Archives for June 2020

Good morning,

Psalm 107:1-32 shows us that problems come to everyone. Four examples are given. The wanderer, the prisoner, the fool, and those who are in a storm. How these problems were dealt with, will be our study this week.

The prisoner (Psalm 107:10-16)

The problem (107:10-12)

Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; ¹¹ Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:¹² Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Their cry (107:13)

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

God’s solution (107:14) (Reference 107:10)

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

Our response should be to praise the Lord for His goodness (107:15)

Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

God’s solution (107:16) (Reference 107:10)

For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

It is inconceivable to me why anyone who knows God and His word would rebel against it.

The greatest rebel is Satan.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!¹³ For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.¹⁵ Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14:12-15)

He was created by God. He was the chief angel. When he rebelled, he took with him one-third of the heavenly host with him.

When we rebel against God and His word, we are following what Satan did.

What we need to do is follow God and His word.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)

“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 wants our obedience not our rebellion.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Psalm 107:1-32 shows us that problems come to everyone. Four examples are given. The wanderer, the prisoner, the fool, and those who are in a storm. How these problems were dealt with, will be our study this week.

The Wanderer (Psalm 107:4-9)

The problem (107:4-5)

“They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.⁵ Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

Their cry (107:6)

⁶ Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

God’s solution (107:7) (Reference 107:4)

⁷ And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Our response should be to praise the Lord for His goodness (107:8)

⁸ Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

God’s Solution (107:9) (Reference to 107:5)

⁹ For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

There are times in our lives when we wander. We have no clear direction where we are going or why.

It may because we chose to walk away from God. God’s word, the bible, gives us God’s direction. When we do not read it or read it and fail to obey it, we have no clear direction from God.

Then there God’s tests in our lives. God brings tests to help us grow closer to Him. In the depth of the trial, Job never cursed God.

God knows what we are going through. He also knows how it ends. But it does not always end the way we want.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:5)

Whatever the outcome, we are to praise God for His goodness.

The key is not to be a wanderer. Stay close to God. Rely on the Bible for your direction in life. Allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to lead you.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Psalm 107:1-32 shows us that problems come to everyone. Four examples are given. The wanderer, the prisoner, the fool, and those who are in a storm. How these problems were dealt with, will be our study this week.

The Psalmist begins with a reminder that the Lord is good, merciful, redeemer, and gatherer for His redeemed people.

Psalm 107:1-3

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.² Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;³ And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.”

The Bible has many references to the characteristics of God. Here we see that He is good.

“To say that God is good means that God always acts in accordance to what is right, true, and good. Goodness is part of God’s nature, and He cannot contradict His nature. Holiness and righteousness are part of God’s nature; He cannot do anything that is unholy or unrighteous. God is the standard of all that is good.” (www.gotquestions.org/God-is-good.html)

His mercy endureth forever. God’s unmerited favor.

He has enough to go around. This phrase is used 35 times in the Bible.

“God’s mercy means His pity, compassion, and kindness toward people. His mercy shows up in the believer’s life at salvation, and then God continues to show mercy in forgiveness. Mercy triumphs over judgment but refusing God’s mercy is disastrous.” (Dawn Wilson, Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer)

He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.

Redeem is wider in its application than ransom, and means to buy back, regain possession of, or exchange for money, goods, etc.: to redeem one’s property. To ransom is to redeem a person from captivity by paying a stipulated price, or to redeem from sin by sacrifice: to ransom a kidnapped child. (www.dictionary.com)

And gathered them…

Gathered means bring together and take in from scattered places or sources.

So knowing all these things about the Lord, we should give Him thanks. The question is, “Do we?” We know who God is and what He has done for us through our salvation, but do we ever sit back and contemplate how great a God we serve. If not, we should.

We owe our very existence to God. Without His mercy, love, and compassion, we would still be unsaved and headed for an eternity in hell.

Tomorrow, we will begin our study of the four problems and how each was dealt with.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Psalm 32 speaks of sin, repentance, protection, and mercy.

We all sin. It is what we do with our sin that is important. Do we repent or continue to rebel? Depending on the answer to that question, God will either chastise or bless us. If we are willing to acknowledge our sin, confess it to God, and repent of it, God will forgive our sin.

David is a good example of what to do with sin.  In Psalm 51:13 David said, “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”

David teaches about sin from his own unique perspective. This is his first person account.

