First Baptist Church Litchfield
Men's Breakfast

  • Modern Day Doubting Thomas

    We are all familiar with Thomas the disciple of Jesus. He is most known for his unbelief, to such a degree that he is referred to as Doubting Thomas.
    Thomas spent three years walking closely with Jesus. He heard all of Jesus’ teaching and watched Jesus joyfully advance his kingdom. Jesus cast a huge vision for Thomas. He would see His Savior conquer death, grant eternal life to all who would believe him, and invited Thomas to take part in sharing the kingdom of God. While Jesus was alive, Thomas was all in with the vision. Once Jesus died, however, Thomas lost focus, his stamina waned, fear took hold him, frustration drained his energy, or he resigned himself to the sidelines of the mission.
    I want to tell you a story about a modern day Thomas. In a small town nestled between rolling hills, there lived a man named Thomas. Known for his boundless ideas and charisma, he always had grand plans that inspired those around him. One crisp autumn morning, he decided to embark on his most ambitious project yet: building a community garden that would unite neighbors, teach children about nature, and provide fresh produce to those in need.
    Fueled by excitement, Thomas gathered a handful of volunteers and organized a meeting to discuss the vision. They spoke of blossoming flowers, vibrant vegetables, and a place where laughter would echo through the rows of plants. However, as days turned into weeks, Thomas found himself overwhelmed by life’s distractions.
    He started to feel the weight of the project pressing down on him. Instead of focusing on the garden, he found himself scrolling through social media, losing hours in a world of colorful posts and captivating videos. He convinced himself it was merely a way to unwind, but deep down, he knew it was more than that; it was a distraction from the work that required his attention.
    His once-clear vision for the garden became foggy, replaced by visions of lazy afternoons spent binge-watching shows instead of digging in the dirt. The enthusiasm that had sparked the project dwindled, much like the fallen leaves scattered around him. Friends who once supplied their support began to drift away, disheartened by the lack of progress.
    As he lay on his couch one evening, remote in hand, guilt washed over him. He realized he had been doubting not just his capability to complete the project but also the support he believed he would receive from God. Instead of seeking guidance and strength, he relied on fleeting entertainment to fill the void of purpose in his life. It felt easier to drown in the fabric of reality TV than to face the reality he had created for himself.
    The weeks turned into months, and the field where he had envisioned the garden remained barren, a stark reminder of dreams left unfulfilled. When neighbors passed by, they exchanged knowing glances, their whispers punctuated by frustrating disappointment. The project’s promise was slipping away with each passing day, and Thomas felt the weight of missed opportunities rack his conscience.
    Both Thomas’ were not a bad man; both were not a lost cause either. They shares the same desire as every Christian man: to make the most of his life, to ensure it matters, and the ambition to joyfully advance God's kingdom by exalting Jesus. At some point, however, Thomas gets distracted, looses focus, and lacks the faith to hold fast to the calling or the vision God gave him.
    Like Thomas, many men in the church begin their journey with a passion for ministry, or serving the Lord in some capacity, even inspiring others with a wonderful vision of what could be. Yet, at some point, they lose focus. Their stamina wanes, fear takes hold, frustration drains their energy, or they resign themselves to living vicariously through someone else’s ministry vision, as far too many do watching YouTube. Then comes the guilt. You sit on the proverbial couch, reluctant to confront the overgrown patch of land outside your door, convinced that others view your “unfinished plans” or “absence” as evidence of your failure.
    If this describes you in any capacity, I believe I can help you get off the proverbial couch and get back on track, or maybe even take the next sep in accomplishing the vision God has for you in his kingdom. This morning I hope the word of God helps you see:

    Kingdom building ministry that honors God requires both faithful diligence and divine trust.

    You are and Instrument of Grace

    God has called everyone of you to serve in some capacity in his kingdom. He has works ordained for you. Paul tells
    Ephesians 2:10 ESV
    10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
    Your created in Christ for good works that God has gifted you and qualified you to do. A couple of chapters later, Paul elaborates in God’s gifting of the church:
    Ephesians 4:8–13 ESV
    8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
    Christ descended from heaven to take on flesh, live a perfect life, die on the cross as an atonement sacrifice for your sin, and then he was raised from the dead three days late. He then ascended into heaven and poured out his spirit on all who would believe upon his name. He gave us his spirit not only to seal us, as Paul says in chapter 1, but to equip us for the good works he called us to do. Some of you are called to be shepherds, teachers, and evangelist who build up the body and equip the saints for good works. others of you are called to serve the body as deacons, administrators, small group leaders, home fellowship group facilitators, and so on. All of you are instruments of grace to the church.

