Archives for January 2020

Good morning,

Prophecy can be confusing.

Matthew 24 is one of those places. Some have interpreted these events to have already been fulfilled. Some do not believe in the tribulation.

When I began to study this passage, I also was confused. Where do all these events fit into the prophetic timeline? Is this talking about signs to look for before the rapture or Christ’s second coming?

Dr. John F. Walvoord wrote an article, “The Signs of the End of the Age”, which I found helpful in deciphering this chapter of Scripture. Please read the whole article for yourself at www.walvoord.com.

The chapter is broken down into five sections.

Prediction of the destruction of the temple (v. 1-2)

Questions of the disciples (v. 3)

Course of the present age (v. 4-14)

Sign of the tribulation (v. 15-25)

Second coming of Christ (v. 26-31)

Second coming of Christ (26-31)

“Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

“Taken as a whole, the second coming of Christ is a majestic event, not instantaneous like the rapture, but extending over many hours. This perhaps explains why everyone can see it, because in the course of a day, the earth will rotate and the entire world will be able to see the approach of Christ accompanied by the hosts of heaven, which will descend to the earth in the area of the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).

The entire passage from Matthew 24:15-31 is the specific answer to the disciples of the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, with the climactic sign being the second coming and the glory that attends it, and will fulfill the prophecy of Acts 1:11 that Christ will return as He went up into heaven, that is, His return will be physical, gradual, visible, and with clouds. Matthew 24:31 brings to a close the first doctrinal section of the Olivet discourse, and what follows is a series of applications and illustrations.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

Conclusion

Matthew 24 is prophetic

Matthew 24 is not about the rapture

Matthew 24 looks forward to the great tribulation

Matthew 24 tells us about the Second Coming of Christ

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Prophecy can be confusing.

Matthew 24 is one of those places. Some have interpreted these events to have already been fulfilled. Some do not believe in the tribulation.

When I began to study this passage, I also was confused. Where do all these events fit into the prophetic timeline? Is this talking about signs to look for before the rapture or Christ’s second coming?

Dr. John F. Walvoord wrote an article, “The Signs of the End of the Age”, which I found helpful in deciphering this chapter of Scripture. Please read the whole article for yourself at www.walvoord.com.

The chapter is broken down into five sections.

Prediction of the destruction of the temple (v. 1-2)

Questions of the disciples (v. 3)

Course of the present age (v. 4-14)

Sign of the tribulation (v. 15-25)

Second coming of Christ (v. 26-31)

Sign of the Tribulation (15-25)

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.25 Behold, I have told you before.”

“If this prediction means what it says, it is referring to a specific time of great trouble which immediately precedes the second coming of Christ. As such, the prediction of the great tribulation is “the sign” of the second coming, and those who see the sign will be living in the generation which will see the second coming itself.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

These verses reference the tribulation period. The tribulation lasts seven years. Israel is allowed to rebuild the temple and conduct sacrifices. At the midpoint is the “abomination of desolation”. Then things get really bad.

However, God steps in and the forces of Satan are defeated. Then comes the second coming of Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Prophecy can be confusing.

Matthew 24 is one of those places. Some have interpreted these events to have already been fulfilled. Some do not believe in the tribulation.

When I began to study this passage, I also was confused. Where do all these events fit into the prophetic timeline? Is this talking about signs to look for before the rapture or Christ’s second coming?

Dr. John F. Walvoord wrote an article, “The Signs of the End of the Age”, which I found helpful in deciphering this chapter of Scripture. Please read the whole article for yourself at www.walvoord.com.

The chapter is broken down into five sections.

