The Accursed thing

We are now surrounded by preachers who ask us to hold on to God's promises to inherit His blessings!  They encourage people to name it and claim it!  They never talk about our obedience to God's Word or the sin that entangles us.  They only talk about what everyone loves to hear, that God is always ready to bless.  "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD" (Amos 8:11).  Such a famine has already come.  Even though people have the Bible in their hands, they do not preach what the Bible says!  There is no way God will overlook sin.  We cannot fool God.  God hates sin, and sin brings punishment.  The Bible says, "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked for whatever a man sows, he will also reap" (Gal.  6:7).

We have to learn many things from the story of Achan in the book of Judges (chapters 7 & 8).  Achan brought pain and sorrow to his friends, who went to Ai to fight.  Thirty-six families lost loved ones in the battle because of Achan.   When Joshua fell face down before the Lord, the Lord said it was because of Israel's sin.  Because of their sin, the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies but turned their backs and became doomed to destruction.  God asked Joshua to sanctify the people by removing the accursed thing from among them.  They could not face their enemies until the sin was recognized and removed.  This principle is still operating in everyone's life.  Our sin affects us and those around us, including our children.  Our sin hinders God's purpose for us, and as long as we harbor sin, we cannot be overcomers.  We must deal with our sins first, and God is ready to forgive us.  The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" ( 1 John 1:9).

My friend, do not be deceived.  By just claiming the promises, we cannot get the blessings of God.  We have to first deal with the sin in our lives.  It could be hatred or unforgiveness.  It could be a lack of honesty.  It could be covetousness.  Whatever it may be, obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit today.   Confess the sins so that we can inherit the blessings of God. 

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