Transforming Desires: Finding Joy in God's Glory

In our time together, we explored the profound question of how we perceive God's love: do we feel more loved when God makes much of us, or when He enables us to make much of Him? This question, while insightful, has often been misunderstood. It is not meant to suggest that God does not make much of His children. Rather, it aims to probe the foundation of our joy and whether it is rooted in God or in self. The essence of being born again is not merely a change in the source of our desires but a transformation of the desires themselves, where Christ becomes our ultimate joy.

Many people, even those who identify as Christians, may still be living with the same desires they had before knowing Christ, using Him as a means to achieve personal goals like wealth, health, or happiness. This is not the new birth. The new birth is a radical transformation where Christ and His glory become our greatest delight. It is crucial to understand that God’s love for us is deeply intertwined with His glory. He loves us in ways that ultimately point back to His own glory, which is not a diminishment of His love but an enhancement of it.

God’s love is demonstrated in His predestining us for adoption, creating us for His glory, sending a Savior, and transforming us to live for Him. These acts of love are not merely for our benefit but for the praise of His glory. This God-centered love is the greatest love because it aligns us with the ultimate source of joy and satisfaction—God Himself.

In the end, God makes much of us in extraordinary ways, such as making us heirs with Christ, serving us at His table, and granting us to sit with Him on His throne. Yet, He does this in a way that ensures His glory remains our supreme treasure. This is the essence of His love: He will not let our own glory replace His as our ultimate joy.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The new birth is a radical transformation where Christ becomes our ultimate joy, not just a means to achieve personal desires. This transformation is essential for genuine faith. [07:46]
• 2. God's love is deeply intertwined with His glory. He loves us in ways that ultimately point back to His own glory, enhancing rather than diminishing His love for us. [11:17]
• 3. Being born again means delighting in God Himself, not just His gifts. This shift in focus from self to God is the hallmark of true Christian faith. [08:53]
• 4. God makes much of us in extraordinary ways, such as making us heirs with Christ and granting us to sit with Him on His throne, yet He ensures His glory remains our supreme treasure. [29:25]
• 5. God's love for us is greater when it is for His glory because it aligns us with the ultimate source of joy and satisfaction—God Himself. This is the essence of His love. [31:11]
  ** [31:11]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:16] - Importance of Worship
• [00:33] - Prayer for God's Presence
• [01:12] - Question of God's Love
• [02:30] - Misunderstanding the Question
• [03:36] - Concern for Nominal Christians
• [05:12] - True Christian Desires
• [07:04] - Radical Nature of New Birth
• [08:32] - Delighting in God, Not Just His Gifts
• [10:51] - God's Love for His Glory
• [12:14] - Examples of God's Love
• [19:38] - Answering the Question
• [20:36] - Ways God Makes Much of Us
• [30:06] - Extraordinary Love of God
• [33:25] - 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. Isaiah 43:6-7 - "Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
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 our adoption as sons and daughters of God? How does this relate to God's glory?
2. In Isaiah 43:6-7, what reason does God give for creating us? How does this align with the sermon’s message about God’s love being intertwined with His glory?
3. How does John 17:24 describe Jesus' desire for His followers, and what does this reveal about the nature of God's love for us?

1. How does the concept of being "born again" as described in the sermon differ from simply using Jesus to fulfill personal desires? [07:46]
2. Why might some people feel that God’s love is diminished when it is for His glory, and how does the sermon address this misunderstanding? [11:17]
3. What does it mean for God to make much of us while ensuring His glory remains our supreme treasure, and how does this reflect the essence of His love? [29:25]

1. Reflect on your own desires and motivations. Are there areas in your life where you might be using Jesus as a means to achieve personal goals rather than finding joy in Him alone? How can you shift your focus to delight in God Himself? [08:53]
2. Consider how you perceive God’s love. Do you feel more loved when God makes much of you, or when He enables you to make much of Him? How does this perception affect your relationship with God? [01:12]
3. In what ways can you align your life more closely with the idea that God’s love for us is greater when it is for His glory? How can this understanding bring you deeper joy and satisfaction? [31:11]
4. Think about a time when you felt God’s love in a way that pointed back to His glory. How did that experience impact your faith and understanding of God’s love?
5. How can you practically live out the truth that being born again means delighting in God Himself, not just His gifts? What changes might you need to make in your daily life to reflect this shift in focus? [08:32]
6. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to feel loved by God. How can the truths discussed in the sermon help you overcome these feelings and embrace God’s love more fully? [10:01]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to understand and embrace the God-centered nature of His love? What steps can you take to share this message with those who may misunderstand it?