Archives for 2018

Good morning,

The book of Titus tells how Paul encourages Titus to plant the church in Crete.

Chapter one tells us of Paul’s mission for Titus, the problem and problem makers at Crete, the witness against the Cretians, and the solution to the problem.

This week we will focus on each of these items.

Paul’s solution for Titus (1:6-8, 11, 13, 9)

Paul gives Titus guidance on who to choose to be elders and bishops.  

^“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.⁷ For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;⁸ But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;”

Then confrontation with those who teach false doctrine.

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. (1:11)

This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (1:13)

Finally, the key is God’s word, the Bible. The Bible is our weapon to confront the unbelievers and deceivers.

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (1:9)

That is why it is so important to know what the Bible says, understand its teaching, and be able to share it with others.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

The book of Titus tells how Paul encourages Titus to plant the church in Crete.

Chapter one tells us of Paul’s mission for Titus, the problem and problem makers at Crete, the witness against the Cretians, and the solution to the problem.

This week we will focus on each of these items.

The witness (1:12-14)

¹² One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.¹³ This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; ¹⁴ Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

We have the same type of people in our cities and towns. Some preach false doctrines or pervert the gospel message. Their intent is to turn believers and unbelievers from the truth.

Paul tells Titus not to give heed to these people. We must rebuke them.

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

If we know God’s word, we will not be deceived!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

The book of Titus tells how Paul encourages Titus to plant the church in Crete.

Chapter one tells us of Paul’s mission for Titus, the problem and problem makers at Crete, the witness against the Cretians, and the solution to the problem.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Download (Introduction-to-Titus.docx, DOCX, 18KB)

Download (Titus-1.docx, DOCX, 14KB)

Good morning,

The book of Titus tells how Paul encourages Titus to plant the church in Crete.

Chapter one tells us of Paul’s mission for Titus, the problem and problem makers at Crete, the witness against the Cretians, and the solution to the problem.

This week we will focus on each of these items.

The problems and problem makers at Crete (1:10-11, 15-16)

The problem (1:10-11)

¹⁰ For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:¹¹ Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

The character of these difficult people (1:15-16)

¹⁵ Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. ¹⁶ They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

The problems Titus faced in the first century are the same we face today. People who do not care about the truth, but pervert it. They try to deceive church members by division, false teaching, and outright lies.

They deny God, His teachings, and His people. Some seem very nice and can be very convincing, but they are of the devil.

We will know them because what they say, what they do, and their manner of life are not in agreement with Scripture.

That does presuppose that people who name the name of Christ, call themselves believers in Christ, and say they are Christians know what God’s word says. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Many church’s today do not teach their congregation the Bible. Many of the ones that do, do not teach the Bible correctly.

That is why Church goers are easy prey for the deceivers.

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

The book of Titus tells how Paul encourages Titus to plant the church in Crete.

Chapter one tells us of Paul’s mission for Titus, the problem and problem makers at Crete, the witness against the Cretians, and the solution to the problem.

This week we will focus on each of these items.

Paul’s greeting (1:1-4)

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; ² In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;³ But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;⁴ To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Paul, a servant of God, is writing to his son in the faith, Titus.

Paul’s mission for Titus (1:5)

“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:”

This letter was written to Titus, but it was also written to the Christians on the island of Crete. Paul knew this letter would be publicly read among the churches on the island.

From Titus 1:5 we learn that Paul and Titus worked together in Crete, spreading the gospel and establishing churches  but Paul had to leave. Titus stayed and worked among the congregations there. Since Titus was left behind to do a difficult work, Paul wanted to instruct and encourage him  and he did so with this letter.

Tomorrow we will look at the problems and problem makers Titus had to deal with. You will see not much has changed in the last 2000 years.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Religious services on Rosh Hashanah focus on the concept of God’s sovereignty. That will be our study for this week.

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY means that He is the Supreme Ruler who immanently and personally rules over all the affairs of the universe—and this includes our personal lives both as individuals and as a local body of believers. God’s sovereignty is a place of rest for the child of God.

