 John chapter 3 We'll begin reading here at verse 22 I'll read to verse 24 and we'll get into our study John chapter 3 verses 22 through 24 John writes after these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea and There he remained with them and baptized now John also was baptized in an anin near Salem because there was much water there and They came and were baptized for John had not yet been thrown into prison Now remember in the previous verses of John chapter 3 Jesus had presented the way of salvation to a man by the name of Nicodemus and we saw that Nicodemus was a Pharisee of the Pharisees He was a religious leader the teacher of Israel and as Jesus was speaking to him Jesus instructed him concerning The necessity of being born again and Jesus had made it clear to him that without new birth There was no hope for Nicodemus to enter into the kingdom of God Now Nicodemus's religious practices his biblical knowledge was simply not enough And so Jesus told him that there needed to be not just religious ideas and philosophy and practice But you need something that is brand-new you need an entirely new life Even though his religious devotion was commendable He needed more than good works Jesus made it clear you need a new nature and Jesus said and I can make that possible Now on the book of Galatians in chapter 6 verses 14 and 15 Paul said may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything what counts is a new creation See so neither circumcision nor uncircumcision religious practices and The things that are related ritually to religious faith Those aren't the things that actually count what counts. He says is a new nature. That's why Paul told us that if anyone is in Christ He's a new creation all things are passed away behold. He said all things are become new He needs a new nature and that's what Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus about And so as he did so in the first portion of chapter 3 John now returns to the ministry of another man named John a man by the name of John the Baptist Now the events that he records for us that we'll be looking at are taking place outside of the city of Jerusalem It's in the south in Judea Notice how it begins in verse 32 how he says there he remained with them and baptized He remained with them The word remain means to pass the time together or spend time in other words Jesus was using this time to develop his relationship with his disciples He remained with them so that he might pour into them Though they were his followers, they needed to understand simply who he is They needed to connect deeply with him. They needed to know him as rabbi and mentor And the best way for this to occur was for them and for us to spend time with him I think there are a lot of people who are religiously busy Who are not spending time with Jesus? They do a lot for him At least in his name they do a lot But they're so busy that they don't have quiet and personal time with him And that's one of the reason why people reasons why people burn out That's one of the reasons why people say I can't do this any longer. I need to take a break It's because they're pouring themselves out constantly, but they're not spending time in prayer and devotion to the Lord and Jesus wants us to spend time with him and that's what he did. That's how he mentored people Every couple of weeks here in this church I have a group of men that I spend almost two hours with after second service every couple weeks And that's what I'm trying to do I'm trying to use the model of Christ to spend time with the men To answer their questions to speak biblically to them and do those kinds of things and that's what the Lord did in mark 314 Mark said that Jesus appointed 12 that they might be with him And that's the way a rabbi would mentor His disciples you see spending time with them was part of their training They couldn't become what they were intended to be without spending this kind of time with him And so he was doing this he was spending time with them and he was teaching them He would teach them things that were meant just for them He would do works that only they really would see and you can read your gospel and you'll see that Because there'll be times and they speak to him. They'll say now you're now you're speaking plainly Or he would take them aside and explain a parable to them and help them to understand it or they see the Transfiguration Not everybody saw that only certain disciples saw that And so that's what he's doing here. He's spending time with them. He's teaching them things they need to know He's he's revealing things of himself that they need to know and he's spending this time with them to develop them And it says in verse 22 that he remained with them and he baptized Now when it says he remained with them and baptized all you need to do is look at chapter 4 verse 2 And that verse makes it clear That jesus wasn't the one baptizing people personally his disciples were doing the baptizing But what they did by his authority and his command was attributed to him And so this is taking place now this baptism and all in verse 23 It says john also was baptized in an ain in near Salem Because there was much water there and they came and were baptized Now the exact location Is unknown it is located somewhere in the south But when we go to israel We will go to a place called kasar al-yahud It's just uh, they're in the south outside of jerusalem And there are those many who believe that that may very well be the traditional baptismal site or What this passage is referring to But notice in verse 23 how it says he was baptized in an ainam alam Rather ain in near Salem And so the word ainan means springs when it speaks of