He must increase, but I must decrease

By Evangeline Unity Esaaba Folson

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth;

He that cometh from heaven is above all.

The “He” in the passage above is our Lord Jesus Christ. He must increase and we must decrease because He is from above or from heaven

The complete Jewish Bible translates John 3:30-31 as

He must become more important, while I become less important.

He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth id from the earth and talks from earthly point of view. He who comes from heaven is above all.

To increase or become important is to:

Rise in number or degree
Be famous or popular
Have status

i.e have or occupy a high office

Honourable
Respected

in other words, the Lord should be glorified or lifted high because He is great and worthy to be praised. Furthermore, the lord should be glorified because He acts or speaks of heavenly issue.

How can we make God increase while we decrease:

We must testify of His goodness

Psalm 34:8, Matthew 5:16

John 4:29

Testify of your weakness and how God saved you

Exodus 15:20-21, John 9:24-25

Numbers 12

Commit whatever you do into God’s hands

Proverbs 3:5-6

Psalm 34:5

Philippians 4:6-7

Philippians 4:13,19

We must testify of his goodness

Psalm 34:8

O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him

This verse is an invitation to all to come and taste or have a feel of the Lord’s kindness and generosity. Everyone loves to receive acts of kindness or generosity. People would just love to have a relationship with God when we testify of His goodness, therefore, let us not grow weary of telling others about how God has been good to us. He must increase and we must decrease.

Matthew 5 :16

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.

Apart from testifying of the Lord’s goodness, we can also engage in good works like giving to the poor and needy, helping the afflicted, sharing our possessions with other and finding time to encourage the depressed, wounded and burdened souls with the word of God and assuring them that no matter how bad our circumstances God can make a way or resolve the issue.

John 4:29

Come, see a man, which told me all things that I ever did; is not this the Christ? Your personal experience of how you accepted the gift of salvation can attract and encourage others to be born again like the women at the well.

Do not exaggerate or over emphasize facts when telling your story, it is the holy spirit that convicts not you. Tell your story simply, be brief by adding every tiny bit of detail. He must increase and you must decrease.

Testify of your weakness and how God saved you.

Exodus 15:20-21

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, too a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances

And Miriam answered them, sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed glonously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

In Exodus 15, the Israelites find themselves in a very scary situation. They were being chased by their Egyptian master. There was no place to hide or flee to. The Egyptians were behind them and the sea was ahead of them. It looked like their slave masters would catch-up with them. But God intervened miraculously. He parted the sea and they all walked through safely and then He put the sea back together. God is indeed our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of need. He must increase and we must decrease.

John 9:24-25

Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

He answered and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

The blind man’s testimony of his encounter with Jesus was brief and simple. Once he was blind, unable to fend for himself, had to beg for alms to feed himself. But when he met Jesus, He healed him and made him whole. He cannot accept other people’s testimony about Jesus. To him, Jesus must increase and he must decrease.

Commit whatever you do into God’s hands

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.

When you commit everything you do into God’s hands you show that you trust God, He is superior to every other person in your life and He can do all things. In other words, you make Him increase and you decrease.

Psalm 37:5

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

This verse also confirms that when you entrust everything to God, you make Him increase and you decrease. God will then ensure that all things work for your good.

Philippians 4:6-7

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of god which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When you cast all your cares upon the Lord, you have no problems you are safe and protected by God and you have your peace at all times.

Philippians 4:13,19

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

You can do all you need to do by the grace and help of the Lord. He will also supply all your need if you trust Him to provide all you require.

By doing this you make God increase and you decrease.

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