Archives for 2016

Good morning,

I do not know what season of life you are in today. However, each of us will be able to relate to this allegory.

Some years ago I heard an allegory which I have never forgotten

(George Everard, “The Home of Bethany” 1873)

“He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.” Psalm 107:7

Some years ago I heard an allegory which I have never forgotten. It often comes back to me when I think of the way in which the Lord leads His people.

The fable runs that a few ears of wheat were growing in the corner of a field, and it was promised to this wheat that it would one day be brought before the Queen. But by-and-by the mower came with his sharp scythe and cut the wheat, and feeling the sharpness of the scythe, it said, “I shall never stand before the Queen!” Presently it was laid in the wagon, and pressed and borne down by the other sheaves, and again arose the cry of distress and despair. But, more than this, it was laid on the threshing-floor, and the heavy flail came down upon it. It was taken to the mill, and cut and cut and cut; then it was kneaded into bread; and at last it was placed in the hot burning oven. Again and again was heard the cry of utter, hopeless despair. But at length the promise was fulfilled, and the bread was placed on the Queen’s table!

There is a great spiritual truth beneath the fable. Christians are God’s wheat, sprung from the incorruptible seed of His Word, and from the precious seed of the crucified, buried body of our Lord–and He purposes that one day they shall stand before Him! But there needs much preparation.

There comes the sharp scythe of bereavement–the loss of child or parent or spouse.

There comes the oppressive burden of care.

There comes the severe tribulation (the very word signifies threshing), seasons of adversity and disappointment.

There comes the mill, the trial that utterly breaks us down, and fills the whole spirit with distress.

There comes the hot furnace of agonizing pain or fear.

All these are doing their appointed work, stirring up faith and prayer, humbling to the very dust–and yet lifting up the Christian, by leading him nearer to God, and enabling him at length to say, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted!”

What has God taught you?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

How are we to live the gospel? Paul tells us what he plans to do and then exhorts the Philippians on what they should do.

 Living for the gospel V 21-30

a) Paul’s commitment to the gospel V 21-26

²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. ²³ For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: ²⁴ Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵ And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; ²⁶ That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

b) Paul’s exhortation to live for the gospel V 27-30

²⁷ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. ²⁹ For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; ³⁰ Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

So in conclusion, what should we do? Proclaim the gospel. Tell whomever will listen about the good news in Jesus Christ. Live the gospel. Let this sin sick world see Christ in you. When they ask why your life is so different, tell them the gospel. Pray for the success of the gospel outreach around our world. Missionaries, Pastors, and other believers need our prayers.

Make a difference, preach the gospel!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Paul was called to defend the gospel. Others were less bold because of the persecution and imprisonment. Paul’s boldness to preach the gospel, even in prison, encourages the believers to boldly speak the word without fear.

 Defense of the gospel V 12-20

 a) Furtherance of the gospel V 12-14

¹² But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; ¹³ So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; ¹⁴ And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

b) Preaching Christ V 15-16

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: ¹⁶ The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

c) Defense of the gospel V 17-18

 ¹⁷ But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

d) Prayers of the Philippians V 19

¹⁹ For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

e) Boldly proclaiming Christ V 20

²⁰ According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Today we are challenged to boldly proclaim the word of God to whoever will listen. Remember how the gospel changed your life. Share that message with others.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today we are looking at the fellowship in the gospel. To understand our study we need to understand the meaning of fellowship in the context of chapter1. Pastor Steven J. Cole helps us.

True Christian fellowship means sharing together in the things of God.

There are five strands of true fellowship in these verses:

1. True fellowship means praying for one another (1:3, 4).
2. True fellowship means serving God together (1:5, 7).
3. True fellowship means trusting in God’s sovereign working in one another (1:6).
4. True fellowship means partaking together of God’s grace (1:7).
5. True fellowship means heartfelt affection for one another (1:8).

 Fellowship in the gospel V 1-11

a) Greetings of joy and thanksgiving V 1-4

Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: ² Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, ⁴ Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

b) Why? Fellowship in the gospel V 5-7

⁵ For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; ⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: ⁷ Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

c) Encouragement and genuine love V 8-11

⁸ For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. ⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; ¹⁰ That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. ¹¹ Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Paul loved the Philippians. He appreciated their service in preaching Christ. He encourages them to continue on in Christ.

Tomorrow we will look at the defense of the gospel.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

This week we will be studying Philippians 1, The Gospel. The chapter is broken down into three sections.

The three sections are fellowship of the gospel, the defense of the gospel, and living the gospel.

However to appreciate this chapter you must understand the writer. When Paul was saved on the Damascus road, his life was completely changed. He went from hating everything that had to do with faith in Christ, to being its chief spokesman. The gospel of Christ meant everything to Paul.

