Good morning,

The Holy Ghost played an important part on the day of Pentecost. We will be looking at Acts1 and 2 this week. Today we will look at the answer to the three previous questions and then Peter’s message and conclusion. Tomorrow we will see how the crowd reacted to Peter’s message.

The answer: the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16-21, Joel 2:28-32)

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; ¹⁷ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: ¹⁸ And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: ¹⁹ And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: ²⁰ The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: ²¹ And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Peter proclaims Christ (Acts 2:22-36) Key: Acts 2:36

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Peter cites Joel 2:16-21 and Psalm 16:8-11 to explain to the people about pouring out of God’s Spirit and what was prophesied about Christ. He concludes by stating that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ.

Is that who Jesus is to you? If not, allow Jesus to be Lord of your life. If He is Lord of your life, live for Him.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

The Holy Ghost played an important part on the day of Pentecost. We will be looking at Acts1 and 2 this week. Today we will look at what happened when the believers were filled with the Holy Ghost.

Filled with the Holy Ghost (2:1-4)

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Three questions (2:6-8, 12)

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. ⁷ And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? ⁸ And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

The answer is found in an Old Testament prophet. Can anyone tell me which one? We will find out tomorrow.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good morning,

The Holy Ghost played an important part on the day of Pentecost. We will be looking at Acts1 and 2 this week. Today we will look at Jesus promise and purpose for the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

1) Jesus promise of the baptism with the Holy Ghost (1:1-5)

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ² Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ³ To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ⁴ And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ⁵ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

2) Purpose of the baptism of the Holy Ghost (1: 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.

The baptism with the Holy Ghost was for the purpose of evangelism, winning people to Jesus Christ. When the Holy Ghost came upon the believers they had a bold and powerful witness.

Since all of today’s believers receive the Holy Ghost at the time of salvation, we too have that opportunity to be a bold and powerful witness. The Great Commission is not complete. There are still souls who need to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Will we avail ourselves of the opportunity?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm. There are references to the Lord Jesus Christ. We will study the rebellion of the heathen, the response of the Lord God, the declaration of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the Psalmist counsel to the kings of the earth.  Today we will look at the Psalmist counsel to the kings of the earth.

Psalmist counsel (v 10-12) Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

• To kings and judges (v 10-11) Be wise, be instructed. Serve the Lord with fear. Rejoice with trembling
• To them and all (v 12)

Kiss the Son lest He be angry.

And you perish from the way.

When His wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Conclusion:

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (v 11)

We need to follow the counsel of the Psalmist. “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Let that be us.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm. There are references to the Lord Jesus Christ. We will study the rebellion of the heathen, the response of the Lord God, the declaration of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the Psalmist counsel to the kings of the earth.  Today we will look at God’s response to men’s rebellion and the declaration of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The Lord God of Heaven speaks (v4-7) He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. ⁵ Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. ⁶ Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. ⁷ I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

• God’s laughter shows the folly of rebelling against Him. (v4) It shows us that mighty men rise up and proudly think that they’re so great and powerful. God laughs: “You’ve got to be kidding!” Who is puny man to try to stand against the Sovereign God? “He removes kings and establishes kings” (Dan. 2:21) according to His will.
• The Lord’s reply. (v5-6) He shall speak to them in His wrath. He will vex them in His sore displeasure. He will proclaim:  “Yet have I set My King upon my holy hill of  Zion”

3) The Messiah speaks (v7-9) I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. ⁸ Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ⁹ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

• The Lord God declares Jesus to be His Son. (v7)  Psalm 2:7 refers to the day of the eternal decree, when Christ was declared to be the Son of God and begotten (John Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord [Moody Press], p. 41). Since the decree is eternal, Christ’s Sonship is eternal.
• The power of Messiah (v8-9): Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, will return bodily to this earth in power and glory to crush all opposition and to reign in righteousness from David’s throne. John describes his vision of the Lord Jesus in that great day in Revelation 19:15-16: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. ¹⁶ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.” At the end of Christ’s 1,000 year reign, Satan and all who followed him will be thrown into the lake of fire where they will be tormented forever and ever (Rev. 20:10-15).

Let’s recap what we find in today’s devotional.

• God laughs at the attempts of man to unseat Him
• God is sovereign
• God will speak to them in wrath
• God has set Jesus as King on His holy hill of Zion
• Jesus is the Son of God
• Jesus will crush all opposition
• Jesus will rule with a rod of iron
• Satan is cast into the lake of fire to burn forever and ever

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm. There are references to the Lord Jesus Christ. We will study the rebellion of the heathen, the response of the Lord God, the declaration of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and the Psalmist counsel to the kings of the earth.

