Archives for February 2019

Good morning,

Love is in the air. Valentine’s day is Thursday.

God reserved His greatest love for His covenant people, Israel. It is an unconditional love.

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:⁸ But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

What was the “oath” or covenant that God had sworn? That is what we will be looking at this week.

The Abrahamic covenant, God’s command to love the Lord, Israel’s rebellion, and God’s compassion, love, and restoration of Israel.

Israel rebels (Jeremiah 6:16-17)

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.¹⁷ Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” (Jeremiah 6:16-17)

Israel rebels against God. They chose to walk away from the covenant God made with them. They chose to give up God’s protection, love, leadership, wisdom, kindness, graciousness, mercy, blessings, and their Messiah, for the things of this world.

Israel’s rebellion caused them to be a nation under bondage. They did not have a homeland, freedom, or right standing with God.

Their situation looks grim. Is God done with Israel? Has God ended His covenant with Israel? Will Israel return to their God?

Tomorrow’s devotion will answer these questions.

What can we take away from Israel’s example?

Are we prone to rebel? Are we willing to forego God’s promises to us? Do we love the things of this world more than Jesus, who paid our sin debt, forgave all our sins, and promises us eternal life with Him in Heaven?

If so, repent and allow God to be completely in control of our lives.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

God’s Unconditional Love for Israel

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:⁸ But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

Introduction

Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 15:7-12, 17)

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:¹⁵ For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.¹⁶ And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.¹⁷ Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” (Genesis 13:14-17)

“And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.⁸ And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?⁹ And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.¹⁰ And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.¹¹ And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.¹² And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. ¹⁷ And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.” (Genesis 15:7-12,17)

God’s command to love the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.⁶ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Israel rebels (Jeremiah 6:16-17)

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.¹⁷ Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.”

God’s compassion, love, and restoration (Lamentations 3:31-32, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:24-29)

“For the Lord will not cast off for ever:³² But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” (Lamentations 3:31-32)

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.²⁵ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

²⁶ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.²⁷ And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. ²⁸ And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.²⁹ I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.” (Ezekiel 36:24-29)

“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: ²² And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.²³ Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.²⁴ And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.²⁵ And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.²⁶ Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.²⁷ My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.²⁸ And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” (Ezekiel 37:21-28)

Conclusion

God made an unconditional covenant with Abram. Over time Israel failed to obey God. God never changed His love, devotion, and care for Israel.

Everything God promised in His covenant was fulfilled.

Good morning,

Love is in the air. Valentine’s day is Thursday.

God reserved His greatest love for His covenant people, Israel. It is an unconditional love.

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:⁸ But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

What was the “oath” or covenant that God had sworn? That is what we will be looking at this week.

The Abrahamic covenant, God’s command to love the Lord, Israel’s rebellion, and God’s compassion, love, and restoration of Israel.

God’s command to love the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.⁶ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

It was God’s desire that His covenant people, Israel, would love Him. He wanted them to obey His words, teach them to their families, and speak of them during their days.

How did they do? Tomorrow we will find out.

Till then, how are we doing with loving, obeying, teaching, and proclaiming God’s word?

If we truly love the Lord, that will motivate us to obey His word, teach our families and others, proclaim God’s Good News to a lost and dying world.

Do we?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Love is in the air. Valentine’s day is Thursday.

God reserved His greatest love for His covenant people, Israel. It is an unconditional love.

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:⁸ But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

What was the “oath” or covenant that God had sworn? That is what we will be looking at this week.

The Abrahamic covenant, God’s command to love the Lord, Israel’s rebellion, and God’s compassion, love, and restoration of Israel.

Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 15:7-12, 17)

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:¹⁵ For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.¹⁶ And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.¹⁷ Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” (Genesis 13:14-17)

“And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.⁸ And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?⁹ And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.¹⁰ And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.¹¹ And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.¹² And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. ¹⁷ And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.” (Genesis 15:7-12,17)

This covenant was an unconditional covenant.

