Our Passion for God's Supremacy
Notes from the sermon preached by John Piper at the Conference Passion '97
God is passionate for His glory above all things
1. Everything that God does, He does for His own glory. He values Himself above all things.
2. This is loving of God because His glory and exaltation is what brings us the greatest joy.
3. In fact, the more happy we are in God, the more glorified He is in us. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.
4. The implications of this are stunning: We ought to make it our life aim to be as happy as we possibly can be in God. We like to call this Christian Hedonism (a hedonist is one who pursues pleasure), but you don't need to use the name if you don't like it.
How does the Bible teach that we should seek joy in God?
1. Commands: Psalm 32:11; 37:4; 100:1-5; Philippians 4:4
2. Threats: Deuteronomy 28:47
3. By presenting saving faith to be, at its heart, a satisfaction in all that God promises to be for us in Jesus: Hebrews 11:6; John 6:35; 4:13-14
4. By presenting sin to be, at its heart, forsaking the pursuit of pleasure in God and seeking pleasure outside of Him: Jeremiah 2:13.
What about self-denial?
1. Yes, we must deny ourselves! It is commanded. But that means:
A. Deny yourself the wimpy treasures of earth in order to gain the glorious treasures of heaven: Matthew 6:19-212.
B. Deny yourself all that gets in the way of your being fully satisfied in Christ: Mark 8:34-38.
Doesn't Christian Hedonism make too much of emotions?
1. NO! Christianity is not simply acts of will or understanding of the mind. It is also a matter of the heart. Emotions are not the icing on the cake that we can do without, but are essential to true Christianity: 1 Peter 1:8. Without the affections, our understanding and willing is empty: Matthew 15:8.
A. God commands us to feel joy: Phillipians 4:1; Psalm 2:10.
B. God commands us to feel hope: Psalm 42:5; Romans 12:12.
C. God commands us to feel fear of Him: Luke 12:5.
D. God commands us to feel gratitude to Him: Ephesians 5:20.
E. God commands us to feel zeal for His name: Romans 12:11; cf. Titus 2:14.
F. God commands us to feel love for Him and others: Matthew 22:37-38.
G. God commands us to feel longing for His word: 1 Peter 2:2.
H. God commands us to feel tenderheartedness: Colossians 2:12-13.
I. God's kingdom is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit: Romans 14:17.
What about the noble vision of "serving" God?
1. We cannot serve God by meeting His needs: Acts 16:25. God has no needs.
2. Rather, we serve God the way one would serve money -by positioning ourselves so that God will meet our needs and make us happy: Matthew 6:24. But notice that this is a happiness in God, not worldly treasures.
3. We serve God in His power and for His glory: 1 Peter 4:11-12.
4. Serving God is always a matter of receiving from Him, for the giver is the one who gets the glory and the receiver is the one who gets the joy. You serve God by letting Him serve you. For example, as you share the gospel, God is serving you because He is empowering you to do it and because He is giving you the joy of proclaiming His greatness displayed through Christ's death and resurrection.
Does Christian Hedonism make ourselves central rather than God? Is it selfish?
1. NO! It does the exact opposite it makes God central.
2. Why? Because God is more honored when we serve Him for the joy in it than if we serve Him merely out of duty. Imagine a husband giving flowers to his wife. Would it be right if he said, "I'm only doing this because its my duty"? His wife would not be honored in that case. She would be mad. The right answer would be, "I'm doing this because I enjoy making you happy." There would be no accusations of selfishness or making himself central, because that motive gives the most honor to his wife.
In sum: Seek your joy in God with all God's might for all of your life. And labor to use this life on earth to lay up as much happiness as possible in the next life.
Further resources:
Desiring God, by John Piper.
This excellent book defends this vision of life from the Bible and applies it to worship, love, missions, money, marriage, prayer, and suffering.
Future Grace, by John Piper.
This book shows how the key to fighting sin and growing in holiness is treasuring God above sin and the world.
The Pleasures of God, by John Piper.
This book is about God's delight in being God. It unfolds God's pleasure in His Son, His sovereignty, creation, His fame, election, Christ's work of redemption, doing good to all who hope in Him, the prayers of the upright, and personal obedience.
The Writings of John Piper.
Enjoyment is Not Optional.
Delighting in Doing Good.
Fighting for joy in God with Scripture.
The Joy of Heavenly Rewards.
"...and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory..." 1 Peter 1:8, NASB.
Go back to Contend for the Faith.
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