John 3
DATE: 21 Jan, 2001
PM
PLACE: BBC Blarney
I.
Introduction (John 3:23-36, 30)
A.
Introduction: In Matt. 11:1, Jesus said that
"among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater
than John the Baptist." One of the reasons for his greatness, I believe,
was his attitude, expressed in our text, when he said of the Lord Jesus,
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
B.
That was not only a statement of the transition
between the ministries of John and the Lord, but it was also a statement of
John's perception of his Lord and of himself.
C.
The Psalmist wrote by inspiration of God, Psalms
34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
D.
Actually, you
and I cannot make the Lord any bigger or greater than He already is, EXCEPT ...
in our own sight! A magnifying glass doesn't affect the actual size of its
subject. It just affects the perception of the beholder!
E.
When we
perceive how great the Lord Jesus Christ really is, we will perceive how small,
sinful, and insignificant we really are. When the Lord increases in your life,
you and everything else will become smaller. Let me mention a few things that
will decrease when Jesus increases in YOUR life:
1.
Pride
2.
Personalities
3.
Possessiveness
4.
Pollution –
not world pollution, but the pollution OF the world in me!
II.
Message – When Jesus
Increases in your Life
A.
Pride Will
Decrease (John
1:27). One of the greatest marks of the change that takes place at salvation, is
the demotion of self, and accomplishment
1.
What is self
like? The “I”
a.
It is what Eve
thought of when she disobeyed God – couldn’t live without “it”
b.
It is what Adam
thought of when he disobeyed God – couldn’t live without “her”
c.
It is what
religion is all about – making ME feel better
d.
Salvation is
about pleasing God, and I get blessed as a by-product
2.
So, what about
my pride, decreases as Jesus increases?
a.
Pride in self
will decrease – talk less and less about myself, and my thoughts, and my
wishes – man, just learn to be quiet (1Thes 4:11)
b.
Pride in our
speech will decrease
1)
Most people
live by their ability to smooth talk others
2)
Impressing on a
job interview
3)
Smoothing-talking
a date
4)
Selling stuff
5)
A Christian
let’s God’s word do the talking. That’s what PREACHING is – the
proclaiming what God says!
c.
Pride in our
own sanctification (holiness) will decrease
1)
People won’t
boast about their spirituality
2)
A person’s
spirituality is revealed by their acknowledging the power, and grace of God for
sinners such as we (1Ti 1:15)
B.
Personalities
Will Decrease (Ps
8:3,4; 1Cor 3:1-7)
1.
You will see
men as dead in their sins - Eph. 2:1 – it will cause you to overlook a lot of
problems between you and others
2.
You will see
men as dependent upon the Saviour - Jn. 15:5 – even Christians, who are STILL
constantly needing Jesus – that’s why we got saved
3.
You will see
Christians as drawing from the Spirit of God - 1 Cor. 12:4-6
a.
They may not be
drawing regularly, or faithfully
b.
But they all
are now living by his Spirit
c.
And if you are
as well, you would do well to over-look personalities, and focus on YOURSELF
having the mind of Christ
C.
Possessiveness
Will Decrease
(1John 2:15,16)
1.
You will see
possessions as temporary – quite making them your joy, your goal, your life
(materialism)
2.
You will see
possessions as temptations – guard against THINGS
3.
You will see
possessions as tools - To serve the Lord
a.
Like your
family – work as a team to win the world
b.
Like your job
– use it for God’s glory
c.
Like your car
– use it for God
d.
Like your
computer – use if for God
D.
Pollution
Will Decrease (Isa
6:1-5)
1.
Not talking
about oil or air pollution
2.
But instead,
the pollution of the world in me! By magnifying the Lord in your life
a.
You will have a
greater consciousness of sin in your life (light reveals things that darkness
covered)
b.
You will have a
greater confession of sin (wanting to be clean, and stay clean)
c.
You will have a
greater cleansing of sin – The more Jesus has of you, the better He cleans up
your life
III.
Application – How to Make Jesus Bigger in our Lives
A.
Hear Him (John
3:31-34) – everyday – memorise Scripture
B.
Love Him (3:35)
– spend time just loving Him
1.
This is where
so many of us don’t make it
2.
We only use
words, and not our hearts
3.
O love the Lord
(Ps 31:23)
C.
Follow Him –
implicitly (3:36) – “believe ON Him” means:
1.
Obey EVERYTHING
he says – stop cherry-picking
2.
Live like He
commands, not what is convenient
3.
Not on again
off again, but faithfully
D.
And watch as
the following starts dropping away from your life
1.
Pride
2.
Personalities
3.
Possessiveness
4.
Pollution