Archives for 2018

Good morning,

One of the greatest attributes of the Lord Jesus is His compassion. He sees a situation, which to us is hopeless, and comes along side and either remedies the problem or brings His comfort.

Today’s devotion deals with Jesus compassion.

Are we willing to allow Jesus to use us to be compassionate to others? Do we care about others problems? Are we willing to help?

Let us bear this in mind, and take comfort in it!

(J.C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Luke” 1858)

“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep!’ Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise!'” Luke 7:13-14

We learn from these verses–how deep is the compassion of our Lord’s heart. We see this beautifully brought out in His behavior at this funeral in Nain. He meets the mournful procession accompanying the young man to his grave, and is moved with compassion at the sight. He does not wait to be requested to help. His help appears to have been neither asked for, nor expected. He saw the weeping mother, and knew well what her feelings must have been, for He had been born of a woman Himself.

At once He addressed her with words alike startling and touching. He said unto her, “Do not weep!” A few more seconds–and the meaning of His words became plain. The widow’s son was restored to her alive. Her darkness was turned into light–and her sorrow into joy.

Our Lord Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His heart is still as compassionate as when He was upon earth. His sympathy with sufferers is still as strong. Let us bear this in mind, and take comfort in it. 

There is no friend or comforter who can be compared to Christ. In all our days of darkness, which must needs be many–let us first turn for consolation to Jesus, the Son of God. He will never fail us, never disappoint us, and never refuse to take interest in our sorrows. 

He still lives–who made the widow’s heart sing for joy in the gate of Nain.
He still lives–to receive all laboring and heavy-laden ones, if they will only come to Him by faith.
He still lives–to heal the broken-hearted, and be a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

And He lives to do greater things than these one day. He soon will come again for His people–that they may never weep again, and that all tears may be wiped forever from their eyes!
~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today’s sermon is on “prayer”.  It is our greatest weapon in spiritual warfare. It brings us closer to God.  It is available to us 24/7.  It is commanded of us.

PRAYER

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Introduction ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication)

Adoration (Psalm 95:1-6)

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.² Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.³ For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.⁴ In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.⁵ The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.⁶ O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

Confession (Psalm 32:1-5)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.² Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.³ When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.⁴ For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.⁵ I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Thanksgiving (Philippians 4:1-7)

Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.² I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.³ And I intreat 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.⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Supplication (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;² For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

To whom do we pray? (Acts 12:5, John 14:13, Ephesians 6:18))

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. (Acts 12

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)

When do we pray? (Luke 18:1, Psalm 5:3, 55:17, 86:3, 88:1)

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1)

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17)

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. (Psalm 86:3)

O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: (Psalm 88:1)

Where do we pray? (Matthew 6:6, Psalm 26:12)

ANYWHERE, EVERYWHERE

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord. (Psalm 26:12)

CONCLUSION

Pray with:

Adoration

Confession

Thanksgiving

Supplication

To God, through Jesus

Praying always

Praying everywhere

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We have just entered a new year. Where is our focus? Is it on the things of this world or on Jesus and what He did for us at the cross?

It is my desire that each of us will set aside a portion of each day to spend with Jesus. Read His word. Pray. Meditate on who Jesus is, what He has done, how He has changed our lives, and then how we can communicate that to others.

Behold Him!

(John Newton)

“God made Him who had no sin–to be sin for us.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Behold the beloved Jesus, perfectly spotless and holy–yet made an example of the severest justice.

Behold Him . . .
prostrate and agonizing in the garden;
enduring the vilest insults from wicked men;
torn with whips, and nails, and thorns;
suspended, naked, wounded, and bleeding upon the cross–forsaken by God!

Sin was the cause of all His anguish. He stood in the place of sinners, and therefore was not spared.

Not any, or all, the evils which the world has known–afford such proof of the dreadful effects and detestable nature of sin, as the knowledge of Christ crucified!

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001