Archives for March 2016

Good morning,

Please read this devotion prayerfully. Hopefully, this challenges us to walk closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The pattern which we daily strive to copy!

(George Everard, “Before His Footstool” 1874)

O merciful God, our Creator and our Benefactor, our Father in Christ Jesus–we come to You today to thank and praise You for all Your manifold mercies. We thank You for the proofs of Your goodness which day by day we receive at Your kind hands. You have given us all things richly to enjoy. You have given to us home and friends, food and clothing–and You have preserved us in life and health. For all this bounty we adore and praise Your holy name.

But we would bless You most of all, for Your inestimable love in our redemption. You have given Your Son Jesus Christ to be a sacrifice for our sins. Fill us with sincere gratitude, and teach us to praise You both with our lips and in our lives.

O God of love, purify our hearts that we may love You as we ought. You are worthy that we should love You far above all else. But we are carnal, and our affections cling too much to the things of the world. May Your Holy Spirit break the chains which bind us so closely to earth, and draw us nearer to Yourself. Shed abroad Your love in our hearts, that we may desire Your presence above all things. Kindle within each of us the heavenly flame, and may it burn ever more and more brightly.

O blessed Savior, the Good Shepherd of Your flock–may Your holy life be the pattern which we daily strive to copy. Teach us so to walk as You walked when sojourning here below. May our constant aim be to do the will of our Father in Heaven. May we be gentle and meek and forbearing towards all men. May we never willfully yield to the very least sin. May we give ourselves unto prayer, and make Your Word the rule of our life. May we go about doing good, and watch for occasions of comforting those in distress. Fill our hearts with zeal and love, with patience and kindness, with humility, and hatred of all evil. May we daily fix our eye on You as revealed in Your Word, and may we be changed into Your holy image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of our God.

May Your Word ever be the light to guide and direct us, and may Christ alone be the resting-place of our heart.

Hear us, O God, and preserve us evermore by Your help and goodness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will learn how to walk in Christ. We will at the heavenly focus (1-4), how to live a holy life (5-17), and living the Christian life in all relationships (18-4:1). We will be encouraged and challenged as we study Colossians 3.

COLOSSIANS 3

PRACTICAL LIVING FOR BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (3:17)

Paul taught the Colossians about Jesus, then about the believers being complete in Jesus and why, now he has explained how to live holy lives. So his next logical step is to teach about relationships concerning wives, husbands, children, fathers, servants, and masters. He makes the point that each of these relationships is contingent on their relationship to God. Chapter 3, verses 18 through Chapter4, verse 1, explains.

3. Living the Christian life in all relationships (18-25, 4:1)

 ¹⁸ Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.  ¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.  ²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.  ²¹ Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.  ²² Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; ²³ And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.  ²⁵ But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

Verse 18: Wifely submission cannot be forced; it must come from her own free will. As it is fit in the Lord means the wife’s submission to her husband is proper in her relationship with Christ; submission rendered to her husband is submission rendered to Christ.

Verse 19: Ephesians 5:25 explains the duty of the husband is to love his wife. The Greek word for love is agapao, the same affection with which “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). This type of love is a willing and sacrificial giving of oneself for the benefit of another, without thought of return. Be not bitter against them might be translated, “Do not be harsh toward them.”  The husband who loves his wife will not be rude, unkind, or cruel toward her. This implies that wifely submission is gained in part by the husband’s love.

 Verse 20: Obedience to parental authority is pleasing to the Lord in the child’s relationship to Him. The obedience given to parents is obedience given to Christ.

Verse 21: Fathers can provoke their children to anger by injustice, loss of temper, undo severity, cruelty, favoritism, suppression, sarcasm, ridicule, and misuse and abuse of authority.

Verse 22-25: Eyeservice is work done only when the master is watching. Christian slaves were to work hard even when the owners were absent. Singleness of heart means a sincere disposition. Do it heartily means the slave is to perform his slave duties wholeheartedly, doing the best job he can with all his strength. A slave could be enthusiastic in carrying out his menial tasks because they were done, not so much for his earthly master (unto men), but for his heavenly Master (to the Lord).

