>> Hello. I wanna welcome you to
another edition of Bible Alive.
00:00:16.99\00:00:19.59
I'm so excited today. We're
going to talk about something
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that is so dear to my heart and
this is the title of our program
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today. He Must Increase and
you know it, I Must Decrease but
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before we get started, I wanna
introduce you to two friends of
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mine, Pastor Mark Howard, glad
to have you here. >> It's good
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to be here today, Dwight, as
always. >> As always and I wanna
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just let you share with the
viewers again. I know we've done
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it before but what do you
actually do? You're a Pastor but
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you also have >> That's right,
I'm a Pastor here in Gobles,
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Michigan as a well as I...
I'm the Director of the Emmanuel
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Institute of Evangelism
>> Which? >> Which trains lay
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people how to share their faith
more effectively >> Amen. >> and
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get this Three Angels messages
out to the world. >> We don't
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have much time do we? >> No,
we sure don't. >> With all the
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things going on >> We sure
don't. >> Amen. >> and Rudy, my
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brother, glad that you're here,
Rudy. >> Good to be here >>and
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the new President of Remnant
Publications. So, I know that
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we've... we've talked and things
are going great and anyways,
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we're ready to get into
this, he must increase >> I must
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decrease. >> and I must
decrease. Before we start,
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hopefully that you've got your
Bibles, if not go get them. We
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need to study, you should always
have the Word, your swords and
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before we get into... we're
gonna... we're gonna go to John,
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is it Chapter 3, I think?
>> Yes. >> John Chapter 3 but
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before we start, let's have
a Word of prayer. Pastor, would
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you have a prayer for us?
>> Absolutely. Heavenly Father,
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we are so thankful that You
have given us Your Word of truth
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>> Hmm, Amen >> to guide
us and Lord, also the Holy
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Spirit and we pray for the
Spirit to give understanding now
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as we study, not only that we
could understand intellectually
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but Lord, practically that
we can >> Amen. >> learn things
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that we can into practice in our
everyday lives that will help us
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to be more like You. >> Amen.
>> and help others to see You in
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us. We ask in Jesus name. Amen.
>> Amen. >> Amen. >> OK, if you
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don't have those Bibles, go
get them. The ones that do, John
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Chapter 3 and what verse do
we wanna start? Do you think,
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John 3, maybe verse >> Well,
I think 25. >> 25? >> Yeah,
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because it kind of gets into it
a little bit. >> Now, maybe we
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wanna start at 24, Rudy, because
sometimes I think people think,
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well, when John was in prison it
gave him a lot of time to think
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what he did but this takes place
before John was put in prison.
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prison. >> Mm hmm. >>
and verse 24 where it says,
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OK and Rudy, go ahead and
read that, in... in verse 25.
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>> Mmm. >> Hmm. OK. >> You
know, the first thing, Dwight,
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that comes to my mind as I
look at that is, where he says,
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you know, when... when
you're talking about somebody
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else increasing and you
decreasing and you're really
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talking about you kind of
fading into the background
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where you are not
noticed and as human beings, we
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love to be noticed. >>
Right. >> We hate to be
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ignored and yet he
says, "Therefore, this joy of
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mine is fulfilled. " This
isn't natural for a human being
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to have joy when he's
not noticed or recognized.
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>> And a lot of people
say, "Well, I'm shy" and they...
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I... "I'm in the background"
but still people wanna feel
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respected and... and that...
that they've done a good work
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but I agree with you. I mean,
that is tremendous... he, you
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know and then in
verse 29 where it says,
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I... I love that too because
that's... that's his example
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>> Uh hmm. >> of saying how he
must decrease. In other words,
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if I'm going to my... my...
my friend's wedding and I become
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the best man, so to speak, >>
Uh hmm. >> it's still not about
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the best man, it's about... it's
about the bride >> Right. >> and
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the bridegroom and... and so
I... I'm the one that gets the
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joy seeing my best friend
getting married >> Yeah. >> but
00:05:00.42\00:05:03.31
it's really, it's all about him,
it's not about me and I think
00:05:03.34\00:05:05.48
that's a cool way of...
of putting it in perspective.
00:05:05.51\00:05:08.10
>> But what about the disciples?
I mean, John was saying he had
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to decrease and so the disciples
that followed him, now where
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does that place them? >> Mm-hmm.
>> I mean, because it's kind of
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nice to be the follower
of the... the correct leader.
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>> That's right. >>Do you
see what I'm saying? >> Yeah.
