Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. According to the Bible, John the Baptist was a great Man. And so we're going to look. and read about John the Baptist. From the Gospel of Coding to John, and as we do that, we will consider the essence the nature of true greatness.
Welcome to the verdict. featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. People often think of greatness in terms of status, fame, or achievement. These are the people we recognize and applaud as being great. But is that really how God measures greatness?
Today, we're going to learn that the biblical model of greatness is actually quite different from our own.
Now, here's Pastor Jean Monroe with a message titled, being great. Thank you for joining us as we continue in our new series. From the Gospel according to John, we're learning what it means to have a personal encounter with Jesus. The Christian faith emphasizes knowing Jesus in a personal and a growing relationship. The very idea is hard to fathom.
The all-powerful, all-knowing God desires to have a relationship with you. This is life transforming. We are to receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and follow Him as our Lord. He comes to save us from our sins and offers a life of purpose, a life of freedom. Last time we began to look at a man whom Jesus described as great.
John the Baptist.
So here is greatness. in the eyes of God. Let me ask you to open your Bibles to the fourth gospel. the fourth book in the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. And we will Read from chapter one.
from verse 19. And this is a witness of John. When the Jews sent to him, priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him Who are you? And he confessed and did not deny and confessed. I'm not the Christ.
And they said to him, Who then are you? Are you Elijah? And he said, I'm not. Are you the prophet? And he answered, no.
They said then to him, Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself? He said, I'm a voice. I've went crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said.
Now they had been sent to him from the Pharisees, and they asked him and said to him, Why then are you baptizing? if you're not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet. John answered them, saying, I baptize in water. But among you stands one whom you do not know. It is he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.
These things took place in Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day He saw Jesus coming to him and said, Behold, The Lamb of God. who takes away the sin of the world. This is he on behalf of whom I said, after me, comes a man who has a higher rank than I. For he existed before me.
And I did not recognize him. But in order that he might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water. And John bore witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven. And he remained upon him. and I did not recognize him.
But he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him, This is the one. who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. And I have seen. and bore witness that this is the sun. Yeah.
We want to learn first of all To be great. Decrease. Self. To be great. decrease self.
Being great. is decreasing self. Notice as we read this passage, John does not promote himself. We read from verse 6 that John was a man sent from God. John had a clear understanding of his mission in life.
He knew that he was sent from God. He knew that God had a plan for his life. He knew that God's hand was on him and John's goal in life was not to pursue his own ambitions. But wholeheartedly to fulfill the assignment which God had given him to do. And as we read the Gospels, it is clear that nothing Or no one.
Can deviate John. from obeying God's will. for his life.
Now that's key. in being great. in the eyes of God. Do you want to be great in the eyes of God? Let me get it right out.
On front.
So we all understand. Here it is. Knowing and doing God's will. for your life. If you're going to be great, It doesn't Through your own success.
It is having an encounter with Jesus Christ. Listening to Christ, obeying Christ, and following His path, His assignment for your life. And this is what John does. And so He is. Great.
Uh we read, look at chapter 1 back to verses 7 and 8. that John was a witness. He came for a witness. That was his mission in life, to be a witness. that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
He was not the light. But came that he might bear witness of the light. Verse 19 This is the witness of John. Verse 32, John bore witness saying, Verse 34, and I have seen and borne witness that this is the sun. of God.
John is A witness. to be great in the eyes of heaven. Be like John. Decrease self. Decrease self.
Now there's a second one. as we go over to John chapter 3. To be great, first decrease self. Secondly, to be great, increase. Christ.
John 3 verse 22. After these things, Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea. And there he was spending time with them and baptizing. And John also was baptizing in Enon near Salem. because there was much water there and they were coming and were being baptized.
For John had not yet been thrown into prison. There arose therefore a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification. And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who is with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have borne witness, behold, he's baptizing and all are coming to him. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ.
and I have been sent before him. He who has the bride is a bridegroom. 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. He must increase.
But I must. That's it. John points everyone to Christ. He's not promoting himself. FF Bruce reports one rabbi is saying every service which a slave performs for his master, a disciple will perform for his teacher, except to untie his sandal strap.
But John feels even unworthy. to untie the sandal strap of Jesus. He points to the one who is far superior. Jesus Christ. He has a clear understanding of his mission in life, not to draw people to follow him.
but to point people away from him to the Lamb of God. Behold, don't look at me, he's saying. Look at the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And that's what I would say to you this morning. Don't look at me.
Look at the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who can take away your sins, who can transform your life and take you into heaven. Look. to him and that's the primary mission of church it's to be and make authentic followers of Jesus Christ This church will be great only insofar as we are increasing Christ and we are decreasing Self. Over the years of ministry, I met Many gifted people, gifted teachers of the Word of God, talented musicians. People with great leadership skills.
