Less Looks Like Series

Introduction

For the last two weeks, I have been trying to show you that there is a Biblical principle that we need to have integrated into our life. And that principle is: Less is more with God. It is the guiding force for the life of John the Baptist, but it should be the guiding force for our lives as well.

Jesus shows us that Biblical principle clearly in Matthew 19:29 (NIV)

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Less is more with God.

But to tell me to have less in my life so God can have more, I need to see some concrete examples to know what that means. And in our Scripture today, John the Baptist gives us three concrete examples of what less looks like. So turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 3:2-8

Scripture reading

Luke 3:2-8 (NIV)

2 … the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.

6 And all mankind will see God's salvation.'"

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

point #1

Less looks like going where God tells me to go, doing what God tells me to do, and saying what God tells me to say.

… the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

From the Scripture we see before the word of God came to John; he was living in the desert. Who lives in the desert, wearing camel-hair for his clothing and eats locusts and wild honey? A loner. If he was living today, we would say that he is living off the grid. He probably could have his own TV show! But look at what happens, when God said go, this loner went. He left his comfort zone and when into all the country around the Jordan.

If you live in the desert by yourself, who do you talk to all day long? Nobody. But he goes and he preaches. It is one thing to be called by God to speak with a person or two face to face. It is a whole different thing to stand in front of a bunch of people and talk to them, especially when you are accustomed to living in the desert, talking to no one. If you don’t think that is true, I invite you to come up to the podium and experience it first hand. He left his comfort zone and did what God told him to do.

He was preaching a message of baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin. It was a problematic message, a very uncomfortable message because Jews did not get baptized; they got circumcised. People who got baptized were non-Jews, Gentiles who were converting to Judaism. No self-respecting Jew would get baptized and equate themselves with the heathens who are converting to Judaism. But God tells John to preach this message to the Jews, and that would put John in an uncomfortable position. He had to leave his comfort zone to preach this message.

Do you know why the church is not a significant influence in the world? It has not left its comfort zone. And if you are a Christian who is content to stay right where you are spiritual and not thrive to grow, you are in your comfort zone.

Don’t be surprised if God moves you out of your comfort zone.

point #2

Less looks like a life that is not all about me.

Vs. 4 As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert

The world teaches us that life is all about me. This world is self-absorbed. If you don’t think that is true, turn on the TV and watch all the commercials that tell you that you deserve what they are selling. If you don’t believe it is true, go to any book store and see how many books there are in the self-help section.