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>> It's a lot better to be the
follower of... of the important
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one. You know, and now
John is saying, "Yeah, you're my
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disciples but I'm not
the important one. " >> Yeah,
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imagine you're working
in a... and I know you guys
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have worked in
building and that kind of thing
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and I used to do that and
imagine your competitor, like, I
00:05:41.32\00:05:44.30
worked for wiring houses, for an
electrical contractor, you know,
00:05:44.33\00:05:48.34
and that my boss gets jobs
and that keeps me in business.
00:05:48.37\00:05:52.28
>> Right >> Keeps me working.
>> Right, right >> Imagine the
00:05:52.31\00:05:54.07
competitor goes and
gives the account and the boss
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comes and says, "Well,
we're closing down shop
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because we don't have
enough work. " >> Yeah.
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>> You know and... and
but are you gonna be rejoicing
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about that? >> I mean >> That's
right. >> so if that's what
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you're saying >> That's what
I'm saying. >> You're all these
00:06:03.72\00:06:05.58
disciples of John, I mean,
John's like, "OK, great. He's
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the... he's the... >> He's...
>> my ministry is closing down
00:06:08.36\00:06:10.67
>> Yeah. > and he's picking
up and moving on," and here are
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all his disciples, John's
disciples are probably thinking,
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"Well, great, what we going
to do?" >> What'd we follow you
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>> Yeah. >> all this time for?
That's why the dispute was going
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on. >> Yeah, yeah. >>
Absolutely. So as we... as we
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read this, how... how do we
put this in a... in a... in a
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practical way in our life today?
I mean, and... and again, let's,
00:06:31.18\00:06:35.26
like you've mentioned but we go
back here that, John... John had
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disciples >> Uh hmm >> and what
was his ministry? Really, what
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was his ministry? >> Really
it was to prepare >> Repent.
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>> prepare Jesus. >> Yeah,
repent >> And... >> be baptized
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and prepare the way of the Lord.
I mean >> That's right. >> he
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was kind of like the midnight
cry, you know, where >> Yeah.
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>> he wanna think about it.
He was the one telling people to
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repent, Jesus is coming,
make, you know, make your paths
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straight >> Right. >> He was
getting people prepared which is
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a huge work >> Uh hmm >>
and then when he baptized Jesus,
00:07:04.79\00:07:09.18
all of a sudden, I mean, I'm
just thinking in my own... in my
00:07:09.21\00:07:14.43
own way, well, seems like
there'd been plenty of my work
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for him to do and yet I think
there was more to it than just
00:07:16.80\00:07:22.48
running out of work, if you know
what I'm trying to say. In other
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words, there was a reason he had
to decrease. >> Mm-hmm. >> There
00:07:26.24\00:07:29.88
was something more... it...
it what... I mean, I wonder what
00:07:29.91\00:07:33.10
would've happened had the
disciples, John's disciples kept
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going strong then Jesus comes
to preach, there might have been
00:07:37.75\00:07:42.96
people saying, well, you
know... you know, when the New
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Testament says, "Well, I'm of
a Paul's and" >> That's right.
00:07:45.00\00:07:47.86
>> and "I'm a Peter and I'm
a Paul" and they say and... and
00:07:47.89\00:07:50.27
Paul says, "One water's one,"
you know, does this >> Plant
00:07:50.30\00:07:53.75
and one does that,...
one plants. Well, there I
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think there would
have been a contention and
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John was... was >> A
division that really could have
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of really kind of turned
the Ministry of Christ or a...
00:08:02.82\00:08:08.32
or a division that could
have really hindered >> Yes.
00:08:08.35\00:08:10.68
>> the work that the Lord wanted
to do. >> Exactly and... and to
00:08:10.71\00:08:14.07
me, that for John to be so in
tuned with his Heavenly Father,
00:08:14.10\00:08:20.11
to realize that again and...
and... and for you viewers that
00:08:20.14\00:08:24.96
...that are... that are
watching, just try to think that
00:08:24.99\00:08:27.62
here's... here's John
the Baptist, that had given
00:08:27.65\00:08:30.91
everything up, he's... has his
disciples, he baptizes Jesus,
00:08:30.94\00:08:35.08
crowds were coming out of
the cities. They were coming out
00:08:35.11\00:08:39.25
cities. They were coming
out synagogues, listening to him
00:08:39.28\00:08:41.27
preach and they were
being baptized. He was doing a
00:08:41.30\00:08:44.12
tremendous work. >>
Mm-hmm. >> and now >> And do you
00:08:44.15\00:08:50.65
think... >> It's gone and
now I'm just gonna give it up.
