I want you to once again turn to the gospel of John tonight being John 3, the last part, John chapter number 3. We began on Monday evening. We referred to John chapter number 1, the very foundational thought in the gospel of John. You understand this. We know this. We are searching for the meaning. We are looking for the purpose of this particular scripture. This is not simply a textbook that John wrote down and gave to a religious group of people But this was given by God, under the breath of God, through the inspiration of God. This is God's holy word. So we begin and leave the foundation. In John chapter number one, we were reminded, though God created the heavens and the earth, Though God in his human flesh still was God, not ceasing to be all man, but God is a man named John, who was sent by God. John chapter number two. Last evening we referred to the miracle of God. Isn't it a wonderful thing that we serve a miracle working God? We serve a God of supernatural power. There is nothing that our God cannot do. Now we are asking God to stop the rain. We are asking God to take the floodwaters down because I do not want to spend the night with your pastor. And I thank God for that. So God, we're asking for a miracle. So tonight I want to continue in this wonderful gospel in John chapter number three. Now we are in the habit of Bible students. to begin a particular chapter, but not to finish that particular chapter, if I am understanding the Bible correctly. Every word in the Bible is there for a reason. Every line, every thought, every title, every phrase, every paragraph, every chapter. It is all what God has shared with the Lord. Many, many times we have studied at the beginning of John chapter number three, at the beginning of John chapter number three, He is referring to a sinner. He is referring to a man named Nicodemus who was religious, but he was lost without God. Isn't it a wonderful thing to know that God has given us access to everything that we need? by the grace of God. We understand this, we know this, as we are laid in this foundation. John was written in John chapter number 20 and verse number 31, these things are written that ye may know that Jesus is of the Christ. And Nehemiah didn't need religion. Can I say it this way tonight? You don't need religion without Christ. You don't need formalities without Christ. The only way of salvation is through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. So that's why Jesus said to this religious leader, for God has so loved the world that he gave his only Son to be his only begotten Son. Now stop right there just for a moment. If you've got a Bible that has taken out the word begotten, You want to shut your Bible and look off your neighbor? He's not the only son of God. God has many sons, but he only has one becoming son, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born out of the virgin womb. It was God's soul of the world that he gave his only begotten son. I love this part. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but live everlasting life. Nicodemus learned about the Alpha. He learned about the Omega. He received a lesson of the spiritual ABCs. I got to write about that picture. Every subject in school uses letters. It don't matter if it's PE. It don't matter if it's music. It don't matter if it's math. I'm going to tell you, Jesus is not somebody. Jesus is all things. We try to do it through religion. We try to do it through good words, but Jesus is more than that. So Jesus reminded this religious leader, there is only one way to God and it is through the only begotten son of God. But I'm interested in John chapter number three and verse number 22. Watch this now, he had been speaking to one that was lost, but now he is speaking to the living. He has referred to those that were religious, but now he is writing to those that are redeemed. After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea, and there he carried with him and baptized. And John also was baptized in Edom, in Selim, because there, I loved it, there was not water there. And they came and were baptized. And somebody said, well, if we just sprinkle a little water, everything's going to be all right. So I was at a Presbyterian church the other day at a funeral. Number one, they had a pulpit in the corner. That's their own position. But number two, they had a little water pot. right in the middle of the platform of that huge auditorium. They used it because that was their salvation. I say it this way, if you're depending on the water and not the blood, you're lost without God. You're all going to hell without Jesus. It's all because of God. So after salvation, They didn't go to a water drop. They went to where there was much water. Because baptism is a picture. It is a sign. It is a representation of the death and the burial and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. How glad Jesus didn't shed one drop of blood. He shed every drop of His blood for the sin of mankind. And for three days he was burying in a tomb. But thank God three days later, as he come up out of the water, he come up out of the tomb. And he is alive forevermore. And I understand. They went to there and there was much water. But my church, number 24, John was not yet cast in the prison. Can I say introduction