He Must Increase 2025

He Must Increase

Text: John 3:22-36

Introduction

Illustration: Matt Emmons had the gold medal in sight. He was one shot away from claiming victory in the 2004 Olympic 50-meter three-position rifle event. He didn’t even need a bull’s-eye to win. His final shot merely needed to be close to the center of the target. Normally, the shot he made would have received a score of 8.1, more than enough for a gold medal. But in what was described as “an extremely rare mistake in elite competition,” Emmons fired at the wrong target. Standing in lane two, he fired at the target in lane three. His score for a good shot at the wrong target? Zero. Instead of a medal, Emmons ended up in eighth place. It doesn’t matter how accurate you are if you are aiming at the wrong goal.

Many people invest their entire life aiming at the wrong goal.

The New Year always poses opportunity to reset what the most important targets to aim your life. Not merely the targets, but the motivation behind setting your aim on them.

When it comes to being a born-again child of God, it is important that while you set many personal goals this year, make sure that one goal always remains far above everything else; HE MUST INCREASE!

1 Corinthians 10:31 “31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (of course, this does not include making spiritual the things you prioritize over God)

With that in mind, this statement carries the understanding that whatever I do, it should never be to my own praise. The goals of my life are not for my life (self praise), they are for His glory and praise.

Often times we reduce success to how many boxes you get to check off at the end of each day. Let us not become that superficial! The mark of true success in our life boils down to the answer of this question: “Was Jesus glorified in the journey and completion of the day He gave me?”

Here is my question to you: Will Jesus be increased through your life this year?

What we learn from this passage today are reasons why Jesus should increase far above ourselves. However, you must first understand the proper response to Jesus as He works through your life.

1) No Competition With Jesus

A. You need to clarify your purpose

Up until John was arrested and then put to death, His ministry and Jesus’ overlapped.

John had already spoken clearly how he did not want people following him or labeling him as someone of greatness.

John 1:19–23 “19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.”

App — It would be easy for two preachers who had become popular in the same work to go from friends to enemies. Going from co-laborer to competitor.

Jesus clarifies how we are to approach His gospel ministry — 1 Corinthians 3:9 “9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”

B. Competition and envy will tempt you

It is ironic how John was tempted to become envious of Christ.

It all began when John’s disciples started arguing over the doctrine of purification. It later moved to personal grounds.

This was a time when ceremonial things and true spiritual cleansing was clashing.

Then we come to John 3:26 “26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.”

While you appreciate how John’s disciples cared for his public image, they were missing the point of John’s ministry.

It was never to gain a following for recognition, but rather a following to prepare a people to recognize “the Christ.”

Four of the greatest men in the Bible faced this same problem of competition and comparison:

Moses — Numbers 11:26–30 “26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! 30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.”

John the Baptist

Jesus — Luke 9:46–50 “46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. 47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, 48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. 49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”

Apostle Paul — Philippians 1:15–18 “15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

C. How did John respond? (v27-30)

a. John declares that all ministry and blessing comes from God.

That in mind, there should never be this attitude of competition.

John stated a personal conviction as well as an unchanging truth.

I wonder if the Apostle Paul agreed with this?

1 Corinthians 3:5–9 “5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”

1 Corinthians 4:6–7 “6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?”

Whether it be spiritual gifts or opportunities, they all come from God. So, whatever that extent is for you, it was intended for you to praise Him through those very things.

To force feed yourself the same kind of results as someone else would be to focus your life on personal fame and competition with God.

b. John explained that his joy was in being used by God to prepare what he wanted to later bless the world with.

John gives an example of the bridegroom.

Jesus is the bridegroom and himself being the best man (v29).

The purpose of the best man is to assist in bringing the bride and groom together.

Once the bride and groom were brought together, the work of the best man was done.

What a foolish thing it would be for the best man to try to “upstage” the bridegroom and take his place. John’s joy was to hear the voice of the Bridegroom and know that He had claimed His bride. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 297.

Whatever the outcome is of the journey God has you on, it is vital to remember that that is a gift of God to the praise of His grace.

Example: Paul’s “thorn” (probably vision related). It allowed Paul to learn more of God’s sufficient grace as well as prompt one of the early churches to express their love.

Example: Peter asking Jesus how John was going to die.

2) There Is No Equal To Jesus

There is a clear reason why we should “Increase Jesus” through out lives. It has to do with Him being Heaven’s ultimate witness of the truth.

A. (v31) Jesus came from Heaven

John the Baptist made a clear distinction between him and Jesus.

John was called and even empowered by Heaven. Jesus actually came from Heaven!

John 6:38–42 “38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”

How many of our day still believe Jesus to be nothing more than the son of a humble carpenter? JESUS IS FAR MORE!

So, what does it mean that Jesus came from Heaven?

He alone was authority to represent the Father.

To reject Jesus’ witness is to reject the Father.

B. (v32-33) Jesus’ witness is “firsthand”

Nothing short of what He saw and heard from the Father is what he has given to us.

Jesus uses a father son example — John 8:38 “38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.”

This is not primarily an intellectual thing to believe. Jesus shared His truth, but He also demonstrated it in His own earthly ministry.

What do we learn about Jesus’ track record? He never sinned and lived in perfect obedience to the Father.

Jesus’ teachings should never be separated from your everyday life!

Truth given to you from God is about experiencing His power and grace.

We can safely rely upon Jesus testimony about the father’s will, power, sovereignty, love, peace, joy, justice, wrath, forgiveness, security, future promises.

C. The Father verified and authorized Jesus Christ (v34-35)

Before we can ever begin to understand that the Father loves us, we must grasp how much He loves His Son.

Matthew 3:17 “17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The Father has showed His Son all things, given Him all things, and loves Him endlessly.

What does this mean for you and me?

At the moment you receive Jesus as Savior and Lord through repentance and faith you too share in His love and wealth.

You are able to live through the authority of Jesus Christ.

My salvation rests in His authority.

My prayer life rests in His authority.

My faith rests in His authority.

My hope rests in His authority.

My fight against the devil rests in His authority.

My strength rests in His authority.

How I love, forgive, and show mercy to others rests in His authority…

D. It is through Jesus are you able to escape the Father’s wrath (v36)

Parallel passage — John 3:18 “18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

I’m sorry, but there is not one human of this earth who is in a neutral position when it comes to Jesus’ message!

You either repent from trusting all other ways to satisfy the Father’s wrath or you don’t.

To receive “everlasting life” means you receive it down here and you wait as a reserved possession for the Father.

“Under the wrath of God” is a position you have in this life while you remain in unbelief.

(v18) “condemned already”

Quote: “The verdict has already been given, but the sentence has not yet been executed. Why? Because God is patient and long-suffering, and continues to call sinners to repentance.” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 298.

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Conclusion

Dear Christian, do you have a problem with competing with Jesus? Do you find yourself trying to force the square peg of your desires into the round hole of God’s plan for your life? Stop trying to increase yourself and begin today surrendering your life to increase God through your obedience to Him.

To you who remain in unbelief. Jesus came and through wicked hands was lifted high upon the cross for you to see your need to repent toward Him and confess a trusting faith on Him. He conquered sin, death, and hell for you and has returned to His former glory seated by the Father.

Here is my question to both believer and unbeliever today: Will you decrease so He might increase? Will you reject all other ways you have trusted up to this point to make your soul right with God? Will you stop making this life all about you and begin making this life all about Him?