John the Baptist – Mission of the Church Part III

I. He must Increase – I must Decrease -

a. I am not a prophet –

i. Humility

1. Denied being a prophet and to being Elijah

a. Yet Jesus would say that he was the greatest among prophets and he was the Elijah to come

b. Let Christ be our witness – let him recognize us

ii. John gave away his own disciples (a prestige of a Rabbi would be the number and quality of his disciples)

iii. Stayed focused on his calling vs. 23 – A voice of one crying out in the wilderness make way for the Lord

b. Understand the balance – of mission and living / walking in the love of Christ and his blessings for us personally

c. John a physical decrease in his ministry and for front – John moved off the stage

d. For Jesus increases in us and our self-decreases (Connect)

i. Die to our self – take up our cross

ii. Our self-denial is not the answer. It is just our step of faith

iii. The order is important – Christ increases in us then we decrease

1. As our love and passion increases for Christ we grow to deny ourselves more and more

2. Again it is the Holy Spirit that does the heavy lifting.

3. We have to be obedient and respond

4. Journey over time

iv. It is glorious as we make more room for Christ in our lives

1. In the death to ourselves we find something better

2. In sacrifice for Jesus we find something better

a. We give up our dreams and desires and discover better dreams and desires birthed out of God’s will for our lives.

b. A person can’t receive even one thing unless it is given to him from heaven

i. Do I want to chase after the things of this world or make room in my life for the good from heaven?

II. Realize that the one who is coming is greater than me – Christ will come again

a. Not worthy to loose / untie his sandal strap

i.

b. One who stands with the bridegroom

i. The church is the bride of Christ

1.

ii. So he has our future husband becomes our passion

1. Forsaking all others

2. Rejoice at his voice

a. Remember John leaping in his mother’s womb

b. What voices are you listening too?

3. We rejoice with the Bridegroom – it is about Him – it is his day

a. Not the day of the Best man or Maid of honor

b. Say yes to the dress – Mom trying on dresses

c. Our life is not about us but about Christ

c. Why I don’t put much stock in politics – I would rather have all of God’s kingdom instead of expecting this world (which will pass away) to become better.

i. We have taken the role of the church and tried to impose it on the Government (worldly system) and expect them to do the things the Church was called to do

1. Care for the poor, the widows and the orphans

2. Call the people to a heart of repentance (not imposing a law)

III. Fruit of Repentance –

a. Transformed / renewed mind

i. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. –

b. Hating our own sin – empowered by the Holy Spirit

i. Waring of flesh and spirit

c. Give away your shirt, food and money

i. How we can live this out with Fountain of Hope

ii. Again as we give away our life – we find something greater

iii. Again a role the church takes on

1. First you as an individual than all of us as community

d. I am not a Christian just because I say I am

i. Do I bear the fruit of being a Christian

1. – Love one another

2. Judge the famous when they claim to be a Christian

a. Yes I said judge

e. Not saved by your family (our Father is Abraham)

i. Genealogies in old Family Bibles

ii. You have to walk out your own faith – your own journey

1.

a. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work

b. His purpose

IV. What are we to do

a. Live a life in submission and obedience to the Holy Spirit

i. Let him transform and change us

ii. Do the heavy lifting

iii. Not just about great feelings of his presence, speaking in tongues, prophesying etc.

1. I may not prophesy tomorrow

b. Live a life set apart from the world but still neck deep in it

c. Honest with God about our own sins

i. Life of repentance – Martin Luther

d. Let the wilderness shape us and draw us in closer to Christ

i. He must increase

e. Spread the gospel in our giftings and calling

i. Our time is short – the ax is laid at the root

f. Bold to speak against sin but strong in calling people to Christ

i. It is the Holy Spirit to convicts, the Holy Spirit who changes

ii. It is not really about is convicting or condemning others but in proclaiming that God has a better way for them, a way of life, a way of blessings

1. We must be passionate about reaching the lost

g. Build a bridge for people find their way from a life in slaved to sin and this world to a life with Christ

i. Bear the fruit of repentance

1. Cease our sinning

2. Give our shirts and food away

a. Haircuts at Fountain of Hope

h. Remember no matter what our gift or calling is, it is all about spreading the gospel and making disciples

i. Our gifts are to serve the King the Bridegroom

i. Make ready for the Lord a prepared People

i. We prepare ourselves on our own and in community

ii. Never lose sight that Jesus loves you as an individual – there are plenty of blessings for you – most often we find them when we give our lives away

j. Started with the prophecy before Joh was born – finish with the one after his birth

i.

1. So let Life Church rise up with a prophetic voice to prepare the way of Christ’s return. To give knowledge o of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins because the tender mercy of our God whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those in Conyers & Covington who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace. May we grow strong in the Spirit.