Prediction of the destruction of the temple (v. 1-2)

Questions of the disciples (v. 3)

Course of the present age (v. 4-14)

Sign of the tribulation (v. 15-25)

Second coming of Christ (v. 26-31)

Matthew 24

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matthew 24:3)

Introduction Three questions

Prediction of the destruction of the temple (1-2)

“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.² And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

“The temple was made of huge stones, some of them many tons in size, carved out in the stone quarries underneath the city of Jerusalem. Such large stones could be dislodged only through deliberate force. The sad fulfillment was to come in a.d. 70, only six years after the temple was completed, when the Roman soldiers deliberately destroyed the temple, prying off stones one by one and casting them into the valley below. Recent excavations have uncovered some of these stones.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

Questions of the disciples (3)

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”

“Matthew’s gospel does not answer the first question, which relates to the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. This is given more in detail in Luke, while Matthew and Mark answer the second and third questions, which actually refer to Christ’s coming and the end of the age as one and the same event. Matthew’s account of the Olivet discourse records that portion of Christ’s answer that relates to His future kingdom and how it will be brought in, which is one of the major purposes of the gospel.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

Course of the present age (4-14)

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.⁶ And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.⁹ Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.¹⁰ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.¹¹ And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.¹³ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

“In general, these signs have been at least partially fulfilled in the present age and have characterized the period between the first and second coming of Christ. They should be understood as general signs rather than specific signs that the end is near. As stated in verse 8, these are the beginning rather than the end of the sorrows which characterize the close of the age.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

Sign of the Tribulation (15-25)

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.25 Behold, I have told you before.”

“If this prediction means what it says, it is referring to a specific time of great trouble which immediately precedes the second coming of Christ. As such, the prediction of the great tribulation is “the sign” of the second coming, and those who see the sign will be living in the generation which will see the second coming itself.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

Second coming of Christ (26-31)

“Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.28 For wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together.29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

“Taken as a whole, the second coming of Christ is a majestic event, not instantaneous like the rapture, but extending over many hours. This perhaps explains why everyone can see it, because in the course of a day, the earth will rotate and the entire world will be able to see the approach of Christ accompanied by the hosts of heaven, which will descend to the earth in the area of the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4).

The entire passage from Matthew 24:15-31 is the specific answer to the disciples of the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, with the climactic sign being the second coming and the glory that attends it, and will fulfill the prophecy of Acts 1:11 that Christ will return as He went up into heaven, that is, His return will be physical, gradual, visible, and with clouds. Matthew 24:31 brings to a close the first doctrinal section of the Olivet discourse, and what follows is a series of applications and illustrations.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

Conclusion

Matthew 24 is prophetic

Matthew 24 is not about the rapture

Matthew 24 looks forward to the great tribulation

Matthew 24 tells us about the Second Coming of Christ

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Prophecy can be confusing.

Matthew 24 is one of those places. Some have interpreted these events to have already been fulfilled. Some do not believe in the tribulation.

When I began to study this passage, I also was confused. Where do all these events fit into the prophetic timeline? Is this talking about signs to look for before the rapture or Christ’s second coming?

Dr. John F. Walvoord wrote an article, “The Signs of the End of the Age”, which I found helpful in deciphering this chapter of Scripture. Please read the whole article for yourself at www.walvoord.com.

The chapter is broken down into five sections.

Prediction of the destruction of the temple (v. 1-2)

Questions of the disciples (v. 3)

Course of the present age (v. 4-14)

Sign of the tribulation (v. 15-25)

Second coming of Christ (v. 26-31)

Course of the present age (4-14)

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.⁶ And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.⁹ Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.¹⁰ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.¹¹ And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.¹³ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

“In general, these signs have been at least partially fulfilled in the present age and have characterized the period between the first and second coming of Christ. They should be understood as general signs rather than specific signs that the end is near. As stated in verse 8, these are the beginning rather than the end of the sorrows which characterize the close of the age.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

The signs mentioned here are witnessed by us on a day to day basis. It should be an encouragement to us that we are heading forward prophetically.

However, we have a responsibility to witness for Christ. How will the world know of Christ if we as believers do not tell them?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Prophecy can be confusing.

Matthew 24 is one of those places. Some have interpreted these events to have already been fulfilled. Some do not believe in the tribulation.

