Archives for 2015

Good morning,

Psalm 33 gives us a look at who God is. We see that God is good, creative, counselor, watchful, deliverer, and our hope. Today we will look at God’s creative acts.

God speaks the world into existence (V 6-9 Genesis 1)

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. ⁷ He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. ⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. ⁹ For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

The word of the Lord is powerful. He spoke and it was done. In Genesis 1 the phrase, “And God said…” is used 9 times. The phrase “And God called…” is used 3 times. Other action words such as moved, saw, made, set, created, blessed, are also used. It is recorded that it took only 6 days to complete the creation. God rested on the 7^th day.

Interestingly enough, God also made us, on day 6. That means we are also a part of God’s creation. We owe Him our very existence. Does that factor into your everyday thinking? It is important. If we understand who created us, then we will know to whom we must place our allegiance. You see God created us, then after sin entered into the world; He also provided for us the perfect sacrifice for our sin debt. Jesus Christ, the perfect Lamb of God, was our blood sacrifice.  All that is required of us is to repent of our sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you done that? If not, contact me and we can talk about it.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Psalm 33 gives us a look at who God is. We see that God is good, creative, counselor, watchful, deliverer, and our hope. Today we will look at God’s goodness.

Praise God for His goodness (V 1-5)

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. ² Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. ³ Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. ⁴ For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. ⁵ He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

We are told to do three things. Rejoice, praise, and sing. These are forms of worship to the Lord. Rejoice has the connotation to be glad or joyful. There are various ways to praise the Lord. Here it says with a harp. Then we told to sing a new song to the Lord. Why are we to do this? Because “…the word of the Lord is right;”, “…all his works are done in truth.”, “He loveth righteousness and judgment:”, and “…the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”

So how do you worship God? I certainly rejoice that brought to belief in Jesus Christ. I praise Him in songs from hymnals, choruses, and Scripture songs. I enjoy thinking about who God is and what He has done for me.

Think about how you worship the Lord.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This devotion may be helpful setting your priorities for the week!

Happiness lies in the heart, rather than in the purse!

(Charles Spurgeon, “A Good Start!”)

Contentment with your lot, and confidence in God–will make life peaceful and happy! A dinner of herbs with contentment, will yield a flavor of satisfaction unknown to those who eat the fattened ox.

It is better to be happy than to be rich–happiness lies in the heart, rather than in the purse!

It is not what a man has, but what a man is–which will decide his bliss or woe in both this life and the next.

“ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need!” Philippians 4:11-12

Be content.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

First John 5:11-21 is John’s encouragement to the believers. He encourages them about everlasting life, prayer, wickedness and understanding.  Today we will look at understanding.

Understanding (V 20-21)

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. ²¹ Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (1 John 4:2)

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45)

It was not by accident that God gave us his word, the Bible. He gave it to us to be our guide to salvation, growth, wisdom, rebuke, confession, history, and ultimately our final future. He allowed the Holy Spirit to illumine what the Scriptures say. God wanted us to understand the Bible. When we read it, obey it, the Bible will allow us to have victory over Satan and his demons.

Read your Bible, obey it, and see what God will do.

So now a conclusion to what we have studied this week. Remember John wrote this to believers. His intent was for the believers to share these truths with others. You are the others.

CONCLUSION:

We need to be able to articulate:

• Assurance of salvation
• How to pray
• The will of God
• How to pray for brothers in sin
• Sin unto death
• The wickedness of this world
• Understanding of the Scriptures

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

First John 5:11-21 is John’s encouragement to the believers. He encourages them about everlasting life, prayer, wickedness and understanding.  Today we will look at wickedness.

Wickedness (V 18-19)

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. ¹⁹ And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)

⁹ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,²⁰ Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,²¹ Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; ²⁹ Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, ³⁰ Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: ³² Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:28-32)

John is making the point that there is a difference between believers and the wicked.

Do our lives give evidence that we are believers in Christ? Are we walking in the Spirit of God? Do we do the things of the flesh or the things of the Spirit? Think right and act right.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

First John 5:11-21 is John’s encouragement to the believers. He encourages them about everlasting life, prayer, wickedness and understanding.  Today we will look at prayer.

Prayer (V 14-15)

 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵ And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

What is the will of God?

• Salvation
• Baptism
• Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
• Giving thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18) In every thing give thanks: for this is thewill of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
• Renew you mind (Romans 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,will of God.

Praying for brother in sin (V 16-17)

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. ¹⁷ All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Sin unto death (Matthew 12:31-32)

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. ³² And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Prayer is talking with God. He desires us to come to him with our burdens, concerns, desires, and confessions. He is there to love us, bless us, rebuke us, reprove us, and answer our prayers. His answers may not be our answers, but they will best for us.