    As an instrument of Grace, your ministry is vital to the church, no matter how insignificant it may appear to be.

    Paul describes these church as one body with many members to the Corinthians. Some of you are hands, others of you are ears, while many of you are eyes, or even the big toe. The point Paul makes clear is everyone one of you is vital to the work of the ministry (1 Cor 12:12-27). Furthermore, you are so important to the body, that Paul says
    1 Corinthians 12:26 ESV
    26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
    Whether you are a toe or a mouth, you matter to the body of Christ. If the the toe is sick, the entire body suffers. We cannot run the race well if our toe is sick. As an instrument of grace, you ministry matters no matter how insignificant it appears to the world.
    You’ve been called to good works and your works matter to the church. Therefore, to build a kingdom ministry that honors God you trust the Lord with your work.

    Commit Your Work to the Lord

    Proverbs 16:3 ESV
    3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
    The main themes of Proverbs 16:1-9 is the LORD's sovereign rule and human accountability. The author uses synthetic parallels and the repetition of key terms such as "heart," "human being," "plan," and "establish," which create a cohesive framework for how we can understand the text. The verses are divided into two main sections: the first (verses 1-3) emphasizes human participation in the LORD's governance, while the second (verses 5-7) addresses divine justice in relation to human morality. Verse 4 serves as a transitional point, linking the two sections by affirming that the LORD orchestrates all events according to their destined outcomes while also ensuring that the wicked face consequences.
    Proverbs 16:4 ESV
    4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
    The commit literally means to roll, or to roll unto Yahweh all your works. It conveys the idea of turning all your ways to God. David deepens our understanding of what it means to commit your ways to the Lord in Psalm 37. David says,
    Psalm 37:5 (ESV)
    5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
    The way you commit your works to the Lord is you trust him with your work. Proverbs 16 makes it clear; God is sovereign.
    Proverbs 16:1 ESV
    1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
    Proverbs 16:4 ESV
    4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
    Proverbs 16:9 ESV
    9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
    In Proverbs 16:1, God is soverign over our free choices. We make plans, but it is God determines which plans will succeed. In Proverbs 16:4, God has sovereignly made every thing, every time, every act for its purpose, all while holding the wicked accountable for their actions. In Proverbs 16:9, we set out to work for the kingdom of God, but it is God who directs our steps to the outcome he wants.
    Think about the story of Joseph. What his brothers did to him was evil, and yet Joseph says
    Genesis 50:20 ESV
    20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
    God is so soverign that he took the wicked works of jealous brothers and saved his people from famine by raising up the persecuted brother to the second in command of the most powerful nation in the world, all working out His own plans to keep his promise to Abraham in Genesis 15; Abram would have land, seed, and blessing after they had spent 400 years in Egypt.
    Committing your work to the Lord is not just a formality but a faith-filled heart felt trust that aligns your plans with God's purposes so he can establish them.
    This is good news for Thomas. In God’s sovereignty, the overgrown patch of land is now fully fertilized and ready to produce a harvest. In the sovereignty of God, maybe new people have been drawn to the project with better skills and wisdom for growing the garden. In the sovereignty of God, anything is possible for Thomas if he will trust the Lord with his work. Commit your work to the Lord, trust him with your work. Trust Him to work everything for your good. He will establish your plans.

