Slideshow image

Scripture Reading: Joshua 7:10–12 (KJV)

  • Joshua 7:10–12 – “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
    Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing… therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies… neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

  • 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 – “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
    If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

Devotional

In Joshua 7, God’s people go from victory to sudden defeat. The problem isn’t with God’s power, but with sin in the camp. Achan had taken what God said not to take, hidden it under his tent, and brought defilement to the entire nation. One man’s private sin affected everyone.

Likewise, the sermon reminded us: Satan wants to use us to defile the church—through hidden sin, dishonesty, immorality, unrepentant habits, or any practice that grieves the Holy Spirit. A defiled church is a church God will not bless.

In the New Testament, the temple is no longer a building in Jerusalem. Believers, both individually and collectively, are now God’s temple. What you allow in your life is not just “your business”; it affects the spiritual atmosphere of your local body.

We often focus on scandals or “big sins” in the church. But defilement can also be quiet: unforgiveness, secret pornography use, financial dishonesty, double lives, or unconfessed habits that we refuse to surrender. Satan rejoices when God’s people become so comfortable with sin that they no longer seek cleansing.

Holiness is not about perfection, but about continual repentance and a tender conscience. God is quick to forgive—but He will not bless what we excuse and refuse to bring into the light.

Reflection

  • Are you hiding anything in your life that you would be ashamed for your church family or pastor to know about?
  • Have you begun to “make peace” with a sin that God has clearly called you to repent of?
  • Do you realize that your personal holiness (or lack of it) impacts your church?

Prayer

Holy God,
Thou hast called Thy church to be holy, for Thou art holy. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Show me any hidden sin, any “accursed thing” that I have kept in my life. I do not want to be the cause of defeat or defilement in Thy house. Give me courage to confess, to repent, and to walk clean before Thee. Wash me in the blood of Christ, and restore unto me a right spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Action

Take time today for honest self-examination before God:

  1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sin you have been hiding or minimizing.
  2. Confess it specifically to the Lord.
  3. If your sin has harmed someone else or the church, make a plan to set it right (confession, restitution, accountability) and follow through.