Archives for April 2018

Good morning,

We need internal illumination!

(Archibald Alexander, 1772-1851)

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)

A genuine Christian is not only taught out of the Word, but by the Holy Spirit. External teaching, however correct, is not sufficient. We need internal illumination by the Spirit. Not that this divine Instructor teaches anything different from the Word. No! He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto us. He is the Spirit of truth and will guide the disciples into all truth.

What are some of the lessons which the Spirit teaches? 

1. The Spirit teaches us the worth of the soul.

2. The Spirit teaches us the value of time.

3. The Spirit teaches us to venerate the holy Scriptures as the infallible rule to guide our faith and practice.

4. The Spirit teaches us of our ruined and condemned state. He gives the soul a glimpse of indwelling sin–by which it is convinced of its total depravity. Oh, what a multitude of evils! What a fountain of impurity! What a mass of corruption! The heart is found to be deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. There is found nothing in it truly good.

5. The Spirit teaches us to prize Christ above all. “To you who believe–He is precious.” The disciple treasures Jesus as . . .
his infallible Prophet,
his sovereign King,
his sin-atoning Priest.

6. The Spirit teaches us to roll all our burdens on the Lord, and to live outside of ourselves–by daily desiring vital supplies from Christ.

7. The Spirit teaches us the beauty of holiness.

8. The Spirit teaches us the reality and sweetness of communion with God. While many are contented to worship in the outward court–the Christian desires to penetrate into the holy of holies, where he can hear the words, and see the resplendent face of Immanuel.
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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Israel are God’s chosen people. They were blessed by God, given His promises, covenants, and leadership. This was a picture for what was to come.

The fulfillment came in the person of Jesus Christ. God’s perfect lamb, who paid the penalty for man’s sin, once for all.

Read today’s devotion with this in mind.

Surely God is good to Israel–to those who are pure in heart!

(“Every Day!” Author unknown, 1872)

“Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD!” Deuteronomy 33:29

Were God’s ancient people distinguished among all nations for their privileges and blessings? Then much more happy are God’s spiritual Israel. They are redeemed from a viler slavery than that of Egypt, and with a more glorious manifestation of power and grace.

Believers now have not the tabernacle in the wilderness, nor the temple at Jerusalem–but they have all the precious realities typified by them. They are not mere outer-court worshipers, but have access to the Holy of holies through the blood of the Lamb.

They are not fed with the manna of the desert, but with “the True Bread of Heaven.”

They do not drink of the waters of the rock of Horeb, but of the river of life flowing from the Rock, Christ Jesus.

They do not have in prospect an earthly Canaan, but a heavenly city, whose builder and Maker is God.

They do not have a temporal inheritance–but an incorruptible, undefiled and unfading inheritance!

Israel of old had the shadows, Christians now have the substance.

“Surely God is good to Israel–to those who are pure in heart!” Psalm 73:1
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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

A universal truth is that all have sinned.

What does sin mean to us?

Today’s devotional will help define sin for us.

A cheat, a deceiver, and a destroyer!

(C.D. Cole)

Sin is an obvious fact of experience, of observation, and of Scripture revelation.

I feel it in my own heart–and I see in others, even in my best friends and loved ones.

The policeman pursues it,
the physician prescribes for it,
the law reveals it,
conscience condemns it,
God surely punishes it,
and yet nobody likes to own it!

As a matter of fact–sin is all that anyone really owns; he is merely a steward of everything else he may possess. As obvious as sin is, there is a proneness to treat it like some folks treat their trashy relatives–it is ignored and even denied.

Sin may be defined–but it cannot be fully explained. How sin got started in the universe, is a profound mystery. It had no place in the original creation, which God pronounced good. Sin is a parasite, an interloper in the moral system, and a terrible monstrosity. Sin made its appearance on earth in a garden of delights–and then it turned this fair earth into a wilderness of woe! In the original creation we read only of Heaven and earth–but after sin entered, we are told of everlasting fire prepared for the Devil, his demons, and all the unrepentant.

