INTRODUCTION
In an article on the Psychcentral web page titled, Top 10 Life-Stressors That Can Trigger Anxiety,[1] the top ten stressors in life are…

• The death of a spouse
• Divorce
• Marital separation
• Being Incarcerated
• Death of a close family member
• Major personal injury or illness
• Marriage
• Being fired or laid off from work
• Marital reconciliation
• Retirement

 
We all have stress in our lives and respond to it differently. But, according to a Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School article titled Watch out for unhealthy responses to stress[2] , the top ten harmful reactions to stress are…

• Watching endless hours of TV
• Withdrawing from friends or partners or, conversely, jumping into a frenzied social life to avoid facing problems
• Overeating or weight gain
• Undereating or weight loss
• Sleeping too much
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Lashing out at others in emotionally or physically violent outbursts
• Taking up smoking or smoking more than usual
• Taking prescription or over-the-counter drugs that promise some form of relief, such as sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, or anti-anxiety pills
• Taking illegal or unsafe drugs

 
But we are Christians, so we shouldn't have worry, anxiety, or faith issues, right? Wrong! We worry we stress, we have anxiety, and we have faith crises at times. This does not make us unchristian; it makes us human. But our humanity does not trump our worship of a big God!  He is all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal, fair, just, and ever-present.  The God we serve has created all things around us.  He has intricately designed this world and everything in it; He has created you and me uniquely, and somehow, he ensures everything works correctly for all things to exist and survive.  He is not just a God of the "big" details. He is also the God of the "little" things. 
           
Have you ever thought about the excellence of God?  Have you ever thought about his intricacies, his creations, his unfailing love for you, his sacrifice, his care, his mercy, and his concern with the small details of life?  Have you ever thought about his promises; His promise to never leave or forsake you; his promise of eternal life to those who believe in Jesus Christ; his promise to be near to you if you draw near to him; his promises of justice; and his promise to take care of you and me?  
           
I have thought about these things repeatedly, and when I think about how great our God is and the specific, extraordinary care and kindness He shows, I am encouraged beyond all things.  But then, when difficulties arise or the future becomes uncertain, I start to wonder, do I really believe all this about God?  I begin to question; do I believe God is capable of marvelous accomplishments?  Do I really believe "God is good all the time and all the time God is good"?  Or is this a response I have been programmed to repeat whenever prompted?  Ultimately, I ask myself, do I really believe what I believe?  Maybe you have asked yourself this same question?  Perhaps you are asking this question right now amid this pandemic.
           
Can I speak to you on a personal level?  I admit there are times when my thoughts and beliefs about God do not match what I preach regarding worrying, anxiety, and trust in God.  Although intellectually, I know God is perfect in all ways, I know He will not leave nor forsake me, and I fully believe He will provide for all my basic needs in life; so, tell me, why do I continue to worry?  
 
Matthew 6:25 – 34
In this passage, we pick up amid a sermon that Jesus gave on a mountain which Bible translators painstakingly titled "The Sermon on the Mount." We are unsure of the mountain's exact location, but it was probably somewhere in Galilee. 
 
Vs. 25 – 26: Jesus says don't worry about trivial things like what you will eat or wear because life is more than that. Do you have difficulty believing God will take care of your needs?   He says, look outside; see those cute and annoying birds flying around outside.  They don't plant or harvest their food, yet they always seem to have something to eat. God provides for those birds.  Do I believe that I am more valuable than a bird in God's eyes?  If so, do I believe maybe, just maybe, God will provide for me?  He cares enough about those winged creatures to provide; shouldn't I trust and believe that God cares enough about me?  
 
Verse 27 – 32: Can you tell me; how much we accomplish by worrying?  What purpose does worry have?  Jesus asks the rhetorical question (my paraphrase), "Let's see by a show of hand how many of you can add a single hour to your life in your own power.  Anyone?"  He is met with silence because they know they have no control over time, life, or death.  They are all in God's hands.  Ultimately the question that Jesus didn't ask but implied is, "Do you trust that God will take care of you?" 
 
Verse 33 – Instead of worrying and stressing, Jesus tells us to "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.".  So, we need to make seeking God and his kingdom our top priority.  Let him have complete rule and reign over our lives.  So, when we worry, we can't seek the kingdom of God first because we do not believe God will pull through for us.  
 
Verse 34 –God will take care of us, so Jesus says to stop wasting our time worrying about anything because God controls everything. 
 