much water That speaks of springs of water And so there he is at these springs of water baptizing and he's continuing his ministry And uh verse 24 tells us for john had not yet been thrown into prison briefly He had not yet been thrown into prison. Why was he thrown into prison for preaching? For preaching to herod And saying to herod It is not lawful for you to have your brother phillips wife Philip The brother of herod had had a beautiful wife named herodias And phillip had gone to rome and had visited And while there had started an affair with Rather herod had started an affair with phillips wife herodias and brought her back and Treated her as if She was his wife But uh, it's interesting when this is spoken of in matthew 14 It's interesting how It says that Herod was upset at john because he said to him it is unlawful for you to have your brother phillips wife And herodias is never referred to as uh herod's wife. She is referred to as His brother phillips wife And so john the baptist didn't mince words. He wasn't a man who would be on many of these christian tv programs today Because he spoke the truth in a powerful way He he spoke the truth in a way that was unmistakable He spoke truth to power And power doesn't want to hear truth I really think that we're living in a time when pastors Need to when given opportunity We need to speak the truth to those in power when given opportunity not to say that I should candidate somehow to speak into the ear of the president i'm not saying that What i'm saying is When a minister has opportunity to speak To power Or speak At any time they ought to speak the truth In a way that is not a compromising Almost apologetic thing And let me give you something that will offend somebody at least one if i don't do at least one offend Offense then i'm not doing my job um So there was a call to the churches to pray for the president this weekend All of you probably heard of it right If you didn't if i were here you would have Um i'm hoping you did i would have prayed for our president i prayed for the president why we're commanded to pray for those in authority That's what the bible teaches Right that's what the bible teaches pray for those in authority And that's what we do We're not praying because he's republican or we're not praying because he's democrat independent whatever went that's not what we're praying we're praying So that we might have peace live in peace And that god might somehow break through this This evil land that we live in and do a work That gives to us more opportunity To preach his his gospel. It's a wise thing to pray For those in authority that we might live Peaceable lives and that's what paul told timothy that we ought to do there's nothing wrong with doing that So the president trump and i know people don't like him and you ought to met in europe I have to tell you i came back loving him more than ever before and i'll tell you why They hate him In europe they really do i mean marie and i my wife and i were watching the news yesterday and i'm telling you You know it's bad enough to hear these british people that were on On the news they were being interviewed on the street and all what do you think about trump? Oh, he's this and he's evil and these people that they don't know this man from from adam And making these judgments That's bad enough by itself But an american Was was on tv saying how much This man is despicable and and there's the finally the interviewer to this american artist said to him Isn't there a single thing good about that man? He said not a single thing. He's a misogynist. He's homophobic. He's a racist He's just giving all of cnn's, you know speaking points And as i'm listening to that I got really upset and i'm apolitical in many ways most of you know that you know i'm I don't tell you who to vote for i will tell you who i vote for but Vote for who you will and then pay the penalty, but um I like the fact that the remains of our korean and war veterans were brought home. I like that I like the fact that african americans and hispanic americans are getting jobs. I like that I like an economy that's growing. I like that. I like the idea that the president though you may or may not like him It's up to you You're supposed to be praying for him anyway But i like the fact that he tells people we need to read the bible that he appoints conservative judges and justices That was a big issue to me. I like that. There's a lot that i like there are a lot a lot of things I don't like you won't hear the things they don't like i want to stay on the things i like But it really bothered me to see this american trashy and our president i just We can have family squabbles But keep those squabbles in the four walls of your house Don't take them internationally And make the president of the united states Look like a bumbling fool. He does a good job on his own But actually i i have a love for the man because he's doing things that i think need to be done And i and i have a love for him as a man and and and i want god to to touch his heart that Why wouldn't we want god to touch us and i was no fan of any Of obama everybody in this church knew that if you didn't let me say it I was no fan of his i didn't vote for him either time And i could tell you why but i won't just i didn't But I'll tell you why no i didn't But when given an opportunity We need to speak the truth To power and john did that John did that to herod And when john did that to herod it got herodias Herod's The woman he was living with Got herodias angry and she was looking for a convenient time to deal with john And that day came it was herod's birthday He had all his officers various political people at a birthday party and