From the moment we enter the workforce, we are taught that progress is measured by what we add to our lives, more influence, more public visibility, more status, and more validation from the people around us. We are conditioned to believe that if we are not constantly expanding our personal territory, we are falling behind. We carry this same mentality into our spiritual walk, mistakenly believing that Christian maturity is a process of building a more impressive version of ourselves. We think that if we can just polish our testimonies, sharpen our prayers, and maintain a confident, unshakable outward posture, we have arrived at a place of true strength.
But there is a radically different path, one that defies every instinct of the human ego. It is a path stated by John the Baptist, modeled by the Apostle Paul, and echoed in the teachings of modern voices like Rev. Dr. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Dsc. DSc DD., and Pastor Shervin and so many more. It is the John the Baptist shift: The realization that true, lasting transformation in the life of a believer does not come from building yourself up, but from intentionally choosing to fade away so that the life of Christ can take center stage.
The Core of the Shift
To understand this, we must look at the profound humility found in the words of John the Baptist. In John 3: 25-35, his disciples come to him with a sense of urgency, concerned that the crowds who once followed their leader were now flocking to Jesus. They were operating from the common human assumption that success is measured by the number of people in your corner. But John’s response reveals a heart that was completely detached from the need for prominence.
He reminds them that a man can receive absolutely nothing unless it is granted to him from heaven. He reaffirms his role, stating clearly that he was never the main attraction; he was merely the one sent to prepare the path. John concludes with a statement that has become the absolute standard for every life that seeks to be genuinely filled with the presence of God: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
This is not a suggestion for the casual observer; it is the fundamental law of the spiritual life. You can not have two centers of gravity in one soul. If your life is organized around the expansion of your own interests, the protection of your reputation, and the promotion of your personal narrative, there is simply no space left for the influence of the Savior to take hold. Decreasing is not a sign of failure; it is the only way to make room for the fullness of Christ to manifest in your daily walk.
The Illusion of the Polished Persona
In one of his videos, Pastor Shervin brought this reality to light when he examined the letters of the Apostle Paul. He pointed out that while we often view Paul as the ultimate model of spiritual success, but his own self-evaluation seems to follow a trajectory that was moving in the opposite direction of what the world would call “progress.”
In his first letter, Paul introduced himself as an apostle. Seven years later, he referred to himself as the least of the apostles. And five years after that, he called himself less than the least of all the Lord’s people. Finally, at the end of his life, he identified himself as the worst of sinners.
Pastor Shervin’s observation is striking: the longer Paul walked with Christ, the smaller he became in his own eyes, and the larger Christ became in his life. Many believers are trapped in a cycle of pretending. They believe maturity means having all their problems solved, showing off an impeccable outward image, and acting as if they no longer struggle.
But the path Paul walked teaches us that genuine maturity is the moment you finally stop pretending. It is the moment you accept that your struggles do not disqualify you; rather, your honesty about your need for Christ is what invites His presence to fill you.
When you stop trying to project an image of perfection, you create the conditions for the John the Baptist shift. You move away from the performance of the “polished persona” and toward the reality of a life lived in authentic surrender.
That the holy scriptures did not attempt to hide/cover up the occasional misdeeds of the patriarchs is in itself doctrine to us. The doctrine is NOT that we should indulge in misdeeds (lol), but rather to show us the disposition of God toward us.
While Abraham is attested to as the father of faith, the scriptures yet record his moments of doubt. God isn’t looking for people who would wear make-up, putting on a show of perfection. He loves honesty, sincerity, progress, and growth. It only becomes an issue when we are stuck and refuse to make progress.
They want picture-perfect Christians and that’s why hypocrites are increasing everywhere. We don’t ALLOW people to grow; we want them to pretend that they are mature. Sadly, many Christians have perfected the art and do it well. For others who can’t keep up, they get frustrated with living double lives and just “free” themselves. They backslide, but did they really backslide? Nah, they just “Real”-slide. That’s who they’ve always been, but because you wanted a drama, they gave you what you wanted. It’s actually shame on you!
Imagine, for instance, that a fellow church member tells you, do you know I have issues with lust? I can hardly see a beautiful lady without thinking of bedding her, and you go, “What? After all these years? That’s quite a shame. After all the word you are hearing? You mean when you see sisters in the church, that’s what runs through your mind?” bla bla bla.
Well, thinkest thou that, that brother would tell thee anymore of his struggles as a Christian? Nay, verily verily I say unto thee, he shall pretend, and he shall be lost in his lust.
Continue Reading: The Growth Of The Believer Should Not Be Built On Pretense
Changing the Arrangement
This shift in our internal arrangement is the key to solving the persistent problems that plague our daily life. My dear man of God, Rev. Dr. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome Dsc. DSc DD., provides a crucial insight here; he explains that the temptations we face, whether they manifest as a pull toward habits like smoking or a desire to lie, steal, or run after relationships that are clearly not in alignment with our purpose, are not actually the primary problem.
The primary issue, he said, is a shift in our spiritual proportions: our spiritual condition has decreased, while the fleshy interest and concerns have increased. When we allow worldly desires, our anxieties, and our selfish ambitions to consume the space in our minds, we effectively starve our spirit.
Pastor Chris notes that the salvation of our spirit has already been fully purchased; the real task is taking responsibility for the possession of our soul. Man is a spirit who possesses a soul and lives in a body. If we allow the “arrangement” of our life to prioritize the needs of the soul and body over the promptings of the spirit, we will constantly find ourselves overwhelmed by temptations.
