..increase, but I must decrease.

Music Link:     https://youtu.be/7UhQEjmVfBc

Following scriptures taken from: 

LINK:     https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/verses/id/395/john-baptist-verses.htm

Bible Verses about John the Baptist

• John 3:26-30
      And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond      the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all      are coming to Him!” John answered and said, "A man can receive      nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear      me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent      before Him.' He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the      bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the      bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but      I must decrease.
   
• Isaiah 40:3
      The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
      " Prepare the way of the LORD;
      Make straight in the desert
      A highway for our God.
  
   
• Matthew 11:2-14
      And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two      of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we      look for another?" Jesus answered      and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and      see: The blind see and the lame      walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf      hear; the dead are raised up and the poor      have the gospel preached      to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” As they      departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did      you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what      did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who      wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you      go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For      this is he of whom it is written:
  ‘ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
  Who will prepare Your way before You.’ 'Assuredly, I say to      you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John      the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom      of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the      Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the      law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to receive it, he      is Elijah who is to come.
   
• John 1:6-8
      There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This      man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him      might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to      bear witness of that Light.
   
• John 1:19-36
      Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites      from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny,      but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are      you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered,      “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to      those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am
  ‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
  “ Make straight the way of the LORD,”’ as the prophet Isaiah      said.” Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked      him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor      Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, saying, “I baptize with      water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who,      coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not      worthy to loose.” These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan,      where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him,      and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a      Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ I did not know Him;      but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with      water.” And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from      heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. I did not know Him, but He      who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the      Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the      Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”      Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at      Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
   
• Malachi 3:1
      "Behold, I send My messenger,
      And he will prepare the way before Me.
      And the Lord, whom you seek,
      Will suddenly come to His temple,
      Even the Messenger of the covenant,
      In whom you delight.
      Behold, He is coming,"
      Says the LORD of hosts.
  
   
• Malachi 4:5-6
      Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
      Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
      And he will turn
      The hearts of the fathers to the children,
      And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
      Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.'
   
• Matthew 3:1-11
      In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,      and saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!' For this is he      who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
  “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
  ‘ Prepare the way of the LORD;
  Make His paths straight.’” Now John himself was clothed in      camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was      locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region      around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan,      confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees      coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned      you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,      and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.'      For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from      these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees.      Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown      into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who      is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to      carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
   
• Luke 3:3-9
      And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of      repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the      words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:
  “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
  ‘ Prepare the way of the LORD;
  Make His paths straight.
  Every valley shall be filled
  And every mountain and hill brought low;
  The crooked places shall be made straight
  And the rough ways smooth;
  And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” Then      he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of      vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear      fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves,      "We have Abraham as our father." For I say to      you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.      And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree      which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
   
• Matthew 17:10-13
      And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say      that Elijah must come first?" Jesus answered and said to them,      "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I      say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did      to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to      suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that He spoke      to them of John the Baptist.
   
• Mark 1:2-12
      As it is written in the Prophets:
  "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
  Who will prepare Your way before You."
  "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
  'Prepare the way of the LORD;
  Make His paths straight.'" John came baptizing in the      wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of      sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to      him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their      sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt      around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached,      saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose      sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptized      you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." It      came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth      of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately,      coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit      descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, "You      are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Immediately the      Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.
   
• Luke 1:5-25
      There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named      Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the      daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they      were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and      ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth      was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. So it was, that      while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,      according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense      when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the      people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the      Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.      And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear      fell upon him. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid,      Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you      a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and      gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the      sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will      also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he      will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will      also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the      hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to      the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared      for the Lord." And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I      know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in      years." And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who      stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you      these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak      until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my      words which will be fulfilled in their own time." And the people      waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.      But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that      he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained      speechless. So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed,      that he departed to his own house. Now after those days his wife Elizabeth      conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, "Thus the Lord      has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to      take away my reproach among people."
   
• Luke 1:76-80
      "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
      For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
      To give knowledge of salvation to His people
      By the remission of their sins,
      Through the tender mercy of our God,
      With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
      To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
      To guide our feet into the way of peace." So the child grew and became strong in      spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to      Israel.
   
• John 1:15
      John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I      said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before      me.’”
   
