The Increasing Glory of Jesus Part 2 - John 3:30-36

2:38And John the Baptist's testimony was very solid. He was a man totally given to the glory of Christ and increasing the glory of Christ in his life. He didn't see himself at all in competition with Christ because Christ is the bridegroom. And he saw himself with such a role, so subservient to Christ. As that of a best man in a wedding, or that of a friend of a bridegroom that helps with the preparations of the wedding. He said, the wedding's all about him. I have no desire to marry the bride.

3:16He's the bridegroom. It's the bride. And so that's how John saw himself. And then he utters these words in verse 30. And we're just going to pick it up. I'm not going to try to spend much time going back where we've been because there's a lot I want to share this morning. But John uttered these words in verse 30, and he says, he must increase, and I must decrease. And when John was saying this to his disciples, basically he was saying, you guys don't get it.

3:52You must follow him, not me. You must be giving your best attention to him, not me. He must increase. I must decrease. He must become larger in significance in your daily routine, not me. You must grow in your likeness of him, not me. John was happy to say, he must increase. I must decrease. And there was a joy in those words. There was not a sorrow. There was a hallelujah. He must increase. He's here. And this is who you are to grow. And this, the reality of this statement, he must increase and I must decrease, can be applied to every human relationship that John had. Not just with his disciples, but with his parents, with his friends, with every relationship he had. And so it is with us.

4:57In every relationship that we have, he must increase. We must decrease. Whether it's your family, listen, fathers, your children are not your own. Your role is to see that Christ is increased in the lives of those in your household, and you decrease. Whether it's with your coworkers or your friends, listen, representing Christ in the workplace is not an option because he must increase and you must decrease. You will, by virtue of going through this life, by the very nature of what the Spirit of God is doing in you, you must decrease, he must increase. And that will be true of every relationship.

5:54And what was true for John's disciples is certainly true for us. This week, I want. To continue by looking at verses 31 through 36, that tells us exactly why it is necessary for Jesus to increase and John the Baptist to decrease. And the same is true for us. Let's just look at those words. Let me read them to you. John says these words: he must increase, but I must decrease in verse 30. And then in 31 through 36, he says, Why? He who comes from above is above all.

6:30He who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies, and no one receives his testimony. He who has received his testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. So I want you to see four reasons this morning why Jesus must increase and why we must decrease, so that you will not compete for Christ's glory, but that you will with joy take your role in the kingdom of God. God.

7:31Four reasons why Jesus must increase and you must decrease. First of all, his rank is superior to ours. His rank is superior to ours. Look back at verse 31. He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. A lot of repetition going on in this verse. But two realms and two peoples are being contrasted. The two realms, heaven and earth. The two people that are being contrasted, Jesus and John the Baptist. And of course, by virtue, all of humanity. But first, let's look at the one that comes from earth, and then we'll look at the one that comes from heaven.

8:20Look back at verse 31. And notice the one who comes from earth. Three times. In the Greek, it's really clear. Three times, the same expression. You can see it in the English. The one who is of the earth is from the earth, and from the earth he is speaking. So you get this expression. He's from the earth, from the earth, from the earth. And of course, it's translated as the one who is from the earth or of the earth. Of the earth, he is, and of the earth, he speaks.

9:01So, the one who comes from earth is earthly. Now, this doesn't imply wickedness, like the word cosmos or the world may in other places, but the emphasis here is not upon the wickedness, but on the limitation, the limitation, human limitation. John is basically saying you must follow him, he must increase, and I must decrease, because there really is no comparison between us. My origins are of an earthly kind. I am dust. I came from a father who is but dust. All the way back to Adam, I have come out of this realm, this nature, the natural processes of the earth that are earthly, characteristic of the earth.

9:51What he is saying is there is a flavor in all of us. There is going to be a flavor of weakness and temporariness, if you will, that's going to pervade everything we do. We are by nature earthly. We are by nature limited. We are by nature transitory. Now, I'm not saying, neither is John saying, that John's the Baptist ministry was not from heaven. It was from heaven, but it was from heaven in the sense that it was inspired by heaven, it was commissioned by heaven, but it came through the limited agency. Fallen man.

