Good morning,

God chose the nation of Israel as His people. He gave them specific instructions on how to live life. He explained to them the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. He sent His Prophets to warn them.

They failed to listen. They chose to rebel against God. Jeremiah had the unenviable task of proclaiming the truth to them one more time. Israel refused to obey. Ultimately, the consequence was the destruction of the temple, Jerusalem, and 70 years in Babylonian captivity.

But as there are two sides to every coin, there is also two sides to every issue. What would have happened if Israel had obeyed?

What about the United States? What have we chosen to do? Follow God or follow this ungodly world?

7) In God we trust

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. (Proverbs 3:1-15)

In whom does the United States trust? Is she willing to give up the eternal blessings of God for the temporary pleasures of this world?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

God chose the nation of Israel as His people. He gave them specific instructions on how to live life. He explained to them the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. He sent His Prophets to warn them.

They failed to listen. They chose to rebel against God. Jeremiah had the unenviable task of proclaiming the truth to them one more time. Israel refused to obey. Ultimately, the consequence was the destruction of the temple, Jerusalem, and 70 years in Babylonian captivity.

But as there are two sides to every coin, there is also two sides to every issue. What would have happened if Israel had obeyed?

What about the United States? What have we chosen to do? Follow God or follow this ungodly world?

5) God’s command to Jeremiah

Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. (Jeremiah 7:16)

 Will then United States be brought under the same command?

6)  Israel’s opportunity to repent and be blessed

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Will the United States repent of their wickedness and allow God to bless them?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

God chose the nation of Israel as His people. He gave them specific instructions on how to live life. He explained to them the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. He sent His Prophets to warn them.

They failed to listen. They chose to rebel against God. Jeremiah had the unenviable task of proclaiming the truth to them one more time. Israel refused to obey. Ultimately, the consequence was the destruction of the temple, Jerusalem, and 70 years in Babylonian captivity.

But as there are two sides to every coin, there is also two sides to every issue. What would have happened if Israel had obeyed?

What about the United States? What have we chosen to do? Follow God or follow this ungodly world?

2 Sides of the same coin

Jeremiah 6, 7, 8

INTRODUCTION:  QUARTER

1) Israel rejects God’s way

 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. (Jeremiah 6:16-19)

United States also rejects God’s ways.  God will and is bringing evil upon our land. 

2) Israel refuses to obey God’s voice

 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:23-24)

United States refuses to obey the voice of God, given through the evangelist and preachers.

3) Israel is not ashamed

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them. (Jeremiah 8:12-13)

United States is not ashamed to allow immorality, murder and killing innocent unborn babies.  God will consume us.

4) Israel provokes God to anger

Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? (Jeremiah 8:19)

United States has provoked God to anger with worship of sports, recreation, power, toys.

5) God’s command to Jeremiah

Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. (Jeremiah 7:16)

 Will then United States be brought under the same command?

6)  Israel’s opportunity to repent and be blessed

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Will the United States repent of their wickedness and allow God to bless them?

7) In God we trust

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. (Proverbs 3:1-15)

In whom does the United States trust? Is she willing to give up the eternal blessings of God for the temporary pleasures of this world?

CONCLUSION:

WHICH SIDE OF THE COIN ARE YOU?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

God chose the nation of Israel as His people. He gave them specific instructions on how to live life. He explained to them the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. He sent His Prophets to warn them.

They failed to listen. They chose to rebel against God. Jeremiah had the unenviable task of proclaiming the truth to them one more time. Israel refused to obey. Ultimately, the consequence was the destruction of the temple, Jerusalem, and 70 years in Babylonian captivity.

But as there are two sides to every coin, there is also two sides to every issue. What would have happened if Israel had obeyed?

What about the United States? What have we chosen to do? Follow God or follow this ungodly world?

3) Israel is not ashamed

Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them. (Jeremiah 8:12-13)

United States is not ashamed to allow immorality, murder and killing innocent unborn babies.  God will consume us.

