That is why the Israelites cannot
stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have
been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you
destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
Joshua 7:12
The other pitfall I alluded to on Day
19 is harder to watch for. Because unless we’re the one with the secret sin, we
won’t be aware our walls have been breached. We can rebuild what we know is in disrepair, we can patch what
we see is torn, but we can’t guard a
weak spot in our ranks unless we know we’ve been compromised.
That’s why accountability is a must in Christian marriages, families,
friendships, and churches. The sin of one person affects the whole Body.
God had commanded the Israelites not
to take any of the plunder from Jericho. The city was to be completely
annihilated. But Achan couldn’t resist. His sin cost the lives of thirty-six
people. It demoralized the troops just as they were beginning their campaign. It
ruined their reputation as a force to be reckoned with. Most importantly, it
made God look weak.
Eventually, however, the truth came
out.
They had a big meeting and Achan admitted, “‘It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of
Israel. This is what I have done: When
I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of
silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them.
They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath’” (Josh. 7:20-21).
Hidden sin leaves us vulnerable to
defeat. It hurts us, our family, and everyone associated with us. And it and
weakens the cause of Christ, which is to win people to faith in Him.
On your prayer walk, pray for those
who might be hiding sin for fear of punishment or because they’re embarrassed to
admit they gave in to temptation. Pray they will be willing to admit their sin
to God, a person they can trust, and those they have hurt. Pray for forgiveness,
renewed relationships, and a new beginning for everyone involved. When that happens,
God is glorified and the enemy loses.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.
Romans 12:21
#secrets #hiddensin #repentance #prayerwalking
#spiritualwarfare #claimingterritory #Joshua7
#Rom12:21 #halloween #AllSaintsDay
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