Fade

FADE, John 3:22-30

• Winter leading into spring, what a season! The leaves turn color and begin to fall giving way for new life. 
  • Our seasons point to a biblical truth. 
  • Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. John 12:24
  • We are in a constant state of death and life. 
    • What fades for a CHristian? What Leaves are falling off to make room for more life? What leaves are you holding onto? 

Main point this morning is “Look to Jesus & fade to life”

• Vs. 22-24, Context.
• Vs. 25-26 Comparison
  • Ministry comparison; can lead to envy, discouragement, bitterness, malice, ungodly jealousies; lead to question God’s sovereignty, your calling, it can cause unfaithfulness to the local church. 
  • What about when Paul says follow me as I follow Christ? 
  • We emulate others that are pointing to Jesus. But to then try and be them. 
    • Preaching voice. 
  • Solution? Vs. 26b, “Look”.  Look to Jesus & fade to life. 
    • Rejoice with them. Pray for them. Encourage them and watch the Leif fall of comparison fall giving way to new life Transition-Ministry comparison is not something I can relate to, but I think we all can relate to comparing ourselves to others. 
    • Heathy competition is good for the soul. But to look at others, at who they are and what they have and not be content with who you are and what you have, that called coveting. The big 10! 

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:17

• Solution? Look to Jesus and fade to life
  • Take your eyes off others, the cultural standard, the American dream, the perfect family with he perfect kids (be led by the spirit) and look to Jesus! 

Vs. 27, Who you are is God ordained. What you have is God ordained. What others look like is God ordained. What others have is God ordained. 

• The leaves of pride begin to fade, and the new life of humility begins to sprout.  
• What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you are so great, and as though you have accomplished something on your own? 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)
  • I have the propensity to want more. It’s not bad in and of itself. One of the great encouragements I hear from Jesus when I read scripture, pray, meditate on God, “what if you are doing exactly what I want you to do? What if your church is exactly what I want it to be.” 
  • What about desires? Does that mean we have none? No. It’s our unfounded philosophies that are not biblical that drive our desires, those are what needs to fade, and realigned with Biblical desires. 
  • “As a deer pants for water”, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness” 
    • When we look to other things, we take our eyes off Jesus.
      • Solution? Look to Jesus and fade to life

Vs. 28-29

• •The friend of the bridegroom. 
  • We rejoice over the voice of Jesus! We read scripture and rejoice as the work of the Holy Spirit rids us of our dead leaf’s and calls us to new life.
  • This applies to health issues, unmet expectations, disappointments, fears, insecurities, Why? Because Jesus has called your name. The bridegroom has come to give us new life. Therefore… 
  • So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16
  • As we Look to Jesus, the cares and concerns begin to fade and new life begins to shine through. 

Vs. 30 

• Is this not the cry of the Christian life? 
  • Gospel/ Justification / Sanctification 
  • I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
  • This is our sanctification! This is our calling. Based on what’s ALREADY (Justification) we now play an active part in our Sanctification (Not yet) 
  • Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24–25
    • Lose your life, because it’s already gone. Stop clinging to old leaves that are already dead, the old way of life and let the new life of Christ shine through you. 
      • Look to Jesus and fade to life
• Communion & Prayer