INTRODUCTION:

When I was eighteen, I fell in love with the most beautiful woman in the world. I'm still in love with her today. Why she ever fell in love with me, I'll never know, because, I wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. You see, I fell in love and dropped out of school. I guess her love and beauty just befuddled my brain. I was besotted with her.

Now, during any other time dropping out of college probably wouldn't have meant a thing, but this was during the Viet Nam War. And you know what happened to drop outs then, I told you I wasn't the brightest thing around at that time.

Well, despite the impending doom of the draft, we got married. However, I decided I really didn't want to go to Nam and get shot at. And I sure didn't want to go to Canada or jail. So, I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard where duty in Viet Nam was on a volunteer basis.

After I enlisted, my dad and I were talking. And he passed on words of wisdom that he learned while serving in the Navy during World War II. He said, "Never volunteer for anything."

Everybody I knew who had ever been in the service, every old salt and every Veteran passed on the same words of wisdom: "Never volunteer for anything."

Well, back then, I was one of those guys who prided himself in not only in breaking the rules but being my own man. In other words. Nobody (especially and specifically my Dad) was going to tell ME what to do. And I had two buddies in boot camp who were sort of the same way.

We were in the Honor Guard. The Honor Guard was made up of recruits from each of the Companies going through basic training, so we had guys coming and going all the time. There was always a new set of guys to train. And it just so happened that my buddies and I had been in long enough that we were the squad leaders. I was Center Squad Leader.

The Company Commander came out one day and called us into formation. He looked us over and then said, "I need three volunteers," and paused.

Normally, he would finish the sentence with something like, "I need three volunteers: Jones, Smith, and Brown. You'll do just fine." But that day all he said was, "I need three volunteers."

My buddies and I looked at each other, kind of shrugged as if to say, "What the heck." And we raised our hands. We volunteered. We were all thinking the same thing. It was only a three man job, right. It couldn't be all that bad.

Boy were we wrong. Way wrong.

It turned out to be one of the best days of boot camp.

The rest of the company was assigned to work duty. They had to work out in the hot sun picking up trash, moving bricks, rocks and lumber, they painted and cleaned and dug in the dirt and got filthy. There were on work detail. They weren't even near the main part of the base.

They broke for chow at lunch time but didn't head back to the chow hall. Instead they had cold sandwiches and chips.

And the three of us who volunteered. The Company Commander gave each of us 5 bucks a piece. And for the entire day, my buddies and I were assigned to goof off at the PX. The Company Commander had even arranged for us to have Pizza for lunch. All we had to do was tell them what kind and what size we wanted.

Our assignment that day, was to hang out and goof off. We got to be gold brickers all day long. We drank cokes, ate candy bars and pizza. We played pinball and cards. We did absolutely nothing. It was the best assignment I think I ever had in Boot Camp.

I know why the Company Commander did that. I realized just how smart he was. Because the next time he asked for volunteers, almost every hand went up.

I also remember that just before I graduated from Boot Camp, our Company Commander did the same thing again. He assigned four guys to the PX this time, while everyone else went on work detail again. I found out later from other guys who had been in the Honor Guard that it was sort of his trademark. He did it all the time, You just never knew when he would do it. But he did it often enough to remind everyone that volunteering wasn't so bad.

But you had to see it to believe it.

That's pretty much what Jesus tells "the chief priests and the elders of the people" when they came to question His authority.

Let's look at that together in Matthew 21:23-32, NT p. 22 or 1208 (repeat).

[23] When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"

[24] Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.

[25] Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

[26] But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet."

[27] So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

[28] "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'

[29] He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went.

[30] The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go.

[31] Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.

[32] For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

[NRSV]

Basically Jesus tells "the chief priests and the elders of the people" that they missed the boat. They dropped the ball. The plane took off without them. They were left standing at the boarding area with ticket in hand. They went to the dance but their dance card was empty. The music played, they were invited to dance but they just stood there.

In other words they SAW but they didn't BELIEVE. So, how does this passage relate to us? Well, there's three things I want us to look at today. SEEING IS BELIEVING, BELIEVING IS SEEING AND DOING NEITHER IS DANGEROUS.

I. SEEING IS BELIEVING:

A. FIRST, SEEING IS BELIEVING.

Apart from retelling the message of John which caused people to believe. Apart from pointing out all the signs and wonders and healings that Jesus did which caused the crowds of people to believe because they saw. I can't think of any other way to express this idea of SEEING IS BELIEVING without a little bit of magical illusion.

The art of illusion is all about this idea of "SEEING IS BELIEVING." For example. Let me show you how to make a birthday cake out of this Magic Birthday Cake Kit.

(Use Chick Pan and Birthday Cake)

So you see, "SEEING IS BELIEVING."

B. If that's not enough. Then let's borrow the Magic Fire from the Birthday Cake Kit and make some Popcorn.

(Use Change Bag and Popcorn)

We take a little popcorn put it in this empty bag here. Then we just take and hold it over the Magic Fire for a few minutes. I don't hear anything do you? Oh, wait, there's instructions on the side. (Pops Silent, Wait 20 Seconds)

I've never heard of "Silent Popping Popcorn" have you? It must be one of the new fangled hybrids from Magic Pop. Well, that's been about 20 seconds, right?

So, there you have it, "SEEING IS BELIEVING."

Moses saw the burning bush and believed.

Peter saw Jesus walking on the water and he believed.

Mary and Martha saw their brother Lazarus raised from the dead and they believed.

So you see, "SEEING IS BELIEVING."

In Psalm 78:12-16 (Repeat) the Psalmist writes:

[12] In the sight of their ancestors he worked marvels
in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.

[13] He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters stand like a heap.

[14] In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all night long with a fiery light.

