Jan. 6, 2019 - He Must Increase

The World Wide Web started back in 1990...

Becoming publicly available on August 6, 1991.

Now think of what that did - in terms of mankind...

In a very BROAD sense, a general sense, it gave mankind, another PLATFORM to express himself...

Think of all of the BENEFITS that it affords us and how it changed how we live...

Information: Seemingly all information was now at our fingertips.

I remember going to the library to check out an encyclopedia in order to complete my science fair project.

Commerce: The ability now to not only BUY anything we want without leaving our houses…but the ability to also RESEARCH out whether a store has an item you want.

I remember having to go to the store to see if they actually had the thing you wanted.

Transportation: The ability to have a device TELL YOU where to turn, so you can get to where you want to go.

I remember having to open the glove box, and pull out the MAP - to see where to go.

Communication: The ability to connect with people, whether through ELECTRONIC mail…or a VIDEO-CHAT.

I remember having to write a letter…NO…i remember having to find paper, find an envelope (good luck), find a stamp (no chance), and then walk out to and pop that thing in the mailbox..

These are GREAT benefits...

Amazing times we live in - regarding technology...

BUT - there’s another side to this.

The World Wide Web has also given mankind a PLATFORM - to MANIFEST - our pride.

We’ve been talking about this thing called PRIDE lately...

And it’s because of HOW MUCH of a role it plays in the GOSPEL...

We talked about it last week - JOHN 3:16 - the most popular verse in the Bible...

…the gospel in 1 verse.

And what does it say?

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

…that whoever - BELIEVES IN HIM....should not perish

And we saw that BELIEVING in Christ - has something to do with my PRIDE.

We saw that the JUDGMENT of God is - that the light has come into the world, and people LOVED the darkness RATHER than the light…WHY?

because their works were EVIL...

And those who DO wicked things DO NOT COME to the light - lest their works be - EXPOSED!

And so we saw how - EVEN the person - who SEEMINGLY loves to pursue the good of others...

even the person who tries to AVOID the darkness of this world...

Even THAT person… REJECTS the Gospel of Christ.

WHY?

Because as they’re working to do “GOOD” - Jesus comes and says - you’re WORKS are as…let’s read it.

Isaiah 64:6 KJV 1900

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

And so to the person who is SEEMINGLY a “good” person, Jesus comes and says - your good works are SIN!

You are a sinner - in need of a Savior...

And that person says - WHAT? I’m a GOOD person…I’m not bad...

And we can see that PRIDE is KEEPING Christ’s truth at bay...

And when that happens - that person will ONLY hear Christ’s words (truth) as - a CONDEMNING Truth...

But for BELIEVERS - for those who TRUST Christ - we hear Christ’s words...

..that we’re SINNERS and in NEED of Rescue…and we say - YES - rescue me!

And it’s in the YES - that we see how BELIEF in Jesus - entails me - HUMBLY submitting to Jesus - seeing MYSELF for who i truly am before God - a SINNER!

PRIDE - wars against Faith in Christ!

And we’ll see this same theme today in our text...

So let’s get to it...

John 3:22–36 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. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

As we walk through this text - it’s going to cause us to remember back to Chapter 1...

John 3:22–24 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).

Ok, so here we see - Jesus and his disciples…and John the Baptist....

in the Judean countryside...

BAPTIZING people - and what we’re going to see later in chapter 4 - is that it wasn’t actually Jesus who was water baptizing…but only his disciples.

But just to lay the groundwork…this is what they went on doing...

next verse...

John 3:25–26 ESV

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.”

Now - we need to see here who is discussing this baptism...

v25 said - this discussion arose between some of JOHN’S disciples…and a Jew...

And they were talking about what they were seeing...

This water baptism that was going on by the disciples of Jesus...

And so JOHN’S disciples come to John, and they say - RABBI (teacher), that man who was with you across the Jordan...

That man for whom you bore witness (Jesus)...

LOOK - the people are going to Him…and they’re being baptized by His disciples...

Do you see what’s going on here?

