Decreasing Self to Increase Christ in Our Lives

John speaks it of course in the particular setting the historical setting which is described in this chapter in the context we needn't be concerned about that that's right of course and true John's disciples had lost their head a bit lost their heads over their own master and have become jealous of the Lord Jesus Christ and want John to assert himself and this is how John answ them they're just showing their ignorance they're just showing their lack of spiritual understanding they're blind he must increase but I must decrease. [00:54:40]

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, emphasizes that true believers worship God in spirit, rejoice in Christ, and place no confidence in the flesh. This mindset is crucial for both entering and continuing in the Christian life. The devil often exploits our self-centered tendencies, making it imperative that we focus on Christ, allowing Him to increase in our lives. [01:45:56]

The New Testament, particularly the Gospels, was written to establish the greatness and glory of Christ. John's Gospel, for instance, was penned to affirm that Jesus of Nazareth is the eternal Son of God. This focus on Christ's preeminence is essential for spiritual revival and reformation. Throughout history, periods of spiritual awakening have been marked by a renewed emphasis on Christ's greatness and glory. [07:10:24]

To truly grasp Christ's greatness, we must consider His self-abasement and obedience. Though equal with God, He humbled Himself, taking on human form and submitting to death on the cross. This ultimate act of obedience and sacrifice is the foundation of our salvation. By contemplating these truths, we allow Christ to increase in our lives, transforming our perspective and priorities. [16:06:00]

Understanding and meditating on Christ's work and His nature is crucial for overcoming personal struggles and spiritual challenges. By focusing on Him, we find the strength and perspective to face life's difficulties. The key to this transformation lies in looking to Jesus, as the author of Hebrews advises, to prevent spiritual drift. [30:30:00]

The principle that governs the whole of the Christian Life One enters into the Christian Life in this way if you have any confidence whatsoever in yourself or In the Flesh you're not a Christian you're outside this says Paul to the Philippians in Philippians 3:3 we are the circumcision well what are the character what are the characteristics of such people he says there are these we worship God in the spirit we rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh. [01:26:00]

The devil will be playing on self, self is the greatest curse in our lives, that's the terrible thing the most devastating thing that sin and the Fall have done to us all to introduce this element of self self-centeredness, self-righteousness, self- protection, self-concern and self can become so important and so inflated as even to hide the Lord himself so this principle governs the whole of Our Lives. [02:31:00]

The answer to all this I say is given us in this great statement he must increase but I must decrease my dear friends do you know him this morning the great leading text of this Gospel of John is the 16th verse of the first chapter of his fullness of all we received and Grace upon Grace that's Christianity receiving of his blessed fullness and more and more of it as you go on is that true of this well if it isn't probably the main explanation is that it is this self that's standing in the way. [03:28:00]

This is the ultimate secret of it all, this is the way in which we can make sure that he does and will increase in our minds in our thoughts in our estimates in our hearts in our love and in the whole of our until we are finally lost in him and self has vanished all together now how can we so look at him that he may increase in every way in our lives and experiences. [04:45:00]

The leading theme of the New Testament, why do you think these four gospels were ever written there's only one answer to that question they were written in order to show men and women and to establish and fix once and forever his true greatness and His glory take this Gospel of John why did did John write this why was he led by the spirit to lead it well he tells us himself at the end of chapter 20. [07:04:00]

The martyrs haven't done that and he's greater than all Martyrs no no he knew what it would mean he was had looked from eternity into the face of the father sees that man's sin is coming between them and there'll be a terrible moment when he won't be able to look into the face of God he says is there no other way cannot men and women be saved by any other method has it got to come to this if it be possible let this cup pass by if there isn't any other way well I'll go on with it nevertheless not my will but thine be done his utter obedience to the F being found in fashionism and he humbles himself yet further and becomes obedient unto death. [34:36:00]

The author of the epist of the epistle to the Hebrews catches it listen to him who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding All Things by the word of his power listen to this when he had by himself purged ourselves he did it by himself he was alone and indeed it involved this loneliness The Cry of their elction my God my God why hast Thou forsaken me we beheld him smitten stricken of God forsaken of men alone he T The Wine Press alone he had by himself self Purge our sins and he died the author of Life the sustainer of all being he died they take down his body and they Buri it in a grave and then you remember the glory of the Resurrection he comes out of it he bursts us under the bends of death he rises triumphant over the grave he cannot be hen of death why well because he is the author of Life he's everlasting God and out he comes conquering death and the grave and all things that are set against us. [39:36:00]