YOU ARE OF GREAT VALUE TO GOD

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: The Three R's
2. Rescue: Delivered from the Power of Sin
3. Understanding the Consequences of Sin
4. The Truth That Sets Believers Free
5. Relocation: A New Kingdom and a New Address
6. Established in God's Kingdom
7. Redemption: Purchased Back by God
8. The Incredible Value God Places on You
9. Closing Encouragement: Believe and Receive

Introduction: The Three R's

Pastor Leonard begins by sharing how much positive feedback was received from Sunday's message centered on what he calls the "Three R's." Unlike the familiar reading, writing, and arithmetic, these three R's are Rescue, Relocation, and Redemption. These truths are drawn directly from Colossians 1:12-14 and reveal what God has accomplished for every believer through Jesus Christ.

Pastor Lori reads the foundational scripture: Colossians 1:12-14- “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

The remainder of the teaching explores each of these three truths in detail.

Rescue: Delivered from the Power of Sin

The first truth is that believers have been rescued. Pastor Leonard explains that for much of his life, he sincerely wanted to love God and serve Him wholeheartedly. However, despite those desires, he often struggled because he did not fully understand what Christ had accomplished through salvation.

He explains that many believers continue to think of themselves primarily as sinners. When people think this way, they often remain trapped in patterns of defeat and bondage because their thinking has not yet been renewed to the reality of who they are in Christ. He emphasizes that Jesus rescued believers from the power of sin itself.

The foundation for this truth is found in Paul's words:

Romans 6:14- “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Pastor Leonard teaches that believers now possess a new nature. Through Christ they have received God's righteousness, God's holiness, and a completely new identity. The problem is not that God has failed to provide freedom, but that many Christians have never been taught these realities. According to the message, Jesus completely rescued believers from sin and from its dominion over their lives.

Understanding the Consequences of Sin

Pastor Lori expands on the meaning of rescue by reading a definition:

"To have been saved or freed from a dangerous, harmful, or unpleasant situation."
She explains that Christ's rescue extends beyond forgiveness of sins. It also includes freedom from the consequences that often accompany sin, such as fear, anxiety, worry, doubt, insecurity, and self-rejection. These struggles, she explains, are connected to the brokenness that entered the world through sin. Jesus came not only to forgive but to rescue people from everything associated with sin's destructive effects.

The pastors emphasize that believers have been rescued away from all of these things through Christ's finished work.

The Truth That Sets Believers Free

Pastor Leonard uses an illustration of someone falling off a cruise ship into the ocean. A drowning person needs a real lifesaver. If someone throws them a package of candy Lifesavers instead, it will not help them survive. He uses this example to demonstrate how people can remain spiritually defeated when they do not know the truth of what Christ has already accomplished.

Jesus is the true lifesaver. He has already provided:

• Freedom from sin
• Victory over sin
• Holiness
• Righteousness
• Complete sanctification
• Spiritual completeness

The pastors teach that believers are fully accepted and complete in Christ. As Leonard states, "As Jesus is, so are we." The challenge is learning to believe and understand what has already taken place through salvation. This understanding forms the foundation of living in freedom.

Relocation: A New Kingdom and a New Address

The second R is relocation. Pastor Leonard returns to Colossians and explains that God not only rescued believers but also relocated them.

He rereads the central passage:

Colossians 1:12-14- “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

He explains that believers have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God's beloved Son. This transition causes him to reference Jesus' teaching:

Matthew 6:33- “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Pastor Leonard notes that this statement was spoken before the cross. After Christ's finished work, believers are no longer striving to become righteous. God has already declared them righteous and established them in His kingdom. Because believers have already been made righteous, they now stand qualified to receive the inheritance God has provided. The pastors emphasize that believers are no longer pursuing acceptance. They have already been accepted and relocated into God's kingdom.

Established in God's Kingdom

Pastor Lori reads the definition of relocation: "To move or establish a person in a new place."

The pastors stress that God did not simply move believers; He established them. Pastor Leonard points to Paul's words:
Acts 17:28- “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

The believer's new location is in Christ. God has established every believer in a completely new realm of existence. Their true citizenship is now found in the kingdom of God. Pastor Leonard repeatedly emphasizes that believers have a new address.

Although Christians still live physically in this world, they are no longer defined by this world's kingdom. Their true identity and citizenship belong to the kingdom of the Son of God's love. As citizens of that kingdom, believers possess rights, privileges, blessings, and inheritance that come with their new position.

Redemption: Purchased Back by God

The third R is redemption. Pastor Lori rereads verse 14:

Colossians 1:14- “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”

Pastor Leonard explains that many modern translations use words such as "purchased" because redemption involves buying back something of great value.

The definition he gives for redemption is: "To recover, buy back, exchange something for value." To illustrate redemption, he shares an example involving American Express reward points. He explains that accumulating reward points often feels like a poor exchange because so much spending is required to receive relatively small rewards. He then asks listeners to consider redemption from the opposite perspective.

God redeemed humanity. God purchased people back to Himself. Unlike a poor exchange, redemption involved God paying the highest possible price to recover something He considered incredibly valuable. That valuable possession was humanity itself.

The Incredible Value God Places on You

This section forms the emotional climax of the teaching.

Pastor Leonard explains that when God looked at humanity, He determined the value of what He was redeeming. God looked at every person and asked what price would be worthy of redeeming them. The answer was the blood of His Son.

The pastors emphasize that the value of the payment reveals the value of the object being purchased. The blood of Jesus was not spent cheaply or casually. It was given because God considered every person to be worth that sacrifice.

According to the teaching, redemption demonstrates:

• How valuable you are
• How important you are
• How special you are
• How deeply loved you are

The central message is that believers should never measure their worth by their failures or shortcomings. Their value is demonstrated by the price God willingly paid to redeem them. The blood of Jesus stands as eternal proof of their worth in God's eyes.

Closing Encouragement: Believe and Receive

As the teaching concludes, Pastor Lori summarizes the response believers should have to these truths. She encourages listeners simply to believe. The message of rescue, relocation, and redemption is God's love letter to His children. Believers are encouraged to receive what Christ has accomplished, embrace these truths personally, and trust what God says about them.

The pastors close by encouraging listeners to revisit the original Sunday message, thanking supporters of the ministry for their prayers, encouragement, financial gifts, cards, letters, and partnership in sharing the Gospel. Their final encouragement is to continue enjoying God's grace and goodness while remembering how greatly loved and valued they are by Him.

Thank you for taking the time to read this teaching from Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola. We hope this article blessed and encouraged you to see yourself through God's eyes. Remember that through Jesus Christ you have been rescued from darkness, relocated into God's kingdom, and redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Most importantly, never forget the central truth of this message: you are of great value to God. Please share this teaching with others so they too can discover the incredible love, grace, and redemption that God has provided for them.