"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. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase and I must decrease." John 3:29
John the Baptist was an influential man. Though he didn't dress, eat or act like 'normal' people, he was nonetheless respected and followed. The man had disciples and an incredible ministry. There John was, baptizing people who had heard his charismatic yet intense message and wanted to be changed, cleansed, prepared. People were traveling from all parts of Israel, even from surrounding nations to hear this prophet speak. His 'voice crying out in the wilderness' was convicting many people and he was seeing much success. Enter Jesus.
John can hardly contain himself. Excitedly he cries out to his followers: "Yeah! This is the guy I've been telling you about! You think I'm great?? I'm not even worthy to untie his shoelaces! He's the Lamb of God; he's come to take away all your sins! Follow him!"
Most of John's disciples took his advice and left his side to pursue the new guy. Some of the ones who stayed behind got together with some of their Jewish brothers, approached John and started tattle-telling on Jesus. "Hey, you know that guy, the one you were telling us about, yeah, well he's like taken over your job baptizing and everyone's following him now!"
I wish I had the same heart as John in this moment. Unlike me, this man was truly humble and not only knew his rightful place in the kingdom-- he rejoiced in it. He was just happy to hear his friend's voice. He knew that his specific ministry had been given to him by God and that it had been fulfilled. He let it go. I am more like those 'loyal' disciples that complained and whined.
Two days ago one of the American high school students who is here on outreach openly confessed for the first time years of sexual and emotional abuse she had endured under the roof of her mom's house. Stepfather, boyfriends, men parading in and out of her mom's broken life had all taken advantage of this precious girl. As deep, gut- wrenching sobs shook her whole body, the release of years and years of anger, fear and aloneness, I smiled in my heart and said, "Thank you, Lord, I can finally be used in the way I like best. " As I looked at the somewhat shocked and forlorn faces of the other 4 teens gathered around her, I rejoiced that all my years of training to minister to the broken could finally be put to use in this place. God had used me many times in the past to minister healing to the broken places of the heart. I was ready to share biblical words that would help restore. I was poised and ready to lay hands on her and speak mighty deliverance. What I was not ready for was the Holy Spirit to say, "Go get her some toilet paper to blow her nose and let the students minister to her."
What?????
After months of being in the hidden place with God, struggling to learn a new language, adapting to a new culture and not being able to use the gifts that God had let me use in the past, I was aching to minister in my own language, in a territory that is totally comfortable for me. My soul was clammering for the spotlight. But the Spirit would not let it be. I sat by in silence, handed her the toilet paper and watched these doe-eyed high schoolers get down and dirty with the love of Christ. They all hugged her, affirmed her and prayed mighty, encouraging prayers. I sat by silently and watched God build unity in the way that only He knows how to do. And though I was joyful that God had opened the door and had begun the healing process, part of me was like John's disciples saying, "Um, they don't know what they are doing. They aren't gonna do it right and she's not gonna get the complete oil change that she needs." I kept waiting for an opening when I could saunter in with my expert background in how to properly minister to those falling apart and there never was one. Praise God.
When God called John to prepare the way, he gave him quite a ministry. But when it was time for Jesus to take over, he sauntered into John's territory and-- took over. And that's what Jesus did with me. My job is to be in the place where God has called me. My job is to talk about Jesus and then just be there, standing by, hearing His voice as He saunters into my space and takes over.
Someone once told me that God was preparing me for a forerunner ministry. It sounds so exciting, you know, foraging ahead, fighting battles, proclaiming the name of the Lord, preparing the way for Jesus' return to earth. What I didn't take much time to consider was that a forerunner is just a nameless, faceless messenger who is sent in advance to prepare the way... yes through prayer and worship and battle and proclamation... but also one who must step aside once the King arrives. I am no one. A voice crying out in the wilderness. A forerunner's job is to know when to decrease and to truly rejoice when Jesus increases; when my tantalizing message about the profoundness of Christ becomes a living revelation to all those who've heard.
"...Yes, He is altogether lovely. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."
"Where has your lover gone, most beautiful of women? Which way has your lover turned, that we make look for him?" (Song of Solomon 5:16-6:1)
The goal is to sing his praises and then watch as others turn to follow after Him. The goal is for them to stop listening to you and start being intimate with Him.
Prepare the way.
Decrease that He may increase.