So how do we define the gospel? Simply put, it is the good news. A more complete definition is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-9.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. ⁷ After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. ⁸ And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

Let’s break this down. The gospel saves. It consists of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Not only that, but over five hundred people saw him after the resurrection.  The gospel message has power.

After his conversion experience, Paul staked the rest of his life squarely around preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we think about Paul, we think about what he wrote. Each message is based on an aspect of the gospel message. It was his life’s work to proclaim the gospel to whoever would listen.

Keep this in mind as we study through Philippians 1.

May I be so bold to ask, is the gospel that important to us? Would we stake our lives, reputations, and condemnation of the world, to proclaim the gospel?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today is the first day of February. Each of us should endeavor to start the new month with a clean slate before God. Repent and confess your sin before God. How? Read on.

What is repentance?

 (George Everard, “Welcome home! Plain teachings from the story of the Prodigal” 1871)

“I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.” Luke 15:18-20

Notice the spirit of deep self-abasement in the resolution which the prodigal made.

True repentance is intensely personal. The prodigal felt it was his own sin. “I have sinned!” He can scarcely see any sin but his own. He sees his own sin in the very worst colors. Study the fifty-first Psalm. See how David again and again speaks. It is my transgression, my iniquity, my sin ever before me.

True repentance beholds the wrong done to God by sin. The prodigal felt that his sin was primarily against God. It was a breach of His holy law. It was opposition to His holiness. It was sin against His goodness, and against redeeming love. So David cries in his bitter sorrow, forgetting for the moment the wrong he had done to Uriah–in the far greater wrong which his sin had done to God: “Against You, You only have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight!”

True repentance makes no excuses. The prodigal seeks for no palliation, no covering, no cloak. He says nothing of the circumstances which led him to do evil, or of companions who had drawn him aside. He does not attempt to shift the burden from his own shoulders to that of others. He makes no self-justifying pleas–he has too much sorrow, too much true brokenness of spirit, to desire or attempt it. One thing, and one thing only, he sees–his own terrible fall, and his own exceeding guilt.

True repentance takes the very lowest place. Once to be a son was not enough for him–but now he will be content even to be a slave or a hired servant! He feels utterly unworthy. As Jacob felt: “I am not worthy of all the mercies You have showed me.” As the centurion felt when he sent to Jesus: “I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.” So did the young prodigal esteem himself: “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”

Be sure that God delights in the humble and contrite soul.
Lift yourself up in pride and self-satisfaction–and God will assuredly cast you down. Cast yourself down in humble confession of your sin–and God will assuredly lift you up.

“God resists the proud–but gives grace unto the humble.”

But we see here the purpose of the heart accomplished. The young man not only made the resolution, but he kept it, “So he got up and went to his father.” He turned his back forever on that far country and his old companions–and turned his face homeward. Doubtless it was with many a tear, with many a bitter feeling of regret for all that had passed–since in so different a spirit he had trodden that path before. Yet onward he trudges with weary heart and weary footstep, in the hope that a place may still be found for him in his father’s house.

Do you ask, What is repentance? I can scarcely better describe it than from the path of this wanderer. It is turning the back . . .
on sin,
on the ways of the world,
on the lusts of the flesh,
on the service of the devil.

And it is turning the face God-ward, Heaven-ward, confessing all that is past, looking upward for grace to live holier, with one single desire–to abide in the fear and love of God.

Please consider spending time with God today repenting of any known sin.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today we will look at 5 characteristics that will help us worship Jesus.

Practically speaking, what must we do to be a Mary, one who worships Jesus?

 Colossians 3:1-14 gives us the answers.

Seek those things which are above V 1

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 V 2-4

² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

 Mortify sin V 5-7

⁵ Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: ⁶ For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: ⁷ In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

 Put off  V 8-9

⁸ But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. ⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Put on V 10-15

¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. ¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. ¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Conclusion

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17)

This is how to live a victorious Christian life and be able to worship Jesus.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

Good morning,

Yesterday, our Midweek Bible class lost another member to relocation. I preached on the Tale of Two Women, Martha and Mary. They chose different ways to relate to Jesus.

Martha chose to confront Jesus about Mary not helping her to serve. Mary was listening to Jesus teach the Word of God. Jesus affirmed that this was needful and Mary had “chosen that good part”. (Luke 10:40-42)

John 11:14, Jesus plainly states to his disciples, “Lazarus is dead.” Four days later when Jesus arrives on the scene, Martha and Mary approach Jesus completely differently.