So, what is Jesus telling us in this passage?  
 
He is simply saying, do not worry because God has taken care of ALL our needs.  
 
Should we neglect planning and preparing since God has already taken care of everything? 
 
I do not believe that we should neglect personal preparation and planning.  However, Jesus tells us not to spend all our time planning what we want to accomplish because God's plans may differ from those we make.  Isn't this when we worry most?  It seems that when things don't go as planned, this is when I start freaking out and worrying about things? 
 
How Can We Live "Worry-Free" Lives?
I wish there were a pill or a formula I could give you that would eliminate worry from our lives forever.  But, unfortunately, there is no such thing available.  However, we can turn to the Word of God and let it speak to us today as a daily reminder that God controls all things, and I do not.
 
Proverbs 3:5-6
This passage has encouraged me time and again in my life.  In it, I find three steps to help us live worry-free lives.

1. Trust in the Lord with all your heart…  Easy, right?  This may be difficult for some to do.  How can we practically do this?  We can fully rely on God when we put aside ourselves, look to God's Word, and know we are not in control.  Trusting God requires faith, which is difficult for some because we have zero control over attaining faith.  You see, faith doesn't mean that you can muster up enough positive energy and vibes so that you can come to the point of believing.  No, in fact, faith has nothing to do with our efforts. Romans 10:17 says, "So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ."  Reading the Word of God and believing the Gospel message results in one receiving the faith we need to trust God.  The Word of God gives us the faith to trust Him and His promises.  
2. Do not depend on your own understanding… We are not as wise as we think we are.  Everything in society tells us that to be ok; we need to trust in human wisdom, intellect, and ability.  But God's word tells us we must not lean on our knowledge, intelligence, and power.  God does not work in the ways we think He should.  As a result, many of us begin to worry when things don't go as planned or when it doesn't make sense or seems illogical. But Isaiah 55:8 – 9 says, "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
3. Seek his will in all you do… We need to trust God continually, not just when we need him.  We like to exhaust all our resources, and when they have not proven true, we finally say, "Ok, God, I need you to help me."  People say, "We've done everything in our power, and all we have left to do is pray."  Prayer should always be our first response in all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 says, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."   We need to trust in and pray to God in the good and bad times.  This is the practical expression of the mind and will by submitting to God and fully acknowledging him in all things, good and bad.  When we do this, the Lord will guide us to our goals in life.  He will give you the wisdom you need to make wise decisions and ultimately get you to a point where worry will not rule your life.

 
To paraphrase Proverbs 3:5 – 6 and help us live worry-free lives, we must "Trust in God and not our intellect or cunning plans.  Dedicate our lives to Him and give Him complete control over our lives, and when you do this, God will eliminate the power of worry over your life."
 
CONCLUSION
For many, worries and stress are nasty habits to kick, and they can paralyze us if we let them.  Today's message is as much for me as it is for you.  We live in a time where it is easy to give in to worry, fear, and anxiety, but I want to encourage you (and me) to keep the words of Proverbs 3:5 – 6 close to your heart.  I have purposed in my heart for God to have complete dominion in my life so I may live a stress- and worry-free life.  I am determined to come to terms with the fact that worrying is useless and a complete waste of time.  Time is precious, and God does not want me to waste it worrying about things I have no control over.  So today, I am speaking to you in my vulnerability and declaring that I am giving my worry over to God, and I am acknowledging Him in all my ways (good and bad times) and trusting that He will take care of the rest of the details and concerns in my world today. 


[1] https://psychcentral.com/stress/top-10-life-stressors-that-can-trigger-anxiety#top-10-life-stressors
[2] https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/watch-out-for-unhealthy-responses-to-stress

Introduction
In a Cincinnati Enquirer article titled A nonstop revival breaks out at Kentucky college. Now, it's viral on TikTok; it reads, "A religious service at a Christian college in Kentucky has captured the attention of social media users across the globe.
During a scheduled chapel service at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, on Feb. 8, a religious revival broke out. Over a week later, the service is still going strong, with folks traveling from as far as Singapore to join.

Videos of students participating in the nonstop prayer and worship service have made their way to social media, sparking international attention. As of Feb. 16, posts with the #AsburyRevival hashtag have generated 34.5 million views on TikTok.

NBC reports that students and faculty from 22 schools in Hawaii, Massachusetts, Illinois, Minnesota, Tennessee, Indiana, and other states have made the trek to Asbury to join in on the religious experience. Travelers from Singapore and Canada are also expected to arrive soon."
 