10:32John's light was true light, definitely. But it was the light, you can compare it to think of it like a candle compared to the brilliant light of the sun. His light was true, but it was not the light of Christ that beamed in all of its brilliant radiance. It's true light. But when you hold a candle to the sun, there really is no comparison. And that's what John is saying. That's how John saw his ministry. That's how John saw the importance of Christ in other people's lives. Sometimes we go through as ministers, and I'm not talking about just those in the pulpit ministry, I'm just talking about in ministry altogether that sometimes we go through thinking we really need to be the one that is paramount in life, in the life of others, even though we wouldn't say that. But really, it's all about Christ becoming larger and larger in the lives of those people who you are friends and ministers to. Listen, there are limitations of every earthly ministry. Every minister in every ministry, even great ministers such as John the Baptist, because of his earthly nature, is limited and will pass off the scene. Even our understanding of the things of heaven is limited. No matter who you are, there is going to be a character. Characteristic and a flavor of human limitness, limitedness. But all of us, right? We all know this isn't hard to understand. We all have our limitations. We are limited in our understanding of the world. We are limited in our understanding of Scripture. We are limited in the duration that we can spend here together on earth.

12:23We are limited in our authority, and even our mission is limited. So, no matter how great a person from the earth becomes, he or she is still of an earthly origin. Not so with Jesus. Contrast with Jesus. Let's look at the one who comes from heaven. Look back at verse 31. Contrasted with the one that comes from earth, as what John the Baptist is saying about himself, is the one who comes from heaven. He who comes from above is above all. And then look again, he says it again. In case you missed it, he who comes from heaven is above all.

13:04The one coming from heaven, he is over all. He is over all. And there are two expressions that speak specifically of Jesus' rank. Look at the term from above. Verse he who comes from above. This is the same word, by the way. When you look back to John chapter 3 and go back to verse 3, Jesus answered and said to Nicodemus, Truly, truly, I say. To you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Unless one is born again, same word, born again with the quality that is from above, unless one is born with a quality and nature from heaven, he cannot enter heaven. He cannot see and understand heaven.

13:54So, what Jesus says in John and verse 3 is that there's this universal reality. To participate in heaven, guess what? You must be born from heaven. In order to go to heaven, you have to be from heaven. But we're from the earth. So, how do we go to heaven if we're by nature from the earth? We have to be born from above. We have to be linked to that eternal source, to that heavenly realm. We have to be born by nature. We have to be born of heaven from above.

14:38And just as a side note, it's interesting to make sure you get this in your mind: that the nature of a link, we have to be linked to Christ. We have to be linked to the one who's from above in order to be born from above, in order to participate in what's above. And this link, we can think of it. About in the physical realm, a link is very easy to understand. Suppose you're out in the water and you're going down, you're drowning, and somebody throws you a rope. That's a link, right? That's a physical link, or a hand that reaches out. That's a link. But we are spiritual beings, and we're talking about spiritual realities. And spiritual realities are different. It's a whole different realm. How does one link to the heavenly realm? How does one link to that which is above?

15:34And the answer is by believing in the one, in the only one sent from heaven. He is from above. And by believing in the one from above, there is a link, a spiritual link that is made. That's what John's gospel is about: believing. Believing. So he is from above. He is from that realm that is categorically different and categorically higher than the earthly realm. The heavenly department is higher than the earthly department. Put it that way. But there's a second expression here that really speaks of Jesus' rank. It spells it out. He is above all. He is above all. That is, he ranks higher than all.

16:26Jesus, why he must increase is because he ranks. Higher than everyone else. Everything in the earthly department, he ranks higher because he's from the heavenly department and he's the highest in the heavenly department. Put it that way. He is above all. And this superiority includes, and get this, every philosophy, he is above it. Every principle, he is above it. Every person, he is above it. And John the Baptist was saying, Look, he is my superior. He must increase. I must decrease.

17:11And why would anybody want to compete with Christ anyway? Why would you want to go through life thinking life is all about you? Why do you want to see your name increased when there is one that is far more deserving, that ranks so much higher than you? Why would you want to compete with his glory? Well, John the Baptist wanted no part of competing with Christ's glory because he ranks higher. So, four reasons why Jesus must increase and why we must decrease. First, his rank is superior to ours. Second, his words are superior to ours. And this is evidenced by three realities that are stated. In verses 32 through 34. First reality is that his testimony comes from experience. His testimony comes from experience. Look back at verse 32. What he has seen and heard, of that he is testifying.

