Do You See What I See?

Prayer

Lens of a Conspiracy

If you believe a conspiracy to be true - I mean, really believe. You’re a true believer, then it will absolutely color the way you see world and everyone else around.

For instance, if you’d bought wholesale to McCarthyism, Red Scare, that there were Communists who had infiltrated every level of government and all the major institutions of American society - it would affect the way you’d look at all those things.

You’d have to be careful which movies you watched…looking to see if you could catch coded language woven into plot (after all, if a Commie is making this movie, sure to be propaganda).

Same thing with newspapers - could you really trust them? Better find an alternate source of news, a reliable source (sounds a little familiar, doesn’t it?!)

Government officials would have to be worst. Scrutinize what they say in speeches or what legislation they’re trying to pass.

Impact the way you saw your neighbors, eye them with a little more suspicion, especially if they had telltale signs…hair’s too long…don’t fly their American flag on all the appropriate holidays…university they went to, drive foreign car.

Change how you acted based on what you believe to be true

True for us as well, if we believe - true believers - in what Dallas Willard calls, the divine conspiracy. That God is working out his great plot to rule world, but all largely behind the scenes, almost in the dark, unnoticed by most. This is great conspiracy.

Bible talks about it in terms of the coming of the Kingdom of God - that Jesus is the true king, that he is Lord of heaven and earth, and he will one day reign absolutely over everything and everyone - in the heavens and on the earth and under the earth. And that it’s happening, right now, here, in our midst.

Conspiracy because most people are completely unaware. Have no clue it’s happening.

Reason we’re calling it The Christmas Conspiracy is because it really begins here at Christmas, with the birth of Jesus. We talked a couple of weeks ago that even though heaven was paying huge attention - they were locked in - to his birth, most of the world was asleep (literally and figuratively), had no idea that the True King of all world was being born that night.

That’s not even the whole conspiracy - as we talked about last week, he’s coming back! He’s going to fulfill his reign, everything under his will, everyone having to give account to God, who is Judge of all.

And for those who’ve been eagerly awaiting his return, who are true believers in this great divine conspiracy, they (we, I hope and pray) are going to share in his divine life and power and glory and reign with him forever in his kingdom. That’s it. That’s the divine conspiracy.

This morning I want to dig in more about what it looks like to believe the Christmas Conspiracy. Message about faith. Really, faith in action - because what you believe, truly believe, will be revealed in your actions.

Just like those true blue McCarthyites, and idea that Communists were everywhere colored way they saw the world and how they acted, that’s true for us as well.

This is our main point this morning, that faith - by faith, I mean trusting, relying is always proved by our actions. Faith in Jesus means embracing Divine Conspiracy. It’s demonstrated by our actions. Does the reality of Kingdom of God and its coming color the way we see everything and how we live our lives.

Let’s talk a little bit about faith. A great way to do that is by looking at Hebrews 11, great faith chapter of the Bible. As we look at first part of Hebrews 11, we’re going to see three things. One, a definition of what faith is. Two, examples of people who lived by faith, and three, what their faith was in, what these people were trusting to be true.

First, what faith is - right in beginning, Hebrews 11:1-2 -Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

Confidence in what we hope for, assurance, certainty of what we do not see

To be clear, this is not talking about blind faith. I believe it just because I believe it. This is not faith without reason or evidence.

Faith in things that are unseen, things that are beyond the physical. Things that cannot be tested, not subject scientific method.

All of us believe - are certain of - things we can’t see or touch or taste or hear. If you believe that love is true thing. Justice is real (actions and decisions are truly just or unjust). Beauty. Truth itself (the truth).

Faith is being certain that these unseen things exist.

Faith is always demonstrated by action, so the writer of Hebrews then takes us through a list of people who demonstrated their faith by what they did, Faith Hall of Fame. Let me give you three of those examples.

Hebrews 11:4, By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.

Two brothers, both of whom made offerings to God, but somehow Abel’s offering was better, pleasing to God. Because he made his offering in faith - even though he couldn’t see God, trusted God was there, offered it with a heart believing that and wanting to please God.