quickly? Number one, that is John's future. Now, John the Baptist, he is baptized. I mean, he has a ministry. I mean, God is blessing him. I mean, he is coming out of the wilderness. People are getting saved. People are getting baptized. They're coming revival. God is moving inside of the ministry of John the Baptist. But all of a sudden, John the beloved, than he had a future. His future was not fame or fortune. His future on this earth was not such a large name that everyone would praise and everyone would give glory, but his future was a prisoner. His future, that his head would be cut off. I am here to tell every believer. I am here to tell every child of God. I know what religion is saying. I know what Christians are trying to do. It's about Dr. So-and-so. It's about the seminaries. It's about the Bible colleges. But for those that are truly servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, this is not our home. That's John's future. But what's John's followers in the exposition of verse 25? Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying him. And they came unto John, and they said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou darest witness, behold, the same man shall enter into all men. come to him, they did not understand. We're worried about this church being bigger than that man can receive nothing except that be given him There's a lot of preachers, there's a lot of black college professors. They can take lessons from God the Baptist, and it's not about your outline, sir. It's not about your singing, sir. It's all about the Lord Jesus Christ. Somebody said, I wonder what God has done to me. I'll tell you what he's done. He has gave you air to breathe. He has given you a mouth to speak. He has given you eyes to see. It's all because of the Lord Jesus Christ. So that's the Bible, verse 28, God's faithfulness. He yourself's bearing witness that I sin. I love this. I'm not the Christ. I'm shit before him. I am a voice. Try it in the wilderness. I am just blazing the trail. I am just telling you who is about to come. And can I say every child caught in this building tonight, every preacher, every singer, we are nothing. We are nobody. It's all because of here. Over there is one coming. God sends the alpha, but it's also the omega. He came as an ape in a manger, but he's coming as a sea in the sky. Jesus is the only way of salvation. John 6, look at John 3, verse 29. Neither hath the bride, but the strand of the bridegroom which standeth and heareth Rejoice greatly because of what, John, of the bridegroom's voice, this my joy, therefore is sustained. John said, I'll tell you why I'm willing to put my head in charge. I'll tell you why I'm willing to go to prison or lie in a dungeon. I'll tell you why I'm willing to give my life for the Lord Jesus Christ. I just want to hear his voice. I just want to hear him one more time. I think John's mother said something about John the Baptist as he was in the womb of his mother. Can you imagine baby John and his mother's share? It's about the friend So number five, here's the message. I'm interested in John's focus. First of all, he must. He must. One period of writing from this would be OK. It is an unusual necessity. That's right. He must! He must. Simple means this. He must become solid. Solid. They can't see me. Yeah! must decrease. One said he must become big and I must become little. Haven't we gotten that backwards in religion? It's about the pop culture. It's about the popular ministry. It's about those that have the largest crowd. John said, I don't mean bad because I know the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. John said, I know I'm on my way to prison. I know I'm going to suffer for this, but my focus is this, that every man can live for God whether it's in a prisoner, whether it's my head being cut off, he must increase. It's an unusual necessity. But I must be increased. I love my daughter. I love my Emily. But as a father, he must increase. I need my daughter. So Christian parents aren't serving God. Because the children that God gave them are bigger than their God. I love my wife. She's amazing. She has the gift of God, like our sister in the same room. I thank God for my Raymo. If I wouldn't have a wife, if it wasn't for my friend, I would have a family if it wasn't for my friend. As much as I love my neighbor, she must be crazy. But I must allow God in my marriage and in my home to become so big. It's not about my desires. It's not about my wants for my child or my daughter. I'm here to tell you it's all because of Jesus. Focus. You know, every question in the Bible has an answer. Somebody said, well, I would read the Bible if it wasn't so difficult. Can I say, if you ever get the Holy Ghost of God, you have to be prepared for living on the inside. You don't need to change the words to make it sound right. You don't need to change it to mess it up. It's God's perfect life. Every question has an answer. John, I got a question. Why is it that I should become so liberal that I'm not even seen as a father? Why is it I should become so small that I'm not even seen as a husband? Here, boy. Why is it I should become so little as a preacher? They don't even know my name. They don't even recognize my face. Why is it as a child of God, as a member