HopeUC Secunderabad
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HopeUC Secunderabad
Stay in Your Lane, Shine in Your Role
We often compare ourselves, trying to be someone we’re not. But John the Baptist shows us a greater truth... it’s not just about knowing who you are, but who you are not.
He embraced his God-given role, preparing the way for Jesus, and Jesus called him the greatest. In the same way, each of us has a unique place in God’s plan. True greatness isn’t in recognition but in faithfulness.
Stay in your lane. Shine in your role.
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John, chapter 1, verses 19 to 33. So, saints, god's children, we are looking at the gospel of John this morning. The gospel of John this morning, matthew, mark, luke, which are called the synoptic gospels, show us Jesus' life from the ground up. But John is different. He takes us beyond Bethlehem, beyond genealogies, all the way back to the eternity past. So John is different. He takes us beyond Bethlehem, beyond genealogies, all the way back to the eternity past. He starts the gospel In the beginning was the word. The word was with God and the word was God. He shows us that Jesus is not just a man, he's eternal God made in flesh. And then you see John the apostlele is introducing to us John, who is John the Baptist.
Speaker 1:Let's go through John's life right now. We are not talking about the author of this gospel, we are talking about the person. Who is talking about a person called John, and he is known as John the Baptist. Let's look at his life quickly. His birth he was miraculously born to elderly parents, zechariah and Elizabeth. His arrival was John lived in wilderness, clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Speaker 1:According to Matthew, chapter 3, verse 4, his very appearance was a living sermon of simplicity and devotion. A living sermon of simplicity and devotion. His mission he preached repentance and he baptized people in Jordan River and called Israel please turn back to God, his message. With boldness, he declared repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. And then behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Now comes his death. John's faithfulness eventually eventually costed his life. He was imprisoned and later executed by herod because he spoke the truth about sin.
Speaker 1:Nobody talks about john the baptist. I don't know when was the last time you heard a sermon on a person like this, a sermon on a person like this. Through it all, john stayed in his lane and he shined in his God-given role. So I introduced my title this morning. Let's read it together. It says stay in your lane. That's the sermon this morning. Turn to your neighbor and tell them stay in your lane. Come on now to the other neighbor, the other side. Stay in your lane, shine in your role and we're going to. You know, study john's life, who lived faithfully, you know serving god, who knew how to stay in his lane but also shine for the glory of God. Three lessons that we can learn from John's life this morning.
Speaker 1:Three things I want to highlight this morning. Wherever you are in your walk with God, there is a plan of God. You're not just existing on this earth all of a sudden Because somebody thought that, yeah, I want to have a child. No, beyond all of that, god has a plan and that's why you are here on this earth. The sad part is those people who do not know the very purpose of why they are existing On this earth. The world will teach you, get a job. You should get a job. You should never be idle, right, that's what the Bible says. You should study. Yes, you need to get all the knowledge in the world and sometimes it just stops us. The pressures and the problems of the world, it hinders us. Beyond all this, there is a unique plan of God. We should learn to know how to stay in our lane yet shine for the glory of God. Three things I want to highlight from John the Baptist's life.
Speaker 1:John knew who he was not. John knew who he was not. John knew who he was not. Please pay attention when the priests and the Levites I am quoting verse 21, they came and asked who are you? Are you the Christ? Are you Elijah? Are you the prophet that we are looking for? John the Baptist boldly said I am not the Christ, I am not Elijah, I am not that prophet. Listen to me very carefully. Sometimes, the greatest revelation is not about who you are. Let this sink into you. The greatest revelation is not about who you are. Let this sink into you. The greatest revelation is not about who you are, but it's all about who you are not.
Speaker 1:John did not fall into a trap of pretending. John did not fall into a trap of pretending. He did not try to be what other people expected him to be. He did not compete with Jesus. John the Baptist was just six months older to Jesus. He did not confuse his assignment With someone else's. He was not confused. John knew his role was to prepare the way, not to be the way. When you confuse assignments, you carry weights. God never meant you to carry. That's why there's so much of difficulty. Being in a church is a reason we are all competing with one. This team competes with that team. This person compete.
Speaker 1:I want to be like that, I want to speak like that. I want to get onto the stage. I want to do this. I want to do that, I'm, I want to speak like that. I want to get onto the stage. I want to do this. I want to do that. I'm just talking about the church context and it applies in our homes, in our neighborhood, in our families, in our relationships, in our companies, where we work. If we don't know what is our place, if we don't know where God has put us to, then we carry a lot of weight, unhappiness, grief, competition, and that's how we live our lives.