Sin is a cheat, a deceiver, and a destroyer!

It promises pleasure–and pays off in pain!

It promises life–and pays off in death and damnation!

It promises profit–and pays off in poverty, and the loss of all good!

Every sin is committed for profit or pleasure. Nobody would sin if he did not think that it would profit in some form or other. There is some profit in sin–but it is short-lived.

Moses took a long look and made the wise choice. He chose to suffer affliction with the people of God–rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. He esteemed the reproach of Christ to be greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. He chose in view of the day of judgment.

Sin is dangerous beyond expression and description. Sin is violation of the moral law of God–and violated divine law cries out for just retribution. Sin is against God, the Judge of all the earth–and must be accounted for before God.

Human society may and often does punish crime–but only God can punish sin. At times, human society may fail to punish the criminal–but God will not fail to punish the sinner who is without a Savior.

All crime against men–is also sin against God.
But not all sin against God–is a crime against men.

Human society punishes men for what they do–but God also punishes men for what they are.

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

Good morning,

Tenderly and graciously does He deal with us!

(Francis Bourdillon, “A Psalm of Blessing!” 1864)

“For He knows how weak we are–He remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone–as though we had never been here! But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:14-17

The shortness and uncertainty of our lives–our weakness, frailty, and sinfulness–God knows them all. Tenderly and graciously does He deal with us! In His great mercy and compassion, He . . .
bears with us;
raises us when we fall;
strengthens us when we are weak; and
helps, guides, sustains and comforts us.

He has . . .
a perfect knowledge of our needs,
an unspeakable compassion for them,
and full power to supply them all.

His mercy is everlasting. It will never wear out–and never come to an end.

As for us, we are frail and short-lived. Let but a few years pass, and . . .
the strongest will have fallen to the scythe of death,
the longest-lived will have all passed away, and
our own course here below will have come to a close.
“Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone–as though we had never been here!”

Not so is the mercy of the Lord, and the things which He has prepared for those who love Him. They are from everlasting to everlasting. His promises will never fail. Jesus is . . .
an all-sufficient Savior,
an unfailing Advocate,
an everlasting portion!

Well may every believer join with the Psalmist in rejoicing and praising God,
“Praise the LORD, O my soul–all my inmost being, praise His holy name!
Praise the LORD, O my soul–and do not forget all His benefits!” Psalm 103:1-2

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will begin a study of the book of Galatians.

Attached is a synopsis of the book and lesson one.

Download (Galatians-synopsis.docx, DOCX, 51KB)

Download (Galatians-1.docx, DOCX, 15KB)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Carl Heinrich von Bogatzky was a hymn writer born in 1690. He ministered to orphans. He taught them about Jesus.

This is part of what he taught them.

Abiding in Christ!

(Carl Heinrich von Bogatzky, “A Golden Treasury for the Children of God” 1718)

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine–so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4

To abide in Christ, who is our righteousness and strength–is the very life and power of Christianity. We are in this happy state, when . . .
our thoughts are going out after Him,
our hearts are cleaving to Him, and
our minds are staying upon Him.
To abide in Him brings peace and joy, and strength to overcome sin and the world–which believers renounce the more readily, as they have found something better in Christ.

Abiding in Him, believers . . .
look to Christ for all,
go to Christ with all, and
depend on Christ through all.
Thus they abide in Jesus–and Jesus abides in them.

May the Lord give me grace, likewise, immovably to abide in Him. Then I shall . . .
conquer sin,
overcome the world,
and always triumph in Christ.
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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

God has a plan for all things. This plan began before the creation of time.

Today’s devotion helps explain this.

This is not a world of chance–it is our Father’s world! 

(J.R. Miller)

“For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” Ephesians 1:4-5

“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Ephesians 1:11

This is not a world of chance–it is our Father’s world! Events do not happen without divine order and direction. There is a great divine plan running through the ages–which includes all things and subordinates all forces and all experiences to itself. Our Scripture passages above are full of this great thought.

