TITLE: SIN IN THE CAMP 6/23/02
TEXT: JOSHUA 7:1 - 13
INTRO:
THERE IS NOTHING SO DAMAGING, NOTHING SO HURTFUL AS WHEN A PERSON (ESPECIALLY A CHRISTIAN) IS LIVING IN SIN. TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL AS THE RESULT OF ONE MAN’S DISOBEDIENCE TO THE LORD.
MOSES HAS NOW DIED AND JOSHUA HAS TAKEN OVER. AND IT IS HIS TASK NOW TO LEAD THE NATION OF ISRAEL OVER JORDAN INTO THE LAND OF CAANAN
CAANAN LAND AS YOU KNOW IS A PICTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND ALL THE BATTLES WE WILL FACE AS SOON AS WE ENTER IN. AND AS SOON THEY CAME INTO CANAAN LAND, THEY WERE INSTANTLY FACED WITH 3 BATTLES AND THESE SAME 3 BATTLES THEY FACED ARE THE SAME ONES WE FIGHT TODAY. NOTICE THESE BATTLES, FIRST OF ALL THEY FOUGHT THE -
1. BATTLE OF JERICHO CHAPTER 6
JERICHO AS YOU KNOW IS A PICTURE OF THE WORLD. AND GOD TOLD THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL THEY WERE NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF JERICHO AS THEY WENT IN TO FIGHT – BUT THEY WOULDN’T LISTEN TO GOD AND THEY SINNED IN TAKING THE ACCURSED THING.
2. BATTLE OF AI CHAPTER 7
AI IS A PICTURE OF THE FLESH. AS YOU STUDY CHAPTER 7 YOU WILL FIND THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL – UNDER ESTIMATED THEIR ENEMY!
THEY TOLD JOSHUA, “LETS ONLY SEND A SMALL BAND OF 3000 AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF AI, THEY ARE SMALL AND CAN EASILY BE DESTROYED.” BUT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ARE THE ONES WHO GOT DEFEATED AND 36 PEOPLE DIED AS A RESULT OF OVERCONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN POWER AND STRENGTH.
THE LESSON YOU AND I CAN LEARN IS THIS: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE FLESH AND NEVER OVERESTIMATE OUR OWN PERSONAL STRENGTH.
THE INSTANT YOU AND I THINK WE ARE STRONG ENOUGH AND HAVE CONTROL OVER THE FLESH – THAT’S WHEN WE ARE HEADED FOR A FALL.
PROVERBS 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall!
3. BATTLE AGAINST THE GIBEONITES CHAPTER 9
THIS BATTLE HOWEVER WAS NOT A BATTLE OF FLESH AND BLOOD, THIS WAS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE OF DECEPTION. YOU SEE GOD HAD TOLD JOSHUA TO WIPE OUT ALL THE INHABITANTS IN THE LAND – NOT BECAUSE GOD WASN’T A MERC-IFUL GOD. GOD SIMPLY KNEW THAT THE PEOPLE IN THAT LAND WERE PAGAN-ISTIC AND WOULD SOON HAVE THE WHOLE NATION OF ISRAEL WORSHIPPING THE SAME FALSE gods THEY DID. AND THE GIBEONITES CAME AND DELT IN A CRAFTY MANNER WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND MADE A LEAGUE WITH THEM – CAUSING ISRAEL TO SIN.
EPHESIANS 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
YOU’VE HEARD ME SAY IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN – WHEN YOU GET SAVED THAT’S WHEN THE BATTLE BEGINS – THAT OUGHT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO WALK AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST – FOR THE MOMENT YOU STRAY AWAY FROM CHRIST – THE DEVIL WILL BE SOMEWHERE LURKING IN THE SHADOWS READY TO ATTACK.
NOW AS WE COME TO CHAPTER 7, WE FIND THAT ISRAEL HAS –
· JUST GOT WHIPPED BY THE PEOPLE OF AI
· JOSHUA AND ALL THE PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED
· WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD GOD ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?
· 36 MEN HAVE BEEN KILLED FOR NOTHING.
· JOSHUA AND ALL THE PEOPLE FALL ON THEIR FACES IN PRAYER SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS.
· SO GOD EXPLAINS TO THEM WHY THEY LOST THE BATTLE IN V.13 GOD SAYS -
There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
IN OTHER WORDS – THERE IS SIN IN THE CAMP!
