Good morning,

Seventy-six years ago today, the United States declared war on Japan, for their attack on Pearl Harbor.

Arrogance can be deadly as we will see in today’s devotion. Challenging God is unwise.

The Almighty paid no attention to him, of course

(A.T. Pierson)

Some time ago, an infidel got up in the presence of some atheistic companions, and defied the God of heaven to show Himself in battle. He swung his sword to and fro, and challenged the Almighty to meet him in single combat.

The Almighty paid no attention to him, of course–but He just commissioned a little gnat, so small that it could scarcely be seen, to lodge in his windpipe and choke him to death!

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile.” Psalm 14:1

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today is the completion of our study on Haggai.

Haggai 2

The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (2:9)

INTRODUCTION Ezra 3:8-13, 4:1-24, 5:1-17, 6:1-22

CONSIDER THE FUTURE GLORY OF MY TEMPLE (2:1-9)

God told the people not to be discouraged (2:1-5)

In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying,² Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,³ Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?⁴ Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:⁵ According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.

The God of glory will be with you in the future – In the Temple of glory in the Millennium (2:6-9)

⁶ For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;⁷ And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.⁸ The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.⁹ The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

CONSIDER YOUR BLESSINGS FROM THE COMPLETION OF MY TEMPLE (2:10-23)

The guilt of the people (2:10-14)

¹⁰ In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,¹¹ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,¹² If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.¹³ Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.¹⁴ Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

The cursing of the blessing of God (2:15-19)

¹⁵ And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the Lord:¹⁶ Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.¹⁷ I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the Lord. ¹⁸ Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider it.¹⁹ Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

Battle of Armageddon (2:20-22)

²⁰ And again the word of the Lord came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,²¹ Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;²² And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

The glory of Zerubbabel (2:23)

²³ In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts.

CONCLUSION

• Finish what you start (Whole book)
• Until God is 1st, your personal life will be fruitless (1:6)
• When you don’t give to God, God will take from you (1:9-11)
• Obey God first, before you feel His presence, then His stirrings will come (1:12-14)
• When you have constant problems, consider your ways (1:5-7)
• Even though things may be bad now, God always has future blessings for His people (2:3-9)
• Good things in a sinful life do not cleanse it, but sinful things in a good life defile it (2:11-14)

 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

The only true reformer of mankind!

(J.C. Ryle)

Political and social reforms labor in vain–because they ignore the fall of Adam and original sin. These are great stubborn facts, which ruin all their calculations. Without acknowledging the reality and consequences of sin–the great problems of human nature can never be solved.

How much we ought to hate sin, and to make the checking of sin the first object in our efforts to do good! How much we ought to long and strive to promote the progress of the Gospel of Christ! This, after all, is the only true reformer of mankind. Just in proportion as men are brought under the influence of the despised old Gospel–will be the increase of peace on earth and goodwill among men.

The more Christ is known and loved, and the more the Bible is read–the more will the inhabitants of the earth love one another. The more grace reigns over hearts and lives–the less hatred and violence will there be in the world. If pure and undefiled religion prevailed everywhere–then such plagues and pests and nuisances as quarreling, robbing, murder, drunkenness, immorality, swindling, gambling, idleness, lying, and cheating would be comparatively unknown. Most of the prisons and workhouses would soon be shut. Lawyers and policemen would have little to do. Taxes would be cut in half.

He is the truest friend to human happiness–who does the most to spread the knowledge of Christ and evangelize the world!

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John Newton was a wicked man. A slave trader and slave. When he became a Christian, God miraculously changed him.

This devotion is a testament to his changed life.

This should challenge and encourage each of us.

In this precious Book!

(John Newton)

“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness–that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work!” 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Set a high value upon the Word of God. All that is necessary to make you wise to salvation is there–and there alone.

In this precious Book, you may find . . .
a direction for every doubt,
a solution of every difficulty, and
a promise suited to every circumstance you can be in.

There you may be informed of your disease caused by sin–and the remedy provided by grace.

In the Scriptures, you may be instructed to know . . .
yourselves,
Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
the wonders of redeeming love,
the glories of the Redeemer’s person,
the happiness of the redeemed people,
the power of faith, and
the beauty of holiness.
All are here fully and clearly represented.

Nothing is lacking in the Scriptures to make . . .
life useful and comfortable,
death safe and desirable, and
to bring down something of Heaven upon earth.

But this true wisdom can be found nowhere else. If you wander from the Scriptures, in pursuit either of present peace, or future hope–then your search will surely end in disappointment.

This is the fountain of living waters! If you forsake it, and give the preference to broken cisterns of your own devising–then they will fail you when you most need them.