We will never fully understand these great truths, with their tremendous reach of meaning. We may say, however, at least, that they assure us of a divine plan for the elect–a divine love, a divine purpose of mercy, dating from the infinite past–and running through the eternal ages to come!

All of the elect are eternally secure in Christ the Redeemer!

“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.” Romans 8:33-34

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Trusting God in every situation should be the goal of all believers.

Psalm 25:1-6, reveals David’s prayer of trust in God.

“Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.² O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.³ Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.⁴ Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.⁵ Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.⁶ Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses; for they have been ever of old.”

First, David directs his prayer to God.

“…I lift up my soul.”

“…I trust in thee:”

Second, He makes several requests.

“…let me not be ashamed,…”

“…let none that wait on thee be ashamed:”

Third, He requests God to work in his life.

“Shew me thy ways…”

“…teach me thy paths.”

“Lead me in thy truth,…”

“…teach me:…”

Fourth, He acknowledges who God is.

“…thou art the God of my salvation;…”

Fifth, David’s response.

“…on thee do I wait all the day.”

This is a picture of what we as believers in Christ should be doing. If we will follow David’s example, we will grow closer to God. Then when times of trouble come, we will go directly to God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

I wrote about God’s all-seeing eye. If He sees everything, would it not make sense that He would also be looking for the best interest of His children?

God has a plan for each of our lives. He is working it out today in each of us. Each plan is different and unique to the individual involved. Although we may not understand what God is doing, remember He has a purpose in all that He does.

We have the unspeakable consolation!

(James Buchanan, “Comfort in Affliction” 1837)

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all–how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32

We have the unspeakable consolation of knowing that the same divine and compassionate Redeemer who suffered, and bled, and died on for us–has the entire management of our affairs; and that nothing can happen in the course of providence, which is not appointed by Him “Who loved us and gave Himself for us!”

In proportion to our persuasion of His love for us, should be our confidence in His government over us. And what proof of sincerity, or what pledge of love, can we desire–which is not given by His past dealings on our behalf? If He died for us on the cruel cross—then certainly He will now, when all things are put under His power, “make all things work together for our good!”

We may rest assured that the love which He manifested for us on earth, is but a pledge of the love which He still bears to us–and that He will neither forget nor forsake us, until He has accomplished the grand end of His mission, by our deliverance from all evil, and our joyful entrance into the glorious kingdom of Heaven!

Oh! how cheering to know, that amidst the joys of Heaven–Jesus has not forgotten any one of His “little flock” for whom He suffered in the garden and on the cross!

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Last week we looked at Passover. This week we will look at the resurrection.

The resurrection changed everything.  Jesus died for our sins and was buried. If that were the end of the story, we would all be lost and separated from God. Without the resurrection, there is no salvation.

There are many dead prophets buried across the world. There is only one, prophet, priest, and king, who died, was buried, and three days later rose from the dead. Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel.

Resurrection

John 19:30, 38-42, Matthew 28:1-10, 16-17, 18-20

Jesus Death John 19:30 (Read 19:14-30)

³⁰ When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus is Buried John 19:38-42

³⁸ And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.³⁹ And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight.⁴⁰ Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. ⁴² There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulcher was nigh at hand.

He is Risen Matthew 28:1-10

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.² And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.³ His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:⁴ And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.⁵ And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.⁶ He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.⁷ And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.⁸ And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.⁹ And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.¹⁰ Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Disciples Worship Jesus Matthew 28:16-17

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.¹⁷ And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

Jesus tells the Disciples to Go and Teach ALL Nations Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Resurrection Changes Everything 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, 13-18

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.

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: ¹⁴ And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. ¹⁵ Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. ¹⁶ For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: ¹⁷ And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ¹⁸ Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

ACTION POINTS:

• Serve Christ as did Joseph and Nicodemus
• Seek Jesus as did Mary Magdalene
• Worship and fear Jesus as did the women and disciples
• Witness for Jesus as He commanded
• Teach others God’s word as he commanded
• Without the Resurrection your faith is in vain
• REMEMBER: Jesus is always with you

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001