Finding Joy and Certainty in God's Glory

Devotional

Day 1: The Glory of God as Our Foundation and Goal

The glory of God serves as both the foundation of our certainty and the ultimate goal of our soul's satisfaction. This profound connection transforms our understanding of truth and joy, revealing that they are not separate pursuits but one unified journey. When we recognize that God's glory is the bedrock of our convictions and the endpoint of our deepest desires, we begin to see life through a lens that harmonizes our quest for truth with our longing for joy. This understanding is not merely theoretical but deeply experiential, as it reshapes our perception of what it means to live a fulfilled life. [04:16]

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to align your daily pursuits with the glory of God, ensuring that your search for truth and joy are not separate but unified?

Day 2: Revelation of God's Glory Through His Word

Our quest for truth and joy is fulfilled in the revelation of God's glory through His word. This revelation is not just an intellectual exercise but a profound spiritual experience that changes our hearts and minds. As we engage with the scriptures, we encounter the divine glory that speaks to both our intellect and our spirit, providing a holistic transformation that aligns our understanding with God's truth. This journey is one of deepening our relationship with God, where His word becomes a living and active force in our lives, guiding us toward unshakable conviction and unending contentment. [42:14]

"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." (Psalm 119:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create a daily habit of engaging with God's word in a way that allows His glory to transform both your mind and heart?

Day 3: God's Glory and Our Joy United

God's glory and our joy are not at odds; rather, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. This understanding resolves the perceived dichotomy between glorifying God and pursuing personal happiness. When we find our deepest satisfaction in God, we reflect His glory more fully, and our lives become a testament to His goodness. This realization invites us to reframe our pursuit of happiness, not as a self-centered endeavor, but as a journey toward deeper communion with God, where our joy becomes a reflection of His glory. [33:31]

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4, ESV)

Reflection: What are some ways you can seek satisfaction in God today, ensuring that your pursuit of joy aligns with glorifying Him?

Day 4: The Self-Authenticating Glory of God in Scripture

The self-authenticating glory of God in the scriptures provides both the certainty of the mind and the satisfaction of the soul. This divine glory is objectively present in the word of God and becomes evident to those whose spiritual eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit. As we immerse ourselves in the Bible, we encounter a glory that confirms the truth of God's word and fills our hearts with joy. This experience is not dependent on external validation but is a personal encounter with the divine that assures us of the Bible's truth and its power to satisfy our deepest longings. [43:32]

"The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130, ESV)

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes as you read the Bible, allowing you to experience the self-authenticating glory of God?

Day 5: The New Birth and Transformation of Desires

The new birth is a supernatural work of God that transforms our desires, making us want God more than anything else. This transformation is essential for true Christianity, as it aligns our hearts with God's glory and our ultimate joy. When we experience this new birth, our priorities shift, and we find ourselves drawn to God in ways we never imagined. This change is not merely a modification of behavior but a profound reorientation of our desires, where God becomes the center of our affections and the source of our deepest satisfaction. [31:14]

"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." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to ask God for a transformation of desires, so that you may want Him above all else?

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, I explored the profound connections between the word of God, the glory of God, the satisfaction of the human soul, and the certainty of the human mind. My aim was to demonstrate how these elements are intricately woven together, revealing that the glory of God is both the foundation of our certainty and the ultimate goal of our soul's satisfaction. This understanding is not just theoretical but deeply experiential, as it transforms our perception of truth and joy.

I emphasized that the quest for truth and the quest for joy are not separate pursuits but one unified journey. The path to unshakable conviction and unending contentment is the same, rooted in the revelation of God's glory through His word. This revelation is not merely an intellectual exercise but a profound spiritual experience that changes our hearts and minds.

Reflecting on my personal journey, I shared how my understanding of God's glory and human happiness has evolved over the years. Growing up, I struggled with the perceived dichotomy between glorifying God and pursuing personal happiness. However, through transformative experiences and insights from theologians like Jonathan Edwards and C.S. Lewis, I came to realize that God's glory and our joy are not at odds. In fact, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

I also addressed the question of how we can be certain of the Bible's truth. The answer lies in the self-authenticating glory of God that shines through the scriptures. This glory is not subjective but objectively present in the word of God, and it becomes evident to those whose spiritual eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit. This divine glory provides both the certainty of the mind and the satisfaction of the soul, making the Bible not just a book of truth but a source of profound joy.

Key Takeaways

1. authenticating glory of God in the scriptures provides both the certainty of the mind and the satisfaction of the soul. This divine glory is objectively present in the word of God and becomes evident to those whose spiritual eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit. [43:32]
5. The new birth is a supernatural work of God that transforms our desires, making us want God more than anything else. This transformation is essential for true Christianity, as it aligns our hearts with God's glory and our ultimate joy.

