Archives for August 2015

Good morning,

This is a very important devotion. Do not allow Satan to deceive you.

The master deception of Satan! 

(Arthur Pink, “The Doctrine of Sanctification” 1937)

“For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Leviticus 11:44

We do greatly deceive ourselves, if we imagine that we are drawing nearer to Heaven–while only following those courses which lead to Hell.

We are woefully deluded, if we suppose that we are journeying towards glory–and yet are living in sin.

Christ died to procure holiness–not to secure an indulgence for sin.

To live in known and allowed sin, and yet expect to be saved by Christ–is the master deception of Satan! 

My reader, a faith which does not transform character and reform conduct, is worthless.

Saving faith is only proved to be genuine by bearing the blossoms of experimental godliness and the fruits of personal piety.

Great multitudes of ignorant people who live under the Gospel, harden their hearts in sin and ruin their souls forever, by trusting on Christ for such an ‘imaginary salvation’ as consists not at all in holiness–but only in forgiveness of sin and deliverance from everlasting torments. They would be free from the punishments due to sin–but they love their lusts so well that they hate holiness and do not desire to be saved from the service of sin. If they do not desire to be made holy and righteous in their hearts and lives–then they do not heartily desire true salvation.

To sum up this devotion please consider Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Do not be deceived!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today we complete our series on Israel’s Return to Life.

“Then in Ezekiel chapter 37 we come to the famous prediction regarding the valley of dry bones: “The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.” (Ezekiel 37:1) The bones symbolize the nation and people of Israel, which appear to be dead and are scattered throughout the world.  “Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.” (Ezekiel 37:2) In other words, they had been there for a long time. “And He said to me, Son of man, can these bones live? So I answered, O Lord You know.” (Ezekiel 37:3) What is the answer? “Again He said to me, Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, “O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!” (Ezekiel 37:4)” (Target Israel, pages 47-48)

“Then Ezekiel went on to say that as he preached to the bones, there was a rattling sound, and the bones began to come together. The old spiritual, “Dry Bones,” which speaks of bones being joined together, comes from this very passage of Scripture, in which the bones of the skeletons suddenly begin to assemble right in front of the eyes of the prophet. Ezekiel noted that when the bones came together, flesh and sinews formed on them, but there was no breath in them-no spiritual life. (Ezekiel 37:7-8) Then we read this:

Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. (Ezekiel 37:9-10)

While Ezekiel was preaching to dry bones in a desert valley, they came together an stood up. But there was no life in them-not until the breath of God entered them. At that point they suddenly became alive not only physically, but also spiritually. Then God explained the meaning of the vision, saying to Ezekiel, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.”

Ezekiel chapter 37, then, is clearly a prophecy about Israel’s future destiny. This is not a prophecy about the church. And we are seeing this prophecy come to fruition as the people of Israel return to their land and the “bones” are being reassembled. This nation has returned to life physically, and there is coming a day when it will return to life spiritually. ’” (Target Israel, pages 48-49)

Conclusion

• God has restored Israel to life
• God has breathed into the dry bones

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Return to Life

“In the book of Ezekiel we read of a time when the nation of Israel would one day return to life. Note what God said:

For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God (Ezekiel 36:24-28).

Ezekiel wrote this at a time when the Babylonians had devastated the southern kingdom, and when the prophet himself had been taken into captivity. Yet he said there would come a time when a nation that appeared to be dead would come back to life under the providence and care of God. God has not abandoned His people. He still has a plan and purpose for them and for their future.” (Target Israel, page 46-47)

We are beginning to see this now. Many are returning to the land of Israel. Some have trusted Yeshua (Jesus) to be their personal Lord and Savior. However, this prophecy will have its fulfillment during the millennial age. This will be the time when Israel will be cleaned, given a new heart, be obedient to God, and will allow God to be their God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Israelites until 1948 were a people devoid of identity. They were scattered throughout the world without a place to call home. The prophet Isaiah knew that the children of Israel would be regathered to their God given land. It happened in one day just like Isaiah prophesied.

“Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. (Isaiah 66:8)

“Both Christian and Jewish scholars acknowledge this passage as a prediction of Israel’s rebirth in the land instantaneously, a nation born in a day. This has never happened before in all of history. Never has a nation or a group of people who were expelled from their land returned after 2,000 years with their language, their heritage, and their commitments largely intact.” (Target Israel, page 46)

This week we will look at Israel’s Return to Life. I will be quoting from a book called Target Israel, written by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson. This would be a good book to read to understand how Israel fits into the whole dynamic of the Middle East.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

If My people

(Daniel Webster, 1872-1852)

If we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together–no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us, that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity!

“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways–then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Please consider seeking God today.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Every-day mercies!