Herodias's daughter danced just a very sexually salacious dance And it got him excited and he began to bow He began to say i'll give you up to half my kingdom making this Promise to this girl so she runs off to her mom and says What should i ask for? He says i can have anything up to half the kingdom. What should i ask for? And that was herodias's chance she says I want the head of john the baptist on a platter Can you imagine? See we're very genteel we americans can't imagine i can't imagine the evil of such a request To be head a man Take his head and place it on a silver plate And to bring can can you fathom that the evil of such a request yet for his drunken oath and For the sake of his drunken oath and for the sake of the soldiers and all that were around him Though he didn't want to do it you had it done John the baptist There is a a price listen carefully i'll say this briefly, but it's important There's a price that we we will pay for loving jesus And there are a whole lot of people who are afraid To pay that price so they compromise They don't ever speak the truth They keep it to themselves. They actually get angry when the truth is spoken Isn't that amazing, but it's true They actually get angry when i was in germany i was teaching And i shared something about homosexuality and boom Woman gets up and marches out because She has been brainwashed into believing That a sexual sin like homosexuality Is approved of by god she's in church Listening to a bible study at the minute something is said that she disagrees with and you have to ask Where did you come to your point of disagreement is it in scripture somewhere? Can you point to me a bible verse or several That teach me that homosexuality is acceptable to god you can be a homosexual and go to heaven Can you show me scripture that says that no it's just what i feel well your feelings don't count and they don't matter What matters is god's word And that's what preachers are supposed to do is preach the word of god That's what we're called to do and people don't like to hear it And the pastor walks up and he says well you got one person mad today. I said listen in my church I usually see more than one. I actually thought I was doing good Yeah, I did it's true So what happened well, he had not yet been thrown into prison that gives us the timeline ultimately he was and lost his head so in verse 25 Then there arose a dispute between some of john's disciples and the jews about purification And they came to john and said to him rabbi He who was with you beyond the jordan to whom you have testified behold He's baptizing and all are coming to him So there's this dispute an argument And it is it's related to purification So john's men were questioned about his baptism and the baptism jesus's men performed and and the dispute upset john's disciples Now It may be that they feel that uh john the baptist is being Disrespected because notice in verse 26. It says they came to john and said to him Rabbi notice how they say this he who is with you beyond the jordan to whom you have testified behold He's baptized and they're all coming to him So it sounds as if they are upset because they think he's disrespected You started first You should be given greater honor as a matter of fact john you baptized jesus Now this kind of thing can happen between members of differing churches My church is better than your church. My pastor is better than your pastor That's called sectarianism It's the fruit of what is called carnal comparison It's interesting But the apostle paul had to deal with this kind of mentality because it existed in the church of corinth And the church there in the city of corinth that actually began to divide over their favorite teachers In in first Corinthians chapter 1 verse 12 paul said now I say this that each of you says i'm of paul or I'm of apollos or i'm of syphus or I'm of christ. They were divided over their favorite teachers in all So as a minister of the gospel paul would not have anything to do with this carnality And paul made it clear that he was simply a minister And nothing else later on in first corinthians chapter 3. He said it like this verses 2 through 4 He said to them I fed you with milk and not with solid food For until now you were not able to receive it and even now You are still not able for you are still carnal For where there are envies strife and divisions among you Are you not carnal and behaving like mere men for when one says i'm of paul And another i'm of apollos Are you not carnal When you begin to argue oh this guy is more special than that guy. He says that's just carnality So notice how he receives this and handles this question notice at verse 27 john answered and said A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven You yourselves bear me witness that I said I am not the Christ, but I've been sent before him He who has the bride is the bridegroom But the friend of the bridegroom bridegroom who stands and hears him Rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice therefore This joy of mine is fulfilled He must increase But I Must decrease A man can receive nothing unless it's been given to him from heaven Striving for preeminence striving for fame Striving for ministry greatness Is futile It's been rightly said there are few things as unattractive As a pride filled minister Prominence in the kingdom of god is not to be sought after prominence Is actually a place you're You are put into by god himself because it's god Who decides whom he will use and it is god who decides to what degree he will use them It's like what it says in psalms 75 verses 6 and 7 Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south But god is the judge he puts down