A covenant is an agreement between two parties. In this case God and Abram. In those days a covenant was agreed in the ceremony described in Genesis 15:7-12, 17. Each party would walk between the divided animals, signifying agreement to the covenant.

However, in this case God had put Abram to sleep. God then walked through the divided animals, signifying that He was responsible to carry out all aspects of the agreement.

The agreement stated that Abram and his descendants would be a great nation, blessed, great name, God would bless them that blessed him and curse them that cursed him. He also agreed to give Abram and his descendants the land of Caanan and make his seed as the “…dust of the earth.”

So, follow with me this week and see if God has kept His covenant.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Our topic this week is God’s grace.

“What is grace? In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. ‘(God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Grace may be defined as the unmerited or undeserving favor of God to those who are under condemnation.”

We will look at four areas of God’s grace. Salvation, people who received God’s grace, what grace gives, and law vs grace.

Law vs grace

Sin shall not have dominion over you

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

Not of works

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6)

When we believed on Christ, we left the law behind, and live by the grace of God. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us in righteousness.

Satan has been defeated but still has the ability to tempt the believer. God’s grace will help us to resist Satan and his attacks.

Never underestimate the power of God’s grace.

It is powerful and is for us!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Our topic this week is God’s grace.

“What is grace? In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. ‘(God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Grace may be defined as the unmerited or undeserving favor of God to those who are under condemnation.”

We will look at four areas of God’s grace. Salvation, people who received God’s grace, what grace gives, and law vs grace.

What grace gives

Strength

“Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.” (Hebrews 13:9)

Knowledge of God

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,” (2 Peter 1:2)

 Gifts

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)

The Lord Jesus Christ

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Grace gives. We see that there are benefits that God gives when He gives us His grace.

God gives us strength, knowledge of God, gifts, and the Lord Jesus Christ. God cares for us. He equips us to be profitable servants.

He does this because He loves and cares for us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

THE GRACE OF GOD

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Introduction

Salvation

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:11)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8)

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

People who received God’s grace

Esther

“So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.¹⁷ And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:16-17)

Paul

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)

Stephen

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8)

Everyone

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:7)

What grace gives

Strength

“Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.” (Hebrews 13:9)

Knowledge of God

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,” (2 Peter 1:2)

 Gifts

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)

The Lord Jesus Christ

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Law vs grace

Sin shall not have dominion over you

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

Not of works

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6)

The definition of God’s grace

“What is grace? In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. ‘(God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Grace may be defined as the unmerited or undeserving favor of God to those who are under condemnation.”

Good morning,

Our topic this week is God’s grace.

“What is grace? In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. ‘(God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Grace may be defined as the unmerited or undeserving favor of God to those who are under condemnation.”

We will look at four areas of God’s grace. Salvation, people who received God’s grace, what grace gives, and law vs grace.

People who received God’s grace

Esther

“So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.¹⁷ And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.” (Esther 2:16-17)

Paul

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)

Stephen

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8)

Everyone

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:7)

Grace is not for just a special class of people. God gives us the grace we need. He gives it at the right time, in the right amount, to accomplish His purpose.

What a blessing God’s grace is to us. Think about all the times God has been gracious unto us. Then go to Him in prayer and thank Him.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Our topic this week is God’s grace.

“What is grace? In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sending His only Son to descend into hell on the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. ‘(God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“Grace may be defined as the unmerited or undeserving favor of God to those who are under condemnation.”

We will look at four areas of God’s grace. Salvation, people who received God’s grace, what grace gives, and law vs grace.

Salvation

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:11)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8)

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”

Had God not extended His grace to sinful and wicked mankind, all would be lost. No one has righteousness within themselves. No one can earn their righteousness. No works or keeping of the Law could secure salvation.

Only the grace of God. God sent Jesus to earth to pay the death penalty we owe for our sin. He died that we might live. He was buried and then the third day arose. Jesus Christ defeated Satan and death!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Have you trusted Christ to be your Lord and Savior? Jesus extends His grace to you today.

Please do it now!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001