Archives for 2019

Good morning,

Israel is preparing to go into the promised land. Moses will not be leading them. God has chosen a new leader, Joshua. This week we will look at the transition of leadership. Please read Deuteronomy 31:1-23, 34:1-12 for the historical background. Joshua 1 will be our text.

“And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.” (Deuteronomy 34:9)

God’s Command (V5-9)

“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. 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. 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. 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 tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. He uses this term three times. He encourages Joshua by telling him that no man shall stand in his way and that He would be with him. God admonishes Joshua to observe all the law, not to turn from it, and meditate on it daily.  God will make his way prosperous and successful.

This is an excellent example for believers as we tackle the tribulations of our lives. Be strong and of a good courage, read and meditate on God’s word, and trust God in every area of our lives.

“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.⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Is that what we believe? If so, are we boldly proclaiming Christ to others by our attitudes and actions?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Israel is preparing to go into the promised land. Moses will not be leading them. God has chosen a new leader, Joshua. This week we will look at the transition of leadership. Please read Deuteronomy 31:1-23, 34:1-12 for the historical background. Joshua 1 will be our text.

“And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.” (Deuteronomy 34:9)

Introduction: God chooses Joshua to be the next leader of Israel. “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.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)

Joshua 1

God’s Commission (V1-4)

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

There was no fight for the leadership when Moses died. God had preselected Joshua to be the next leader. There was no opposition. God tells Joshua that He would go before them, with them, and would not forsake them. He would give them every place they stepped on. He even specified the boundaries.

God has also given us a mission to proclaim the good news of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-6)

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Will we be obedient to God and share the good news with others who have never heard? Will we impart the knowledge that God has given us to young believers? It is our responsibility and duty.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Read this and prayerfully consider what God has done. How He has woven the tapestry of our lives. Then thank Him for what He has done.

The Weaver!

(J.R. Miller)

The life that is given up to God in true devotion, need fear nothing. We may have our sorrows, our disappointments, our losses, but all of our life is in the hands of God–and no real harm can come to us. In all the events and experiences of our most difficult days–God is developing our graces and character!

Very beautiful is the figure of the loom. God is the Weaver. He has before Him the pattern into which He would fashion our lives. Some threads are white, some are dark–but the great Weaver will blend them so that the finished work will be beautiful. 

The Weaver! 
(Author unknown)

My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Ofttimes He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper
And I the under-side.

Not till the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week is the last of a three-week series titled “Lest we forget”. Deuteronomy chapters 6, 7, and 8, will be our text.

The key verse is Deuteronomy 6:12, which states, “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

The children of Israel are getting ready to go into the promised land. Moses wants them to remember what has taken place in the last 40 years. He does not want them to forget.

This week we will look at Deuteronomy 8. God’s final challenge and rebuke.

WARNINGS AGAINST FORGETTING THE LORD (8:11-20)

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:¹² Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;¹³ And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;¹⁴ Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;¹⁵ Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; ¹⁶ Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;¹⁷ And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.¹⁸ But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.¹⁹ And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.²⁰ As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.”

 CONCLUSION:

1. GOD WANTS TO GIVES US HIS VERY BEST
2. HE DEMANDS THAT WE NOT FORGET HIM
3. HE PROMISES TO TAKE AWAY THE BLESSINGS IF WE FAIL TO FOLLOW THE LORD AND COMMANDMENTS.
4. ARE WE WALKING WITH GOD OR IN OPPOSITION TO HIM?
5. LEST THOU FORGET

 Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week is the last of a three-week series titled “Lest we forget”. Deuteronomy chapters 6, 7, and 8, will be our text.

The key verse is Deuteronomy 6:12, which states, “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

The children of Israel are getting ready to go into the promised land. Moses wants them to remember what has taken place in the last 40 years. He does not want them to forget.

This week we will look at Deuteronomy 8. God’s final challenge and rebuke.

LEST WE FORGET 3

DEUTERONOMY 8

“Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” (Deuteronomy 6:12)

INTRODUCTION:  GOD’S FINAL CHALLENGE AND REBUKE

Children obeying parents.  How many times must you be told to do something?

1) What God Has Done (8:1-6)

“All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.² And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.³ And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.⁴ Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.⁵ Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.⁶ Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”

2) WHAT GOD WILL DO (8:7-10)

“For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;⁸ A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;⁹ A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.¹⁰ When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.”

3) WARNINGS AGAINST FORGETTING THE LORD (8:11-20)

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:¹² Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;¹³ And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;¹⁴ Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;¹⁵ Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; ¹⁶ Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;¹⁷ And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.¹⁸ But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.¹⁹ And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.²⁰ As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.”