one And exalts another god is the one who puts a person in the place That he strategically intends him to serve in There are young pastors today And young want-to-be pastors today Who are being invited to all kinds of Seminars and conferences Where they can come and learn how to Fill the pews with people And there are promises being made To these young men that if they Will use the methodology that this individual wants to sell to them in the conference That they will one day go from 50 people to 100 people to 200 to 400 And uh, they're almost guaranteeing that they can have churches that are filled, but here's the thing Any man who wants to fill the pew and is Is not concerned with how he does it shouldn't be occupying the pulpit He shouldn't be occupying the pulpit Because he's trying to become great based on the number of people who show up At the things he does And when I began this ministry and I'll say it quickly, but when I began this ministry Back in july of 1981 We didn't begin the church. So we would be a large church. We began the church Because I wanted people to know jesus christ and that's really what you're supposed to do Is raise people up in the things of the lord and As a minister and john knew this this is what he's referring to That that ministry begins and ends with god It's john's responsibility to be faithful to what god has placed him in to do john doesn't determine Uh what he's to do he obeys god and does what god commands And john was humble And john was aware of who he was and he also was aware of who he was serving And his humility Safeguarded him from seeking glory in ministry a ministry by the way he was entrusted with Remember what he had said earlier when asked who he was and why he was baptized and in john chapter 1 verses 26 and 27 john said I baptized with water There stands one among you Whom you do not know it is he who coming after me is preferred before me Who sandal strap i'm not worthy to loose A genuine minister of the gospel realizes who they are and what they are In second carinthians 4 verse 7 we have this treasure in earthen vessels That the excellence of the power may be of god And not of us and the most valuable vessel is always going to be the broken one Because the broken vessel ministers out of brokenness And john was a man who was being used mildly by the lord and he wanted to make sure that they understood this So a man can receive nothing unless it's been given to him from heaven But he goes on in verse 28 you yourselves bear me witness that I said i'm not the christ But i've been sent before him He who has the bride is the bridegroom But the friend of the bridegroom stands and hears him rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice therefore This joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase But I must decrease And so he says in verse 28 you bear witness of me. I said i'm not the christ. I've been sent before him Remember in john 1 verse 20 how he confessed and did not deny but confessed i'm not the christ And in john 123 how he said i am the voice of one crying in the wilderness make straight the way of the lord So he wasn't seeking for himself to be known He wanted to make jesus known Notice verse 29 when it speaks of the one who has the bride is the bridegroom It's the bridegroom's friend his his uh best man the friend of the bridegroom stands and hears him rejoicing greatly Because of the bridegroom's voice therefore the joy of mine is fulfilled In other words, I have no rivalry for the affection of the bride You know, can you picture that a best man? They're trying to take off with the bride At the wedding, you know, just giving her those looks, you know, and whispering He says i'm not that way I'm not trying to steal the affection of the bride. Listen, and i'll make this this is something I speak to pastors in it I may not be able to clarify it in a general community If I were speaking to pastors, I would be saying to pastors Your job is to get out of the way so that jesus can be seen And when people begin to say oh, I have the greatest pastor Well, a pastor who doesn't point to the master Is going to have a disaster You can write that down put it in david's quotes But it's true It is the pastor's obligation and calling To direct people to jesus christ John said I am not battling for the affection of the bride. Who is the bride the church? Who is the groom jesus christ? What is his role? I'm the best man. I rejoice to hear the voice of the bridegroom I'm not here battling for the affection of people One of the problems the church has today is pastors who are so hungry to hear the church tell them how good they are And how important they are and how wise they are As they begin to steal glory from god It's a very dangerous place to be because god says i'm the lord that is my name in my glory I give to no one else neither my praise to graven images Now he is a jealous god And so it's very important for all ministers to realize that he gets all the glory John is teaching us that John is teaching us that Are you jealous for my sake? I already told you who I am I'm the best man. I'm not the groom I'm here preparing the way for him. Why because it's the people I am pointing to this man to this messiah These are the ones they need him. I they don't need me. I'm just the forerunner. He's the real deal I have no rivalry for the affection of the bride the bride belongs to the bridegroom In first grintians 11 verse 2 paul said it like this. He said i'm jealous for you with godly jealousy I have betrothed you to one husband That I may present you as a chaste virgin to christ and then he says and this is so powerful. He must increase but I must decrease He must increase I must