The Most Liberating Discovery - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

Bro. Bill · 09-30-2022, 07:05 AM

The Most Liberating Discovery
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. (Philippians 3:1)
No one had ever taught me that God is glorified by our joy in him — that joy in God is the very thing that makes our praise an honor to God, and not hypocrisy.
But Jonathan Edwards said it so clearly and powerfully:
God glorifies himself towards the creatures also [in] two ways: (1) by appearing to . . . their understanding; (2) in communicating himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying the manifestations which he makes of himself. . . . God is glorified not only by his glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. . . .
[W]hen those that see it delight in it: God is more glorified than if they only see it. . . . He that testifies his idea of God’s glory [doesn’t] glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.
This was a stunning discovery for me. I must pursue joy in God if I am to glorify him as the surpassingly valuable Reality in the universe. Joy is not a mere option alongside worship. It is an essential component of worship. Indeed the very essence of worship — being glad in the glories of God.
We have a name for those who speak their praises of God when they have no pleasure in what they praise. We call them hypocrites. Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me’” (Matthew 15:7–8). This fact — that authentic praise means consummate pleasure and that the highest end of man is to drink deeply of this pleasure for God’s glory — was perhaps the most liberating discovery I have ever made.
Solid Joy Ministries

Gerald G · 09-30-2022, 07:14 AM

Amen

Texas Grown · 09-30-2022, 07:24 AM

So much truth in this!

It's Friday! Blessings to all. And have a safe weekend!

The fish are biting and there's hogs to be kill-t. Gotta go!

EarleyBird · 09-30-2022, 07:33 AM

Amen

Mtltx · 09-30-2022, 07:49 AM

Thanks Bro. Bill

BBBGP · 09-30-2022, 08:17 AM

Thank you Bro.Bill!

rjtkdplus · 09-30-2022, 08:20 AM

Amen.

sasqy · 09-30-2022, 09:24 AM

Good point !
Thanks for sharing.

Gumbo Man · 09-30-2022, 10:05 AM

Great message. Amen Bro Bill.

Bro. Bill · 09-30-2022, 07:33 PM

Up

cram369 · 10-01-2022, 09:05 AM

As always, thanks for sharing. Your posts always lift us up, and at times it means it means more than you know.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09-30-2022, 07:05 AM	#1
Bro. Bill Pope & Young Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cypress Texas Hunt In: Hill country	The Most Liberating Discovery The Most Liberating Discovery Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. (Philippians 3:1) No one had ever taught me that God is glorified by our joy in him — that joy in God is the very thing that makes our praise an honor to God, and not hypocrisy. But Jonathan Edwards said it so clearly and powerfully: God glorifies himself towards the creatures also [in] two ways: (1) by appearing to . . . their understanding; (2) in communicating himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying the manifestations which he makes of himself. . . . God is glorified not only by his glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. . . . [W]hen those that see it delight in it: God is more glorified than if they only see it. . . . He that testifies his idea of God’s glory [doesn’t] glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it. This was a stunning discovery for me. I must pursue joy in God if I am to glorify him as the surpassingly valuable Reality in the universe. Joy is not a mere option alongside worship. It is an essential component of worship. Indeed the very essence of worship — being glad in the glories of God. We have a name for those who speak their praises of God when they have no pleasure in what they praise. We call them hypocrites. Jesus said, “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me’” (Matthew 15:7–8). This fact — that authentic praise means consummate pleasure and that the highest end of man is to drink deeply of this pleasure for God’s glory — was perhaps the most liberating discovery I have ever made. Solid Joy Ministries

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-30-2022, 07:14 AM	#2
Gerald G Ten Point Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Winona, Mississippi Hunt In: Mississippi, Colorado	Amen

09-30-2022, 07:24 AM	#3
Texas Grown Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Burleson, Texas	So much truth in this! It's Friday! Blessings to all. And have a safe weekend! The fish are biting and there's hogs to be kill-t. Gotta go!

09-30-2022, 07:33 AM	#4
EarleyBird Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Leon County Hunt In: Home	Amen

09-30-2022, 07:49 AM	#5
Mtltx Pope & Young Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Liberty Hill, Tx Hunt In: Hill country	Thanks Bro. Bill

09-30-2022, 08:17 AM	#6
BBBGP Ten Point Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Houston Hunt In: Bee Co.	Thank you Bro.Bill!

09-30-2022, 08:20 AM	#7
rjtkdplus Pope & Young Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Lockhart Hunt In: Everywhere I can	Amen.

09-30-2022, 09:24 AM	#8
sasqy Ten Point Join Date: May 2015 Location: on Salt Creek Hunt In: my Sasquatch Suit	Good point ! Thanks for sharing.

09-30-2022, 10:05 AM	#9
Gumbo Man Pope & Young Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Livingston Texas Hunt In: Between Onalaska and Groveton	Great message. Amen Bro Bill.

09-30-2022, 07:33 PM	#10
Bro. Bill Pope & Young Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cypress Texas Hunt In: Hill country	Up

10-01-2022, 09:05 AM	#11
cram369 Eight Point Join Date: Aug 2017	As always, thanks for sharing. Your posts always lift us up, and at times it means it means more than you know. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk