#19
This is the second in a series of five.
DESTROYING THE ACCURSED
"Neither will I be with you any more,
Joshua 7:12
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#19 |
This is the second in a series of five. DESTROYING THE ACCURSED "Neither will I be with you any more, Joshua 7:12 |
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The people of Israel had gone out to battle against the city of Ai, but instead of having great victory like they just previously had when taking the city of Jericho, they quickly met defeat. Instead of taking Ai, they were being taken by Ai! Joshua could not understand just why the people were meeting defeat, so he immediately went to the Lord about the trouble. The Lord is the best One to go to when in trouble, because He always points out just what is in the way. God said to Joshua, "Israel hath sinned." No wonder they were meeting defeat. Israel had sinned in that one of the men had taken of the accursed thing, had stolen that which he had been commanded not to take, so of course God was not going to bless until the sin had been taken out of the way. God told them that He would not be with them anymore except they destroy the accursed from among them. And no doubt that is the reason that the Lord God of glory is failing to bless and use so many people today. It is because we have failed to confess the sin to God, and God will not continue to bless if people continue to hold to sin. Sin always destroys and defeats, and we can never have victory as long as we hold on and cling to that which brings defeat. If there is defeat and no fruit in your life, then there must be some sin somewhere. If there is some sin there can never be very much fruit. I wonder, sometimes, which we really want more, fruit or defeat. We should want fruit and victory, but many times we must want empty hands and defeat. God has all kinds of blessings for those who have taken of the accursed things, for those who have fallen into the temptations of the devil, if the sin and the wrong are confessed to Him. The Lord cannot and will not remove your defeat until you let Him first of all remove the sin. Achan confessed his sin but he died for it just the same. God is working with us as individuals today, and by means of grace, and He has said that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). Dear reader, you yourself and the Lord God above know the very depth of your heart. If there is something between you and Him, or between you and His will for you life, will you right now just silently bow your head, close your eyes, open your heart and say, I surrender all; All to Thee, my Blessed Saviour, I surrender all"? |
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Index of Books Online ~~~~~ "Information and Inspiration" Contents Page ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR Evangelist and Pastor, Dr. Marvin Lewis
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