THRIVE: Acting in Faith
Written by Ed Allen
Sunday, 01 February 2009 09:00
Sermons - THRIVE: A Field Guide to Uncertain Times
Sermon Notes
HEBREWS 11
In his inaugural address last week, President Obama called on us as a nation to “shape an uncertain future.” Then in her poem written for the event, Elizabeth Alexander said, “We walk into that which we cannot yet see” – both of them reluctantly conceding that we are living in very, very uncertain times.
You have felt it ... in your pocketbook, in your marriage, in your health, in your plans, as you’ve watched the news, as you’ve talked with neighbors, as your circumstances have been upended. You know it.
Definition of Uncertain
- Uncertain is defined as: “1. indefinite, indeterminate; 2. not reliable, untrustworthy; 3. dubious; 4. not clearly identified or defined.”
These are not the kind of conditions we like. We have to be honest. In many ways we aren’t equipped to live in uncertain times! We like to be in control. We like to have a good plan and to be able to work our plan to completion. We like to know the outcomes. We feel relatively good under those conditions. But life simply doesn’t permit those conditions most of the time. Most of the time, we live with at least some degree of uncertainty. And usually we chaff and moan under conditions that are “indeterminate, and dubious and untrustworthy and not reliable.” And usually, we get through such conditions with a limp and a few new scars. But what if it were possible to do more than limp along? What if we could thrive in uncertainty? I believe we can if we take full advantage of the relationship with God that is available to us through what Jesus Christ has done. What if this were our definition for uncertain?(see screen)
"Redefinition" of Uncertain
- Uncertain: 1. not an obstacle 2. not the slightest hindrance to effectiveness 3. opportunity 4. conditions under which I THRIVE!
Last week we said that it is entirely possible to THRIVE in uncertainty! But before we even get started, we have to acknowledge that we will not begin to thrive by asking, “what can I do to feel better right now?” We cannot begin by asking, “How can I make the fear, or the anger, or the anxiety go away?” Instead, we have to begin by choosing to believe right things: (1) about God, (2) about the conditions around us and (3) about ourselves. And as we learn to believe right things, and then as we apply those beliefs – as we massage them into our daily lives – we will be able to thrive in whatever conditions we find ourselves.
“The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon.”
RAY SCHMIDT INTERVIEW
Dallas Willard is certainly right when he says: “The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon.” This is why our efforts to thrive in uncertain times begins with our thought life. That’s where we have the greatest influence in our relationship with God; that’s where we exercise the most influence over ourselves. And that’s why thriving in uncertain times begins with choosing to believe right information about God.
Every fear, every … has as a part of its foundation a wrong belief about God.
(last week: Harry Herndon lost job and Cindy Centreville teenage son) (Parable of the talents)
Thriving in uncertain times begins with choosing to believe right information about God.
That is the first and most important field guide observation.
Today we want to supplement that first key observation with two points that, hopefully, will bring it into a clearer light.
So, let’s spell that out a little. “In other words, in order to thrive in uncertain times we must base our actions and our decisions on an unshakable confidence in God’s promises and in God’s ways.”
This is exactly what we learn from the passage the kids read for us. Make no mistake. The author of this book is writing to a group of Christ-followers who were facing dire difficulties and grave uncertainty. We get a clear picture of that at the end of chapter 10.
Hebrews 10:33-35
These Christians were facing the very real prospect of loosing their homes and possessions or worse. So how were they able to stand firm in their faith? The way they were able to stand firm in their belief and in their way of life in spite of great difficulty and uncertainty was by knowing that they had a better life and better possessions in an unseen world than they could possibly have here in the immediate seen world. Even if they had everything they wanted in the seen world, it could not compare with the richness of what was available to them in the unseen world. You can gladly give up certain possessions if you know that by doing so you are securing even better possessions. It is simply not worth trading in something of far, far greater value for something of immediate and relatively little value.
But to feel this way you have to have some experience with and confidence in the thing of greater value. The recipients of the Hebrews letter were able to stand firm and even to thrive because they had had experience with God’s forgiveness, His power, His love and His freedom and they knew that he promised even more of the same. More importantly, they knew without question that these riches were far more valuable than their current possessions. In order to thrive, you have to have confidence in the promises and ways of God.
So does an unshakable confidence in God’s promises and His ways really make a difference in how we live day to day? Well, it has made a dramatic difference for Ray Schmidt. And Chapter 11 of Hebrews gives us a whole list of people who prove that living this way really makes a difference in life.
Abel’s worship, Enoch’s lifestyle, Noah’s obedience, Abraham’s obedience – both in going somewhere and in giving something without knowing the end result of either – Isaac’s blessing, Jacob’s blessing, and Joseph’s leadership and vision … all of it based on an unshakable confidence in God’s promises and God’s ways. All of it is built on what is not seen. And it made a dramatic difference in how they lived and they made a dramatic difference by how they lived. This is what’s available to us – even in uncertainty.
What is this unshakable confidence in God’s promises and God’s ways? How do we place more value in the riches that we cannot see, than in the very present riches we can see?
Faith is the organ which enables us to do this.
Just as physical eyesight produces conviction of visible things; faith is the organ which enables people to see the far-more-valuable invisible. A. W. Tozer said, “Faith is seeing the invisible, but not the nonexistent.”
- Blown away by the place of faith in Matthew readings
- Makes all the difference
- Don’t work for it, that is, don’t try to believe harder.
- You accept it! You receive it! Sometimes comes by inspiration and sometimes by desperation, but all you do is receive it!
- I don’t think we really want to thrive in uncertainty. We want the uncertainty to go away.
- I feel like God is saying: “In your uncertainty, I have been inviting you to greater faith and greater impact, but instead of receiving and believing my inspiration, instead of pursuing me in your desperation, you run away from your desperation. You cover it up and do anything you can to make it go away.”
- “I have invited you into the greatest adventure of all and you want a nice picnic in Reston Town Center.”
PRACTICAL STEPS - What do I do now?
- Examine your relationship with God.
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 - “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless of course you fail the test?”
- 2 Peter 1:10 - “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and your election sure.”
- Identify what God is saying to you.
- The heroes of chapter 11
- 2 Peter 1:10 “your calling”
- If you have an appetite for God’s ways, then what moves you? When have you felt your heart surge? Follow that!
- Do the next right thing.
- Noah – had to gather wood
- Abraham – had to pack
- People marched around Jericho
Small Group Questions
- When you are going to attend an event, do you like to be in control of all of the details or would you rather show up and be surprised?
- Do you have a daily prayer that you pray daily or several days a week? How does that affect your day?
- Dallas Willard said "The ultimate freedom we have as humans beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon. Do you agree or disagree? Why or Why not?
- Have the Life Group take turns reading through Hebrews 11. Have each person read 2-3 verses each. Try to use different versions of the Bible if you can.
- What is the source of your faith? Does it come from inspiration or desperation? What distracts you from being focused in your faith?
- Which person in the walk of faith in Hebrews 11 do you relate to the most or look up to the most in how God used their faith?
- Read 2 Corinthians 13:5. When was a time that you were excited about God? Examine your relationship with God right now. Are you acquaintances, best friends or somewhere in between?
- What kind of adventure are you and God on right now? Are you striving or thriving in your life? What is the next right thing that you feel God is telling you to do?