The simple things are usually the powerful things. And so it is in the plan of God which He gives you for victory. Be willing and obey is the admonition of the prophet Isaiah:

"If you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it." (Isaiah 1:19-20)

The beautiful purpose of this . . . and the LOVE of God . . . is shown in the previous verse:

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be as wool." (Verse 18)

Israel's unbelief (except for Caleb and Joshua) that they could take the Promised Land resulted in 40 years of wilderness wandering. Have you been wandering long?

Do you have great Spirit given goals that have been in you heart and prayers for years but have not come to fruition yet? Is it because you have failed to GO into the Promised Land . . . to make that transition in FAITH? Have you been waiting for everything to fall into place before you leave your comfort zone?

Like the monkey holding on to the banana in the jar, who couldn't get his hand out to enjoy the banana, are you "holding on" to your ministry . . . your business . . . your toys . . . not releasing them . . . so that you can make a NEW transition into greater service and works for the glory of God, and for your blessing as well?

RULE #1: UNBELIEF WILL KEEP YOU FROM YOUR TRANSITION!

When the children of Israel were about to attack Jericho, Joshua, with the direction of the LORD, commanded the people, "You shall NOT shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of our mouth, until the day I say unto you, 'Shout!' Then you shall shout." (Joshua 6:10) They were commanded to keep silence for seven days.

RULE #2: AT THE ONSET OF GREAT WORKS FOR GOD, DON'T TALK MUCH . . . AND … ABOVE ALL, DO NOT SPEAK WORDS OF FEAR AND UNBELIEF!

The spoils of Jericho were like the first fruits of harvest. It was the first city they conquered in the Promised Land: their first stage of the victory promised. And God commanded them NOT to keep the spoils of the city for themselves.

"And you, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest you make yourselves accursed, when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: the shall come into the treasury of the LORD." (Joshua 6:18-19)

The Hebrew root for the word "accursed" is "cherem" and it ALSO means the "devoted thing" or a "dedicated thing" depending upon the context. In other words, what is devoted or dedicated to God is accursed to man. If you keep back or steal God's property, then YOU become accursed. (Hebrew "charam").

God's people were promised success, but only if they walked in obedience!

RULE #3: WHAT IS DEVOTED TO GOD IS ACCURSED TO MAN!

A man named Achan did not obey and he took of the accursed things which were devoted to God, so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. By the way, the Hebrew word ?Akan is from an unused root meaning “to trouble,” or “troublesome.” The LORD told Joshua that the man had stolen and deceived and put it among his own stuff. The LORD said, "There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you." (Joshua 7:13)

Then the man, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had (including what he stolen that belonged to God) were burned with fire after the people of Israel stoned them with stones according to the command of the LORD.

This reminds us of Ananias and Sapphira who sold an estate, and kept back part of the proceeds, pretending to give ALL of it to the treasury of the church. They lied to the Holy Spirit and both of them died within three hours of each other. (Acts 5:1-11)

RULE #4: NEVER LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!

These two examples above also remind us of God's promise in the book of Malachi.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In titles and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation." (Malachi 3:8-9) Notice again, the beautiful purpose of this . . . and the LOVE of God . . . is shown in the following verses 10-11:
:
"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in My house, and PROVE ME now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."

"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field ..." says the LORD of hosts.

NOTICE: God says you can PROVE Him . . . you can find out FOR SURE . . . God is Who He says He is: the great “I AM” . . . by paying Him tithes and giving Him offerings!

RULE #5: IF YOU ARE WILLING & OBEDIENT - YOU WILL EXPERIENCE GOD'S PLAN OF VICTORY!

The whole rest of your life you will be blessed as you follow what I have taught you from God's Holy Word today.

Baruch haba b'Shem Adonai.

Your friend,
Prince Handley

Podcast time: 10 minutes, 55 seconds

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