“True Success”
John 3: 22-36
What is success? What does it mean to you this morning to live a successful life? If you asked 10 people you would most likely get 10 different answers. Success to some would mean financial security. They would say being successful means they no longer have to worry about money. Others would say that being a success means having being powerful rubbing elbows with the big wigs being thought of as a big wig. Some of you new mothers and fathers out there would say success is seeing that new baby grow into a fine man woman who you could be proud of. Some folks see success simply being better then any other at what ever they are doing. These type of folks are going to out work out play out whit anybody and everybody they can and when someone is better at something they either make excuses for why they lost out or where over shadowed or it just burns them up that some on is better it does not matter how small it is they do not like someone being better. My job as your pastor is to teach you through Gods word how to live a Godly life and how to die a good death.
Evangelists deal with salvation only but pastors get involved in the messy details of every day life. Fortunately for you and me I do not enter this pulpit to engage you about life and death based on my limited experience or my opinions you do not need my experience or opinion. I enter this pulpit with only one base to stand on with only on authoritative voice and that is the faultless word of God. It speaks to the messy details of human life.
It talks a great deal about what true success is.
Here in the Gospel of John Chapter 3:22-36 we see a picture of true success in the life of John the Baptist.
John had an amazing life and ministry he had seen thousands of people repent and take the baptism of repentance. He had preached through out the land a message of repentance “repent for the kingdom of God is at hand” He preached the coming of the lamb that would take away the sin of the world. He preached and prepared the way for Jesus He always lifted Jesus up. He even had the opportunity to baptize Jesus which was the start of Jesus public ministry.
But now in the Gospel here in chapter 3 we see Jesus ministry has began to flourish and John the baptize influence is being eclipsed by Jesus ministry. In verse 25 we read that a dispute rose up between John’s disciples and some of the Jews the Jews where saying that Johns ministry was not as important or his baptism was not a valid as Jesus ministry. John ministry was coming to an end and he no long looked as successful in the eyes of the world or even of his disciples yet it is here at the end of his ministry that he shows he is a true success. John ended his ministry well.
Have you ever noticed how easy It is to start something well but it hard to finish. Home repairs piano lessons diets
Many successful people have lost face because they did not know how to end well.
Politicians
Business people
Preachers
Athletes
Story of big mig (Cycling Tour de France 5 time winner) did not win his last tour but finished like a champ
True Champion
Christians need to end well perseverance of the saints John was a champion a success because he ended even better then he began Jesus said of John that no better man had been born of Women then John.
John in this story in the twilight of his ministry and life. As the worldly trappings of success and influence are leaving him He gives us four secrets of a successful life.
1.True success in life begins by recognize that no success can happen with out Gods help
Look at verse 26-27
These folks come to John and say look all! Are going to Jesus as to say why are not as many come to you.
And John makes this profound statement A man can do nothing unless it be given from heaven.
Jesus repeatedly made this statement he did not act think or say anything except what the father gave.
John is saying my success has been because of God not me Jesus success is because of God Any thing you are good at in this life is a gift of God even faith is a gift lest anyone should boast
You are gifted by God with some talents some success but you can not take credit for them it is a gift of God
1. True success in life begins by recognize that no success can happen with out Gods help
2. True success in life rejoices in the gifts God has given you
look at verse 28
John new what his unique ministry was!! He was not the Christ he was to prepare the way for the Christ
There is nothing more frustrating in life then trying to be something God did not intend for you to be.
The peaceful most satisfying most successful place you can be on earth is in the center of Gods will. Had John tried to be something other then what God had wanted him to be he would have been very frustrated.
We do not have to get jealous or upset because we do not have the call or gifts other do just do what God has called you to do.
It maybe be a small thing in the eyes of the world but there are no small thing to God and if you are faithful with the little things he will give you more responsibility
Be thankful for the things God has called you to
I am not Donny I do not have his gifts I will not be able to lead worship like he does and that is ok I can do what God called me to
Scripture tells us in Ephesians that God to be apostles some to prophets some evangelists some pastors and teachers
True success in life rejoices in the gifts God has given you
1. True success in life begins by recognize that no success can happen with out Gods help
2. True success in life rejoices in the gifts God has given you
3. True success in life rejoices in the gifts God has given others.
Look at verse 29
John uses an analogy of a wedding he says Jesus is the bridegroom and John is the best man he says it is not his place to shine at the wedding but to make sure the bridegroom shines. His joy is made complete when he hears and sees the Groom make it through the wedding.
John is overjoyed to here of Jesus success
John knows what he is called to do he has done it know he rejoice to see Jesus succeed John sowed Jesus reaped
Paul in Corinth said I sowed Apollo’s watered but God provided the growth
God is responsible for the increase so we can be thankful when God uses others for his kingdoms success
If you are doing what God would have for you then you never have to worry about being over shadowed by others.
If you are faithful to what God has shown you then you can rejoice in others.
If you cannot rejoice in others victories even at your defeat you are not a success
You are not living up to Gods best for you
Do what you can do with all your heart and leave the results up to God and if someone is better or is more success thank God for them.
1. True success in life begins by recognize that no success can happen with out Gods help
2. True success in life rejoices in the gifts God has given you
3. True success in life rejoices in the gifts God has given others.
4. Lastly and most importantly True success lives to lift Christ up.
Success that does not lift Christ up as its reason means and end is not success
True success in life has only one end
Only one reason only about one thing
Christian I do not care what your gift is this morning wither it is plumbing or preaching politics or police work education or encouragement that gift has been given to you for one reason
Not for you athletic success not so you can have all your end times prophecy charts mapped out not so you can deliver a powerful song sermon not so you can teach an enlightening lesson not so you can build a beautiful building or mop a floor that gift has been given to you so that you can do one thing with all your moping teaching preaching building loving and that is with every part of your being lift Christ up
Success is living the good news with all your being
What is the good news What is the good news oh brothers and sisters the good news is this
That God in reigns;
That he reigns to reveal his glory;
That his glory is revealed most fully in the glad submission of his creation:
That there is, therefore, no final conflict between God’s zeal to be glorified and our longing to be satisfied,
And someday oh brothers and sisters some day the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord, echoing and reverberating in the white-hot worship of the ransomed church gathered from every people and tongue and tribe and nation
Thanks John Piper (Supremacy of God in Preaching)
True success lives to the glory of God reflected in you glad submission to spend your life lifting Christ up and submitting to his best for you life.
He must increases and I this flesh must decreases
What is success?
1. True success in life begins by recognize that no success can happen with out Gods help
2. True success in life rejoices in the gifts God has given you
3. True success in life rejoices in the gifts God has given others.
4. Lastly and most importantly True success lives to lift Christ up.
We all want to be successful in life
Yet no matter how much money you make or how many people you impress how much influence you think you have your story your life cannot end well with out Christ
You will never have true Joy with out Christ you will never rejoice in others success without Jesus
Your joy will never be complete you will never have peace you will never have success until you recognize Jesus is the way truth and the life we must decreases he must increase
Will you commit your life this morning to lifting Christ Jesus up will you allow his sovereign will to be lived out in your life He is worthy.