decrease You see it's difficult gathering people who are willing to follow your lead Yet it can be even more difficult to give them up And some leaders desire attention And in doing so draw it away from jesus When that minister becomes more important than Than christ in his word in his spirit It's not a good thing You know sometimes people when they hear that their pastor is not going to be in church on sunday He's not going to be teaching Sometimes they don't come to church They'll go do something else go visit somewhere else. It's really not a healthy thing is it Because I would hope in this fellowship. I would hope I would hope all of us know enough now to say, you know, what matters is god's word What really matters is The presence of the holy spirit And an encouragement to follow christ And I I appreciate as a pastor. I appreciate the love of my congregation Some in this congregation are very warm to me and I appreciate that very much. I really do I really do and I love it In the sense that there's this love for me and I appreciate it deeply But I would prefer a greater love for christ That this church would love jesus more And that that that's the truth, you know that that that that that's the truth See see what one one day one day and i'll say this briefly again I always say i'll say this briefly and then go on for a while, but anyway um One of these days and should the lord tarry one of these days i'll have my last sermon here I know that there'll be one day that happens. I've been here a long time 38 years You know and i'm growing older. I know that and that's okay. I like it. I have a problem growing older I'm grateful. I am every day. I'm grateful for thank god for it. But one of these days The lord's gonna say i'm gonna bring in some young guy Who can handle it And i'm gonna kiss you goodbye And that's gonna happen But I want you so prepared So that when the word goes forth from the new pastor of this church That you just keep moving forward for jesus christ That's what pastors are supposed to do Is just a step out of the way so jesus can take you further And that to me is a real important thing in my life and the older i get the more i realize it I get it i do But whoever comes in here There's gonna be an important thing i'll say it right now They have to love the lord jesus christ with all of their heart. They have to love his word They have to walk in his spirit, but they have to love you Because I would not and my church To anybody who didn't love you That to me matters. He needs to love you i'm serious Because I never did but anyway He must increase I must decrease he who comes from above is above all He who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth he who comes from heaven Is above all so jesus is the one who's from above He is superior to all things that are of the earth John cannot speak of heavenly things, but christ can John is limited, but jesus is not In verse 32 and he says what he has seen in herdy testifies Uh, that simply speaks of the fact that jesus is an eyewitness And even though jesus is an eyewitness many disregarded his testimony But it says in verse 33 He who receives it received his testimony has certified that god is true So when it says he who has received his testimony It's speaking of a one time for all time decision of the will to receive He's saying jesus is delivering the absolute truth And those who receive it Believe god because god is truthful So they receive that In verse 34 for he whom god has sent speaks the words of god for god does not give the spirit by measure So many prophets were sent by god to speak his words to a lost and dying world And each of these prophets was anointed for their task They had what is referred to as a measure of the spirit But in the case of jesus there was no limit to the work of the spirit in him Remember as we've been in Colossians in chapter 1 verse 19 Remember how paul said it pleased the father that in jesus in him all the fullness should dwell And he goes on in verse 35 the father loves the son and has given all things into his hand The father loves the son Loves him beyond the most faithful servants the father loves the son much more than he loved john the baptist And his affection was much different Than the affection that god had for the others his affection for jesus was different Jesus's father made him the greatest prophet The greatest priest and the greatest greatest king He made him the greatest judge Because all things including judgment Are his all things are in his hand when we get to chapter 5 verse 27 We will read the father has given him authority to execute judgment also because he's the son of man So the prophets had various gifts they performed miracles they Received visions and dreams they had revelation of the future yet none possessed all the spiritual gifts jesus alone has all power And then in verse 36 he who believes in the sun has everlasting life And he who does not believe the sun shall not see life But the wrath of god abides on him And we'll look at this for a moment and close When it says he who believes the word believe is a greek word It speaks of faith that has been deposited in jesus christ And when your faith has been deposited in jesus christ in other words Like he had earlier said in chapter 3 When you've been born again when the holy spirit of god has come to dwell within you when you turned from your sin And confessed your need for god and asked for forgiveness and repented And you trusted in jesus he came and dwelt within you you became the temple of the holy spirit of god Your name is now written on the lamb's book of life and you're sealed by the spirit into the day of redemption When you became a believer Your