Delighting in God: Our Duty and His Glory

Devotional

Day 1: Delighting in God as an Act of Obedience

Delighting in God is not merely a suggestion but a profound duty for every believer. This duty is rooted in the great commandment to love God with all our heart, which is the essence of savoring and relishing Him as our greatest pleasure. John Howe, an English Puritan, emphasizes that delighting in God is a commandment, an obligation that is integral to our obedience. This delight is not an alternative to obedience but its very essence. The confusion often arises when people separate joy in God from obedience, thinking they are distinct pursuits. However, true obedience is rooted in the enjoyment of God, and without this delight, all apparent obedience is mere rebellion. [36:54]

Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV): "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act."

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally choose to delight in God today, seeing it as an act of obedience rather than a mere feeling?

Day 2: The Transformative Power of a New Heart

To truly delight in God, one must be born again, receiving a new heart as promised in the New Covenant. This transformation is a divine miracle, not something we can achieve on our own. Once this new heart is received, believers are urged to fight against anything that obstructs their delight in God, such as worldly distractions and entertainment that diminish our capacity to savor Him. Engaging in constant communion with God through prayer and scripture is essential. By beholding God more through the gospel, our hearts are drawn to delight in Him. [45:29]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual journey. How have you experienced the transformation of your heart, and how can you nurture this new heart to delight more in God?

Day 3: Overcoming Distractions to Delight in God

Believers must actively fight against anything that obstructs their delight in God, such as worldly distractions and entertainment. Engaging in constant communion with God through prayer and scripture is essential for cultivating this delight. The world offers many distractions that can pull us away from our focus on God, but by prioritizing our relationship with Him, we can overcome these obstacles. This requires intentionality and discipline, as well as a commitment to seeking God above all else. [48:34]

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: Identify one distraction in your life that hinders your delight in God. What practical steps can you take today to minimize its impact?

Day 4: The Glory of Enjoying God

The glory of enjoying God is profound. Many theologians may feel uneasy about emphasizing the experiential nature of faith, fearing it might overshadow the objective reality of God's glory. However, the Puritans, including Howe, argue that delighting in God is essential for glorifying Him. When we find our deepest satisfaction in God, we glorify Him as God. This truth, echoed by Jonathan Edwards and others, underscores that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. This delight is not just for our benefit but is a testament to God's glory, as He is the ultimate fulfillment of our desires. [55:12]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to find your deepest satisfaction in God today, and how might this glorify Him in your life?

Day 5: Experiential Faith Enhances God's Glory

The experiential nature of faith, rooted in delighting in God, does not diminish His glory but enhances it. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, a truth that underscores the importance of our delight in Him. This experiential faith is not about emotional highs but about a deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing and experiencing God personally. It is through this personal relationship that we can truly glorify God and fulfill our ultimate purpose. [56:29]

1 Peter 1:8-9 (ESV): "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Reflection: Reflect on your personal experience of faith. How does your joy in God enhance His glory, and how can you cultivate this joy in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

Delighting in God is not merely a suggestion but a profound duty for every believer. This duty is rooted in the great commandment to love God with all our heart, which is the essence of savoring and relishing Him as our greatest pleasure. John Howe, an English Puritan, emphasizes that delighting in God is a commandment, an obligation that is integral to our obedience. This delight is not an alternative to obedience but its very essence. The confusion often arises when people separate joy in God from obedience, thinking they are distinct pursuits. However, true obedience is rooted in the enjoyment of God, and without this delight, all apparent obedience is mere rebellion.

To cultivate this delight, one must first be born again, receiving a new heart as promised in the New Covenant. This transformation is a divine miracle, not something we can achieve on our own. Once this new heart is received, believers are urged to fight against anything that obstructs their delight in God, such as worldly distractions and entertainment that diminish our capacity to savor Him. Engaging in constant communion with God through prayer and scripture is essential. By beholding God more through the gospel, our hearts are drawn to delight in Him.

The glory of enjoying God is profound. Many theologians may feel uneasy about emphasizing the experiential nature of faith, fearing it might overshadow the objective reality of God's glory. However, the Puritans, including Howe, argue that delighting in God is essential for glorifying Him. When we find our deepest satisfaction in God, we glorify Him as God. This truth, echoed by Jonathan Edwards and others, underscores that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. This delight is not just for our benefit but is a testament to God's glory, as He is the ultimate fulfillment of our desires.

Key Takeaways

1. -FBs&t=2214s'>[36:54]
2. The Necessity of a New Heart: To truly delight in God, one must be born again, receiving a new heart as promised in the New Covenant. This transformation is a divine act, enabling us to savor God as our supreme treasure.

3. Overcoming Obstacles to Delight: Believers must actively fight against anything that obstructs their delight in God, such as worldly distractions and entertainment. Engaging in constant communion with God through prayer and scripture is essential for cultivating this delight.

4. The Glory of Enjoying God: Delighting in God is not just for our benefit but is a testament to His glory. When we find our deepest satisfaction in God, we glorify Him as God, fulfilling our ultimate purpose.

5. Experiential Faith and God's Glory: The experiential nature of faith, rooted in delighting in God, does not diminish His glory but enhances it. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, a truth that underscores the importance of our delight in Him.