(Archibald Brown)

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”Lamentations 3:22-23

Let us seek, dear friends, to have quick eyes in discerning the Lord’s hand in our so-called every-day mercies. The smallest comfort grows great in value, when viewed a gift from our heavenly Father!

The next string I will touch has sweet music of its own, and it should call forth the deepest “Thank God!” from every bosom. It is home mercy. Home! Home!! Surely, among all the gifts of Heaven, there is none more beautiful, or more worthy of our grateful praise–than a home where kindness, love, and cheerfulness abide. It has been well said that to Adam, Paradise was home–and to the holy among his descendants, home is Paradise. He who has a happy home can never be poor, or lack a theme for grateful song.

If we have been kept from falling into scandalous sin, then with grateful love we exclaim, “Having obtained help from God, I continue to this day.” We have been like men carrying gunpowder, and working in a forge where sparks are flying on every hand. With a nature like ours, so dangerously quick to sin, and living amid a very shower of fiery temptations–how great the grace that has preserved us thus far!

“Great are Your tender mercies, O LORD!” Psalm 119:156

Reflect on this.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will study the book of Amos. Today we will conclude our study with Chapter 9.

Chapter 9 Amos tells of the destruction, restoration and hope of Israel.

• Destruction of Israel (Amos 9:9-10) For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. ¹⁰ All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
• Restoration of Israel (Amos 9:13-15) Behold, the days come, saith theLord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.¹⁴ And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.¹⁵ And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God.

Conclusion:

• Israel transgresses God’s laws
• Israel judged
• Israel will be restored

Have a great weekend.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will study the book of Amos. Today we will look at Chapters 4-8.

Chapters 4-8 Amos warns that Israel will be destroyed, and gives examples of this judgment. Amos comes, announces God’s coming judgment to the Northern Kingdom and uses the phrase, “the day of the Lord” referring to God intervening to punish and judge the wicked city, which would eventually be exile by the Assyrians.

• …yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. (Amos 4:6, 8, 9, 10, 11) Even though Israel had been punished through famine, no rain, disease and mildew, pestilence, and fire, they would not return to the Lord
• …seek me… (Amos 5:4, 6, 8, 14) For thus saith theLord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: (Amos 5:4)
• Seek good not evil (Amos 5:14-15) Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so theLord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
• God despises ceremonies without righteousness (Amos 5:21-27) Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith theLord, whose name is The God of hosts. (Amos 5:27)
• Judgment upon Israel (Amos 6:14, 7:16-17) But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith theLord the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness. (Amos 6:14) Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac. ¹⁷ Therefore thus saith the Lord; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land. (Amos 7:16-17)
• Famine of God’s Word (Amos 8:11-12) Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: ¹² And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

God is a longsuffering. However, His longsuffering has its limits. When god continues to try and get our attention and we reject it, we are ripe for God’s judgment. God is looking for people with repentant hearts. He wants us to seek Him, return to Him, and seek good over evil. God promises life for those who will.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study the book of Amos. Today we will look at Chapters 1-3.

Chapter 1-3 Amos came as the days of the wicked Northern Kingdom were winding down. The people were religious but it was sadly superficial. Amos announces that the neighboring nations would be punished. There were many of these wicked nations including Damascus, Gaza, Edom, and Tyre.

• Transgressions of Judah (Amos 2:4-5) Thus saith theLord; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked: ⁵ But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
• Transgressions of Israel (Amos 2:6-8) Thus saith theLord; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; ⁷ That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name: ⁸ And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
• What God intends to do (Amos 2:14-16) Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: ¹⁵ Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself. ¹⁶ And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith theLord.
• Destruction of Israel (Amos 3:14-15) That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground. ¹⁵ And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith theLord.

This lesson should remind us that even though Israel was part of God’s chosen people, He still punished them for their wickedness. God will do the same for the child of God, if we continue to rebel against God. Be careful what you say and do.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study the book of Amos. Who is Amos and what did he do? Glad you asked.

The prophet Amos was born in the territory of Judah but he prophesied to the northern kingdom of Israel and the wicked King Jeroboam II. Amos prophesied against the nations around Israel and also condemned the northern kingdom of Israel for breaking God’s laws. He prophesied at the city of Bethel where King Jeroboam II resided, which had become a center for idol worship. He prophesied that the Israelites would be conquered by the Assyrians and removed from this place. Amos said that God could no more be in a relationship with the people of Israel that a man could be with an adulterous wife.

The purpose of the book of Amos was to announce God’s holy judgment on the Kingdom of Israel (the Northern Kingdom), call them to repentance, and to turn from their self-righteous sins and idolatry. God raised up the prophet Amos, as an act of His great mercy to a people who repeatedly shunned and disobeyed Him.

Tomorrow we will look at Chapters 1-3.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001