John 11:20-27, Jesus tells Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life:” She says she believes Him in verse 27, but does not believe that Jesus can bring Lazarus back to life in verse 39 and Jesus rebukes her in verse 40.

Mary, in verse 29, when she heard Jesus was present went quickly to meet Him.  When she saw Him, “…she fell down at His feet…” and she was weeping. (Verses 32, 33) Then Jesus wept. (Verse 35)

Martha was busy with the chores and cares of everyday life. She was hospitable but not well versed in who Jesus was. She lacked faith and reverence for Jesus.

Mary was busy sitting at Jesus feet, learning all she can about Him. She had learned to honor and reverence Jesus. She had a humble spirit.

The question for us is which type of person are we?

Tomorrow, we will look at 5 characteristics that will help us to worship Jesus.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today’s devotion challenges us to think about who we are in Christ and to evaluate our walk with Him.

The True Church!

(George Everard, “The True Church!” 1885)

“For it is we who are the true circumcision . . .
who worship by the Spirit of God,
who glory in Christ Jesus, and
who put no confidence in the flesh.” Philippians 3:3

There is a vast difference between the Church as seen by the eye of man–and by the eye of God.

The Church, as seen by man, is the mixed mass of . . .
the true and the false,
good coin and base,
the genuine and counterfeit people of God.

The Church, as seen by God, is the unmixed company of those whose hearts are right before Him. It is the flock who hear the Shepherd’s voice, and follow in His footsteps. It is those who are cleansed in His blood from guilt, and renewed in the inner man by the working of His Spirit.

In the above passage, we have three distinct marks of God’s people. The Jew gloried in circumcision, and accounted the Church of God to be limited to such as had received this rite. But Paul goes deeper. Those who have but the outward circumcision may be very far from God. But the true circumcision, the circumcision of the Spirit–this marks the Church of the saved.

Then he names three points. And if you would know whether you are a member of the mystical body of Christ, the Church of the living God whose names are written in Heaven–try yourself by these three marks:

1. “Who worship by the Spirit of God.”
Is this your worship?
Are your prayers and praises offered by the aid of the Holy Spirit?
Do you come to God as a child to a tender Father? 
Do your hearty desires go with the words you utter?
Do you thoroughly believe that the ear of God is open to your petition, and do you look for an answer in His own time and way?

2. “Who glory in Christ Jesus.”
Do you glory in Christ as . . .
your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption?
being the Rock, the Resting-place, the Refuge of your soul?
being your great High Priest, your Shepherd, your King, your Redeemer?
the source and spring of your happiness, as well as your salvation and your hope?
Do you glory . . .
  in His changeless love,
in His unshaken fidelity, and
in His Almighty power to save and help?

3. “Who put no confidence in the flesh.” Is this the case with yourself? Have you cast aside all confidence in all that is merely external? Have you learned to put away all confidence in ordinances, duties, church work, and all that is merely on the surface? Have you refused to rely in the least degree on your zeal, or good feelings, or works, or gifts, or self-improvement, or prayers–that to you, Christ alone may be all in all?

Here was Paul’s ground of rejoicing–is it yours?

Are you a member of that Church of God’s true saints, whose marks are such as these?

Good question. Now take time to meditate on this and make your course adjustments.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

God knows each one of us. He has fashioned a life path just for us. The question is how are we doing? Are we following God’s plan or have we wavered over the years. Today we look at a concept little taught or preached about, consistency.

The best sermon that can be preached!

(George Everard, “Consistency!” 1885)

“We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel, unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” Daniel 6:5

It was a noble testimony. Here was Daniel in high position, as a city set on a hill that could not be hidden. He was a sort of governor of the whole kingdom, and more than a hundred lynx-eyed enemies were ever around him, watching to discover some cause of offence in him. Though in a heathen court, temptation must have abounded on every side–yet these bitter foes have to confess that he is blameless in all the matters entrusted to his charge. His foot stands firm in the paths of truth and equity. Nothing of falsehood, nothing of double-dealing, nothing of injustice can be laid to his charge.

Blessed are they who have something of a like spirit! Consistency of life and walk is one of the most effective arguments that can be used to persuade men of the truth of the religion we profess. It is far away the best sermon that can be preached!

But what is consistency? 

It is the whole life in harmony with the revealed will of God in Scripture. It is a constant painstaking effort in everything, to do the will of God.

It is a life which is all one thing. On Monday–as on Sunday, at home–as in society, in the playground–as in the schoolroom, a hundred miles away–as in the place where you live–
keeping a good conscience towards God and man,
hating everything that is corrupt and evil,
living a holy life, and
striving manfully and bravely to do your duty in the station where God has placed you.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven!”Matthew 5:16

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001