And sometimes people come to me and say, such and such a person would make a wonderful elder. very successful in their business. Such and such a person would be a wonderful soloist. Such and such a person would be a wonderful teacher. And I've learned Sometimes the hard way.
I've learned to ask really, in essence, only one real question, and it is this. Is this individual humble? Is this person A servant? Has he come to serve? He may be very successful in business.
He may potentially Donate a lot of money to the church. But is he humble? She may be a brilliant soloist. But as she come To serve? Or is the church a place seen by them where they promote their gift, their talent, their ability?
One church where I served, a soloist only came to the worship services when she was singing. If she wasn't center stage, if she didn't have a mic in her hand, And she didn't come to worship. And we was a little crestfallen when we said, really, that is not what we have in mind in this church. Our goal is to serve. not to promote ourselves.
Self-promotion is the very antithesis of true Greatness. The supreme example, of course, is not from John, although he provides a wonderful example. The supreme example is our Lord Himself. Why did He come? John 10 verse 45.
He says Even the Son of Man. did not come. to be served. But To serve. and to give his life.
a ransom for many. That ends all discussion, doesn't it? If the Lord of glory, when he was here on earth, If he is characterized Not as one saying. You must serve me. No, he said.
I come. to serve. And in John chapter 13. When there's a bunch of men with dirty feet. And they're waiting on each other.
So that someone will wash their feet. No one makes a move. You would have thought Judas That scoundrel, couldn't he have done it? What about Thomas? Always asking these questions.
What about him? Let's have some action from Thomas. What about Peter? He liked being a leader. Outspoken.
Why not take the lead and you do it, Peter? Not one of them moves until the Lord gets up. girds himself. Takes the towel. Stoops.
and washes the feet. of fallen. Man. That's true. True.
Greatness. And he said, if I, your Lord, And master. have done this. You are blessed. If You do it through greatness.
greatness in the eyes of Jesus. greatness in the eyes of God. is selfless service. It is increasing Christ. and decreasing Yeah.
And so When we think of appointing our leaders, our elders, our deacons, our pastors, what are we looking for? First and foremost, for people of gift. of people of money. People of influence? Absolutely not.
We look first and foremost for servants. That's what deacon means. A deacon means a servant. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4, the mighty apostle, the greatest of the apostles. He says, we do not preach ourselves.
No. We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves. as your bondservants, as your slaves for Jesus' sake. Our elders, our pastors, our deacons, our leaders. I trust.
At Calvary Church, we are your servants for Jesus. Sake. That is being. Truly great.
Now as you look at chapter 3 that I read, John tells us very quickly. That he's the best man, not the bridegroom. People are coming to him. And he takes the opportunity to remind his followers again. in chapter 3 verse 28 that he's not the Christ.
He's the one who is being sent before him. And then he reminds his followers in verse 29, That he's not the bridegroom, but he's the friend of the bridegroom, we would say the best man. That was the task of the best man. The task of the best man at the wedding is not to promote himself. Start to get people to look at him.
The best man assists the bridegroom. The best man sees that everything in the wedding goes according to plan. John is saying, I'm not the bridegroom, that's Jesus. I am. The best.
Man. And my joy will be fulfilled when the focus is not on me, but on Jesus. Verse 29. Chapter 3, he who has the bride is a bridegroom. 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 Fool. How wonderful. Imagine men. that you're getting married. Here at Calvary Church and you're standing right down there as the bridegroom Just minutes before.
The wedding begins. Your sweating a little bit is a pretty serious occasion. standing right next to you on your left is your best friend. He is the best man. You've known him for a number of years.
And that are wonderful Beautiful point and moment in the wedding when the doors of that sanctuary open. And uh everyone gets to their feet and uh Wonderful, powerful music begins. There stands. The bride. She's looking absolutely Magnificent.
And you're reminded again of the grace of God because you certainly don't deserve her, do you? And as the bride begins to walk down the aisle, You just happened to glance. Your best man. You can't believe it. He's making eyes at your bride.
He's attracting the bride's attention to himself. Instead of the bride looking at you, the groom... The best man is doing all he can. to get the bride to look at him. What a travesty.
That's not what the best man is for at a wedding. It's not his wedding. At the wedding, the spotlight is not to shine on the best man. But on the bridegroom and the bride. John understands his role in life.
He's not the bridegroom. He's not the bride, he's the best man. Brothers and sisters. We're not the bridegroom. We are the best man.
And our assignment is not to get the church, the bride of Christ, to fall in love with us.