00:08:50.68\00:08:52.36
>> And... and... >> I mean,
that... that to me is tough.
00:08:52.39\00:08:54.82
>> And do you think that he
started with these crowds? I'm
00:08:54.85\00:08:57.89
sure, I mean, I wasn't there and
you weren't there but I'm sure
00:08:57.92\00:09:01.23
that it was small and got bigger
and got bigger and so at the
00:09:01.26\00:09:06.10
height... I mean, you can't
get much better than baptizing
00:09:06.13\00:09:09.15
Christ, like >> Yeah. >> you
mentioned. >> Uh hmm but at the
00:09:09.18\00:09:11.32
crescendo of his ministry, you
wouldn't be thinking typically
00:09:11.35\00:09:17.12
of decreasing. >> Right. >>
That's right. >> So it would
00:09:17.15\00:09:20.17
take a lot of, you... you know,
pride out of you. You couldn't
00:09:20.20\00:09:24.47
be a person of pride and have
this attitude. >> Right. It's...
00:09:24.50\00:09:28.27
it's like it pulls the rug right
it out from underneath you.
00:09:28.30\00:09:30.22
>> That's right >> and it's
>> Right. And it's interesting
00:09:30.25\00:09:31.22
in the language here, as we
put it... as you were saying,
00:09:31.23\00:09:33.91
Dwight, in practical terms
for us, in verse 26 it says, his
00:09:33.94\00:09:38.72
disciples, it says,
00:09:38.75\00:09:39.82
In the very words, are kind
of calculated. >> Right. >> You
00:09:48.12\00:09:50.71
know, what happens in your heart
with every, "hey, you know,
00:09:50.74\00:09:52.74
here you are working so hard
and now everybody is going over
00:09:52.77\00:09:55.41
to this guy. " Even if John
hadn't been a person to foster
00:09:55.44\00:10:01.85
jealousy, the natural heart
is >> Right. >> inclined to have
00:10:01.88\00:10:05.97
that hard time and this is
where I think, Dwight, we've all
00:10:06.00\00:10:08.42
practically felt that temptation
to be, you know, we like to be
00:10:08.45\00:10:13.58
the one that people are looking
to and coming to and all that
00:10:13.61\00:10:16.97
and so just like Rudy said,
for John, who, you know, through
00:10:17.00\00:10:20.60
preaching and really hard work
has... has in his... his mind
00:10:20.63\00:10:25.33
perhaps build himself up into
this position where he's got a
00:10:25.36\00:10:28.11
good ministry going >> Yeah.
>> and a good following, some
00:10:28.14\00:10:30.54
good supporters and all a
sudden, it's going to be yanked
00:10:30.57\00:10:33.00
out from under him. I mean, the
temptation of the carnal heart
00:10:33.03\00:10:35.50
is... is... is>> That's
tremendous >> is severe and
00:10:35.53\00:10:38.84
it's that temptation we have
to... wanna be the ones that get
00:10:38.87\00:10:42.67
the attention. I... I... have
to... I guess I'll just do a
00:10:42.70\00:10:47.22
little bit of not repenting.
I did it a long time ago but
00:10:47.25\00:10:52.53
>> Hmm >> when I was preaching,
I was preaching with somebody
00:10:52.56\00:10:55.24
else, this is years ago and
I remember that when they, when
00:10:55.27\00:10:59.75
we both got done, they...
more of them went to the other
00:10:59.78\00:11:04.15
speaker than to me >> Uh hmm.
>> and I just have to be honest,
00:11:04.18\00:11:06.51
it... it does, it bothers
you, like >> Yes. >> "they don't
00:11:06.54\00:11:09.91
like me as well?" >>
Yeah. "What's wrong with me?"
00:11:09.94\00:11:11.68
>> "what's wrong with my
sermon?" You know what I mean?
00:11:11.71\00:11:13.08
I thought I did a good job too
>> Yeah. >> and really, I mean,
00:11:13.11\00:11:16.06
I can relate to that, that...
that... that it isn't for us to
00:11:16.09\00:11:20.38
increase. Who gives us the
increase? That's so important.
00:11:20.41\00:11:24.11
I... I think that, that's a...
that's a thing that we all need
00:11:24.14\00:11:29.61
to realize and we... and it's
not all just about preaching,
00:11:29.64\00:11:31.72
it's about anything in life.
