Good morning,

This week we will be looking at the concept of life. Unfortunately, the moral fiber of our country has taken a steady progression downward. We have gone from a positive prospect on life, to a preoccupation with death.

During my lifetime, we have banned prayer in our schools, legislated mass killing of unborn babies, made drugs legal, and allowed diversity to the extent that the sanctity of marriage is no longer the norm.  One of the results is Alaska is one of the leading states for death from suicide.

These are all moral issues. Many young people have chosen suicide rather than to live. There must be a reason to live. That is what we will explore this week.

Monday: God’s creation

Tuesday: Jesus is life

Wednesday: Suicide in the Bible

Thursday: Life vs. death

Friday: Eternal life

 God’s Creation

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Man’s Sin

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: ¹⁷ But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Result of Man’s Sin

Genesis 3:22-23 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: ²³ Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

God created man perfect. He placed him in a perfect garden, with perfect fruit, and no thorns or thistles. All was perfect until Adam rejected god’s command. This caused the first sin. It has been a downward spiral from there.

This is how and why there is wickedness in our world. Satan has deceived mankind into thinking evil is good, and good is evil. We have bought the lie hook, line, and sinker.

The good news is that Jesus is Life. Come back tomorrow and discover what that means.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

God cares about his people. Today around the world we are under religious, governmental, and personal persecution. The Jewish holiday of Purim shows how God overcame evil with good.

The story of Purim is told in the Biblical book of Esther. The heroes of the story are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than his other women and made Esther queen, but the king did not know that Esther was a Jew, because Mordecai told her not to reveal her identity.

The villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, so Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people. Haman told the king, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every other people’s, and they do not observe the king’s laws; therefore it is not befitting the king to tolerate them.” Esther 3:8. The king gave the fate of the Jewish people to Haman, to do as he pleased to them. Haman planned to exterminate all of the Jews.

Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. This was a dangerous thing for Esther to do, because anyone who came into the king’s presence without being summoned could be put to death, and she had not been summoned. Esther fasted for three days to prepare herself, then went into the king. He welcomed her. Later, she told him of Haman’s plot against her people. The Jewish people were saved, and Haman and his ten sons were hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai.

Our persecutions come straight from the devil.

Ephesians 6:12 states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

God has battled Satan and won the victory on the cross at Calvary.  Go forth in the victory of the cross.

Interested in overcoming the devil in your life? Contact me.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we defined longsuffering as patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs. Today we want to look at our longsuffering toward others.

We have seen that God is longsuffering and He is longsuffering to us, but now we must be longsuffering to others.  God’s purpose in being longsuffering is ultimately that men and women would get saved. So we must demonstrate God’s longsuffering through the way we live, so that, unbelievers would listen to our witness for Jesus.  God has not completed the Church Age yet. That means there is still at least one more person who needs to be saved. Maybe God is waiting for you and I to tell someone about Jesus.

Our longsuffering

• Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
• Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
• 2 Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
• 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

So what have we learned about longsuffering?

• Acknowledge that God is longsuffering
• Remember God’s longsuffering to you
• Be longsuffering to others

Bless someone today with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we defined longsuffering as patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs. Today we want to look at God’s longsuffering toward us, His children.

When you think about it, God’s longsuffering for us is truly extraordinary. It began in the garden and has just kept on forever. Our sin condemns us every day. God, being longsuffering, gives us opportunities to confess our sin and reestablish our right standing with Him. Amazing.

God’s longsuffering to His children

• Romans 2:3-4 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
• Romans 9:21-23 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? ²² What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: ²³ And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
• 1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
• 1 Peter 3:18-20 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: ¹⁹ By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; ²⁰ Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
• 2 Peter 3:9 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 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Think about what God does for you.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The next three days we will do a study on longsuffering. Longsuffering is defined as patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs.

Today, let’s look at God’s longsuffering.

• Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
• Numbers 14:18 The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
• Jeremiah 15:15 O Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
• Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

A characteristic of God is that He is longsuffering. Remember last week we looked at the names of God? Now I want you to meditate on God’s longsuffering.

The word longsuffering is only used 17 times in the Bible, however, the concept is alive in every chapter.

Tomorrow, we will look at God’s longsuffering to His children, us.

Have a great day.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

 

Good morning,

God has given us eyes to see. Unfortunately, from the very beginning, our eyes betrayed us. God also gave us eyes to see His beauty, to be enlightened, and as a light. Consider your eyes.

1) Temptation of the eyes

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Genesis 13:10-11 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. ¹¹ Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Matthew 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matthew 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

2) Keeping your eyes from evil

Psalm 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Job 31:1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psalm 19:8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.