 CONCLUSION:

GOD WANTS TO GIVES US HIS VERY BEST

HE DEMANDS THAT WE NOT FORGET HIM

HE PROMISES TO TAKE AWAY THE BLESSINGS IF WE FAIL TO FOLLOW THE LORD AND COMMANDMENTS.

ARE WE WALKING WITH GOD OR IN OPPOSITION TO HIM?

LEST THOU FORGET

 Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week is the last of a three-week series titled “Lest we forget”. Deuteronomy chapters 6, 7, and 8, will be our text.

The key verse is Deuteronomy 6:12, which states, “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

The children of Israel are getting ready to go into the promised land. Moses wants them to remember what has taken place in the last 40 years. He does not want them to forget.

This week we will look at Deuteronomy 8. God’s final challenge and rebuke.

WHAT GOD WILL DO (8:7-10)

“For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;⁸ A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;⁹ A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.¹⁰ When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.”

God tells the children of Israel about the land. It is a good land with an abundance of food, water, and minerals. He tells them they will not lack anything. Then He tells them they will bless the Lord for the good land God has given them.

We also live in a country of abundance. Food, water, shelter, minerals, and transportation are all in abundance. Do we take this as God’s provision or just take these things for granted? We need to remember that all we have comes from God! We should be thanking God daily for His love, mercy, and grace. Also, for the great abundance He has showered upon us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week is the last of a three-week series titled “Lest we forget”. Deuteronomy chapters 6, 7, and 8, will be our text.

The key verse is Deuteronomy 6:12, which states, “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

The children of Israel are getting ready to go into the promised land. Moses wants them to remember what has taken place in the last 40 years. He does not want them to forget.

This week we will look at Deuteronomy 8. God’s final challenge and rebuke.

What God Has Done (8:1-6)

“All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.² And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.³ And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.⁴ Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.⁵ Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.⁶ Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.”

God again recounts what He has done for the children of Israel. He fed them, clothed them, and chastened them. He also humbled and proved them to know whether they would keep His commandments.

God wants us to remember what He has done for us.

Salvation through His son Jesus Christ.

“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)

Holy Spirit of God.

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Sons of God.

“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.” (John 1:12-13)

God wants us to remember the things He has done for us as individuals. Something we know that only God could accomplish.

Then God expects us to honor, praise, and serve Him.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week is the second of a three-week series titled “Lest we forget”. Deuteronomy chapters 6, 7, and 8, will be our text.

The key verse is Deuteronomy 6:12, which states, “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

The children of Israel are getting ready to go into the promised land. Moses wants them to remember what has taken place in the last 40 years. He does not want them to forget.

This week we will look at Deuteronomy 7. Possessing the land.

Battle is the Lords (17-24)

“If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them? 18Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; 19The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs,and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm,whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. 20Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed. 21Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible. 22And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. 23But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed. 24And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven:there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.”

God tells the children of Israel He will fight for them. He tells them not to be afraid. Why? First, He reminds them what He did to Pharaoh. He delivered them from the Egyptians. Second, He will send hornets to destroy their enemies. Third, He will be among them. Fourth, He would deliver and destroy their enemies. That should make them secure.

However, the caveat to all this is faith in the one making the promises. Did Israel believe God would fight for them? Would they obey God and follow His instructions for success?

We, as believers in Christ, must answer those same questions. Is the God we serve able to fight our battles for us? Will we let Him?

Destroy Graven Images (25-26)

“The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God. 26Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shall utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.”

Israel was warned not to have anything to do with the graven images or idols that would take their focus from the Lord God. They were to be burned.

We have our own “graven images”. Anything that is more important to us than God is to be destroyed. It distracts us from wholly worshipping God.

CONCLUSION:

GOD WILL FIGHT OUR BATTLES

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week is the second of a three-week series titled “Lest we forget”. Deuteronomy chapters 6, 7, and 8, will be our text.

The key verse is Deuteronomy 6:12, which states, “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

The children of Israel are getting ready to go into the promised land. Moses wants them to remember what has taken place in the last 40 years. He does not want them to forget.

This week we will look at Deuteronomy 7. Possessing the land.

Obedience Blessings (11-16)

“Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. 12Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments,and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: 13And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine,and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, inthe land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 14Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. 16And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.”

God tells Israel if they keep the commandments, statues, and judgments, God would bless them. How? He will keep covenant, be merciful, love, bless, multiply, bless the womb, the land, health, and give them His protection. All they had to do is obey.

However, sometimes obedience is not all that easy. Remember Genesis 3. Satan tempted Adam and Eve and they took the bait. It happens to us all the time.

So, we must weigh the enjoyment of sin and disobedience to God to the enjoyment of God’s blessings for doing what is right.

Deuteronomy 8 will detail the blessings and the curses.

Till then, do we desire to be blessed or cursed?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001