Archives for 2019

Good morning,

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalm 27:14)

This was the position of Israel after the exodus from Egypt. They rebelled against God and God made them wander in the desert 40 years. Moses also rebelled and would not be going into the “Promised Land”.

God chooses Joshua to lead Israel into the “Promised Land”.

Moses and God each give Joshua a charge.

God then gives Joshua a promise, command, and warning.

This week we will look at each of these.

Moses charge to Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:1-8)

“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.² And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.³ The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.⁴ And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.⁵ And the Lord shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.⁶ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.⁷ And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.⁸ And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

There are two key elements here. First, God is doing this. See the action words telling what God will do. Second, because God is doing this, God commands Joshua to be strong, courageous, and not to fear. God assures Joshua that He will be with him and not leave him.

The same God that led Joshua into the “Promised Land”, is the same God that leads us. Are we strong, courageous, and fearless in the Lord? Remember what Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We should be.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will end one year and begin another.

“Happy New Year” will be the greeting of choice.

How do we have a Happy New Year?

This week I will show you.

Today, we look at the word Year. Each letter represents an action we can take to have a successful 2019.

YEAR

Yield your members to righteousness. (Romans 6:11-16)

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.¹⁵ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Exercise yourself in godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)

“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

Aim at sinless perfection. (Hebrews 6:1)

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

Redeem the time. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

CONCLUSION

Happy New Year

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we will end one year and begin another.

“Happy New Year” will be the greeting of choice.

How do we have a Happy New Year?

This week I will show you.

Today, we look at the word New. Each letter represents an action we can take to have a successful 2019.

Then we will look at Year.

NEW

Neglect not your talents and opportunities. (Galatians 6:9-10)

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Examine yourself daily. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Work diligently for the lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

INTRODUCTION

HAPPY

Hold fast to your faith (Hebrews 4:14)

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”

Assemble with the saints (Hebrews 10:24-25)

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Pray earnestly every day. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18)

“Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Pray for great blessings. (Malachi 3:10)

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Yield not to temptation. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

NEW

Neglect not your talents and opportunities. (Galatians 6:9-10)

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Examine yourself daily. (2 Corinthians 13:5)

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

Work diligently for the lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

YEAR

Yield your members to righteousness. (Romans 6:11-16)

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.¹⁵ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Exercise yourself in godliness. (1 Timothy 4:7)

“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

Aim at sinless perfection. (Hebrews 6:1)

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

Redeem the time. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

CONCLUSION

Happy New Year

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001