What about the husbands and
00:11:31.75\00:11:34.14
wives? >> Yeah. >> you know, and
we'll talk about that, more in
00:11:34.17\00:11:38.06
just a few minutes. We're
gonna... I... I think we'll take
00:11:38.09\00:11:40.33
a break a little early and
get really right into this about
00:11:40.34\00:11:43.38
how that's practical in your
life. So don't go away, we'll be
00:11:43.41\00:11:47.00
right back.
00:11:47.03\00:11:48.00
>>> Now available in the
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00:14:32.46\00:14:35.95
so much more special.
00:14:35.98\00:14:36.95
>>> Now the decision is in
your hands. Will you accept the
00:14:37.78\00:14:41.32
challenge to become
part of God's last day army?
00:14:41.35\00:14:44.01
Equip yourself today.
00:14:44.04\00:14:46.58
>>> There's no denying that God
designed us to be on the move
00:14:48.23\00:14:51.05
and he gave us work to be a
blessing. A great way to keep
00:14:51.08\00:14:54.77
sin out of your life is by
keeping your mind and hands
00:14:54.80\00:14:57.64
occupied. But God knows that
being busy all the time, isn't
00:14:57.67\00:15:02.26
good either. That's why he set
aside the Sabbath, a special day
00:15:02.29\00:15:06.41
just for us to spend with him.
00:15:06.44\00:15:08.46
>> I'm glad that you've
stay with us. We're talking
00:15:16.72\00:15:19.03
about he must increase
and I must decrease and
00:15:19.06\00:15:22.68
what does that mean.
We're in John Chapter
00:15:22.71\00:15:25.19
3 verse, I think 26 or
24 through 30 >> Uh hmm.
00:15:25.22\00:15:31.91
>> and we were just talking
about, before the break, that
00:15:31.94\00:15:36.24
John was out baptizing. He was
the one that baptized Christ. He
00:15:39.05\00:15:45.38
was the one that was making the
way >> Uh hmm >> and all of a
00:15:45.39\00:15:47.51
sudden even as the stuff
you were mentioning, Mark, and I
00:15:47.54\00:15:50.17
thought it was really, really
good. The disciples of John in
00:15:50.20\00:15:54.61
verse 26 says,
00:15:54.64\00:15:55.61
>> Like >> Uh hmm. >> they're
not coming to us anymore. That
00:16:03.82\00:16:06.04
isn't any fair>> That's right.
>> and the thing is, is that I
00:16:06.07\00:16:12.24
think... I think this is such
an important part of our lives.
00:16:12.27\00:16:16.71
I... I think it will be
virtually impossible... I know
00:16:16.74\00:16:20.44
this is going to be a
strong statement but virtually
00:16:20.47\00:16:23.58
impossible, if self... if self
isn't hid in Christ, you know,
00:16:23.61\00:16:28.76
if... if self isn't crucified.
Like Paul said, "I die daily. "
00:16:28.79\00:16:33.82
>> Uh hmm. >> Then, we can't...
we... Christ says, that you
00:16:33.85\00:16:39.89
either... "you're either going
to serve one of two masters. You
00:16:39.92\00:16:43.12
can't serve two" and we're
either going to be self-servers
00:16:43.15\00:16:46.08
or self-surrender. >> That's
right. >> You know, or I should
00:16:46.11\00:16:50.04
say surrender to self maybe but
we can't have both and if we are
00:16:50.07\00:16:54.33
self-serving, then it will
be impossible to enter that
00:16:54.36\00:16:59.55
heavenly kingdom. We... we
can't... we can't have pride and
00:16:59.58\00:17:03.91
we were talking before, in
one of our programs on the three
00:17:03.94\00:17:06.77
points of temptation. One is the
pride of life. We can't... we
00:17:06.80\00:17:10.08
can't, you know, I've... I've
heard the statement from a good
00:17:10.11\00:17:12.64
friend of mine that, "Christ and
I are one and I am the one. "
00:17:12.67\00:17:17.01
You know, it should be "Christ
and I are one" >> Yeah. >> and
00:17:17.04\00:17:19.85
who's the one? "He is the one.
" >> He's the one. That's right.
00:17:19.88\00:17:22.01
>> but so often we say, "Christ
and I are the one... are the
00:17:22.04\00:17:24.32
one... Christ and I are one
and I'm the one" and we can't...