18:17A literal translation would be that which he has seen, what he has seen, and that which he has heard, this, of this reservoir, he is testifying. He is testifying out of personal first-hand knowledge and understanding. He really understands the heavenly realm. He really understands the earthly realm. And he understands it intimately and exhaustively because he's the creator. Remember John 1:1. John opens his gospel. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to being through him, and apart from him, nothing came into being that has come into being. Let me read that and put the proper name in its proper place here. In the beginning was Jesus. And Jesus was with God. And Jesus was God. Jesus was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Jesus. And apart from Jesus, nothing came into being that has come into being.

19:31You see, all of he understood it. He understood the universe. We understand the universe from secondary information, what's been told, what's been communicated to us that is reliable and true. He understands it as the Creator. Infinitely more detailed, more comprehensive. So His words are superior to ours, and that's evidence that the fact that His testimony comes from personal experience. But second, His testimony is God's testimony. Look back at the last part of verse 32, and John makes a very startling statement. So, back to verse 32: as what he has seen and what he has heard, of that he is testifying. And get this, and no one receives his testimony. Now, it's clear from the next verse that John is not speaking in absolute terms, but in comparative terms, in relative terms, because if you look at verse 33, he goes on to say, But he who has received, or he who has received his testimony, has set his seal to this, that God is true. So, he makes this statement, but it's still very shocking. No one receives his testimony. Relatively few of all the masses that are going to. Wow, few are really receiving his testimony.

21:07They dismissed the things that he said as either untrue or didn't really, it didn't fit with their conception of what God should be like. And so they knew about Jesus, they had heard about Jesus, they had even heard Jesus directly, but few really received what he was saying. Very few took his testimony to heart. Very few followed the logical conclusion to which Jesus's testimony pointed. What about you today? Jesus's testimony is God's testimony. It's his testimony that God has walked among us. That's what the testimony is about. We do know him, we know his name.

22:01See, their conception of God was very different than what they had expected him to be. They conceived him to be different. You know, it's interesting as I was studying this week, I came across that great rocket scientist, Werner von Braun, who is really responsible for man getting to the moon to a large part. But he said this. Can a physicist visualize an electron? The electron is materially inconceivable, and yet it is so perfectly known through its effects that we use it to illuminate our cities, to guide our airlines through the night skies, and take the most accurate measurements. What strange rationale makes some physicists accept the inconceivable electrons as real while refusing to accept the reality of a designer on the ground that they cannot conceive him? Listen, just because you cannot conceive of God doesn't mean that he doesn't exist. And the very fact that God is and that he has revealed himself in the person of Jesus, we do know who he is. I mean, who are you to think that God has to conform to your conception of what you think he ought to be? He has come and he has made himself known.

23:30So Jesus' testimony is God's testimony. But the reason that people don't receive Christ's testimony has already been stated. And in verse 19, this is the judgment: that the light has come into the world, and men love the darkness rather than light, for their deeds were evil. That's why people don't conceive of God. It's not because there's lack of information, available information about God. And who he is, and even within them, and even within the word. So they don't want to conceive of him.

24:08But there are those who do receive him. Look at verse 33. He who has received his testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. That is, the one who is receiving, or the one who received, the one who has entered into this state of receiving. That is, as you receive, you become one who certifies to the truth, that God is true. The one who is receiving. And two key verbs here in this verse. The first is the one receiving. I'm going to talk to you about the person who is receiving. I think there's a lot of misunderstanding in the Gospel of John about what John means by receive. I want to make sure it's clear because John is no easy belief-ism person. John lays things out, his understanding, and what he says is so profound. In fact, when you get to 1 John, you see it developed even more when he says, you know what, no one who is born of God will continue in sin, period. Makes a very strong distinction. And this word here, the one receiving, it's in the active form, it's not passive here.

25:30And it takes on a variety of senses, or really one sense, but it kind of a variety of multicolored. It means to take hold of or to grasp. Remember when Jesus said, Take this, this is my body. That's what he's saying, take this, actively take this. Seize. In chapter 9 and verse 39, it's this picture of Matthew. There's this spirit seizing a boy such that the disciples couldn't get rid of it. You remember when the disciples couldn't cast out the demon? Well, that's the term here. The spirit would seize him. It's the same term. It's a really violent term in that context. In Luke 5:5, it's Peter catching, letting down his net for a catch. In Matthew 26, 52, it's Peter drawing upon his little sword. You get receiving, taking out, drawing upon his sword.