WHAT is rising up in these men?

They’re worried about the Prestige of their RABBI....John the Baptist.

PRIDE is at work here...

And John KNOWS this - so what does he say?

Let’s jump to John’s conclusion…and then we’ll circle back in application...

John 3:30 ESV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Jesus was INCREASE … but I must DECREASE...

SLIDE: (in our lives) - Jesus Must Increase: In Our Words

Jesus Must Increase

How did John EXPLAIN this to his own disciples…?

Let’s jump back to v27...

John 3:27–28 ESV

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.’

These disciples of John come to John, and they start inquiring about who Jesus is...

…and WHY people were going to HIM - instead of John the Baptist...

And it makes sense does it not?

That these disciples of John would want to DEFEND...

the legitimacy of...

the relevance of...

their rabbi…their teacher - John the Baptist...

But what does John do?

He REMINDS them of what he had SAID from the beginning:

In WORDS - from the beginning - He PROCLAIMED Jesus Christ!

He ELEVATED Jesus Christ!

And it’s as if - John KNEW that mankind would get this wrong!

That they would ELEVATE him, and NOT Christ!

That’s why back in Chapter 1 he said:

John 1:20 ESV

20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

John 1:23 ESV

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.”

John tried to prepare mankind...

to get them to understand - I AM HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT CHRIST! THE MESSIAH!

And NOW the Messiah is HERE!

And John then explains this truth to them in this way...

John 3:29 ESV

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.

John the Baptizer here wants to clarify for his disciples what he meant and help them understand why John himself was not PERTURBED by people GOING to JESUS instead of himself...

And what he does is he uses a typical Jewish type of parable dealing with Jewish marriage custom

Back in this time - it was Jewish custom for the bridegroom to select one or two close friends to escort the bride to the bridegroom’s marriage chamber...

…and to then wait outside the room for the bridegroom’s shout...

…And that allowed the friends to VERIFY that the consummation of the marriage had taken place…and the joyous festivities could continue...

And so John is trying to tell them - The BRIDEGROOM is now here…The Messiah is HERE!

We can now HEAR His voice!

And it’s MY JOY that we can....FOLLOW HIM!

HE MUST INCREASE! I MUST DECREASE!

And for John, he takes his disciples back to the REALITY that in John’s life - Christ increased....in John’s words!

John made his days about -

The Proclamation of Jesus Christ…in words!

And we must do the same!

Remember Romans 10:13

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Read backwards

What do we know about John the Baptist?

He was - SENT (v15)

And BEING sent - he obeyed - HOW?

Romans 10:14 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

He PROCLAIMED Christ...

Result of that? - People HEARD!

Result of that? - People BELIEVED!!

Result of that? - People CALLED on the name of the Lord!!

Result of that? v13

Romans 10:13 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

They got SAVED!

People get SAVED when we OPEN our mouths - and speak of Christ!

Why is that the case?

1 Corinthians 1:22–24 ESV

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The power of God unto Salvation is FOUND / ROOTED in the truth of the Gospel!

What is the Gospel?

Our verse last week - For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever BELIEVES in HIM, shall not perish but have eternal life!

BELIEF in Christ - Humbly submitting to Christ in ADMITTING your NEED for Him!

And it’s when we PREACH this truth to the community, to our friends, to our neighbors, our families...

God’s SHEEP - HEAR His voice - and they RECEIVE Faith!

As Christians - we have the POWER of God at our DISPOSAL...

And so again...

SLIDE: Jesus Must Increase: In Our Words

Jesus Must Increase

But that’s NOT ALL...

SLIDE: Jesus Must Increase: In Our Works

Jesus Must Increase

So not only must Jesus increase in our Words…but He must also increase in our WORKS...

NOW - does this sound like we’re preaching - WORK for Jesus so you can go to heaven - message?

NO - not at all - The Bible shows us that our works will POINT toward what we believe.

James 2:14 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

The implied answer here is - NO! It cannot save him.

But HOW can the Bible say this?