The John the Baptist shift requires us to flip this arrangement. By intentionally “decreasing” our obsession with the issues of the flesh and “increasing” our focus on the reality of the life already secured in our spirit, we see the obstacles that once seemed too big begin to fade. It is not that you need another salvation; you need to live out the one you already have by keeping your spirit at the center of your consciousness.
In the walk of faith, one of the most significant points of confusion for many believers is the persistence of old habits and thoughts after they have given their lives to Christ. Some people assume that because we are “new creatures,” our minds should automatically be purged of every negative inclination. But as My Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, DSc, DD, has profoundly taught, there is a vital distinction between the recreation of the spirit and the renewal of the mind.
If you do not understand this distinction, you will live a life of frustration, constantly doubting your salvation because of the dirty thoughts or old tempers that still surface in your mental space. To move from a life of struggle to a life of victory, you must understand the blueprint for spiritual transformation: First the spirit, and then the mind.
As My Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc, DSc, DD, explains, when you were born again, it was not your body that was born again, and it was not your mind that was born again; it was your spirit. Your spirit is the part of you that was made brand new, created in righteousness and true holiness.
However, many Christians fall into a Mental Trap. They feel a supernatural shift in their spirit the moment they are saved, but three weeks later, they find themselves thinking the same wrong thoughts or feeling the same old urges they used to have. Because they do not understand that the mind remained the same, they allow the devil to convince them that they are not truly Christians. And then they give up on going to church and give up on God because they are waiting for a mental change that has not been worked for.
The Man of God, Pastor Chris makes it clear: Your spirit is perfect, but your mind is still the old you until you take the responsibility to change it.
Continue Reading: First the Spirit, Then the Mind: A Lesson from The Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
The Identity of the Crucified Life
The Apostle Paul provided the theological anchor for this way of life in his letter to the Galatians in Galatians 2:20. He wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
And this is the ultimate realization of the “I must decrease” mindset. Crucifixion is not an incremental adjustment; it is an ending. To live by faith in the Son of God means that your old way of evaluating success, your old way of defending your ego, and your old way of fighting for your own prominence must be put to death. The “I” that wants to be seen, the “I” that wants to be validated by the crowd, and the “I” that seeks to control its own destiny must be moved off the throne to make room for Christ.
When you begin to live from this place of surrender, you realize that your purpose is not something you have to manufacture through your own willpower. It is something that flows out of the life of Christ living within you. You stop “beating the air,” as Paul described his own disciplined life, and you start moving with the intent and direction that only a Spirit-led life can provide. You stop competing with the runners in the other lanes because you realize that your race is defined entirely by the fire you are carrying.
Prioritizing the Light Over the Look
In the race of life, many people are running at lightspeed while carrying absolutely no internal fire. They have traded their integrity for velocity, and their purpose for public applause. We see them zooming past us, younger, richer, and more famous, and we are tempted to feel inadequate. But as I have explored in my previous article, we can not see their hands. They may look like they are holding onto something precious, but their fire went out miles ago.
The John the Baptist shift invites you to prioritize the light over the look. It is better to move deliberately, and with your flame intact, than to run at lightspeed with a dead heart.
The pressures of the world, what we might call the “wind, or temptation,” will always seek to blow out your light. This wind comes in the form of compromise, comparison, neglect, lust, and addiction. It tells you that it is fine to cut corners “just this once,” or that your value depends on what someone else has achieved. And if you are not intentional about your stewardship, the very speed of your life can become the wind that extinguishes your purpose.
You must be willing to slow down when the pressure becomes too strong. You must be willing to stand flat on your own path and protect the “why” behind your “what.”
Stewardship in the Dark World
Matthew 5:14-16 tells us clearly: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill can not be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The accountability of a life on fire is the realization that you are a carrier of light in a dark world. When you choose to decrease for Christ to increase, you are not choosing to vanish; you are choosing to become the stand that holds the lamp so that Christ can shine. Your good deeds, your integrity, and your quiet resolve to do great things are not meant to bring glory to your name. They are meant to point directly to the Father.
If you have kept your fire burning through the heat of the forge, through the seasons of betrayal, and through the long nights of quiet persistence, you have succeeded, regardless of what the world says about your speed. The Great Examiner at the end of your race will not check your trophies, your bank statements, or your social media mentions. He will look for the glow. He will look to see if the flame He entrusted to you is still burning.
Read Also: The Joseph Stand: Consecration in the Face of Temptation
Read Also: How to Win Against Lust as a Christian
Read Also: The Math of Misery: Why Comparison Destroys Your Peace
Conclusion
The race we are in is temporary, but the flame we carry is eternal. Every day, you have a choice to make: will you spend your energy building a taller monument to yourself, or will you spend it making room for the increase of Christ?
Stop looking at the runners in the other lanes. They may seem faster, but you do not know if their flame still burns. Your task is not to beat them; your task is to keep your light, protect your purpose, guard your integrity, and shield your peace. If you have to walk to keep the flame alive, then walk. If you have to crawl, then crawl. Do not let the “wind” of this world convince you that speed is the reward.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 reminds us to run in such a way as to get the prize. It is a life of strict training, not for a crown that will perish, but for one that lasts forever. So, my dearest readers, we do not run aimlessly. We strike a blow to the desires of the flesh and make our bodies our servants, ensuring that even after we have preached to others, we are not disqualified.
Make the John the Baptist shift today. Accept that you have been bought by the Bridegroom, and let your joy be found in His voice rather than in the applause of the crowd. Let your old self fade, let your ego decrease, and let the life of Christ become the most prominent, influential, and undeniable reality of your existence.
The race is passing, the world is waiting for the light, and your Father is watching for the glow. Run accordingly! Study His Word! Learn! Decrease to that He will increase in your life!
