Jan 12
This is a collection of stories and videos on the life of Jimmy Carter. He was an amazing man of faith and we can learn much from him.
Video: Values learned in Plains defined Jimmy Carter’s life
Through Decades Of Marriage, Rosalynn & Jimmy Carter Read The Bible Together Every Night
Jimmy Carter: How Prayer Sustained Him
What I Learned From Praying With Jimmy Carter – by Russell Moore
Jan 06
Check out this video. In this video I show how to transform all plain-text Scripture references on a webpage into hyperlinks to the appropriate Bible passage from BibleGateway.com. That is, when the user hovers on the Bible reference, a tooltip pops up, showing the Bible passage. Here is the information page at BibleGateway.com.
For a demo, hover on the passage: Philippians 2:3.
Jan 05
This website faith.drjimo.net has been recently updated. It should be stable again. I have a few new pages and posts. If something doesn’t work on this site, please let me know so I can fix it.
Jan 03
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Here are two mnemonics for the nine Fruits of the Spirit using the ESV version (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). The second breaks the 9 into three groups of three, making it manageable—and suggesting Paul’s possible intent.
1. Verbal Mnemonic: “Let Jesus Plant* Kind Grapes For God’s Sake.” (*Note: P has to be used twice.)
2. Visual Mnemonic: The Fruit Tree with Three Branches.
Imagine a tree with three clusters of fruit on three branches:
1. First Branch – Internal Qualities (Relationship with God):
2. Second Branch – Relational Qualities (How You Treat Others):
3. Third Branch – Personal Virtues (Inner Strength):
Draw or visualize this tree, labeling each branch with the respective fruits.
Jan 02
The Puritan prayer, titled “Year’s End,” ends with the words, “Only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial, as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.” (“Meet” means prepared and appropriate for.)
Before addressing the meaning of God being glorified in us, let us first look at.
According to theologians, what is God’s first and foremost goal? I’ve chosen 4.
R. C. Sproul
R. C. Sproul would likely answer that God’s first and foremost goal and desire is His own glory. Sproul frequently emphasized that God’s ultimate purpose in creation, redemption, and all things is to display His glory and make Himself known. He rooted this view in Scripture, citing passages like Isaiah 43:7 (”…whom I created for my glory”) and Romans 11:36 (“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.”).
Augustine
For Augustine, God’s primary goal would also center on His own glory and the ordering of all things toward Himself as the highest good. Augustine argued in works like The Confessions and The City of God that God’s desire is to be glorified through the love and worship of His creation. Augustine famously stated, “You have made us for Yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in You,” emphasizing that God is the source and end of all desire.
Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards would affirm that God’s ultimate goal is His own glory in the display of His excellencies. In The End for Which God Created the World, Edwards argued that God’s glory is fully expressed in the happiness and joy of His creatures in Him. He saw God’s purpose as the harmonious union of God’s self-glorification and the joy of His people, with these two aims being inseparably linked.
John Piper
John Piper, heavily influenced by Edwards, would say that God’s chief end is to glorify Himself by being most satisfied in Himself. Piper often phrases this as “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” This view emphasizes that God’s goal is to magnify His worth and beauty by inviting humanity into a joyful relationship with Him, where His glory and our joy converge.
Each of these theologians, though varied in expression, focuses on God’s glory as His ultimate goal, with nuanced emphases on how that glory is revealed and experienced.
Now we can move to the main question:
The phrases “God is most glorified in us” and “Only glorify thyself in me” express a profound theological idea: that God’s glory is not just something external to us but can be revealed and magnified through our lives. Let’s unpack these ideas.
What Does It Mean for God to Be Glorified in Us?
To glorify God means to display or reflect His greatness, worth, and beauty. When we say “God is glorified in us,” it implies that:
1. Our Lives Reflect His Character
God’s glory is revealed when His attributes—love, holiness, wisdom, and power—are reflected in our actions, attitudes, and decisions. For instance, when we love sacrificially, forgive generously, or serve humbly, others see a glimpse of God’s character in us (Matthew 5:16).
2. Our Joy in God Shows His Worth
John Piper emphasizes that when we are deeply satisfied in God—when we treasure Him above all else—we demonstrate to the world that He is supremely valuable. This satisfaction glorifies God because it communicates that He is not just a means to an end but the ultimate end itself (Psalm 73:25-26).
3. Our Dependence on God Displays His Sufficiency
When we rely on God in trials, trust Him for provision, and seek Him in prayer, we acknowledge that He is our source of strength and sustenance. This dependence magnifies His power and faithfulness.
4. Our Transformation Testifies to His Work
As God changes us through the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18), we become living testimonies of His grace and glory. Our transformation points others to the power of God’s redeeming love.
What Does “Only Glorify Thyself in Me” Mean?
This phrase from the Puritan prayer expresses a heartfelt desire for one’s entire life to be used for God’s glory. It conveys:
1. Submission to God’s Will
The prayer acknowledges that our purpose is not self-centered but God-centered. To glorify God in us means yielding to His plans, trusting that His ways are higher and better than our own (Isaiah 55:8-9).
