Robs Story: Coming Under God’s Command

Posted: June 28, 2026 in Uncategorized
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I entered the Army at 17 and proudly served 20 years as an Active Army Infantryman, retiring at 37. Life has brought its share of victories, struggles, and lessons, but through it all, God has been faithful. Today, my battlefield is no longer physical—it’s a spiritual one. I now serve the Lord by sharing His Word, reaching the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and helping lead souls to salvation. My greatest mission is to glorify God and faithfully proclaim His truth until He calls me home.

To really follow someone’s every Command; you must really develop deep trust in who is commanding you and know and understand the Commands.  

Rob Henry story on how I came Under Gods Command.  Here is some of my story on how I became to not just to know Jesus, but to love him.  God was calling me a long time ago, but I just did not know it at the time, check out my story that came from the following scripture.  

Galatians 6:7-8 NIV

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. [8] Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

What Seeds Are You Sowing?

It would be shocking if you planted corn and pumpkins grew instead. God’s creation teaches us a simple truth: we reap what we sow. That principle applies to every area of life.

If you gossip about your friends, you’ll eventually lose their trust. Every choice produces a result. If you live to satisfy your sinful desires, you’ll eventually reap sorrow and destruction. But if you live to please God, you’ll reap joy, peace, and eternal life.

So ask yourself: What kind of seeds are you planting today?

One of Satan’s greatest lies is convincing us that everything is fine while we continue living in sin. He whispers, “God understands,” hoping we’ll justify what we already know is wrong. The truth is, God does understand—He understands when we choose to ignore His Word instead of obeying it.

The enemy is patient. He lets us believe we’re getting away with sin, then suddenly attacks through our finances, relationships, health, family, work, or our minds. That is why we must stay close to God and remain under His protection.

This morning’s devotion from The Purpose Driven Life (Galatians 6:7-8) reminded me of my own journey to Christ.

Back in the early 1980s, when I was about 23 years old and stationed at Fort Ord, California, I often drove nearly 100 miles to Oakland just to party. Drinking, dancing, chasing women, and enjoying the nightclub scene became my lifestyle. I loved every minute of it.

One night about two years later, around two in the morning, while driving back to Fort Ord after partying and still under the influence of alcohol, I rolled down my window, looked toward heaven, and said, “Lord, I know You are not going to let me keep getting away with the life I’m living.”

I believed God existed. I believed Jesus died on the cross. But I wasn’t ready to live under God’s command.

It was like knowing the United States has a powerful Army, appreciating the freedom Soldiers protect, yet never choosing to enlist. I wanted the benefits of knowing God without surrendering my life to Him.

Then something began to change.

One evening I was sitting in my room with a bottle of E&J in my hand when some friends stopped by to go partying. As I held up the bottle, I asked them, “Man, isn’t there more to life than this? Drinking, chasing women, and lying all the time?”

They thought I had lost my mind.

What I didn’t realize was that God was already working on my heart.

About a week later, I went to church and gave my life to the Lord. I was now under God’s command. Although I was still hanging around the same places and people, everything began to feel different.

I attended church faithfully and went to Bible study, but something still seemed missing. No one really discipled me or explained what it meant to truly follow Christ. Everyone wore suits and ties, talked about loving everybody, and openly declared their love for God.

I wanted to be honest.

One night I prayed, “Lord, I believe in You, but I don’t love You. I can’t keep pretending.”

I honestly expected God to punish me for saying that.

Instead, He placed one simple desire on my heart:

Read the four Gospels.

That changed everything.

As I read about Jesus—His compassion, His power, His miracles, His courage, His love, and even how people rejected Him—I fell in love with Him.

For the first time, my relationship with Christ became personal.

I became so excited that I would call my father while reading the Gospels just to tell him what I had discovered. I told him about Jesus’ miracles, His boldness, and how He willingly endured suffering for us. My father, who had been turned off by church, listened with great interest because he was hearing God’s Word instead of religious tradition.

From that point on, my walk with Christ took off.

God later used me to lead my mother to Christ, and she has faithfully served Him ever since.

Looking back, I realize just how important God’s Word truly is. What we don’t know can hurt us. But when we sincerely seek God, He will faithfully lead us to His Son.

Today, this verse carries a meaning I didn’t understand back then:

“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” — 2 Chronicles 7:14

God wasn’t looking for perfection. He was looking for surrender.

He wasn’t waiting for me to clean up my life before coming to Him. He was waiting for me to seek Him with an honest heart so He can clean me up.  

