Addiction - a habitual repetition of excessive behavior that a person is unable or unwilling to stop, despite its harmful consequences. People can be psychologically addicted to drugs, gambling, or other behaviors, meaning they feel overwhelmingly deprived if they attempt to stop. * Starving self is a difficult deal.
A discussion between John's disciples and Jesus' disciples took place. The question was - are you bothered by the masses following Jesus and leaving you?
John 3:27-30 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. "You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before Him.' "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. And so this joy of mine has been made full. "He must increase, but I must decrease.
One commentator stated - I spend most of my waking hours worrying about whether people like me, agree with me, understand me, care about me, respect me, want me, admire me, listen to me. It means that I am dominated by my ego, possessed by it, controlled by it. It means that my hearing, my vision, my understanding, must all pass thru the filter of my ego. Mike Yakinelli
* If I am honest - part of the time, if not most of the time, this is me.
In this ego infested world - we treat JESUS often times like he is a team player instead of the master manager. We want HIM to bunt us over in life. We want HIM to get dirty for us. We live with the mind of - What can HE do for me? We read books and attend seminars that touch and deal with the subject of me. My spendings are about me. My reason in talking with you is so I can mention me.
If you need encouragement - too bad, I am consumed and concerned only about me.
I circle myself with people who stroke and support me. I like me ! ! ! I, me, myself is priority.
We must realize that * Jesus did not come to cater to me.
I am to worship HIM ! Bow to Him ! Follow Him ! Serve Him !
* Addiction to Jesus is helpful. Addiction to self is harmful.
v. 27 - John the Baptist realized this bottom line principle - God is in control ! ! ! I am not !
J.B. stated - I am not the "Big Dog", I am just the pointer. Not the setter - the pointer.
The friend of the bridegroom is not the man. He is not to speak, he is to serve.
He is not the man in all the photo's - he is the photographer.
He is not the attention - he is the assistant. He is not the sign - he is just the post.
He is not the light - he is a lamp. He is not the force - he is the forerunner.
{1} The substance of my life must match that of the Saviour.
Do I act like JESUS is supreme? Am I blazing with the spirit's fire?
Who is supreme in your life? -or- What is supreme in your life?
God called us to substance living not surface living.
John the Baptist would have had a rediculous resume'. A pathetic portfolio.
Miserable manners. Disgusting dress. Come on - camels hair, locust & honey for food ? ? ?
BUT - One thing he did have was a truthful, triumphant, transforming testimony.
NOT a title - but a testimony.
ex. What is in me will come out. * a sponge. * a glass.
{2} I must bring satisfaction to the heart of Christ.
I am not here to please you. You are not here to please me. We are here to please JESUS.
Satisfaction is found in pleasing God - not in anything else.
ex. I didn't like the sermon; the singing; I didn't enjoy the. . . The question is - WAS JESUS Pleased.
* * * wisdom - do whats right, because you can not and will not make everyone happy.
{3} I must seek to make JESUS successful. Rom. 8:29
God's # 1 goal is not to make me happy. God is concerned with Jesus being successful.
If we are not careful - * we will sing so we can be seen, * we will speak so we can heard,
* we will style and profile our wardrobe so we can get attention, * we will do what we do for the sake of feeding our addiction... that warped addiction of self exaltation. TC
* Service must be rendered with a sincere heart.
{4} Service must be given priority.
I must ask - not how you can serve me , but - how can I serve you.
Greatest in the kingdom is a servant. Of those born of woman, their is none greater than John the Baptist. Why did Jesus make that statement about John? - I believe it was because John was not owned by his numbers or stats. He was genuinely owned by the LORD. {Mt.11:11; Lk. 7:28}
Mix a good dosage of ego addiction with Jesus and the consequences are frightening. It causes ministers to build huge churches as a monument to their own personal ego. It causes people to go on television with their unique ministry...which is another term for my ministry. It causes people to write books, speak all over the world, abandon their families, friends and loved ones, so that they can respond to the great need {of their addiction} which is the need to be needed. Think of all the churches that are currently supporting the ego's of their ministers. Many evangelical churches today are known more for their pastor and big church, than they are for Jesus. Mike Yakinelli
Let's be honest...As parents we want our kids to be bright - so we will look good. We want our kids to have great jobs - so we look good. We want our children to be great atheletes - so we can look good. We want to hang out with attractive, sharp people who have it together - so we can look good. We do not want to be associated with so called losers. We do not want to look bad. The Braves of yesterday had very few followers. Now you can hardly find a seat. We are an EGO crazed world. Prideful & pittiful.
* Don't believe Andre Agassi - when he said - Image is everything. Jesus is everything ! ! !
JESUS must increase - I must decrease. I am not... He is! I must be less... He must be more!
Jesus Christ John the Baptist all scripture taken from the Gospel of John
Light 1:8 lamp 5:35
Word 1:1 voice 1:23
Savior 1:29 signpost 1:29
Messiah 3:28 messenger 3:28
Recently Dr. Ron Manahan of Grace College and Seminary spoke on this text above and I was tremendously moved to do more study. May God use it to transform your life and walk. |
