Chapter 3 verse 30 in the book of John says “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John the Baptist told this to the disciples that were following him. They were upset that some of John’s followers had turned to Jesus to be baptized and follow Him.
So what does it mean to let Jesus increase. There is a verse in the bible that states “you’ll know them by their fruit”. This speaks of good and bad, it is a warning to believers so we can discern the spirit. It tells us that a good tree can not bring forth bad fruit and a bad tree can not bring forth good fruit. So in order to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves that seek after carnal desires, the lust of our flesh, we must bear His fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Notice the word fruit is not plural. So to become more like Jesus we must walk this life with all those characteristics. Walking in the fruit of the Spirit is not always an easy thing to do. It is for this reason we need to ask that the Lord fill us with His Holy Spirit everyday. It’s the only way we are able to walk as Jesus walked. Without His help, it’s just not possible. Life is hard and can be cruel but if we have Jesus, if we have His spirit living inside us and we let Him guide our lives, nothing is impossible.
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 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 is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 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. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 3:25-36 NKJV
Walking in the Spirit
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 5:16-25 NKJV