26:31In John 13, 12, it's like putting on a garment, Jesus putting on a garment. Or in Philippians 2:7, Jesus taking up humanity. Or in John 6, 21, it's Jesus getting into the boat. But it's an active part. Receive him into the boat. Receive him. Take hold. Do you get this picture of what the one who is receiving his testimony? It's the one who's taking hold of it, actively, taking hold. Of it, seizing it, catching it, drawing upon it, putting it on, taking it in. That's what John has in view of this term. It's life-changing.

27:16Second key verb in here is this word to certify. And the one who has received, the one taking hold of Christ's words and believing and taking, seizing, catching Him, this one is certifying that God is true. Not that Jesus is true, but that God is true. It's that image of taking a ring and pressing it into the wax to seal a document, to affirm, to set your seal on something, and to seal it up, close it up.

27:51Today we would, I know, like we would, I have an engineering stamp still active. I can still use it, so look out. But anyway, but it's issued by different states, whatever, but one for Texas has the whole Texas emblem. It has my name on it, my number and date. All that is very personal to me. And I put that on a set of documents when I say, here, these are true, these are thorough, these are good, they're final, they're complete, they're reliable.

28:25And that's what happens. If you think about it, when we... All of us have our own personal ring, if you will, our own place that we live, our own seal, our own time, our own space, our own personality, our own situation. And when we believe God, what we do is we say, here, God is true in my unique circumstances, and they are yours. And it's like you putting your seal from your vantage point in life, saying, God is true.

29:00That's what taking in his testimony is about. And what a privilege to be one certifying that God is true. We have our own time, space, and experience, and personality. And what a blessed privilege to go through life experiencing that God is true and then certifying that God is true. That's real living, right? But the point of all this is that Jesus' testimony is God's testimony, and therefore he must increase. His words are superior to ours. And there's three realities. His testimony is from experience. His testimony is God's testimony. And then, third, his words are God's words. Look back at verse 34. For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God.

30:01Now, his testimony, I've already said that his testimony is God's testimony, but also his words are God's words. What's the difference? Well, the testimony encompasses everything, words and deeds, all his life, who he is, and the implications of that. For instance, Jesus walked among us. That means God walked among us. Jesus was crucified. That means God was crucified. This is the testimony. God was resurrected for us. It is God who loves us, and therefore we can come to him. All that is receiving the testimony of the implications of his life, words and deeds. Whereas the word for the words of God here is Rhema. And it speaks of the actual words spoken.

30:49So not only is Jesus' testimony God's testimony, but his words are the very words of God. In every circumstance, in every situation, the sent one spoke the words of the one who sent him. In every situation, so Jesus' words were God's words. Wouldn't that be great to have walked with him, saw him in every situation, every single time he spoke, they were God's words. And the reason they were God's words, look back at verse 34, is that he gives the Spirit without measure. For he gives the Spirit without measure. Now, there's an interpretive issue here. Who is the subject and who is the recipient? One view is that Jesus is the subject and that people are the recipients. So he gives the Spirit to people without measure. That Jesus is the one giving, people are the recipients, and he gives the Spirit without measure. And in that sense, measure would be just beyond their capacity.

31:57Now, he may do that. Not saying that he, but that's not what's being said here. He may do that, but the subject is God. Nearest antecedent is God. God is the subject. Jesus is the recipient. Jesus is the recipient of the Spirit without limitation. No boundaries. No limitation. You see that? Now, that's some authority. Right? In fact, this is how John recognized him in chapter 1 and verse 33. He said, I did not recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon, this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. In other words, Jesus then becomes the distributor of the Holy Spirit. He is the one. The Spirit of God resides upon him, is there, remains upon him. And he becomes the one that sends the Spirit. Very profound statement. So then, in every situation, because the Spirit of God remains upon him, he speaks the words of God. And this is what Isaiah the prophet spoke about. Chapter 11, verse 1. Isaiah says, A shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots, and he will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. So his words are God's words.

