Devotion for August 25, 2008

Remove the Accursed Thing

So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put [it] among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, [but] turned [their] backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the LORD God of Israel: [There is] an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.’” (Joshua 7:10-13 NKJV)

The people of Israel were forbidden from taking spoils from their victory over Jericho (Joshua 6:18). All of the silver and bronze was to go into the treasury, and everything else was to be destroyed save Rahab and those with her. However, Achan had taken spoils from Jericho and hidden them under his tent floor. This act of covetousness cost Israel the lives of thirty-six men as they fled from the city of Ai, and the nation was filled with fear before their enemies.

Never think that what you do is not important to others around you. The nation recovered from this wickedness, but Achan and his family lost all along with their lives (Joshua 7:25). It is easy to complain about the lack of spiritual power in the modern church. However, do you realize that your sins contribute to that paralysis?

When is the last time you prayed for the worship service other than a token comment at breakfast Sunday morning? Have you labored in prayer for the preacher? Do you sit in the pew every Sunday morning, and lie in the devil’s arms every Sunday afternoon? I tell you cast off the accursed thing that God might infuse power back into the church.

Oh my dear friends let us not bind God’s hand of blessing. He has not changed. God can do anything. Bow your knees and search your hearts. Ask God to show you the accursed thing that you might remove it from your midst.

Because God is less visible today, believers think He is less active. This is not true. However, His kingdom is not of this world. That is He is not delivering a promised land to a nation, but a spiritual kingdom to a people. In fact, He has already torn down the walls and made the way through the blood of His Son.

However, you must cast off the accursed thing to enter in. Faith opens the door; and faith leaves the spoils of Jericho outside the camp. Have you been living with the spoils of Jericho under your tent? Waste no time in removing it lest God expose you and destroy you for His great name’s sake.