AUGUEST THEME – “Seeing Revival From God’s Perspective”
Join us in prayer and celebration as Belmont Baptist Church celebrates our Year of Jubilee, marking fifty years of God’s amazing faithfulness and looking forward with grateful hearts to all He has yet to do.
BEATS FROM YOUR PASTOR’S HEART
WHEN CHRIST INCREASES, SELF DECREASES
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30
One of the greatest battles in the Christian life is not against Satan, difficult circumstances, or difficult people. It is the battle against self. We naturally think about ourselves, defend ourselves, promote ourselves, and even pity ourselves. The words “I,” “me,” and “my” flow naturally from every fallen heart. Yet the Christian life is not about making a better version of ourselves—it is about surrendering ourselves so Christ can live His life through us. Every conflict ultimately reveals who is sitting on the throne of our hearts. The Christian life begins where self ends and Christ is given His rightful place. John the Baptist understood this truth. Though thousands admired him, he gladly stepped aside when Jesus came. He did not compete with Christ for attention. Instead, he joyfully declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” That is God’s desire for every believer. The more Christ fills our hearts, the less room there is for self. Self shrinks only as Christ grows. Victory over pride, selfishness, and self-centeredness is not found by trying harder to suppress self, but by beholding Jesus more clearly. A heart captivated by Christ naturally loses its fascination with itself. The closer you walk with Christ, the less concerned you become about protecting your own reputation. When Jesus becomes your greatest treasure, losing yourself no longer feels like a loss—it becomes your greatest gain.
THE MORE YOU LOOK AT CHRIST, THE LESS YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF
We often become discouraged because we constantly examine ourselves. We analyze our failures, replay our mistakes, compare ourselves with others, and become consumed with our own weaknesses. But God never intended us to spend our lives staring into the mirror of self. He calls us to fix our eyes upon Jesus. Self-examination without Christ always produces discouragement, but Christ-exaltation always produces hope. The answer to your failures is not a better view of yourself but a greater view of your Savior. The more you study His holiness, the more you appreciate His grace. The more you see His humility, the more you recognize your pride. The more you marvel at His love, the more your own selfishness begins to fade. Christ becomes so glorious that self begins to lose its importance. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” The things that once consumed your thoughts begin to disappear in the brightness of His glory. You cannot sincerely behold the beauty of Christ without being transformed into His likeness.
A HEART FULL OF CHRIST HAS LESS ROOM FOR SELF
Our hearts cannot remain empty. If Christ is not filling our thoughts, something else will. Pride, jealousy, criticism, bitterness, fear, and self-pity all rush into hearts where Christ is no longer the center. The human heart is always occupied by something; if Christ is not enthroned, self inevitably will be. Whatever captures your attention will eventually shape your character. But when Christ becomes our greatest treasure, these enemies begin to lose their grip. We stop asking, “How am I being treated?” and begin asking, “How can Christ be glorified?” We stop demanding recognition and begin seeking opportunities to serve. The Holy Spirit continually turns our attention away from ourselves and toward Jesus. A servant never has to fight for first place because he has already chosen the lowest place. The more we delight in Christ’s approval, the less we crave the applause of people.
THE GREATEST LIFE IS THE LIFE CHRIST LIVES THROUGH YOU
God never intended Christianity to be merely self-improvement. He intends it to be Christ expressing His life through surrendered believers. Paul declared, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” (Galatians 2:20) God did not send His Son merely to improve your old life; He came to replace it with His own. The Christian life is not difficult to live—it is impossible apart from Christ living through us. The happiest Christians are not those who have everything they want. They are those who have learned that Christ Himself is enough. As Christ increases, peace increases. Joy increases. Love increases. Humility increases. The life that once revolved around “me” begins revolving around Him. Contentment is never found by acquiring more of the world but by discovering more of Christ. The soul that has found Jesus as its treasure no longer depends upon circumstances for its satisfaction.
Imagine standing before a magnificent mountain at sunrise. As the sun slowly rises above the peaks, darkness quietly disappears. The sun never argues with the darkness. It simply shines, and the darkness gives way. Darkness has no power to resist the sunrise. One ray of God’s truth can accomplish what years of self-effort never could. The same is true spiritually. We often spend tremendous effort trying to eliminate pride, selfishness, anger, or discouragement. While those battles are real, lasting victory comes as the light of Christ fills our hearts. The brighter His presence becomes, the more the darkness of self retreats. Our focus is not on fighting darkness—it is on walking in the Light. The secret of victory is not becoming preoccupied with your sins but becoming preoccupied with your Savior. Wherever Christ’s light is welcomed, the shadows of self cannot remain.
Every day you will choose who sits on the throne of your heart. Either self will be exalted, or Christ will be exalted. Every conversation, every decision, every conflict, and every opportunity presents the same question: Who will increase today—Christ or me? The greatest freedom in life comes when we gladly step off the throne and invite Jesus to occupy His rightful place. The less of us people see, the more of Him they will discover. One day we will stand before Jesus, and nothing we did to exalt ourselves will matter. Our greatest joy will be hearing that Christ was magnified through the life He entrusted to us.
WARFARE PRAYER
Father, I confess how easily my heart turns inward. Forgive me for pride, self-promotion, self-pity, selfish ambition, and the desire to be noticed. I surrender every part of my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Fill me so completely with Your Spirit that there is less room for self and more room for Christ. Guard my mind from the attacks of the enemy who continually tempts me to make life about myself. Teach me to walk in humility, serve with joy, forgive quickly, and love deeply. Let Christ increase in my thoughts, my words, my attitudes, and my actions today. May everyone I meet see more of Jesus and less of me. Tear down every stronghold of pride that competes with the Lordship of Christ. Let my greatest ambition be that Jesus alone receives the glory from my life. In His mighty name I pray. Amen.
DAILY CHALLENGE
Throughout today, every time you catch yourself saying or thinking, “I,” “me,” or “my,” pause for a moment and ask yourself one question: “How can Christ be seen in this situation?” Make it your goal today that someone leaves your presence thinking more about Jesus than about you. That is what it means for Christ to increase and self to decrease. Before every conversation, silently pray, “Lord, help them see You more than they see me.” If you live with that single prayer upon your heart, Christ will continually increase, and self will quietly fade into the background.
MONDAY’S PRAYER NEEDS
Pastor Steve Craig – Bone Cancer
Rob Davis – cancer
Mary Williams – Rehab for Broken Hip
Kim McClain’s Mother