom and have them pour out of it, or have them take from it. That's us. We are to remain empty so that agape may fill us through and through. And then God sends us forward so that agape may flow out of us unto others. And then they get filled with agape. And then now God starts to work on them and teaching them how they can come into presence and sit and get filled and get with the overflow of agape that they may be sent out. I just want you to grab a hold of this. I hope you caught that picture. I love, man. I never thought about Jesus' first miracle as a way of us seeing ourselves as being those vessels waiting for God to fill us in order that we may be go forward and that that filling may be turned into it, turned into wine. So the river of agape flowing in us turned into something that was supernatural and that caused the people to be in awe. That's what God desires us to be as sons and daughters. Now let me read John 15:9. Let me jump up to 15 and 9, verse 9. And I want to read this because this is so powerful. Look, look what it says here. Jesus says, as the Father has agape's me, so I agape you. Oh my goodness, did you catch this? It's like, whoa. Now remain in my agape. Oh, I want you to grab a hold of that. Did you catch what just happened? Let me read it again. I think I might even read verse 10 and 11 because this feels so good right now. It says, as the Father, or let me put it this way: as God the Father has agape's me, so I have agape you. Now remain in my agape. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my agape. Just as I have kept my father's commands and remain in his agape. I want you to get this now. Let me just read verse 11. I'll just keep going here. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. Let's let's go to verse twelve. My command is this. Are you ready? Agape each other as I have. Agape you. Are you ready? Let me let's keep going. Verse 13. This is too beautiful to stop. Greater agape has no one than this to lay down one's life for one's friend. Verse 13, we know it. It says, greater love no one has than this. But I want you to understand it's saying greater agape has no one than this. To lay down one's life for a friend. Can you see how God is flowing in what is happening? Can you see how God is revealing agape in the hidden river and within the five principles of agape? But here's what I want you to see now because Henry Nowen writes that belovedness unfolds in movements. And here's the there were four movements. He said, chosen, all of humanity is chosen. Blessed, broken, and then given. So there's a transition here from chosen to bless. And I'm going to hang on to this because I want you to really see what this is. But I want to focus in on being chosen because what we're going to find out is what happens when we're chosen. And here's the thing: I want to make sure you hear me loud and clear. Every person born on earth that is born on earth and came through the womb of a woman is beloved by God. Period. Beloved by God. I want you to grab that. I want you to hold on to that. And out of belovedness, we are chosen and invited into. Let's keep going. And I want you to get this now. Man, I'm so excited about this. This is awesome. We begin with chosenness because it speaks to the deepest question in the human heart. And what do you think that question is? Am I wanted? And that's the question. After Eve and Adam, and Adam and Eve, however you want to put it, after they partook of the fruit, they became fully aware of themselves. Shame showed up, guilt showed up, fear showed up, all of those things. And since that moment, our belovedness has not changed. But the question that is deep within the human heart is Am I wanted? Am I loved? You cannot ever think. I mean, you cannot ask a person. If you did a survey and asked 100 people, what is the deepest question of the heart? The first answer is going to be, am I wanted or am I loved? And the second question is, is what is my purpose for being on earth? And that is what this is all about. And being on earth has to do with, am I loved? Because you wouldn't be here if God didn't call you forth out of belovedness. So the fact that you're on earth answers the question that you are loved. Oh, that's so powerful. I hope you got it. So let me let me say the question again. The deepest question, the deepest question in the human heart, not some of our hearts, in every heart. If we're honest, the question is is am I wanted? And the answer of the gospel is yes, absolutely, deeply and internally. That's what Jesus came to say and to show us that you are wanted. And John 3:16 said it. God so agape the world that he gave. And that is what is so important. Agape gives, it does not take. Now I want I want to spend some time on how Jesus models chosenness. I know it's not a word, but I want you to get it. Chosenness. So Jesus did not assume his ministry alone. I want you to grab a hold of that. And look what happened. It says Mark 13 and 14. He says, He went up on the mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. Let me pull this up. I want to go deeper into this. Mark 3, 13. And here's what transpired here. Because Jesus went up on the mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to them. And here, look, it's what I want you to understand is mountainside. In the first century church and in the Old Testament church, the higher you went up, people believe the closer they were to God. So he went up on high and called those that he wanted, and they came to him. I just want you to understand that. And that's when he called them. He sent went up to them. And now look what happens in verse 14. He says, He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach or proclaim what? Agape's way of life. And here's what this is saying. Wanted. And in the same way, all the scriptures that I read to you, he is calling us into wanting this. God wants us. You don't ever have to think, does God love me? I know we've been programmed to think God is upset with me or God is distant from me. I'm here to I'm here to break this up. I'm here to I'm here to tell you God loves you. God agape you. And here's the thing. When he called the disciples in the same way with us, he calls us. Jesus said, I chose you. Before they healed the sick, before they preached the kingdom, before they failed him in the garden, they were chosen to be with Jesus. Did you catch that? Before everything, they were chosen to be with Jesus. That is the same thing that happens to us. Before we do anything in the kingdom of God, we are chosen