ILL. THERE WAS ONE MAN IN ALL THE CAMP OF ISRAEL BY THE NAME OF ACHAN WHO STOLE 200 SHEKELS OF SILVER, A WEDGE OF GOLD AND A BABYLONISH GARMENT OUT OF THE CITY OF JERICHO. AND AS A RESULT THE WHOLE NATION OF ISRAEL SUFFERED DEFEAT AND HE AND HIS FAMILY LOST THEIR LIVES.
QUOTE: ONE BAD APPLE SPOILS THE WHOLE BUNCH!
AND I WANT US TO REALIZE THAT IF THERE IS ONE INDIVIDUAL IN THIS CHURCH TONIGHT WHO IS LIVING IN SIN – ALL THE REST OF THE CHURCH WILL SUFFER AS A RESULT!
SO TONIGHT, I WANT US TO FOCUS IN ON V.13 AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE AS A CHURCH ALLOW SIN TO REIGN IN OUR LIVES.
ILL. NOW LISTEN, WE HAVE ALL BEEN PRAYING FOR SOME GREAT THINGS TO HAPPEN IN OUR CHURCH. WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR –
· LAND
· OUR GOAL OF 500
· NEW BUILDING
· PIANIST – MORE WORKERS TO COME
BUT I AM HERE TO TELL YOU TONIGHT – IF THERE IS UNCONFESSED SIN IN THE CHURCH – GOD WILL NOT ANSWER OUR PRAYERS. NOW THERE ARE 2 TYPES OF SIN WE NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT TONIGHT.
A. SINS OF THE FLESH
WHEN I SPEAK OF THE FLESH, I AM SPEAKING OF INVOLVING OURSELVES IN THE SAME SINS OF THE WORLD. I AM TALKING ABOUT –
· DRINKING AND GOING TO THE BARS
· WATCHING FILTHY MOVIES AND SO ON.
· LAZINESS
B. SINS OF THE SPIRIT
· PRIDE, ANGER, BITTERNESS, UNFAITHFULNESS, GREED, UNBELIEF, REBELLION IN THE MATTER OF SOULWINNING AND SO ON.
AND WHEN THESE SINS GO UNCONFESSED AND UNREPENTED OF IN OUR LIVES – GOD WILL WITHDRAW HIS HAND FROM AMONG US AND NOTHING WILL HAPPEN IN OUR CHURCH.
SO AS WE GET INTO THE MESSAGE TONIGHT, I WANT TO GIVE YOU 3 THINGS THAT WILL BE HINDERED IF SIN IS IN OUR LIFE.
I. OUR PRAYERS WILL BE HINDERED V.10
HERE JOSHUA WAS TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF GOD TO FIND OUT WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED – WHY DID WE SUFFER DEFEAT - AND GOD TOLD HIM TO GET UP OFF YOUR FACE - THERE’S SIN IN THE CAMP!
ILL. YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO KING SAUL AFTER TIME AND TIME AGAIN OF SINNING AND LIVING HIS LIFE IN ABSOLUTE REBELLION AGAINST THE LORD. SAUL REFUSED TO CONFESS HIS SIN AND GET HIS HEART RIGHT AND AS A RESULT – SAUL COULD NO LONGER HEAR FROM GOD! SAUL HAD SINNED SO MUCH THAT HE EVEN WENT TO THE EXTENT OF GOING TO A WITCH TO TRY GET AHOLD OF THE MAN OF GOD.
LISTEN FOLKS, ANYTIME YOU AND I LIVE IN CONSTANT SIN AND REBELLION AND SIN AGAINST THE LORD – OUR PRAYERS WILL GO UNANSWERED!
PROVERBS – PRAYER OF THE WICKED IS AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD!
2 CHRONICLES 7:14
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
MY FRIEND, YOU AND I CAN PRAY TILL WE ARE –
· BLUE IN THE FACE
· KNEES ARE CALOUSED
· EYES ARE RED
· TEARS FLOW LIKE RIVERS
BUT ALL OF THAT IS VAIN (IF) THERE IS UNCONFESSED SIN IN OUR LIVES.
NOT ONLY WILL OUR PRAYERS BE HINDERED, NOTICE -
II. OUR POWER WILL BE HINDERED V.12
Neither will I be with you any more!
OH, WHAT FRIGHTENING WORDS THOSE MUST HAVE BEEN TO THE MAN JOSHUA! TO BE LEFT ALONE FOR SURE MEANT –
· DEFEAT!
· THE ENEMY WOULD PREVAIL
YOU SEE IF GOD WOULD HAVE LEFT THEM ALONE, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT BY THE ENEMY!