of a good Bible, even church, you ask him, Christ. Amen. John, why should I do this? We're not talking about John now, we're talking about Jesus. He that cometh from above, He's a God, He's above all, and He that is of the earth is earthly. That's me and speakers of the earth. But He that cometh from heaven is God. Oh, I tell you what, I'll fall down on my face and thank God every day that I'm still alive. I tell you what, I'll fall on my face and praise God every day that I'm not on my way to hell. He's greater. He's mightier. He's bigger. My life, I don't see. You must see the proof. But I must be grieved. I didn't learn this in Bible college. As a matter of fact, I learned the exact opposite. That's not in the Bible. That's right. You know what John said? I've already learned that I should become little. Yeah. As a matter of fact, John put it this way, I should become so small and he has become so big that they don't even know I exist. He must. That most important thing. Why? because he's superior. Yes, amen. Where did you get your breath, sir? Where did you get your ability, ma'am? Where did you get your talent, father God? Where did you get the time to come and do anything? It's all because of him. That's right, amen. Hey! I must decrease, but I must decrease, number two. John 1, I must decrease because he's superior, number two, because of his seal. Watch verse number 32. The Bible said, and what do you see and heard? Testify, I love that word, literally means bear as a witness to, and no man receiveth his testimony, and he that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. That one little English word simply means he is certified. There is nobody like him. He is shot to his skin. If you know anything about social media, praise God. I don't. I look at motorcycles and Harleys and hot pots. That's all I know about it. But I do know this, if you're on Twitter, and if you have a little blue checkmark in your hand, that means it's the official account of those that occupy that Twitter account. If President Trump has a Twitter account, I really don't know if he does or not. I think he does if we get in trouble. But he has a little blue checkmark that means that's his Twitter account. If movie stars in Hollywood and all of those that are famous If they have a little blue checkmark, that means that is their official account. Can I say, you know, John, just be it. Let me put a checkmark by the name. That's what the name is. There's nobody else like you. There's no other preacher. There's no other righteous leader. It's all because of him. Why should I be Christie certified? It's only him. I can change over. Superiority, why should I decrease its seal watch verse 34 his spirit? God has shit speak of the words of God evident evidence not give up the spirit I measure under him When God gives us the Spirit by measure, it simply means He gives the Spirit without measure. It refers to the saving of the Holy Spirit of God. Here's why I should bow down to God. Here's why I should become so little and so small and He should become so big and so large in my life. He sent the Holy Spirit at his place inside of my body. The Holy Ghost is not sitting in a pew. He is living in you. The Holy Spirit is not coming in this place. If you do not come in this place, somebody said, Oh God, send the Holy Ghost to God. Well, that prayer has already been answered. He came on that bread with all power of the church. If you are saved, if you are washed in the blood, You have the Holy Spirit of God. We don't have to beg to come. He is living inside of her body, which is now a temple of the Holy Ghost of God. Watch this now. We have the Spirit of God, but here's why we have to bow down. He is the Spirit of God. He is the Holy Spirit of God. It's God incarnate. It's the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the Spirit that's living inside of you. Amen. It's evil. It's superiority. It's spirit. Why must I be Christian? Verse 35. It's supply. Watch the Bible. The following. So what has He done? In all things, where? Into His hand. Well, let's set it this way. It's already there. It's already with you. We have the Lord Jesus Christ. I'll tell you why we ought to bow down over here. I'll tell you why we ought to become, because we think it's a career. We think it's a job. The American dream has lied to us and fooled us. If we get a good enough education, if we work hard enough, we'll be happy. We'll be healthy. We'll have plenty. That's what the Bible said. The Bible said, yes, we ought to work. Yes, we ought to labor, but not for money. But why should I be cursed? Because now maybe I have the ability work Yeah, what if tomorrow I? Get news right, but I'm no longer can do that God I mean you Know in America You want to work hard enough? You can get a job right right? I Don't see America in the Bible in But the Lord doesn't come back soon. What if we're going to have to fall on our face? Say, God, there's no money left. God, I was dependent upon this job. I was dependent upon this for my family. I tell you, Lord, we ought to bow down to him tonight. We ought to let him go. He's already big enough. He's already big enough. We ought to trust in him. We need to not trust in the world. He must increase. Amen. Why should I become small? Because he's superior. He's