Good morning,

What is the basis for our salvation? Is it that we are good people? That we live good moral lives? That we read the Bible? That we go to church? That we keep a set of commandments? No, a thousand times NO! We are saved because God sent His Son Jesus Christ to the cross. Man, being sinful, needed a blood sacrifice for their sin. The Levitical Law provided animal sacrifices. Those sacrifices were temporary. They were continual. When Jesus went to the cross, He shed His perfect blood, once, for the sins of mankind forever. Then He died. End of story? NO! Three days later He arose from the grave, the victor over sin and death, and later ascended to Heaven. This set Jesus apart from any other religious leader. Today J.C. Ryle will expound on this topic.

The lever which has turned the world upside down!

(J.C. Ryle)

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

The cross of Christ is the strength of the minister–it is the heart of the gospel.

I would not preach a sermon without preaching Christ Crucified. I would feel . . .
like a soldier without a weapon,
like an artist without a brush,
like a ship without a rudder,
like a laborer without tools.

Let others, if they will, preach law and morality; let others drench their congregations with baptisms and church laws–but give me the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ!

This is the lever which has turned the world upside down!

This is the only gospel that will cause men to repent and forsake their sins.

This is the only message which can give peace to a troubled soul.

And if the cross of Christ will not do it, nothing will.

A man may begin preaching with a perfect knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew; but he will do his hearers no good unless he experimentally knows Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

A missionary may go forth with compassion for the poor, tenderness for the sick, and pity for the enslaved; but he will never relieve poverty of spirit, sickness of soul, nor bondage of will–unless he takes them the gospel of Christ Crucified.

This is the preaching the Holy Spirit will bless. He honors those who honor Christ Crucified!

This ladies and gentlemen is the message we must take to our dying, sin sick world.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

When we pray do we really expect God to answer? Do we pray fervently, persistently, and patiently? Will we pray till God says “yes”, “no”, or “wait”? Jesus gives us an example of persistent prayer in Luke 11:5-10.

^“5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶ For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? ⁷ And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. ⁸ I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. ⁹ And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ¹⁰ For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Importunity means “earnestness and perseverance in presenting requests to God on behalf of oneself and others; seen in persistent pleading, faithful intercession and bold appeal.” (8653 Dictionary of Bible themes)

The “friend” had an earnest expectation that he would get his bread. He did not quit asking. He had a need and sought a resolution. He knocked on his neighbor’s door till he received his request.

It is our privilege to do the same. We can go to God boldly. However, remember, we must be praying in the will of God. James 4:3 states, “Ye ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts.” We need to pray for others, ourselves, our needs and desires, within Scriptural Bible principles.

It is exciting to watch how God answers prayers. God is still in the business of doing the miraculous. Never be limited in what you ask God to do. Never be surprised when He does it.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

 

 

 

Good morning,

What is your priority in life?  Today we will see the greatest priority of Mary’s. She chose Jesus. When life becomes a burden, choose Jesus. When life collapses, choose Jesus. When all is well, choose Jesus. In every situation in life, whether good or bad, choose Jesus.

Mary’s portion!

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

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

“Only one thing is needed.” Not many things, but one. Not the provision for the table, the food that perishes–but the Bread of Life; for “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Dear reader, one thing is needful for you . . .
the wedding garment to cover you,
the pearl of great price to enrich you,
the water of life to refresh you,
the balm of Gilead to heal you,
the Rock of Ages to shelter you,
the Everlasting arms to uphold you,
the wing of your Redeemer to cover you.

Yes, “one thing is needed;” in a word, Christ! His love, His presence, His grace, His image, His glory! With this, you are rich and happy through eternal ages!

And this was Mary’s portion. This was her rich inheritance. This was the good part which she had chosen, and which would never be taken from her. Her choice was without wavering or hesitation. She could say in truth, “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed. I have one desire, one aim, one deep longing–to know You, to love You, to cleave to You more and more.”

What is your portion? Choose Jesus!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Today’s devotional will help us to remember what the Christian life is about. If we fail to remember these things, act upon them, and be obedient to the Scriptural principles, we will fail to be successful in our walk with Christ.

The Christian should remember that every day he lives

(Hannah More, “Self-Examination”)

The Christian should remember that every day he lives, he has . . .
a God to glorify,
a soul to save,
repentance to perform,
a Savior to believe and imitate,
a body to mortify through the Spirit,
graces and virtues to nurture by earnest prayer,
sins to weep over and forsake,
mercies and deliverances to be thankful for,
a Hell to avoid,
a Paradise to gain,
an eternity to meditate upon,
time to redeem,
a neighbor to edify,
works of charity to perform,
a world to fear, and yet to conquer,
demons to combat,
passions to subdue, and
perhaps, death to suffer, and judgment to undergo!
And all these must be met and performed in the grace of Christ, and not in your own strength, which is perfect weakness.

