"JOURNEYING WITH ACCURSED THINGS"

DRAMA MINISTERS "YEAR OF GREAT THINGS" 

DRAMA MINISTERS' 40 DAYS PRAYERS AND FASTING - DAY 5
(January 1 - February 9, 2015)

         "JOURNEYING WITH ACCURSED THINGS"

Joshua 7:1, 5, 10-13 NKJV
[1] But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel.

[5] And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

[10] So the LORD said to Joshua: "Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face?
[11] Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.
[12] Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.

The Lord had made a covenant with Abraham to bless him and make him a blessing to the nations. The Lord had promised to make his seed as the stars of the sky in multitude. He was under a strong covenant with God. (Genesis 12:2)

Abraham had departed from his father's house at God's instructions and had gone with his wife, Sarai and Lot, his brother's son. Then, there was trouble and conflict in Abraham's camp. There were incessant quarelling between Lot's servants and Abraham's servants. There was an hinderance to Abraham's movement. Until in Chapter 13, when Abraham had to take on boldness and push family sentiment aside and said to Lot:
Genesis 13:9 NKJV
"Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."

Then, Lot liftrd up his eyes and saw the grassy land and the seemingly fertile land of Sodom and Gommorah and jumped at it. He acted smart and left Abraham alone to take the seemingly dry and famished land. He gathered all his flocks and servants, and departed from Abraham. Then, the Bible says:

Genesis 13:14-17 NKJV
[14] And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are-northward, southward, eastward, and westward; [15] for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
[16] And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
[17] Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."

It was after Lot had separated from Abraham that the Lord now came again to renew His promise with him. It was as if the spiritual atmosphere was not conducive for God to bless Abraham further; it was as if the presence of Lot had placed a limit on the blessing of Abraham; it was as if association of Abraham with Lot had limited him and made God who instructed him to leave his father's house, had hidden His face from him. Then, when Lot departed from Abraham, God came again with His promises and even greater promises. God said to him what He never said before: He would make his descendants as dust of the earth, so that they would never be able to be numbered. That was Covenant of Mutiplication after Lot had separated.

In the case of the Israelites, they had crossed over into Canaan Land and the Lord had warned them to be circumcised in their heart spiritually, before they could move further into the land. The Commander of the Host of Heaven had given them all a pertinent instruction, He had told them never to take anything out of the city of Jericho, and that, everything should be devoted to burnt offering unto God.

Then, they entered the city and set the city on fire as instructed. They got their first victory in Canaan land. As they proceeded to attack the second city, the City of Ai, they were beaten down and lost 36 soldiers. They were chased away from the city as bees would chase their attackers. There were lamentations and regrets in the camp of Isreal. They were ashamed of themselves, then, Joshua demanded to know why they were defeated before their enemies: God spoke immediately,

[11] Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff.
[12] Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.

They had broken the Lord's order. They had stolen from the things in Jericho City, and the Lord said:
* They would never be able to stand before their enemies again unless the accursed things were remove.
* He would never be with them any more or lead them in any battle unless the accursed person who stole the prohibited materials was removed from amidst them.

That was very similar to the case of Abraham. Nothing worked for Abraham any more until Lot was separated from him.

You have crossed over to this beautiful Great Year of Great Things, yet, if there are accursed things in your life that you ought to have circumcised off, it will still be difficult to make a success out of the goodness of this year. There could still be some inexplicable hinderances and obstructions in the way, UNLESS YOUR LOT IS SEPARATED FROM YOU.

What is it that you have to remove from your life, that could deprive you of this year's Goodness and Greatness? Surely, the heart of Achan was not circumcised when he proceeded in that journey. So instead of gaining more blessing in the land of Harvest, he lost all his children and wife and flocks and his own life too. He lost everything including his life also.

This year is a Great Year full of the Promises of Blessing and miracles for all His children who follow Him with circumcised hearts.
WHICH WRONG ASSOCIATION COULD MESS UP THE COVENANT OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE?
WHICH HABIT OR CHARACTER OR ATTITUDE OF YOURS COULD DESTROY GOD PLANS FOR YOUR LIFE IN THIS GREAT NEW YEAR?
WHAT ARE THE ACCURSED THINGS YOU OUGHT TO HAVE DROPPED BEFORE MOVING ON FURTHER INTO THIS YEAR?

God said to the House of Israel, He would not be with them anymore, neither would they be able to stand before their enemies unless they remove the accursed things from amidst them. Those two consequencies were terrible ones: it means they were in Canaan Land to be bread for the enemies and there would not be the Commander of the Host of Heaven to defend them.

Can you navigate the corners of this year without the directions of the Commander?
Can you do without the help and suport of the Lord as you Journey along this year?

HE WILL NOT WALK OR WORK WITH A PERSON WHO HARBORS ACCURSED THINGS IN HIS LIFE.

EVANG. MIKE BAMILOYE

What Character is Accursed in your life?
What behaviour of yours grieve the Holy Spirit?
What attitude of yours displeases God?
What wrong Association with ungodly friends could ruin your blessings this year?
DO YOU WANT ALL THE BLESSINGS AND FULL HARVESTS OF BREAKTHROUGHS OF THIS YEAR?

WHAT ACCURSED THINGS MUST YOU DO AWAY WITH?

Be blessed.