Embracing Humility: Decreasing Self to Increase Christ

 

Summary

In the Gospel of John, chapter 3, verse 30, we find a profound statement: "He must increase, but I must decrease." This encapsulates the essence of the Christian journey and the transformative power of Christ in our lives. The Gospel of John emphasizes the offer of eternal life through Jesus Christ, a theme that resonates throughout the New Testament. Christianity is not merely about moral living or intellectual assent to doctrines; it is about receiving life from Christ, a life that is abundant and full.

The world today is weary, seeking vitality in temporary pleasures and stimulants, yet true life is found only in Christ. The church, at times, appears weak and irrelevant, but during revivals, it becomes a beacon of hope. The hindrance to experiencing this fullness often lies in pride, a universal sin that manifests in various forms, including intellectual pride and self-satisfaction. This pride can be fed by well-meaning friends, as seen in the disciples of John the Baptist, who were concerned about John's diminishing influence compared to Jesus.

John the Baptist's response to his disciples is a lesson in humility and recognition of Christ's supremacy. He understood that all he had was given by God, and he rejoiced in the success of Jesus' ministry. This humility is crucial for receiving the fullness of God. We must recognize our need, be open to new teachings, and be willing to be disturbed from our complacency. The natural man resists the message of the cross and the need for regeneration because it implies our helplessness and need for transformation.

John the Baptist's example teaches us to focus on the truth and the glory of Christ rather than our own status or achievements. True spiritual growth comes from a humble recognition of our need for Christ's fullness and a willingness to decrease so that He may increase in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- The Essence of Christianity: True Christianity is about receiving life from Christ, not just moral living or intellectual belief. It is about experiencing the fullness of life that Christ offers, which is abundant and transformative. [02:49]

- The Hindrance of Pride: Pride is a significant obstacle to receiving the fullness of God. It manifests in various forms, such as intellectual pride and self-satisfaction, and can be fed by well-meaning friends. Recognizing and overcoming pride is essential for spiritual growth. [07:37]

- The Importance of Humility: John the Baptist exemplifies humility by recognizing that all he had was given by God. This humility allowed him to rejoice in Christ's success and is crucial for receiving God's fullness. We must acknowledge our need and be open to new teachings. [39:23]

- The Challenge of New Teachings: The natural man resists new teachings that challenge our complacency and self-satisfaction. We must be willing to be disturbed and open to the transformative power of the Gospel, which calls us to a deeper relationship with Christ. [20:57]

- Focusing on Christ's Glory: Our focus should be on the truth and the glory of Christ, not on our own status or achievements. True spiritual growth comes from a humble recognition of our need for Christ's fullness and a willingness to decrease so that He may increase in our lives. [41:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to John 3:30
- [01:04] - The Theme of Eternal Life
- [02:32] - True Christianity Defined
- [03:56] - The World's Need for Life
- [05:09] - Hindrances to Fullness
- [07:11] - The Problem of Pride
- [09:52] - John's Disciples' Concern
- [12:29] - Self-Satisfaction and Complacency
- [17:26] - Resisting New Emphases
- [20:31] - Revival and Reformation
- [22:35] - The Discomfort of Truth
- [27:26] - John's Humble Reaction
- [33:26] - Recognizing Christ's Supremacy
- [39:23] - The Gift of Humility
- [45:54] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 3:30: "He must increase, but I must decrease."
- John 1:16: "And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace."
- 1 Corinthians 4:7: "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"

#### Observation Questions
1. What does John the Baptist mean when he says, "He must increase, but I must decrease"? How does this statement reflect his understanding of his role in relation to Jesus? [00:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the world's current state in terms of seeking life and vitality? What are the implications for Christians today? [04:12]
3. According to the sermon, what are some forms of pride that can hinder spiritual growth? How does this relate to the disciples of John the Baptist? [07:24]
4. How does John the Baptist's reaction to his disciples' concerns demonstrate humility and recognition of Christ's supremacy? [28:35]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of receiving "life from Christ" differ from merely living a moral life or holding intellectual beliefs about Christianity? [02:49]
2. In what ways can pride manifest in a believer's life, and how does it prevent them from experiencing the fullness of God? [07:37]
3. Why is humility essential for spiritual growth, and how does John the Baptist exemplify this trait? [39:23]
4. How can new teachings or emphases in the Gospel challenge our complacency, and why is it important to be open to them? [20:57]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be allowing pride to hinder your spiritual growth? How can you address these areas? [07:57]
2. John the Baptist rejoiced in the success of Jesus' ministry. How can you cultivate a similar attitude of humility and joy in the success of others within your church community? [28:35]
3. The sermon suggests that true Christianity involves receiving life from Christ. What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Christ and experience His fullness? [02:49]
4. Consider a time when you resisted new teachings or changes in your spiritual life. What was the outcome, and how might you approach similar situations differently in the future? [20:57]
5. How can you shift your focus from your own achievements to the glory of Christ in your daily life? What practical changes can you make to ensure that He increases while you decrease? [41:39]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel self-satisfied or complacent. What actions can you take to challenge this complacency and open yourself to the transformative power of the Gospel? [22:50]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or church to seek the fullness of God and support them in overcoming obstacles like pride and complacency? [27:57]

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing Abundant Life in Christ
True Christianity is not merely about adhering to moral codes or intellectually assenting to doctrines; it is about receiving and experiencing the abundant life that Christ offers. This life is transformative, filling the void that temporary pleasures and worldly pursuits cannot satisfy. In a world that often seeks vitality in fleeting experiences, the fullness of life is found in a relationship with Christ. This relationship is characterized by a deep, personal connection with Jesus, who offers eternal life and a sense of purpose that transcends the mundane. Embracing this abundant life requires a shift in focus from self-reliance to reliance on Christ, allowing His presence to permeate every aspect of our lives. [02:49]

John 10:10 (ESV): "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking fulfillment outside of Christ? How can you invite Him to bring His abundant life into those areas today?


