Services | John’s Consistent Testimony

Bulletin

Hymn # 441 “Trusting Jesus”

SCRIPTURE READING – Romans 9:9 & 10
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings

OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate

Praise and Worship
“Living Hope”
“Raise a Hallelujah”
“How Great Is Your Love”

Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“John’s Consistent Testimony”

PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“Holy Forever”

Acknowledgements and Announcements
Benediction “There Is Freedom”

Sermon Notes
John 3:22 – 25 John & Jesus baptizing
John 3:26 John’s disciples are concerned that people are going to Jesus and not John
John 3:27 – 30 John again confirms his ministry
John 3:31 – 35 John testifies Jesus is above all and those who receive the witness of Jesus and confirm it – God gives the Spirit without measure
John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but those who do not believe the wrath of God sets on them

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Scritpures

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Transcript of Service

If you have your Bibles, please turn to the Gospel of John Chapter 3 and we'll start with verse 22. And verse one says this. After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea, and there he was, spending time with them and baptizing. Now the context is that Jesus had just been in Jerusalem during the Passover feast and had conducted himself and did various things and teaching, and he spoke. And then after that. John Dan starts talking about what Jesus does and instead of going back to Galilee, apparently he goes S to Judea and he spending time, probably teaching his disciples. And he's baptizing new converts. And so that's the context. And so then the next verse says John. Also, was baptizing in Anon near Salim because there was much water there and the people were coming and were being baptized. And so we have, if you will. Two groups of Disciples, John's disciples and Jesus disciples. Here, in a very small area, because there's a lot of water and they're baptizing, John is continuing to baptize. Under his ministry and it appears in this verse that Jesus is baptized, but we'll see later that Jesus himself doesn't baptize. He delegates that to his disciples, but the disciples and John are in close proximity of baptizing those who are coming.

And it says for John had not yet been thrown into prison. And so this makes sure that we know that this is still kind of early in in Jesus's ministry and somewhat later, but not the final phase of John's ministry. And this is therefore, there arose a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification. Now I'm sure what the the situation is is that the Jews are initially saying, well, why are you baptizing at all? Because we're Jews, we're the chosen people. We don't need to be clean. And John saying yes, you need to be baptized because you need to repent of your sins and it doesn't matter whether you are, quote UN quote. God's chosen people or not, we all need to repent and then show actions of that repentance by being baptized, and Jesus's disciples are baptizing. In a different fashion so that there is this discussion. Well, Jesus seems to be baptizing, which we will later see in Jesus's ministry that he baptized with the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. And John was baptizing for repentance. And so there's discussion. Why do we need purification? What's the difference between what John is doing? And what Jesus and disciples are doing? This is and they came to John and said. To him, rabbi. He who is with you beyond the Jordan to whom you have testified, behold he is baptizing and all are coming to him. Now I appreciate John's disciples because they're loyal to John. You're saying, John, you know we've been a part of your ministry and we believe in what you're doing. And we believe in your ministry, but. The popular opinion now seems to be that people are coming to Jesus and his disciples to be baptized, and we're not having the same impact as we were before, and so they're concerned for John's ministry because it's not blossoming like it was and Jesus his ministry seems. To be growing.

And John answered and said a man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. So John give some very important advice to his. Success in ministry. And quite frankly, success in anything is because God is gracious in giving that success. And so John is acknowledging that whatever success I had was because of God. Whatever success Jesus and his ministry is going to. Be because of. God and nothing can be done unless heaven grants it so John understands exactly who he is in the economy of faith. And he says, you yourselves, are my witnesses that I said I am not the Christ, but I have been sent ahead of him. So John saying I never laid claim to being the Messiah. And I told you that. And I wasn't shy about it. And then when Jesus, the one you said, who was beyond the Jordan, I said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. I testified about that, and I've been consistent. It doesn't matter whether my ministry is going extremely well or starting to seem to wane because. One that is God, who gives the blessings, but also I've never claimed to be the Messiah. But instead my. Ministry my purpose was to make straight the path so that the Messiah might come and have his ministry a little more easily performed. Says, but he who has the bride is the bride groom, 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. Boy, I wish that John's attitude was more. Like other Christians and and pastors. He's happy that Jesus his ministry is taking office and going to fruition because he understands Jesus is the bridegroom. He's the one who's going. To create the bride, the church and it is. Him who is going to? Understand that and expand the church. And so John says. I'm not the bridegroom. I'm I'm attendant. I'm a friend of the bridegroom and I'm happy that he's getting married. I'm happy that things are going well and so I rejoice. He's not like the one who says well, boy, that. Church over there is growing, but my church is in and there's this jealousy. John is saying heaven determines success.