still, he's certified. His spirit, he is the spirit. His supply, the refinement of the body. His salvation. Verse 36, he, that will be. Our Lord God, the Son, hath everlasting life. He that believeth not, the Son shall not see him. But the wrath of God, abide on Him. To abide in that situation literally means to remain. Somebody said, don't judge me. Don't have to. You're already judged. Somebody said, you can't tell me I'm going to hell if I don't trust in Jesus. I don't have to. Trusting anything He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. He is the only word of God. They're not going to have their money given. They're not going to be flying a jet plane. They're going to be bowed down to the king of kings and the lord of all kings. That's why I must get big. That's why I must get strong. We'd have it all if we quit looking. We've got so little and we got so small And God becomes so big that we no longer can be saved Husbands I'm guilty. I loved my baby. I might as well have lived my life. I put my unbelief before God. How sick of me. I wouldn't have had that belief if it wasn't for my God. Five years. Went to Bible college for four years, got over it, praise God, that took about four months. Somebody save him right there. We tried to have a baby. We couldn't have one. So we got to talking to God. The month I graduated from Bible college, the preacher said, There's a baby. There's a baby. We've been trying for five years. She said, I don't know. Next thing I know, it'll happen to me. That was 20 years ago. God didn't give us any more. How could I ever put that one baby that God gave us before Him? I wonder who it is that would put their children's activities on the agenda. My father. My daddy. Son, you're the best father I've ever had. Wonderful. I'll help you. I'll encourage you. Whatever you need, I'm going to do it. You should never play on Wednesday night. They've been trying to say they'd have a game on Sunday, which they didn't, man. I ain't trying to do nothing! I'm glad it's Sunday. I'm not reviling that. Hold up. Well, the doors are open. Come on. You don't know the ball field. I want to say something about technical. My father was a drunk. I'll say it by the grace of God. He knew he wouldn't have a little baby boy. He knew he wouldn't have a family. He would look to the grace of God to keep Austin free. Hey, you're preaching now. I love you. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you more than anything. I love you I just want you to remember, when I was four years old, my father preached the revival in the Bible of that day. I'm sure there's a lot of sweet voices in here. You see this little five-year-old girl right up over there? She kept running. She still does. She kept running. First time I met her, she kept running up the hill. I was just a little four-year-old, shy boy. I'm thinking, who in the world? I don't think she ever got quiet. Even the sergeant. All of a sudden, we're in the same school. I'm a year behind her. She's my friend. We have the same group of friends. We have the same group of friends. By the time I was a junior, I'd known her since I was four. But something happened. She's always beautiful. And I always got distracted in class. I really got distracted. And I looked up at that girl. I know it. You don't have a plan. Yeah. Hey! Next thing I know, I hate the phone. I hated it then. I hate it even worse tonight. Every night of my life, I was calling her. She was calling me. And next thing you know, we got an over $300 phone bill in one month. My dad wanted to rip my head off and take everything I ever owned. He said, walk in the wall. Then I told him, that's what I did for Rachel. Here's what he said. Oh, that's OK. You know the girl I talked to before, somebody say amen. Amen. God have mercy. On our wedding day. Yes. You came to me in your blessing. God the Father's mercy. Amen. On our wedding day. I did the formal thing that everybody wanted me to do. I ate that cedar that looked like a string of pink blue balls of cotton. I said everything I was supposed to say. I didn't agree with people. You know what I've got. It's all done. I was changing my clothes as fast as I could to get my t-shirt and jeans on. I'm in the restroom because my boss saw me paying something. Well, you know, not like you. I was told that as best we can tell. But I do remember that night. You remember when we met the Edmunds family yesterday? He said, as far as I remember, she was my wife. And he told me, afterwards, how could I ever put my wife before the God of my life? There ain't one, huh? to describe. Answer them. That's important. I wonder who it is. You're put before the beginning and the end of your life. Why? Because he said, I don't know. You didn't begin to live till you met him. He's still naked. If you don't have him at the end, you're in trouble. So who are you looking for, John? You say, I'm here on a rainy night. That's because they can't see the ballgame. Somebody say that. Right. Right. That's another one opportunity. We got time. Here's a question. Who is it in my life? Him. Maybe it's this. What is it? In my life. And I'm allowing it to be bigger. My brother from Virginia is here and I'm glad he came. He's in Charleston now and he's doing a good man's job. He's been probably many years a good man.