00:17:24.35\00:17:28.79
there's no way we can enter the
heavenly kingdom if self is on
00:17:28.82\00:17:32.04
the throne. >> You know, Dwight,
it makes me think about, you
00:17:32.07\00:17:34.62
know, as a Pastor and I'm not...
just pointing... pointing out
00:17:34.65\00:17:36.90
church members but, you know,
all of us how, often we get
00:17:36.93\00:17:41.42
into petty jealousies >> Yeah.
>> how often we're upset because
00:17:41.45\00:17:45.43
somebody wronged me some 20, 30
years ago, how often we exhibit
00:17:45.46\00:17:51.63
self when self was supposed
to have died when we became
00:17:51.66\00:17:55.27
Christians? >> Exactly. >>
Absolutely. >> And this whole
00:17:55.30\00:17:57.38
idea of I... I must decrease, is
that principle of Christianity
00:17:57.41\00:18:01.28
where, you know, you've...
you've heard it said before,
00:18:01.31\00:18:04.56
I mean, you never hear a dead
man complain about his life or
00:18:04.59\00:18:07.37
about >> That's right. >> about
who wronged him >> That's right.
00:18:07.40\00:18:08.49
>> about who, you know, when...
when... when self... when I
00:18:08.52\00:18:10.99
decrease, I'm not going to
be plagued by all these... all
00:18:11.02\00:18:17.65
the bitterness and all these
"Woe is me" and all these bad
00:18:17.68\00:18:21.08
things that happen. I'm not
discounting that some people
00:18:21.11\00:18:24.27
have had bad things >> Right.
>> really bad things happen but
00:18:24.30\00:18:26.51
we can't be run... we can't
allow those things to rule our
00:18:26.54\00:18:29.19
lives and bring us down. The
Lord would have us lay self in
00:18:29.22\00:18:32.49
the grave >> and we'll
find >> Sure. >> true joy when
00:18:32.52\00:18:34.59
he increases in our life. >> You
know, that's >> What about >> so
00:18:34.62\00:18:37.59
true. What about the church?
Well, these are his disciples.
00:18:37.62\00:18:40.91
>> Right. >> Uh hmm. >> This is,
you know, John the Baptist and
00:18:40.94\00:18:43.65
the disciples of
Christ, disciples of Jesus, so,
00:18:43.68\00:18:47.40
you know, that's
pretty high up. >>Yeah.
00:18:47.43\00:18:49.74
These aren't just the
backsliders >> Yeah. These are
00:18:49.77\00:18:51.27
>> that you never see. >> these
ain't the world ladies and, you
00:18:51.30\00:18:54.15
know, in our church, how
many times did somebody complain
00:18:54.18\00:18:56.34
because they don't have
the right office. You know, "I
00:18:56.37\00:19:00.28
should have got that office. Why
did they get that office?" You
00:19:00.31\00:19:03.30
know, so >> So, let me... let me
ask this question then. It was
00:19:03.33\00:19:08.80
something that really... is
hit me when you were talking,
00:19:08.83\00:19:11.43
Nicodemus >> All right. >> and
Nicodemus was a Pharisee but he
00:19:11.46\00:19:16.26
was of the ones that people
liked. >> Yeah. >> Right? And
00:19:16.29\00:19:20.67
And yet... and Nicodemus was
very wealthy, he gave a lot of
00:19:20.70\00:19:25.48
money to the church, he helped
a lot of poor people. In other
00:19:25.51\00:19:28.79
words, he wasn't like the other
Pharisees, as far as, saying
00:19:28.82\00:19:34.42
one thing and doing another. He
was considered a good Pharisee.
00:19:34.45\00:19:37.58
He had a kind heart and he came
to Jesus in the evening because
00:19:37.61\00:19:45.39
he was prideful. >> Right. >>
He doesn't want everyone to see
00:19:45.42\00:19:48.93
him, he wanted to wait till
after dark. So, right just that
00:19:48.96\00:19:51.96
one thing, did... was... was...
was he increased or was he
00:19:51.99\00:19:54.89
decreased? >> No. He was
very increased. >> He was very
00:19:54.92\00:19:57.43
increased. Yet remember now, by
00:19:57.46\00:19:59.01
the... by the Christian
standard, they looked up to him,
00:19:59.04\00:20:01.86
as a Pharisee. He was the... he
was one of the good ones, so he
00:20:01.89\00:20:05.39
comes in... now, because he
doesn't want people to think,
00:20:05.42\00:20:07.50
"well, I might think this is
the Messiah. " So, there was no
00:20:07.53\00:20:10.61
decreasing there and then
he said, you know, "Are you the
00:20:10.64\00:20:15.34
Messiah?" Now... now, think of
this, he asked Jesus, "Are you
00:20:15.37\00:20:19.12
the Messiah?" Now, to me that...
that would seem like a great
00:20:19.15\00:20:22.02
question. Wouldn't it to you?
