“HE MUST INCREASE”

 

[WORDS TO LIVE BY – JOHN THE BAPTIST]

 

JOHN 3:30          He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HE MUST INCREASE BECAUSE OF HIS PERSON [John’s Gospel]

 

1. Jesus is the Lamb of God [1:29, 36; 3:36]

 

2. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah [3:28-30]

 

3. Jesus is God Incarnate [1:14-15, 30; 3:31-35]

 

II. HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE BECAUSE OF MY PERSON [John’s Gospel unless noted otherwise]

 

1. John was Not the Christ [1:19-21, 3:28]

 

2. John was Not Worthy [1:26-27, Mt. 3:13-15]

 

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

 

3. John, like Abraham, was a “Friend” of Christ [3:28-29, 15:14]

 

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

 

III. HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE BECAUSE OF MY LIFE’S PURPOSE [John’s Gospel unless noted otherwise]

 

1. My Life’s Work is to Live as Clean as a Sinner Can [Lk. 1:13-17]

 

2. My Life’s Work is to Be a Voice [1:23, 1 Peter 3:15]

 

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

3. My Life’s Work is to Give a Clear Witness [1:6-9, Lk. 1:76-79, Acts 1:8]

 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.