祂必兴旺，我必衰微

约翰福音John 3：22-36

22这事以后，耶稣和门徒到了犹太地，在那里居住施洗。
23约翰在靠近撒冷的哀嫩也施洗，因为那里水多。众人都去受洗。
24那时约翰还没有下在监里。
After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.
Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized.(This was before John was put in prison.)

25约翰的门徒，和一个犹太人辩论洁净的礼。
26就来见约翰说，拉比，从前同你在约但河外，你所见证的那位，现在施洗，众人都往他那里去了。
27约翰说，若不是从天上赐的，人就不能得什么。
28我曾说，我不是基督，是奉差遣在他前面的，你们自己可以给我作见证。
An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan–the one you testified about–well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’

29娶新妇的，就是新郎。新郎的朋友站着听见新郎的声音就甚喜乐。故此我这喜乐满足了。
30他必兴旺，我必衰微。
31从天上来的，是在万有之上。从地上来的，是属乎地，他所说的，也是属乎地从天上来的，是在万有之上。
32他将所见所闻的见证出来，只是没有人领受他的见证。
The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
He must become greater; I must become less.OR He will increase I will decrease
”The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.
He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.
eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

33那领受他见证的，就印上印，证明神是真的
34神所差来的，就说神的话。因为神赐圣灵给他，是没有限量的。
35父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。
36信子的人有永生。不信子的人得不着永生，神的震怒常在他身上。
The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful;For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

讲道大纲
一、施洗约翰识透门徒的心

人心比万物都诡诈，坏到极处，谁能识透呢？
—–耶利米书17：9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Jeremiah17：9

他们既然故意不认识神，神就任凭他们存邪僻的心行那些不合理的事，装满了各样不义，邪恶，贪婪，恶毒。满心是嫉妒，凶杀，争竞，诡诈，毒恨。又是谗毁的，背后说人的，怨恨神的，侮慢人的，狂傲的，自夸的，捏造恶事的，违背父母的，无知的，背约的，无亲情的，不怜悯人的。他们虽知道神判定，行这样事的人是当死的，然而他们不但自己去行，还喜欢别人去行。—-罗马书1：28-32
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless。32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

施洗约翰的门徒为什么来找老师？ Why did the disciples come to John the baptist?

v.25约翰门徒与犹太人的辩论 The argument between John’s disciples and some Jews
v.26野心、嫉妒、争竞和比较。Covetousness,Ambition, Jealous, comparison, competition.(The tenth commandment:You shall not covet your neighbor’s….Ex.2017)

施洗约翰的回应 v.27 他知道上帝的掌权 He knew the authority of God
一生的疆界，上帝已经定下来。不要吃着碗里的看着锅里的。吃自己的饭，喝自己的杯子。 God gives everyone his/her own piece of land. Do not covet your neighbor’s land.

二、施洗约翰认识自己的使命

1.约翰认识自己的身份
John the Baptist knew his Identity.
他知道自己是什么/不是什么
He Knew Who he was and who he was not.
A. 从地上来。From the earth(v31)
B. 属乎地。 Belongs to the earth

2.约翰认识自己的使命
John the Baptist knew his mission/Job.
A.他知道自己的位置
He Knew he was not the first one.
V29.给基督做见证，预备基督的道路
Prepare Jesus’ way.

3.约翰认识自己的命运
John the Baptist knew his fate.
v.30 He will increase, but I will decrease.

你愿意你自己衰微吗？
Do you want to decrease?

三、施洗约翰认识耶稣基督

1.约翰认识耶稣的身份
John the Baptist knew Jesus’ Identity.
A.他是天上来的
He is from above (One person of the Trinity God)
B.他在万有之上He is Above all.
C.他是新郎 He is Bridegroom v29

2.约翰认识基督的使命
John the Baptist knew Jesus’ mission/Job.
A.行计划 Fulfill Father’s plan v31,34 B.娶新妇 Get married（v 29） C. 审判人 Judge us (v.32,36) D. 拯救人 Save us (v.33,36) 35父爱子，已将万有交在他手里。36信子的人有永生。不信子的人得不着永生，神的震怒常在他身上。

3.约翰认识耶稣的命运 John the Baptist knew Jesus’ fate.
A.他必兴旺 He will increase (v.30)
B.他将被钉在十字架上并且复活
He will die on the Cross and arise again.
V.32他将所见所闻的见证出来，只是没有人领受他的见证。

四、施洗约翰认识主的教会

教会是基督的新妇。 The church is His Wife.
33那领受他见证的，就印上印，证明神是真的

所有服事神的都不是主角。All His followers are not “protagonist”

教会的使命是什么？
What is our church’s mission?

我们的使命是什么？
What is our own mission?