CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2023) DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE DATE: Friday, July 7, 2023 TOPIC: STOP TROUBLING YOUR HOUSE

 CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

THE LIVING WATER (January-December, 2023)

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE 

DATE: Friday, July 7, 2023

TOPIC: STOP TROUBLING YOUR HOUSE

MEMORISE

      He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house. But he who hates bribes will live (Proverbs 15:27).

READ: Joshua 7:20-26

[20]. And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 

[21]. When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.”

[22]. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. 

[23]. And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. 

[24]. Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. 

[25]. And Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.” So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.

[26]. Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.

EXPOSITION

        Every sinner tries to chicken out when faced with the realities and consequences of their sins, either by their consciences, the law enforcement agencies, or God, in His Word. Adam and Eve vainly tried to hide their guilt behind the fig tree leaves (Gen 3:10). Cain shamefully hid behind his saying, *Am I my brother's keeper?* (Gen 4). Joseph's half-brothers lies and deception came to the limelight although hidden for years behind the supposed blood-stained, torn cloak of their brother whom they sold to Egypt under the guise that *a wild beast has devoured him* (Gen. 37: 31-33; 45: 3-4). Similarly, the guilt of the murder committed by Moses which was buried in the sand eventually blew up: *So, Moses feared and said, surely this thing is known* (Exod 2: 11-14), just like God, through Prophet Nathan, caused David to face his sin's of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Sam. 12: 7-13). Where is your sin guilt hidden? You can't hide it for long and it is even more dangerous to do that (Prov 28:13) 

      The subject of troubling one's house, family, business, organisation, church, society, or nation should not be swept under the carpets, without genuine repentance, forsaking of sin, and seeking God's forgiveness. The Scripture warns, *Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished* (Prov 11: 21a). Achan troubled Israel with the sin of covetousness. And Joshua queried, *Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day.* Stop troubling (tormenting) your soul, family and others with besetting or weighty sin of any kind. Endeavour to live holy to avoid the fierceness of God's anger

SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY: 

CAC GHI 816 

PRAYER POINTS

1. Every spirit of error and confusions, die in me, in Jesus' name

2. I refuse to be another Achan in this generation, in Jesus' name 

3. Pray against everyone/thing troubling the peace and stability of your home, church, community and nation, in Jesus' name 

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:

CAC GHB 816

1. Though the world allure with its gilded charm,

 I'm a child of God, whom it cannot harm;

 He will me uphold by His mighty arm,

 Every moment of my day.

Chorus:

 I've a friend who will ev'ry need supply,

 I've a home far beyond the starry sky,

 And you know, that is just the reason why,

 I am singing Hallelujah!

2. I can ne'er forget how upon the tree

 Laid the son of God, there to die for me;

 Yet to save my soul, thus it had to be,

 There could be no other way.

3. I would e'er be true to my Lord and King,

 Every waking hour praise to Him sing,

 Knowing that at last He my soul shall bring,

 Ever more with Him to stay.

Amen.

AUTHOR

CAC Worldwide

Remain blessed