If you’re reading this today, remember: the seeds you sow today will shape the harvest you reap tomorrow.

I Was Only Joking

Posted: July 22, 2025 in enticement, Envy sinners
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The Steve Harvey morning show plays pranks on people in the morning with nephew Tommy portraying a fictitious person. Some of these are Church members. When they are prank or lied to, it brings out the worst in them. They find out later it was a joke. As much as we laugh and joke about it, it is not of God, and He does not like it.  This applies to social media and any other means a person uses to sin against God.   

Proverbs 26:18-19 Just as damaging as a madman shooting a deadly weapon 19is someone who lies to a friend and then says, “I was only joking.”

He that sins in prank, must repent in serious, or his sin will be his ruin.

Mark 9:.42 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck.

This caution against harming little ones in the faith applies to our individual actions as teachers. It also applies to the examples we set and what we allow to fester in our Christian fellowship. Our thoughts and actions must be motivated by love (1   Corinthians 13). We must be careful about judging others (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 14:1-15:4). Nevertheless, we also have a responsibility to confront flagrant sin within the church (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

Gods Power is Made Perfect in Human Weakness

Posted: July 22, 2025 in 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, 2:3 Weakness, Bragging, Weakness
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2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Although God did not remove Paul’s physical affliction, he promised to demonstrate his power in Paul. The fact that God displays his power through our weaknesses should give us courage and hope. As we recognize our limitations, we will depend more on God for our effectiveness rather than on our own energy, effort, or talent. Our limitations and weaknesses not only help develop Christian character but also deepen our worship, because in admitting them, we affirm God’s strength.

When we are strong in abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own, and that can lead to pride. When we are weak, allowing God to fill us with his power, then we are stronger than we could ever be on our own. God does not intend for us to try to be weak, passive, or ineffective—life provides enough hindrances and setbacks without us creating them. When those obstacles come, we must depend on God. Only his power will make us effective for him and will help us do work that has lasting value. 

Practical Application: The concept can be applied to various situations in life , encouraging individuals to acknowledge their limitations and seek God’s strength in the face of challenges.  

Effectual Prayer Produces Supernatural Results

Posted: June 9, 2025 in atonement, Battle of the Mind
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James 5:15-17 NIV

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.

[16] Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

 [17] Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

Christ has opened the way for us to go directly to God for forgiveness. But confessing our sins to each other still has an important place in the life of the church. By “righteous person,” James isn’t talking about sinless people but rather those who can effectively pray for others because they have confessed their own sins and are in right relationship with God. This verse points us toward several important scriptural principles related to confession:

 (1) If we have sinned against an individual, we must ask that person to forgive us.

 (2) If our sin has affected the church, we must confess it publicly.

 (3) If we need loving support as we struggle with a sin, we should confess the sin to those who are able to provide that support.

 (4) If, after confessing a private sin to God, we still don’t feel his forgiveness, we may wish to confess the sin to a fellow believer to receive assurance of God’s pardon. In Christ’s kingdom, every believer is a priest to other believers

1 Peter 2:9 NIV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Christians sometimes speak of “the priesthood of all believers.” In Old Testament times, people did not approach God directly. A priest acted as an intermediary between God and sinful human beings. With Christ’s victory on the cross, that pattern changed. Now we can come directly into God’s presence without fear (Hebrews 4:16), and we are given the responsibility of bringing others to him also (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). When we are united with Christ as members of his body, we join in his priestly work of reconciling God and humanity.

Compromise, Justify and Excuses, Conviction, and the Truth.

Posted: April 6, 2025 in Judges
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Under Gods Command.

Compromise, Justify and Excuses, Conviction, and the Truth. 

Do we compromise the commands given by God? Do we engage in activities and visit places where we know we have no right to be, simply to avoid offending a friend or family member? Do we support sinful behavior? Then afterward we me up excuses to justify our actions.  These are the reasons why I read the Bible. Stories like these serve as a reminder to remain steadfast in my adherence to God’s commands. I already struggle at times to maintain my own integrity, and I will not allow anyone else to derail me from my path. 

Gods Command to King Saul

1 Samuel 15:3 NIV Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ”

COMPROMISED

1 Samuel 15:8-9: Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. [8] He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. [9] But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

 Saul and his men did not destroy all the plunder from the battle as God had commanded them to do (15:3). The law of devoting something—setting it aside—entirely for destruction was well known to the Israelites. Anything under God’s ban was to be completely destroyed

(Deuteronomy 20:16-18 However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. [17] Completely destroy them—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you. [18] Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God).