Rebellion (v1-3)

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? ² The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, ³ Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

• Satan is the author of this rebellion (Isaiah 14:12-14)  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ¹³ For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ¹⁴I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
• All people have followed Satan in his rebellion against God. When Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptation and disobeyed God, the human race fell into sin and thus came under God’s judgment. This rebellion took on an organized form at the tower of Babel, when proud men came together and proposed to build a tower into heaven to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4).

History shows us that this problem of rebellion has not gotten better, but worse. Open your newspaper and you will find mention of wars, murders, and all sorts of atrocities. Power hungry men and women are trying to be like the most High God.

Tomorrow we will see how God views these people.

Till then, if you find yourself in this category, REPENT and ask for God’s forgiveness.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This is a tremendously important message. I did not have a home such as this. My parents were not saved. They did not teach me Christian principles. They divorced when I was 11. So much agony and pain could be avoided if you apply today’s devotion.

The making of a beautiful and happy home!

(J.R. Miller)

A true home is one of the most sacred of places.
It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world’s perils and alarms.
It is a resting-place to which, at close of day–the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow.
It is the place . . .
where love learns its lessons,
where life is schooled into discipline and strength,
where character is molded.

Few things we can do in this world are so well worth doing–as the making of a beautiful and happy home! He who does this–builds a sanctuary for God, and opens a fountain of blessing for men.

Far more than we know–do the strength and beauty of our lives depend upon the home in which we dwell. He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home–into the world’s strife, temptation, struggle, and duty–is strongly inspired for noble and victorious living.

The children who are brought up in a true home–go out trained and equipped for life’s battles and tasks–carrying a secret of strength in their hearts, which will make them brave and loyal to God, and will keep them pure in the world’s severest temptations!

Please apply these principles.

Thank you.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Please ponder this.

The base cares and the petty enjoyments of the present world

(John Angell James) (1785—1859)

“I write plain truths, in plain language, for plain people!”

Sin is raging all around us!

Satan is busy in the work of destruction!

Men are dying!

Souls are every moment departing into eternity!

Hell is enlarging her mouth, and multitudes are continually descending to torments which knows no mitigation and no end!

How astounding is it sometimes to ourselves, that, the base cares and the petty enjoyments of the present world should have so much power over us, as to retard us in our heavenward course, and make us negligent and indolent, heedless and forgetful.

Time is short!

Life is uncertain!

Death is at hand!

Immortality is about to swallow up our existence in eternal life–or eternal death!

Heaven expanding above us!

Hell is yawning beneath us!

Eternity is opening before us!

Once you are through pondering. Take the appropriate action and Paul’s counsel to the Colossians, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today we conclude our study of the book of Ruth.

We began by saying that the book of Ruth is a love story. There is the love that Ruth had for Naomi. There is the love that Boaz had for Ruth.  There is the love God has for His children. Only one of those loves is unconditional, redemptive, and eternal. It is God’s love. Ruth was a Moabite. Israel despised the Moabites. God chose Ruth to pour out His unconditional love. He redeemed her at the point when she chose to follow the God of Naomi, the one true God. Then He gave her an eternal legacy being in the ancestral line of Jesus. That is how our amazing God works.

The gentile woman Ruth, like Rahab the harlot, trusted in God and was taken into the ancestral line of Christ; Boaz was of the son of Salmon and Rahab. Obed, son of Boaz and Ruth, would become father to Jesse, who was the father of King David. Their home was Bethlehem where Micah prophesied Jesus would be born. (Micah 5:2)

Some things to ponder.

• God can use anyone for His purposes
• Believers need to be careful who we condemn
• God’s love should guide everything we do and say

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Chapter 4 is the conclusion of this great book. Boaz becomes the kinsman redeemer, marries Ruth, and has a son named Obed.

Chapter 4 Ruth’s Reward v13

Verses 1-12 Boaz redeems the inheritance of Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon.

 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. ¹⁰ Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. (V9-10)

Verses 13-15 Boaz marries Ruth

So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son. (V13)

Verses 16-22 Ruth’s son Obed is David’s grandfather.

• Naomi nurses the child named Obed v17-18
• Genealogy of Pharez v19-22

And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.¹⁸ Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,¹⁹ And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,²⁰ And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,²¹ And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,²² And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David. (V17-22)

Ruth goes from being a hated Moabite to the ancestral line of Christ. God can save, redeem, and whoever He chooses. We should not be too quick to condemn others. They might be someone God is going to greatly use for His glory and honor.

Tomorrow, we will conclude our look at the book of Ruth.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001