Sometimes the first indication we have that there is a problem in our Christian life is that we begin to lose our peace and are experiencing defeat. Something seems to be out of harmony in our fellowship with the Lord. It is not always obvious to us where the fault lies. All we know is we are not at our best spiritually and are growing uncomfortable with our circumstances.

We are not to hang back in condemnation and depression. We are to go to the Lord and find out what the problem is. In some instances the feeling of defeat is an attack of the enemy and we are to resist it vigorously in faith, commanding it to leave. On other occasions it is an indication that something we are doing is not pleasing to the Lord.

The "food sacrificed to idols" in the case of Achan, was covetousness. Covetousness is idolatry. The love of money is the root of all evil.

When we discover what the problem is we are to turn to the Lord in a fierce renewal of our vows of holiness and consecration.

Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. (Joshua 7:13)

If we turn to the Lord, He will show us where deliverance is needed.

In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the Lord taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the Lord shall take shall come by households; and the household which the Lord shall take shall come man by man. (Joshua 7:14)

We must prepare ourselves to have all of our imaginations, motives, words, and deeds brought before the Lord for His examination. The thought of such an exposure of our personality may frighten us but it has to be done. Satan loves the darkness. It is his environment. The saint runs to the light so that all of his personality and behavior may be examined by the Lord.

And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. (Joshua 7:15)

We have to be ready to accept the baptism with fire. God does not deal gently with sin.

Deliverance from sin is not possible until first we make an iron determination that we want to be purged from the uncleanness.

Ours is a day in which there is much talk about deliverance. This is good. There are deliverance ministries that help and encourage the saints. We ourselves have been practicing deliverance, particularly moral deliverance, for many years. We have found that the key factor in both moral and physical deliverance is the will of the believer.

To be continued.