Archives for 2016

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

 

Good morning,

Today Paul tells the Colossians about the person of Jesus and reconciliation with Jesus.   This is the solution to the theological problems that the Colossians was facing.

1. The person of Christ (15-19)

 ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  ¹⁶ For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:  ¹⁷ And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.  ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.  ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell;

 Firstborn indicates His priority before all creation. Verse 16 provides the reason Christ is called the firstborn in verse 15. Paul’s rationale is this. Since by Him were all things created, the (1) Christ must have existed before the universe, and (2) He must be greater than all He made. Thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers all refer to angelic beings (cf. Ephesians 1:21, 3:10). “Thrones” refer to angels who sit on thrones as rulers, “dominions” refer to domains or kingdoms over which these heavenly beings reign, “principalities” refer to rulers, and “powers” refer to angelic monarchs who yield regal power. Since Christ created these various ranks of angels, He is supreme over them. Striking a blow to the Colossian heresy advocating angel worship (2:18), this text forbids Christians to pay homage to angels or other heavenly beings created by God.

2. Reconciliation (20-23)

 ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled ²² In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight:  ²³ If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Reconciliation is the act whereby God, through Christ’s atonement, brings men who are at odds with Him back into a peaceful, proper relationship with Himself.

Paul uses the person of Christ to refute the heresies of the Colossian church.

The heresies at Colossae are still in play today. This is why it is vital for us to know who Christ is, what He has done, and to be willing to tell others.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Yesterday we read that the Colossian church had several problems. Instead of Paul stating the problem and then giving the solution, he begins with the solution. He tells them about the person of Jesus, reconciliation with Jesus, and how he has served Jesus. Verses 1-14 form the introduction to the letter.

WRITER

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

RECIPIENTS

² To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossae: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

SALUTATION

³ We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  ⁴ Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,  ⁵ For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;  ⁶ Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

MINISTER IN COLOSSAE

 ⁷ As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;  ⁸ Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THE COLOSSIANS

 ⁹ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  ¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  ¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;  ¹² Giving thanks unto the Father, Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:  ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Paul wants the Colossians to follow Christ. This will be important as we move forward. Tomorrow we will look at the person of Christ and reconciliation with Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The book of Colossians has a wealth of truths. Paul had to correct false doctrine being presented to the Colossian’s. Here is outline of the book.

BOOK OF COLOSSIANS INTRODUCTION

OUTLINE

DOCTRINAL CHAPTERS 1-2

PRACTICAL CHAPTERS 3-4

CHAPTER 1 THE PERSON OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 2 THE ANSWERS OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 3 THE STANDARDS OF CHRIST

CHAPTER 4 THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRIST

HISTORY

The Epistle to the Colossians is one of the four prison epistles. It was written by the apostle Paul while he was a prisoner in Rome. Evidence suggests that Paul himself had never visited Colossae but that Timothy and Epaphras probably evangelized the city and founded the church during Paul’s three year stay in Ephesus while on his third missionary journey. Colossae was a town in Asia Minor about one hundred miles east of Ephesus and 12 miles south of Laodicea and Heirapolis.

OCCASION FOR WRITING

Epaphras either visited Paul in Rome or was imprisoned there with him. ln either case, he informed Paul of the dangerous theological error circulating in the churches of Colossae and Laodicea, in response to Epaphras’ plea for help, Paul writes the epistle to the Colossians, which is also to be read in the church of Laodicea, in an attempt to check the heresy’s influence. The heresy was syncretistic, that is, it was composed of elements drawn from paganism’, Judaism. and Christianity. The pagan element espoused a false philosophy that appears to have been an early form of Gnosticism. This movement viewed matter as evil, denied the divine creation of the universe, held to many angelic beings or spiritual intermediaries existing between God and men, advocated the worship of these angelic beings, and stressed secret “knowledge” (received when initiated into their cult) as the means of attaining salvation. The Jewish element was legalistic in nature, retained the Mosaic Law, imposed circumcision, followed dietary restrictions and calendar observations, and advocated asceticism. The heresy’s Christian component did not deny Christ, but dethroned Him. He was not regarded as divine or as Creator of the universe, and His death was thus deprived of any saving merit. The letter’s aim was to refute the Colossian heresy, to demonstrate the preeminence of Christ, and to confirm the addressees in the Christian faith.

Tomorrow we will look at chapter 1.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Delight in the fact that you are a child of God’s. Meditate on some of these great promises.

This one thought is a fountain of unfailing happiness!

(George Everard, “Up High!” 1884)

“He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ” Ephesians 1:5

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus!” Galatians 3:26

Here is one of the sweetest privileges of the Christian life. The Christian is a beloved child, and shares all the love and tenderness of the Father’s heart!