I mean, he went there and said,
00:20:22.05\00:20:24.48
"Are you the Messiah?" Now, to
me that's a great question and
00:20:24.51\00:20:27.91
Jesus came back and said,
what? It... it, to me this is
00:20:27.94\00:20:32.69
something that really helped,
I mean, it's... it's... there's
00:20:32.72\00:20:34.84
I mean, it's... it's... there's
a... there's a... a whole
00:20:34.87\00:20:36.31
chapter of about, "He must
increase and I must decrease,
00:20:36.34\00:20:38.42
in the Book of Desires of Ages.
>> Uh hmm. >> I love this book
00:20:38.45\00:20:40.35
but Jesus came back and said
this to Nicodemus, when he said,
00:20:40.38\00:20:45.96
"Are the Messiah?" because to
me that's a salvational issue.
00:20:45.99\00:20:48.48
>> Mm hmm. >> I mean, they
were questioning if this was
00:20:48.51\00:20:52.19
truly the Messiah and Jesus
looked right at Nicodemus and
00:20:52.22\00:20:56.30
said, you know, Nicodemus,
basically, I'm paraphrasing
00:20:56.33\00:20:58.98
>> Yeah. >> but basically
he said, you know Nicodemus,
00:20:59.01\00:21:00.65
whether I'm the Messiah or not,
really doesn't matter about your
00:21:00.68\00:21:05.61
salvation because, you know,
right now, unless you're born
00:21:05.64\00:21:08.04
again, you're lost. >> Right.
>> I mean... I mean, you think
00:21:08.07\00:21:12.16
of that. Here he was... he was
trying to get Jesus on an issue
00:21:12.19\00:21:15.27
of him being the Messiah which
is quite important but self
00:21:15.30\00:21:19.54
hadn't been hid in Christ, so,
he was going to get into this
00:21:19.57\00:21:23.33
argument thing and Jesus looked
him right in the eye and told
00:21:23.36\00:21:26.67
him exactly what he needed. You
know, Nicodemus, "unless you're
00:21:26.70\00:21:29.83
born again, it doesn't even
matter who I am because you're
00:21:29.86\00:21:33.07
lost. " >> So, you're saying
that he's telling, you need to
00:21:33.10\00:21:36.84
worry about you. >> Yeah. >> Not
about me. >> Uh hmm. >> Yeah.
00:21:36.87\00:21:40.51
you need... you need... in other
words, you need to come to a
00:21:40.54\00:21:42.82
point where self is hid. You
need to come to a point where
00:21:42.85\00:21:46.71
self is... is hid in Christ, not
in yourself, not in your good
00:21:46.74\00:21:50.74
deeds and... and not in... in
your goodness and your kindness,
00:21:50.77\00:21:53.27
that's all good >> Mm hmm.
>> but you're still sitting on
00:21:53.30\00:21:56.01
the throne >> That's right.
>> and anyway, I just think
00:21:56.04\00:21:58.17
that's so, so neat >> Well,
you make the point >> about
00:21:58.20\00:22:00.57
Nicodemus. and I... and I
wanna emphasize for our readers
00:22:00.60\00:22:02.25
because as you... as you've
mentioned, he... he... you're
00:22:02.28\00:22:03.96
paraphrasing there, he doesn't
specifically ask, when you're
00:22:03.99\00:22:07.39
reading in the text, "Are
you the Messiah?" because of the
00:22:07.42\00:22:10.34
way he comes to him, he asks him
in this kind of couched way, you
00:22:10.37\00:22:13.73
know, you're a teacher, hey,
teacher, you're... we recognize
00:22:13.76\00:22:16.46
you, as it says
there, in John 3:2
00:22:16.49\00:22:18.46
>> Yeah. >> So, he... he's kind
of implying and wanting Jesus
00:22:23.95\00:22:27.33
to, you know, like you said,
he's basically asking, "So are
00:22:27.36\00:22:30.07
you the one or not?" But he
doesn't even want to bring that
00:22:30.10\00:22:32.37
up, in the terms of Messiah
because he didn't want anybody
00:22:32.40\00:22:35.67
to catch wind and that maybe he
even said or was thinking such
00:22:35.70\00:22:38.01
a thing. >> Right. >> So, and
of course, Jesus, like you said,
00:22:38.04\00:22:40.45
respond and says, Look, unless
somebody is born again, they
00:22:40.48\00:22:44.30
can't enter my kingdom, which
is a total upfront >> Yes. >> to
00:22:44.33\00:22:47.75
Nicodemus because he had
that fullness of pride there.
