W3. The Lust of the Eyes (MS: Joshua 7:7-12;SS: 1 John 2:16; Psalm 101:2-3)

Capture: Grab their attention with an illustration.

• Illustration/Story: Share a story about a time when something caught your eye. Share

about how it took your focus off of what you should have been focusing on and

ended poorly for you!

• Sometimes, we allow things to catch our eye and sidetrack us spiritually. It could be a

person, a hobby, entertainment — you name it! When we are willing to look in the

wrong direction, we often follow with our feet into temptation.

Context

We are going to bring context to the whole chapter because this is important for our focus scripture in Joshua. 

The deed was happen by one man, this one man sin effected Israel as a whole! His sin come as an addressed collectively and seriously. 

Achan steals a garment, 200 shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold! Joshua tells the people to not steal anything of these items in chapter 6: 17-19

One of the consequences we see early on in v. 3-4 is that they will not win in the military success at Jericho. 

Without God, they could not win. 

We see Joshua reaction and it is one of mourning. This is where we get our focus scripture and that is in 7-9. He feared destruction and appealed to God based on His reputation as Moses often had. 

Because of this one sin, it effected the whole nation! 

Verses 10-12, God answered Joshua. The only reasons Israel could lose a battle were presumption and sin. God commanded Joshua to action based on the fact that Israel had sinned. 

When items that are dedicated to God are taken, He viewed that as theft and the wrong must be rectified. 

And because of this, God told them He would no longer be with them unless they destroy the things under the ban! 

Now when we continue forward with the rest of the chapter, Achan knew it was wrong and stupid for what he had done, but he done it anyway. 

Can someone relate to that? You know what the Word of God said and you still do the opposite of what it says? That is why we must do that and not go into sin. 

In verse 19, Joshua commanded Achan to give glory to God by confessing what he had done. In verse 20 and 21, he admitted his guilt, but when he described his action, he spoke using words to describe Eve’s infraction. 

So we see the parallel from Eve sin and Chan sin. That is key for us to know that this sin was a big consequence like God did to Eve. 

Then towards the end of the chapter, they killed him and stoned him and burned them. This sin was not just a little sin of consequences. 

So what does this show us about sin. We think when sin is committed, it is supposedly a matter affecting an individual’s life. But in the case of Chan, God was displeased and did not help Israel in what should be a easy victory. 

Israel was blamed and lost the battle and 36 warriors lost their lives because of one sin. 

The punishment of sin was capital, affecting Achan, his kids, and livestock. 

The nation had to restart a campaign that should have been well under way. 

Every damaged relationship and negative around us is because of the consequences of sin. 

Sin, crime, and immorality all negatively affect the family, community, and nation! 

The main thing is that sin causes destruction to God’s people. 

1. Temptation Offers Temporary Cravings

• Tension Question: Are your eyes leading you into temptation? Are the things that

have your attention and focus drawing you toward God or toward temptation?

Scripture: 1 John 2:16-17 — 

We seen this verse last week but it is still key today because we are look at the lust of the eyes. We can see people that have the popularity, money, power, etc. And make us want to make those things our gods and we should only focus on God as our Lord and Savior. 

John is trying to tell us here that we must keep Jesus and eternity in our mind instead of the things of the world. 

The flesh promises to satisfy legitimate desires in illegitimate ways. The world tempts your mind through what your eyes see. 

Worldliness makes the “now” more important than eternity, but remember you are going to pass through and the world is going to pass by. 

Jesus’s warning to the disciples is that temptation offers

temporary cravings for the flesh, the eyes, and life. Today, we focus on the eyes.

2. Resist Temptation of The Eyes

• Scripture: Joshua 7:1-26 — Summarize the story of Achan and Joshua to your group,

specifically how he coveted things he saw with his eyes.

• There is a powerful section in this passage in verses 7-13. Many of us can relate to

Joshua — we are mourning in feelings of defeat, trying to understand why things are

so hard, asking God: “Why are you allowing this to happen to me?”

• God’s response to Joshua can be applied to us as well: “This isn’t me! This is you!

There’s sin in the camp — your people have disobeyed me!”

We must remember the thief revealed that he was executed for his sin against God. 