Speaker 1:John did not chase titles. To feel important, the priests and Levites offered him big titles. Prophet, what else, come on, are you Christ? What else Are you? Big titles? Who doesn't want? If I'm offering you titles, say I will offer you this title. Say, oh, come on, give it to me. I want after this title, but every title you have to pay for it. No title comes ordinary. My friend John did not need a title To validate his calling. Whatever is your calling, whatever is the will of God for your life, john did not need a title To validate it. His identity was secure in God who he was, how god made him, what was in his path, what was in his plate, all determined by god way before he was born onto this earth beloved.
Speaker 1:One of the greatest keys to peace, to peace in the life, in this life, is knowing what God did not call you to do. We are all very busy. God has called me to do this. God has called me to do that. I have to do this. I have to do that. There are times you have to know what God did not call me to do, that I have to do this. I have to do that. There are times you have to know what God did not call me to do. Am I supposed to do this? Maybe not. You're not supposed to do that. Comparison is a thief of joy. Competition will rob you of your contentment, but when you know who you are not, you can focus on what God says, who you are, knowing your role on the team, knowing your role in the church, knowing the role in your family, knowing your role in your company, in your organization. If you don't know, it's going to hurt you.
Speaker 1:I'm going to take an example of cricket. I love cricket. You know, if this is not what I was doing, then that is what I would have been doing in my life. You know, there was a time in my life. I always say this I was holding a bat and a ball on a Sunday playing league matches not very far from here in my 20s, right? But then somebody challenged me that is a holy spirit, right. Instead of a bat and a ball, get the bible in your hands. So I was. I'm holding the bible in my hands ever since that day, right? And I'm taking an example of knowing your role on the team. Amen, it's very clear and evident. Each of the team Amen, it's very clear and evident. Each of the team players have a role. They have a position in the team.
Speaker 1:In cricket, the bowler suddenly cannot decide that he wants to be a batsman and open the innings. You all understand. The wicketkeeper cannot abandon his post and starts to bowling. There's no wicketkeeper cannot abandon his post and start bowling. There is no wicket keeper. He wants to bowl. We all have such kind of aspirations in life. The fielder cannot rush to the boundary While no one guards the inner circle. If everyone tried to switch roles, the team would collapse into chaos. When the batsman focuses on scoring runs, the bowler focuses on taking wickets. The wicketkeeper stays sharp behind the stumps and the fielders cover their ground. The team works in unity and has a chance To win.
Speaker 1:I want you to like it, too, what Paul says In 1 Corinthians, chapter 12. Taking considering the church, he says the body of Christ works in the same way. We all are the body of Christ and it works in the same way. Paul reminds us, though we are many, we are one body in Christ who can say amen, and each of us are placed there by God with a unique role. You are here in this church and if god has called you to be a part of hope, you see this family. There's a unique plan of god for you in this church. Apart from sitting on the chair, that's good thing to do, but also there's greater things to do. Amen In the days to come. 1 Corinthians, chapter 12.
Speaker 1:We'd like to quickly see a few scriptures. Verse 4. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service by the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but all of them and in everyone, it is the same God who sets us at work. What are the three things you see here in these three scriptures? Number one gifts. Number two service. Number three working. That's what the scripture says here, verse seven. Now to each one.
Speaker 1:The manifestation of the spirit is given for the common good. So if you're gifted, you're talented. It is for common good, not just for your own good. It's not just for your own sake. Whatever gift you have, whatever talent you have, whatever God has blessed you with in your company, in your home, in the church, that has to show forth in common good. Somebody else must be blessed because I am using my gift and my talent.
Speaker 1:That's how church is. That's how the body of Christ functions. This means no one is left out. Every believer has been entrusted with something from God Verse 8, to one. There is given, through the Spirit, a message of wisdom to another, message of knowledge by the same Spirit Verse 9, to another. Faith by the same Spirit to another. Gifts of healing by one one spirit To another, miraculous powers To another, prophecy To another, distinguishing between the spirits To another, speaking In different kinds of tongues, and still to another interpretation of tongues Verse 11. All these are the work of one and same spirit and he distributes them to each one as he you determine, church, you determine, he determines. So that means you have to know what is his plan. Stay in that place. Don't compete with the other. Don't compare with others, and learn to shine wherever you are placed. Let's continue.
Speaker 1:Few more scriptures, verse 12. Just as a body, though, one has many parts, but all many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. We are all baptized by one spirit to form 10 bodies. Come on, church, you can. You can smile, it's okay.
