Jesus Must Increase: Embracing His Supremacy and Our Humble Service

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Must Increase—He Came from Heaven

Jesus is uniquely worthy to be at the center of our lives because He alone came from above, entering our world as God incarnate. His origin is not of earth but of heaven, and this sets Him apart from every other teacher, prophet, or leader. While we may offer perspectives shaped by our earthly experiences, Jesus speaks from firsthand knowledge of heaven, bringing divine truth to us. This truth should humble us and remind us that our lives and ministries are ultimately for Him, not ourselves. As we approach each day, let us remember that Jesus’ heavenly origin means He is worthy of all honor, and our purpose is to let Him increase in every area of our lives. [41:08]

John 3:31 (ESV)
“He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most struggle to let Jesus be “above all,” and what is one step you can take today to let Him increase in that area?

Day 2: Jesus Speaks Firsthand Truth

Unlike anyone else, Jesus testifies to what He has seen and heard directly from the Father, offering us truth that is not secondhand or filtered through human limitations. While prophets and teachers can only share what has been revealed to them, Jesus reveals the fullness of God’s heart and mind because He is the living Word. Yet, many reject His testimony, preferring darkness over light. As you listen to Jesus’ words in Scripture, remember that you are hearing the very truth of God, unfiltered and pure, and let it shape your understanding and your life. [47:11]

John 3:32 (ESV)
“He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.”

Reflection: What is one teaching of Jesus you have struggled to accept or obey, and how might remembering that it comes directly from God help you trust Him more today?

Day 3: Believing Jesus Is Believing God

To receive Jesus’ testimony is to affirm that God is true, for the Father and the Son are always in perfect agreement. You cannot claim to believe in God while rejecting Jesus, because all that Jesus says and does is the very expression of the Father’s will. Accepting Christ is not just a personal decision; it is a declaration that you trust the God who sent Him and that you are willing to set your seal to the truth of God’s Word. Let this unity between Father and Son deepen your faith and your confidence in the gospel. [50:19]

John 3:33 (ESV)
“Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.”

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who claims to believe in God but not in Jesus? How can you lovingly share with them the unity between the Father and the Son this week?

Day 4: Jesus Has the Full Measure of the Spirit

Jesus is set apart by the fact that He possesses the Holy Spirit without measure, speaking the very words of God with unmatched authority and power. While believers receive the Spirit as a pledge of our inheritance, Jesus was always and fully led by the Spirit, never quenching or resisting Him. This fullness empowered His teaching, miracles, and life, distinguishing Him from all others. As you seek to follow Christ, remember that the same Spirit who filled Jesus now dwells in you, inviting you to yield more fully to His leading each day. [54:06]

John 3:34 (ESV)
“For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.”

Reflection: In what situation today can you intentionally rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance rather than your own strength or wisdom?

Day 5: True Faith in Jesus Leads to Obedience

Believing in Jesus is not just a matter of intellectual agreement or a prayer prayed long ago; it is a living faith that results in obedience to the Son. Eternal life is promised to those who believe, but genuine belief is always accompanied by a desire to follow and obey Christ as King. This does not mean perfection, but a heart that longs to hear and respond to the voice of Jesus. If you find yourself drifting or making life about yourself, return to the truth that Jesus is worthy of your full allegiance, and let your faith be seen in your obedience. [01:00:59]

John 3:36 (ESV)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

Reflection: What is one area where you sense God calling you to greater obedience, and how can you take a concrete step toward that today?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we reflected on the profound truth that Jesus must increase, and we must decrease. Our worship reminded us that Christ is our advocate, standing before the Father on our behalf, and that our lives and ministries are ultimately for Him, not for ourselves. When we make our service about us, frustration and discontentment quickly follow, but when we center everything on Jesus, we find true purpose and joy. The overflow of our service impacts others, but our primary audience is always the Lord.

Turning to John 3:31-36, we explored why Jesus is uniquely worthy of being at the center of our lives. First, Jesus came from heaven—His origin is divine, and He brings a perspective and authority that no earthly teacher can match. He is not just another prophet or wise man; He is God incarnate, the Holy One who condescended to dwell among us. Second, Jesus speaks firsthand truth. Unlike anyone else, He testifies to what He has seen and heard in the presence of the Father. His words are not secondhand or speculative; they are the very words of God.