** [43:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Personal Connection and Memories
[00:42] - Excitement for the Message
[01:37] - Prayer for God's Presence
[02:48] - Aim of the Message
[03:55] - The Ground of Certainty and Goal of Satisfaction
[05:18] - The Quest for Truth and Joy
[07:16] - Personal Journey and Struggles
[10:03] - Made for God's Glory
[14:02] - Desire for Happiness
[19:20] - Transformative Experience at 22
[21:01] - God's Ultimate Goal
[25:28] - Desires Not Too Strong, But Too Weak
[33:08] - God's Glory and Our Joy United
[41:21] - Certainty of the Bible's Truth
[49:11] - Analogies and Glimpses of Glory
[56:22] - Seeing God's Glory in Nature
[59:52] - The Gospel's Light and Glory
[64:17] - Concluding Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Romans 1:20-23
Isaiah 48:9-11
Philippians 1:20-23

---

Observation Questions:

According to the sermon, how does the glory of God become the foundation of our certainty and the goal of our soul's satisfaction? [04:16]
What personal experiences did the pastor share that helped him understand the connection between God's glory and human happiness? [19:20]
How does the pastor describe the role of the Holy Spirit in opening our spiritual eyes to see the glory of God in the scriptures? [43:32]
What does the pastor mean when he says that the quest for truth and the quest for joy are one unified journey? [05:18]

---

Interpretation Questions:

How does Romans 1:20-23 illustrate the idea that the knowledge of God is written on every human heart, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about the glory of God? [10:22]
In Isaiah 48:9-11, God speaks about His glory. How does this passage support the sermon’s claim that God’s ultimate goal is to uphold and display His glory? [21:59]
Philippians 1:20-23 discusses how Christ is magnified in life and death. How does this passage help us understand the pastor's statement that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him? [33:31]
The pastor mentioned that the self-authenticating glory of God in the scriptures provides certainty and satisfaction. How does this concept challenge or affirm your current understanding of the Bible's truth? [43:32]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt a deep sense of joy and satisfaction in God. How did that experience impact your understanding of His glory? [33:31]
The pastor shared his struggle with the perceived dichotomy between glorifying God and pursuing personal happiness. Have you ever felt this tension in your own life? How can you reconcile these two pursuits? [19:20]
Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to the Spirit’s work in revealing God’s glory to you through scripture? [43:32]
The sermon suggests that our desires are often too weak rather than too strong. What desires in your life might need to be redirected towards God for greater satisfaction? [25:28]
How can you practically pursue both truth and joy in your daily life, knowing that they are part of the same journey towards understanding God’s glory? [05:18]
The pastor emphasized the importance of being born again to truly desire God above all else. What steps can you take to nurture a heart that longs for God more than anything else? [31:14]
Reflect on Philippians 1:20-23. How can you live in a way that magnifies Christ in both life and death, and what changes might you need to make to align your life with this goal? [36:22]

Sermon Clips

In and through the word of God, the Bible, the glory of God becomes the ground of the Mind's certainty and the goal of the Soul's satisfaction. That's the connections, or put it another way, in the Bible the glory of God reveals itself to be inescapably real and to be incomparably rewarding. [00:03:59]

The Quest For Truth and the Quest for joy are one Quest. The path to unshakable conviction and the path to unending contentment are One path. Knowing for sure and rejoicing forever happen by the same discovery, namely the glory of God in the word of God. [00:05:16]

I knew because my parents taught me and then I saw it in the Bible that God expected me to glorify him in everything, and secondly I Knew by the age of 13. I wanted to be happy. I mean it was true earlier I just didn't think about it, but by the time I'm a teenager I'm thinking, I really want to be happy. [00:13:17]

I knew then I know now that I was made to desire to seek and find happiness I was made to long for and discover Joy I was made to want and attain full satisfaction that's why I was made namely I was made to find happiness in God I was made to find joy in God I was made to find satisfaction in God. [00:16:20]

The thought that God never intended for his greatest Glory and my greatest happiness not to be Alternatives the thought that he never intended them to be alternatives never enter my mind. It just felt like they were and that's the way it was going to be and I had to choose the thought that God might be glorified in my being happy in him never occurred to me. [00:19:21]

The discovery that my desires were not too strong but too weak and the remedy from my early perplexity did not lie in getting rid of my desires but on glutting them on God. That was revolutionary to me, like, your problem longing aching yearning wanting John Piper is that you don't yet want like you ought to want. [00:25:24]

The Mandate from God to enjoy God was not to my amazement marginal, this was Central this was pervasive, being satisfied in God was not icing on the cake of Christianity it wasn't the Caboose at the end of the train, it was the essence and the Heart of Christianity. [00:30:00]

The new birth is a supernatural work of God by which you are born again so that you want God more than you want anything and if you don't want God more than you want anything you're not a Christian, that's what the new birth is, it takes hearts that are in love with the world and puts them in love with Christ. [00:31:14]

God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him is the summary of my 50-year pilgrimage. I saw it simultaneously in a class with Dan Fuller I saw it in Edwards I saw it in Philippians, and each other. Here's Edwards, Jonathan Edwards my most influential whatever person. [00:33:31]

The way the scriptures reveal their complete truthfulness is by embodying in their words and in their meaning the self-authenticating glory of God so that whoever has eyes to see can see it and know this is the word of God, the glory of God is really there it's really there it's not in the eye of the beholder. [00:43:32]

The heavens are telling the glory of God, do they to you? If they do you get it, but be careful, because my guess is some of you, what you really see in the heavens is the glory of the heavens. The Bible says the glory of the heavens is a window onto something you cannot see with physical eyes but only with the eyes of the heart namely God's glory. [00:56:22]

The God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God. So if God would be pleased to remove the blindness, what would you see? Here's the phrase again, the light, there's a light, it's not a physical light. [00:59:52]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Finding Joy and Certainty in God's Glory

Devotional

Day 1: The Glory of God as Our Foundation and Goal

Day 2: Revelation of God's Glory Through His Word

Day 3: God's Glory and Our Joy United

Day 4: The Self-Authenticating Glory of God in Scripture

Day 5: The New Birth and Transformation of Desires

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Finding Joy and Certainty in God's Glory

Share