The results of sin (1-4)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

Acknowledgment (repentance) of sin (5-6)

5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

The Lord is our hiding place, instructor, and guide (7-8)

7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Stubbornness results in sorrow (9-10)

9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

How should we react? (11)

11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

David helps us to see how to deal with our sin. 

It is God’s desire that we live Godly lives free from sin. Although we will not, if we deal with it appropriately, according to God’s word, He will forgive us. Then we will be in fellowship with God and available to serve in whatever capacity He chooses.

What a blessing!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning, 

King David was a great man. He wrote many of the Psalms, was a leader of men, and God testified of him, “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill my will.” But David had a darker side. This week we will be looking at the circumstances that led up to David writing Psalm 51.

Today we will look at David’s Changed Focus (Psalm 51:13-19).

The result of David’s repentance is action. He desires to help people by teaching God’s word, helping them to understand salvation, telling of God’s righteousness, and praise to God. He teaches them that God desires the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart.

When we have sinned and repented, is this how we show our love for our Savior?

Results of getting right with God (13-19)

¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. ¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. ¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. ¹⁶ For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

CONCLUSION

Be at your appointed place

Be careful what you look at

Do not allow temptation to become sin

Cover ups are always exposed by God

The punishment of sin is always greater than the enjoyment of the sin

Repent

Seek God’s mercy

Continue to minister for God

This has been a practical set of lessons that impacts us each day. Please meditate on these four devotionals and ask God what He wants you to do.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning, 

King David was a great man. He wrote many of the Psalms, was a leader of men, and God testified of him, “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill my will.” But David had a darker side. This week we will be looking at the circumstances that led up to David writing Psalm 51.

Today we will look at David’s Repentance (Psalm 51:1-12).

David’s heart is broken. He comes with a humble and repentant heart before God.  He seeks reconciliation, mercy, and cleansing. He requests that God would restore to him a clean heart, gladness, and the joy of his salvation.

As you read these verses feel the heartache David is expressing. 

David’s Repentance  

Psalm 51:1-12

Repentance and request for mercy (1-4)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. ² Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. ⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Shapen in iniquity (5-6)

⁵ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. ⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Request for cleansing, joy, gladness, clean heart, God’s presence, the Holy Spirit, joy of salvation (7-12)

⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. ⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. ¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

CHALLENGE

Unconfessed sin will cause you to wither away. We must deal with unconfessed sin in the same way David did. REPENT and sincerely, humbly, come to the foot of the cross and allow Jesus to deal with our sin. First John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

David’s prayer in Psalm 51 helps us to see what it means to repent and humble ourselves before God.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning, 

King David was a great man. He wrote many of the Psalms, was a leader of men, and God testified of him, “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill my will.” But David had a darker side. This week we will be looking at the circumstances that led up to David writing Psalm 51.

We will look at David’s Sin Revealed (2 Samuel 12:1-13), David’s Repentance (Psalm 51:1-12), David’s Changed Focus (Psalm 51:13-19), and David’s teaching on sin.

David thought he got away with his cover-up. Uriah is dead, Bathsheba is now David’s wife, and they have a child on the way. All is well. 

God knew what David had done and now his sin was to be revealed. God sends Nathan to tell David a story. The story helps David realize his sin. Sin has consequences.  Verses 8-13 tell what happens to David and his family.

DAVID’S SIN REVEALED AND PUNISHED

2 Samuel 12:1-13

Story of the rich man and the lamb (1-6)

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

² The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: ³ But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. ⁴ And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. ⁵And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: ⁶ And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

Nathan declares, “…Thou art the man…” (7)

⁷And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Punishment (8-13)

⁸ And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. ⁹ Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. ¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. ¹¹ Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. ¹² For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. ¹³ And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

If you believe that there are no consequences to sin, let’s look at what happened to David. First, the illegitimate child dies (12:18). Second, his daughter Tamar was raped (13:11-14). Third, his son Amnon would be murdered (13:28). Fourth, his son Absalom would rebel and lie with his father’s wives in public (16:22) and would be killed in the rebellion.

The penalty for the actions of David was DEATH. God shows forth His mercy by not requiring David’s life. Then God allows David to continue to reign as King. 

