Introduction:
Today, we begin a new series called “Less is Greater than More with God.” And the idea for this series came out of the last one. In week four (4), if you remember, I used John the Baptist as an example of needing to let go of how we think things ought to be and let God take control of the situation. And the scene we looked at took place at the Jordan; Jesus came to be baptized by John the Baptist, but he told Jesus, “no, I am not doing it” instead, I need to be baptized by you. And Jesus quickly sets John the Baptist straight, and John the Baptist performs the baptism of Jesus.
And I mentioned that despite John’s shortcoming in that story, Jesus said about John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11 that there has been none greater born of woman than John the Baptist.
And that statement stuck with me so much so that I decided to study John the Baptist. And the thing that I got out of his life is less is greater than more with God. And I know that is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, but it is John the Baptist’s life theme.
The world will continuously shout out to us that is crazy; more is always greater than less. You need more house. You need more debt. You need more things. You need more money. That’s the world economy. Big businesses that make billions each year strive to make billions more the next year. But that is not God’s economy. In God’s economy and God’s theology, less is greater than more. Didn’t Jesus say: the last shall be first and the first last. Less is more! Jesus talks about when we are weak; we are strong. Less is more! Jesus says that those who are humbled will be elevated, and those who are elevated will be made low. Less is greater than more with God!
That’s the driving theme of John the Baptist life, and I want to spend the next five weeks looking at that theme play out in the life of John the Baptist.
So, turn with me in your Bible as we look at our first passage of Scripture found in Luke 1:12-17.
Scripture:
Luke 1:12-17 (NIV)
12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
13 But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Point # 1
God does His plan in His timing and in His way. I need to learn to follow His leadership and not fight it. The outcome will be God having more control of my life and me having less. Remember, less is more with God.
God had a wonderful plan for the life of John of the Baptist. Seven hundred years before John the Baptist’s birth, the prophet Isaiah announced the plan that God had for John the Baptist’s life.
Isaiah 40:3 (NIV)
3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
And this plan was confirmed in the Book of Matthew as the plan that God had for the life of John the Baptist.
Matthew 3:1-3 (NIV)
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
You may say I see the plan that God had for John the Baptist, but he was someone special. You just told us that no one born of a woman is greater than John the Baptist. But let me tell you the rest of that verse. It goes on to say, yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Jesus is saying that although he was a great man, he is nobody special. John the Baptist was just like you and me. We have the same potential for greatness that John the Baptist had.
So what was great about John the Baptist? It is that he chose to follow the plan that God had for his life. He didn’t have to, but he decided to follow God’s plan.
That brings us to you and me! God has a plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
And just like John the Baptist, God has a plan for your life, and He has a plan for my life. We have a choice to follow the plan that God has for our life. If I chose the plan that God has for me, God has more control over my life than I do. If I decided to reject God’s plan for my life, I take more control over my life and give God less control. John the Baptist decided to give God control, and we should give God control because, in His economy, less is more. The blessings in life come when God is in control, and I am not.
Point #2
Every prayer ought to be a reminder that less is more with God. I pray because I cannot do anything about my situation, but God can.
Think about that statement for a minute. If we think we can do something about our situation, do we pray? Usually not, we just handle our situation. But if I not up to handling the situation, then I pray. So, pray ought to remind me that less is more. I am praying because I don’t have the solution, but God does. I am in a lesser position, and I recognize that God is in a greater position to handle the situation. Less is greater than more with God.
In Luke Chapter 1, we are told about two good Jewish people, Elizabeth and Zechariah.
Luke 1:6-7 (NIV)
6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.
7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.
It said that they observed the Lord’s commandments blamelessly. You would think everything would be perfect in their life living for God, but it wasn’t. Just because you are living for God does not mean everything in your life is going to be perfect. Elizabeth and Zechariah could not have children for two reasons. First, Elizabeth was barren, and secondly, they were both well along in age; in other words, they both were past the childbearing age.
What could they do about their situation? Nothing. Could they go to a doctor to get help in this situation? No. Could Elizabeth start eating a little better, and maybe Zechariah start jogging a little bit, and that would help? No.
They find themselves in a situation where there is not much they can do, but there is a whole lot God can do. And so, what do they do? We are told in Verse 13 your prayer has been heard. For your prayer to be heard, you had to voice your prayer.
What is real praying about: less of me; more of God. Once again, reminding us less is more with God.
Point # 3
The way to greatest with the Lord is less of the world in you.
15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.
The angel Gabriel did not tell Zechariah now I want you to build his character; make him a man of integrity and honesty. Get him to study the prophets of old day and night. Instead, the Angel Gabriel tells Zechariah to keep the world out of him. Less of the world; more of God.
Isn’t that we are called to in Romans? Do not be conformed to this world…
Here is the point you can not be great in the sight of God and at the same time, have too much of this world in your life.
1 John 2:15 (NIV)
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Do you know why the church is not great and powerful today? It has got too much of the world in it. And you know why you don’t see many Christians today that are great in the sight of God? They have too much of the world in them.
When was the last time you prayed, take this out of my life or take that out of my life. Our prayers are usually giving me more.
Point # 4
When there is less of you and more of God, you can impact the kingdom of God in a mighty way.
16 Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
It would be a shame if people don’t become Christians because they know that you are one, and they don’t see much difference between you and them.
John the Baptist was different. There was less of him and more of God in his life. And that attracted the people to the wilderness to hear what he had to say. And he was able to bring the people back to God.
