The Model Prayer and Your Request

Posted on 2014/02/07 by Shawn Thomas

We saw here how what is often referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer” of Matthew 6:9-13 is really a model for our daily prayers. But it can also serve as a guide for the way that we pray for specific issues or requests.

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The Model Prayer

Posted on 2014/02/06 by Shawn Thomas

The Model Prayer of Matthew 6:9-13 (often referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer”) is probably the single most familiar prayer in history, yet it is often misunderstood. It was never meant to be used as a “rote” prayer, word-for-word. Jesus didn’t say “pray this”, but rather “pray IN THIS WAY” — in other words, it was a MODEL for the way that we are to address God.

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Psalm 3:3 “My Shield”

Posted on 2014/02/05 by Shawn Thomas

The following is a message from Psalm 3:3, preached at Trinity Baptist, Norman on August 11, 2013. It shares the testimony of my illness and resignation from FBC Moss Bluff, and of God’s purposes for our trials. This verse has been an anchor for my soul the past two years. The Lord is indeed “my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head.”

This link will take you to the Trinity, Norman podcast site. If you will scroll down the page to the August 11, p.m. service, you will find my message, entitled, Psalm 3:3, “My Shield”:

http://trinitynorman.podbean.com/page/5/

(While at the website, you may also want to listen to some of the sermons by Pastor Ronnie Rogers, and Associate Pastor Ryan Polk, two of the finest men, and best preachers I know.)

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Psalm 3:3 “My Shield” (preached Aug. 11, 2013 at Trinity, Norman)

Posted on 2014/02/05 by Shawn Thomas

I wrote the much of the following message during the summer of 2012, when I was on medical leave as pastor of FBC Moss Bluff, LA with dyautonomia (POTS). I would later resign the church in February of 2013, selling our home and many of our possessions, facing what was humanly speaking an uncertain future. Little did we know that the Lord would completely restore my health that summer, and that He would indeed be “the lifter of my head.” But throughout the past 18 months, this message — and most importantly, the promise of the Lord behind it — has been an anchor for my soul. I have had the opportunity to share it in several churches in Oklahoma, including our current home church, Trinity Baptist of Norman, where this message was recorded. I hope that the Lord will use it to minister to you, and to others you may know who are walking through difficult days.

http://media61.podbean.com/pb/2934aeb0a0440420e74b27e571bead2c/52ed8ce6/data2/blogs49/471138/uploads/2013-08-11pm.mp3

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The Root Issue of Sin

Posted on 2014/02/05 by Shawn Thomas

II Samuel 12 relates how Nathan the prophet boldly confronted King David after his adultery with Bathsheba. In :10 he tells the king: “Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.” The words here, “because you have despised Me” are key, for here we discover the real issue involved in David’s sin.

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God’s Part and Ours: Balancing Sovereignty & Responsibility

Posted on 2014/02/04 by Shawn Thomas

In II Samuel 10 David had sent his armies to fight a coalition of the Ammonites and the Arameans. Just before the battle, David’s general Joab told his brother Abishai, whom he had given charge of an important part of the battle: “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what is good in His sight.” (:12)
Joab demonstrated an important balance in his outlook here, a balance between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility:

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The Little Condo (2-04-14)

Posted on 2014/02/04 by Shawn Thomas

If you were a fly on the wall of the “Little Condo”, you would have heard some of the following quips and shenanigans around here the past couple of weeks:

MESSY READER?
Cheryl, reading Danny Akin’s theology for the Academy class at Trinity: “Do you mind if I eat some Cheetos while I read this book?”
Me: “Just don’t get any orange all over it!”

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Against God

Posted on 2014/02/03 by Shawn Thomas

Psalm 2:2 describes the nations as arraying together “against the LORD and against His Anointed.” Those words, “AGAINST THE LORD” are key. The Hebrew word for “LORD” there is literally “Yahweh”, the personal name for the God of the Bible, the God who created the world, who sustains it all by the word of His power, and who has all authority and power. And yet, Psalm 2:2 says, the leaders of earth are “against” this God. This is significant:

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Responsibility & Accountability in the Church

Posted on 2014/02/02 by Shawn Thomas

Hebrews 13:17 gives us some specific commands regarding our responsibilities in the church: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” We discover a double responsibility and accountability here, for BOTH the leaders and people of the church:

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Doing The Opposite

Posted on 2014/01/31 by Shawn Thomas

In II Samuel 9:7 King David told Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth: “Do not fear, for I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your father Jonathan …”. “Do not fear” was an appropriate admonition, for Mephibosheth was undoubtedly afraid when David had him summoned to his court. The custom of a new king was to destroy the other potential heirs and family members of the previous administration. But David was NOT going to do that. Instead, he would purposefully show kindness to him: the OPPOSITE of what people would generally expect in such a case. David declared that he was doing this “for the sake of your father Jonathan” but we also know from 7:18 that David realized that God had been undeservedly good to him — so undoubtedly this affected the way he chose to respond to others like Mephibosheth. He would treat them with the same undeserved mercy and grace that he himself had received.

This is a good reminder for us today as God’s people that we should not respond to people the way that everyone anticipates we will — Continue reading →

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