00:22:47.78\00:22:51.37
>> And then Nicodemus
still tried to talk to
00:22:51.40\00:22:52.93
him because it hit
him and then he talked
00:22:52.96\00:22:55.10
about...ú >> And he gets
a little agitated. >> Yeah
00:22:55.13\00:22:57.59
>> But... but he does
come to Jesus. >> Yeah >> He...
00:22:57.62\00:23:01.20
>> he came at night and
we understand like you said,
00:23:01.23\00:23:03.90
because he didn't want to be
seen which wasn't an admirable
00:23:03.93\00:23:07.22
trait but he still came and
he was taking quite a political
00:23:07.25\00:23:12.62
risk >> Uh hmm. >> by even being
seen because people can still
00:23:12.65\00:23:16.63
see at night, just not as good.
He could've been seen but... so,
00:23:16.66\00:23:20.69
Nicodemus >> That's right.
>> you have to give him a little
00:23:20.72\00:23:23.61
bit of credit for coming
to Jesus in the first place.
00:23:23.64\00:23:27.33
>> Well, and... and... and I
think that's a good point, Rudy.
00:23:27.36\00:23:29.89
Jesus says come as,
come where you're at...
00:23:29.92\00:23:34.27
>> And... and he accepted
Nicodemus right where he was at.
00:23:34.30\00:23:37.37
>> Yes. >> and I think that's...
that was my point. >> Well and
00:23:37.40\00:23:40.39
what's interesting when
we read in the history of the
00:23:40.42\00:23:42.16
scripture or when we look
back and we see what happened to
00:23:42.19\00:23:44.75
Nicodemus, as long as he was
in that self-important increase
00:23:44.78\00:23:49.29
mode, the grace of God really
couldn't do anything effective
00:23:49.32\00:23:53.27
for him >> Amen. >> but when he
came to the point where he let
00:23:53.30\00:23:56.53
those Words of Jesus sink
in, we find in... in Christian
00:23:56.56\00:24:00.23
history that Nicodemus did
decrease, ended up losing all
00:24:00.26\00:24:03.35
that he had or giving all
that he had, all his riches and
00:24:03.38\00:24:05.98
possessions and reputation to
the Gospel for the furtherance
00:24:06.01\00:24:08.76
of it >> Amen. >> and may
not have died in this earth's
00:24:08.79\00:24:12.41
history as a great man but
certainly in sacred history, he
00:24:12.44\00:24:16.58
goes down as a great man because
>> Amen. >> yet, ironically
00:24:16.61\00:24:19.54
because he decreased, because
we think we got to increase if
00:24:19.57\00:24:21.79
we're going to be a great man
>> Right. >> but it's exactly
00:24:21.82\00:24:24.25
the opposite in the kingdom of
God. >> >> So, another question,
00:24:24.28\00:24:26.48
so, if we really are in Christ
and we decrease and that Christ
00:24:26.51\00:24:32.01
Christ increase in our lives,
do we become wimps? >> Do we get
00:24:32.04\00:24:36.47
walked on you mean? >> Yeah,
do we get walked on? We... do we
00:24:36.50\00:24:38.76
kind of... kind of pansies or
like, you know, "well, OK. Oh,
00:24:38.79\00:24:42.70
whatever" or I mean, what does
it mean to decrease and let God
00:24:42.73\00:24:47.43
increase? >> Well, you know,
what's interesting about that
00:24:47.46\00:24:49.46
is, you would never use
those words to describe Jesus.
00:24:49.49\00:24:52.63
>> Amen. >> Right. >> In...
in other words, in fact, from my
00:24:52.66\00:24:56.73
experience in life, in my own
life and in others, the man of
00:24:56.76\00:24:59.83
reputation is always the weaker
man. He's so concerned what
00:24:59.86\00:25:03.67
everybody thinks about him.
Jesus didn't... whatever the
00:25:03.70\00:25:07.08
public sentiment was did not
sway him. >> Phase him, yeah.