4) Israel provokes God to anger

Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities? (Jeremiah 8:19)

United States has provoked God to anger with worship of sports, recreation, power, toys.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

God chose the nation of Israel as His people. He gave them specific instructions on how to live life. He explained to them the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. He sent His Prophets to warn them.

They failed to listen. They chose to rebel against God. Jeremiah had the unenviable task of proclaiming the truth to them one more time. Israel refused to obey. Ultimately, the consequence was the destruction of the temple, Jerusalem, and 70 years in Babylonian captivity.

But as there are two sides to every coin, there is also two sides to every issue. What would have happened if Israel had obeyed?

What about the United States? What have we chosen to do? Follow God or follow this ungodly world?

1) Israel rejects God’s way

 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. (Jeremiah 6:16-19)

United States also rejects God’s ways.  God will and is bringing evil upon our land. 

2) Israel refuses to obey God’s voice

 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. (Jeremiah 7:23-24)

United States refuses to obey the voice of God, given through the evangelist and preachers.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This devotion reminds us what God has done for us. It tells of His love, devotion, and power. It is God centered. We need to thank God every day for His goodness to us!

God-pardoned, God-reconciled, Sin-delivered, God-arrayed, Heaven-entitled souls!

(Archibald Brown, “What Christ Has Done for Me!” 1872)  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul!” Psalm 66:16

No one word can fully express all that God has done for my soul, though in general it may be described as saved. Saved! Ah, that is a grand word worthy of being written in letters of gold! A saved soul includes many things–I can only mention them:

1. A saved soul is a God-pardoned soul. All its sins are forgiven, and its iniquities are drowned in that deluge of pardoning love that rises high above the topmost peaks of all its mountain sins!

2. A saved soul is a God-reconciled soul. Once at enmity, God and the sinner are now at peace. All differences are at an end. The prodigal sinner has been embraced and kissed by the father. The rebel has thrown down his weapons, and bent his knee to the Monarch–and the Monarch has raised him up, and with a smile of love, has put him among His children. If I may so express it, God and the sinner have met and shaken hands beneath the shadow of the cross! They are at at-one-ment there.

3. A saved soul is also a sin-delivered soul. This is something more than pardon, or reconciliation. It is a higher blessing. Pardon remits the punishment of sin, but leaves the guilt of sin. But justification acquits the person of every charge. Believer, your sins are not merely forgiven–but they are done away with, put out of sight, removed from you as far as the remotest east is from the extreme west! In the eye of God, you are as guiltless as His spotless Son! “You are altogether beautiful, My love; there is no flaw in you!” Song of Songs 4:7

4. A saved soul is also a God-arrayed soul. This is higher still. The former blessing was a negation of guilt, this is a possession of righteousness. A righteousness, mark you, that is not capable of improvement, but a righteousness that is superlative in its quality–it is the righteousness of God Himself! A saved soul, even to the omniscient eye of Deity, is not only without spot or wrinkle or any such thing–but it is altogether lovely and glorious, robed in the splendor of “Jehovah Tsidkenu”–“The Lord our Righteousness!”

5. A saved soul is a Heaven-entitled soul. This crowns all. Not merely am I delivered from Hell, but in my hand is placed a title-deed to eternal glory! This is no fiction or flight of imagination, but a blessed fact. Possessed by every saint, is a title to Heaven that God Himself will declare to be valid to all eternity.

Now believer, if all these things are included in what God has done for our souls, then did I not say rightly that many words were necessary to describe the work? Let us then, as God-pardoned, God-reconciled, Sin-delivered, God-arrayed, Heaven-entitled souls–call on all, far and near, to come and listen to our joyous tale.

God looks upon His redeemed people as the masterpieces of His love and power; and He will before assembled worlds exhibit us as the grandest trophies Heaven contains!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

It is amazing what God has done for us. This devotion plus the “Something to ponder” should be an encouragement to all of us.

Christ takes the garbage!

(Charles Spurgeon)  LISTEN to audio!  Download audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.)