This was set up in order to prevent idolatry from taking hold in Israel because many of the valuables were idols. To break this law was punishable by death (Joshua 7). It showed disrespect and disregard for God because it directly violated one of his commands.

Let’s Bring Home: When we gloss over sin in order to protect what we have or for material gain, we aren’t being shrewd; we are disobeying God. Selective obedience is just another form of disobedience.

JUSTIFICATION AND EXCUSES

1 Samuel 15:13 NIV

When Samuel (Profit of God) reached him, Saul said, “The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”  

King Saul genuinely believed he was following God’s instructions and acting in righteousness. This is not unique to him; we all do and say things that we later try to justify with the word of God, even when we know we are mistaken.  

1 Samuel 15:14-15 NIV

But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”  

15] Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”

1 Samuel 15:16-19 NIV

“Enough!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied. [17] Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. [18] And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ [19] Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?”

Samuel reminded King Saul of the mission God sent him on. In those days they had the Profits, but today we have the Holy Spirit to convict us with reminding us of the mission God has us on and when we disobey. Its called Conviction. 

1 Samuel 15:18-19 NIV

And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ [19] Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?”

When confronted with our actions, we often quickly dismiss them as right. However, sometimes we need to take a step back and reflect on our decisions. Only then will we truly understand the truth behind our actions. 

1 Samuel 15:20-23 NIV

“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. [21] The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

Now Samuel broke it down to King Saul that obeying is much better than sacrifice.  We have to be careful that the Lord does not reject our prayers behind disobedience.

 [22] But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. [23] For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”

After we deal with our in convictions, it will bring out the truth everything. 

CONVICTION BRINGS OUT THE TRUTH

1 Samuel 15:24 NIV

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.

Sometimes, we fear losing relationships with loved ones, friends, and associates because we refuse to condone their sinful behavior. Saul’s excuses had come to an end, and the time of reckoning had arrived. God wasn’t rejecting Saul as a person; the king could still have sought forgiveness and restored his relationship with God. However, it was too late to reclaim his kingdom.

Lets Bring it Home: If you do not act responsibly with what God has entrusted to you, eventually you will run out of chances to keep it. All of us must one day give an account for our actions (Romans 14:12; Revelation 22:12). At the same time, when we follow God, we may lose our reputations, possessions, or careers, but those are nothing compared to the eternal life we gain.

Friendship with the World Makes you an Enemy of God

Posted: January 31, 2024 in greed, hate, holiness, James, Lord fighting for you, lust of the flesh, Lying, Making Friends
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James 4:4-9 NLT

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. [5] Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. [6] And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. [9] Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.

This verse may mean that because of our fallen nature we have a tendency toward envy and must keep it in check, or it may mean that God, who puts his Spirit in believers, wants intimate friendship with us. James is not quoting a specific verse or passage—he is summing up a general teaching of Scripture. (For more on the human tendency toward envy and discontent.

Romans 6:6-8 NLT

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. [7] For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. [8] And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

The power of sin over us, as well as the penalty for sin, died with Christ on the cross. Our “old self,” our sinful nature, died once and for all, so we are freed from its power. The “body ruled by sin” refers to our rebellious, sin-loving nature inherited from Adam. Though we often willingly cooperate with our sinful nature, the desire to do so comes from our old nature. And it is this power of sin at work in our lives that is defeated. Paul has already stated that through faith in Christ we stand acquitted, having been declared not guilty before God. Here Paul emphasizes that we need no longer live under sin’s power. God does not take us out of the world or make us robots—we will still feel like sinning, and sometimes we will sin. The difference is that before we were saved we were slaves to our sinful nature, but now we can choose to live for Christ.

Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, his followers need never fear death. That assurance frees us to enjoy fellowship with him and to do his will. This affects all our activities—work and worship, play, Bible study, quiet times, and time spent caring for others. When you know that you don’t have to fear death, you will experience a new vitality in life.

