Promotional Decrease, by Senior Pastor Fred Garcia
Pastor Fred reminds us that the season of advent often focuses on “preparing the way of the Lord”. Preparing hearts to celebrate Jesus birth is truly a celebration of our new birth. For those who may not know the exact date of your “born again experience, I suggest you celebrate it specifically on this day, Christmas.
Preparing the way of the Lord was John’s job. John 3:28-30 28 “You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of 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. So this joy of mine has been made full. 30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Understanding Decrease: Often, we are received by people through their own set of beliefs about themselves…He/she is perfect, I am flawed…He/she is everything, I am nothing/nobody…He/she is worthy, I am not good enough…He/she is a success, I am a failure. Even John appears to struggle with some of this in Luke 7:19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” John is wondering, did I miss it, did I fail here? I don’t believe we’re to interpret this passage through our doubts and failures…
Decrease – to make less (in rank or influence); To make less, used trans. in regard to dignity.
Dignity – a: high rank, office, or position b: a legal title of nobility or honor
If we are both sgts, and you become a general, who is now the greater rank? Who is now the lesser rank? I am still a sgt with all the rights and privileges of a sgt. Therefore, #1 this is speaking of the position Jesus is to have in every aspect of our lives. Lord of lords & King of kings.
#2 Your position doesn’t need to change in order to decrease in rank. It is not about becoming less than you are, it’s about knowing the fullness of who you are and all that you are created to do and to be, through the recognition of Jesus’ Lordship. When we FULLY recognize Jesus’ Lordship in every area of our lives it immediately means we become lesser in rank because He is greater, and also because prior to this revelation, we don’t see ourselves clearly. We either think much more of ourselves, as being much higher in rank than we truly are…
Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Or, we think much less of ourselves…Being flawed -2 Cor 5:21 [you are] the righteousness of God in {Christ Jesus]…being nothing/nobody -Ro 8 you are sons/daughters of Most High God…being not good enough – Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…being failures – Ro 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Pastor Fred continues on, drawing from King David’s life in 1 Samual 21, talking about what it means to pursue promotion. Davids promotion occurred as he invested in, poured into, as he promoted others. He got under their mission in life and pushed up!
When we decrease, but promoting others and getting under all that they are called to do and to be in life, whether above or below us, Christ is lifted up…then we are in the perfect position for promotion!
