As I was praying for the leadership in the church this morning, the Lord took me to Joshua 7.
Immediately I remembered the story of Joshua being defeated because of the sin in his camp. The sin of Achan who had disobeyed the commandment of the Lord to keep NOTHING for themselves.
I am also reminded of 1 Samuel 15 where Saul also disobeys the commandment of the Lord and is rejected by the Lord because of His disobedience.
“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.””
1 Samuel 15:22-23 NLT
Saul listened to the VOICE OF MAN above the VOICE OF GOD.
DO NOT alter the word of the Lord.
Joshua was defeated because of the sin in his army, in his leadership.
Joshua cried out to the Lord and the Lord said "GET UP and get ride of Israel's sin."
“But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction. “Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.”
Joshua 7:10-13 NLT
THIS SENTENCE BRINGS A HOLY FEAR OF THE LORD every time I read it.
"I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction."
"You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.”
I don't care how UNCOMFORTABLE it is, when God says get rid of it, He means it. Leaders, DO NOT compromise the word of the Lord. If He says GET RID OF IT, get rid of it.
Some of you are fighting never ending battles, and haven't received the victory in battle because you have not gotten rid of the sin in your church, your ministry, your household. You have refused to expose that in which He has told you to expose.
Everyone wants to be Moses and Joshua and David, but can I tell you that this calling, anointing, and mantle isn't always fun.
There is NO ROOM for the FEAR OF MAN. The FEAR OF GOD must be PRIORITY.
“Early the next morning Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Judah was singled out. Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out. Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out. Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.” Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.””
Joshua 7:16-21 NLT
Some are buried deeper than others. Don't stop at surface level.
“Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the Lord was no longer angry.”
Joshua 7:24-26 NLT
They stoned Achan and his family. That always hurt my heart that the whole family was destroyed because of the Father's sin.
GET RID of the HIDDEN things or the Lord will EXPOSE you to deliver you and bring you to repentance. Don't make Him humble you publicly when He is calling to you day and night to humble yourself before Him in private.
I have been under some unclean hands in previous seasons, and I'll tell you it spoils the WHOLE LUMP. It contaminates EVERYTHING. It's so deceptive, and is so hidden. Only the Spirit of God can reveal it, and He will. NOTHING is hidden from the light.
As leaders, we have got to make sure we stay in a place of the cry of David, "search my heart oh God."
THIS DAY SAYS THE LORD.....
"I will begin EXPOSING the sin in your camp. It WILL LEAVE and you will come into the fullness of who you are called to be for my Kingdom. You will return to VICTORY, and no longer be hindered by the hidden sin that is among you."
EVERYTHING that is not of God will LEAVE, and your ministry, church, and household will walk into FREEDOM in Jesus name.
PREPARE FOR VICTORY ONCE AGAIN!
Joshua 8:18
Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand." And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.
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