00:25:07.11\00:25:10.41
In other words, he had courage
that surpassed the courage of
00:25:10.44\00:25:13.26
all others. He was the greater
man and anybody who lets Jesus
00:25:13.29\00:25:16.39
be the one and... and they
decrease and Jesus increases
00:25:16.42\00:25:20.43
in them, they'll have that same
courage that will stand for the
00:25:20.46\00:25:24.93
right till the heaven's fall.
>> Absolutely. I know there's
00:25:24.96\00:25:27.01
a... there's a statement here
in the... in the Remnant Study
00:25:27.04\00:25:30.75
Bible from Desire of Ages.
I just think it's so, so good.
00:25:30.78\00:25:35.32
It's under John 3:30 and it's
got the heights of lowliness.
00:25:35.35\00:25:39.67
>> Hmm. >> It just... it's...
it's... it's an amazing quote
00:25:39.70\00:25:43.26
and I'd like to
read it. It says,
00:25:43.29\00:25:44.68
>> Hmm. >> Now, we was looking
up that word self-abnegation,
00:25:51.86\00:25:53.91
you know, basically, it's...
it's... it's that you... that
00:25:53.94\00:25:57.79
self is gone. You know
and you're not thinking about
00:25:57.82\00:26:00.68
yourself and it kind of
explains it here, it says,
00:26:00.71\00:26:03.28
>> Hmm. >> I mean, and that
really is about what it's all
00:26:12.92\00:26:16.13
about with... with us. I mean,
if Christ is going to increase
00:26:16.16\00:26:20.65
in our lives, certainly
we've got die in self. Certainly
00:26:20.68\00:26:24.08
people can't... can't see Dwight
but they have to see Jesus in
00:26:24.11\00:26:29.94
Dwight>> That's right. >> and,
you know, I think and I... I...
00:26:29.97\00:26:31.70
I don't want, you know, we...
we... we're almost done but, you
00:26:31.73\00:26:35.52
know, when Jesus said, "If I...
if I be lifted up, I will draw
00:26:35.55\00:26:39.10
all men under me. " >> Uh hmm.
>> I believe that we should all
00:26:39.13\00:26:41.65
must be saying the same thing.
>> Absolutely. >> If we're
00:26:41.68\00:26:43.87
lifted up and we're lifted
up not by pride, we're lifted up
00:26:43.90\00:26:47.00
on the cross. Jesus said, "If
I'd be lifted up," that was on
00:26:47.03\00:26:50.06
the cross because he
died, because the self was hid
00:26:50.09\00:26:53.68
>> That's right. >> and if we...
if we're lifted up >> If we take
00:26:53.71\00:26:56.09
up >> we take up our cross.
>> our crosses >> Exactly.
00:26:56.12\00:26:58.22
>> It should glorify God. >>
And people will see Rudy or also
00:26:58.25\00:27:02.60
>> That's right. >> you Mark
>> or myself they'll see Jesus
00:27:02.63\00:27:05.05
in us. >> Amen. >> and that's
what it's all about. Is Jesus in
00:27:05.08\00:27:08.83
your lives today? Is...
are you increasing or are you
00:27:08.86\00:27:13.71
decreasing? Is Christ,
all in all, in your life
00:27:13.74\00:27:16.43
or are you saying,
"Christ and I are one and I am
00:27:16.46\00:27:20.23
the one," or you're saying,
"And he's the one. " Pray about
00:27:20.26\00:27:23.29
that, get on your knees and give
everything you have to Jesus.
00:27:23.32\00:27:26.28
Get in his Word for he loves
you so much and all of a sudden,
00:27:26.31\00:27:30.01
you will see power like never
before. We've got to go. You too
00:27:30.04\00:27:34.04
can have a better way of
life but what? Don't put it off.
00:27:34.07\00:27:38.69
By working together, 1.7 Million
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00:27:39.56\00:27:43.79
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00:27:46.76\00:27:50.08
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00:27:50.11\00:27:54.78
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00:27:54.81\00:27:57.22
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00:28:00.32\00:28:04.20
together, we have shipped almost
a million Bibles to spiritually
00:28:04.23\00:28:08.13
thirsty Christians in Africa,
touching the lives of 20 Million
00:28:08.16\00:28:11.64
people for Christ.
Working together is what allows
00:28:11.67\00:28:16.21
Remnant Publications to spread
truth filled books around the
00:28:16.24\00:28:19.72
world. To hasten the Lord's
coming. Will you join us in that
00:28:19.75\00:28:24.12
mission? Will you help us
reach the world for Jesus,
00:28:24.15\00:28:27.54
one book at a time?
00:28:27.57\00:28:29.63