Speaker 1:So God decided to make Adam and Eve. Right Before Eve came in, adam was there and God saw man. This guy is struggling, this guy is like you know, living aimlessly, hopelessly. My God, look at all the creation, all everything is there. But god said, no, man should not be alone. And then he brought in a helper. And then he said now you become two. You have to form, you have to be formed, you have to bring your likings together, you have to bring the understanding together to become one. That is the pattern of how God functions, irrespective of wherever we are and the church at large, god's body, body of Christ, is one. We cannot be divided.
Speaker 1:So I want to go through the scripture again. What does it say? Just as a body, though one has many parts, but all its parts must form to be one body. That is within Christ, for we are all baptized by one spirit and to form one body. Whether you are a Jew, whether you are a Gentile, whether you are a slave, whether you are a free, whether you are male, whether you are female, whether you are female, it does not matter. Whoever you are, you have to come and form, become one. You are not already, but the spirit of God that comes upon you. It will make you to become one body.
Speaker 1:Continue, let's try to understand Church. Are you all okay? It will make you to become one body. Continue, let's try to understand Church. Are you all okay? Wonderful.
Speaker 1:Now comes the serious part. Let's address them. Are you ready to address them? Wonderful, verse 14. Let's read it. Every part matters. Okay, verse 14. Let's read it. Every part matters.
Speaker 1:Even so, the body is not made of one part, but of many. Now it is the foot should say because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body. It would not, for the reason, stop being part of the body. It would not, for the reason, stop being part of the body. Suddenly, one person will rise and say what are you doing? Why are you doing? Who do you think you are? And you stand outside and you are questioning. You are judging everything that is happening, even in your home. Maybe you go to your office, you stand your boss. What are you doing? Who do you think you are? You understand?
Speaker 1:Let's go to the next verse, verse 16. And if the ear should say because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, would not, for that reason, stop being part of the body? Verse 17,. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear? Where would the sense of smell be? Verse 18,.
Speaker 1:But in fact, god has placed the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. Not what you want to be, not what you want to make it happen. He has already determined the giftings and the talents that are in place in your life. You have to understand them, you have to identify them. Then you stay in your role and that's when you start to shine. Otherwise, you're competing.
Speaker 1:I can do a lot better than this person. I can talk very well from this person. I can do a lot better in every aspect. I am more qualified, more educated than this person. Have you ever heard such terminologies? Or have you heard somebody say like that we have all come through these places, but I want you to understand how the body of Christ functions, verse 19,. If they were all one part, where would the body be? And this is there are many parts. One body the.
Speaker 1:I cannot say anybody feel like an I here, like a visionary. I talks about vision, seeing into the future, standing in the leadership role. Hello, anybody here. Some feel like that. I have that within me. So let's see what the I. Come on, help me read. Turn to your neighbor and say cannot say. Turn to your neighbor, cannot say If you feel like an I, you are a visionary leader. You cannot say but we want to say I am in the leadership position, I can do what I want. You cannot say are you liking a church? This is your bible. This is not the same bible I have. You also have the same Bible.
Speaker 1:If we have to build a beautiful church, a dynamic church, a church that should belong in the present age, we should be this church. We should be this church. We all come from different backgrounds. I come from I have a lot of baggage that I carried in my life being as a pastor. 25 years of my life is gone into full-time ministry as a pastor. My aim is to be a good pastor, not just another pastor, and I do my best to the core to be that good pastor.
Speaker 1:What we need today is not just another pastor. You need a good pastor. A church needs a good pastor. What we need today is not just another pastor. You need a good pastor. A church needs a good pastor. Amen. I need to understand my role, my place, so that God will empower me, so that I can start to shine, and the same applies to you.
Speaker 1:So let's go back. Are you all happy? Say uh-huh, okay, the I cannot say to the hand, let's go back. I do not need you Get lost, man. Did anybody tell you get lost?
Speaker 1:You can't say, you cannot say, but we are very good at it. We think we have a mouth. We can say anything we want. No man, you cannot. That's one of the things God tells you. Please control Right. Let's say you cannot and head any heads here. Head of the house, any heads here. Head of the house, any heads here. Even though you are not head, your head is like a head. You are always on cloud nine and everybody else is like a doormat. Any heads here? Let's see what. Head cannot say Hello church Head. Any heads here? Head, come on, help me. Cannot say Head wants to say Head wants to control, head wants to take charge.
Speaker 1:But the Bible says if you want to be a good body of Christ, cannot say you want to be a good body of Christ. Cannot say Huh, what to say? Cannot say to the feet I do not need you. On the contrary, those parts verse 22, of the body seem to be weaker and indispensable. There are some parts in the body. They are weaker and indispensable. That's why the Bible says love.
