Christian Living
What’s In Your Stuff?
Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Joshua 7:11
So let’s break down this verse.
· Israel sinned & transgressed God’s covenant
· They took/stole of the accursed thing
· They disassembled it
· They hid it in their stuff
What was the result of them doing this? Perhaps they could have went on for years carrying this disassembled accursed thing hidden in their stuff, but God didn’t let it go on! Let’s back track a bit!
Joshua had sent men to spy out the land Ai. Let’s read their report: And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, let not all of the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labor thither; for they are but a few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Joshua 7:3-5
Joshua, being a man of God, when he realized what had happened, he rent his clothes and fell on His face before the Lord (vs. 6). He cried out to God, and God said: Get thee up, wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? (vs. 10) And then he proceeded to tell him that Israel had sinned. (Notice he didn’t call a board meeting)
Now, let’s look at what Achan had to say about it all: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. (vs. 21)
Oh we can click out tongues at the disobedience of Achan, but perhaps we should examine our own lives. Perhaps we should ask that the spotlight of the Holy Spirit be turned on within the deep recesses of our hearts and reveal any thing that we have collected from the enemies territory and hidden amidst our stuff. Have we coveted the goodly garments of the world and the gold and silver? Have we longed for the things of the world while abiding amid the family of God? Why do we think God would tolerate or coveting today?
A quick reminder for those that believe the Old Testament stories are simply stories, I Corinthians 10: 6-11 now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all of these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Achan’s disobedience and lust of the enemies’ possessions caused the entire congregation to be at risk. In fact Joshua’s words were: why have you troubled us? (vs. 25). And this story has been penned in the Word of God as an example for us to look at. We must determine today whose side we are on. We must decide if we are going to walk in obedience or disobedience.
If we want to enjoy freedom and victory we must honor our covenants with God. We must destroy the things that we have buried in the midst of our stuff, and come clean before Him. We can continue to play church, and think that no one knows what we have hidden, but God knows. We aren’t hiding anything from Him.
Coming clean and destroying the cursed thing or things doesn’t mean there won’t be battles. The misconception today is that Christianity is a cakewalk. We are in the middle of war and war is bloody! I am so thankful that I know the Captain of the Lord of Host personally! But the Christian walk has much resistance and there will be things that sparkle along the way that will divert our attention, if we are not careful.
We are no different than Achan. The things the world offers easily distract us. If we are not praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:18) we will grab hold of the world’s ornaments. Sometimes we wear them proudly, and other times we disassemble them and hide them in our stuff. There are things we have held onto that we wouldn’t want anyone in the church to know about. Yet, setting aside the fact that God already knows, what are we doing to the rest of the congregation? Are we troubling our family and the congregation because we have hidden things in our stuff?
We are self-centered and often forget that what we do and say affects everyone in our lives. Are we trouble or are we a blessing? Do we bring a curse with us or do we bring a blessing? Folks, it is time that we take a hard look at the cross and what was accomplished there and why it was accomplished. The work done on Calvary was not so that we could continue in a religious state with a heart far from God. We must realize that God will not tolerate the things that we have begun to tolerate, much longer. Why do we think we can hang on to the things that the world offers? Why do we think we can pollute our sanctuaries with strange fires?
We have lusted after what the world has, and brought it into our places of worship. We have sit down to eat and drink and rose up to play: Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play (II Corinthians 10:7). Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If thou therefore shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee (Revelations 3:3). Folks this message was to the dying church of Sardis. He wasn’t talking to the sinner, He was talking to the very people who occupied a pew, to the people who wore the stickers on their cars and bought the t-shirt! So why do we think we can go about our business unprepared for the sound of the trumpet? It is time we get serious about the battle. It is time we understand that as much as God loves us, He also will bring judgment to those that refuse to separate themselves.
Achan was not patted on the back and told it would be okay just don’t do it again. No, Joshua had everything that belonged to him, including his family, gathered up. Eye ball to eye ball he asked him, “why have you troubled us?” Then the children of Israel stoned him and his family and burned them with fire. (vs.25) It is no small thing to disobey God. And although God won’t have us drag a brother or sister to the center of the city and stone them for their sins, we must recognize that the day is coming when all that we have hidden will be revealed; for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known (Luke 12:2). You may have hidden it from your family or your pastor, but God will bring it to light! For the time has come that judgment must begin: and if it first begin at us, what shall the need be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (I Peter 4:17) Do we think it will go unnoticed?
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (I Corinthians 10:12). This is New Testament folks! Jesus is returning for a bride that is spotless! He is returning for a church that is without spot or blemish. If you have been born again then it is your personal responsibility to rid your life of all the things you may have hidden in your stuff. It is better to fall upon the rock and be broken than to have the rock fall upon you and be crushed (Matthew 21:44). We have looked to the pastor for too long to fix us or speak a work over us for direction. It might do you good to read Jeremiah 23 and understand that not all Pastors’ have your/our best interest at heart. Many are mere hirelings and have made a business out of leading a congregation and have their own things hiding in their stuff.
I ask you today, what path are you on? Have you brought the sparkles of the world into the camp of the saints? Have you disassembled the world’s tokens and held on to those things you ‘think’ will someday bring you pleasure? Examine yourself today. Fall down at the foot of the cross and come clean before God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any of the ‘stuff’ you have hidden. It just maybe something you picked up along the way and forgotten it was there.
Folks we walk around pointing fingers at the world and casting judgment upon their sins, but I tell you today the church has polluted the camp! The church is a laughing stock to the world. We do not have the power we profess to have and the world knows it! We have as many if not more divorces in our churches. Pornography, adultery and fornication are tolerated! Gossiping is the new prayer line, and we have created our own agendas all in the name of God.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wondrous works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:22-23). Please notice that Jesus does not say they never did these works! He says I don’t know you!!! So, we can prophesy, we can speak in tongues we can build bigger temples and preach beautifully orated sermons; our membership roll can go from 50-20,000 overnight if we find just the right niche, but beware! Is your heart pure before God? Are your motives right and in line with the Word of God? Is there any hidden thing in the camp that needs to be dug up and destroyed?
I believe that God is giving us an opportunity to rid ourselves of the stuff that we have hidden! The house is going to be shaken! The church is going to be rattled. Sins are going to be revealed! You say, I’m being too harsh? Folks, Jesus did not change His message in order to conform to the world around Him. Actually, He was able to have dinner with the sinners and not conform! Can we do that? Can we be in the world amongst the people who need to know the love of Jesus and not take on their habits and behaviors? We can if we watch and pray! We can if we wear the armour of the Lord! We can if we have a heart for Jesus and no alternative motives, but if we are not where we should be with God, we will be tempted by the glitter and the shine, and we will carry the world’s behaviors and tokens into the camp! We will trouble those in the church and our personal families!
So I ask you again, what’s in your stuff? I pray that you will take heed to Matthew 21:44 and whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. It is time that we recognize the sins of the world only bring temporary joy! If you are looking for an eternal like with Jesus, check your stuff and make sure there is nothing hidden that can bring trouble to you, your family or the church!
© July 7, 2005 Jounda LaMance
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Yes friend, it is so good to stop and ask God to please reveal whatever it is we have tucked into the cracks of our secret little purses. Best to turn them inside out and give them a good shake! Great writing Sister!
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