Archives for 2015

Good morning,

People are born every day.  There is nothing remarkable about this. Jesus birth was very remarkable. It was miraculous. Consider the following.

VIRGIN BIRTH Matthew 1:20-23

 ^“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. ²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. ²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, ²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

We see Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, that he would save his people from their sins, that Mary was a virgin at the time of Jesus’ birth, and his name would be called Emmanuel, God with us.

BETHLEHEM BIRTH Luke 2:4-7

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. ⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Micah 5:2 prophesies the birth of Jesus is Bethlehem. The Son of God, second person of the trinity, the coming Messiah, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, was born in Bethlehem, in a birthing cave for lambs, and laid in a manger.

MINISTRY OF JESUS Luke 19:10

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus performed miracles, healing the sick, making the blind to see, healing leprosy, and raising the dead. But ultimately he came to lead sinners to their Savior, Jesus himself.

Tomorrow we will look at the death of Jesus on the cruel cross at Calvary.  Why did he have to suffer for you and me?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Blood. Why was this such an integral part of Old Testament worship? Man’s sin required a way to reestablish fellowship with God. God required a blood sacrifice. The Passover is a good illustration.

Israel is under bondage to the Egyptians. They cry out to the Lord. God hears their cry and sends Moses to deliver them. Pharaoh would not allow the Hebrews to leave. God sent 10 plagues upon Egypt. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. The first plague was turning the river water into blood. The last plague was the death of the first born which could be avoided by the blood.

Disobedience to God’s word is sin. Pharaoh and anyone following him sinned against God. So in Exodus 12, God tells Moses what the Hebrews need to do to avoid this plague. If they obey, they live. If they disobey, they die.

Exodus 12:3-14

Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: ⁴ And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. ⁵ Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: ⁶ And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. ⁷ And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. ⁸ And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. ⁹ Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. ¹⁰ And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. ¹¹ And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover. ¹² For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. ¹³ And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. ¹⁴ And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

They obeyed, lived, were promptly allowed to leave. However, from time to time, the nation of Israel disobeyed God. God instituted animal sacrifices to cover the sin, but not take them away. Hebrews 10 explains this.

Hebrews 10:3-14

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. ⁴ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. ⁵ Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: ⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. ⁷ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. ⁸ Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; ⁹ Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. ¹⁰ By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. ¹¹ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: ¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; ¹³ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. ¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Obey God. But when we don’t, we need to repent, go to God and ask His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 states, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Tomorrow, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we celebrate two extremely important holidays, Passover and the Resurrection.

To understand why these holidays are important to us as believers in Jesus, we must determine why we need a Savior (Monday), why the blood was important and the Passover holiday (Tuesday), birth and ministry of Jesus (Wednesday), the cross (Thursday), and the Resurrection (Friday).

Why do we need a Savior?

In Genesis 1, God created everything perfect.  He stated in Genesis 1:31, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

During the sixth day God created Adam and Eve. He put them in a garden called Eden. He gave them one command found in Genesis 2:16-17, which states, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

So far all is well. In chapter three, a new character is introduced to the narrative, the serpent. The serpent has various names in Scripture. He is called Lucifer, Satan, the devil, etc. He is well described in Ezekiel 28:13-19, “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. ¹⁴ Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. ¹⁵ Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. ¹⁶ By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. ¹⁷ Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. ¹⁸ Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. ¹⁹ All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.”

So then, the serpent strikes up a conversation with Eve. Genesis 3:1-7 states, “Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ² And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: ³ But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ⁴ And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ⁵ For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. ⁶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. ⁷ And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Man has disobeyed God. THIS IS THE FIRST SIN.

What happens next? Genesis 3:21, states, “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” The blood sacrifice of an innocent animal was required.

Tomorrow we will look at the blood sacrifice at the Passover and its significance.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

I hope this will be an encouragement and challenge to you.

Surely, we cannot know this Christ too well!