** [36:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:06] - Introduction to Delighting in God
[34:37] - Outline and John Howe's Influence
[35:22] - The Duty of Enjoying God
[36:54] - Delighting in God as a Commandment
[39:13] - Joy in God as Obedience
[40:32] - Enjoying Obedience
[42:13] - Real Obedience and Enjoyment
[44:38] - Strategies for Enjoying God
[45:29] - The Necessity of a New Heart
[48:34] - Overcoming Obstacles to Delight
[51:24] - Engaging with God through Scripture
[53:35] - The Glory of Enjoying God
[55:12] - Experiential Faith and God's Glory
[56:29] - Delighting in God and Glorifying Him

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Delighting in God

Bible Reading:

Psalm 37:4 - "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Ezekiel 36:26-27 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."
Matthew 15:8 - "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."

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Observation Questions:

According to the sermon, how does John Howe describe the relationship between delighting in God and obedience? [36:54]
What does the sermon suggest is necessary for someone to truly delight in God? [45:29]
How does the sermon describe the role of worldly distractions in obstructing our delight in God? [48:34]
What is the connection between delighting in God and glorifying Him, as discussed in the sermon? [56:29]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of receiving a "new heart" in Ezekiel 36:26-27 relate to the sermon’s emphasis on being born again to delight in God? [45:29]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that delighting in God is a commandment rather than an optional pursuit? [36:54]
How might the sermon’s discussion of entertainment as a distraction challenge the way believers engage with media and technology? [48:34]
What does the sermon imply about the relationship between experiential faith and the objective glory of God? [55:12]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on Psalm 37:4. How can you actively pursue delighting in God this week, and what steps will you take to ensure this is a priority in your life?
The sermon mentions the necessity of being born again to truly delight in God. How can you assess your own spiritual transformation and seek renewal in your relationship with God? [45:29]
Identify specific worldly distractions in your life that hinder your delight in God. What practical steps can you take to minimize these distractions this week? [48:34]
Consider the ways you currently engage with God through prayer and scripture. How can you deepen this engagement to cultivate a greater delight in Him? [51:24]
The sermon discusses the importance of delighting in God as a testament to His glory. How can you share this delight with others in your community or church? [56:29]
Reflect on a time when you felt your obedience to God was more out of duty than delight. How can you shift your perspective to find joy in obedience? [39:13]
How can you incorporate the practice of delighting in God into your daily routine, ensuring it becomes a natural and integral part of your life?

Sermon Clips

"Can they be said to love God that take no pleasure in him, that is to love him without loving him end quote. In other words loving God as we ought is not less than, more but not less than experiencing him as our greatest pleasure, it is more not less." [00:36:14]

"It is plain quote it is plain that it is the common duty of all to delight in God. Duty obligation, commandment to delight in God. Delight in the duty that is given to you as a man, delight in God is commanded by God and therefore it's a duty of man delighting God is a command therefore it's obedience to delight in God." [00:36:54]

"Joy in God is obedience, obedience to the command rejoice in the Lord. It's obedience to the command delight yourself in the Lord. No end of confusion is caused by trying to inculcate into Believers the mindset that delighting in God and obeying in God are alternatives." [00:39:13]

"Where the heart has not embraced God as its Supreme treasure, all apparent obedience is rebellion. I think that's true. This people honors me with their professed obedience, but their heart is far from me in vain do they obey, paraphrasing Matthew 15 8." [00:43:42]

"You must be born again or you must have a new covenant heart. So according to Luke 22 20, Jesus bought the blessings of the New Covenant by his blood this cup is the New Covenant in my blood, I purchase the reality promised in the New Covenant for my sheep with my blood." [00:45:29]

"Strive against all your spiritual distempers that obstruct it in the power of the Holy Ghost. God hath in this matter no other rival than the world, it is its friendship that is enmity to him. So set yourself against God diminishing thoughts." [00:48:34]

"If you ever will do anything in this great matter of delighting in God you must arrest your thoughts for him and engage them in more constant converse with him and mingling prayers with those thoughts. He goes on God is out of your sight and therefore how can it be expected that you should find a sensible Delight in him." [00:50:27]

"God did invite thee to Delight in him who have always sought thy good, done strange things to affect it, takes pleasure in thy Prosperity, exercises loving kindness towards thee with delight, who contrived thy happiness, wrought out thy peace at the expense of blood, even his own." [00:52:03]

"It is remarkable how many reformed theologians are uneasy with the Puritan emphasis on the experiential nature of the Christian faith, rooted in the duty of delighting in God. How would that be, I mean these are my people, why would that be." [00:53:35]

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him that's my sentence, I made that up it rhymes, the truth is as old as God. Here's what Howe says see if you don't think so we all know Edward said it he just said it and we all know I said it I say it all the time." [00:55:12]

"We are to desire the enjoyment of God for his own Glory, and yet, here is a strange and admirable complication of these with one another, four, we enjoy him, delight and rest in him as our best and most satisfying good we thereby glorify him as God." [00:56:29]

"It is his glory to be the last term of our desires, and Beyond which no reasonable desire can go further. Still reading from how, it is his glory, have needy Souls satiating themselves in him, oh I want to kiss him on the cheek." [00:57:47]

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Delighting in God: Our Duty and His Glory

Devotional

Day 1: Delighting in God as an Act of Obedience

Day 2: The Transformative Power of a New Heart

Day 3: Overcoming Distractions to Delight in God

Day 4: The Glory of Enjoying God

Day 5: Experiential Faith Enhances God's Glory

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Delighting in God: Our Duty and His Glory

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