2. A Request for God’s Work in Us
It’s a plea for God to work in and through us so that His glory is evident. This could include granting us grace to live righteously, strength to endure trials, and love to serve others.
3. A Desire for Purity of Motive
The prayer also reflects a longing for pure motives—that all we do, whether in worship, work, or relationships, is done for God’s honor and not for personal gain or recognition (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The Convergence of God’s Glory and Our Joy
Both Piper’s theology and the Puritan prayer highlight the beautiful truth that God’s glory and our joy are not at odds but are deeply intertwined. When we find our greatest delight in God, we naturally glorify Him because our satisfaction in Him declares to the world that He is our highest good. Similarly, when God is glorified in us, we experience the joy of living according to our created purpose.
In essence, these ideas challenge us to live in such a way that every aspect of our being—our desires, actions, and affections—points others to the greatness and goodness of God.
Here is a devotional, titled, “The Glory of God through Man.” The devotional ends with a Coram Deo thought. R. C. Sproul emphasized that we are to love Coram Deo. This closely related to the idea of God’s glory being in us.
Dec 23
H. B. Charles Jr. is a well-known pastor, author, and speaker recognized for his commitment to biblical preaching and pastoral leadership. He serves as the pastor-teacher of the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Charles is celebrated for his Christ-centered preaching, his emphasis on expository preaching, and his passion for equipping other pastors and preachers.
Key Contributions:
1. Expository Preaching:
Charles emphasizes the importance of faithfully explaining and applying Scripture in its context, letting the text guide the sermon rather than imposing personal ideas onto it.
2. Pastoral Ministry:
With years of pastoral experience (he began preaching at age 11 and pastoring at 17), Charles has written and spoken extensively on the practical and spiritual aspects of shepherding a congregation.
3. Writings and Resources:
He has authored several books, including:
• On Preaching: Personal & Pastoral Insights for the Preparation & Practice of Preaching
• It Happens After Prayer: Biblical Motivation for Believing Prayer
• The Difference Jesus Makes
Memorable Quotes and Ideas:
Here are some quotes and key ideas attributed to H. B. Charles Jr.:
1. On Preaching:
• “The goal of preaching is not to say something new, but to say something true.”
This reflects his belief that faithful preaching is not about novelty but about accurately presenting God’s Word.
• “The text has one meaning, but it has many applications.”
This encourages preachers to stay rooted in the primary meaning of Scripture while addressing diverse life situations.
• “Expository preaching is the message of the text, shaped by the text, and delivered for the benefit of the listener.”
This highlights the centrality of Scripture in sermon preparation and delivery.
Big picture: “It is the will of God, that the spirit of God, use the Word of God, to make the people of God, look like the son of God.”
2. On Prayer:
• “When we work, we work; but when we pray, God works.”
This underscores the power of prayer and reliance on God rather than human effort.
• “Prayer is our declaration of dependence upon God.”
A reminder that prayer reflects humility and trust in God’s sovereignty.
3. On Ministry:
• “Faithfulness is its own reward.”
Charles emphasizes that the ultimate goal of ministry is to be faithful to God, regardless of visible results.
• “Preaching is not a performance; it’s a proclamation of the truth that leads to transformation.”
A challenge to preachers to prioritize substance over style and focus on the spiritual growth of their congregation.
4. On Leadership:
• “Leadership is not about how many people follow you; it’s about how faithfully you follow Jesus.”
This encourages leaders to focus on their personal relationship with Christ rather than seeking popularity.
5. On Christian Living:
• “You cannot be fruitful if you are not faithful.”
Faithfulness in one’s relationship with God and obedience to His Word is essential for spiritual growth and impact.
Influence:
H. B. Charles Jr. has had a significant impact on pastors and preachers worldwide through his conferences, workshops, and books. His focus on the centrality of Scripture and his practical, down-to-earth wisdom have made him a trusted voice in the areas of preaching, prayer, and pastoral ministry.
Dec 15
Full title of the article: The Moody Church: “The Flower And The Fruit” of DL Moody’s Great Work As Represented In The City Of Chicago”
An address delivered by Rev. James M. Gray, D.D., President of the Moody Bible Institute, in The Moody Church Tabernacle, on the occasion of laying the cornerstone of the D.L. Moody Memorial Church and Sunday School Building, December 16, 1924. He praises D.L. Moody and discusses (in 1924) “apostasy known as Liberalism or Modernism” and the 4 pillars of the Gospel.
Dec 13
I just learned today about the New English Translation (NET) Bible. It’s not brand new, coming out in 2001. I’m quite impressed. Here are some reasons I will use the NET Bible and their websites. (I’m not jumping to it whole hog, but plan to use it as a useful resource in understanding God’s Word).
1 John 4:19
http://quoteseverlasting.com/quotations/category/c-s-lewis-2/