Rather than just going through the motions, it’s simply a ritual you’re supposed to perform (clearly more of Abel’s heart). You can see how same thing might be true of how we come to worship and offer all we do in worship…(sing songs - to God, more worried about others around me, listening right now…)

vs. 7, Noah - By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

When you’re on this side of the story, it’s clear that Noah should have built the ark.

But can you imagine building a 300 foot boat in the miles from the ocean when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky?!? It would have taken him years! Can you even begin to imagine the ridicule and mockery he had to endure from this neighbors? They would have thought he was biggest fool ever (Captain Conspiracy himself)

When warned about things not yet seen, by faith Noah...

v. 8, By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

God said to Abraham, Just go. Leave your homeland. Leave all your family. Go. Where am I going? I’ll let you know when you get there. Just go. Abraham didn’t know where he was going. Couldn’t see it. But he packed up his stuff and got his family together and they went.

Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

None of these people saw what God was promising. They trusted God would be good to his word. And they acted on that faith. Abel made his sacrifice. Noah built one heck of a big boat. And Abraham just went, didn’t even know where to, he just went. And this is just the beginning of the list, the chapter goes on for 32 more verses.

Here’s critical part. Not just that they had faith, trust, that was demonstrated by their actions - but who they trusted. What did they hope for? What was it that they couldn’t see, but were so certain of?

Because the question isn’t just, do you have faith (we all do) but what or who do you believe in?

Most of us trust ourselves a lot - we trust our judgment, what we think is right, or that we know what is best for ourselves. We’re told that all the time…follow your heart, as if it were most reliable indicator of what is best for you.

As a culture, we have tremendous amount of trust in science. The science says. We always want the science on our side, because what are you supposed to trust? The science. Problem is, we think science can answer questions far beyond its scope - who we are as humans? What’s our purpose? What’s right and wrong? Science can tell us a great many things, but it cannot answer those questions.

We might trust wealth or karma or some other principle.

But in this passage we see two things foundational for faith in God, trusting him.

v. 3 - By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

It starts right here, with this: I believe in God the Father, the maker of heaven and earth (I hope that sounds familiar, Apostles’ Creed).

I don’t think I can convey to you how significant, how central that claim is. Claim that all of reality - everything that you look around and see. Everything that has ever existed…Everything that we can’t even begin to see because it’s so stinkin’ far away! All of this exists because God said so.

Because He is Lord and he commanded it to be. And so it came to be. By his word and for his purposes.

Frank Turek, a Christian apologist, likes to say that this is the big miracle. That if this is true, if God did this, then all of the other miracles in the Bible are small potatoes in comparison. If God can create everything that exists out of nothing, then God can raise Lazarus from the dead and make water into wine and feed thousands with 5 loaves and two small fish. Piece of cake.

And what this says is that God is basis of reality itself. This is a God-saturated world. His fingerprints are all over the place.

Beth sent a picture to our spiritual formation group of a beautiful sunrise that appeared this past week. She was so good to recognize it as God’s handiwork. All part of the conspiracy.

This is where we’re starting to get sense of what it means that this divine conspiracy colors everything that we see, way we look at everything. We see God’s glory and beauty all around us - because it’s there.

Faith perspective - I didn’t see God create everything, I can’t prove it (though there’s good evidence for it I think), but I’m certain. I know he did it. Just by saying the word.

Final passage, speaks to what’s foundational to faith in God, this divine conspiracy: Hebrews 11:13-16

People looking for a country of their own. People longing for a better county - a heavenly one.

Faith in promise of better country, God’s Kingdom - place where God reigns, all his people gathered together, living willingly, joyfully in his presence and under his reign - that’s what that they were looking forward to. That’s Divine Conspiracy. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

To believe, to be certain about that which you can’t see yet, is to live trusting that Jesus will indeed reign on heaven and earth. To welcome that from a distance.

Abraham could have gone back to the country he was from, back to homeland. He had opportunity to return. But he didn’t. Same is true for us - we don’t live in way of world, we act out our faith by living in obedience to Jesus as he teaches us Kingdom way - because we know Kingdom of God is coming, he will reign.

