Operation Paranoia (2)

Video Daughter Daddy campout

No truer words have very been said.

I can think of nothing more exhausting than unrealistic Paranoia.(Same as Extreme self centeredness)

The dictionary describes this as a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance.

This leads to an unwarented fear of having

Turn to the person next to you and say You have already Won!

Turn to the person next to you and say You have already Won!

People who live in a paranoid state tend to:

Live in a constant sate of conspiracy.

Live in a constant sate of conspiracy.

See everyone through suspicious eyes

Fight to hold on to what they have.

Finally they Live as though Hope is an illusion instead of a reality

Paranoia keeps people form:

Developing close friendships

Trusting people in authority

Believing that life is good

Being a productive part of the lives of other people.

The problem with this is that instead of living in paranoia we are called to live in Victory, hope, joy, peace and live as over-comers. Jesus has overcome the world we say but many Christians live as though we can still lose….

Paranoia is an effective Killer of Hope in believers and non believers alike. Because it places them as the most important person in life.

In order to Live a Life of Restored Hope some of us need to come face to face with the reality that our paranoid state is unreasonable and embrace allowing God to restore hope in our lives.

He wants to do this and he can do it for anyone that wants a lasting hope in their lives.

People that allow Jesus to do what He came to do in their lives have no reason to Fear anything that can happen in this life. People that allow Jesus to do what He came to do will experience hope even in troubled time.

Our scripture is probably the greatest example of how damaging paranoias can be in our lives.

New Living Translation Chapter 2

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,

for a ruler will come from you

who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ”

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

The Escape to Egypt

13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14 That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, 15 and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”

16 Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. 17 Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “A cry was heard in Ramah—

weeping and great mourning.

Rachel weeps for her children,

refusing to be comforted,

for they are dead.”

This narrative points out a few things that are very relevant for us today.

People that allow their imagination to run away with them are willing to hurt anyone to maintain the status quo

Herod was seized with fear and jealousy over the idea that Jesus had been born. Even though he grew up with the same stories about the coming messiah it was clear that Herod was more interested in holding on to power than he was about God’s will for the world.

Herod’s Paranoia lead him to some pretty egregious behavior. Herod was so paranoid about losing his throne that he had two of his sons and his wife killed because he feared they were trying to over throw him.

It was said that it was safer to be Herod’s Pig than it was to be his son…Herod even though not very devout would not eat pork…but he would kill his son and as we read other children as well.

This is why when every time Herod was troubled the whole of Israel was troubled. The populous knew that if Herod was fearful people would die.

These two realities lead to Herod doing the unthinkable. First He was willing to go to war with God.

Second He was willing to inflict incredible harm on others to maintain power.

This is what paranoia does to people…it convinces them that everyone is a threat whether is true or not.

The crazy part about all of this is the Herod had not reason to be paranoid. In fact if Herod would have embraced Jesus it would have been to his credit…solidifying him as a hero instead of a monster.

Jesus could have been a joyous fulfillment to Herod as a Jew but instead He viewed him as a threat.

The same is true of us. We have no need to be paranoid if we maintain our focus on what God is focused on. Not our comfort, or preferences but on the eternal condition of the World.

God is always one step ahead of the Paranoid

First God warned the Wise men not to return to Herod

Second God warned Joseph to Flee to Egypt.

Quick Response leads to more hope

All of these warning would have been useless had they not obeyed immediately.

The wise men did not wait the went back home strait away.

Joseph Got up immediately and pack his things and left.

People that allow Jesus to do what He came to do in their lives have no reason to Fear anything that can happen in this life. People that allow Jesus to do what He came to do will experience hope even in troubled time.

Actively Participate in activities that promote hope.

Inactivity produce lack of trust and loneliness

When we are actively involved in what God is doing the enemy does not get a foothold in the mind.

Further more Activity participating in God’s work

Pray! Not for others to get it right but pray for God to reveal how you can support the mission of His Church.

Figure out what is essential to the Christian life (Essentials Class)

We are meant for Hope…Jesus wants to replace the paranoia that overwhelms you fill you with a confidence that overwhelms the world with Hope in troubled times.

Like Herod there is no need to believe that everyone is out to get you. There is not need to believe that your faith is in danger.

In fact if your biggest fear is that the message of Jesus will be taken from you or that your Christian Heritage is on the verge of extinction Satan already has a foothold in you mind with paranoia.

This does not make you crazy or weak or unfaithful. Unless you continue to sit on the sidelines instead of engaging in the mission of the Church.

Everyone can engage. It does not matter your age, health, busy schedule or economic ability.

All that matters is your desire to live a life of Hope already won for us by Jesus.

Altar Response

Communion

The Table of the Lord represents not only sacrifice but the Victory because of Sacrifice.

Here is the table of the Lord, we are gathered to his supper, a foretaste of things eternal.

Here is the table of the Lord, we are gathered to his supper, a foretaste of things eternal.

Come, when you are fearful, to be made new in love. Come, when you are doubtful, to be made strong in faith. Come, when you are regretful, and be made whole. Come, old and young, there is room for all