When I began to study this passage, I also was confused. Where do all these events fit into the prophetic timeline? Is this talking about signs to look for before the rapture or Christ’s second coming?

Dr. John F. Walvoord wrote an article, “The Signs of the End of the Age”, which I found helpful in deciphering this chapter of Scripture. Please read the whole article for yourself at www.walvoord.com.

The chapter is broken down into five sections.

Prediction of the destruction of the temple (v. 1-2)

Questions of the disciples (v. 3)

Course of the present age (v. 4-14)

Sign of the tribulation (v. 15-25)

Second coming of Christ (v. 26-31)

Prediction of the destruction of the temple (1-2)

“And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.² And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

“The temple was made of huge stones, some of them many tons in size, carved out in the stone quarries underneath the city of Jerusalem. Such large stones could be dislodged only through deliberate force. The sad fulfillment was to come in a.d. 70, only six years after the temple was completed, when the Roman soldiers deliberately destroyed the temple, prying off stones one by one and casting them into the valley below. Recent excavations have uncovered some of these stones.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

Questions of the disciples (3)

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”

“Matthew’s gospel does not answer the first question, which relates to the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70. This is given more in detail in Luke, while Matthew and Mark answer the second and third questions, which actually refer to Christ’s coming and the end of the age as one and the same event. Matthew’s account of the Olivet discourse records that portion of Christ’s answer that relates to His future kingdom and how it will be brought in, which is one of the major purposes of the gospel.” (The Signs of the End of the Age, Article contributed by www.walvoord.com)

Each of us has asked the same questions. We want to know when the Lord Jesus will return. Jesus plainly told His disciples it is not for them or anyone else to know the time of His return.

This chapter does not deal with signs for the coming rapture of the church. The reason, there are no signs for the rapture. It is imminent and could happen at any moment. No signs needed.

This chapter deals with signs for the tribulation and second coming of Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1) The fourth word in the Bible must be understood or the rest of the Bible will make no sense.

Two weeks ago, we looked at the foundational truths of God. He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and sovereign.

Last week, we looked at the attributes of God. Holy, love, mercy, grace, peace, and longsuffering.

This week, knowing these truths, we will be challenged to take God’s word to our friends, neighbors, and enemies. We will learn what it means to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

WHO WILL ANSWER THE CALL?

⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.⁹ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.¹⁰ Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.¹¹ Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, ¹² And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. (Isaiah 6:8-12)

CONCLUSION

God is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and sovereign.

God is holy, love, mercy, grace, peace, and longsuffering.

God commands us to “GO” and tell others about His Son Jesus. He gives us His power. He gives us a ready-made harvest field. He gives us souls for our labor. He gives us a book, the Bible, to teach His precepts and principles.

God has given us everything to be successful.

God then asks the question, “Will you go and tell others about Jesus?”

The answer is a resounding NO!

How sad that the one group of people that God has equipped to fulfill this task, refuse to go.

WILL YOU GO?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1) The fourth word in the Bible must be understood or the rest of the Bible will make no sense.

Two weeks ago, we looked at the foundational truths of God. He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and sovereign.

Last week, we looked at the attributes of God. Holy, love, mercy, grace, peace, and longsuffering.

This week, knowing these truths, we will be challenged to take God’s word to our friends, neighbors, and enemies. We will learn what it means to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

DISCIPLESHIP

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)

The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;⁴ That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,⁵ To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands,that the word of God be not blasphemed.(Titus 2:3-5)

God uses the Bible to communicate truth to the unbeliever and believer.

It is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness.

We are commanded to teach God’s word through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

We are to teach the things God has taught us.

Will we?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Challenge to Serve

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)

Introduction:

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1) The fourth word in the Bible must be understood or the rest of the Bible will make no sense.

Two weeks ago, we looked at the foundational truths of God. He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and sovereign.