Day 2: Overcoming the Hindrance of Pride
Pride is a significant barrier to experiencing the fullness of God. It manifests in various forms, such as intellectual pride, self-satisfaction, and the desire for recognition. This pride can be subtly reinforced by well-meaning friends or societal norms that value self-promotion. Recognizing and overcoming pride is essential for spiritual growth, as it often blinds us to our need for God and His transformative power. By acknowledging our limitations and the areas where pride has taken root, we open ourselves to the humility necessary for receiving God's fullness. This process involves a conscious decision to lay down our pride and embrace a posture of humility before God and others. [07:37]

Proverbs 16:18-19 (ESV): "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud."

Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where pride has taken hold. What steps can you take today to practice humility and invite God's fullness into that area?


Day 3: Embracing the Gift of Humility
John the Baptist exemplifies humility by recognizing that all he had was given by God. His response to his disciples' concerns about his diminishing influence compared to Jesus' success is a powerful lesson in humility and recognition of Christ's supremacy. John rejoiced in the success of Jesus' ministry, understanding that his role was to point others to Christ. This humility is crucial for receiving the fullness of God, as it allows us to rejoice in the success of others and recognize our dependence on God's grace. By acknowledging our need and being open to new teachings, we position ourselves to receive the transformative power of the Gospel. [39:23]

James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Reflection: How can you practice humility in your daily interactions, especially when you feel the need to assert your own importance? What would it look like to genuinely rejoice in the success of others?


Day 4: Being Open to New Teachings
The natural man often resists new teachings that challenge our complacency and self-satisfaction. The Gospel calls us to a deeper relationship with Christ, which requires a willingness to be disturbed from our comfort zones. This openness to new teachings is essential for spiritual growth, as it allows us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. By embracing the discomfort of truth and being willing to learn and grow, we align ourselves with God's purposes and experience the fullness of His presence. This process involves a willingness to let go of preconceived notions and be open to the transformative power of the Gospel. [20:57]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: What new teaching or truth has challenged you recently? How can you embrace this challenge and allow it to deepen your relationship with Christ?


Day 5: Focusing on Christ's Glory
Our focus should be on the truth and the glory of Christ, rather than our own status or achievements. True spiritual growth comes from a humble recognition of our need for Christ's fullness and a willingness to decrease so that He may increase in our lives. This shift in focus requires a conscious decision to prioritize Christ's glory above our own desires for recognition and success. By centering our lives on Christ and His purposes, we experience the transformative power of His presence and become conduits of His love and grace to others. This focus on Christ's glory leads to a life of purpose and fulfillment that transcends worldly pursuits. [41:39]

Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from your own achievements to the glory of Christ? How can this shift impact your daily life and interactions with others?

Quotes


The world today is living on stimulants; it hasn't got life. Here is the greatest need, and here is the only source of life. But I say the great question is, have we who claim to be Christians, have we got the, have we received something of this fullness, and are we receiving more and more of it? [00:04:18]

Pride takes many forms: pride of intellect, pride of achievement, pride of understanding. However, it doesn't matter so much about the form; it is pride in its essence that constitutes one of the greatest hindrances to our receiving of his fullness and grace upon grace. Now, we're all proud, every one of us. [00:07:21]

The natural man resists new teachings that challenge our complacency and self-satisfaction. We must be willing to be disturbed and open to the transformative power of the Gospel, which calls us to a deeper relationship with Christ. This is the challenge of new teachings. [00:21:26]

John the Baptist exemplifies humility by recognizing that all he had was given by God. This humility allowed him to rejoice in Christ's success and is crucial for receiving God's fullness. We must acknowledge our need and be open to new teachings. [00:39:23]

True Christianity is about receiving life from Christ, not just moral living or intellectual belief. It is about experiencing the fullness of life that Christ offers, which is abundant and transformative. This is the essence of Christianity. [00:02:49]

The church can reach a state in which the old teaching becomes a new teaching. In the 18th century, when Whitfield, under the power of the Spirit, began preaching regeneration and the absolute necessity of the rebirth, he was regarded as an innovator. This was a new doctrine. [00:19:36]

John the Baptist's example teaches us to focus on the truth and the glory of Christ rather than our own status or achievements. True spiritual growth comes from a humble recognition of our need for Christ's fullness and a willingness to decrease so that He may increase in our lives. [00:41:39]

The natural man never objects to the teaching of the ethics and the morality of the Bible. Of course not; he believes in that because he believes he can do it. But what he always does resent is the preaching of the cross. The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. [00:25:43]

The effect of the spiritual is always to humble us and to make us interested in the truth itself and the glory of the Lord, not in what we have. This looking at it from the standpoint of self always leads to trouble. The Holy Spirit is sent to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:44:49]

John recognizes the Lord. He must increase, and I will because He is who and what He is. I'm only man; He's the Son of God. I'm of the earth, earthly; He is from Heaven, Son of God. Oh, my dear friends, let me put it in just this form this morning. [00:35:23]

The greatest hindrance and obstacle of all, perhaps, is ultimately pride. It is something that is often fed in us and encouraged in us by our friends, by our well-wishers. Now, here is the most extraordinary thing, which is illustrated here so perfectly. [00:08:41]

The Christian church is as she is because she's become uncertain about her Lord. Men in Christian pulpits, prominent positions, denying His deity, denying His miracles, denying His sacrificial atoning death, denying the literal physical resurrection, denying the fact of the Ascension. [00:36:25]

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Transcript
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