He must increase and I must decrease

Text: John 3:22-30

Intro:

One reason that the church has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church.  Another reason is the church has so little influence over the world is because Christ has so little influence over the church.  ” For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”  Col. 1:16-18 John the Baptist provides us instructions and example on how we can give Christ the preeminence.  Notice again his simple declaration.  “He must increase and I must decrease.”

1. It requires a continual surrender of self.

1. The verb tense is literally “I must continually keep on decreasing”.
2. We have a terminated view of surrender.
3. We think of a war and at its end there is a surrender.
4. We think of a game and at its end there is a surrender.
5. Yet John the Baptist tells us that it is more than a one-time event.
6. It is a continuous surrender.
7. Christ depicts it this way.  “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”  Luke 9:23
8. Here is the recipe for Christ to have the greatest influence over you, this church, and this community.  You must continually surrender or decrease.
9. It also depicts a building towards.  What you have surrendered stays surrendered and yet there is more to surrender.
10. This is the idea of Romans 12:1, 2.

1. It requires a continual growing of Christ.

1. A literal translation “It is for Him to go on growing and for me to be ever getting less.”
2. The song writer captures this idea when he penned “More love to thee of Christ/More love to thee/ This is my earnest plea/on bended knee.”
3. His growing comes with our surrender.  We defer to Him.  We give Him the preeminence.

1. In the matter of His divine plan.

1. Verse 27
2. John The Baptist knew his place in God’s plan.
3. He did not groan or complain that it wasn’t what he wanted.
4. He increases as our want decreases.
5. Do you know God’s plan for your life?  When what you want is the priority, He has decreased and you have increased.  When what He wants if the priority, He has increased and you have decreased.  He must increase and I must decrease.
6. It is no longer a matter of what I want, but of what He wants!

1. In the matter of service.

1. Verse 28
2. The lesser is to serve the greater!
3. Here is the hard part of the daily surrender.  What do you want me to do today?  How easy to ignore the question and to never ask it!  How easy not to want to know the answer!  He must increase and I must decrease.

1. In the matter of attitude.

1. Verse 29
2. John was rejoicing for his part in the economy of God.
3. David declared he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God.
4. Ill – Parking lot duty; shoveling sidewalks.

1. In the matter of doctrine.

1. Verse 32
2. I must decrease in regards to His doctrine.
3. It no longer matters what I think. It only matters what He thinks.
4. It no longer matters what I believer. It only matters what He teaches me.