What's holding you back? (John 3:22-36)

In the last service at Hill Country, we took a close look at John 3:22-36.  One of the overriding themes in this section of scripture is how selfish ambition and jealousy can blind us from what we are called to carry out in our walk with God.  I ask a couple questions at the end of each sermon for our people to contemplate and pray over, and this week one of those questions was "In what areas have we allowed jealousy (or any other unhealthy feeling) to hamper our growth in Christ?"
What I've discovered in my brief time as a pastor is that everyone struggles with this.  We are still sinful people that fight against sinful flesh, and one of the hardest things to overcome is feelings of anger, jealousy, resentment and hurt.  We tend to want to hold on to grudges, to slights real or perceived.  We tend to want justice for others and grace for ourselves.  This is a very difficult thing to deal with.

From a personal perspective, I was struggling with these same issues and what it took for me to get straightened out was the loving and kind but firm words of a fellow brother that I was in the wrong with my lack of forgiveness and for taking my focus off of what I was supposed to be doing, allowing these feelings to get in the way of me being a proper shepherd.  This was a difficult thing to hear, but I needed it desperately.  This is why church discipline is of vital importance.  Where would I be today without that brother's correction?  Bitterness continues to fester and effect every aspect of our lives, and without the heart of forgiveness, we cannot move forward.
John the Baptist's disciples were jealous of the success of Jesus' ministry, even though John himself continuously pointed out that his ministry was all about Jesus!  John rejoiced in the fact his ministry was decreasing and His was increasing, but his disciples were blind by selfish ambition.  John corrected them, then faded into the background gladly.  Are we willing to allow our ministry to run it's course and then fade into the background?  Are we the focus of our ministry or is He the focus?  We strive to make all things about Him, and carefully get rid of anything that takes that focus off of Him and puts it elsewhere.  If our goal is to make a big deal about Jesus, then our lives will reflect that reality.  It's when we allow ourselves to get puffed up and conceited that we become the hypocrites that Jesus loathed.

So the question is "What's holding you back?"  What do you have to repent for today?  What ill feelings are you harboring that is affecting your walk with Him?

We start chapter 4 this week.  Our new facility is beautiful and we're very blessed to be able to worship in such a place.  Our service starts at 10:30 with the message, coffee is served at 10.  Won't you come join us?