Hope Fellowship Church
========== That You May Believe Part 5: Loving Christ More Than... The Gospel of John is a powerful introduction to the character and nature of God through the Incarnate Christ. Fullness of life is only experienced through an understanding of God and the path to that understanding is Jesus. The Apostle John introduces us to Jesus not from just an academic approach but a very relational viewpoint. A true insider look at the Savior and rescuer of humankind. ==========
• The most extreme competitive events of our existence happen in our heads and hearts.
• Complete joy in our life is an outcome of an understanding of the supremacy of Christ.
• It is the bridegroom (Christ) who purifies the bride (the church) and not our human will power.
John 3:22-24 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).
John 3:25-26 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."
John 3:27 John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
God is sovereign so all of life is a gift, all gifts are of grace.
John 3:28-30 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease."
John 10:3-4 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
You don’t pray for humility; humility is a result of: An understanding of your humanity An understanding of the greatness of God
John 3:31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
John 3:32-36 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Next Steps: •Prioritizing our life begins with the heart and not a list, so start with your heart. • Surrender fully to God’s plan – not by human effort but through an understanding of His greatness. • In clear view of John 3:22-36, how could I not love Christ more than…?