Speaker 1:You know the scripture, love one, praise God. I love one another, praise God. Then it also says bear not on the shoulder, bear one another. Also says bear Not on the shoulder, bear one another's, abba. I thought love one another is okay. Now, where will I bear this person's burden, my friend? I have my own burdens that I'm carrying.
Speaker 1:But the Bible goes further, says bear. Bear my desire, as a pastor of this campus, to build a beautiful church, the church that should belong to the present age, according to the Bible, not according to our Vincent Famsis, my God, I'm just in the first point according to the Bible, not according to our wins and famsies. My God, I'm just in the first point, verse 25, so that, come on. I want everybody to read verse 25. Is it there so that? So that, so that, come on, there is no division in the body that its part should have. When this happens, no, your church will be dynamic, your church will be glorious. You will come running. I don't have to text you to come at 10 o'clock. You will come running because the body of come on now, it is dangerous to say anything Body of Christ, not my body. This is not Pastor Comfort's kingdom. I am Not my body, this is not Pastor Comfort's kingdom. I am doing my role. You have to do your role. Amen. Who can say amen? Amen, wow, verse 26. If one part suffers, if one part suffers, come on church. Every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices. And Paul concludes verse 27,. Come on, what does it say? Who? Who? I said who you are. You are the body of Christ and some of you, some of you, each one of you is part of it. Who can say amen? You need to know not just who you are, you need to know who you are, not too.
Speaker 1:Psalm 133. I want to read this scripture. I will take few minutes more, so please bear with me. Psalm 133, I want everybody to read this because I am telling you we are at such a threshold. Hope you see, second Rabat, we are going to be very different. Who can say Amen? We are going to be very different. Who can say amen? We are going to be very dynamic. Come on, now Somebody say amen. We are going to be unique in this place Because we want to be the Bible Christians. Amen. What does it say? How good, come on Hand, pleasant.
Speaker 1:God's people live together in unity. It is like precious oil poured out on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down to the collar of his robe, verse 3,. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on the Mount Zion. For there, not everywhere, not everywhere. There where brothers live in unity, where brothers know their position, where brothers know their role and they stay put, yeah, my brother is flourishing. Praise God, I'll be the cheerleader, amen. What does it say? For the Lord bestows blessing, even life, even life, life, even life. The life that you have lost will only come when we learn to dwell in unity. We all have differences, we all have different backgrounds, but we need to learn. The kingdom of God advances when every believer knows their God-given positions and walk in it faithfully, not trying to compete, not trying to copy, not trying to take another's role. Victory in the church does not come from everyone trying to do the same thing. It comes when everyone does the part God assigned them to do Amen.
Speaker 1:So what's the first thing that we looked at? It's not just knowing who you are. You have to understand who you are not. This is what John the Baptist was. I'm not Jesus, I'm not Christ, I'm not the prophet, but who am I? Let's go to the second one. John knew who he was, verse 23,. When pressed further, john said I am the voice. I am the voice of the one crying in the wilderness Make straight the way of the Lord. Notice this. He did not call himself a prophet, a miracle worker or a great leader. He simply said I am a voice. That's all. I am a voice. His role was not to be Messiah, but to prepare the way for Messiah, amen. His role was not to perform miracles, but to the point to be, not to be the miracle worker. His role was not to save but to announce. The Savior, the glory, the stage, the crowd was all there in front of John the Baptist. But he knew that's not my role, that's not my position. Amen.
Speaker 1:I read this story. I want you to please pay attention. There was an elderly woman in a small church who never preached, who never sang or led worship and never had a title. Many thought she was not doing much, but what most people did not see was that every morning before sunrise she was on her knees praying for the pastors, leaders and the congregation members. She was doing her part. Nobody knows, nobody knew, but she is doing her part. Church, do you know what's your part? Did you identify the very reason why you're on this earth? Maybe you'll not be a preacher here, but do you know what you're supposed to be doing? I want you to see this the strength of the church is not in its programs, but it's in prayer. If you really want to evaluate a church, if you really want to see how strong the church is, is to go and see the prayer team, the prayer ministry in the church. Then you'll know how strong this church is. May I challenge everybody here Seated here If you are a prayer warrior, be a prayer warrior. If you are somebody else, I come to that. Be that church when you know your role. Don't waste your time trying to play somebody else's part. Peace come when you accept who God made you to be Amen.