Why does the Bible place so much emphasis on WORKS and not just FAITH?

Here’s why...

SLIDE: Tree - faith and works...

Ok, we see this in general terms....but let’s tie this to some scripture...

SLIDE: Tree - James 2:21-23

And it’s similar to what Jesus

Matthew 23:27 ESV

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

Saving Faith is a faith that - works...

It manifests itself - in VISIBLE ways!

And remember - WHAT was going on when the disciples of John CAME to John to start asking questions?

Jesus and his disciples were baptizing people...

John’s disciples SAW this happening...

FAITH ON DISPLAY!

And it CAUSED them to say - WAIT a second!

Jesus Christ MUST increase in: Our words and works...

But that will ONLY happen if He is INCREASED in our HEARTS!

It starts there!

This is a HEART issue!

Luke 6:45 ESV

45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

See the connection?

Our words and works ALWAYS flow from the HEART!

And so the Christian life - is a FIGHT yes - and mainly a FIGHT FOR JOY!

Joy in God!

SIN - in our lives - is a SYMPTOM…of what?

LACK of JOY in GOD!

David commits adultery with Bathsheba...

That ACT - was a symptom…of LACK of JOY in GOD...

How do we know…?

Because David says - God, restore to me the JOY of YOUR salvation!

And so - IF we’re going to live lives where Jesus Christ is INCREASED, and we are DECREASED...

we’re in for a battle!

It will be a pursuit…a pursuit to find JOY in God…increased JOY in HIM!

But as we leave - it helps to know what often KEEPS us from finding that JOY in Him...

SO - what keeps us from SPEAKING His name?

What keeps us from DOING good works, in Faith, for His glory?

Answer - Misplaced Fear.

Matthew 10:27–28 ESV

27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

• We see here - 2 types of FEAR on the table...

• On the one side, we see a FEAR that is pointed at mankind...

• Pointed at MANKIND, who can ONLY Kill the body...

• And so

...there is a kind of FEAR that is ONLY GRAVE DEEP...

• those who walk through life...and their BIGGEST fear is the fear of physical death...

• and what they're really afraid of is this - They don't want their PHYSICAL life to end...and that's as deep as it goes!

• BUT from a biblical perspective - according to what God says - there is another kind of FEAR...

• the FEAR of God..

• WHO...

• Can NOT ONLY kill the body, but can also KILL the SOUL....

• And so the Bible tells us - God tells us to NOT FEAR those who can ONLY kill the body...

• BUT RATHER FEAR Him - who can kill both body and soul...in hell

• And so DON'T fear those who can ONLY PUT you in the grave...

• who can ONLY end your physical life...

INSTEAD...

Fear God

• FEAR the One who has control over your ETERNAL life...

• FEAR the One who controls where your SOUL will reside forever...

• FEAR God!! - not man

• God knows that IF - we’re going to INCREASE Jesus Christ in our WORDS and WORKS, then we will have to FIGHT to keep our FEAR pointed at GOD, and not mankind...

• Where does God say this in Scripture...?

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Matthew 5:10–12 ESV

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

John 15:18–20 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

• And do you think it's any coincidence at all that in the Bible - Jesus tells his followers -

"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves"...

• It's not a coincidence...!

• The playing field of Christianity is a painful one...

• and THAT'S WHY - Christ calls us to direct our FEAR toward the One that matters - the One we SERVE

• What Christ is saying is - What's the worst that mankind can do to you?

Kill you...physically?

• So what...

• There's something BEYOND the grave that we should be WORRIED about...not death itself!

• Our mind should be focused on where the world will spend eternity…apart from Christ!

HE’s the one that matters!

Christ is the one that matters…and John points to this as we close:

John 3:31–36 ESV

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. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Again we see John here elevating the PREEMINENCE of Jesus Christ...

Summary: (we’ve seen an example in John the Baptist - where he said - He must Increase, I must decrease)

Jesus Christ Must Increase

In Our Words

In Our Works

In Our Hearts

Let’s Pray