Archives for November 2019

Good morning,

This week we will begin a three week study on prayer. The topics include, prayer, how to pray, and subjects of prayer. 

Prayer is talking with God. God desires a personal relationship with His people. God wants us to come to Him with our praises, concerns, and requests. In response, God speaks to us through His word, other people, or even a still small voice.

This week we will look at an overview of prayer.

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 12:5)

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,

This week we will begin a three week study on prayer. The topics include, prayer, how to pray, and subjects of prayer. 

Prayer is talking with God. God desires a personal relationship with His people. God wants us to come to Him with our praises, concerns, and requests. In response, God speaks to us through His word, other people, or even a still small voice.

This week we will look at an overview of prayer.

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;

After we have prepared ourselves, we then can thank God for all He has done for us. The greatest of these is our salvation. Remember that is was God that brought us to Himself. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John 15:16) Christ went to the cross, shedding His precious, perfect blood, to take away the sin for all mankind.

Then we are able to ask God to intervene for ourselves and others. The caveat is that our prayers need to be within the will of God. So, if we are praying for something that is clearly in violation of Scripture, God will not answer that prayer. Conversely, if we pray within Scriptural principles, then God will determine how to answer that prayer. Our requests need to honor and glorify God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will begin a three week study on prayer. The topics include, prayer, how to pray, and subjects of prayer.  

Prayer is talking with God. God desires a personal relationship with His people. God wants us to come to Him with our praises, concerns, and requests. In response, God speaks to us through His word, other people, or even a still small voice.

This week we will look at an overview of prayer.

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.

We need to prepare ourselves for prayer.

When we come before God and acknowledge His greatness, attributes, and power, it becomes obvious that He is in control and powerful enough to answer any prayer of ours. He created all things. He sees all things. He is powerful enough to do whatever He pleases.

We must come to God with a clean heart. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” (Psalm 66:18) So we repent of our sins and claim God’s cleansing power. “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)

Once preparation is made, then we thank Him for all He has done for us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

Jesus ministry (40-51)

⁴⁰ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.⁴¹ He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.⁴³ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.⁴⁴ Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.⁴⁵ Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.⁴⁶ And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.⁵¹ And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, the Rabbi

People got excited when they saw Jesus. Many recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. They brought their friends to Jesus. This section records how Andrew brought Peter, Jesus brought Philip, who brought Nathanael.

This is how others hear about Jesus, when we tell them. As we learned yesterday, believers in Christ, are God’s witnesses for Him on earth. When unbelievers hear the good news of Jesus and accept Him as personal Lord and Savior, they then begin to follow Jesus. They tell others and more people come to the Savior.

Are we doing our part? Do we tell others about how Jesus save us from the slave market of sin?

We need to be willing and allow God to do the rest!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

Jesus ministry (35-39)

³⁵ Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;³⁶ And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!³⁷ And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?³⁹ He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God. This phrase is prophetic because Jesus would be the passover lamb for the sins of all mankind.

How does our world recognize Jesus, the Lamb of God? They see Him in our church’s, our ministers, and our evangelistic meetings. However, the most visible ways of recognizing Jesus are in His disciples. That would be those who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior. Unfortunately, many of those believers show no outward signs of a relationship with Christ. Worse than that is the person who says they are a believer, but lives like the world. They openly disobey God’s word.

What does the world see in us? A believer with a commitment to Christ or one who is not recognizable?

Live for Jesus!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

The Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, the Rabbi

John 1:1-51

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. (1:14)

The Word (1-5)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² The same was in the beginning with God.³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John the Baptist (6-8)

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

The True Light (9-14)

⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not.¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ 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’s witness (15-34)

¹⁵ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.¹⁸ No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.¹⁹ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. ²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.²² Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?²³ He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.²⁴ And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?²⁶ John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; ²⁷ He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.³⁰ This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.³¹ And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.³² And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.³³ And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.³⁴ And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Jesus ministry (35-51)

³⁵ Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;³⁶ And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!³⁷ And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?³⁹ He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.⁴⁰ One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.⁴¹ He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jonah: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.⁴³ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.⁴⁴ Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.⁴⁵ Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.⁴⁶ And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!⁴⁸ Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.⁵¹ And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

CONCLUSION

Jesus is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, the Rabbi

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

John’s witness (15-34)

¹⁵ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.¹⁶ And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.¹⁷ For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.¹⁸ No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.¹⁹ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?²⁰ And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. ²¹ And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.²² Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?²³ He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.²⁴ And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.²⁵ And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?²⁶ John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; ²⁷ He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.²⁸ These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.²⁹ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.³⁰ This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.³¹ And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.³² And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.³³ And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.³⁴ And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

John the Baptist gives an eyewitness account of his ministry and the person of Jesus Christ. He heralded the coming of Jesus. He made it very clear that he was not the coming one, the Messiah of Israel. He pointed to Jesus.

When we minister for Christ, where does the honor go? Are we looking for the praise of men or giving all the glory to God? Remember, nothing we do is possible without the power of God.

Give all the glory to God!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will study John 1:1-51. The Apostle John gives us several descriptions of Jesus and His ministry. He tells us He is the Word, the Light, the Lamb, the Messiah, and Rabbi. He gives us John the Baptist’s eye witness account of Jesus. Then he concludes with an account of the beginning of Jesus ministry.

The Word (1-5)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.² The same was in the beginning with God.³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

John the Baptist (6-8)

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.⁷ The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.⁸ He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

The True Light (9-14)

⁹ That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.¹¹ He came unto his own, and his own received him not.¹² But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ 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.

The word of God is eternally true. Why? Because Jesus Christ is the Word. Every recorded word found in the Scriptures came from the Jesus.

Jesus created all things. This refutes the theory of evolution.  Jesus created all things during the six days of creation found in Genesis 1.

Jesus is the Light of the world. He brought light to those who walked in darkness. This Light pointed the lost to the Savior. Some believed the message of Salvation but many rejected His offer of a new life.

God allowed His son, Jesus, to dwell among men. So they could hear the message of salvation straight from God. So that they could hear His preaching, see Him work miracles, and ultimately to see Him die for the payment of their sins. The righteous dying for the unrighteous.

This should challenge us to live for Jesus. In Jesus we are overcomers. God has given us His word, instructions, and protection. All we must do is execute God’s plan.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001