Jewelers can only prepare and polish the choicest diamonds.
But Jesus Christ polishes a common pebble, and makes a jewel of it!

Jewelers make their precious treasures, out of precious materials.
Christ makes His precious things, out of dross!

He always begins with bad material. Christ takes . . .
  the despicable,
  the vilest,
  the scum,
  the off-scouring,
  the filth,
  the garbage of the world,
and out of such stuff and matter as that, He builds up a holy temple, and gathers to Himself trophies for His honor and praise!

“Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
And that is what some of you were! But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

 ~  ~  ~  ~

Something to ponder
Don Fortner: “All true doctrine entirely rests upon the Word of God–upon the plain statements of Holy Scripture; and not upon history, religious creeds, religious traditions; or human inferences, logic or reason of any kind.”

~  ~  ~  ~

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Salvation is the first act of obedience for all individuals. Second is baptism. Scriptural baptism is by immersion and pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But what does that mean in the life of a believer?

Romans 6 answers that question. Verses 1-15 teach us about what baptism means to us. When we received Christ as Savior and were baptized, we identified ourselves with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. That means we are dead to sin, we walk in newness of life, and are freed from the dominion of sin. Do we still sin? Yes, but that is not our lifestyle. We repent and move on.

Romans 6:16-23 deal with yielding and its results.

God made us with a “free will”. That means we are able to choose to do right or wrong. We may yield ourselves to righteousness or wickedness. We will be servants to whomever we choose. Each choice has a consequence. The two choices are righteousness, resulting in eternal life with Christ in Heaven or wickedness, resulting in death and separation from God for all eternity in Hell.

Read and reflect on what Jesus has done for us.

ROMANS 6

For he that is dead is freed from sin. (6:7)

INTRODUCTION Identification

1) Believers must die to sin and live to Christ (6:1-2)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ² God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

2) Believers identify with Christ in baptism (6:3-10)

³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

3) Believers are made alive unto God through Christ Jesus (6:11-15)

¹¹ 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.

4) Believers are freed from dominion of sin (6:16-20)

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? ¹⁷ But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. ¹⁸ Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. ¹⁹ I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. ²⁰ For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

5) The end of sin is death and of holiness everlasting life (6:21-23)

²¹ What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. ²² But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The choice is ours. Life or death.

CHOOSE LIFE

CONCLUSION

• Christ died for us
• Through baptism we identify with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection
• We no longer yield to sin
• Sin no longer has dominion over us because we are dead to sin
• We have everlasting life

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

God made us with a “free will”. That means we are able to choose to do right or wrong. We may yield ourselves to righteousness or wickedness. We will be servants to whomever we choose. Each choice has a consequence. The two choices are righteousness, resulting in eternal life with Christ in Heaven or wickedness, resulting in death and separation from God for all eternity in Hell.

Romans 6:16-23 deal with yielding and its results.

4) Believers are freed from dominion of sin (6:16-20)

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? ¹⁷ But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. ¹⁸ Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. ¹⁹ I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. ²⁰ For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

5) The end of sin is death and of holiness everlasting life (6:21-23)

²¹ What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. ²² But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The choice is ours. Life or death.

CHOOSE LIFE

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Salvation is the first act of obedience for all individuals. Second is baptism. Scriptural baptism is by immersion and pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But what does that mean in the life of a believer?

Romans 6 answers that question. Verses 1-15 teach us about what baptism means to us. When we received Christ as Savior and were baptized, we identified ourselves with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. That means we are dead to sin, we walk in newness of life, and are freed from the dominion of sin. Do we still sin? Yes, but that is not our lifestyle. We repent and move on.

Read and reflect on what Jesus has done for us.

1) Believers must die to sin and live to Christ (6:1-2)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ² God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

2) Believers identify with Christ in baptism (6:3-10)

³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

3) Believers are made alive unto God through Christ Jesus (6:11-15)

¹¹ 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.

Tomorrow we will look at verses 16-23.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com