Haggai
When I think of revival, I often think of Haggai. The book of Haggai is a minor prophet book.  This does not mean the book is insignificant, i.e., less important; it simply means it is short.  We do not know much about the prophet Haggai.  We do not know who his father is; we know him as "the prophet" as he is named in both his own book and in the book of Ezra.
 
The time is around 520 B.C., and a remnant of Israelites who returned from captivity live in and around Jerusalem. We can presume (according to Haggai chapter one) that Israel's spiritual priorities were not in the right place.  They had become complacent and apathetic in their lives.  The Temple was ransacked many years prior; thus, they had no temple for worship; they only had rubble and remnants of a destroyed temple.  They were fine worshiping in the wreckage. They were apathetic as their priorities for themselves and not God. Amid the destruction, they began rebuilding their homes and focusing on their livelihood.  This was not necessarily wrong, but it seemed they had their priorities in the wrong place.  They were not being rebellious, just complacent. 
 
The "remnant" (the 50,000 Israelites who had returned) to whom Haggai is speaking is the group initially devoted to the Lord.  These Israelites were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and begin restoring Jerusalem to its former glory.  When they returned, they zealously started the rebuilding process and worked night and day joyfully.  We do not want to paint this remnant as a bad bunch of apples.  Yes, their priorities were a bit mixed up. In reality, they needed to build homes, have a livelihood, schools, shops, trade, etc.  They were necessary and valid pursuits.  However, the rebuilding of the Temple brought them to Jerusalem, and now they were neglecting it.
 
(Read Haggai 1:1 – 5)
Vs. 3 – 5:  Haggai speaks for the Lord first by rebuking the remnant; he says, "Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while this house (the Temple) lies in ruins?"  God is speaking to the people, and He rebukes them because they let their complacency replace their zeal.  They once had the passion and desire to see the Temple restored to its future glory, but now their passion has become complacency.  The LORD tells the Israelites to "think carefully about your ways."  This was God's way of letting them know why they are facing what they were facing. God says, "You are frustrated because you are not in line with my will."  
 
(Read Haggai 1:6 – 9)
Vs. 6:  The frustration – You plant and reap little.  You eat and are never satisfied.  You drink you remain thirsty. You clothe yourself but remain cold.  You work hard and make no money.  We can all relate to the Israelites here.  Maybe you feel this way today.  You do a lot, but you see little to no return.
 
Vs. 7 – 8:  The LORD tells them to, once again, "consider their ways" and then tells them what they should do.  He says get your priorities straight and resume the work I called you to do.  Get the lumber and resume building.  He lets them know that when they do this, they will please God and enjoy the benefits of the land.
 
Vs. 9: God tells them the reason for their frustration.  The people never found satisfaction because they did not align with His will.  It was God who caused the frustration.  He was the one who ruined the harvest.  He was the one who caused the dissatisfaction.  Why? "Because my house still lies in ruins while each of you is busy with his own house."  
He says, "You were so consumed with you that you forgot Me." Their failure was that they failed to put God first. Instead, they were more concerned about self-preservation and less about doing what God had called them.  
 
(Read 1:12 – 13)
Vs. 12 – 13:  These are vital verses… They obeyed the LORD.  In the initial rebuke, the LORD reveals His disappointment with the remnant, and they could have responded in one of two ways.
They could have wallowed and sulked in their guilt and done nothing.  For example, they could have said, "We let the LORD down, and now He is mad at us.  There is nothing we can do."
Or they could have realized their misgivings and fixed them.  Fortunately, this is what they did.  They received the rebuke, repented, and did what the LORD told them.
 
(Read Haggai 1:14 – 15)
Vs. 14 – 15: "The LORD roused (the Hebrew word is ʿuwr /oor, which means "wake up") the spirit."  This was a revival.  The LORD roused or woke up the people to do the work.  Notice… The LORD roused… This is key.  If you want to see a movement of God, it must be initiated by God. Once the LORD rouses or wakes up (ʿuwr) people, the work of revival can begin. In this, we see the mercy and grace of God.  He could have easily said, "I am done with these selfish, complacent, and lazy people!  I am going to destroy these people and start over!"  Fortunately, God does not do this.  Instead, He rouses the people, who were renewed in Him to do the work.
 
