Sin in the Camp

Joshua 7

Many people want and need God to work in their lives—to work out situations and circumstances; they need to overcome strongholds, addictions, and the difficulties of life. Truth is, every person here needs God to work out something in their lives

Some need salvation—they need to realize the Gospel message that Christ stepped out of glory, to become fully God and fully man, for the express purpose of dying for our sins (their sins, my sins)—they need to recognize the love Christ has for them willing being beaten, flogged, and taunted; that He was nailed and impaled on a cross in order to bear the wrath, judgement and separation that was to due to them; they need to see that Christ, “for the joy that was set before Him, despised the shame of the cross and willingly gave HIs life so you would NEVER perish

Some need God to work out issues in the marriages

Some need God to work out hurts and habits they can’t keep to shake

Some keep fighting battles, but can’t seem to find any victory

Some can’t shake living to the doubts and deceits of the enemy and this world—they keep living with no self-worth, value, or they are finding their identity in the wrong places

Some need God to work in the lives of wayward children—or work in their lives as parents of their children

Some need God to work out job situations, financial issues, or those things which cause us to have a divided mind

I sure needed God to move in my life; I hated the times that I turned to pornography (this sin of immorality) over and over again. It would ALWAYS lead me just as broken, if not feeling more broken, every time I allowed myself to entertain that sin.

I needed God to show up to help me—to help my marriage—to help me a better husband and father; I remember asking God at times, “Why won’t this just go away, why can’t I “catch a break?”; God if you really are who you say you are, why am I not finding victory over this enemy—I feel so defeated and ashamed.”

Even today, I dislike the times I struggle with fear when I should have faith; I needed God and I still need God to move in my struggles, battles, and difficulties I face in life.

Maybe you are here tonight and you are asking the same thing?

“God, why can’t I catch a break?”

“God, if you are really there, why aren’t you doing something about this sin, this hardship, this trial?

“God, if your Word says you care for me, why does it feel like you are so far away from me?”

Maybe, for those that are professed Christian here tonight who’s experienced victories over some huge battles in your life—yet you are stunned to find yourself losing a smaller battle?

Tonight’s message is gonna be hard to hear—but the ending will be sweet. It’s a message of why so many cannot find victory—why so many keep losing battles, finding themselves weighed down and burdened—it’s a message that—if they (you and I) will listen, respond and obey—can find true victory and see God do amazing things in their lives.

Tonight’s message deals with “Sin in the camp”

***Set the stage***

Israel, Jericho, and the Accursed things (Joshua 6:18)

Joshua 6:18 “But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.”

Achan and the Accursed things (Joshua 7:1)

Israel, AI, and Joshua’ pity party (Joshua 7:3-9)

God’s response (Joshua 7:10-13)

God’s instructions (Joshua 7:14-15)

Joshua and Israel’s response (Joshua 7:16-26)

What can we learn for this time in Israel’s history? What can we take away from the events surrounding the end of the battle of Jericho, the defeat of AI, and God’s instructions that follow? There are three things to see—and if we see, receive, and respond to them Biblically, you can have real victory tonight, you will see God do some amazing things in your life—and you feel the yoke and burden of sin and this world be lifted off.

(FIRST)

I. We choose the sin in the camp

God gave the directivethe command

Joshua 6:18 “But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.”

Joshua 7:1 “But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.”

Plain and simple Achan disobeyed God—God gave a command by His word not to touch the accursed things. Why? Because God knew what would happen

Joshua 6:18 “But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.”

What’s this mean for me and you?

God’s Word provides all a person needs, in order to identity We cannot claim ignorance (Galatians talks about how the law reveals sin and the need of a Savior)

Genesis 2:16–17 “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.””

Exodus

God’s Word tells us that we are without excuse, when it comes to our sin(s)

God knows what sin and idolatry will do to you

Jonah 2:8 “Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.”

Isaiah 44:9–11 “All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified; they shall be put to shame together.”

God knows what will happen if you and I bring idols into our homes and our hearts

God knows that sin and idolatry will lead to brokenness, alienation, and hardshipWhy? Because He knew the accursed things would become as an idol to Israel (God knows was sin will do to you, He knows what will happen if you make idols in your life; He know sin and idolatry will lead to brokenness and alienation; He knew