    Maintain Your Focus on the Lord

    Proverbs 4:23–27 ESV
    23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
    Maintaining your focus on the Lord is keeping the eyes of your heart centered on Him. Guarding one's heart is the central theme found in Proverbs 4:23-27. It emphasizes that the heart is the most crucial aspect of a person's being, serving as the source of life and guiding one's thoughts, words, and actions.
    Solomon implores you to focus entirely on the straight path resolving not to even engage with evil. This guarantees that your works will be established. To help you trust that gaurding your heart is the right thing to do, Solomon uses the divine passive in the Hebrew grammar, which suggests that God's is the one who will establish you. "Established" conveys a sense of being fixed, firm, and secure, and not vulnerable to change or destruction (12:3; 16:3; 24:3; 25:5). its likened to building your house on the rock and not on the sand.
    Thomas lost focus because his heart lost focus. At some point, Jesus was not the center of his heart’s attention. And I would argue that the eyes of his heart began looking elsewhere when his thoughts went astray.
    Jesus says from the abundance of the heart your mouth speaks. The crooked talk in Proverbs 4:24, comes from a crooked heart that is being influenced by a crooked mind. Notice how Thomas resigned himself to the couch with his remote in one hand and his phone in the other, indulging in mindless social media and streaming platforms. Thomas’ kingdom vision passion was being quenched by the worlds lure of comfortable entertainment with one thumb flick at a time. How many good men have been lost to the churches mission because they’ve allowed their mind to be filled with worldly ideas, passions, comforts available to them on facebook, Instagram, and twitter?
    Brothers, where your heart goes, so goes your thoughts. Where your thoughts go, so goes your heart. And where you heart and mind go, so goes your hands and feet. Guarding your heart is a must to staying focused and is the foundation of faithful diligence.

    A guarded heart embraces faithful diligence.

    Faithful diligence understands that Kingdom work is often incremental work. It takes time, a lot of time, which means you must make a lot of small seemingly insignificant decision everyday trusting that they will bear fruit in the future.
    At FBCl, we talk about about,

    Expect BIG things from small bricks.

    Everyday we make kingdom building decisions that in the moment seem arbitrary. We get up with the intent to seek the Lord. We read our bibles. We pray for the church, community, and home. We look for opportunities to share the gospel. We plan ministry, and then work to carry out that ministry. Sometimes, it takes six years to get something monumental done in the church to help the church bear fruit later. Six years of laying down small bricks that come in the form of conversations on the couch, Sunday school lessons, sermons, business meetings, prayer times, discussions over coffee and meeting new people who share the same vision. All of these are small bricks that are laid down everyday that eventually build your house, even even better, the kingdom of God. Keeping your eyes fixed on the Lord ensures faithful diligence, trusting every brick you lay down for the Lord, will bear fruit in time.

    What are you going to do, Thomas?

    There is only one of two endings to this story..

    Modern Day Doubting Thomas

    One rainy afternoon, he finally mustered the courage to step outside and face the empty space that could have flourished with life. As he stood in the drizzle, he could almost hear the laughter of children chasing butterflies, smell the sweet scent of tomatoes ripening in the sun, but those visions were overshadowed by regret. He hadn’t trusted God enough to guide him through the challenges. Laziness had taken the driver’s seat, steering him away from purpose, and entertainment had become his greatest enemy.
    And so, Thomas stood alone among the overgrown weeds, a man who had started a beautiful project but allowed doubt, distraction, and a longing for instant gratification to bury it beneath a thick blanket of regret. As he gazed at the potential his vision held, he realized that the true battle wasn’t just about finishing a project—it was about trusting in something greater, even when the path became difficult to tread.

    Spirit-Empowered Trusting Thomas

    Thomas was a man of unwavering faith, rising each morning with a quiet prayer lingering on his lips. He envisioned a beautiful house, a sanctuary that reflected both his dreams and his devotion to the Lord. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, he would step outside to lay the foundation, each brick laid with love and care. Year after year, neighbors would watch with curiosity as the structure slowly took shape, a testament to Thomas's patience and trust. He didn’t rush the process; instead, he allowed the house to grow alongside his faith, believing that each delay was part of a divine plan unfolding.
    As the final touches were placed on the home, Thomas stood back and marveled at what he had created. The walls were adorned with symbols of hope, windows that framed the beauty of the world outside, and a garden that blossomed in the sunlight. It was not just a house; it was a reflection of his journey—of the trials he faced and the trust he had nurtured each day. With a heart full of gratitude, Thomas filled his new home with laughter and love, inviting friends and family to share in the warmth it radiated. In that moment, he realized that the years spent building his dream were less about the structure itself and more about the faith that had carried him through.

    Which will be your story, Thomas?

      • Ephesians 2:10ESV

      • Ephesians 4:8–13ESV

      • 1 Corinthians 12:26ESV

      • Proverbs 16:3ESV

      • Proverbs 16:4ESV

      • Proverbs 16:1ESV

      • Proverbs 16:4ESV

      • Proverbs 16:9ESV

      • Genesis 50:20ESV

      • Proverbs 4:23–27ESV

First Baptist Church Litchfield
pastorjason.fbcl@gmail.com
217-324-4232
http://www.firstbaptistlitchfield.org/
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