33:44So Jesus' words are God's words. And I get this. He's going to go on in chapter 17 and verse 8 and say, These words were given to his disciples. And his words that he gave to his disciples in 15, 7 says they are to remain in his disciples. So Jesus gave us the words of God. Much of our ministry, the New Testament, what is it? You have the Gospels that are basically recording the words of Christ. And then you have the rest of the New Testament that is really dealing with that and implying that and using that. But it all stems down to the basic idea of taking the words of God and passing them on.

34:30And his words have a familiar ring, don't they? You remember in Genesis 1, the Spirit of God is hovering over the water, and you hear this word, Let there be light. And it was so. Jesus comes along to the blind man, Be opened, and he sees. Let the earth be filled with food, and it was so. And then here's Jesus blessing, and the few loaves and the few fish matter out of nothing. Take and distribute. He says, Let us make man.

35:10So he takes him out of the dust of the ground. And then we see Jesus coming along. Take up your mat and walk. Sound familiar? Lazarus, come forth. There's only one person that can do that. Right? That's why he must increase and we must decrease. He must increase. We must decrease because his rank is superior to ours. His words are superior to ours. And third, his relationship to the Father is superior to ours. His relationship to the Father is superior to ours. Look back at verse 35. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Now, if we If we put together the four actions of the Father in verses 34 and 35, this is what you get. The Father sent the Son, verse 34. The Father is giving the Spirit to the Son without limitation.

36:17The Father loves the Son, verse 35, is loving the Son. Very again spoken of Isaiah, verse 42:1, Behold my servant in whom I uphold, my chosen one, in whom my soul delights. Do you see who God delights in? It's the Son. I have put my Spirit upon him, and he will bring forth justice to the nation. Father loves the Son. And then the Father has given an action that is complete. He has given all things to the Son. That's exactly why he gives him the Spirit without limitation, right?

37:05Because if Jesus didn't have, in order to have all things, he must have the Spirit as well without limitation. But he's putting all things unto his feet, or giving all things to him, and he isn't going to take it away. That's the point. The relationship of the Father to the Son is superior. Now, take this and put this into your deepest part of your heart. Take these words in and understand what God is offering you. He sent his Son, the Son in whom He delights so much in. He sent him to go to a cross, to bear your sin, to put your sin upon him. Take these words to heart and ask yourself to the question: Do you want to be loved like the Father loves the Son?

38:11That's what is communicated in the cross. He will always be the Son. There will always be a uniqueness. But that intensity of love, are you ready to be loved by God to the degree that He loved His Son? Then say, Yes, Lord Jesus, come. I receive your testimony. I receive who you are. Quickly. Finally, He must increase and we must decrease because His mission is superior to ours. His mission is superior to ours. Look at verse 36: He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not Obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him. Two people groups are contrasted. There's the one who is believing. And ask yourself, which one are you? There is the one who is believing. That is the one who is currently believing. The one who is currently believing in the Son is the one currently having life, currently having eternal life, and quality is in view, and duration is in view. What this basically boils down to is that there is no longer a running from God. The one who has life no longer runs from God, runs to God and walks with God through this age. That's the one who believes. And he's already entered into a new state of being, existence, that has the characteristic of foreverness, eternity. But then there's another people group contrasted here. The one who is not obeying. Look back. But he who does not obey, the one that does not obey the Son or is not obeying the Son will not see life. It's interesting how John makes the antithesis of believing. The one who believes, the opposite is the one who disobeys. In John's mind, the very idea and concept of believing implies obedience. And the antithesis of that is... Is no obedience. The one currently disobeying is the one who will not see life. Because the one who is currently disobeying is not born from above, but does not know God and continues to run from Him.

40:49And the wrath of God, you know what the wrath of God is? The wrath of God is His holy outrage against rebellious humanity. It's a holy outrage against sin. What a state. Are you disobeying the Son now? Think hard. Where is your soul at the moment? Are you receiving His testimony or are you disobeying the Son? Those are the two peoples that are laid out here in Scripture for us. But John's mission, or Jesus' mission, is superior to ours. It's a noble mission. Look at it. If a person can believe in Jesus Christ and receive his testimony, guess what? He has eternal life. No wonder John is saying, John the Baptist is saying, he must increase and I must decrease. His mission is more than mine. I can point you to him, but believing on my name isn't going to give you eternal life.

