Archives for January 2019

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will be looking at 1 Samuel 1 and 2.

This portion of Scriptures tells us about Hannah.

• Hannah’s Plight             1 Samuel 1:1-8
• Hannah’s Request         1 Samuel 1:9-18
• God’s Response         1 Samuel 1:19-20
• Hannah’s Response       1 Samuel 1:21-28
• Hannah’s Prayer           1 Samuel 2:1-10

God’s Response (1 Samuel 1:19-20)

“And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.²⁰ Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.”

God answers prayer!

God gave Hannah a son and she named him Samuel.

Tomorrow we will see Hannah’s response to her miracle child.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will be looking at 1 Samuel 1 and 2.

This portion of Scriptures tells us about Hannah.

• Hannah’s Plight             1 Samuel 1:1-8
• Hannah’s Request      1 Samuel 1:9-18
• God’s Response            1 Samuel 1:19-20
• Hannah’s Response       1 Samuel 1:21-28
• Hannah’s Prayer           1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah’s Request (1 Samuel 1:9-18)

“So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.¹⁰ And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.¹¹ And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.¹² And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.¹³ Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.¹⁴ And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.¹⁵ And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.¹⁶ Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. ¹⁷ Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.¹⁸ And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.”

Hannah’s request was for a male child. He was to be given to the Lord for his whole life. This meant that after he was weaned, he would be taken to the Tabernacle and there, under the care of the High Priest Eli and others, he would grow to be a mighty prophet of God.  Hannah was serious about her commitment to God. Her desire was for her child to serve God.

It is God’s desire that we come to Him in prayer. God is capable and willing to answer our prayers. Not selfish prayers, but prayers that exult, glorify, and honor God. That is what Hannah prayed.

God will not always answer our prayers the way we want. He sees the big picture and knows how that prayer may be good or bad for us. However He answers, YES, No, or Not Now, we need to thank Him and trust His judgment in our lives.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will be looking at 1 Samuel 1 and 2.

This portion of Scriptures tells us about Hannah.

• Hannah’s Plight         1 Samuel 1:1-8
• Hannah’s Request         1 Samuel 1:9-18
• God’s Response            1 Samuel 1:19-20
• Hannah’s Response       1 Samuel 1:21-28
• Hannah’s Prayer           1 Samuel 2:1-10

Hannah’s Plight (1 Samuel 1:1-8)

“Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: ² And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.³ And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.⁴ And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:⁵ But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.⁶ And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.⁷ And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.⁸ Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?”

Hannah’s plight was that she was unable to have children. God had “…shut up her womb.” Peninnah mocked her and made her feel really bad.

Hannah wanted a child to honor God. This will become evident tomorrow when we see Hannah’s request.

It is in the worst of circumstances when God does His best work.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

This was the position of Israel after the exodus from Egypt. They rebelled against God and God made them wander in the desert 40 years. Moses also rebelled and would not be going into the promised land.

God chooses Joshua to lead Israel into the “Promised Land”.

Moses and God each give Joshua a charge.

God then gives Joshua a promise, command, and warning.

This week we will look at each of these.

God’s warning (Deuteronomy 30:17-19)

“ But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;¹⁸ I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

Israel obeys God at Jericho (Joshua 6:1-2, 21)

“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.² And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.”

Israel rebels at Ai (Joshua 6:18-19)

God’s command

¹⁸ And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.¹⁹ But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.

Israel’s rebellion (Joshua 7:1, 5, 10-12, 25-26)

“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.

 ⁵ And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

 ¹⁰ And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?¹¹ Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.¹² Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

 ²⁵ And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.²⁶ And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.”

CONCLUSION

Obey God

Good morning,

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

This was the position of Israel after the exodus from Egypt. They rebelled against God and God made them wander in the desert 40 years. Moses also rebelled and would not be going into the promised land.

God chooses Joshua to lead Israel into the “Promised Land”.

Moses and God each give Joshua a charge.

God then gives Joshua a promise, command, and warning.

This week we will look at each of these.

God’s charge to Joshua (Joshua 1:1-9)

Today we will look at God’s command.

