CLARITY Part 2: Chasing Glory

Introduction

In this series, we look at how to have a life that is properly focused.

Last week, we explored making sure we have a proper focus towards God’s Word.

This week we check our focus around God’s glory.

ILLUSTRATION: Helping Jeremy with his corvettes.

How silly would it have been for me to claim any ownership or glory for winning at the car shows because I shined up the tires.

Far too often, in our lives we take glory, credit, and validation for things when really all glory belongs to God!

This morning I want to challenge us to remember who we are, who we are not, and who Jesus is.

John 1:19–34 ESV

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

1) Know Who You Are!

John the Baptist is a very interesting guy who impacted many people.

Son of Zachariah

Likely, he was raised to be a servant of the temple.

His impact was not by way of temple service, but as one who lived out in the wilderness.

Who called people to repentance “near Bethany across the Jordan” (v.28)

He had a message that was unique in His time and is becoming more rare in our day: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near”

Other religious leaders were focusing on religious and ritual acts.

John focused on repentance and preparing people’s hearts for the Kingdom of God.

When you look at your life, what do you promote? Ritual or Repentance?

Do you live out and seek after religious acts that find their fulfillment within themselves and make you feel good… OR

Do you live out and seek after repentance that brings transformation and greater purpose beyond yourself so that it’s not about how you feel but who you point to?

Who are you? What makes you unique from the rest of the world?

The answer to this question is closely connected to the focus of glory, recognition, and validation in your life.

2) Know Who You Are Not!

John found his uniqueness from knowing who he was not!

John knew he was not the most important person.

He was not the Messiah. (He openly confessed and did not deny)

He was emphatic that who he was revolved around One who was before Him in every way.

John’s identity was not in making a name for himself, but in pointing others to the One who is most important.

This is why John didn’t mind the wilderness.

This is why he gave up the honor and renown that would have come with being a temple servant.

What John got out of life was not an exaltation of ego or pride.

His joy and satisfaction came from pointing others to Jesus!

Who are you this morning? Do you have enough clarity to know who you are not?

It is one thing to recognize you not the most important person in the room…it is an entirely different realization to know that your not the most important one in the room when you’re the only one there.

In our lives, we have to remember who are not and make it our holy ambition to other to the One whom they truly need.

3) Know Who Is Above All Things!

John’s whole life was clearly fixed on Christ. After these events, he would once again display the magnificence of Christ!

John 3:22–31 ESV

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison). 25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Here, John comes face to face with the reality of being a glorifier rather than a glory seeker.

John’s purpose runs parallel with Jesus’ message and Jesus’ following is growing with John’s is declining.

His ministry was loosing numbers and therefore loosing influence! His followers were noticing.

John’s response shows his focus!

John didn’t change his message. He didn’t get more flashy or edgy.

He didn’t start panicking and trying to figure out how to keep from losing followers.

He rejoiced and kept pointing people, even the followers still with him, to Jesus!

John found his glory in the fact that Jesus was being exalted!

You and I will find our greatest fulfillment when we realize that Jesus is above all things and start pointing people to Him!

We need to seek clarity in our lives and make sure that who we are, what we do, what we say, and how we say it glorifies Jesus and points others to Him!

CLOSING

What does it mean for you to glorify Jesus in your life?

What do you need to do in order for Christ to increase in importance and for you to decrease?

In what ways are you looking for validation and glory in this world instead of pointing all glory to Jesus and being validated by Him?