42:03Listen, you can believe, you can follow any person, any man, any woman on earth or in earth's history to the highest degree, but they cannot give you life. Their mission isn't such. John's mission wasn't to give life, but to point to life. Our mission is not to give life, but to point to life. And that's why he must be increasing, and we must be decreasing because his name gives life. Well, I hope that our study of John the Baptist this morning has inclined your heart to want to be like John in at least two ways. First of all, I hope you will never want to have Christ's bride for yourself. The church belongs to him. And when you come in, even in this little fellowship here, I pray that that will be, that you will follow John the Baptist cue and say, I am nothing more than a friend of the bridegroom serving, rejoicing to see Christ and his people come together.

43:13Second thing, I hope you will endeavor to be like John, and that is by wanting to increase the glory of Jesus by knowing, by understanding these reasons why he is to increase. Christ is to increase, and we are to decrease. I want to take a final moment here, and I want to talk specifically to you who have not received Christ, you who have not seized, taken hold of, you who are sitting here today who have not believed his testimony. I want to compare you to a couple of police officers that I read about not too long ago.

44:04I want you to see yourself in this narrative because this is exactly what you're like. Years ago, in one of these large metropolitan areas, a couple of new police officers are out on the beat, and there's this SUV that's pulled up, they think too close to a fire hydrant, so they get out to check it out. Little did they know that one of the highest-ranking chief of police is in the SUV. They don't recognize that the SUV is issued by the police department. They go in there, they don't know him well enough, haven't studied his face well enough to know, I mean, he's in plain clothes. They miss the tag around his neck that labels him as a member of. The police and a high-ranking police official. And they go up and they say, get out of the car. One guy sticks his head in, sees that there's a gun, and yells, gun, and pulls his gun on the police chief, and so does the other one.

45:20That was a bad day. That was a bad day for those officers, right? Talk about a bum day. I mean, and in the narrative, it comes down to one of the journalists writing about how can you not recognize or know a chief in a department SUV with an ID around his neck? How do you miss that? I mean, you can imagine the, of course, he was reprimanded, dismissed, and all that kind of stuff. He doesn't serve in the department anymore, does he? You can imagine him going home and talking to his wife. How'd your day go, honey? Not very good. What happened? Well, I pulled the gun on the police chief.

46:07Well, did you see the SUV? What happened? Did you see the SUV? Yeah, it was the company car. Yeah. Oh, and you pulled. Yeah, I did. I missed that cue. And what about the badge around the neck? Did you? Yeah, I kind of missed that one, too. Well, sweetheart, you don't need to, you don't have any business carrying a gun around. You need to find another line of work. But that's how many of you are. The Father has testified that Jesus is the Son.

46:43Talk about a bum eternity. You can't have missed him. He walked on water. He created matter out of nothing. He raised the dead. He came from the dead himself. You can't miss him in history. Stop running from the God who is running after you. And this moment, surrender. Turn from your sin and say, Yes, I receive your testimony and I believe. And you will be forgiven of your sin in a moment. And you will be born from above.

47:32I'm going to talk to you about a blessed day. A blessed day. I told you about a bum day. I want to tell you about a blessed day. You know what a blessed day is? A blessed day is recognizing who Jesus is, receiving his testimony, receiving his words, and being active in doing the things that God has given you to do. John the Baptist was so excited about the task that God had given him to do.

48:00Listen, I don't care who you are. You have a role in the kingdom work that God has laid out. You have a part. You have a place if you are a believer in Christ. And get this: the significant of your work in the kingdom is not in the task, but in the person you serve. Think about that. What makes the task noble is not the task itself, but the person you're serving. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for the testimony of John the Baptist in these words that speak to all of us here today. You must increase. We must decrease. And in this increasing and decreasing, we will find the greatest satisfaction, the greatest joy, and the greatest admiration of who you are. Father, forgive us for thinking that this world is all about us, thinking that you created us just so that we could squander and make a big name, make ourselves great. We just thank you for this beautiful testimony. And as we celebrate the weeks, this next week, your passion, and your glorious resurrection, Father, may it all be with a mind that you may increase.

49:32And we may decrease. In Jesus' name, amen.