This one thought is a fountain of unfailing happiness! 
“I am at home with God!
Once I was far off–but now I am near.
Once I was a stranger–but now His beloved child!
Once the thought of His presence was fear and dread–but now it is life, and joy, and peace.
 He is my Father, and in this Name all heart-joys meet.
He knows me by name, and cares for me in all my cares.
 He pities me, and in tender compassion marks each tear I shed, and each sorrow that weighs upon my heart.
 He opens His hand, and each day gives me all that I need.
He bows down His ear and hearkens to each prayer I offer.
I have boldness and liberty to go at all times into His presence-chamber, and may tell Him every desire and ask of Him whatever is for my good.”

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Please take some time to meditate on the question below.

What is Christianity?

(George Everard, “Guidance and Help” 1874)

“Christ is all!” Colossians 3:11

What is Christianity?

Christianity centers in the glorious Person of Christ!

The aim and purpose of every Scripture truth, is to fix the eye on Christ Himself!
He is the Alpha and Omega of Christianity.
From Him proceeds every ray of light.
To Him all believing hearts are drawn.
The Christian finds consolation and strength only in Him.
Every motive for Christian living is from Him.
The glorious privileges which Christians possess can only be enjoyed from union and fellowship with Him.
Their highest standard of duty is to follow His footsteps, and to walk even as He walked.

Christianity, in fact, is Christ! It is . . .
Christ in the Scriptures;
Christ in the Manger;
Christ on the Cross;
Christ, the Risen One;
Christ, the Ascended One;
Christ, the Prophet, the Priest, the King;
Christ in His Glorious appearing, to be revealed from Heaven with His mighty angels!

All our trust, all our love, all our obedience, is due to Him!

The more the eye and the heart is turned fully towards Him–the more true and genuine is our Christianity.

Do not I love You, Oh my Lord?
Behold my heart and see,
And turn each cursed idol out,
That dares to rival Thee!

You know I love You, dearest Lord,
But oh, I long to soar,
Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love You more!
Philip Doddridge

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will complete our study of Philippians. Chapter 4 is a book of rejoicing. The key verse is verse 4.

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Today we see how God supplies Paul’s needs.

7. God supplies Paul’s needs (15-23)

Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

CONCLUSION 

• Stand fast
• Be of the same mind
• Rejoice
• Moderation (self control)
• Pray
• Do what Paul instructed
• God will supply your needs

Paul ends the book of Philippians by telling of his faith in God. He clearly states that God supplied all his needs. That he has all and abounds. That he is full. He thanks the Philippians for their gift. He tells them that God will supply all their needs in Christ Jesus.

Paul challenges the Philippians to keep on, keeping on (stand fast).

That would the challenge for us. Stand fast in these days of wickedness and deceit. Continue to present the gospel, obey God’s word, pray, and rely solely on God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will complete our study of Philippians. Chapter 4 is a book of rejoicing. The key verse is verse 4.

 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Today Paul gives us a great lesson on contentment.

6. Paul’s contentment (10-14)

 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 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. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Christians are to be content in every area of their lives. Paul is writing this letter from jail. Paul led a hard life as he testifies to in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28.

²³ Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. ²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. ²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. ²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

After all this he states in Philippians, “…I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

Have we learned to be content? Personally, and through my own observation, I do not believe the body of Christ is content. We are striving for the next, best, greatest thing. We want the better job, better car, better home, or better life in general. No pain, no heartaches.

He then explains to the Philippians why he is content. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” His total reliance was on the Lord. He understood that the Lord Jesus Christ was in charge of his life. He submitted to God’s plan and went forward. This is what God wants us to do. Submit to His plan and follow His lead.

That’s our challenge.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will complete our study of Philippians. Chapter 4 is a book of rejoicing. The key verse is verse 4.

 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

 INTRODUCTION

Paul completes his letter encouraging the Philippians to “stand fast”, “be of the same mind”, “rejoice”, “moderation”, “pray”, “do” what Paul did, and that God will take care of your needs.

 1. Salutation (1)

 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

 2. Unity and encouragement (2-3)

 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

 3. Rejoice (4)

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

4. Prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving (5-7)

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

5. God’s peace (8-9)

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Let’s do a little review. Where is Paul as he writes this letter? Why was he there? If you were there, would you be writing letters of joy, encouragement and challenge?

Paul challenges the Philippians to encourage others, rejoice, pray, ask, give thanks, and rest in Jesus loving arms. If we could experientially get a hold of the truths found in verses 8 and 9, it would transform our personal lives, our churches, and our ministries.

Let’s ask God how He would like to implement these characteristics in our lives.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001