to be with Christ. So this is the mark of chosenness. To be with Christ before doing anything for Christ. I just want you to grab a hold of that. Did you catch that? To be with Christ before doing anything for Christ. And if I want to make it as plain as I can, we don't do anything for Christ. We are co-laborers with Christ. The fact that it's for Christ means that it's egocentric or protective self-driven, which means that it's not, God is not flowing in that when we are saying we're doing something for God. That means we're empty. We haven't been filled. So if you're doing something for God, hey, take a moment. Stop. Allow yourself to be in presence so that God may fill you and commission you. I'll use these words. And I've said them before: communion. And then what burps out of communion burps community. And out of community comes commission. So I want you to grab a hold of that and hold on to that. So now here's what I want you to think about. I want you to take a breath. As you're listening to this, take a breath with me. And I want you to inhale. And as you inhale, I want you to think, I am wanted. And you can say, I am wanted on the inhale. On the exhale, I want you to say, I do not have to earn belonging. I do not have to earn belonging or agape. I am wanted. I do not have to earn agape or belonging. Let the truth settle deep. Deep, deep. And let it settle deeper than thought. Let it rest in the core of your being, in your heart, and in your inner man. Because here's the thing: your protective self and the judge says it this way: I belong because I'm valuable. That's not accurate. I belong because I perform well. I belong because I uh I achieve. I belong because they need me. I belong because I can control situations or circumstances. No, that is the false self, the protective self telling you a not truth so that you may feel good. But our confidence in God is not about a feeling, it's about faith. But the true self, our beloved self in Christ says, I am valuable because I am beloved. I am valuable because I belong where in the kingdom of God. I am hidden in Christ and in God. I am held because I serve. Serve who? I serve my Lord and Master. I am chosen because God delights in me. Close, I mean, chosenness is not a reward. I want you to get this because I know there is a doctrine out there that says, because you're chosen, you're favored. Yes, we are, but everybody is chosen, but many don't accept the invitation. No believer is better than another believer. No Christian is better than another Christian. It doesn't matter the office you serve. Chosenness is not a reward, it is the nature of God's agape. I just want you to grab this. I want you to understand this because this is where life changes. And here's the key: chosenness changes how we pray. You can't have any more superficial prayers now when you know that you're beloved by God. Because if you are beloved by God and you know this and you allow agape to fill you, trust me, your whole life is going to change. And this has to be intentional and your attention has to shift. This is not a casual. The invitation is open, but once you accept the invitation, it's not a casual relationship. And chosenness changes how we show up in relationships. Ooh, I want you to get that. Chosenness shows up how we see our place in community within our family and within our country or nation. Chosenness changes how we respond to rejection or misunderstanding. Why? Because once we get filled with agape, agape flows in rejection, and agape flows in misunderstanding. When you know you're chosen, you stop asking the world to tell you who you are. Oh, let me say that again. When you know that you are chosen, you stop asking the world and all of its systems to tell you who you are? Couple of questions for you to ponder on until the next time. We're going to keep going here. But here, what part of me, or what part of you still believes that you must earn love or connection? Now, these are deep questions now. So, what part of you still believes that you must earn agape? I'm not going to say love. Earn agape or connection. I want you to go to the divine side. I don't want you to focus on the human side. Now, here's another question. Can I allow myself to be chosen without explaining, proving, or performing? Can you be gracious to your protective self and not fight against your protective self so that you can allow yourself to be chosen without explaining, proving, or performing? Because the moment you step into your chosenness, the saboteurs will show up and start to explain. And the judge, first of all, is going to show up and says, Well, who told you you're chosen? And why do you think that you're better than somebody else? I'm speaking to you right now. I'm telling you, this is what the judge is going to do. But you come right back to the belovedness of God. And then the next thing you're going to do is your protective self is going to go into overdrive. It's going to go into your hyperachiever is going to show up. Your victim may show up. Restlessness may show up. All these things, that's what's summed up in explaining, proving, or performance. It's all 10 of the saboteurs. And if you need to know about the saboteurs, just send me a message and I'll get you information on the saboteurs and I'll direct you to the episode. And here's the last reflective question: it's this. You ready? Where is Jesus inviting you simply to be with him? Oh, I want you to get this. Because remember, I said before, chosenness invites us into. I said, put a question mark on that. Because here's the thing. Chosenness invites us into relationship, intimacy, an intimate relationship. And here's what I want to do. I want to pray before we move on, before we close. Father, thank you for choosing me, and thank you for choosing every listener, and thank you for choosing everyone in the world today that we live from this place of agape loves us. Not because of our strength, not because of anything that we do, but because of your heart, because of agape that flows out of you. Teach us to live as one who is wanted, held, and welcomed in your presence. In Jesus' name, amen. All right. Now, closing here. I want you to get this. So the next time we move from chosen to blessed, we're going to go through those four movements. And blessed, we're going to talk about how God speaks goodness over our lives and restores our capacity to see ourselves with compassion and delight. And until then, rest in this truth. You are wanted, you are held, and you are chosen. Keep living daily for Christ.