From Mortal to Immortal
A Study of John 3-4
We are all Control Freaks
Control is a real issue for all of us. Of course, we can all think of someone else who is more of a control freak than we are.
Like the mother who calls to tell you she has arranged for you to meet yet another wonderful young man. “I want grandchildren,” she complains.
Or the boss, who at the end of the sales cycle, when you’ve exceeded your quota, demands your phone log on the first day of the new period. He sneers, “Is this all you’ve done today?”
And what about the spouse who never seems to think you can dress your self. You’re a jeans and T-shirt kind of person, but you’re your other half frequently comments to friends and family they feel like the city mouse dating a country mouse.
Dealing with a control freak isn’t easy and it’s definitely not fun, but what exactly is a control freak?
Michelle McKinney Hammond, well-known singer, speaker, and author defines a control freak this way: “A control freak is someone who is bound up in fear, and the only way they believe they can control their world is to control everyone else.”
Dallas-based speaker, radio host, and author Sharon Bolan defines it from another direction. “The root of controlling behavior is a lack of trust. If someone has experienced hurt from a previous relationship, then he will become insecure and stop trusting. He stops trusting people; he stops trusting God.”
You can discover the freedom and exhilaration of being out of control – as either a control freak or a controlled freak – by learning to trust God.
That discovery depends on you “getting” what God gives you. This is not and easy teaching. It is not easy to “get” what God gives – because it is not always what we expect.
If you can master this lesson it will serve you well at work, home, and in your daily walk. It will serve us well as the family of God too!
This is the story of John and Jesus
John 3:22-36 (NCV)
Jesus and John the Baptist
22 After this, Jesus and his followers went into the area of Judea, where he stayed with his followers and baptized people. 23 John was also baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were going there to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put into prison.)
25 Some of John’s followers had an argument with a Jew about religious washing. b 26 So they came to John and said, “Teacher, remember the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you spoke about so much? He is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 John answered, “A man can get only what God gives him. 28 You yourselves heard me say, ‘I am not the Christ, but I am the one sent to prepare the way for him.’ 29 The bride belongs only to the bridegroom. But the friend who helps the bridegroom stands by and listens to him. He is thrilled that he gets to hear the bridegroom’s voice. In the same way, I am really happy. 30 He must become greater, and I must become less important.
The One Who Comes from Heaven
31 “The One who comes from above is greater than all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and talks about things on the earth. But the One who comes from heaven is greater than all. 32 He tells what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts what he says. 33 Whoever accepts what he says has proven that God is true. 34 The One whom God sent speaks the words of God, because God gives him the Spirit fully. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given him power over everything. 36 Those who believe in the Son have eternal life, but those who do not obey the Son will never have life. God’s anger stays on them.”
John and Jesus
This is not the same man who wrote this Gospel. That John was a fisherman and had been called by Jesus to follow Him. This John was a cousin of Jesus. He had been born prophetically and had been raised as one who was destined to perform a noble task.
John the Baptist was raised as Nazarite. This does not refer to Nazareth but to one who is “consecrated” or “sanctified”; in other words – set aside for a special purpose.
Taking the Nazarite vow involved doing three things – normally for 30 to 90 days. (1) Abstinence from wine and strong drink; (2) refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow; (3) and the avoidance of contact with the dead.
Lots of people including the apostle Paul took vows of this kind from time to time to focus on prayer and the work of God.
In the entire Bible only three men had been raised as a “Nazarite” from birth. Sampson, Samuel, and John the Baptist.
John had never had his hair cut. He lived in the wilds and ate big grasshoppers dipped in honey. (He would have easily beaten out the competition on Fear Factor!)
John also had a message: Someone is coming that is going to change the world. And, you had better get ready for him.
John attracted a wide audience. People were coming out of the cities in a constant stream. They would hear the prophet’s teaching and his command to repent and they would be immersed or baptized in the waters of the river Jordan as a sign of the uncleanness and desire to follow after God.
Partly it was because of the medium (John himself attracted a certain amount of attention), partly it was the audience who were desperate to have meaning and hope in their lives, and partly it was the message itself – the Messiah is coming.
But when He came John’s followers and Jesus’ followers didn’t quite get it
But when the subject of the message arrived – guess what – many of the audience didn’t identify him. They continued to follow John and there arose between the followers a kind of competition.
They were concerned about who was doing the baptizing! Who is getting the credit! That’s when John rebuked his followers who had come to him to complain about the baptizing that Jesus was doing.
John got it…
27 John answered, “A man can get only what God gives him. 28 You yourselves heard me say, ‘I am not the Christ, but I am the one sent to prepare the way for him.’ 29 The bride belongs only to the bridegroom. But the friend who helps the bridegroom stands by and listens to him. He is thrilled that he gets to hear the bridegroom’s voice. In the same way, I am really happy. 30 He must become greater, and I must become less important.