Third, Jesus is always in perfect agreement with the Father. To receive Christ’s testimony is to affirm the truthfulness of God Himself. Rejecting Jesus is not a neutral act—it is, in effect, calling God a liar. Fourth, Jesus possesses the Spirit without measure. While believers are given the Holy Spirit as a pledge, Jesus is uniquely and fully empowered by the Spirit in all He does. This is why His teaching and authority are unlike any other.

Finally, the Father has given all authority into Jesus’ hands. He is the King, the one to whom all things belong, and the one who alone can grant eternal life. The call is clear: belief in the Son leads to eternal life, but rejecting Him leaves one under the wrath of God. True faith is not mere intellectual assent or a prayer prayed long ago; it is a life marked by obedience to the King. As we grasp the greatness of Jesus, our own self-importance fades, and we are freed to serve Him with humility and joy, making much of Him in every sphere of our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus’ heavenly origin sets Him apart from all others. He is not merely a wise teacher or prophet, but God Himself who came down to us. This truth should humble us and remind us that our perspective is always limited, while His is perfect and eternal. Our confidence and hope rest in the One who speaks from heaven, not from earth. [41:08]
2. The authority of Jesus’ words comes from His firsthand knowledge of the Father. Unlike human teachers who speak from study or tradition, Jesus reveals what He has seen and heard in the presence of God. This means that when we listen to Christ, we are hearing the very heart and mind of God, and we are called to respond with reverence and trust. [47:11]
3. To accept Jesus is to affirm the truthfulness of God; to reject Him is to call God a liar. Faith in Christ is not a separate or lesser matter than faith in God—it is the very same act, because the Father and Son are in perfect unity. This challenges us to examine whether our belief in God is truly rooted in the person and work of Jesus. [53:17]
4. Jesus is uniquely empowered by the Holy Spirit, possessing the Spirit without measure. While believers are indwelt by the Spirit, we can quench or minimize His work; Jesus, however, always operated in the fullness of the Spirit. This fullness is evident in His authority, wisdom, and the transformative power of His ministry, calling us to seek a deeper dependence on the Spirit in our own lives. [56:46]
5. True belief in Jesus leads to obedience, not just intellectual agreement or a one-time decision. Saving faith is evidenced by a life that seeks to follow and honor the King, even amidst struggles and failures. The call is not to perfection, but to a posture of humility and repentance, continually turning from self to Christ, who alone can save and satisfy. [60:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:45] - The Power of Worship and Singing Truth
[25:43] - The Importance of Having a Bible
[26:05] - Recap: John the Baptist’s Testimony
[27:04] - Ministry Motives and the Struggle with Self
[28:42] - Shifting Focus: Serving for the Lord
[29:49] - Jesus Must Increase, We Must Decrease
[31:01] - The Supremacy of Christ: Jesus as the True Light
[32:16] - How Do We Let Jesus Outshine Us?
[32:58] - Understanding Christology
[34:38] - The Cure for Self-Importance: A High View of Jesus
[40:41] - Five Reasons Jesus Must Increase
[41:08] - Jesus Came from Heaven
[46:16] - Jesus Speaks Firsthand Truth
[49:53] - Jesus and the Father: Perfect Agreement
[53:55] - Jesus Has the Full Measure of the Spirit
[57:00] - The Father Gives All Authority to the Son
[59:10] - The Call to Believe and Obey
[63:44] - Responding: Decreasing So Jesus Increases
[65:11] - Closing Prayer and Commitment
[67:35] - Announcements and Celebration

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 3:31-36 (ESV) — 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.
33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Observation Questions

According to John 3:31-36, what are some ways Jesus is described as being different from all others?
In verse 34, what does it mean that Jesus is given the Spirit "without measure"?
What is the result for those who believe in the Son, and what is the result for those who do not obey the Son (v. 36)?
The sermon mentioned that Jesus’ words are not secondhand, but come from what He has seen and heard. How is this different from the way other teachers or prophets speak? [[47:11]]

