He MUST Increase

In our current culture, a HUGE weight and value has been placed on self & self-promotion!

These real examples of pretentious job titles say it all:

Color Distribution Technician - Painter

Media Distribution Officer - Paperboy

Coin Facilitation Engineer - Toll Booth Operator

Highway Environmental Hygenist - Street Sweeper

Education Centre Nourishment Consultant - School Lunch Server

Petroleum Transfer Engineer - Gas Station Attendant

What I do for work (borrowed from an interview with Pastor J. John):

I am part of a global enterprise that has outlets in most nations of the world. We participate in hospitals, hospices, homeless shelters, marriage work, orphanages, feeding programs, & participate in justice reconciliation & much much more. In-short: I look after people from birth to death & specialize in positive behavioral alteration.

In this culture of self-promotion, & shouting & positioning ourself to have our INDIVIDUAL voice heard, The Bible gives a starkly contrasting message!

John 3:30 NKJV

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Who Was John the Baptist?:

A relative of Jesus (some say cousin, but they were related)

A Old Testament prophet that was sent as a messenger to prepare the way for Jesus (Luke 7:26–27)

A Man filled with the Holy Spirit & anointed from the womb (Luke 1:15)

The greatest prophet of the Old Testament

Luke 7:28 NKJV

28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

John was as great, and filled as exciting of a role, as was possible for humankind before Jesus!

John the Baptist lived in a time when the the reality that the greatest people could be without God paled in comparison to the “least” person with God first became apparent.

It’s like the best elementary school football player stepping onto the field with the worst NFL players (probably not from the San Fransisco 49ers)

No matter how great you are & no matter how great I was - we really are NOTHING without Jesus

Said in another way,

Without Jesus, I am nothing compared to what I can be with Jesus!

John the Baptist existed in a transitionary zone - So do you!

Transition = Change

ChangingGreatness:

“Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change” - Tony Robbins

We cannot love our past more than we love our future, or we will never leave our past.

When Jesus comes on the scene in our life, the same transition that happened with John the Baptist should begin take place in us - “I must decrease & He must increase!”

I must decrease & He must increase:

In importance to myself

In influence over my life

In seeking honor

In wanting position

If this transition doesn’t take place, we run the risk of trying to “share the throne” & co-lead our life with Jesus!

This is affectionately referred to as Half-cheeking it!

The Bible actually calls this a carnal life/mind -

Carnal = having Jesus, but living by our un-regenerated (not under the influence of Jesus Christ) nature.

Romans 8:6–7 NKJV

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

One of the greatest areas of resistance we will experience is in our thoughts (the high places)

We must start to think the way God thinks instead of going to church, but thinking the way the rest of the world thinks.

Here’s one of those things:

Just because I decrease in all of these areas, doesn’t mean I am less than I was.

Partnering with God by following & obeying Him will bring you into great fulfilling success! (Joshua 1:8)

How do I make sure He is increasing & I am decreasing?

We have to have a plan for increasing the right thing.

“Farming” & Cultivating our Soul Properly:

Galatians 6:7–9 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Choose what seeds you plant (what are you listening to, what are you watching, what are you agreeing with)

But I don’t like Christian music…then make some better music!!!

Choose where you are going to plant your seeds (spiritual things or worldly things)

Get in it for the long haul & don’t lose heart

It’s a purposeful choice to prioritize & invest LESS in “Good ol’ #1”, & to PUT Jesus first!

Our priorities show up in our decisions

Let’s Decide:

To consult Jesus before we consult ourself or others

To give our best to Jesus before we give our best to ourself

That we are going to decrease & invest in Him increasing in us.

Just One Thing:

Love your future in Christ enough to intentionally & dramatically invest in it starting right now!

Discussion Questions:

If you had to disappear and start a whole new life, what would you want your new life to look like?

What does it mean to you that He (Jesus Christ) must increase & I must decrease?

Please read Galatians 6:7-9 and share what this verse means to you & how you can use this verse to direct and determine your life’s future harvest. Think you’ll change anything in your life based upon this? Share.

What is at least 1 key area where you specifically know you must decrease & what will it look like for Jesus to increase in that area?