“This is my COMMAND (tsâvâh: to be ordered) —BE strong and courageous! DO NOT BE afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God IS WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.” (Josh. 1:9) We are ORDERED (commanded) by the Lord God Almighty to BE strong and courageous (fearless) and to NOT BE afraid or discouraged.
“No man shall be able to stand AGAINST YOU all the days of your life (because I will protect you); I WILL BE WITH YOU. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” (Josh. 1:5) This is a conditional promise that occurs 27 times in the bible, proving God’s intent on keeping His promise to ALWAYS be with us. We must commit ourselves to the Lord, that is our part, in other words, put ourselves INTO His hands.
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called CHILDREN OF GOD; and such we are (BY BEING BORN AGAIN). For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what WE WILL BE. We know that WHEN HE APPEARS, WE WILL BE LIKE HIM, because we will see Him just as He is. And EVERYONE WHO HAS THIS HOPE fixed on Him PURIFIES HIMSELF, just as He is pure. Everyone who practices (poieō: to carry out, to execute) sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:1-4) And sin is of the devil, if we PRACTICE SIN we need to repent because it means we have gone back to a life of sin. “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be WIPED AWAY. Then times of refreshment WILL COME from the presence of the Lord, and He will AGAIN send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.” (Acts 3:19-20)
-Bill Stockham