3) Conquering our eye problem

Ephesians 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Colossians 3:23-24 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ²⁴ Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

The children’s song, “Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see, Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see,
For the Father up above, is looking down in love, Oh be careful little eyes what you see.”, is great advice for us as adults. Our world is filled with filth, wickedness, and depravity, which we should not be watching.

I believe Hebrews 12:2 sums this up nicely.  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

The seven years of tribulation are about over.  Several things are still awaiting completion.

1) The marriage supper of the Lamb

• Revelation 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ⁸ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. ⁹ And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

2) Return of Jesus Christ as Ruler

• Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. ¹² His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. ¹³ And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ 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.

3) Judgment of Satan Pre-Post Millennium

• Revelation 20:1-3 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. ² And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, ³ And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
• Revelation 20:7-10 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,⁸ And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. ⁹ And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. ¹⁰ And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

4) Judgment of the unsaved dead

• Revelation 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Depending on your spiritual condition this may paint an exciting future or a very scary one. We choose, by an act our own will, to go to heaven or hell. It would seem prudent to make that decision now instead of later. Choosing to do nothing is choosing Satan and hell. Choosing Jesus means life in heaven with King Jesus forever.

If you are interested in talking about your spiritual condition, please call, write, or meet me at the Wasilla Senior Center.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Yesterday I wrote that God was not done with Israel. I mentioned that there would be a 144,000 Jewish evangelists sent to witness to Israel and the world. Today we will look at who they are.

1) The number and lineage

• Revelation 7:3-4 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

2) Who they are

• Revelation 14:4-5 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.⁵ And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

3) Their accomplishments

• Revelation 7:9, 10, 13, 14 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; ¹⁰ And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. ¹³ And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? ¹⁴ And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

4) Their worship

• Revelation 7:11-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God, ¹² Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
• Revelation 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

The 144,000 were Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel. They were undefiled and sealed by God. They saw a great multitude saved. They worshiped God when the campaign was completed.

There are 2 important take aways from this. First, there are lost people who need Jesus. Second, you need to witness to them.

Go share Jesus with someone today.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Many people today believe that God is done with the nation of Israel. That the church has supplanted God’s promises to Israel. Unfortunately, they fail to read the book of Revelation where God sends out 144,000 Jewish evangelists as witnesses for Him. Israel finally accepts their Messiah, Yeshua, Jesus.

Isaiah 43 proclaims God’s intentions towards the children of Israel.

• V1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
• V3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
• V4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
• V10-12 Ye are my witnesses, saith theLord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. ¹¹ I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. ¹² I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.
• V21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
• V25-26 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.  Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

It seems God continues to have a plan for the nation of Israel. This is only one of many Old Testament chapters that speak of God’s intentions towards Israel.  When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he stated, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) God wants all men and women to be saved. He is an equal opportunity Savior.

Shalom.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today’s devotion comes from the Grace Gems website. I thought this might encourage you.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower!

(Ralph Erskine, 1685-1752)

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower!

A righteous person runs to it and is safe!” Proverbs 18:10

Jesus has a name suiting every want, every need.

Do you need wonders to be wrought for you? His name is Wonderful; look to Him so to do, for His name’s sake.

Do you need counsel and direction? His name is the Counselor; cast yourself on Him and His mighty name for this.

Have you mighty enemies to engage? His name is the Mighty God; seek that He may exert His power for His name’s sake.

Do you need His fatherly pity? His name is the everlasting Father; as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him. Plead His pity, for His name’s sake.

Do you need peace–external, internal, or eternal? His name is the Prince of Peace; seek for His name’s sake, that He may create peace.

O sirs, His name is Jehovah-Rophi, the Lord, the healer and physician; seek, for His name’s sake, that He may heal all your soul diseases.

Do you need pardon? His name is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness; seek for His name’s sake, that He may be merciful to your unrighteousness.

Do you need defense and protection? His name is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord your banner; seek, for His name’s sake, that His banner of love and grace may be spread over you.

Do you need provision in extreme want? His name is Jehovah-Jireh, in the mount to the Lord it shall be seen, the Lord will provide.

Do you need His presence? His name is Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord is there; Immanuel, God with us; look to Him to be with you, for His name’s sake.

Do you need an audience of prayer? His name is the Hearer of Prayer.

Do you need strength? His name is the Strength of Israel.

Do you need comfort? His name is the Consolation of Israel.

Sit down and ponder your wants and needs–and you will find He has a name suitable for your supply; He has . . .

all wisdom to guide you,

all power to keep you,

all mercy to pity you,

all holiness to sanctify you,

all righteousness to justify you,

all grace to adorn you,

and all glory to crown you!

Please meditate on these names of God and take comfort in the Lord Jesus Christ to meet all your needs.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001