• Mark 6:14-27
      Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well      known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and      therefore these powers are at work in him.” Others said, “It is Elijah.”      And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.” But      when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been      raised from the dead!” For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John,      and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s      wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, “It is not      lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Therefore Herodias held it      against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared      John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he      protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him      gladly. Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast      for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of      Galilee. And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and      pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask      me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” He also      swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my      kingdom.” So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And      she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” Immediately she came in with      haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the      head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly      sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who      sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an      executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded      him in prison,
   
• Luke 3:16-18
      John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One      mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He      will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in      His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather      the wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable      fire.” And with many other exhortations he preached to the people.
   
• Matthew 9:14
      Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the      Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
   
• Matthew 14:2-4
      and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the      dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had laid      hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the      sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Because John had said to him,      “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
   
• Matthew 16:14
      So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah,      and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
   
• Matthew 21:32
      For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe      him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you      did not afterward relent and believe him.
   
• Mark 2:18
      The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came      and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast,      but Your disciples do not fast?”
   
• Mark 8:28
      So they answered, 'John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah;      and others, one of the prophets.'
   
• Luke 1:36-38
      Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old      age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For      with God nothing will be impossible." Then Mary said, "Behold      the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word."      And the angel departed from her.
   
• Luke 1:67
      Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied,      saying:
  
   
• Luke 7:20
      When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to      You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’”
   
• Luke 7:28-30
      For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet      than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom      of God is greater than he.” And when all the people heard Him, even      the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of      John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for      themselves, not having been baptized by him.
   
• Luke 7:33
      For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you      say, 'He has a demon.'
   
• Luke 9:7
      Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was      perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
   
• Luke 16:16
      "The law and the prophets were until John. Since      that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing      into it.
   
• John 10:41
      Then many came to Him and said, “John performed no sign, but all the      things that John spoke about this Man were true.”
   
• Acts 1:4-5
      And being assembled together with them, He commanded them      not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father,      'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me; for John truly      baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not      many days from now.”
   
• Acts 1:22
      beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from      us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
   
• Acts 10:37
      that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began      from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
   
• Acts 11:16
      Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized      with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
   
• Acts 13:24-25
      after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of      repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his      course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But      behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not      worthy to loose.’
   
• Acts 18:25
      This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in      spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he      knew only the baptism of John.
   
• Acts 19:4
      Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying      to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him,      that is, on Christ Jesus.”
   
• Mark 11:32
      But if we say, 'From men'"—they feared the people, for all counted      John to have been a prophet indeed.
   
• Luke 3:12
      Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher,      what shall we do?”
   
• John 3:23-24
      Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much      water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been      thrown into prison.
   
• John 5:35
      He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to      rejoice in his light.
   

Related Scriptures

• 1 Kings 18:21
      And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you      falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow      Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a      word.
   
• John 3:25
      Then there arose a dispute between some of John's      disciples and the Jews about purification.
   
• 1 Kings 18:37-39
      Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the      LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts      back to You again.” Then the fire of the LORD fell and      consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust,      and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now      when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and      they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD,      He is God!"

Interesting Link:    https://youtu.be/nLpi1RBIg6s

In other words, had John Lennon never made that statement he might still be living today!

(Do you really think that God is going to allow someone to deceive a generation of youth into believing that a “Pop Star,” deserves greater recognition and adoration than a creator who is wishing that no soul would perish into Eternal Damnation?  And although God isn't the author of death, he may allow it to happen.)

Be careful what you wish for!

1 Peter 3:10      New Living Translation

10 For the Scriptures say,

“If you want to enjoy life
   and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
   and your lips from telling lies.

James 3:1-6     New Living Translation

3 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

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(Sorry, I thought that I had already deleted the 2nd half of this paper a few days ago. I deleted it, but didn't re-publish the changes. )

Nevertheless, today is a new day!

2nd Music Link:         https://youtu.be/Q-ChyH9RHfY

Philippians 1:23    New Living Translation

23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

Romans 7:24     English Standard Version

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Awwwwwww, C'mon for goodness' sake....

3rd Music Link:     https://youtu.be/9te_6kUZqgY   

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