Best Man and Bridegroom
John uses a beautiful illustration. He compared Jesus to the bridegroom and himself only to the best man (John 3:29). Once the bridegroom and bride had been brought together, the work of the best man was completed. What a foolish thing it would be for the best man to try to “upstage” the bridegroom and take his place. John’s joy was to hear the voice of the Bridegroom and know that He had claimed His bride.
Even before his birth, John the Baptist rejoiced in the Lord (Luke 1:44). John was content to be the voice announcing Jesus to be the Word (John 1:23). Jesus was the Light, and John the Baptist was the witness pointing to the Light (John 1:6–8).
There are very few ordinary people in the world
Often press releases and book reviews cross my desk, along with conference folders; and at times I am perturbed by what I read. Very few speakers and writers are ordinary people. They are “world travelers” or “noted lecturers” who have addressed “huge audiences.” They are always in “great demand,” and their ministries are described in such ways that they make the Apostle Paul a midget by comparison.
A Presbyterian pastor in Melbourne, Australia introduced J. Hudson Taylor by using many superlatives, especially the word great. Taylor stepped to the pulpit and quietly said, “Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master.”
If John the Baptist in heaven heard that statement, he must have shouted “Hallelujah!”
A Man can only Get What God Gives Him
Listen, We are his servants. I am his servant. It’s not about you… It’s not about me… It’s about Jesus… You are not the bridegroom… I’m not the bridegroom – Jesus is. We have all been called along side him to serve him and to help him.
There are three musts in John 3
Verse 7: You must be born again
Verse 16: Jesus must be lifted up
Verse 30: He must become greater and I must become less
We can only get what God gives.
John was given a task. Prepare the way. When his task was done – he was done. He had to become less while Jesus became greater.
Eventually, it meant imprisonment and the loss of his life.
You see, we are not in control – God is. We who follow God are committed to doing his will, in his timing, according to what he gives us.
So What God has Given Us?
Let me take a little side trip today. I want to talk to you ever so briefly about what God is doing with Meridian Christian Church
He has guided us away from building on the Willoughby Road Land
Disappointing to me – even devastating.
I have come to believe that God has allowed us to be cut off in this direction off for a reason. Buildings and facilities trap many churches.
I’m not against buildings. I’m for the ministry of Christ and God has given us a place to grow a community of authentic believers – this place.
We have lots of room and we are getting better and better at filling it with God’s presence every Sunday!
We do need a place to minister and work from – offices and ministry center.
It is my prayer that we will recognize and use what God has given us to do His work…
God has given us the image of a family where we belong, grow, and serve.
Family room Expectations - Belonging
Dining room Expectations - Growing
Kitchen Expectations - Serving
Helping People Find Their Way Home is our mission and vision
God is giving us new ways to reach our community
Go into the community and let them see God’s love. Promise in the Park; MCC at the Bandshell; Summer Children’s Ministry; Fall Clothing Drive; Annual Open House; Christmas Breakfast.
We will be introducing you to Paradox Productions Ministries.
We are going to present the great news in creative ways with a high degree of quality and professionalism, primarily targeting those who have never heard or have never understood the paradox of Jesus Christ – locally, regionally, and across the world.
This is a new way of doing missions work based on partnerships with nationals to help them reach their own people with this message.
Directed Prayer
The Family where you belong, grow, and serve
Helping Others to Find Their Way Home
Paradox Productions
So What has God Given you?
For most people the answer is not comforting
February is a tough month. (That’s why there are fewer days in it – God knew we could handle only so much of February!)
A lot of you are confused and unsure. Some of you are angry with God over what he has given you.
It’s easy to rail against God and say “Why me?” when stuff breaks, things go wrong, jobs evaporate, relationships sour, and children are disrespectful.
What God has Given You He Gave you for a Reason
1st: God is working on you
God wants to make you his again. You were once his but were lost. Now he is seeking you out and he will never stop seeking you out. C.S. Lewis described God as the “Hound of Heaven”. He is on your trail and he won’t quit till he gets you and makes you his.
2nd: God is working in you
To make you what you whole and complete – mature and fullness of God in you (2 Tim 3:16)
Molding you; making you; changing you; breaking you; preparing you.
When Israel wandered in the wilderness it was not wasted time. It was part of the process of getting them ready for what was next.
What ever you are struggling with it is part of greater plan – God will use it to get you ready for the next piece in your life.
Finally: God is working through you
Think about it this way. Every person you connect with in this life is potentially part of your work for the Bridegroom
You have been called to make a difference in the lives of others. Your children, your spouse, your friends at work, your boss – everyone.
So what is my calling?
You are called – right now, right where you are, with what you have been given. A man can only get what God gives him. Have you gotten it? Are you living up to where you have been called to serve?
Mother Teresa said, “I am but a pencil in the hand of God”.
Ministry of Prayer Time…
Just Like greeting time…
Be the pencil in the hand of God this morning and write a note of encouragement on the heart of someone here.
Go to them right now. Pray for them. Pray with them. There are people here today that need your encouragement. If you need encouragement – let someone know around you – I will be here up front so will our elders and others.
