HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE “ Reflecting the Glory to Christ: the Life of John the Baptist ” John 1:6-9, /20/11

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE “To God be the glory, great things He has done; So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And opened the life gate that all may go in.” Excerpt from hymn written by Fanny Crosby, circa 1875

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8, ESV)

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE Who Was John the Baptist? Parents were the Priest Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-25; 57-66) While in the womb, he leaped when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, entered the room (Luke 1:41) Prophesied in the Old Testament: Isaiah 40:3 & Malachi 4:5 Lived in the desert, wore clothing made of camel hair with a leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey (Matthew 3:1-6; Mark 1:4-6) Preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:3) Baptized Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22) Was beheaded by Herod Antipas for his head to be served on a platter as a gift to Herod’s niece (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9)

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE John the Baptist knew who he was— a reflector of the light, not the source of light.

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE Pharisees missed the point— they wanted to know who John was; he wanted them to know who Christ was!

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE USS Greeneville Ehime Maru

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. (Rev. 4:9-11, ESV)

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth (Rev. 5:9-10, ESV)

HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE We glorify God because He has given us the opportunity and ability to do what we do. All we are & all we do is a tribute to our Creator. We glorify God because He shed His blood for us, satisfying the debt of our sin.