Finding Joy in God: A Shift from Self

In our journey of faith, a profound question arises: Do we feel more loved by God because He makes much of us, or because He enables us to make much of Him? This question is not meant to diminish the truth that God indeed makes much of us, but rather to challenge us to examine the foundation of our joy. At the core of our happiness, is it self or God? The aim is to shift the foundation from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, where God becomes the ultimate source of our joy.

The Bible reveals that God loves us in ways that ultimately glorify Him. This is not to undermine our worth but to align our joy with the eternal truth that only God can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. The new birth, or being born again, is a transformation where God replaces self at the bottom of our joy. This change is crucial because many professing Christians may not have experienced this fundamental shift, mistaking God's love as a means to fulfill their self-centered desires.

God's love is demonstrated in ways that make much of Him, such as predestining us for adoption to the praise of His glorious grace, sending a Savior for our redemption, and calling us to live for Him. These acts of love are designed to reveal His glory and invite us into a relationship where our joy is rooted in making much of Him. This is the essence of being born again—finding our ultimate satisfaction in God and His glory.

God indeed makes much of us, but this should lead us to make much of Him. He delights in us, makes us heirs with Christ, serves us, and even grants us the privilege of judging angels. These truths should thrill our souls, not because we are at the center, but because they reveal the greatness of God and His love for us. The ultimate expression of God's love is not in making us our greatest treasure but in making Himself our greatest treasure, for only He can bear the weight of our eternal joy.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The foundation of our joy should be God, not self. This shift is essential for true spiritual transformation and aligns our desires with God's eternal purpose. [09:00]
• 2. Being born again involves a fundamental change where God becomes the source of our joy, replacing self-centered desires with a God-centered life. [14:11]
• 3. God's love is demonstrated in ways that glorify Him, inviting us to find our ultimate satisfaction in His glory rather than in self-centered pursuits. [23:30]
• 4. God makes much of us in ways that reveal His greatness, such as making us heirs with Christ and serving us, which should lead us to make much of Him. [45:14]
• 5. The ultimate expression of God's love is making Himself our greatest treasure, for only He can satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. [53:31]
  ** [53:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:11] - Introduction to the Question
• [01:25] - Clarifying Misunderstandings
• [03:06] - Biblical Clarity and Precision
• [04:20] - The Purpose of the Question
• [05:33] - The Foundation of Our Joy
• [08:41] - Self vs. God at the Bottom
• [10:16] - The Ranking of Joys
• [12:25] - The New Birth and Joy
• [16:13] - Misinterpretations of Conversion
• [20:52] - The New Birth Changes the Bottom
• [22:11] - God's Acts of Love and Glory
• [23:46] - Biblical Examples of God's Love
• [35:24] - Seven Ways God Makes Much of Us
• [53:31] - God's Love and Our Greatest Treasure
• [56:18] - Closing Prayer

1. Ephesians 1:5-6 - "He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."
2. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."
3. John 17:24 - "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."

1. According to Ephesians 1:5-6, what is the purpose of God predestining us for adoption? How does this relate to the concept of God-centered joy? [24:25]
2. In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, what does Paul say is the result of Christ's love compelling us? How does this passage challenge self-centered desires? [29:14]
3. What does Jesus express as his desire for believers in John 17:24? How does this reflect the sermon’s emphasis on God being the ultimate treasure? [32:21]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between feeling loved by God because He makes much of us versus enabling us to make much of Him? [09:52]

1. How does the idea of being predestined for adoption in Ephesians 1:5-6 challenge the notion of self-centered joy? What does it mean for our identity as believers? [24:25]
2. In 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, Paul mentions that Christ died so that we might live for Him. How does this shift in focus from self to Christ impact a believer's daily life and decisions? [29:14]
3. Reflecting on John 17:24, why might Jesus prioritize believers seeing His glory? How does this align with the sermon’s message about God being our greatest treasure? [32:21]
4. The sermon suggests that many professing Christians may not have experienced a fundamental shift in the foundation of their joy. What might be some signs of this lack of transformation? [14:11]

1. Reflect on your own life: Is your joy primarily rooted in self-centered desires or in God-centered joy? What steps can you take to shift your focus more towards God? [09:00]
2. Consider the concept of being born again as described in the sermon. Have you experienced a transformation where God is at the bottom of your joy? If not, what might be holding you back? [14:11]
3. How can you actively seek to make much of God in your daily life, rather than seeking to be made much of by others? Identify one specific area where you can start this week. [20:52]
4. The sermon mentions that God’s love is demonstrated in ways that glorify Him. How can you align your actions and decisions to reflect this truth in your relationships and work? [23:30]
5. Think about a time when you felt loved by God. Was it because He made much of you, or because He enabled you to make much of Him? How can this reflection guide your future spiritual growth? [10:16]
6. Identify one self-centered desire that often takes precedence in your life. What practical steps can you take to replace it with a God-centered desire? [21:13]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for God as your greatest treasure, especially in moments of doubt or struggle? What specific practices can help reinforce this mindset? [53:31]