Galatians 5:17-21 NLT

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. [18] But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. [19] When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, [20] idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, [21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Paul describes the two forces in conflict within us—the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature (our evil desires or inclinations that stem from our bodies; also see 5:16, 19, 24). In this world, we face constant tension between the Spirit and our sinful nature, but they are not equal, opposite forces. In Christ, we have a victorious and new resurrection life. We shouldn’t be surprised when we experience resistance as we follow the Spirit’s leading. Satan is a persistent agitator for rebellion and has had centuries of practice. When we do what the Holy Spirit instructs, we can expect our sinful human nature to flare up in opposition. When we share our faith with others, it will make us feel foolish; when we serve others, it will attack our motives. Satan uses our nature to thwart the leading of the Spirit. Fortunately for us, each time we follow our sinful human nature we will receive reminders from God’s Word, from the Holy Spirit, or from other believers not to give in. The Holy Spirit will give us dependable guidance. Listen to him and ask for his power to help you experience the joy and freedom that come from letting him rule in your heart. (For more on the conflict between the Spirit and our sinful nature, see Romans 8:5, 9; Ephesians 4:23-24; and Colossians 3:3-8.)

We all have evil desires that we must not ignore; instead, we must deal with them decisively (in Paul’s terms, crucify them; 5:24). These desires include obvious sins, such as sexual immorality and witchcraft. They also include less obvious sins, such as selfish ambition, hatred, and jealousy. Here are four steps to help you deal with your selfish desires:

(1) Admit that you have a selfish, sinful nature—don’t be too shocked or too proud to acknowledge it.
(2) Surrender all your bad tendencies to Christ and ask God to do whatever is necessary to set you free.
(3) Commit your actions, thoughts, passions, and capabilities to Christ, asking the Spirit to help you restrain your evil desires and angry reactions.
(4) Make serving others a top priority, which will help you become more like Jesus.

Time Out

Posted: December 27, 2023 in Uncategorized
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The Book of Joshua

The phase TIME OUT has several meanings. Let’s talk about a couple of them.

  • Take a break while playing a game.  
  • In A form of discipline for a child.

What is that break used for when taking a TIME OUT from a game or any other physical event? 

What happens when a child is put into TIME OUT or sent to their room after doing something they weren’t supposed to do? How can we relate these examples of TIME OUT to the Word of God and our lives? At times, do we need to take a TIME OUT? 

TIME OUT to Witness

TIME OUT to Pray

TIME OUT to Fellowship

Jesus always took TIME OUTS to pray. In what ways does God put us in TIME OUT, and why? 

Did God ever send anyone to TIME OUT in the Bible?

Jonah was given a mission from God:  Jonah Chapter 1: 1-2, the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai. (2) Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. (3)  But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish, He went down to Joppa where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.  

TIME OUT: Chapter 1:17, Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.  

  • What did he do while in Time Out? Prayed to the LORD (Read Chapter 2)  

 Sometimes, God places us in TIME OUT to humble us, to get our attention, and at times so we do not start taking credit for the victories in our lives.  

  • Moses and Joshua

Let’s read Joshua 1: 6-9: Do you think Joshua was taking a TIME OUT by receiving instruction from the Lord?

Important points:

  • Ver 7 be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  
  • Ver 8: So not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 

If God is with us, as Joshua, why do we fail or struggle to defeat challenging situations, difficult people, and temptations? 

  • 1 Samuel 17:38-40: David refused to go into battle with Sauls armor because he had not tested or trained with them. He wanted his sling and five stones.  

Hebrews 5: 13, 14 states: Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.  

  • Commitment to Christ moves people out of their comfort zones. We must train ourselves to distinguish good from evil.  

Are we using our TIME OUTS effectively? 

  • Paying attention, praying in faith, or as James says (James 2; 23), walking away from the mirror and forgetting what we heard or learned. Or are we failing to apply what we learned because of a lack of commitment to the primary work of the ministry (to be soul winners for Christ Mat 28:19)?

In Ver 9 of Chapter 3: Joshua tells the Israelites to come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God.

  • Joshua gathered the people to hear the words of the Lord. Their excitement was high. No doubt they wanted to rush on, but Joshua made them take a Time Out and listen. We run all day in this fast-paced age where everyone rushes just to keep up. It is easy to get caught up in our tasks, becoming too busy for what God says is most important-listening to his words. Before making plans, take a Time Out to focus on what God wants from all your activities. Knowing what God has said before you rush into your day can help you avoid foolish mistakes. 

Why did Joshua fail to defeat the town of AI the first time around?

Joshua 7:2-5 NIV

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. [3] When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” [4] So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, [5] who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

  1.  Did Joshua fail to take a (TIME OUT) to consult God or wait for God’s direction before going into battle?  
  2. Sin has entered the camp. How did it affect the entire group?