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important that Jesus came from heaven and not just from earth? How does this affect the way we listen to Him? [[41:08]]
The sermon said that to accept Jesus is to affirm the truthfulness of God, and to reject Him is to call God a liar. Why do you think John makes such a strong statement? What does this mean for people who say they believe in God but not in Jesus? [[53:17]]
What does it look like in real life for someone to have a faith that leads to obedience, rather than just intellectual agreement or a one-time decision? [[01:00:59]]
The sermon talked about Jesus being uniquely empowered by the Holy Spirit, and that believers can "quench" the Spirit. What does it mean to quench the Spirit, and how is Jesus different in this regard? [[56:46]]

Application Questions

The sermon said, “If we make ministry about us, we will be discontented and frustrated.” Can you think of a time when your service or ministry became more about you than about Jesus? What were the results? How can you shift your focus back to Christ? [[28:42]]
“Jesus must increase, I must decrease.” What is one area of your life right now where you sense you need to decrease so that Jesus can increase? What would it look like to take a practical step in that direction this week? [[29:49]]
The sermon emphasized that Jesus’ authority comes from His firsthand knowledge of the Father. When you read the words of Jesus in Scripture, do you approach them with the same weight and trust as you would if God Himself were speaking? Why or why not? [[47:11]]
The message challenged us to examine whether our belief in God is truly rooted in the person and work of Jesus. How would you describe your faith—do you see it as centered on Jesus, or is it more general? What would it look like to make Jesus more central? [[53:17]]
The sermon said that true faith is shown by a life marked by obedience, not just a prayer prayed long ago. Are there areas where you have settled for “easy believism”? What is one way you can move toward deeper obedience this month? [[01:00:59]]
Jesus is described as having the Spirit without measure, while we can quench the Spirit. Is there a specific way you sense you might be quenching the Spirit in your life? What would it look like to depend more on the Spirit this week? [[56:46]]
The sermon talked about finding true purpose and joy when we center everything on Jesus. Is there a part of your life where you feel frustrated or discontent? How might re-centering on Jesus change your perspective or attitude in that area? [[28:42]]

Sermon Clips

In every area of your life, the Lord must increase. In all that you do, Jesus must increase. Jesus is at the center. And we should shrink away to the background. It's all for him. [00:29:49] (31 seconds) #JesusAtTheCenter

When you think about that challenge that scripture gives that all that we do is for him. It doesn't take very long to understand. That he is completely worthy to receive everything that we can offer. Because he is the lamb who has come to rescue his rebellious creation. He is the lamb who has laid down his life and has suffered for our sin. He is the lamb who died. And he is the lamb who has been gloriously resurrected. [00:30:26] (36 seconds) #WorthyLamb

Our lights pale in comparison to the true light of Jesus. And when the sun rises in the morning. What happens to those stars? They don't disappear. But his light overcomes them. The light of the sun is so bright that it outshines the stars. And it's in that way. We know that we have a light to shine. In fact Jesus told his disciples in the sermon on the mount. Let your light shine before all men. But let us never forget that there is the true light. And his light is far greater than any of ours. [00:31:26] (48 seconds) #TrueLightShines

You cannot say you believe in God. And not accept Jesus Christ. That's a very important statement. In a religiously plural world. Where people say. Well that's good for you. But I believe in God. Just not Jesus. That's impossible. That can't happen. Because you can't say that you believe in God. And deny his son. Who is God. [00:50:27] (24 seconds) #FaithInJesusOnly

Conversely then. To reject the testimony of Christ. Is to call God. A liar. To. To reject. Who Jesus is. Why he came. The claims that he made. About who he is. His miracles. And the miraculous things. That occurred through him. To reject that. Is to call the one. Who sent him. A liar. That's why. You can't say you believe in God. And not believe. In the son. [00:53:07] (44 seconds) #RejectingChristIsLying

To believe in the son. Is to obey the son. I don't want you to hear that though. And think oh no. Well this week I did something wrong. I sinned. Does that mean I truly don't believe? We're not talking about perfection. But we are. Talking about what? Acknowledging that Jesus is the king. That when we believe in him. We obey him. We listen to his voice. We follow. In the areas of life. That he challenges us in. [01:01:01] (41 seconds) #FaithLeadsToObedience

As you serve Christ. And the spheres of influence. That God has called you to. To always make much. Of him. You will fade into the background. And that is good. It is necessary. Because it is always and only. About Jesus Christ. [01:04:53] (21 seconds) #FadeForHisGlory

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