READ: JOSHUA 7:10-13
Before the fire of God’s
approval and blessing fall, the broken altar must be repaired. The altar refers
to the place where God meets with man in his heart. In 1 Kings 18:30-36, before
Elijah could call for fire, He had to repair the broken altar in accordance
with God’s word. You cannot meet God on your own terms. You must satisfy His
laid down conditions to receive His approval. Repentance must precede divine
intervention. Restitution must precede divine blessings. You cannot continue in
sin and expect the blessings to flow (Romans 8:1-2). As long as the accursed
thing was in the camp of Israel, the nation remained under defeat.
Obedience to God increases your power to subdue your enemies. Disobedience, on the other hand erodes that power. Many Christians who used to be terrors to their enemies are now being terrified by the same enemies, because they have compromised their consecration to God. Little by little, they have withdrawn their Nazarite vows of dedication from the altar of sacrifice. What is the state of your consecration today?
“O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!” (Joshua 7:8).
To turn your back to your enemies is to run from them or be pursued by them. It is a curse. God promised that you shall see the backs of your enemies (Deuteronomy 28:7). Fleeing before your enemies shows there is an accursed thing in your life. From our reading, this is a dangerous state. Such a Christian will not be able to stand before his enemies. Joshua said if other nations hear of their defeat, they will come en masse to destroy Israel completely. This is true. Today we hear of HIV/AIDS. What happens to a person with AIDS is that his defence mechanism is completely broken down, thereby making that body the dump site of all kinds of diseases. Hence an AIDS victim faces a death sentence except for divine intervention. In the same way, when a Christian loses his ability to resist or withstand his enemies, his spiritual defence mechanism is totally broken down. Before long, all the enemies who were defeated in the past will begin to come and have a field day in that life. A case of spiritual AIDS. This can be prevented. Fish out the accursed thing(s) and destroy it so that your defence mechanism can be rebuilt.
Obedience to God increases your power to subdue your enemies. Disobedience, on the other hand erodes that power. Many Christians who used to be terrors to their enemies are now being terrified by the same enemies, because they have compromised their consecration to God. Little by little, they have withdrawn their Nazarite vows of dedication from the altar of sacrifice. What is the state of your consecration today?
“O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!” (Joshua 7:8).
To turn your back to your enemies is to run from them or be pursued by them. It is a curse. God promised that you shall see the backs of your enemies (Deuteronomy 28:7). Fleeing before your enemies shows there is an accursed thing in your life. From our reading, this is a dangerous state. Such a Christian will not be able to stand before his enemies. Joshua said if other nations hear of their defeat, they will come en masse to destroy Israel completely. This is true. Today we hear of HIV/AIDS. What happens to a person with AIDS is that his defence mechanism is completely broken down, thereby making that body the dump site of all kinds of diseases. Hence an AIDS victim faces a death sentence except for divine intervention. In the same way, when a Christian loses his ability to resist or withstand his enemies, his spiritual defence mechanism is totally broken down. Before long, all the enemies who were defeated in the past will begin to come and have a field day in that life. A case of spiritual AIDS. This can be prevented. Fish out the accursed thing(s) and destroy it so that your defence mechanism can be rebuilt.
MEMORIZE:
JOSHUA 7:8 –O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before
their enemies!
