His Thoughts Towards Me | Philip Anthony Mitchell | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

His Thoughts Towards Me

Philip Anthony Mitchell

2819 Church • Mar 28, 2022 • 54 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell explores Psalm 139:17-18 to reveal the vast, precious, and unyielding thoughts God has toward His children. While our human minds are prone to negative thinking and projecting false fears onto God, the cross refines God's disposition toward us so that He holds only thoughts of peace, love, and hope. Believers are encouraged to rest in His infinite grace and respond by thinking of Him frequently, affectionately, joyfully, and reverently.

Themes

God's Love and GraceMind and Thought LifeRedemption through the CrossIdentity in ChristReverence and Praise

Pastor's Points

1.

Think about Him frequently

2.

Think about Him affectionately

3.

Think about Him joyfully

4.

Think about Him reverently

Key Points

1.
Every person lives in a house made of thoughts, and the quality of our interior life dictates how we view God and relate to others.
2.
Because the majority of human thoughts lean negative, we often wrongly project negative, distant, or fearful attributes onto God.
3.
Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, every impure or wrathful thought God had toward us as sinners has been refined away, making us objects of His delight.
4.
In Psalm 139, God's thoughts toward us are described as 'precious'—meaning great in worth, rare, highly esteemed, refined, and affectionate.
5.
God’s thoughts toward His children are infinite and immeasurable, far exceeding the trillions of grains of sand on the earth's beaches.
6.
Even when God's people are in exile or rebellion, as shown in Jeremiah 29:11, God’s thoughts toward them remain focused on peace, a hope, and a future.

Sermon Moments

“Every single person in this room lives in a house made of thoughts, and the quality of your life has less to do with your circumstances and more to do with the way that you think.”

“The thoughts of God towards you have been refined by the cross; all the impurities have been taken out so that you are now an object of His delight.”

“Science estimates earth's beaches contain sextillions of grains of sand, yet trying to count God's thoughts toward you is even more endless.”

“If I had 500 negative thoughts about a person, I would want nothing to do with them. But God has endless thoughts toward you and He is still pursuing you.”

“While His people were in rebellion and exile in Babylon, the Lord said, 'I know the thoughts I think towards you—thoughts of peace and not of evil.'”

“Pastor Philip brought his youngest children on stage to illustrate that even when children make mistakes, a loving father never holds evil thoughts toward them—how much more does God love us?”

This Week

Set intentional moments throughout your daily routines and commutes to think about God frequently.

Approach God affectionately in prayer, expressing your love and need for Him despite your daily mistakes.

Choose to praise God joyfully through worship, even when navigating painful or confusing circumstances.

Maintain a reverent view of God, honoring His holiness rather than viewing Him casually.

Identify and reject negative thoughts or insecurities about God's character by filtering them through the truth of the cross.

Stop running away from God when you fail, trusting that His disposition toward you remains peace and restoration.

Practice falling asleep while meditating on God's good thoughts toward you instead of consuming media before bed.

Remember This

Because of the cross of Christ, God holds endless, refined thoughts of peace, love, and hope toward you—even when you struggle or make mistakes.

A Challenge for You

Apply this message to your heart, and let your response to God be total surrender, affection, love, and lived obedience.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.