Rejoice, therefore, that such a treasure is put into your hand–but rejoice with trembling. Remember this is not all you need–unless God likewise gives you a heart to use the Scriptures aright–then your privilege will only aggravate your guilt and misery.

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

What will Heaven be like? Today’s devotion will explore what will be in Heaven and what won’t be.

All these things shall have no place in Heaven!

(J.C. Ryle, “Shall We Know One Another in Heaven?” 1870)

I pity that man who never thinks about Heaven. I mean by “Heaven” the future dwelling-place of all true Christians, when the dead are raised, and the world has passed away. Cold and unfeeling must that heart be, which never gives a thought to that dwelling-place! Dull and earthly must that mind be, which never considers Heaven.

We may die any day. “In the midst of life, we are in death.” We must all die sooner or later. The youngest, the fairest, the strongest, the cleverest–all must go down one day before the scythe of the King of Terrors. This world shall not go on for ever as it does now. Its affairs shall at last be wound up.

Now, what will Heaven be like? The question, no doubt, is a deep one, but there is nothing presumptuous in looking at it. The man who is about to sail for Australia or New Zealand as a settler, is naturally anxious to know something about his future home, its climate, its employments, its inhabitants, its ways, and its customs. All of these are subjects of deep interest to him.

In the same way, you are leaving the land of your nativity–and you are going to spend the rest of your life in a new world. It would be strange indeed if you did not desire information about your new abode.

Now surely, if we hope to dwell for ever in that “better country, even a heavenly one”–then we ought to seek all the knowledge we can get about it. Before we go to our eternal home–we should try to become acquainted with it.

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

All who are found there, will be of one mind and of one experience:

chosen by the same Father,

washed in the same blood of atonement,

and renewed by the same Spirit.

Universal and perfect holiness, love, and knowledge–will be the eternal law of the kingdom.

Heaven is the eternal presence of everything that can make a saint happy–and the eternal absence of everything that can cause sorrow. Sickness, and pain, and disease, and death, and wickedness, and poverty, and labor, and money, and care, and ignorance, and misunderstanding, and slander, and lying, and quarrels, and envies, and bad tempers, and infidelity, and superstition, and heresy, and schism, and wars, and fightings, and bloodshed, and murders, and law-suits–all, all these things shall have no place in Heaven! On earth, in this present time, they may live and flourish. In Heaven even their footprints shall not be known.

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes!” Revelation 7:16-17

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I am looking forward to going to Heaven. I will not miss the things of this world.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

God cares for us. In the good times and bad, God is in control.

There is no such thing as “chance,” “luck,” or “accident” in the Christian’s journey through this world!

(J.C. Ryle, “The Gospel of Luke” 1858)

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that can do no more.  . . . Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid–you are worth more than many sparrows!” Luke 12:4-7

The last thing that demands our attention in these verses, is Christ’s encouragement to persecuted believers. He reminds them of God’s providential care over the least of His creatures: “Not one sparrow is forgotten by God!” He goes on to assure them that the same Fatherly care is engaged on behalf of each one of themselves: “The very hairs of your head are all numbered!” 

The providential government of God over everything in this world is a truth of which the Greek and Roman philosophers had no conception. It is a truth which is especially revealed to us in the Word of God. Just as the telescope and microscope show us that there is order and design in all the works of God’s hand, from the greatest planet down to the least insect–so does the Bible teach us that there is wisdom, order, and design in all the events of our daily life. There is no such thing as “chance,” “luck,” or “accident” in the Christian’s journey through this world! If we profess to be believers in Jesus Christ–then all is arranged and appointed by God. “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

Let us seek to have an abiding sense of God’s hand in all that befalls us. Let us strive to realize that our Father’s hand is measuring out our daily portion–and that our every step is ordered by Him.

A daily practical faith of this kind, is one grand secret of happiness—and a mighty antidote against murmuring and discontent!

We should try to feel in the day of trial and disappointment–that all is right, and that all is well done. We should try to feel on the bed of sickness–that there must be a “needs be” for it. We should say to ourselves, “God could keep these afflictions away from me–if He thought fit. But He does not do so, and therefore they must be for my advantage. I will lie still, and bear them patiently. Whatever pleases God–shall please me!”

Nothing whatever, whether great or small, can happen to a believer–without God’s ordering and permission.

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That should be an encouragement to all of us. Our God is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives. HE CARES.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week’s lesson is on Haggai.

Haggai is a prophet of God. The time frame is after the 70 year Babylonian captivity.

Haggai 1

Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. (Haggai 1:5)

INTRODUCTION Ezra 1:1-6, 2:1-2

A WORD OF REBUKE (1:1-2)

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,² Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.