[15] He split rocks open in the wilderness,
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.

[16] He made streams come out of the rock,
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

[NRSV]

God did all that and the people of Israel believed

Sometimes "SEEING IS BELIEVING."

II. BELIEVING IS SEEING:

A. But the opposite is true is well. Sometimes "BELIEVING IS SEEING."

After the resurrection, the first time Jesus revealed himself to the Disciples, Thomas wasn't there. The second time Jesus revealed himself to the Disciples, Thomas was there. In John 20:29 (Repeat) we read what Jesus said to him. Do you remember what Jesus told Thomas? He said, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." [NRSV]

Sometimes "BELIEVING IS SEEING."

Our Move Of Faith Campaign, the campaign to raise the money for the building that is currently being built, was based upon Matthew 17:20. (Repeat) Do you remember it?

Jesus told the disciples, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you." [NRSV]

Basically Jesus says, "BELIEVING IS SEEING."

We have personally witnessed the truth of that passage. We heard God's call in our lives. We've captured the vision God has for this Church. We believed and had faith in the faithfulness of God. Just look at how far along we are.

Sometimes "BELIEVING IS SEEING."

In just a couple of weeks we will have our first (Unofficial Worship Experience in the new building). We will rejoice in the Faithfulness of God, the Truth of Scripture and the Fruits of our Faith and Faithfulness.

And then, a few short weeks later, God willing, we will take possession of "the promised land" so to speak. Plans are already in place to celebrate our first Official Worship service on December 1st. And then to Consecrate the building with Bishop Chamness on December 15th.

What we've dreamed of, what we've hoped and prayed about for so long will become a reality. And you know what, Next year, 2003 will be a year of Jubilee because "BELIEVING IS SEEING."

In 2003 we will celebrate our 50th Lord's Acre and we will also celebrate 120 years of ministry in Joshua. Talk about God's Perfect Timing. Not only do we get to celebrate a new building but we get to spend the year celebrating the love and ministry of this Church, the Vision of those who have gone before us. Their faithfulness had a direct impact on our lives. But we also get to celebrate the Vision God has for OUR future. We don't see that yet but we believe.

2003 will be a year of Jubilee because "BELIEVING IS SEEING."

III. DOING NEITHER IS DANGEROUS:

"SEEING IS BELIEVING AND BELIEVING IS SEEING. BUT DOING NEITHER IS DANGEROUS."

That's what happened to "the chief priests and the elders of the people." Their ship came in but before it could dock they sank it. They punted when they should have passed and gone for the yardage. They jumped but their parachute didn't open. They were left standing at the altar on their wedding day. All the evidence was there.

They heard and witnessed the same things as everyone else. They saw the miracles. They heard Jesus preach. They saw him heal the sick and lame. They saw him cast out demons. The saw him give sight to the blind and even raise the dead. They heard every sermon he preached. But still they could neither SEE NOR BELIEVE.

What others saw as miracles they either ignored, said it was a parlor trick or worst, they said it was the work of Satan. They were so blind that they couldn't see that they couldn't see.

And don't you know that when Jesus compared them to the son who said, "Sure Dad, I'll go work in the vineyard," and then purposely blew it off, it set their teeth on edge. It stuck in their craw. It crawled all over them.

And what Jesus was telling them and through them us, is "SEEING IS BELIEVING AND BELIEVING IS SEEING. BUT DOING NEITHER IS DANGEROUS."

Not only did the "the chief priests and the elders of the people," not get it about Jesus, the completely missed the boat when it came to John the Baptist.

And then he rubbed their noses in it because he said, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you." That's rough stuff, especially for those who think they have it made.

He goes on to finish and says: "John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him." [NRSV]

The implication of course is, that because they "SAW AND DIDN'T BELIEVE AND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ENOUGH TO SEE," they were being cut off. And that really set them off.

So you see, DOING NEITHER IS DANGEROUS."

CONCLUSION:

A little boy was standing on the sidewalk in the middle of a city block. He was obviously waiting for something. An older man approached him and asked for what he was waiting.

The little boy confidently told the older man that he was waiting for the bus. The man laughed and said the bus stop was in the next block. The boy acknowledged that fact but insisted the bus would stop for him right here.

The older man became annoyed at what he thought was insolence. He raised his voice and told the little boy that he'd better start walking if he hoped to ride that bus. The boy politely turned down the suggestion and said he would wait for the bus right where he stood.

The man fumed at the little boy and started walking off. But before he was too far away, he heard the screeching of brakes. He turned around and couldn't believe his eyes. The bus was actually stopping for the little boy. The bus door opened and the boy started climb aboard. But just before he did, he turned toward the man down the street and yelled, "My daddy is the bus driver." (1)

We are God's children and God cares for us greatly. Jesus gave his life on the cross to prove that love and make it visible for those folks who needed to see in order to believe. But God has left enough mystery in our relationship that there are times when we simply need a deep faith. We need to believe before we'll see.

Sometimes God cares for us in ways that seem impossible to those who don't understand God's love or have faith in God's presence or have a living relationship with God.

What we need to remember is that "SOMETIMES SEEING IS BELIEVING. SOMETIMES BELIEVING IS SEEING. BUT REST ASSURED THAT DOING NEITHER IS DANGEROUS."

It only takes a little BELIEF to SEE. And it only takes a little SEING to BELIEVE and have faith. Just make sure you do one or the other.

That's our Challenge because DOING NEITHER IS DANGEROUS.

1. The Autoillustrator, (Greeley, CO, 1993) 970.330.1925 (Autoill@AOL.com)

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www.SermonWriter.com (Copyright, Richard Niell Donovan, 2000)

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Preaching Magazine (Preaching Resources, Jackson, TN)

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The New Interpreter's Bible, (Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1995)

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