Neither will I be with you any more!
OH HOW THOSE WORDS OUGHT TO –
· SEND A CHILL DOWN OUR SPINE
· STRIKE CONVICTION IN OUR HEARTS
· DISTURB US ON THE INSIDE
TO KNOW THAT IF SIN REMAINS IN OUR HEARTS – THE PRESENCE OF GOD WILL NOT BE WITH US ANYMORE!
MY FRIEND IT IS GODS PRESENCE THAT BRINGS POWER TO THE SERVICE!
ISAIAH 64:1 – 3
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
3 When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
ILL. I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE PLACE TO BE IS STANDING BEHIND THE PULPIT, WHEN THERE IS UNCONFESSED SIN IN YOUR LIFE!
MY FRIEND YOU CANNOT PREACH IN CHURCH OR TEACH IN A CLASS THE WAY YOU OUGHT TO IF THERE IS SIN IN YOUR LIFE! YES, WE ALL SLIP AND FALL. YES, WE ALL SIN. BUT THE KIND OF SIN I AM TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT IS WILLFUL, INEXCUSABLE, ONGOING SIN IN YOUR LIFE!
LISTEN, PREACHER, TEACHER, SINGER, SOULWINNER – YOUR MINISTRY WILL NEVER HAVE THE POWER OF GOD UPON IT UNTIL SIN IS TAKEN OUT OF YOUR LIFE! YOU SEE, OUR POWER IS TOTALLY DEPENDANT UPON WHETHER OR NOT GOD SHOWS UP IN OUR CHURCH – AND GOD WILL NOT SHOW UP WHEN THERE IS SIN IN OUR LIVES.
OUR PRAYERS WILL BE HINDERED, OUR POWER WILL BE HINDERED
III. OUR PROSPERITY WILL BE HINDERED
JOSHUA 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Ps 119:9
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
Ps 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Ps 119:101
I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Ps 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path
Ps 119:133
Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
MY FRIEND IF YOU ARE FAITHFULLY READING AND MEDITATING ON THE WORD OF GOD, SIN WILL NOT REIGN IN YOUR LIFE! AND THEN –
· OUR PRAYERS WILL BE HEARD
· GOD’S POWER WILL BE SEEN
· GOD WILL POUR OUT HIS BLESSINGS UPON US
BUT IF THERE IS SIN IN OUR LIVES – WE’LL NOT SEE –
· 500
· A NEW BUILDING
· SOULS COME TO CHRIST
· FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
IF WE AS A CHURCH ALLOW SIN TO REMAIN –
· WE’LL NOT GO ANY FARTHER THAN WHERE WE ARE!
· BUS ROUTES WILL CONTINUE TO DWINDLE
· ALTARS WILL BE BARREN
· EYES WILL BE DRY
· HEARTS BE HARDENED – LIVES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED
· AND GOD WILL NOT PROSPER US ANY MORE!
LISTEN, IF THERE IS SIN IN MY LIFE – I WILL PULL THE REST OF THE CHURCH DOWN. IF THERE IS SIN IN YOUR LIFE – YOU WILL PULL THE REST OF THE CHURCH DOWN. SO 4 THINGS ALL OF US NEED TO DO.
1. EXAMINE YOUR OWN HEART!
ILL. IT’S NOT MY BROTHER, SISTER BUT IT’S ME OH LORD STANDING IN THE NEED OF PRAYER.
LET’S NOT EXAMINE OTHERS – LET’S EXAMINE OURSELVES! THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON YOU WILL HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT FOR ON JUDGMENT DAY AND THAT IS YOU.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:31 - 32
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
2. CONFESS – AGREE WITH GOD WHAT GOD HAS TO SAY ABOUT OUR SIN
3. REPENT – TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS
4. RESOLVE – WE ARE NOT GOING BACK TO THEM
SONG: I AM RESOLVED NO LONGER TO LINGER, CHARMED BY THE WORLD’S DELIGHT, THINGS THAT ARE HIGHER, THINGS THAT ARE NOBLER, THESE HAVE ALLURED MY SIGHT!
TONIGHT FOR INVITATION TIME, I WANT TO ASK ALL OF US TO DO SOME SOUL SEARCHING ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM THE PASTOR TO THE SMALLEST ONE SITTING IN HERE TONIGHT. LET’S GET OUR HEARTS RIGHT WITH GOD – AND GET SIN OUT OF THE CAMP AND THEN WE’LL HAVE GOOD SUCCESS.