(J.C. Ryle, 1879)

It would be well if Christians studied the four Gospels more than they do. No doubt, all Scripture is profitable. It is not wise to exalt one part of the Bible at the expense of another. But I think it would be good for some who are very familiar with the Epistles–if they knew a little more about the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Now, why do I say this? I say it because I want Christians to know more about Christ. It is good to be acquainted with all the doctrines and principles of Christianity. It is better to be acquainted with Christ Himself. It is well to be familiar with faith and grace and justification and sanctification. They are all matters “pertaining to the King.” But it is far better to be familiar with Jesus Himself, to see the King’s own face, and to behold His beauty! This is one secret of eminent holiness! He who would be conformed to Christ’s image, and become a Christ-like man–must be constantly studying Christ Himself!

Now the Gospels were written to make us acquainted with Christ. The Holy Spirit has told us the story of His life and death, His sayings and His doings–four times over. Four different inspired hands have drawn the picture of the Savior.
His ways,
His manners,
His feelings,
His wisdom,
His grace,
His patience,
His love,
His power–
are all graciously unfolded to us by four different witnesses.

Ought not the sheep to be familiar with the Shepherd?

Ought not the patient to be familiar with the Physician?

Ought not the bride to be familiar with the Bridegroom?

Ought not the sinner to be familiar with the Savior?

Beyond doubt it ought to be so. The Gospels were written to make men familiar with Christ, and therefore I wish men to study the Gospels.

On whom must we build our souls, if we would be accepted by God? We must build on the Rock, Christ.

From whom must we draw that grace of the Spirit which we daily need in order to be fruitful? We must draw from the Vine, Christ.

To whom must we look for sympathy when earthly friends fail us or die? We must look to our elder Brother, Christ.

By whom must our prayers be presented, if they are to be heard on high? They must be presented by our Advocate, Christ.

With whom do we hope to spend the eternity of glory? With the King of kings, Christ.

Surely, we cannot know this Christ too well! Surely there is not a word, nor a deed, nor a day, nor a step, nor a thought in the record of His life, which ought not to be precious to us. We should labor to be familiar with every line that is written about Jesus!

Have a great weekend.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

When we were unsaved, we identified with the world and did the things of this world. When we received Christ we exchanged that sinful, worldly life, for one that identifies with Jesus. We identify with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as seen in Roman’s 6:1-5. Our lives have been crucified with our Lord Jesus. Paul makes two statements that help us understand this principle.

¹⁹ For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. ²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:19-21)

⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.        (Romans 6:6-10)

The crucified life allows us to live in Christ. Our sinful body having been crucified is dead. If we believe this, then sin that was part of the old life has no dominion or control over us. Does that mean we do not sin? NO. It means our desire should be to please God by obeying the precepts of His Word, the Bible. It gives us power to overcome our sinful desires. When we fail, and we will, we are able to go to God, repent and ask for forgiveness.

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Thank God today for what He has done for you.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

Wisdom comes from God. The book of James speaks to this subject.

In Chapter 1, verse 5, James says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Chapter 3, verses 13 through 18, tells us about the wise man.

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. ¹⁶ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

God is looking for men and women of wisdom. People who have wisdom from God are used to teach, train, encourage, and empathize with others who are struggling on their walk with God. They are impact players.

Ask God for His wisdom. Then use what He gives you to help others.

Have a blessed day.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

One of the exciting things I am involved in is the Senior Ambassador program. Senior Ambassadors represent the Wasilla Area Seniors at different community activities to share with them, who we are, why seniors are important members of our community, and how they might be able to help us.  Attending Borough and City government meetings is very important. This is where we have opportunity to influence issues important to seniors.

As we think about government, you may have a positive or negative attitude. However, the Bible teaches us that we are to be subject to those who rule over us. Our country has representative government. Those we elect are empowered to represent us in whatever position they were elected.

Romans 13:1-7, says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. ² Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: ⁴ For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. ⁵ Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. ⁶ For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. ⁷ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

Jesus told the religious leaders in Matthew 22:17-21, “ Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? ¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? ¹⁹ Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. ²⁰ And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? ²¹ They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”

The Bible also makes it clear that we should obey God rather than man. Remember when the religious leaders told the Apostles they could not preach about Jesus. They cast them into prison. God opened the prison door and they went out and continued to preach. Acts 5:28-32 states, “²⁸ Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. ²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. ³¹ Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

So what is the place of government from God’s point of view?

• Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
• Pay our taxes
• When moral issues arise, we ought to obey God rather than men

Join us at a Council or Borough meeting. You might be surprised what your representatives are doing.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

 

Good morning,

Sunday mornings, I conduct the opening exercises for our church. I always ask God what song He would like us to sing. Yesterday it was Blessed Assurance. The following is the back round of the song and author.

The hymn “Blessed Assurance” was written by Fanny J. Crosby and composed by Phoebe P. Knapp. The scripture reference is found in Hebrews 10: 22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

The Scriptures teach that we can know with absolute certainty that we have the life of God within us (1 John 4:13). This confidence is not based on inner feelings or outward signs. Rather, this “blessed assurance” is founded upon the promises of a faithful God and this inspired Word. It depends not on the amount of our faith but on the object of our faith–Christ Himself!

Though she become blind at six weeks of age through improper medical treatment, Fanny Crosby wrote more than eight thousand gospel song texts in her lifetime of ninety-five years. Her many favorites such as “Blessed Assurance” have been an important part of evangelical worship for the past century.

Often the themes for Fanny Crosby’s texts were suggested by visiting ministers who wished to have a new song on a particular subject. As she once said, “Our home is a beehive of activity with so many friends dropping in and requesting a new hymn for some special occasion.”

At other times musician friends would first compose the music and then ask Fanny for matching words. Such was the prompting for the hymn “Blessed Assurance.” One day Mrs. Joseph (Phoebe) Knapp, who was an amateur musician, the daughter of a noted Methodist evangelist, and a close personal friend, visited Fanny in her New York home.

“Oh Fanny, I have had a new melody racing through my mind for some time now, and I just can’t think of anything else. Let me play it for you and perhaps you can help me with the words.”

After kneeling in prayer and clutching her little Bible, the blind poetess stood to her feet with face aglow: “Why, that music says,”Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine. . . .””

Soon the words began to flow from her heart, and there was born another of the more than eight thousand gospel hymns by this godly woman, the “queen of gospel music.” And still today our hearts are inspired and our spirits lifted as we sing this musical testimony together.

First Stanza of the Hymn
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.”

Chorus:
“This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.”

Do you have this “Blessed Assurance”? You can by trusting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

Have a blessed day.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Jeremiah, the prophet, preached to Judah to repent. They refused and Jeremiah 6:15-19 tells how they rejected God’s patient call to repent. Subsequently they were taken into captivity by the Babylonians. Jerusalem was destroyed, the Temple burnt, and the people exiled. Yet Jeremiah continued to preach.

“Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. ¹⁶ Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein. ¹⁷ Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, we will not hearken. ¹⁸ Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. ¹⁹ Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.”

This is one of the saddest and scariest passages in all of Scripture. When Israel chose to willfully rebel against God, they brought judgment upon themselves. God sent many prophets to warn them, but they said “NO”. What is even worse, today we have God’s revealed word given to us in the Bible. God is calling this generation to repent, but we, as Israel did, reject God’s word. We are setting ourselves up for judgment.

Please repent of your sins and ask Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior. I would be very willing to help in that effort.

Remember our lessons on God’s goodness. Choose to follow Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

God is good. I would hope we could all agree on that. How is God’s goodness expressed in the Scriptures? Today we will explore God’s word and find out. Yesterday we looked at the recipients of the Lord’s goodness. Today we will see that we have goodness. Goodness is defined as uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness. We will see examples of this in today’s Scriptures.

Personal Goodness

• 2 Chronicles 32:32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
• 2 Chronicles 35:26 Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the Lord,
• Romans 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
• Ephesians 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
• 2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

Hezekiah and Josiah, righteous King’s of Israel, exemplified uprightness of heart and kindness toward their people. Paul, after teaching about sin, salvation, sanctification, and victory over sin, tells the Roman’s that because of what they had been taught, they were full of goodness, were filled with knowledge, and needed to admonish one another.

I hope this study on goodness has been an encouragement to you. Please feel free to share it with your friends and families.

Have a wonderful day.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001