That means that if we are willing to confess our sins, repent, God is NOT through using us. He still has a mission for us. Our service for God is never finished till we are dead. God uses all yielded vessels for His glory.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

King David was a great man. He wrote many of the Psalms, was a leader of men, and God testified of him, “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill my will.” But David had a darker side. This week we will be looking at the circumstances that led up to David writing Psalm 51.

We will look at David’s Sin (2 Samuel 11:1-27), David’s Sin Revealed (2 Samuel 12:1-13), David’s Repentance (Psalm 51:1-12), David’s Changed Focus (Psalm 51:13-19), and David’s teaching concerning sin (Psalm 32:1-11).

What happened to David can happen to any of us. We must be aware and vigilant to resist the Devil’s attacks.

DAVID’S SIN (2 Samuel 11:1-27)

Lust of the eyes (1-2)

“…from the roof he saw a woman washing herself;…”

Lust of the flesh, adultery (3-5)

“And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.   And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.” (4-5)

The cover-up Uriah the righteous man (6-13)

“And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.” (11)

The death of Uriah (14-17)

“And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.” (17)

Report to David (18-25)

Bathsheba mourns (26)

David takes Bathsheba as his wife (27)

“And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.”

David’s problem began when he failed to be where God wanted him. He was the King and should have been with his men at the battle. If he was there, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

What happens next began in the Garden of Eden and we are susceptible to Satan’s temptation today. We see something, covet it, and take it. Then we must cover our tracks. However, God sees everything. Proverbs 15:3 states, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” So we will be found out. And as we will see later in the week, sin has consequences.

CAUTION:

If you are supposed to be at a particular place, for the service of God, be there. Satan wants to distract you from anything to do with God. When he does then he can tempt you to do evil.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We all like to hear good news. This devotion has much good news in it. Read and be encouraged.

Good News for Pilgrims!

(Don Fortner)

Here is good news for weary, heavy-hearted pilgrims from our homeland in Heaven. Do you have heartaches and troubles too numerous to count? It will do you good to receive some good news from home.

The Lord our God is still on His throne.

Our Savior is still in Heaven, preparing a place for you, representing you, interceding for you.

There are many in Heaven just like you and me already. There is . . .
  a fallen David there,
  a doubting Thomas there,
  an angry Moses there,
  a feeble Philip there,
  an impetuous Peter there,
  and a righteous Lot there.
All are there by grace alone, through the merits of Christ’s blood and righteousness.

And, soon, the Lord Jesus Christ will come again to take you there!

John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” 
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Rejoice that soon we will be in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a glorious day that will be.

Are you ready?

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:10-11)

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

“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)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“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:” (John 1:12)

The good news of the gospel is this:

“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.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Accept Jesus Christ by faith today!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Patience is not an attribute common among men and women in today’s culture. James Smith tells us why it is important to be patient.

Patient waiting

(James Smith, “The Believer’s Companion in Seasons of Affliction and Trouble” 1842)

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:25

Patience supposes trials, difficulties, and burdens–it is a grace of which we have much need on earth.

The objects of our hope are . . .
  all future,
  all good, and
  all promised.

There is not an evil, but we hope to be one day rid of!
There is not a blessing, but we hope one day to enjoy it!

This present world is a land of hope.
Heaven is a land of fruition.

The highest object of our hope is perfect holiness, exact conformity to the Lord Jesus Christ–to be brought to such a state, that we shall glorify our God in every desire, thought, feeling, and action.

We hope for the period when we shall say:
farewell sickness–welcome perpetual health;
farewell sorrow–welcome everlasting joy;
farewell sin–welcome perfect purity;
farewell ignorance–welcome perfect knowledge;
farewell desertion–welcome the eternal presence of my God;
farewell death–welcome everlasting life!

Do we hope for these things? Then let us patiently wait for them.

The blessings we expect are worth waiting for–they are laid up for us in Heaven!
Faith believes the message respecting them,
hope longs to be put in possession,
love incites to grateful acknowledgments and holy walking,
ardent desire wants immediate enjoyment–
but patience is willing to wait. Her language is, “All the days of my appointed time I will wait, until my change comes.”

Seasons of trouble seem long; but what are the longest seasons compared with eternity–an eternity of perfect blessedness?

Patient waiting insures an enlarged experience of Jehovah’s love and goodness. Your present journey will lead you to a place of repose, “where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” Your troubles will end well–everlastingly well!
   ~  ~  ~  ~

Are we willing to patiently wait?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001