God’s command (Joshua 1:2, 6-9)

Go (1:2)

² Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

Be strong and courageous (1:6-7,9)

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. ⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Observe the law of God=prosper (1:7-8)

⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Be not afraid (1:9)

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Now God commands Joshua to “Go” and to observe the law. Obedience to God and His word was critical to the completion of Joshua’s mission. Obedience would bring prosperity.

Solen Fenner was a gentleman I led to Christ some years ago. When he got saved, his life was radically changed. He had no fear in witnessing for Christ. He lead his family to Christ, and they too, had no fear telling others of the Savior.

God told Joshua not to be afraid. Just go and watch God do the miraculous.

Are we willing to go and watch God do the miraculous?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

WAIT ON THE LORD

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

INTRODUCTION

God’s Charges

Moses to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.² And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.³ The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.⁴ And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.⁵ And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.⁶ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.⁷ And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.⁸ And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

God to Joshua (Joshua 1:1-9)

God’s promise (Joshua 1:1-5,9)

Land (1:1-2)

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,² Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

Every place your sole shall tread (1:3)

³ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

I will be with thee (1:4)

⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

I will not forsake thee (1:5, 9)

⁵ There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

God’s command (Joshua 1:2, 6-9)

Go (1:2)

² Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

Be strong and courageous (1:6-7,9)

⁶ Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. ⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Observe the law of God=prosper (1:7-8)

⁷ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.⁸ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Be not afraid (1:9)

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Solen Fenner

God’s warning (Deuteronomy 30:17-19)

“ But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;¹⁸ I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

Israel obeys God at Jericho (Joshua 6:1-2, 21)

“Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.² And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.”

Israel rebels at Ai (Joshua 6:18-19)

God’s command

¹⁸ And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.¹⁹ But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.

Israel’s rebellion (Joshua 7:1, 5, 10-12, 25-26)

“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.

 ⁵ And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

 ¹⁰ And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?¹¹ Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.¹² Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

 ²⁵ And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.²⁶ And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.”

CONCLUSION

Obey God

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

This was the position of Israel after the exodus from Egypt. They rebelled against God and God made them wander in the desert 40 years. Moses also rebelled and would not be going into the promised land.

God chooses Joshua to lead Israel into the “Promised Land”.

Moses and God each give Joshua a charge.

God then gives Joshua a promise, command, and warning.

This week we will look at each of these.

God’s charge to Joshua (Joshua 1:1-9)

Today we will look at God’s promise.

God’s promise (Joshua 1:1-5,9)

Land (1:1-2)

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,² Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

Every place your sole shall tread (1:3)

³ Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

I will be with thee (1:4)

⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

I will not forsake thee (1:5, 9)

⁵ There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. ⁹ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

God gave the land to Israel.

When other people’s, countries, or nations, claim that Israel is not the rightful owners of their land, they are wrong!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

This was the position of Israel after the exodus from Egypt. They rebelled against God and God made them wander in the desert 40 years. Moses also rebelled and would not be going into the “Promised Land”.

God chooses Joshua to lead Israel into the “Promised Land”.

Moses and God each give Joshua a charge.

God then gives Joshua a promise, command, and warning.

This week we will look at each of these.

Moses charge to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.² And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.³ The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.⁴ And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.⁵ And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.⁶ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.⁷ And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.⁸ And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

There are two key elements here. First, God is doing this. See the action words telling what God will do. Second, because God is doing this, God commands Joshua to be strong, courageous, and not to fear. God assures Joshua that He will be with him and not leave him.

The same God that led Joshua into the “Promised Land”, is the same God that leads us. Are we strong, courageous, and fearless in the Lord? Remember what Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We should be.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will end one year and begin another.

“Happy New Year” will be the greeting of choice.

How do we have a Happy New Year?

This week I will show you.

Today, we look at the word Year. Each letter represents an action we can take to have a successful 2019.

YEAR

Yield your members to righteousness. (Romans 6:11-16)

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.¹⁵ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Exercise yourself in godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)

“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

Aim at sinless perfection. (Hebrews 6:1)

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

Redeem the time. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

CONCLUSION

Happy New Year

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001