“Fasting For Spiritual Breakthrough” (Matthew 4:2 sermon)

Posted on 2017/04/03 by Shawn Thomas

On May of 1776, in the throes of the conflict of the birth of our country, General George Washington sent this order to his army:

“The Continental Congress having ordered, Friday the 17th. Instant to be observed as a day of “fasting, humiliation and prayer, humbly to supplicate the mercy of Almighty God, that it would please him to pardon all our manifold sins and transgressions, and to prosper the Arms of the United Colonies, and finally, establish the peace and freedom of America, upon a solid and lasting foundation”–The General commands all officers, and soldiers, to pay strict obedience to the Orders of the Continental Congress, and by their unfeigned, and pious observance of their religious duties, incline the Lord, and Giver of Victory, to prosper our arms.”

George Washington and the first Americans recognized the importance of prayer and fasting, and they turned to it when they needed a breakthrough in the fight for the independence of the colonies. But we have not had such a decree in many years in America — not from Presidents Democrat or Republican. But sadly, not only has our nation as a whole forgotten the importance of seeking God through fasting, most of the people in God’s church have as well.

I have been convicted as I have been praying and studying for our messages in Matthew 4 that we should not leave this passage without looking together at the fact that Jesus fasted and prayed at this crucial time in His ministry. He was about to experience a breakthrough in His ministry, and it is not coincidence that He fasted and prayed and sought the Father in a special way. In the same way, I believe that we have many people here in our church — and perhaps some of you who are guests today — who are looking for a spiritual breakthrough in your life — or maybe you have a burden for a loved one who needs a powerful touch from God — and God’s word for you today is that you need to seek a spiritual breakthrough to Him, and from Him, in fasting and prayer. Continue reading →

Posted in Discipleship, Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“He Must Increase But I Must Decrease”

Posted on 2017/04/03 by Shawn Thomas

“He must increase but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

This statement was true for John the Baptist in a very literal way, in which it will not be for us: John’s ministry and popularity would decrease, as more and more of those who were seeking God in his day went to Jesus instead of to him (:26 “all are coming to Him”, etc.)  But even though our current circumstances differ from John’s, this scripture is still a penetrating prescription for what must happen to each of us in Christian discipleship. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Weary, Yet Pursuing: Obeying God When You Are Tired” (John 4:6-7 sermon)

Posted on 2017/03/30 by Shawn Thomas

During the Civil War, the 20th Massachusetts regiment found themselves in combat day after day after day for almost 2 solid months. And it wore them down physically, emotionally, in every way. At the end of June 1864, Captain H.L. Patten wrote:

“[The men] have been so horribly worked and badgered that they are utterly unnerved and demoralised. They are easily scared as a timid child at night. Half our brigade were taken prisoners the other day, in the middle of the day, by a line no stronger than themselves, without firing a shot. … Fifty-three days; EVERY DAY under fire, every night either digging or marching. We, our brigade, have made fourteen charges upon the enemy’s breastworks, although at last no amount of urging, no heroic example, no threats, or anything else, could get the line to STIR ONE PEG. For my own part, I am utterly tired and dis- heartened and if I stay at all, it will be like a whipt dog –because I think I must.” (“Combat Trauma In The American Civil War, by John Talbot, History Today, London, England, March 1996)

That Civil War captain could tell you from personal experience: it is hard to obey when you are tired. Many of us know that personally as well. How many times do we just “settle”, or disobey, or give in to temptation, or fail to do what we think God wants us to do, because we are tired?

In our passage for tonight, we see that Jesus knew what it was like to be tired — but He also exhibited a commitment to obey His Heavenly Father and minister to people — and if we ask Him, He will give us the strength to do the same thing as well. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Discipleship, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Winning vs. Temptation: Jesus’ Example in Spiritual Warfare” (Matthew 4:1-11 sermon)

Posted on 2017/03/27 by Shawn Thomas

This last Saturday (March 18, 2017) an intruder kicked open the door of a house in Redding, California — but he picked the wrong home to invade. A California Highway Patrol Officer lived at that house, and he shot the intruder dead. Most of us would say that officer is a good example of the way that we should each be armed & ready to protect our homes against whatever enemies might harm us.

