Sin in the Camp

Sin in the Camp!

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:   Ezekiel 3:16-21; Joshua 6:18; 7:1-13

I.       The role of the watchman (Ezekiel 3:16-21)

II.      What is the problem?  When the curse comes, when problems continue to arise, when people continue to be afflicted, when lives continue to fall victim to Satan’s devises, when the church does not grow and whatever growth there is dries up on the vine?

          A.      Joshua 6:18; 7:1-13  There is sin in the camp!

III.    The Doctrine of Balaam

A.      Revelation 2:14  To eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality

B.      Numbers 25:19  Since Balaam could not curse Israel, Balaam’s advice to Balak was to have the Israelites bring the curse upon themselves by putting a stumbling block before the people of Israel so that they might enter into sin and open the door for the curse.

C.      Proverbs 3:33  The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked

D.      Proverbs 26:2  “Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight.”  There must be something in our lives for a curse to land upon.

E.      Are you providing the curse a landing strip in your life?  In your family?  In the church?

F.      Are you bringing the curse of the Lord upon others by putting stumbling blocks before the people?  Are you in sin or worshiping idols and encouraging others to do the same?

G.      Idolatry is the worship of created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25)

IV.     Ten idols that must come down

          A.      Idol of self (Worship of self:  time, energy, money, choices, etc.)

          B.      Idol of money & possessions (Worship of the temporary)

          C.      Idol of job & career (Worship of the secular)

D.      Idol of worldly music (Worship of worship)

E.      Idol of lust & whoredom (Worship of sex and the male or female anatomy, lust of the eyes, fantasy, masturbation, phone sex, cyber sex, strip joints, adultery, fornication, homosexuality)

F.      Idol of family & friends (Worship of people)

G.      Idol of Substance Abuse (Worship of Escape:  drugs, alcohol, tobacco, prescription medications, etc.)

H.      Idol of sports & entertainment (Worship of personal pleasure:  hunting, fishing, football, etc.)

I.       Idol of pride (Worship of image:  I offer you my submission.  Lucifer is my master, I will resist all authority even as you have done.  I will defy my parents, etc.)

J.       Idol of rebellion (Worship of power & control)

K.      Idol of stubbornness (Worship of independence & control:  I offer you my will.  I may listen, but I will not bow.  I will not change.  I will not conform. I will not yield.  I will not back off.  I will not budge.  I will not be faithful.  I will not be committed.  I will not serve.  I will not reconsider.)

V.      God is a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24)

A.      Jealousy is a careful watching or guarding of covenant loyalty

1.       2 Corinthians 11:2  “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

B.      Envy (Webster’s) is a feeling of discontent and ill will because of another's advantages, possessions, etc.; resentful dislike of another who has something that one desires.

VI.     It is time to get the sin out!  (1 Corinthians 5:1-13)

          A.      It will first be dealt with among leaders

          B.      It will then take place among the people

          C.      Then God will judge those who are not believers

D.      Those who claim to the name of Jesus are accountable to the body of Christ through which His name is preached