Application 
So, how does this tie into revival? What does this all mean for us today?  We are not the remnant of Jerusalem and have not received the mandate to go and forsake our livelihood, homes, schools, and businesses to rebuild a Temple.  Henry Blackaby wrote in his book EXPERIENCING GOD, "Watch to see where God is working and join Him in his work."  God is at work in this world, in this church, and in your life.  It is essential for us to observe and to find out what the LORD is doing and get on board with Him.  We are to do as the LORD says, through the prophet Haggai… consider this.  

What are we to consider? Let me give you a few things to consider regarding your relationship with God.  First, do you feel a little apathetic in your faith? Are you in a place of spiritual dullness, complacency, or even rebellion?  Then think to consider these…

1. When you lose the passion for serving God, you become complacent in your relationship with Him.
   1. This is not earth-shattering, I know. But, do you remember the days when you had a zeal for the Lord that couldn't be quenched?  I think back to my life, where I passionately served God relentlessly.  I lived for the time I could spend with God in His Word, prayer, and worship.  But somewhere down the line I lost that youthful zeal I once had.  Does this mean I am not passionate about Jesus today?  No.  It's just that I have let the mundane become the norm.  Complacency is when we allow the extraordinary to become ordinary. I.e., when we take grace, salvation, mercy, and forgiveness and begin to think they are God-given rights and not gifts of God.
2. God is often the cause of our frustration.
   1. We can relate to the frustration that the remnant faced.  We seek to be satisfied with things other than God (work, home, people, stuff) and end up frustrated.  We find that nothing can satisfy outside of God.  When we work for our financial gain, we never have enough.  When we seek satisfaction in relationships, we will be let down.  When we desire to be fulfilled by living a life of fun, sensuality, and self-indulgence, we will become bored.  
   2. Many Churches and Christians can be guilty of this.  When a ministry becomes more consumed with how much money they bring in, they begin to cater to the wealthy and not the will of God.  Some churches are determined to build their brand or legacy to leave a mark on society.  They want to be known for their accomplishments!  Some cater to people because they do not wish to offend, but in the process, end up offending even more.  When a church or ministry does this, they end up frustrated, in chaos, and ineffective for the Kingdom of God.
   3. Individuals do this as well.  Some people are consumed with what they get out of church (an emotional experience) instead of what they can do for the church (it becomes about me).  They demand to be catered to fulfill their selfish desires.
3. God often ruins our efforts because they were done for our benefit and not his. 
   1. Whenever we put anything before God, it becomes an idol, and God will destroy the idols in our lives.  We must always consider… What is the motivation for everything we do?  Is it for our glory, or is it for God's glory?
   2. Maybe you are feeling a little convicted right now… Good!  All is not lost. We can repent, we can change, and we can do what God calls us to do.  The question is, what are you going to do with your conviction?  Will you wallow and do nothing, or will you repent and change? We serve a loving, compassionate, merciful, and gracious God.  He does lovingly call us back to him and forgives us when we repent and seek to get back on track with Him.
4. God initiates revival. 
   1. God will always initiate revival.  We see this with Asbury College, and we have seen this throughout the centuries. Nevertheless, God's initiation does not mean we do not have a part to play in revival.  Revival is an awakening.  It's a movement of the Spirit.  You can read about the Great Awakening between 1730 to 1740.  During this time, God used men like George Whitfield, Jonathon Edwards, David Brainard, and many others to encourage believers to repent and be saved.  The Great Awakening notably altered the religious climate in the American colonies. Ordinary people were encouraged to make a personal connection with God instead of relying on a minister. Revival happens when God rouses His people to wake up and serve Him.  We must actively pray for revival in our lives, church, and world.  We are called to be people of prayer.  Our responsibility is to pray and let God do what God does. It has often been said, "prayer does not change God's mind, but does prayer change me."

Conclusion
So, in conclusion, let us think about these things.  But let us not stop just thinking.  Instead, may we be proactive in identifying our complacency, frustration, efforts, convictions, and passion for God and allow Him to arouse our spirits so we may be about His work and establish His Kingdom here on earth. 

Introduction
Most of you probably remember the British Music Invasion of America in the mid-60s. This invasion did not result in conflict, but it was a title given to a time in history when many British rock groups came to America and introduced teenagers to a new kind of rock 'n roll.  In 1963 T.V. news anchor Walter Cronkite ran a news story about a phenomenon sweeping the U.K. called Beatlemania.  It wasn't long after this story aired that the "Fab Four," aka The Beatles, touched down on U.S. soil and took the nation by storm.  Hundreds and thousands of frenzied teenage fans (mostly girls, flocked to the airport as they screamed and cried for a chance to glimpse John, Paul, George, and Ringo.  Not long after, their music flooded the U.S. radio airwaves, and soon Beatlemania was in full-blown hysteria in the good ole U.S. of A.  
 