Chapter 7 Joshua 7:10-12 NIV

The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? [11] Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. [12] That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

  1. (Remember what God told Joshua in the beginning)
    • Chapter 1:7, Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful in wherever you go.  

Is there sin in your camp? Do you need more TIME OUTS? Remember, as Joshua, you are responsible for the sin in your house.

What are some of the things that get in our way of taking TIME OUTS?

Take some TIME OUTS to confess your sins when God reveals them to you (7:19-21), when you fail, refocus on God, deal with the problem, and move on (7:22-25; 8:1). God wants the cycle of sin, repentance, and forgiveness to strengthen us, not to weaken us. The lessons we learn from our failures should make us better able to handle the same situation the second time around. Because God is eager to give us cleansing, forgiveness, and strength, the only way to lose is to give up. We tell what kind of people we are by what we do on the second and third attempts.  

They gave Joshua the city. Yesterday’s defeat became today’s victory. Once sin is dealt with, forgiveness and victory lie ahead. With God’s direction, we need not stay discouraged or burdened with guilt. No matter how difficult a setback sin may bring, we must renew our efforts to carry out God’s will.  

A SET BACK IS A SET UP FOR A COME BACK

The only way to do this is to take more Time Out and spend it with the Lord.

Rob Henry

Army of Christ

Sergeant First Class

United States Army Retired

Today was the Tomorrow that we were worried about Yesterday.

Posted: October 19, 2023 in Uncategorized
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Matthew 6:34 AMP

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Notes 6:34 Time devoted to planning for tomorrow is time well spent; time devoted to worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God’s guidance. When done well, planning helps alleviate worry. Worrying, by contrast, consumes us with anxiety and makes it difficult for us to trust God. Worriers let their obsession with plans and outcomes interfere with their relationship with God. Don’t let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.

Denying Oneself / Sacrifice

Posted: December 8, 2022 in Denying Oneself
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The information came from Bible Study.

What and how are we making sacrifices and denying ourselves.

Romans 12:1-2 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. [2] Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 6:8-11 NIV
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. [10] The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. [11] In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

We are alive in Christ Jesus

How we should Fast?

Matthew 6:16-18 NIV
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. [17] But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [18] so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

That means we should not be going around turning down meals from people by telling them we are fasting. Just politely turn the meal down. We should not be complaining about how hungry we are, strickly between you and God.

1 John 2:15-17 NIV
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. [16] For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. [17] The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Romans 10:17 NIV (How do we develop trust in God)
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Matthew 16:24 NIV
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Romans 6:11-14 NIV (Count old things as if they are dead)
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. [12] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. [13] Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. [14] For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

Galatians 2:20 NIV
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

We all need to ask ourselves, What does God have for your life?

We must read God’s Book of Instruction. We must trust him as we trust our family and friends. We do this by developing a relationship by spending time with the Lord, not just reading his word to check a block, but truly walking with Jesus Christ. He gives us examples through the lives of others in the Bible.

The Appearance of Evil

Posted: October 30, 2021 in Bible Study
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Under Gods Command

2 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil

Answer: Many Christians assume that to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22, KJV) is to avoid any behavior anyone might perceive as being evil. Not only do we flee from that which is evil, we flee from that which appears to be evil. For instance, a pastor should not frequently be seen visiting a bar because someone may think he is getting drunk. However, the actual meaning of this verse is a matter of some debate within Christianity.

Depending on the Bible version you use, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 refers to the “appearance of evil” (KJV), “every kind of evil” (NIV and NLT), or “every form of evil” (NRSV, NKJV, and ESV). Each is a good translation. The Greek word translated “appearance,” “form,” or “kind” can mean any of these things. The same word is used in 2 Corinthians 5:7 translated as “sight.”

The difference in translations can lead to a difference in application. Is it the appearance of evil we should be concerned with, or is it staying away from all forms of evil?

One problem with emphasizing the appearance of evil is that it can make us slaves to the perceptions of others. There will always be someone who thinks that something you are doing is wrong or looks wrong to him. So, rather than spending our time getting to know God and serving Him, we worry about the possibility that someone, somewhere, might misconstrue our actions. In the same letter that he wrote about avoiding evil, Paul wrote, “Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”

 1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so, we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 Our goal is to live righteously before God, not comply with others’ arbitrary standards of conduct.

At the same time, we are instructed not to allow our Christian freedom to become a stumbling block to others 

1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumbling block to them that are weak.

We are also instructed to be salt and light in the world (Mathews 5:13-16). Christians have been set apart 

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 

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