So why reveal the guilty of this guy? The reason why because this show us the seriousness of this sin because this small little sin effected the entire nation. 

This also show that God really knew the people, each and every one of them and their deeds intimately. That is why it is key to know that God wants an intimate relationship with you because He personally knows you! 

Also, it will show the sinner an opportunity to come clean because he watch all the things that happen because of this one sin. 

We see some people say that this judgement from God was severe and too much, BUT we must be careful not to soft-pedal Achan’s sin or ANY SIN! 

He willfully violated God’s covenant with Israel, stole what belonged to God, brought a curse on the nation, and is responsible of this sin of other people death. 

Does this remind us of one sin in Genesis? It happen in Eve. Just eating a bite of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil brought sin to this earth and still going on today! Just like Eve with her eyes, it was the same for Achan and also with ALOT of people today! 

The lesson here is this: be careful not to take your own sin lightly. Even though your sin does not call God to call out fire and brimstone today, but he still shows his wrath against sin by letting people experience the consequences of their sinful choices as we see in Romans 1:18-32. 

• Many of us have not given a second thought to what we put in front of our eyes and

then wonder why we struggle. The reality is that what you look at will directly

influence your response to temptation.

• Ask yourself, are you looking to the wrong things? Are there sins hidden in your life

because you aren’t cautious where you are looking?

• Unlike Achan, we must resist what we are tempted with when we set our eyes on the

wrong things. Resist temptation in your eyes and it will protect your steps!

Bottom Line: Resist temptation in your eyes.

3. Guard Your Eyes! Watch What You See!

Scripture: Psalm 101:2-3 

      2       I will ponder the way that is blameless. 

      Oh when will you come to me? 

                  I will walk with integrity of heart 

      within my house; 

            3       I will not set before my eyes 

      anything that is worthless. 

                  I hate the work of those who fall away; 

      it shall not cling to me. 

— If you want to live a blameless life before God, one of the

first steps is to guard what you put in front of your eyes.

David here explains the important of the heart. A person follows the dictates of the heart- the inmost being and/or the attractions of the eye- external influences. 

• Integrity sets a boundary and refuses to put anything vulgar or vile (or even

something that could lead to these behaviors) in front of your eyes.

David understood the quality of his character and leadership had a direct influence on the nation. He took his role as king seriously and he wanted to honor God and bless the people under him with justice and righteousness. 

So for you as you are leaders in this generation, leadership is based on such principles is a crucial factor in the well-being of those being governed and led. 

And for us to go and make disciples of all nation, we must move forward and watch what we see so it will not influence us not to sin. 

Bring it to the Cross

You don’t have to like the law of gravity, but it is in your best interest to respect it. You don’t have to prefer it, but it’s not going to change for you. It is a law of nature. It is a divine law, not a negotiated law. 

You may say, “Gravity, you are not going to tell me what to do. It’s my thing and I’m going to do what I want to do. You are not my boss Gravity! You are not my instructor! I’m my own man and I’m going to do what I want to do!

In fact, Gravity, just to let you know how I feel about you, I’m going to rebel. I’m going to get up on the top of this building and I am going to despise you. I’m going to jump. What do you think about that?! 

The law of gravity won’t stop you. The law of gravity won’t hold you back. You can jump and, for a moment, a short moment, it may appear like you have outwitted and outsmarted gravity. It may appear like you have had the last word, but a few seconds later as we sweep you up off the pavement, it will become abundantly clear that you have adjusted to gravity; gravity did not adjust to you. Sin has consequences. 

• Do a small self-inventory. Consider your favorite TV shows, movies, music choices,

etc. Ask yourself: “Do these things help me to live a life of integrity?”

My testimony with this is I use to be like I can listen to everything, but everything is not good for you. Won’t lead you to Christ. You do have to be careful what you listen to and what you watch, especially on social media! 

• The problem is that many of us love the things of the world too much to remove

them from our own lives. Are you willing to live in integrity, no matter the cost? Are

you sick of living in sin and giving into temptation that you’re ready to make a

change? (A little free style here as well) 

• Application: Guard your eyes.

Call: How do we respond to the message?

• Altar moment: Evaluate the things that are in front of your eyes that need to be

removed. Don’t allow the enemy a foothold in your mind by keeping your eyes

unchecked!