And I will be happy in the success of the Messiah regardless of my circumstance, because I know my ministry is to be the forerunner of the Christ, not to be the Christ. And so he's saying. I'm not the one to be paying attention to. You should pay attention. To the Messiah. And so in churches, if you're more. In love with. The pastor than you are in Jesus. Then there's a problem. The pastor should be pointing you to rejoicing and loving. The Lord and not so much about how wonderful he is. And so John is saying I'm happy. It doesn't matter that my ministry is on the way. What matters is that Jesus. As the Messiah is here. And then he says he must increase. He doesn't think he might increase or he shouldn't know he must. That is the Heaven declaration that Jesus Administry will ultimately succeed. But I must decrease. I'm saying it's not important for me to be important. It's not important that more people come and are baptized under my ministry and are baptized under. Jesus is disciples ministry. That's not where I am involved in. I understand my ministry was to acknowledge who the Messiah was by telling about the Lamb of God. And it's my job to set the road for him. But as he does that. And my the necessity of my ministry. Is reduced and reduced and reduced. But again, sometimes we get an overinflated idea of the our importance. John understands exactly what his call to ministry was. And he performed it. Without saying, Gee whiz, I wish it's. I know what my ministry is and I'm going to do it to the best of my ability and praise the Lord that the Messiah is here and he is increasing. He further says he who comes from above is above all and he is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. You comes from heaven is above all. So again, John is making clear to his disciples.

The role is that Jesus is above it all. Heaven, he is above it all and I'm below because I'm from the earth. I speak of earthly things. I understand earth. Jesus comes from heaven, understands heavenly things, and as a result, because of where he comes from, and because he is the son of God who takes away the sins of the world, he is above it all. Says and what he has seen and heard. Of that, he testified. He he says Jesus is going to tell you exactly. What heaven is like, what the Kingdom of God is like, and what the ministry is because he is speaking from God and sent by God. And his testimony is to be received. Because he knows what he's talking about, because he's been there, the scriptures tell us what heaven. 'S going to be like. But until we actually go there. It's just a concept. But Jesus knows exactly about the angels and the temple and the beauty. Of the throne and of the Lord. He's seen it, he's witnessed it and he's come to Earth to just test. And he has received his testimony.

And set his seal to this. They got his truth. John has said not everybody is accepting Jesus's testimony. There are a. Lot of people who deny that Jesus is the son of God. But the ones who do receive that testimony set their seal that God is truth, that God's promises that he made through the prophets and through Moses and all the others that are contained in what we call the Old Testament. That God's promises about the Messiah when he would come, what he would do and how he would succeed. Is true and when we respond in faith to that, we in essence confirm that what God has said is truth. One of the current. Conversations you'll hear a lot today, and you'll even hear. It in Christian music. In history, in your true. There is only truth. Not my truth. It's not true because I say. That Jesus is the son of God. It is true because he is the son of God. I simply set my seal that I confirm that I believe exactly what God has said and what God has done, so I am willing to set my seals to say that it is so, just like God has placed his Holy Spirit in our lives. As a pledge, as a seal to confirm that we. Are children of God. Or who he whom God has sent, speaks the word of God Forgives. The sphere without measure. So it says when Jesus speaks. It's God speaking. Jesus isn't saying this is what I think God might say, or this is what I think God might do when Jesus says this. It is from the mouth of God because Jesus is the son of God, a part of the trying God, and so it is not well. I had this idea of what God might be like. You'll hear lots of people think. Well, my God, is this and my God is that and whatever. You have no clue about God because you've never seen him or experienced him. Jesus is God, and so when he gives his words, they are not. Just approved by God. They are God speaking. Many years ago there was a commercial about a. Stockbrokers who people were sitting at a table at a restaurant and they were giving their opinion about what their stockbroker had said. And then one person says, well, my stockbroker is and then they give the name of the commercial and everybody stops to listen because they think what this. Brokerage firm has to say is important. Far more important. And what that stockbroker had to say? That's what Jesus has to say because his words are.