The hype was so frenzied that many teenagers elevated these boys from Liverpool to godlike figures. John Lennon once said in an interview that the Beatles became so famous that mothers of disabled children were coming up to them and asking them to touch their child's hand in the hopes that it would cure the child's ailment.  
 
The front row at their concerts was always full of disabled kids and wheelchairs, almost as though they were waiting to be anointed by the Beatles' sweat. Soon this became a horrifying experience for Lennon.  
 
Lennon said, "When we would open, every night, instead of seeing kids there, we would see a row full of cripples along the front. When we'd be running through, people would be lying around. It seemed that we were just surrounded by cripples and blind people all the time, and when we would go through corridors, they would all be touching us. They'd line them up, and I got the impression The Beatles were being treated as bloody faith healers …" Their popularity was so great that John Lennon himself said that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ at this time.  In some ways, I think he may have been right.
 
People worship, or human elevation (that's what I will call it today), has been a thing since the dawn of creation.  In preparation for this sermon, I encountered the clinical term "Celebrity Worship Syndrome.” The word syndrome was tagged by someone other than the one who first did the study on this.  It was initially called Celebrity Worship Scale, but people changed it to a clinical term.  Maybe you have been guilty of people worship at one time in your life.  If you think the word worship is a bit much, then let's call it "human elevation." Now, you may say to yourself, no, I do not elevate people to a place higher than they deserve, stay with me as you may find you have, but maybe you did not realize it. 
 
I am going to blow your mind with the following statement. Are you ready? People let people down. We are human, and no matter how disciplined, friendly, organized, or relatable you are, you will let someone down and be let down. When I mention people worship, you may have automatically associated this with the worship of performers, politicians, and professional athletes, and you certainly would not be completely wrong. These individuals have all been elevated to a place of godlike status in the public eye at some point.
 
Again, you may be thinking, "I'm a Christian, and I would never elevate a person over God." I would challenge you to think long and hard about that statement, and truth be told, YOU may not, but others have.  It's Super Bowl Sunday, so let's use a good ole sports statistic from a few years back. A survey of nearly 1100 people asked, "Does Tim Tebow receive Divine intervention from God specifically during his games?"  An astonishingly 43% answered "yes."  These people believed Tebow was receiving special favors from God because he was vocal about his faith.  I think Tebow is a great young man, and I believe he is a strong Christian. I also assume he would never approve of other Christians elevating him to this level.  He often takes the focus off himself and places it on Jesus.  The unfortunate reality is some men and women who are/were strong Christians that we like to hold up as the "poster boy or girl" of Christianity when Jesus should fill that spot.
 
Exodus 20:3-5
"You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me."
It's safe to assume that all of us are familiar with this verse. If not, I'll refresh your memory. It is the second commandment. It is one that we hold in our hearts and lives. Sometimes I would call it the "duh" passage. But, of course, there are no other gods but God, right? Yes, but let's look at the context of this passage. When God gives the command to have no other gods, he isn't giving them new information. The reality was idolatry had already reared its ugly head among the Israelites. The irony of this passage is that while Moses is meeting with the true God on the mountain, the Israelites are constructing and worshiping a god they created down below. They essentially were worshiping themselves. They needed to worship someone or something, and they couldn't fathom what that someone or something was, so they crafted an idol after themselves. A god they created. So, if the Israelites could fall for the lie of idolatry, then so could Christians.
 
Areas of Idolatry
People worship/human elevation is something that some Christians do very well.  It's subtle and is a recipe for disappointment, destruction, and sin.  There is a reason why God does not share worship with anything or anyone because He is the only one who deserves our worship. Today I want to look at three areas where we put people in place of God

1. Pursuing people over God.
2. Pleasing people over pleasing God.
3. Putting people on pedestals.  

 