ISRAEL’S CHASTENING FROM GOD (1:3-15)

The Temple (1:3-5)

³ Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,⁴ Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?⁵ Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Withholding from God (sowing and reaping) (1:6-7) (Read Proverbs 3:9, Matthew 6:33, Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

⁶ Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.⁷ Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

Consequences of not rebuilding the Temple (1:8-11)

⁸ Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.⁹ Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.¹⁰ Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.¹¹ And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.

Israel obeys and God says, “I am with you” (1:12-15)

¹² Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the Lord.¹³ Then spake Haggai the Lord’s messenger in the Lord’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.¹⁴ And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts, their God,¹⁵ In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

CONCLUSION

Hearken to God’s rebuke

Never withhold from God

Obey God

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Last week I walked the fine line between heaven and hell. While visiting a hospitalized senior, we spoke about the need to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord.

He had been taught well as a youth. He knew many Scripture verses by heart. He realized the consequences of not accepting Christ. After his youth, he traveled in company that pulled him away from God. When asked, he responded that he had never trusted Christ to be his Savior.

He was struggling with making the decision to follow Christ.

The Bible states, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.¹² 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.” (Ephesians 6:10-12)

The forces of Satan and the forces of God were vying for this man’s life. The consequences would determine where he would spend eternity, heaven or hell.

Unfortunately, the resolution of this matter will only be known by God. This man passed into eternity yesterday.

This then is the essence of our existence, whether we will spend eternity in heaven or hell. We choose. All our good works are for the burning without Christ.

As the Scripture verses below indicate, we have a choice to choose life with God or death without God.

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: ²⁰ That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Proverbs 11:19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ gives life. When He died on the cross for our sins, resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven, He made a way for us to go from death to life.

Let us consider the pros and cons.

PROS: Good, walking with the Lord, knowing and obeying His commandments, may multiply, blessings, may dwell in the land, righteousness, fear of the Lord, everlasting life, reconciliation to God, and salvation.

CONS: Evil, cursing, snares, condemnation, and sin.

The preponderance of evidence is on the side of LIFE.

Your choice. CHOOSE LIFE!

If you are interested in being saved and going from death to life, please call or email me.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

 

Good morning,

Refuge. A place to go away from all the problems, stress, and noise of our day. A place where one will listen, help, and console. A solitary place.

Today’s devotion will tell us where this place is.

The bosom of Jesus

(Octavius Winslow, “The Loving, and the Loved” 1864)

“This was the one who had reclined on Jesus’ bosom at the supper . . . ” John 21:20

The bosom of Jesus still pillows the head of the weary, loving disciple of the Lord. There is no real rest for the soul, but in Jesus.

Where should the Christ-loved, the Christ-loving disciple lean, with his sins and sorrows, with his weariness and want–but upon the bosom of his Lord? It is the place of repose, of faith, and of love.

There is room for you there amid the countless ones who fly to it for consolation, safety, and repose. Go and lean with your burden, your grief, and your sin–where the beloved disciple reclined; and you shall realize the blessedness of the oneness, confidence, and affection which exist between Jesus and all the disciples whom He loves.

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Jesus is our refuge. Go to Him.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Reflect on what God has done this year and thank Him. This devotion is my lesson for today.

Thanksgiving 2017

Why are we thankful?

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.⁵ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:3-5)

Introduction

Thanksgiving is the word that should characterize November. What makes us thankful?

Family, loved ones, jobs, recreational opportunities. We also should be thankful for the freedoms we have. We have the freedom to express ourselves, political freedom, ability to elect our representatives, and to attend and worship as we please.

Free Will

God gave us a free will to choose to follow Him or Satan.

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Bible

He laid out His standard in the Bible. He tells us how the world was created, why one man’s transgression has made us all sinners, the result of that sin, how the conflict in the Middle East started, the creation of the nation of Israel, the history of the nation of Israel, the need for a blood sacrifice, and the ultimate redeemer who came to die, being the one time blood sacrifice for all mankind, Jesus Christ. So, we should be thankful that God gave us the Bible.

“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)

God made us

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

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:14-16)

Jesus, Savior, Redeemer

Jesus was the Holy Son of God. Never sinned, never did any wickedness, creator of all things. Then God did something special for each of us by sending Jesus to earth to pay our sin debt with His own blood.

“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) We should be thankful that God gave us His Son as Savior for all mankind.

God made sure that salvation was of faith not works.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them..” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God made accepting Jesus easy.

“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:”

We should be thankful for salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sheep of Jesus pasture

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)

Nothing can separate us from God’s love

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-9)

CONCLUSION

Be thankful

Why are you thankful today?