Speaker 1:The third thing John knew who Jesus was. Verse 29. The next day John looked up and saw Jesus coming and he declared Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This was John's greatest role not to promote himself but to point people to Jesus. Not to be in the limelight but to put somebody else in the limelight. He understood that. He even said there is one among you, whom you know not, who comes after me the straps of sandals I am unworthy to untie. John understood something crucial His ministry was temporary, but Jesus' ministry was eternal. Eternal. His voice was loud for a season, but his purpose was to make the way of the Lord. His voice was there only for a season. His purpose was to make the way of the Lord. John, chapter 1, I want you to see this Verses 35 to 39.
Speaker 1:The next day John was there again with his two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said look, the Lamb of God. When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus Turning around. Jesus saw them following and asked what do you want? They said rabbi, which means teacher. Where are you staying? Verse 39 come he replied and you will see. So they went and saw where he was staying and they spent the day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Do you know what happened? Two of John the Baptist's disciples left John the Baptist and they followed Jesus, greatest thing, pointing to Jesus. I am not the one. It's not about me, it's all about Jesus. According to tradition Listen to me these two disciples were Andrew and another unnamed disciple Believed to be John the Apostle, the gospel writer. They were part of John the Baptist's ministry but then pointed to Jesus. They ran after him. They followed him, john the Baptist, never because they were following Jesus.
Speaker 1:His passion, his quote, was you know what he said? He must increase. Come on church, I must decrease. When you come to that place, god will anoint you in such a way those who humble themselves in the sight of the Lord. The Lord knows how to lift them up.
Speaker 1:One of the greatest industrialists, andrew I don't know how to pronounce his last name. He once said this. The secret of success, of teamwork, is of success is teamwork and knowing your role, he says. I am surrounded With people smarter than me In different areas. I don't have to know everything, as long as I know I have the right people with me. I cannot do everything, but as long as I have the right people with me, I am on the path to success. John the Baptist Modeled this spiritually With me. I am on the path to success. John the Baptist modeled this spiritually. His success was not measured by how many followers he could gather, but how faithfully he could point those followers to the one who truly deserved them Church. Too many are building their own names, their own brands, their own kingdoms.
Speaker 1:I told you the story of John the Baptist, john the Baptist. John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus was preaching at John the Baptist's funeral. He gave a stunning tribute about this man. He said of all who ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. None. We all think to be holding the mic, to be on a big stage, to be prominent, to have big fan following on the Instagram and the Facebook, thousands and millions of likes and the followers you have. You think? Think about this. John never wrote a book. John never worked any miracle, john never built a palace, and yet Jesus calls him great. You know why? Because John knew his role and he fulfilled it faithfully. John did not try to be someone else, he did not crave the spotlight, he did not live for the applause. He simply prepared the way, pointed to the lamp and then he stepped aside.
Speaker 1:This is the true greatness in the kingdom of God. So what's the message, church? I said. What's the message, church? Stay in your lane. Stay in your lane, shine in your role. Do not waste your life comparing with someone else. Do not burn yourself out trying to carry a role God never gave you. Do not despise your calling just because it looks small in the eyes of people, because, in the end, true greatness is not about being remembered by people, it's about being recognized by Christ. That's true greatness. Let's move from being a spectator to be a servant. May you've been sitting on the sidelines just watching others play their part, but the kingdom of God is not built by spectators, it is built by servants. So here's the challenge. Are you ready for the challenge? Everybody's quiet. It's boiling down to something you see Somewhere it's going to. So I want to challenge you today? What's your role in the kingdom?
Speaker 1:Some of you are called to be prayer warriors, but you have become prayer warriors. You are praying and worrying. Every day you are praying and you are worrying what will happen to my job? Worrying what will happen to my job? What will happen to my finances? When will I get breakthrough? Praying and worrying, praying and worrying. Praying and worrying. God wants prayer warriors. Hope. You see, god wants prayer warriors. Too long, you see, in the second Rabat, god wants prayer warriors. Too long you've been sitting in the sideline. Some of you are encouragers Need to be encouragers, lifting others when they feel like quitting.
Speaker 1:Some of you must be teachers. We need lot of teachers in Sunday school, by the way. Some of you should be teachers patiently building up the next generation. Some of you must be givers. Brother Robin talked about it. Some of you must be givers, resourcing the vision God has placed on the house. Some of you must be givers, resourcing the vision God has placed on the house. Some of you are servants, quietly making things happen behind the scenes. I have seen people. I try to push them to do. No. No, pastor, please put me behind the stage. Please put me outside. I will do something on the outside. Don't ask me to come up front and give me the mic. Praise God, let them serve. If you are on sidelines, my friend, understand where you belong. Fulfill that role. That's where true satisfaction comes, you.