If you go back to Jesus’ teaching on Sermon on the Mount - invitation into the Kingdom Life

Everywhere Jesus went, offered invitation to enter into the Kingdom of God - repent and believe, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.

He was preaching divine conspiracy - you couldn’t see it. Still can’t.

Living in Kingdom Way, live in obedience to Jesus - even (especially) when it makes no sense. Showing that we’re true believers, acting on our faith that Jesus is True King, his Kingdom is coming, and that’s country I want to be a part.

Love others who (we think) can’t do anything for us (least of these)…Capernaum, genuine friendships, love those different from us. Most people who spend time with those with special needs, family or those paid to do so (not questioning their care).

Live in grace, willingness to forgive others. Let go of anger and desire to get back.

Live not seeking admiration, approval of others (God’s reward is enough)

Live without worry

Live without deceit, covering up, making myself look better or innocent

When more and more, we start living this way, know we’re full in on the conspiracy. See world through the lens of reality of God and his kingdom. See others through that lens (worthy of love, desire to serve). See suffering and difficult circumstances through that lens (Paul - suffering we’re enduring can not be compared to glory that will be revealed in us). See my money and time - stewards.

Main Point. Christmas is a revolutionary holiday. While most of the world slept, the True King came into world. That’s divine conspiracy, he’s come to establish his Kingdom. As we trust that, change how we live - faith into action.

Spiritual Disciplines - Core Values is Lived Obedience to Jesus (faith in action), put your faith into action. Live the conspiracy!

Is there something in your life you know you should be acting in faith (internal nudge, recurring thought, I know I should)

Be obedient to that. Act in faith.

AIM - Ambition, Intention, Method: What is it you want to do, intend on doing it (make the commitment), follow though by making a plan and putting it into action - method (how exactly will you be obedient to God)

Attend worship regularly. Pray more often. Relational.

Live in delight in God

One of our measures (Vision Framework) - Mind captured by the reality of God and his kingdom. Dallas Willard describes this as a mind enthralled with Jesus, with who he is and what he’s done. We do this because relationships are rooted in trust. More enthralled, greater desire to know and follow.

Enjoy God, being in his presence, his good gifts. Think about how you might eat a meal - you can just wolf it down or you can savor it, eating more slowly. Or a scene of beauty - “that’s nice” and move on. Or you can take time to gaze, delight in it.

Notice time element - you can’t be with God in a hurry.

Spend some time in God’s creation this week. Be attentive to gifts of God you receive throughout the week - and savor them, offering quiet prayers of praise and thanksgiving. Those gifts are everywhere (God saturated world! - this building! people around you, glory of his creation, your pets, my car, unexpected gifts). As you engage in Scripture, be attentive to who God is.

Let me finish with this- We’re worshiping in our new church home this morning because of all people who got in on the divine conspiracy, who chose to act in faith, because of their longing for the better country, see world through lens of Kingdom of God.

People in this congregation who chose to keep praying even when it seemed impossible that we would get this building. I know there are people who’ve been praying a long time for this. When it first came on our radar, I was asked how would pay for it…I didn’t know. When someone made an offer before we could (the first time), Session made decision to keep praying that God would bless us with this building. Kept praying after second time someone made an offer before we could.

And then God really blew us away - we never dreamed God would simply gift us this building. That, too, was faith in action - result of the generosity of a man who lives in Kingdom way. Woody was here Thursday evening…I’ve been blessed by God far beyond what he ever imagined, wants to share in that blessing. He believes that generosity is at the very heart of Kingdom of God.

It’s been so much fun sharing this story with folks - because it’s such an amazing God story. I talked about this when we first broke the news that buying the building - that we need to make sure that this event becomes one of our spiritual markers, one of those family stories we keep sharing over and over about God’s faithfulness.

Because we’re going to need to remember that when we need volunteers to help clean, mow the lawn, make repairs and improvements!

Because this is the type of story that makes you a true believer, someone who’s full on in the The Christmas Conspiracy (the True King is coming), willing to put their faith into action. Let’s be those kind of people.