Good morning,

Today when a person dies we contact a funeral home and determine a cemetery to bury the body. Abraham had a several problems. First, there were no funeral homes or cemeteries. Second, he and his family were strangers in the land. Third, they owned no property. They went where God sent them. So what was Abraham to do with the body of Sarah?

First, he requested a place to bury Sarah from the people of the land. Second, he negotiated a price for a piece of land as a place of burial.

Abraham requests a possession to bury Sarah (Verses 3-4)

And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, ⁴ I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

Negotiation for cave at Machpelah (Verses 5-18)

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. ¹⁷ And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure ¹⁸ Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. (Genesis 23:16-18)

As we read the life and times of Abraham the Bible states that he was rich and well respected. The one thing he did not have was land. The cave at Machpelah was the only property he owned.

What do we depend on in this life, our possessions, our money, wealth, social standing, or our own personal prestige? Abraham trusted God to lead him and supply for him and his family. Although he had much worldly goods, it did not draw him away from his God.

May we be willing to trust God like that.

Tomorrow the story continues.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

When someone dies it is customary to bury them fairly soon after death. However, in Alaska, that is not possible. Since the ground is frozen during winter, burials must wait till the ground thaws. This week I will be doing one internment ceremony and attending another.

We will be looking at one family in the Bible to see how they dealt with the death of a loved one. Genesis 23 explains what Abraham did when Sarah died. Later in the week we see who else died and where they were buried.

Remember that gravesites and their gravestones are memorials. A  place to remember.

Sarah dies and Abraham mourns (Verses 1-2)

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. ² And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

This process is common when loved ones die. We mourn. We remember all they meant to us. Sarah knew Abraham all her life. Their journey took them from their home to wandering through the land of Canaan. She supported, comforted, obeyed, and loved her husband. Abraham mourned.

Tomorrow we see what Abraham does next.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

This week we will be looking at Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica.  Chapter 5 and verses 11-28 was to counsel and comfort the church. Paul’s purpose in writing these verses was to encourage the Thessalonians to live holy lives. Paul now counsels the Thessalonians to do seven things that will strengthen their walk with God, the church, and their relationship with others.  Now, having implemented these seven things, Paul gives us results. Verses 23-25 tell us that our God is faithful.

Result (V 23-28)

²³ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. ²⁵ Brethren, pray for us. ²⁶ Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. ²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Remember that Believers were under persecution from various entities. So when Paul prays for God to sanctify (set apart) and preserve them, it was very important and meaningful. The encouragement he gave next was extraordinary.  He told them that the God who called them was faithful. God was able to do what He said He would.

Do we believe this? Or will it take the persecution of the first century for us to believe that we serve a faithful God who keeps ALL His promises?

I hope this study has made us think about how precious God is to us. How He has never failed us. That He has held us up many times when we failed Him.  He is faithful to care for all His children.

Think about these things.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will be looking at Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica.  Chapter 5 and verses 11-28 was to counsel and comfort the church. Paul’s purpose in writing these verses was to encourage the Thessalonians to live holy lives. Paul now counsels the Thessalonians to do seven things that will strengthen their walk with God, the church, and their relationship with others.

Counsel to:

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

¹⁹ Quench not the Spirit.

²⁰ Despise not prophesyings.

²¹ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

²² Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Paul knew that if the church at Thessalonica could do these things there would be less church infighting, better interpersonal relationships, and harmony.

Their focus would be upward to God. All of these actions are centered toward God. They would rejoice in their relationship with God. They would be praying to God. Their worship and giving of thanks would be to God. They would be sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. They would listen to the Scriptures. They would make sure the things taught to them corresponded to God’s word. They would not do anything that appeared to be wrong.

This is what the 21^st century church needs to do. If we focused more on God than the things of this world, the church would be stronger and more vital part of our communities.

We will sum up this passage tomorrow.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will be looking at Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica.  Chapter 5 and verses 11-28 was to counsel and comfort the church. Paul’s purpose in writing these verses was to encourage the Thessalonians to live holy lives. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to warn, comfort, support, and be patient.

Warn (V 14-15)

¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. ¹⁵ See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Paul exhorts the brethren. Exhort means to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something. He wanted them to warn those within the church, the body of believers that were unruly or disorderly. This is a problem in many churches today. The result is hurt feelings and church splits. It also ruins the testimony of the church and its members.

Paul exhorts them to comfort the feebleminded. Feebleminded means a person unable to make intelligent decisions or judgments. He wanted to make sure that these people were being shown comfort.

Paul exhorts them to support the weak. There are those in the church who may be aged, physically challenged, who need our support.

Paul exhorts them to be patient with all men. Patience is a character trait that is hard for most believers to attain. If things are going our way, no problem. However, when there is a deadline to meet, a person that rubs us the wrong way, or a situation we are uncomfortable about, we find our patience tested. That is when we need to go to God and ask for His help. Patience in interpersonal relationships is a key to well running church. Verse 15 tells us how to do this.

Tomorrow we will look at seven things we can do to create harmony within the church and with our fellow men and women.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will be looking at Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica.  Chapter 5:11-28 was to counsel and comfort the church. Paul’s purpose in writing these verses was to encourage the Thessalonians to live holy lives. Today we are looking at verses 12 and 13.