The words of God and that God has given him the spirit. There's no limitation. There's not like, well, all of all of God's spirit is within what, a 5 foot four or five foot six man can contain. No, there is no measure of the Holy Spirit that is contained in the person of Jesus. This spirit without. There is no limitation. God has sent his son. To speak for him and to speak as him. And he's done so with no limitations. Says the father loves his son and has given all things into his hand. And loved to both the scriptures for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever. Believes in him. Might not perish but have ever lasting life. The word of God also says that the father loves the son. The father loves the son, has given all things into his hands. In essence, he says. Review and this. Give you the opportunity to determine anything that needs to be done because it's all things are given to you, not some things, but not at all things. And he who believes in the son. Has eternal life. So John continues in this consistency. In his testimony, he says Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus is the bridegroom. Jesus is the one who will establish his church. Jesus is the one who is the lamb. Jesus is the one who is the son of the living God. Jesus is the one who has all of God and him and and speaks on behalf of God and has the Holy Spirit upon him without measure. God and because of that, whoever believes in him has eternal life. This is the very same thing that John started out in his testimony to his disciples and to others and to all the world. And he consistent, even though his ministry is waning, even though his his disciples are concerned about his place in the ministry. And it seems that people are going after Jesus and not so much in his ministry.

The important thing is the people who believe in the sun have eternal life. Like John the. Baptist or as I call him John to testify. You can think he was a great man, and Jesus even says of all men born of a woman, there was no one greater than John. Then he adds, whoever is in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than him. So John is given great. Praise by Jesus. Even though John understands exactly what his ministry is, and we should also understand what our ministry is is to glorify and praise and find people for the son of God, so that they might experience and have eternal life. But he who does not obey the son will not see life. Even worse than that. But the wrath of God abides on him. Not a matter. Well, you have eternal life or you don't. You have eternal life or you don't.

And the wrath of God. You see, most people think well. I can be Switzerland, I can be mutual. Nutritions can believe what you want. And you atheists can believe what you want. And I'm kind of neutral. I, you know, whatever goes goes and this sad thing is there are a lot of parents who will hear and they'll say, well, you know, it's I'm going to let my children decide. What they believe. So when they grow up, they can decide. Do you think your children's education is important? The life here on Earth. How much more important is it? To understand exactly who the son of a God is, because in him is eternal. We should not be negligent in waiting for our children to determine how they believe, but we should be encouraging them and teaching them and explaining to them who Jesus is and what the father wants and. Who we are. Our mainstream as parents. Is to make sure that our children are raised in the love and admonition of the Lord. There's no neutrality. In essence, you either for him. Or you're against him. You're not neutral. And the consequences are eternal life. Or, in essence, eternal damnation. It is not me saying this. It is the scripture. John understands and John is consistent.

When things are going well and people are coming in to get baptized, and even the Pharisees and others are debating with him and he seemed to be a very important person, and even Jesus himself comes to be baptized by John, and John says no, no, no, it's reversed. I should be baptized by you, even in that great. John in that time spoke the truth and testified about the synagogue and as his ministry is waning and as his ministry has been decreasing in its power and its purpose. And that testimony of the Christ. So I encourage you. In your faith. And great times are happening. Good times are happening. It is great and we can praise God. But when difficult times happen. Circumstances seem to. Be against us. Are the consistent and glorifying and praising God? Thought about the circumstances, but who he. And it's to understand who we are. And who he is. All too many people want to be God. Rather than allowing God to be God. And praising him and loving him and serving him. And that is exactly what John did. He praised him. He testified about him, he was consistent and he made sure his disciples understood who Jesus was. And likewise we need as part of our ministry to explain exactly. Who Jesus is?

He is holy, forever now, God's people said.