Sometimes those in leadership want the the church, as it were, the people of the church to fall in love with them. To see how wonderful they are, to admire them, that's not our task. For those in leadership, I trust you don't need constant affirmation or applause. Does it really matter that everyone doesn't Know how much you do. What brilliant insights you have and all of that.
No. The important Task. is that Christ And Christ alone receives all of the glory. Jesus is the bridegroom. The church is the bride.
And Christ and Christ alone and His church is to receive all of the glory. And our assignment in life, and what a wonderful assignment it is. I can't think of a better one, is to point people to Jesus. It's the point people to the bridegroom.
So that they would become part of the church, the bride of Christ, and know the love and communion. of falling in love. with Jesus. Christ, as we increase Christ. we will become Truly great.
You notice John's last recorded words in the Gospel of John. that I read in John 3 verse 30. He must increase But I must. decrease. That's what John believed.
He must become greater I must become last, the NIV says. Jesus must become more important. I must become less important. That's true greatness. To be great, decrease self, increase Christ.
Maximize Christ, minimize self. This is greatness in the eyes of heaven. Are you? Truly great.
Are you, as we sung, a humble Servant? Husbands, are you serving your wife? Are you serving your family? You say, I'm the to be the leader in my home. Was there any greater leader than Christ?
And he came. To serve? Could it be men? that you're arrogant. In your leadership.
Instead of being a servant leader, wives, are you humbly serving others? Do we all understand in God's kingdom the way up is the way down? And Peter tells us in 1 Peter 5, verse 6, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God. that he may exalt you at the proper time. You say I'm not recognized.
That may well be God's. And not you. God at the proper time will exalt you. Meantime, continue to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Problems in your marriage?
I don't know the nature of the problems, but this I can almost guarantee that one of the root problems is pride. Sir, why don't you admit before your wife that you messed up. Maive Why can't you humbly say you did wrong? Why can't both of you get down on your knees? Before God and cry out to God for his help and saying, We've blown it.
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. And God promises that at the proper time, he will exalt you, he will work a miracle in your... Marriage. But God is always opposed to the proud and gives grace to the humble. What happens when there are problems in churches?
Irrespective of the nature of the problem, I can almost guarantee... Having been in leadership in the church for many years now, I can almost guarantee that the root cause In the vast majority of cases, it's pride. Pride. Humble it yourself. Can we as a church humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God?
that this church would be a church of humility. Knowing that at the proper time, God in His purposes and at His time will exalt us, that we will be great, that we will decrease self. and we will increase Christ. In that USA Today article, Larry Weissman writes, there is more involved here. He's still talking about the Super Bowl than the thrill of the chase.
At the end, in an NFL championship, lies an intimation of immortality and confirmation of a life's work. I thought, how sad. Immortality and confirmation of a life's work because you get a Super Bowl ring. That's not immortality. That's not confirmation of a life's work.
ministered in the church in Pittsburgh with a number of Steelers, some of whom had more than one Super Bowl ring, and they were the first to say that was not the most important thing in their life. That was certainly not the way to immortality. That was certainly not confirmation of life's work. It was an achievement, yes. A wonderful Achievements.
But eternal life comes through encountering Christ. Christ. True greatness is proclaiming and displaying Christ. True greatness is whatever you are, whether you're an NFL footballer or whoever you are, is knowing God's will and doing it. The writer of this gospel, John, says.
that many came to Jesus because of John. John 10, 40, John performed no sign. Yet everything John said about this man was true. And many believed in him there. John 10, verses 40 through 42.
John never performed any miracle. John never performed any sign, but many people came to Jesus because of John. And you and I may never perform any miracles. We may never perform any signs. We may never be great in the eyes of the world.
We may never be applauded by others, but in the grace of God, may many believe in Jesus. Because everything we say about Jesus is true. That's greatness. decreasing South. and increasing.
Christmas. You're listening to the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. and the final part of a message titled, Being Great. But don't go anywhere just yet, because John will return in just a moment with some closing remarks on today's lesson.
Now, perhaps you've been listening today and you found yourself wondering. How can God really help me? When you feel abandoned, lonely, or in the midst of a crisis, does trusting God really make a difference? John has written a helpful guidebook to help you answer these questions. It's titled Trusting God in Tough Times.
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Now, here's Faster John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? This is a very convicting message, isn't it? Would those who know you the best describe you as humble? The more I know Jesus and live a life pleasing to him, the more humble I become. The more life is all about me and my comfort, my likes and dislikes.
The more self-absorbed. Self-centered and prouder I will become.
So let's learn from John the Baptist. Jesus must increase. but I must decrease.
Next time we'll think. of the most famous of all John's statements. Behold the Lamb of God. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies.
Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