GOD REIGNS OVER DEATH (JOHN 5:21)

“For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.”

GOD‘S COUNSEL (EPHESIANS 1:11)

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:”

This week we have seen that God reigns over everything. There is nothing exempt from God’s rule.

Knowing this, does it change the way we look at our lives? Will we allow God to be in charge of all areas of our lives? Will we read, obey, and base our lives on God’s word, the Bible? Will we be sharing these truths with others?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Religious services on Rosh Hashanah focus on the concept of God’s sovereignty. That will be our study for this week.

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY means that He is the Supreme Ruler who immanently and personally rules over all the affairs of the universe—and this includes our personal lives both as individuals and as a local body of believers. God’s sovereignty is a place of rest for the child of God.

CAN NOT FLEE FROM GOD (PSM 139:7-10)

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

GOD’S WORD WILL NOT RETURN VOID (IS 55:11)

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

The Bible says we can not flee from God. This may be a blessing or a curse. If one is living in sin, knowing that you can not flee God, might be considered a curse. On the other hand, if you are obeying God, then knowing that we can not flee God is a blessing.

In either case, God is merciful and is seeking the lost, and backslidden Christian, to reconcile them to Himself. He loves us and wants our fellowship.

God’s word is eternal. It is available to all. God uses His word to guide, encourage, and challenge us. It is His vehicle to inform the lost about what Jesus did on the cross for them.

God surrounds us with Himself and His word. What else could we want or desire in life?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Religious services on Rosh Hashanah focus on the concept of God’s sovereignty. That will be our study for this week.

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY means that He is the Supreme Ruler who immanently and personally rules over all the affairs of the universe—and this includes our personal lives both as individuals and as a local body of believers. God’s sovereignty is a place of rest for the child of God.

GOD CONTROLS RULERS (PSM 75:6-7)

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.⁷ But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

GOD DOES HIS PLEASURE (IS 46:9-10)

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”

Representative government is a hallmark of our republic. Each citizen of the United States has the opportunity, right, and responsibility to elect men and women to serve.

However, although we vote, God has the final say in who is elected. Sometimes we do not agree the person elected. When we realize that God oversees and allows ungodly individuals to hold office, we must understand that God knows and has a plan. His plan is not our plan.

“…I will do all my pleasure…”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Religious services on Rosh Hashanah focus on the concept of God’s sovereignty. That will be our study for this week.

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY means that He is the Supreme Ruler who immanently and personally rules over all the affairs of the universe—and this includes our personal lives both as individuals and as a local body of believers. God’s sovereignty is a place of rest for the child of God.

GOD CHOOSES ISRAEL, DOES WHAT HE PLEASES (PSM 135:4-6)

“For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.⁵ For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.⁶ Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.”

GOD IN CONTROL (1 SAM 2:6-9)

“The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.⁷ The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.⁸ He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them.⁹ He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.”

God chose Israel to be His “…peculiar treasure…” He is above all gods and does whatever pleases Him.

He is control of life and death, riches or poverty, high or low estate, beggars and princes, and saints and sinners.

God governs in the affairs of all men, at all times, eternally.

Do we as believers in Christ believe this? Do we demonstrate this to the world we live in?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

Religious services on Rosh Hashanah focus on the concept of God’s sovereignty. That will be our study for this week.

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY means that He is the Supreme Ruler who immanently and personally rules over all the affairs of the universe—and this includes our personal lives both as individuals and as a local body of believers. God’s sovereignty is a place of rest for the child of God.

GOD REIGNEST OVERALL (1 CHRON 29:11-12)

“Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. ¹² Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.”

THE WORLD IS GOD’S (PSM 50:10-12)

“For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.¹¹ I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.¹² If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”

GOD CREATED (GEN 1:1)

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

God created and reigns over His world. We are temporary residents. We only exist at the behest of God.

We need to remember who is in control. SPOILER ALERT: It is not us!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001