It Has To Be

In the gospel of John, we find the small story of a unique man, unlike any man before His time. We find his story, though small and humble, very true, and filled with powerful truths for coming closer to Christ. This man had a ministry, it was to simply point to the very soon coming King of Glory. The man I am speaking of, is none other than John the Baptist. But now, I do not desire to speak upon the beginning of his ministry, nor the fruit of his ministry. I just want to show you a small fraction of his last testimony recorded. Just looking at one verse, that in my eyes sums up the whole last testimony found in John 3. That verse being, John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Understanding that the great man of God is speaking of his natural death, and therefore the end that was to be soon approaching his ministry, we see that these words are more than just words of another testimony. He knew this was most likely his last. He had seen Christ now. He knew his ministry had been fulfilled. He had preached “one is coming!!” until the one had finally come. So he humbly steps down from the ministry of preaching the coming of Christ, and the last testimony we read from him is “it has to be, that He is to go on growing, and I, to go on decreasing. Even till death”

Beloved, this has become a prayer of mine over the past 2 and a half years of walking with Christ. I pray “Lord… you must increase! And I must decrease, to total death of flesh. I cannot point any soul to you, unless I die to this world, and let you minister through me. Lord!! It simply has to be! I have got to kill my flesh, that you may live more freely through my body, and be seen more clearly to this dying world! It has to be!”

I understand that John was here speaking of a natural death, but I have always felt the need, to let this be my prayer for my fleshly mans death. For I, as John, desire more than anything in this world, to point people to Christ, and say, “repent!! For Christ is soon coming again!!!”

I hope this is your prayer also, beloved. For this is our calling as born again believers. We are called to say, “Lord, I step out of the way, that you may totally step in. I kill all my fleshly wants, that you may be seen through me. For I must decrease, that you may increase! Although it is not easy to keep this flesh killed daily, it has to be, so that you may be seen through me.”