eternal life became a present tense possession you have it now You have it now If you're born again, you have everlasting life now. It's not something you're awaiting It's something you're already possessing You're already walking in life That's part of what it means to grow in your knowledge and understanding of the ways of the lord because There's so much that god has already given to us that we we sometimes fail to realize he's already He's already poured out all those Amazing blessings on us. We just we just don't understand that that god has given to us so much We're we're we're like children who are playing next to a water Hydrant that we turned on during the summer and we're splashing around with the water Because we can't even visualize within our mind how beautiful it would be to be able to be on a Hawaiian beach So we play in the gutter You know, it's enough water and make me cool and it's fun and my friends are with me But but god says but I have something greater than that. Don't you understand? No, you know, this water's fine. No I've got something greater than that It's yours and it's in christ. You have it It's everlasting life. It's abundant life. It's age abiding life It's it's a life that that god would never leave you never forsake you god will provide for you god is with you He he doesn't abandon you. It's he's he's there through your trials. He's there through your pains He's there in your joys He's there for no matter what when your friends forsake you and your mom and your dad have nothing to do with you He lifts you up and you understand that and you go through one thing after another But you're never feeling alone because he's with you That's that's that's that's a christian who is growing I heard about a guy Who was in the military and he was sending his This is in world war two. He's sending his mom cashiers checks he would he would cash his Paycheck and he'd get a cashiers check and he would send it home And he did that for all the months that he was serving And so he served for several years and he finally got out of the the army and when he came home He he hadn't been home. He came home And as he walked up the sidewalk towards his mom's house The little fence she had in the front was rickety. It was falling apart when he opened up the gate It almost came off the hinge that needed painting The the grass was dead and there were weeds and and the plants were overgrown He walked up to the wooden porch and it was creaking. It almost gave way under his weight He gets this the screen door opens it up the screen is Falling out and he opens the door and mom. I'm home and oh son. It's so good to see you and Mom What happened to the house? Well, honey, I didn't have the money to keep the house up. I had barely enough just to survive. What do you mean? What do you mean? Honey, I didn't have any money. Yes, you did mama every month. I sent you cashier check She said cashiers check What is that? He said you don't know what a cashiers check is She goes no What did you do with those pieces of paper that I sent you? Oh She takes them into a room and she had used those checks as wallpaper The whole room was wallpapered with cashiers checks Is is your life like that? Filled with uncashed checks Where god is it? No, I told you I'll provide for you. No, I know you won't you do don't I told you I'd be gone No, you first a lot of believers have yet to understand That we have life in christ but There's nothing you go through And nothing that is so deep That god isn't with you And that god isn't deeper still Nothing you are never alone He doesn't forsake you. He doesn't abandon you He walks beside you. He carries you through because he loves you And all the enemy has to do is whisper in your ear. He doesn't care about you just once How's he do that a lot of times through friends A lot of times the people you hang around with Sometimes many times really through a professor in school Or some unbelieving neighbor Or a relative And they'll just stop you and your god you know how come and before you know it You're just filled with all these doubts and if god was so good how come and before you know it because you don't feel it You have any answers You stop believing you stop trusting Or you start thinking yeah, he blesses other people. It's just me. He won't bless But the bible doesn't teach that The bible teaches that my god shall provide all my need according to his riches in christ jesus that god is with me And though all may forsake me yet he never will and he provides for me And he loves me And that's what you need to understand And when jesus rather john is speaking here in verse 36 when he says he who believes in the sun has everlasting life That is something you presently have But it says he who does not believe the sun shall not see life But what do you have if you don't believe in jesus the wrath of god Abides on you The wrath of god continually abides on those who reject him Psalm 7 verse 11 God is a just judge God is angry with the wicked every day And robins 2 4 through 6 paul said Do you despise the riches of his goodness? Forbearance and long suffering Not knowing that the goodness of god leads you to repentance But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart You are treasuring up for yourself wrath and the day of wrath and revelation Of the righteous judgment of god Who will render to each one According to his deeds So it's very clear if you believe in the sun you have everlasting life If you don't The wrath of god abides on you The wrath of god abides on you As for myself I believe I gave my heart to christ He washed me of my sins. He gave me a new life Before his wrath was on me Now his smile is on me It's up to you