November 29                                     1 John 1 - 2

BACK TO JERICHO?

MEMORISE: ‘An to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.’ (Rev 19:8)
READ: Luke 10:30- 33

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said a traveler had left Jerusalem for Jericho. On his way he met trouble. Let us consider what Jericho is all about. When you think of Jericho, the first thing that strikes you is curses. Joshua placed a curse on Jericho after its defeat” ‘And Josh adhered them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it’ (Josh 6: 26).

Galatians 3: 13 says that Christ redeems us from the curse of the law when we are part of Jerusalem. This means that Jericho is a place where curses are in operation. Are you yet to be born again? Are you a regular worshipper in the church but still living in sin? Are you suffering from curses and spells? Leave Jericho immediately and come into Jerusalem, the city of peace. All those curse will be taken away and you will be free to achieve your potential.

Jericho also reminds us of defeat. Those tough walls came crumbling down. After the victory, the children of Israel sinned and were defeated by their enemies. Someone who is not sanctified will be defeated – defeated by sin, Satan, enemies and circumstances of life. Are you living in defeat? This can be reversed in Christ Jesus. In addition to this, Jericho reminds us of blindness. We see poor and blind Bartimaeus on the Jericho road. Are you mortgaging your spiritual sight to sin?

Anyone leaving Jerusalem for Jericho is in trouble. On his way the traveler in our reading was attacked by thieves. Anyone leaving sanctification for sin should expect demonic attacks. The thieves first removed the clothes of the traveler. Anyone who steps out of Jerusalem will lose his salvation. Also the traveler was beaten and left half-dead. A backslider is half-dead. His contact with God is lost and as a result, he will dwell in the congregation of the dead (Prov 21”16). Are you gradually returning to Jericho? Or are you already there? Repent today and return to the city of peace.

ACTION POINT
Which area of your life is still in Jericho?
Ask the Lord to remove everything from you that constitutes Jericho.