“Hold me up, and I shall be safe!” Psalm 119:117 

Please read this devotional during a time of quietness and prayer. Pray through each area. Allow God to speak to you.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Welcome to 2016. We enter into a new year of unknowns. We will encounter new experiences, new people, and a new way we must travel. Today’s devotional will explain who can lead us on our way.

Lord, how can we know the way?

(J.R. Miller, “Evening Thoughts” 1907)

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way” John 14:5-6

This is the first day of a new year. We are setting out on a journey of which we can have no knowledge in advance. The road is one on which we never have gone hitherto. We know not what any day will have for us . . .
  what our duties will be,
what burdens shall be laid upon us,
what sorrows we shall have to endure,
what battles we shall have to fight.

“You have never traveled this way before.” Joshua 3:4. We cannot see one step before us! How can we know the way?

As we sit in the quiet, this first evening, and ask the question, we hear an answer which is full of comfort. Jesus says to us, “I am the way!”

All we shall have to do, therefore, will be to follow Jesus. He has made a way through this dark world for us. He has gone over all the journey and opened a road for us at great cost. He went over the way Himself–we shall find His shoe-prints at every step. 

He has a definite way for each one of us. Every mile of the journey He has chosen–and every place where I pitch my tent He has selected for me!

“Leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps!” 1 Peter 2:21

That is a good challenge for us in 2016.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We have completed another year. For some it has been a wonderful prosperous year. For others it has been wrought with trials, tribulations, and heartache. Whichever circumstance we find ourselves in, this year is over. We cannot change the past, but must look forward to the future.

Paul was being harassed by the Judaizers and made this statement in Philippians 3:8-15, “⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; ¹¹ If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. ¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

Paul was not going to live in the past, but was going to “…press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” That should be our goal in 2016.

We should determine to move forward for Jesus Christ. Bible reading and study is a good start. If you have never read the entire Bible, challenge yourself to read it this year. Prioritize church attendance.  Get involved in ministries in your church. Tell someone that you are a Christian and how that happened. If God is calling you to full time ministry, step out in faith.

Then watch God work in your life. It will be SO exciting!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Last week I was asked to visit a man who dying in the hospital. He had no family in this area. His daughter came in from Colorado to be with him. I was unable to speak with the gentleman because he was asleep. The daughter was joyful. Why? She trusted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at the age of 7. For the next 45 years she prayed for the salvation of her father. That prayer was answered the day before.

The Bible tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Paul admonishes us to “…Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Ephesians 6:18)

This man will never be baptized, witness to others, enjoy the sweet fellowship with believers in Christ, read the Holy Scriptures, or view God’s creative works. This man, by trusting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, will soon pass from this world of pain, sorrow, corruption, deceit, worldly sin and will enter heaven and be greeted by His Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. No more sin, pain, sorrow, temptations, but holiness, perfection, beauty, love, and being in the presence of God. All this happened in a moment.

There are 2 things we need to learn from this.

First, persevere in prayer. Never quit praying for the salvation of loved ones. God hears every prayer that a believer prays. He may grant our request, deny our request, or tell us to wait, but continue to pray. This daughter fervently prayed for 45 years. God answered her prayer.

Second, we need to understand salvation is immediate. When someone trusts Christ as their Lord and Savior, they are saved. Certainly, it is our desire for them to be baptized, read and learn the Bible, to obey it, and ultimately to tell others about the Good News of Jesus Christ. This gentleman is saved and will soon be with his Lord Jesus in heaven.

That is cause for great rejoicing. That is why the daughter could rejoice and find encouragement in this time of grief and sadness.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The New Year will bring challenges, heartaches, encouragement, and blessings. God’s word, The Bible, is the source book for what will befall us in 2016. We need to read it, obey it, teach it, and proclaim it. Today’s devotional will encourage us to do that. The Bible states in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “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.”

Search the Scriptures!

(George Everard, “A Talk about the Family Bible” 1878)

The word Bible signifies Book; and when we call it the Bible, we mean that it is the Book of books–the best Book, the wisest Book, the Book that will do us the most good of any in the world!

If all the other books in the world were destroyed, however great and irreparable the loss–if men still had the Bible, they would be far better off than if this were destroyed and all other books remained.

It is the Book that alone can tell . . .
how sin can be forgiven,
how temptation can be overcome,
how trouble and sorrow can be met,
how tears can be wiped away, and
how death can be the gate of everlasting life.

It is indeed the best companion . . .
for days of trial,
for the day of sickness, and
for the hour when we must part from all below!