Know and esteem (V 12-13)

¹² And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; ¹³ And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Paul wants the believers to know their Pastors. Those who daily teach, preach, encourage, admonish, and pray for them. In Paul’s day, as in ours, there are many false teachers among us. Paul wanted to make sure that the believers were not being led astray. This should be every believers concern.  The only way to know your Pastor is to know what he preaches. If he preaches messages contrary to God’s written word, the Bible, FLEE, for he is a false teacher. The standard is God’s word.

The man of God, who does preach God’s word, should be highly esteemed. We as believers should hold up, take care of, pray often for, and support these Godly men. Many church goers never have a kind word for their preacher. We need to thank them for standing for the truth. We should make sure they have a nice home, food on the table, clothes worthy of their calling, and a good atmosphere for their families.

What discourages a Pastor the most is the infighting within the body of believers. Paul tells the Thessalonians to be at peace among themselves. Love is the key. We are to love one another. So many passages in the Bible speak about love.

To conclude Paul counsel is to “…know them that labor among you…”, “…esteem them highly in love…” and “…be at peace among yourselves.”

This is good advice for us today.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will be looking at Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica.  Chapter 5 and verses 11-28 was to counsel and comfort the church. Paul’s purpose in writing these verses was to encourage the Thessalonians to live holy lives.

Comfort and edify (V 11)

¹¹ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

God wants us to comfort one another. When a brother or sister in Christ is struggling, we need to provide comfort and caring attitude.

Edify means to instruct or build up. Believers should be trying to teach each other. We are to build each other to be stronger in the Lord.

The upcoming verses are going to show us how to do this.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

 I hope you have found this study on Jesus seven I AM statements helpful. Today’s word picture is the vine.

7.  True vine

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” John 15:1 

This metaphor emphasizes that He is the true vine, which contrasts Himself with the false vine or religion of Israel. The Jews were not worshiping Jehovah God, the false legalistic religion of the scribes and Pharisees. Theirs was a religion of works, of self-righteousness that God had no part. Jesus plainly condemned and exposed them as not knowing God. Jesus said, “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” (John 5:37) Note that He said they had not known the Father at any time. Further Jesus rebuked them saying, “. . . Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.” (John 8:19) Therefore, using the analogy of a husbandman or vineyard owner, Jesus made the distinction that God the Father is the owner or master of the vineyard and He is the master’s vine. (Bible-truth.org)

CONCLUSION

JESUS:

Sustains us

Guides us

Leads us

Takes care of us

Provides redemption for us

Shows us the way

Jesus is our I AM!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The word pictures change today.  Instead of pictures of objects, bread, door, etc, we look at concepts of resurrection, life, way, truth, and life. Jesus proved that He had power over the natural world and the spiritual world.

5.  Resurrection and Life   

   “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John 11:25

 Jesus’ statement is profound in that His deity could not be proclaimed in any greater way. He not only states He has the power over life and death, but that He was the resurrection and life. Only Almighty God has power of life and death as He is the giver and taker of both. In Him is true life and those that believe and receive Him in faith will have everlasting life. This is not simply referring to being alive. The unsaved dead are alive, but they reside in eternity in the everlasting state of death. Only those whom God gives life can be said to have true life and only those who believe receive life in heaven with the Savior. (Bible-truth.org)

6. Way, Truth, Life    

 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

The Lord repeats what He has been telling them throughout His ministry. He made it explicit, that only He was the way, the only truth, the only life, and no one could come to the Father, and have eternal life except through Him. Thomas and the disciples may not have understood earlier, but by saying salvation was only by Him they could not now misunderstand who He was or why He came into the world. (Bible-truth.org)

This answers several questions plaguing our culture today.

First, man and women are NOT in charge of life and death. Only God has that authority. We violate God’s authority when we commit murder, suicide, or the killing of innocent unborn babies.  A judgment day is coming.

Second, how does one get saved? Jesus made it clear that it was through Him. If Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, then our world has spun completely out of control. There are no governments in today’s world that recognize Jesus as their leader. Further, the statutes and underpinnings of the nations are all worldly. As believers, our foundation must be God’s word, the Bible.  That was radical in Jesus time and it is radical today. The only thing that will change our world is repentance and complete turning to Jesus Christ.  Repent and trust Christ as personal Lord and Savior.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

 Jesus pictures Himself as a door and a good shepherd. The door allows access to the sheep. The good shepherd takes care of those sheep.

3. Door    

 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

His explanation is straight forward and to the point. He states He is the door of the sheepfold meaning He was the legitimate owner of the sheep and thus He had the right to access to the sheep of the house of Israel. Jesus states all the false prophets, religious leaders, and messiahs were thieves and robbers. These false shepherds did not care for the sheep, but came to take advantage of them.  (Bible-truth.org)

4. Good Shepherd  

  “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Jesus as the Good Shepherd came to give the sheep abundant life. He did not come to take advantage of the sheep, but to provide for them and give His life so that the sheep could be saved. Jesus uses the pronoun “I am” which is always emphatic, precluding there was any other. (Bible-truth.org)

Jesus is the legitimate owner of our souls. Why? He created man. He gave us life, a perfect environment, and a free will to obey and honor Him. However, man has denied access to Jesus. Many have determined they can do better than God. The results speak for themselves. Everyday more news of death, murder, suicide, wars, and riots, on the streets of America.

Even with all this wickedness taking place, God through His Son Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd offers salvation, full and free.  He provides for our every need if we just trust Him as our Savior and Lord.

Repent of your sin and ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001