He Must Increase,He Must Increase,I Must DecreaseI Must Decrease

JJohn 3:22-36ohn 3:22-36

““He must increase,He must increase,I must decrease.”I must decrease.”

JJohn 3:30ohn 3:30

Who was John Who was John the Baptist?the Baptist?

1 In those days John the Baptist came 1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The

voice of one crying in the wilderness: voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his

paths straight.’”paths straight.’”Matthew 3:1-3Matthew 3:1-3

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s 4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, hair and a leather belt around his waist,

and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the

region about the Jordan were going out to region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in him, 6 and they were baptized by him in

the river Jordan, confessing their sins.the river Jordan, confessing their sins.Matthew 3:4-6Matthew 3:4-6

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who

warned you to flee from the wrath to warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with

repentance.repentance.Matthew 3:7-8Matthew 3:7-8

9 And do not presume to say to 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for these stones to raise up children for

Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down that does not bear good fruit is cut down

and thrown into the fire.and thrown into the fire.Matthew 3:9-10Matthew 3:9-10

11 “I baptize you with water for 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after repentance, but he who is coming after

me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you not worthy to carry. He will baptize you

with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his clear his threshing floor and gather his

wheat into the barn, but the wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with chaff he will burn with

unquenchable fire.”unquenchable fire.”Matthew 3:11-12Matthew 3:11-12

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb the Lamb

of Godof God, who takes away the sin of the , who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I did not know him, but for this purpose I

came baptizing with water, that he came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”might be revealed to Israel.”

John 1:29-31John 1:29-31

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it descend from heaven like a dove, and it

remained on him. 33 I myself did not know remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he the Spirit descend and remain, this is he

who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have I have

seen and have borne witness seen and have borne witness that this is that this is the Son of Godthe Son of God.”.”

John 1:32-34John 1:32-34

What is the What is the common thread common thread

in the life of in the life of John the John the Baptist?Baptist?

John the Baptist served as a John the Baptist served as a pointer to the One greater pointer to the One greater

than him.than him.

John the Baptist served as a John the Baptist served as a pointer to Jesus Christ, the pointer to Jesus Christ, the

Messiah, Messiah, the Lamb of God, the Lamb of God, the Son of God.the Son of God.

Would you like Would you like to serve as a to serve as a

pointer to Jesus?pointer to Jesus?

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went 22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was remained there with them and was

baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was Aenon near Salim, because water was

plentiful there, and people were coming plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized and being baptized

24 (for John had not yet been 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).put in prison).John 3:22-24John 3:22-24

25 Now a discussion arose between some 25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over of John’s disciples and a Jew over

purification. 26 And they came to John and purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you

across the Jordan, to whom you bore across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are

going to him.”going to him.”John 3:25-26John 3:25-26

27 John answered, “A person cannot 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given receive even one thing unless it is given

him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the

Christ, but I have been sent before him.’Christ, but I have been sent before him.’John 3:27-28John 3:27-28

29 The one who has the bride is the 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom,

who stands and hears him, rejoices who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now Therefore this joy of mine is now

complete. 30 complete. 30 He must increase, but I must He must increase, but I must decreasedecrease.”.”

John 3:29-30John 3:29-30

““He must increase,He must increase,I must decrease.”I must decrease.”

JJohn 3:30ohn 3:30

Why is this Why is this important?important?

Because this is what we Because this is what we were created for...were created for...

““Everyone who is called by Everyone who is called by my name, my name, whom I created whom I created

for my gloryfor my glory, whom I formed , whom I formed and made.”and made.”- Isaiah 43:7- Isaiah 43:7

Jesus, Lover of My Soul Jesus, Lover of My Soul (It's All About You)(It's All About You)

““He must increase,He must increase,I must decrease.”I must decrease.”

JJohn 3:30ohn 3:30

31 He who comes from above is above all. 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the He who is of the earth belongs to the

earth and speaks in an earthly way. He earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven who comes from heaven is above allis above all. 32 . 32

He bears witness to what he has seen and He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets

his his seal to this, that God is true.seal to this, that God is true.

John 3:31-33John 3:31-33

34 For he whom God has sent utters the 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit words of God, for he gives the Spirit

without measure. 35 The Father loves the without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Son and has given all things into his hand.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the eternal life; whoever does not obey the

Son shall not see life, Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains but the wrath of God remains

on him.on him.John 3:31-33John 3:31-33

What are the What are the practical practical

implications?implications?

ExcellenceExcellence

HolinessHoliness

Aim to be the best of the Aim to be the best of the best in the field God has best in the field God has

placed you in and then point placed you in and then point people to Jesus!people to Jesus!

We need excellent Christian We need excellent Christian engineers.engineers.

We need excellent Christian We need excellent Christian teachers.teachers.

We need excellent Christian We need excellent Christian accountants.accountants.

We need excellent Christian We need excellent Christian sales people.sales people.

We need excellent Christian We need excellent Christian office staff.office staff.

We need excellent Christian We need excellent Christian ministry workers.ministry workers.

We need excellent Christian We need excellent Christian ___________.___________.

Think of the different roles Think of the different roles you have in your life (e.g., at you have in your life (e.g., at

work, in school, in your work, in school, in your family, organization, in your family, organization, in your

relationships).relationships).

Tell Jesus:Tell Jesus:““I want to be the best I want to be the best

________ that I can be so that ________ that I can be so that You would increase and I You would increase and I

would decrease.”would decrease.”

““He must increase,He must increase,I must decrease.”I must decrease.”

JJohn 3:30ohn 3:30

What are the What are the practical practical

implications?implications?

ExcellenceExcellence

HolinessHoliness

Being the best at what you Being the best at what you do should not nullify doing do should not nullify doing

the right thing.the right thing.

Be excellent, stay humble.Be excellent, stay humble.Be excellent, be sensitive to people.Be excellent, be sensitive to people.Be excellent, help people.Be excellent, help people.Be excellent, share your passion.Be excellent, share your passion.Be excellent, do the right thing.Be excellent, do the right thing.

““He must increase,He must increase,I must decrease.”I must decrease.”

JJohn 3:30ohn 3:30

What does it What does it look like in my look like in my

life?life?

What is one step you can What is one step you can take this week to take this week to

demonstrate that you want demonstrate that you want Jesus to increase and that Jesus to increase and that

you decrease?you decrease?(Write it down. Put it in your ToDo list, in (Write it down. Put it in your ToDo list, in your memo pad, etc. Text it to yourself. :)your memo pad, etc. Text it to yourself. :)

““He must increase,He must increase,I must decrease.”I must decrease.”

JJohn 3:30ohn 3:30

He Must Increase,He Must Increase,I Must DecreaseI Must Decrease

JJohn 3:22-36ohn 3:22-36