Verse 1, Chapter 4: The reason earthly masters should give their servants that which is just and equal is that the masters themselves also have a Master in heaven. As they want Him to be just and fair with them, so they must be towards their servants.

CONCLUSION

• SEEK THOSE THINGS ABOVE
• LIVE HOLY LIVES PLEASING TO GOD
• DWELL IN UNITY WITH FELLOW BELIEVERS

 Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will learn how to walk in Christ. We will at the heavenly focus (1-4), how to live a holy life (5-17), and living the Christian life in all relationships. We will be encouraged and challenged as we study Colossians 3.

COLOSSIANS 3

PRACTICAL LIVING FOR BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (3:17)

The Bible tells us to live holy lives. Paul gives us principles, teaching us what holiness looks like. Holiness is not passive. We will see action words. Things we must do to bring us closer to the example Jesus Christ set for us. Chapter 3, verses 5-17, challenges us to live as Christ lives.

2. How to live a holy life (5-17)

 ⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  ⁶ For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  ⁷ In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.  ⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  ⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:  ¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  ¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  ¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Paul starts by telling the Colossians to mortify, kill, members, energies and activities of the old man. He continues by telling them to “put off” the activities of the “old man”.  Then to counteract the activities of the “old man”, they are to “put on” the activities of the “new man”. These activities are to be bound by charity, love. Having “put on” the activities of the new man, Paul encourages the Colossians to be thankful, allowing the word of Christ to dwell within them, to teach the fellow believers in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and to all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Although there is no magic formula to holiness, these verses give us some steps to get there.

Tomorrow, we will see how these principles play out in our individual personal relationships with others?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will learn how to walk in Christ. We will at the heavenly focus (1-4), how to live a holy life (5-17), and living the Christian life in all relationships. We will be encouraged and challenged as we study Colossians 3.

COLOSSIANS 3-STANDARDS OF CHRIST

PRACTICAL LIVING FOR BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (3:17)

INTRODUCTION

In Chapter 2 Paul exhorts the Colossians’ to walk in Christ. Today we will learn how.

1. Heavenly Focus (1-4)

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Chapter 2 taught us that we are complete in Christ. Christ shed His precious holy blood for our sins. He forgave all our sin and nailed it to His cross. With those things in mind, He wants us to “…seek those things which are above…” and “…Set your affection on things above…”.  Is that we strive to do or is affections still on earth.

Unfortunately, we forget that our home is NOT on earth, but is heaven. The way we live our lives should demonstrate to whom we belong.

Tomorrow we will learn how to live a holy life.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will study Colossians 2. There are five errors that endanger the Colossian church. The five errors are enticing words (4-7), philosophy (8-13), legality (14-17), mysticism (18-19), and asceticism (20-23). Today we will look at mysticism and asceticism. This concludes our study of Colossians 2.

5. Mysticism (18-19)

¹⁸ Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,  ¹⁹ And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Verse 18: Beguile means to rob you of your prize. The heretics, if their doctrine were accepted, would rob the Colossians of their spiritual blessings. These false teachers displayed false humility and advocated a gospel of worshiping angels that is paying homage to angelic beings. They also claimed to have witnessed numerous revelations and visions.

Verse 19: “Not holding the head” reveals that the local heretics possessed no relationship with Christ: they were therefore not Christians. From Christ (the Head), then, the church (body) derives spiritual growth as it is supported and united by the various ministering believers (joints, bands) in the assembly.

6. Asceticism (20-23)

²⁰ Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  ²¹ (Touch not; taste not; handle not;  ²² Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  ²³ Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.

Verse 20: Asceticism is the religious doctrine that one can reach a higher spiritual state by rigorous self-discipline and self denial. Paul’s expression “to die” figuratively means to be free from something. That from which the Colossians had been freed is the rudiments of the world, that is, from the elementary religious teachings espousing salvation by merit and good works. Since the gospel has freed the believer from attempting to gain heaven by self-effort, he should never subject himself to such legalistic ordinances.

Verse 21: These three prohibitions are examples of the heretical teachings to which the Colossians were about to submit. They were to abstain from certain food and drinks.