1. Pursuing people over God: This can be defined as unhealthy relationships. Relationships are good things.  God created humans to be relational creatures.  In the Genesis account, God saw that Adam was alone, which was not good.  So, what did he do?  He gave him a companion, a wife, and a relationship.  Healthy relationships are tremendous and God-given, and we all benefit from them.  The problem comes in unhealthy relationships. Unfortunately, pursuing unhealthy relationships often takes precedence over God. 
   I have seen this among teenagers and adults alike.  I have seen teenage boys abandon their faith in Jesus Christ because they met a girl, and he becomes obsessed with her.  I have seen the same with teenage girls.  I have talked to men and women who once served God with vigor and passion and have renounced their faith because they are involved in unhealthy relationships.  There are single people so consumed in the search for "finding that perfect person" that they squeeze God out of the picture in their pursuits.
   I have found this problem does not just happen with young single teenagers and adults. It can occur in marriage and parenting.  Some men and women place their spouses before God's will.  Parents go to extremes to give their children whatever they want without regard for God. I have seen parents and spouses lie, cheat, and steal to make their kids or spouses happy. Oh, the stories I could tell.
   Now, husbands and wives are commanded to love their spouses… Scripture tells me I am to love my wife the way Christ loved the church.  It also tells me not to provoke my children to wrath.  As a father, I am called to love my children unconditionally.  The only way that I can do this is if Jesus Christ is the head of my family and, ultimately, my relationships. 
   Matthew 10:37 – 40:  The cost of discipleship can cause conflict, even with family.  If so, Jesus must come first.  This statement from Jesus does not mean we stop loving our family. It simply means we are fully committed to Jesus and thus able to love our families properly. To the married person, I implore you to love your spouse and family; this is non-negotiable.  However, I pray you, even more, make Jesus the head of your life, family, and relationships so you can love them properly.
   I Corinthians 7:32 – 35: To the single person, I encourage you with these words of Paul in this passage. Secure your undivided attention to the Lord. 
2.  Pleasing people over pleasing God.  People pleasing can be a challenge for me.  I admit one of my struggles is I want to be liked.  However, pleasing humans over God is dangerous because when we seek to make people happy, we sometimes AND often can be tempted to do things that God isn't necessarily telling us to do. 
   Galatians 1:10 – 11: I have talked with Pastors who are afraid to speak the truth from the pulpit because they don't want to offend non-Christians or, worse, their parishioners. 
   ​Romans 1:16: I have met people who shy away from sharing their faith because they don't want to be made fun of or lose their friends.  I have seen people bully others and tear someone down because they want to be "cool" in front of their friends.
3. Putting people on pedestals is the third and final temptation in people worship.  Unfortunately, we are VERY good at this one.   We love sports celebrities, movie stars, musicians (even Christian ones), authors, and even our beloved Pastors. 
   Romans 3:10 – 12: People are humans, they are flawed, they are sinful, they are imperfect in so many ways, yet we insist (for some reason) on placing them on pedestals where they do not belong.  I can name dozens of sports figures, movie stars, musicians, authors, and Pastors who have fallen in the public eye.  These men and women are accused of letting their fans down, being hypocrites, and being horrible role models. In other words, for being human. 
   I would like to speak about Pastors and Christian celebrities.  I am a pastor and have been for nearly 30 years. The one thing I have found is as soon as pastors are placed on pedestals, the people putting them there better prepare themselves to be disappointed, and the Pastor better makes every effort to steer people from putting him on one.  According to Barna, Focus on the Family, and Fuller Seminar research.
     * 1500 pastors in America leave the ministry EACH MONTH due to moral failure (this does not count those who leave out of frustration and discouragement)

             *  50% of Pastor's marriages will end in divorce
             *.  80% of Pastors and spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their roles as pastors.
             *.  70% of Pastors fight depression.
             *   Almost 40% have admitted to having an extra-marital affair since beginning in ministry.
These stats tell me three things…

1. Pastors are just as susceptible to sin as any other person. 
2. Pastors are human and have no place on a pedestal. 
3. Pastors need prayer.  
   
   

Isaiah 42:8 God says He will not share his glory with anyone.  Therefore, praise, worship, and pedestals belong to God and God alone.  The irony behind pedestal people is that most do not want to be there or ask to be put there.
 
Conclusion
My intention has not been to diminish the importance of relationships, respect (for pastors and celebrities), and reverence).  Instead, I intend to free us from the bondage and the lie of the belief that a person can ever fill the role of God in our lives.  People are wonderful, and God gave us one another so we can elevate and praise him in community, not the other way around.  Every person in this room is human, and we naturally tend to fail one another and let each other down. But our God is faithful and trustworthy and will never disappoint us. So let us put our energy into worshiping, serving, and praising God and putting Him on the pedestal to receive all honor, glory, and praise.