Pray to God. Tell what is on your heart. Allow Him to direct you, as only He can do.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

First John 5:11-21 is John’s encouragement to the believers. He encourages them about everlasting life, prayer, wickedness and understanding.  Today we will look at what he had to say about everlasting life.

Eternal Security (V 11-13)

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.       (John 3:36)

We never have to be unsure about our salvation. He says that we know that we have eternal life. Unfortunately, many believers do not have assurance of their salvation. This causes a problem. If they do not believe God can keep them saved eternally, what else might they not believe?

The answer is as simple as reading the Bible and believing it.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Do you need some encouragement to start your week? Read this devotional from Thomas Boston. This will be the believers state when we get to Heaven.

No hissing serpent!

(Thomas Boston, “Human Nature in its Fourfold State”)

Believers shall be made completely happy in the kingdom of Heaven. They shall be fully freed from sin, which of all evils, is the worst.

They shall be free from all temptation to sin. Satan can have no access to tempt them any more, by himself, or by his agents. No hissing serpent can come into the paradise above! No snare or trap can be laid there, to catch the feet of the saints. They may walk there without fear, for they can be in no hazard in the promised land. They shall be set beyond the possibility of sinning, for they shall be confirmed in holiness.

The guilt and the reigning power of sin are then taken away. The corrupt nature will be fully removed, and no vestiges of it left in their souls. Their nature shall be altogether pure and sinless.

There shall be no darkness in their minds; but the understanding will be as a globe of pure and unmixed light.

There shall not be the least aversion to good, nor the least inclination to evil, in their wills. They will be brought to a perfect conformity to the will of God–blessed with angelic purity, and fixed therein.

Their affections shall not be liable to the least disorder or irregularity. They will get such a fixed habit of purity, as they can never lose. They will be so refined from all earthly dross, as never more to savor of anything but of Heaven.

Their graces shall then be fully perfected.
There will be no more ground for complaints . . .
of weakness of grace,
or of an evil heart,
or a corrupt nature.

And they shall be freed from all the effects of sin: “God will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever!” Revelation 21:4

In Heaven they find the completion and satisfaction of all their desires–having the full enjoyment of God, and uninterrupted communion with Him. In the heavenly Canaan, Immanuel’s land–nothing is lacking to complete the happiness of the inhabitants. This is the holy and happy country–blessed with a perpetual spring, and which yields all things for necessity, convenience, and delight!

I am looking forward to this.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Charles Spurgeon wrote today’s devotional.

It will make you doubly happy, even in this life!

(Charles Spurgeon, “A Good Start!”)

“Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come!” 1 Timothy 4:8

The gospel will bring you present blessings! It will give you . . .
present pardon,
present justification
present regeneration,
present adoption,
present sanctification,
present access to God,
present peace through believing,
and present help in time of trouble.
It will make you doubly happy, even in this life! It will be . . .
wisdom for your way,
strength for your conflict,
and comfort for your sorrow.

To have the love of God in the heart,
to have present and eternal peace with God,
to be able to look up to Heaven with confidence,
to talk to my Heavenly Father in childlike trustfulness
–is a present joy and comfort worth more than worlds!

Believer! You now enjoy the unchanging favor of God, so that you will go your way henceforth not to live as others do–but as the chosen of God, beloved with special love, enriched with special blessings, to rejoice every day until you are taken up to dwell where Jesus is!

“For the grace of God that brings salvation . . . teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions–and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age!” Titus 2:11-12

Hope this was an encouragement. Have a wonderful weekend.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

I have spent the last two days at two different cemeteries. We laid to rest a member of my Bible study class and the husband of another.  What they had in common was that they were buried with their wives. Today Abraham’s remaining family members are buried with him.

Isaac dies (Genesis 35:28-29, 49:30-31)

And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years. ²⁹ And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place. ³¹ There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

Jacob dies (Genesis 49:29-30)

And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, ³⁰ In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying place.

Three generations of family members are now buried at the cave of Machpelah. This was the norm at the time.

Church’s used to have cemeteries on their property. Generations upon generation of church members were buried in these church cemeteries. Then came the train, car, and airplane and changed everything. These modern modes of transportation caused men and women to leave their homes and never return. Families were separated and when death came, they chose to be buried in their new communities. Church’s built buildings for worship, schooling, recreation, but no longer for cemeteries to remember the dead.  Although there is a gravestone, many are never visited.

Let us not forget our loved ones who are no longer with us. Visit the gravesites of your families. Cherish the memories.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001