Oh what a treasure is a well-read Bible! It is . . .
a mine of gold,
a hive full of honey,
a field covered with a rich harvest.
It is a tree of life, of which every twig bears precious fruit.
It is an ocean full of pearls.
It is a river full of the purest water of life.
It is a sun whose beams warm and cheer the heart.
It is a bright star that can guide the pilgrim through the darkest night.
It is a granary stored with the finest of the wheat.
It is a medicine-chest, from which we may find a remedy for every malady of the soul.
It is a Mount Pisgah, from which we can view the promised land of Canaan.
All this and much more, is the Bible to those who love to search it and explore the depths of heavenly wisdom which it contains.

Dear reader, whatever you forget, never, never forget to read something out of this precious Book day by day.

The Scriptures warn against . . .
  the fear of man,
the allurements of worldly pleasures,
the snare of pride, and
the temptation of doubt and unbelief.

Search the Scriptures! Whatever you have done hitherto, begin now to search them daily as for hidden treasures!
Go deep into this precious mine.
Ponder what you read.
Compare one part with another.
Compare the commands and precepts with your own daily life.
Bring its promises to bear on your heart and temptations.

When we read the Scriptures, we should pay good heed to it. There are depths and heights in many of the simplest verses that we can never reach. Therefore we ought to turn them over again and again in our minds. We must mark, learn, and inwardly digest them. A few verses or even a single verse well thought over, and still better, well prayed over–will bring more profit and help than many chapters listlessly or carelessly read!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Heading into the New Year, this devotion will be of help to you.

What is to be our resource in the hour of affliction and sorrow?

(George Everard, “Family Sorrows” 1882)

There is one passage of Scripture that has been to me an anchor of hope and strength in many a dark and sorrowful day, and I desire that it might be cherished in the memory of each reader, and its guidance followed when trouble comes: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” 1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified version)

Go then to the mercy-seat in the Savior’s name, and bring your whole care and sorrow, and leave it at your Father’s footstool.

Consider His Fatherly HEART. “He cares for you.” As a father pities his children, yes “as one whom his mother comforts”–so tenderly does the Lord deal with those who fear Him and trust in Him.

Consider His Fatherly HAND. It is the hand of love that smites. It is the hand that has bestowed our every mercy–which holds the cup of sorrow. It is the same hand that in due season will remove our trials, and lift us up from our depths of distress, and set us again on the rock of safety and peace.

Consider His Fatherly EYE. It is ever upon us for good, and not for evil. He knows our sorrow, and beholds every affliction and calamity that befalls us. “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear Him, upon those who hope in His mercy.”

Consider His Fatherly EAR. He hears every sigh, every moaning, every cry. He bows down and inclines His ear to every petition. “His ear is open to our prayer.”

Consider His Fatherly PURPOSE. Read the twelfth chapter of Hebrews, and see how He wills only our good. He would make us “partakers of His holiness.” He would purify us from the dross of our corruptions, and make us fit for His presence.

Consider His Fatherly PROMISE. He has promised that He will “never leave us nor forsake us.” He has promised that He will make “all things work together for good to those who love Him.” “He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

Ah, Christian, trust yourself wholly to your Father’s care, and He will not disappoint your confidence!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

This week we celebrate Christmas. This is the most important and unique birth of all time. The story of Christmas begins at creation. Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.” John 1:1-3, helps us to understand who was doing the creating. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² The same was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:14 tells us the Word is a person. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The Word is the second person of the trinity, God’s only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

So when God the Father sent His only Son to come to a wicked sinful earth, to dwell among wicked and sinful people, and ultimately shed His Divine blood for man’s sins, it was a tremendous act of love.

Jesus birth represents God’s love for His creation. This birth could have been with great fanfare and rejoicing. God chose a quiet, lonely, humble birth. He did not reveal this birth to the nation’s principal leaders, but to lowly shepherds. Yet the birth of Jesus would change the world forever.

As we read the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20, meditate on the wonder of Jesus birth. Remember the prophetic Scriptures telling the exact details of His birth. Then thank God for His concern and love for fallen sinners and their souls.

WHY JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM (Luke 2:1-5)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. ² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) ³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

JESUS BIRTH (Luke 2:6-7)

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

ANGEL’S ANNOUNCEMENT (Luke 2:8-12)

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

PRAISE FROM THE HEAVENLY HOST (Luke 2:13-14)

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

SHEPHERDS GO TO SEE JESUS (Luke 2:15-16)

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. ¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

SHEPHERDS TESTIFY OF WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN (Luke 2:17-19)

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

SHEPHERDS GLORIFY AND PRAISE GOD (Luke 2:20)

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

APPLICATION

• Before the beginning of time, God the Father knew that one day God the Son would be born on earth
• The birth of Jesus was prophesized long before the event happened
• The announcement was made to lowly shepherds, not the rich and famous
• The shepherds went to see Jesus, testified to what they had seen, and glorified and praised God

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001