The Hidden Reason God Is Delaying You

Main message: Christians often live with mixed motives — wanting Jesus to be honored and wanting personal glory — and spiritual maturity (and sometimes God's delays) works to reduce that mixture so God's glory, not ours, increases.

Key points:

• The speaker examines John’s self-description "the one whom Jesus loved," suggesting it can reflect both a transformed identity and a possible desire for special recognition.
• Many believers struggle with mixed motives: wanting Jesus to look good while also wanting to look good themselves.
• Mixture (mixed motives) makes people unpredictable and untrustworthy and can hinder obedience and service.
• Spiritual maturity moves a person away from seeking personal glory and toward increasing God’s glory; maturity is what allows someone to serve sacrificially (even to the point of martyrdom).
• God’s delays are sometimes intentional refinements to manage or remove mixture; leaders also steward opportunities based on people’s ability to manage their motives.

Scriptures mentioned: John 3:16, John 1 (the Word), Gospel of John, Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, 1 Samuel 15 (Saul and the Amalekites)