 
Introduction
Companies and corporations spend billions yearly on commercials, advertisements, promotional materials, branding, and marketing.  Marketing is getting suitable commodities, services, or concepts to the right people at the right time, place, and price. It is accomplished by using promotional techniques such as advertising and social media and utilizing the right people to provide the services associated with those goods, services, or ideas. A perfect example is found in advertising during the Super Bowl.  In this year's Super Bowl, advertisers will spend a record $7 million for a 30-second commercial. Last year the average commercial cost $5.6 million for the Super Bowl and generated almost $580 million in sales.
 
This marketing process has also trickled down to the western church philosophy and Christianity.  According to the Center for Church Communication Marketing Report (Yes, this is an actual report), "More and more churches are beginning to learn from a business that marketing can be an effective tool to fulfill their mission." Churches do spend a significantly less amount of money for marketing in America, spend multiple thousands (millions in rare cases) of dollars on branding (church logo, website, etc.), advertising (internet, television, radio, and paper), and promotion (mailings, door hangars, posters, and social media promotion, etc.).  The CFCC report says, "80% of churches spend less than $10,000 on marketing and promotions yearly (including bulletins, newsletters, websites, mailings, etc.)". However, a February 2023 Christianity Today article reports that a new ad campaign titled "He Gets Us" has been launched. For the past ten months, the "He Gets Us" ads have shown up on billboards, YouTube channels, and television screens—most recently during NFL playoff games—across the country, spreading the message that Jesus understands the human condition. The Super Bowl ads alone will cost about $20 million, according to organizers, who originally described "He Gets Us" as a $100 million effort. "The goal is to invest about a billion dollars over the next three years," he said. "And that is just the first phase."
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Does Church marketing work? Well, it is no secret that church attendance in the US is declining.  The financial crunch has impacted our economy, and a worldwide pandemic has seriously and negatively impacted church attendance. Many churches knee jerk reaction is to pour more money into marketing, promotion, and advertising to attract more people to their church.  Many leaders believe if they pour more resources into looking cool, attractive, and welcoming, people will want to attend their churches.  
I have received mailers from churches that spend thousands of dollars printing, mailing, and advertising that they are different from other churches. Their gimmick is usually based on easing people's fears and anxiety about attending church, i.e., no dress code, messages that are "relevant for today," modern worship music, and a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.  So many churches believe that if they spend their money marketing themselves to the masses, the payoff will be bodies in seats or pews.
 
Next, look at how many churches choose pastors to lead their charge. Congregations looking for pastors to fill pulpits often seek young, idealistic, motivated, and visionary pastors to lead them into the future.  Some of the top questions I was asked when I interviewed at various churches in the past were, "Tell me some of your strengths and weaknesses as a person?"  "What is your five-, ten- or fifteen-year plan for ministry?"  "What qualities do you possess that might attract people to our church?"  Or "What seminary did you attend?"  In my experiences, rarely was I asked about my love for God, my prayer life, or my calling as a Pastor. In some interviews, I felt like I had to market and promote myself as a product of the Kingdom of God and the calling God placed on my life.
 
Now, I know I may come across as critical of churches and church marketing.  I admit it is hard not to come across as bitter or disgusted, but truth be told, I see some value in marketing in the church.  As with everything we have discussed in the past weeks, our problem is sometimes placing the emPHAsis in the wrong area.  We need to get the word out about ministries where God is actively involved, invite unbelieving individuals to church to hear the Gospel, and people in pews for fellowship and encouragement for one another.  So, I do value church marketing to some extent.  It does, however, need to be reformed or revised. We need to look at our emphasis. Are we emphasizing the church or the head of the Church, Jesus?
 
In today's passage, we will learn a lesson or two about church marketing and promotion.  Now, this is not Church Marketing 101 because, in so many ways, everything I point out goes against almost every "rule" in the church marketing rule book. After all, it takes the focus off of human accomplishment and points people to a greater cause.
 
He Must Increase…
John 3:22 - 36
Verse 22 - 24:  Jesus and his disciples went to the countryside in Judea, and they were baptizing people.  We see that it wasn't Jesus but his disciples who were baptizing (John 4:2), and this caused concern among the disciples of John the Baptist (vs. 26).
 