Last week, we looked at the attributes of God. Holy, love, mercy, grace, peace, and longsuffering.

This week, knowing these truths, we will be challenged to take God’s word to our friends, neighbors, and enemies. We will learn what it means to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

COMMAND

¹⁸ 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. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

¹⁵ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)

HOLY SPIRIT POWER

⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

HARVEST FIELD

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.² Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. (Luke 10:1-2)

³⁴ Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.³⁵ Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.³⁶ And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.³⁷ And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.³⁸ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labors. (John 4:34-38)

DISCIPLESHIP

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)

The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;⁴ That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,⁵ To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands,that the word of God be not blasphemed.(Titus 2:3-5)

WHO WILL ANSWER THE CALL?

⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.⁹ And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.¹⁰ Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.¹¹ Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, ¹² And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. (Isaiah 6:8-12)

CONCLUSION

God is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and sovereign.

God is holy, love, mercy, grace, peace, and longsuffering.

God commands us to “GO” and tell others about His Son Jesus. He gives us His power. He gives us a ready-made harvest field. He gives us souls for our labor. He gives us a book, the Bible, to teach His precepts and principles.

God has given us everything to be successful.

God then asks the question, “Will you go and tell others about Jesus?”

The answer is a resounding NO!

How sad that the one group of people that God has equipped to fulfill this task, refuse to go.

WILL YOU GO?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1) The fourth word in the Bible must be understood or the rest of the Bible will make no sense.

Two weeks ago, we looked at the foundational truths of God. He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and sovereign.

Last week, we looked at the attributes of God. Holy, love, mercy, grace, peace, and longsuffering.

This week, knowing these truths, we will be challenged to take God’s word to our friends, neighbors, and enemies. We will learn what it means to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

COMMAND

¹⁸ 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. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

¹⁵ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)

HOLY SPIRIT POWER

⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

HARVEST FIELD

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.² Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. (Luke 10:1-2)

³⁴ Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.³⁵ Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.³⁶ And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.³⁷ And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.³⁸ I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labors. (John 4:34-38)

God commands us to “GO” and teach others about Jesus Christ. He has given us His power to complete this task. Our area of operation is the world. We begin at home, then city, state, country, and then the world. There are souls ready to receive Christ, but there are few to reap the harvest.

Remember that God already knows our hearts, resides within us through the Holy Spirit, is powerful enough to give us strength to tell others about Jesus, and rules in the hearts of men to bring them to Christ.

Our part is to be willing vessels for God’s use.

Will we allow God to use us?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1) The fourth word in the Bible must be understood or the rest of the Bible will make no sense.

Last week we looked at the foundational truths of God. He is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and sovereign.

This week we will look at God’s attributes. Holy, love, mercy, grace, peace, and longsuffering.

Next week, knowing these truths, we will be challenged to take God’s word to our friends, neighbors, and enemies. We will learn what it means to fulfill the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

The Attributes of God

Peace

“Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

“Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” (Romans 15:33)

When asked if they could have one thing what would it be? The answer most given is PEACE. The world as we know it has no peace.

However, believers in Christ do have and should be enjoying the peace we have in Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself gave us His peace. Do not fear. Trust in God’s holy word. Comfort yourself in God’s promises. Look at the current events through the lens of Scripture. Prophecy is being fulfilled each day.

Longsuffering

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. ⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. ¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:8-10)

“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” (Psalms 145:8)

“The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. ²God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. ³The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.” (Nahum 1:1-3)

Personally, I am glad our God is long-suffering and slow to anger. It is comforting to note that our God is the God of the second chance. God is looking for restoration and not condemnation. He wants to build us up and not tear us down.

If God is willing to give us a second chance, why are believers many times reluctant to forgive and restore and would rather condemn and destroy?

Maybe we should try to be more like the Lord and be slow to anger.

CONCLUSION

God’s attributes plus God’s all knowing, ever present, all powerful, and supreme ruler character, equals a God everyone should know about.

Will we tell them?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001