Verse 22: Inasmuch as all these foods are to perish with the using, it is foolish to base one’s eternal salvation on abstinence from temporary things like food.

Verse 23: Will-worship means self imposed religion. The apostle concedes that legalism is outwardly impressive, but he denies asceticism’s ability to harness the sensual appetite of man’s sinful nature (flesh).

CONCLUSION

• IN CHRIST IS ALL WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE
• BELIEVERS WALK IN CHRIST
• BELIEVERS ARE COMPLETE IN CHRIST
• BELIEVERS SINS ARE ALL FORGIVEN
• BELIEVERS SINS WERE NAILED TO HIS CROSS
• BELIEVERS WORSHIP JESUS AND ONLY JESUS
• BELIEVERS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO MAN-MADE ORDINANCES

Paul’s message to the Colossians must be seen in today’s present context. Each of these five errors are playing out in churches all across the United States. We must confront these errors, as Paul did, through a thorough knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, what He did for us, and his triumph over Satan.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will study Colossians 2. There are five errors that endanger the Colossian church. The five errors are enticing words (4-7), philosophy (8-13), legality (14-17), mysticism (18-19), and asceticism (20-23). Today we will look at legality. Verses 14-15 explain to us why Satan is a defeated foe.

4. Legality (14-17)

¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;  ¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.  ¹⁶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:  ¹⁷ Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Verse 14 refers to the Mosaic Law, which the Jews had contracted to obey, and to which the gentiles by conscience were obligated. Owing to man’s inability to fulfill this obligation of obedience, he was therefore indebted to God. But through Christ this debt was graciously blotted out. Our sins were nailed to HIS cross.

Verse 15, by the cross God disarmed or deprived Satan and all his demonic horde of the power and sway with which they formally gripped the Colossians. By this statement Paul might well have asked the Colossians, How can you give ear to any doctrine advocating angel worship (v18), when they are all subject to God?

Verse 16, since Christ had annulled the law (v14), the Colossians are to let no man…judge you regarding dietary matters or religious calendar observations. A believer is not to observe ordinances that are only ritual and liturgical, as they have no present value.

Verse 17, “Shadow” is picture: photograph. All of the rituals of the law were pictures of Christ. Now that Christ has come, we have the reality, the person of Christ, we no longer need pictures. We worship Christ not ritual!

These verses confirm that we do indeed have VICTORY in Jesus. Satan has been defeated; Christ has come and blotted out our sin, and the pictures of Christ have become reality. What a blessing.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will study Colossians 2. There are five errors that endanger the Colossian church. The five errors are enticing words (4-7), philosophy (8-13), Legality (14-17), mysticism (18-19), and asceticism (20-23). Today we will look at philosophy. This is a powerful group of verses and should be a tremendous encouragement to each of us.

3. Philosophy (8-13)

⁸ Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  ⁹ For in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  ¹⁰ And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power:  ¹¹ In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  ¹² Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.  ¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Beware means to lookout. Spoil you means to carry away from the truth with false teaching. Philosophy and vain deceit means it is empty and void of real truth. It is empty of vital power, for the dynamic of the gospel is absent. It is empty of hope, for it leads away from the light of God’s presence into the midst of man’s speculation. It is deceitful because of its attractive presentation which seduces the minds of those who are drawn away by it, and which conceals its utter barrenness. Some false philosophies include tongues, laying of hands to receive the Holy Spirit, worshipping anything but Christ, child baptism, and lack of separation.

If in Christ all the fullness of the Godhead dwells, then HE is the source of all truth, and any teaching which does not accord with Him is at once to be declared false. This refutes the Colossian heresy denying the Son’s full deity and that He possessed a body that could die and make atonement for sin. The Bible then is the truth that we must stand on.

Believers have been filled by Jesus with all the spiritual blessings they need; hence, they are “complete” and lacking nothing. This, too, refutes the heresy that denied the sufficiency of Christ and encouraged Christians to look to other spiritual beings for help.

The real circumcision for today is the new birth.

Identification with Christ is the meaning of being “buried with Him in baptism”. We identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul gives the Colossians a personal application. God gave them a new spiritual life. It is NOT the improvement of the OLD nature, but the impartation of a NEW nature.

