Today's Passage - Joshua 7:13-15

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 7:13-15    "Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. " 'In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!'"       At the beginning of chapter seven, God said "Israel has sinned...  They have taken some of the devoted things." The word "sinned" used here was originally "dishonest". In other words, Israelites were not honest in the tasks that God had given to them. God told them that everything in Jericho must been destroyed. It is not important what are devoted and what are not, but whether Israelites would follow God's command. People often don't know God's will in spiritual matters. Thus we like to ask, "Lord, why is this way but not that?" In fact, we don't understand that behind all things, there are serious spiritual battles.   When God commanded Joshua to ask Israelites to consecrate themselves, He said that the person who took the devoted things has done disgraceful things. That's because when that person decided not to follow God's command, he breached the line of Israeli army. Every disobedient heart is a breach, that allows our enemies to enter the hearts of God's children, or even into the camp of the people of Son of Man. As long as this breach is not removed, Israel can not stand in front of their enemies. When Achan took possession of those things, he only saw the value of the goods. What he didn't see was the spiritual battle that was behind them. The army of Israel was defeated in the hands of Ai because of him. Israelites could not stand in front of their enemy in the battles that follow.    Thanks God, even after this happened, God was still compassionate towards Israelites. That's why He asked them to consecrate themselves, and get rid of all devoted things. Do you know that you are one in God's army. You every action could affect the kingdom of God. Achan only did one foolish thing, and it caused such a great defeat. That's why we should never say "I am insignificant. It won't matter what I did." This chapter reminds us about the statement that "every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of his country."  We are all part of the Kingdom of God, so may God shine His light on us and give us a sensitive heart.  Let us never be persistent in our own foolishness, but to march forward with the courage that God gives us!   Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, may you shine upon us and help us not to fall into spiritual defeat with ignorance. May the Lord cleanse and anoint our sins so that we can come back to face God again, and be able to stand firmly in front of our enemies.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!