Sermon Nuggets, Weds Feb 27
Theme- Unity
Verses-27 To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.'
29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 He must become greater; I must become less.
Confronting Conceit
Another great barrier to working together for Christ is conceit. All our gifts come from God. All our opportunities come from God. All ministry and blessings are also the Lord's. Paul teaches in Corinthians that some plant, some water, and some sow, but God gives the increase.
John the Baptist told his disciples repeatedly he was merely a herald, an announcer, a forerunner and a preparer for the greater one who was to come. John knew that he was given a responsibility from God and carried it out well . He was joyful because he accomplished his purpose and pointed people to Jesus. Jesus was honored; God was served.
He was not the least bit concerned that Jesus disciples were being followed to a greater degree and his disciples were not. That was God’s plan.
Anyone who does a secondary task makes that task great because for whom he serves.
Having been involved with Billy Graham and Ralph Bell crusades in the past helped me realize the enormous amount of volunteers it takes to put on an event such as that. When 1,000s come to Christ it was not Billy Graham that had the revival. It was God using 1,000s of people praying, giving, singing, sharing. People will often relate how humble a man he really is because he knows who is to get the glory, He of course, realizes to have a crusade takes many people working lots harder than him.
A conceited person thinks he is better than others, and is filled with pride because of his abilities, his accomplishments, his looks, his possessions. A humble person recognizes that God's grace enables him or her to be and do more than what he/she might on one's own.
Jesus confronts our conceit.
Pastor Dale
