Sermon Series Blog: BELIEVE Pt.3

Belief That Puts Jesus First

John 3:22–36

When Belief Becomes Visible

Belief is easy to talk about. It’s easy to sing about. It’s easy to agree with.

But real belief?
Real belief rearranges the center of your life.

In Gospel of John 3, after Jesus’ powerful conversation with Nicodemus about being born again, the scene shifts. Now belief is no longer theoretical — it becomes visible. It becomes costly.

As Jesus’ ministry grows, people begin leaving John the Baptist to follow Him. John’s disciples panic: “Rabbi, everyone is going to Him!”

Translation?
You’re losing influence.
You’re losing followers.
You’re shrinking.

But John doesn’t compete. He doesn’t panic. He rejoices.

Because he understands something foundational: he was never the center.

A Shift in Perspective: Who Is at the Center?

For centuries, humanity believed the earth was the center of the universe. Then in the 1500s, Nicolaus Copernicus proposed something radical — the sun, not the earth, was at the center. It wasn’t a minor adjustment. It was a complete reordering of perspective.

Spiritually, we all start with a “geocentric” faith:
My plans.
My comfort.
My success.
Even in ministry — my impact.

But real belief is heliocentric.

Jesus is the center.
My life revolves around Him.

John says it simply:
“He must increase, I must decrease.”

That’s not insecurity. That’s surrender.

Rejoicing When Jesus Is Exalted

We see the same heart in 2 Samuel 6 when David dances before the Lord as the Ark returns to Jerusalem. David lays aside royal dignity because God’s presence matters more than his image.

While others worried about how he looked, David cared about who was being honored.

Real belief rejoices when Jesus is exalted — even if we are minimized.

Immature belief says:
“I’ll rejoice as long as I’m still seen.”

Mature belief says:
“Even if I disappear, as long as He is lifted high, my joy is complete.”

Belief Is Not Admiration — It Is Surrender

John makes it clear: belief is not agreement. It is submission.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”

Belief means trusting Jesus enough to let Him lead.

Like Abraham leaving everything familiar because God said “Go.” No guarantees. No map. Just obedience.

Real belief trusts even when the outcome isn’t visible.

Here’s the tension we all face:

You cannot put Jesus first while insisting on staying in control.

The Freedom of Decreasing

Many of us are exhausted — not because God is absent, but because we are trying to sit in a seat that was never ours.

We carry pressure that only Jesus was meant to hold.

Life produces noise when we insist on being the center.
But when we step down, something beautiful happens.

When Jesus takes the center, He draws melody from what felt ordinary. He brings peace where there was striving. He brings freedom where there was fear.

Belief that gives new life becomes belief that puts Jesus first.

And it always sounds like this:

He must increase.
I must decrease.

The question is simple — and deeply personal:

Is Jesus part of your life?
Or is He truly first?