When we don’t think too highly of something in my state, we say in our language “It is all mathematics”. I remember asking a friend about how the new lead guitarist in his band was. He was not very impressed and answered promptly in Malayalam, the native tongue, “It is all mathematics”.
Earlier today, I was helping my son Daniel with his math homework. He is learning about fractions and as I was teaching him about Zero Fractions, Proper Fractions, whole fractions and Improper fractions, it kinda made me wish I paid attention in my own math class. In the midst of my brain being properly racked by these improper fractions and what not, a couple of scriptures came into mind
The first word is from John 3:30 – He must increase, but I must decrease.
John the Baptist said this as he was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim,. Some men told Him that Jesus was baptizing as well. John the Baptist answered that a man A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven, and he ended by saying that Jesus, must increase and he, John the Baptist, must decrease.
This word came to me while I was teaching about improper fractions. I had drawn a line on the white board with zero on the left, 1 in the middle and the 2 at the right edge.
I had just explained that a proper fraction is greater than zero but lesser than one, and that the numerator, the number on top in a fraction, is always lesser than the denominator, the number under the line in the fraction.
A whole fraction is equal to one, where the numerator and the denominator are the same.
An improper fraction’s value is greater than one and the numerator is greater that the denominator,
The more the numerator increases about the denominator, the greater the value of the fraction.
He must increase but I must decrease.
It occurred to me that our walk with Christ can be illustrated with the same drawing that I made to teach about fractions. So at family prayer, I marked the section of my drawing between zero and one as struggle and failure and marked the section from one towards two and beyond as victory.
Then I asked my kids to imagine that the numerator was the spirit man within a born again believer in Christ and the denominator was the flesh, our carnal nature which we were born with. I explained to them that what John the Baptist was saying what that the fraction should always be improper and should continue to increase in value.
Meaning that the numerator, that is resurrection power of Jesus manifesting in and through us, must always be greater than the denominator, which is our old nature that sold to sin and the world. The resurrection power of Jesus manifesting in and through us should continue to increase, to overcome the sin that is always around us, so that we can walk in victory.
As long as the fraction remains proper, that is the numerator remains lesser than the denominator, spirit man is lesser than the carnal man, we will always be losing our struggle with the world and with sin.
Even a whole fraction, where the numerator and the denominator are equal, is not adequate for victory.
John the Baptist said that Jesus must increase and that he must decrease.
This is true for him then and for us now.
1 John 4:4 (NKJV) 4 tells me that He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world.
If we are to experience any victory, this must be true in our lives. The fraction should always remain improper. Indeed, many in the world would find you and me improper when we are sold out to Christ, but then again, as I explained to my children from my fractions example, hidden in the improper fraction is a mixed number. I likened that whole number to the Holy Spirit.
Naturally the next thing my kids wanted to know was how to make Jesus increase in us.
What can we do to strengthen and edify the spirit man in us and maybe weaken the carnal man, the flesh?
Well, to start with, the Bible tells us in Ephesian 1:13 that if you have trusted in Jesus for your salvation, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
You were sealed with the Holy Spirit, so it is not about how much of the Holy Spirit you can get, but how much of you He can get, it about how much you will be sensitive and submissive to the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 5:8 tells us that “Though he were a Son, Jesus learned obedience by the things which he suffered;” and I believe obedience to the Lord is key.
Obedience starts with obeying what is known, that which is written, the word of God, and continues with being led by the Holy Spirit as the scriptures tells us in Romans 8:14
You all know how to read and write, so start reading the word of God. Jesus said this John 14:15“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”. How can you know what His commandments are if you haven’t read His book? If you say you love Jesus, then read His word, know what He expects of you.
As you continue to be faithful in renewing your mind in the word of God, the will of God will be made clearer to you. The more you act in the will of God, the more Jesus is manifested through you to the lost world, and the more glory our Heavenly Father will get.
It is interesting to note that after God told Abraham to “Get out of his country, from his family and from his father’s house,” God does not speak with Abraham until lot departs from him, until his obedience is complete.
So obedience is key because it allows Jesus to grow and manifest more in you.
The Bible is actually food for your spirit! Jesus Himself is the word that became flesh. In Hebrews 5:13-14, Paul referred to spiritual food and spiritual growth when he said that “solid food” belongs to those who are “full of age,” and “milk” belongs to those who are “babes.” 1 Peter 2:2 — “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow therebye.”
The King James Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:4 that “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.” And the 20th verse in Jude tells us “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”
These are ways that Jesus can increase, and of course, one of the greatest benefits of fasting is that the carnal man and the lust of the flesh is starved and if done in conjunction with reading the word, praying in the Holy Spirit, the spirit man gains great ascendancy.
It is almost as if you are reducing the value of the denominator, while increasing the numerator at the same time.
So let us start by doing what we know to do, that is read the word of God, not for academic gain or knowledge, but so that we get to know Jesus, and the more we know Him, the more He increases in us.
Get yourself to a Bible believing church that preaches the unadulterated word of God. If you do not know any, please get in touch with me. Let me know where you live.
Pray for boldness as the early disciples and the apostles did to manifest Jesus to the whole world. And always remember what John the Baptist said’ He must increase and I must decrease.
May our lives be like the improper fraction, with more of Jesus and less of us. God bless you.