To sum up this lesson, avoid ANYTHING that does not agree with God’s word.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study Colossians 2. There are five errors that endanger the Colossian church. The five errors are enticing words (4-7), philosophy (8-13), Legality (14-17), mysticism (18-19), and asceticism (20-23). Today we will look at enticing words.

Where are the answers to life’s question to be found?  Christ Jesus.  There are five errors that endangered the Colossian church:

 Paul begins by bearing his heart and giving encouragement to the church’s at Colossae and Laodicea in verses 1-3.

1.All treasure of wisdom and knowledge (1-3)

 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ² That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; ³ In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

2. Enticing words (4-7)

 ⁴ And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.  ⁵ For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.  ⁶ As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:  ⁷ Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Beguile means to deceive. Thus Paul emphasizes the fact that he speaks to guard them against false teaching. He has spoken of Christ as being the only real source of wisdom and knowledge in order to show the utter contrast between the truth of God and the erroneous speculations of the false teachers. Their theories mislead because they spring from faulty reasoning, the fallacy of which is clouded by the persuasive arguments with which they are advocated.

Steadfastness is a solid front: immovable. Paul is commending them for their faithfulness in the face of overwhelming odds against them.

They are to walk in dependence upon Him. Walking speaks of the normal pattern of living. It suggests the steady progress of the one who is patiently going on in the face of temptation to turn aside or to be discouraged.

Today our televisions, computers, laptops, tablets, and cell phones, have beguiled us. Satan is attempting to deceive us to follow false teachers. They tell us to worship anything but Jesus.

We must resist these temptations. Worship Jesus only.  

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We live in a busy world. We have families, jobs, and ministries that help us prioritize our days. But what do the people we interact with each day see in us? The challenging questions are all within the text. As you read this, please think about how others see you.

Here is a sermon which none can dispute!

(George Everard, “Up High!” 1884)

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16

We are to let the beauty of Jesus be seen upon us, that some rays of His glorious holiness may be manifested to the eyes of the world around. We are to go forth clothed in . . .
  His meekness,
His purity,
His love,
His heavenliness,
His unselfishness–
that sinners about us may gain some faint idea of His grace, through His likeness seen in us.

When, from beneath the humble garb of some lowly disciple, there shines forth something of Christ, something of what He was when on earth–here is a sermon which none can dispute, here is an appeal to the human conscience, more eloquent than the most powerful address ever made from the pulpit!

Christian, do you thus glorify Christ day by day?

Does your life speak so distinctly and plainly for Christ that men cannot fail to hear?

Does your temper, your tone of thought and speech, bear witness that you walk continually before God?

Do men take knowledge of you, that you have been with Him–and that He is with you?

Is there transparent sincerity in what you say, and unsullied integrity in all your actions?

Is there the spirit of self-sacrifice–trampling SELF under foot, and spending time and money for the welfare of others?

Is there a deep hatred of sin as sin, and a desire to do the will of God under all circumstances?

Is there a fixed determination rather to die, than willfully to break a single command, or cast a shadow of dishonor on the name of Him who so loved you?

Do you “long to be like Jesus,” and every moment to live devotedly and wholly in His service?

Then for this purpose, plead with Him this prayer, “Lord Jesus, glorify Yourself in me! Help me to show forth by my daily life, that I have been with You. May Your image be formed in me, and may Your life on earth be the pattern which I ever strive to follow.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Paul concludes Chapter 1 by telling the Colossians’ his position, his purpose, his outreach, and what he hopes to accomplish.  He reveals a hidden mystery. He makes clear that God gives him the power to minister.

3. Paul’s service for Christ (24-29)

 ²⁴ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body’s sake, which is the church:  ²⁵ Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;  ²⁶ Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:  ²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  ²⁸ Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:  ²⁹ Where-unto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.

CHALLENGES

• Know Christ
• Be reconciled to Christ
• Be willing to suffer for Christ
• Be willing to serve Christ
• Be willing to share Christ with others

Think about how a personal relationship with Christ has changed your life. What has He taught you? What has He challenged you to do? Are you doing it? This was what Paul was challenging the Colossians to do.

Go and do likewise.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001