Verse 25, 26: There was some discussion between John the Baptist's disciples and some Jews over the rite of purification.  We are not precisely told the details of this discussion, but I would bet it was over the significance of baptism and how it was administered.  Most likely, there was talk about the distinction between John's baptism and the Jewish ceremonial cleansing.  The essential factor in John's baptism was the prior requirement of repentance.  We are not told the Jew's motivation in talking to John's disciples.  It could have easily been to stir up jealousy among John's disciples concerning Jesus' baptizing ministry. The Jews could have said to John the Baptist's disciples, "What are you going to do about this Jesus guy and his disciples infringing on your ministry?  Isn't baptizing your business?  Isn't this what you are all called to do?  These guys have no right to baptize people.  There isn't enough business for you in this area." 
This concerned John's disciples because they went to John and voiced their concerns.  They said, "Teacher, everyone is going to Jesus to be baptized, and fewer are coming to us!  They were concerned because they thought they were supposed to be the authoritarians of baptism, and here comes this other band of disciples doing our job."
 
Verse 27, 28:  I am sure John's response was not what his disciples expected.  He says, "You guys know I am not the Messiah.  You have heard me say my job is to prepare the way for the Messiah, and that is what I have done."  He was not upset because he knew his place in this part of history.  John's role in the ministry of Jesus and His Kingdom was small but VERY significant.  His job was to be a promoter of Jesus (He was the voice crying out in the wilderness) and not himself and his ministry.  It wasn't up to John to convince people to get his baptism; he was on the scene to point people to the Messiah.  Don't invest in me; invest in Jesus the Messiah. This is not a good marketing strategy if you try to market yourself. This is John's church growth marketing plan: "Don't look to me because I am just a voice crying out in the wilderness.  Go to Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life."  John was not all about "LOOK AT ME!"  John was all about "DON'T look at me; look to Jesus!"  
 
Verses 29, 30:  In these verses, John shows that he is NOT upset or threatened by not being "top dog." He is ecstatic about what is going on.  He compares himself to the best man at a wedding.  I am unsure how many men here have ever had the privilege of being a best man, but if you have, then you know what John the Baptist is talking about.  As a best man, I know the wedding has nothing to do with me.  The best man assists, rejoices, and celebrates with the groom and his upcoming marriage.  Many men may have been the best man from hell when they tried to make it about them, but this is not the case with John.
 
In this verse, Jesus is the bridegroom, and the bride (in the O.T. was Israel) is the Church.  So, the "friend of the bridegroom" is John the Baptist.  His job is to stand with Jesus and rejoice with him because the time has come for the marriage ceremony.  So, John not only says he is joyful but that his joy is COMPLETE (A.K.A., he can die a happy man).  
 
These are words we should all heed and live according to… "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." John was not merely making an offhanded statement but saying something he believed MUST take place.  According to R.C. Sproul, "He (John) was called to go before Christ, and once he had announced Christ, then John was to go into the background that Christ might emerge in the fullness of His leadership as the appointed Messiah.  'It is necessary,' John said.  'It's not optional.  This must happen.  It must take place.  I must decrease.  He must increase.'" The Church at large would be better served if it heeded these words of John.
 
If we (the Church) make it a point to promote Jesus and not us (our building, music, pastor, friendliness, acceptance, comfort level, etc.), we would see the increase.  Our job is Jesus' promotion, not self/church promotion.
 
Verse 31-32:  These verses appear to be the reflective words of John "the Evangelist" and explain why Jesus must increase (since he is from above) and ultimately above all.  John the Baptist speaks of the earthly things and thus does not have the same authority as Jesus, so it is imperative that Jesus must increase and John must decrease.  When Jesus talks about the things of heaven, he speaks with authority, and yet humanity (in general) has not accepted his message.  
 
Verse 33 - 36:  However, those who receive Jesus' testimony do so by accepting that his Word is indeed the Word of God and that God is true.  He has given us unlimited amounts of the Spirit.  He re-iterates the theme of this chapter…  Jesus is the Son of God; all things are given to Him by the Father.  Anyone who believes (Commits unto, trusts, places confidence in, have saving faith) in Jesus has eternal life.  Whoever does not accept or obey will not have eternal life and will face the wrath of God.
  
Application/Conclusion
This has been my prayer for the last week… "You must increase in my life, ministry, family, relationships, work, recreation, etc., and I must decrease because all I do I want to do for you."  Let us as a congregation begin praying similar prayers.  Let us pray for Jesus' promotion and not self-promotion.  Let us pray for Jesus to shine and for his salvation to come to the unbelievers of this community and church.  Let us never stop pointing people to Jesus because all who put their absolute trust and faith in Him will have everlasting life.