But we also need to be aware that there are enemies of a different kind than those who would physically attempt to steal, or kill, or assault us. There is an even more destructive enemy in the spiritual realm, who is bent on destroying you, your marriage, your family, your children and grandchildren, and every one of our souls. And this enemy can’t be warded off by a shotgun or a pistol. But Jesus shows us here in Matthew 4:1-11 how we can fend off his attacks with “The sword of the Spirit, the word of God.” Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Friend of the Bridegroom

Posted on 2017/03/22 by Shawn Thomas

“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.” (John 3:29)

John the Baptist knew that his own ministry was on the wane, and that more and more people were coming instead to Jesus. And others were noticing it. They said to him in :26 “all are coming to Him.” But John wasn’t jealous; instead he rejoiced. And he explained his attituude with the analogy of “the friend of the bridegroom.” Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Source Of Ministerial Success

Posted on 2017/03/21 by Shawn Thomas

“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.” (John 1:27)

John the Baptist set forth a general principle here which applies in every area of life. We receive nothing that does not come from God (James 1:17). Jesus knew this, and declared it to Pilate in John 19:11, “You would have no authority over Me unless it had been given you from above.” No one can do anything unless God allows or empowers it.

And this especially applies to ministers and ministries. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Into The Wilderness”: The Principle of Spiritual Testing (Matthew 4:1 sermon)

Posted on 2017/03/20 by Shawn Thomas

Those of us who have children know that parenting can be a very “up and down” experience. Cheryl & I have talked about this a number of times. It’s like you never get to “sit on your laurels” — even when you experience a victory with your kids, there is some new “crisis” just lurking around the corner. One time when our kids were in high school Cheryl & I had gone with our son David to the regional high school track meet where he was competing in the 400 meter run, and he surprised us, and actually PLACED at regionals — as a freshman! We were SO excited, and on the way home we were just so thrilled, and talking about that — when all of the sudden we got a call from our daughter Libby that our oldest son Paul had just been “let go” from his first job at a sandwich shop because he was too meticulous at putting the sandwiches together — they said he “wasn’t Subway material.” After we got that call, Cheryl & I looked at each and we said something like, “Can’t we just savor one day of victory in our kids’ lives, without having some crisis pop up again?” But that is often the way it is with kids; you go from highs to lows, over and over and over.

And we need to understand that the same thing happens in our spiritual lives as well. Every Christian gets some “spiritual highs” where we experience God in a fresh way, or take a special “leap forward” in learning and growing in Him — but we also need to learn that the “spiritual highs” don’t typically last very long. Here in Matthew 3 and 4 we see that Jesus, who modeled so much for us about what it means for a man and to walk with God, went through this same thing. He went from a spiritual “high” right into a time of testing, as an example for us in our spiritual lives as well. Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew sermons, Sermons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Evening & Morning & Noon

Posted on 2017/03/20 by Shawn Thomas

“Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur, and He will hear my voice.”  (Psalm 55:17)

Notice the CONTINUAL nature of David’s prayers here. He says they are at: “evening and morning and noon”. Legalists would make of this “3 stations of prayer”, and set up 3 daily prayer times based upon it. But surely this is not to be taken so woodenly. Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Double Cure

Posted on 2017/03/16 by Shawn Thomas

“Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.'” (John 3:5)

To be “born of water and the Spirit” means to be washed from sin by the Lord, and renewed in your heart by His Holy Spirit, as we saw here in yesterday’s devotion. Ezekiel 36:25-27 makes that clear. But Jesus’ teaching here also reminds us of two important aspects of salvation: Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Water And The Spirit

Posted on 2017/03/15 by Shawn Thomas

“Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'” (John 3:5)

Jesus had just told Nicodemus in :3 that he must be “born again” in order to see the Kingdom of God. Now here in :5 He tells him he must be “born of water and the Spirit.” This is basically a restating of :3, so it is obviously a synonym for being “born again”; but just what exactly IS being “born of water and the Spirit”, and how does it relate to being “born again”? Continue reading →

Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments