SERMON: OUR ACHAN BACK
INTRODUCTION/CONTEXT: Joshua7: 1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for ACHAN, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. Also Read: 2-6 : 10-16 : 19 : 22-25. TRANSITIONAL-STATEMENT: This story speaks to the solidarity expected from God in His body, as well as our corporate responsibility. We must be diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit and thus keeping ourselves from an ACHAN back! 1.ACCOUNTABILITY: Ge 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother's keeper? Lu 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? We would say we know the answers. We wouldn’t be like Cain nor the Pharisee! We would never cause another to stumble . . . Openly! But tell me, is there anything hiding in your tent? Jos 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, . . .of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. Get the answer to both questions?! Never has God been fooled by things we hide. Yet we hide none the less! There is nothing more foolish! Ps 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. To trick God is impossible, and He expects us to all be accountable for each others actions!! So I could go out right now and do something sinful, selfish etc, and it would effect you! Vice Versa! As well by victories and blessing are yours too! Lets choose the latter!Surely it will not effect anyone in secret. Surely we all think like Achan. Surely we all are tempted to be selfish. Surely we all speak of watching each others back, but refuse to hold each other accountable, for then we may have others do the same to us! God’s people could not even take out little Ai. When the church has hidden sin, even the simple things are hard, if not impossible. Accountabilty is to care not only for the person in wrong, but for God’s Body! Otherwise we will get a terrible ACHAN back! Eph 4:3-5 Eph 4:3 Diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. How open are you to nosy brothers? How willing are you to be held accountable? Will you watch your churches back? Before it starts Achan? Whats hidden in your tent? 2.TERRITORY: Jos 22:19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession [be] unclean, [then] pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD'S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God. 20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity. Years later, Israel didn’t forget the lesson, and though this was simply miscommunication, they had learned accountability and repentance! Here it is reference to territory. We must be sure that we are not ignorant of the strength of compromise, even in places. Like this church building, would you like to come here Sunday knowing it has been defiled? Well neither does God, and He sees what we cannot. So, we must close in on Him and see what He sees. We can stand against no enemy when our territory is defiled, never mind advancing. Like Christ, we must see the hidden works of darkness in our homes and as well our bodies.1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. This speaks of us individuals and as His Body. It only takes one of us to give Christ’s Body an ACHAN back!Eph 4:3-5 Eph 4:3 Diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. How seriously have you cleaned your territory? What do you do that you hope effects no one else? How clean are you keeping those skeletons in the closet? Where do you see compromise - excuse - justification? Whats hidden in your tent? 3.ENTANGLED?: Jos 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, [even] it, and all that [are] therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that [are] with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. So as ones sin curses many. So ones righteousness blesses many! No better example than the cross of Christ! Ro 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 [Be] of the same mind one toward another. As much as today we rejoice with them that are rejoicing, in the waters of baptism; so also must we take the same step as them. We must join them in this act of obedience and committment, regardless of where you may be in your walk! 2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Patti mentioned when visiting us that" what was acceptable 10 years ago is not O.K.O now". True. Snctification! Each of us, not just focuing on those being baptised to day, must continue our growth from glory to glory! What God let you get away with yesterday will not be so tomorrow, for He has given more and now expecting more! Ge 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Be sure you, Like Jacob, continue your struggle with God for His blessings! Ro 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. * The more you struggle with light, the less you'll struggle with darkness!* Don't look back to the past - Lu 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Don't focus on the sins and weaknesses that so easily beset us. Heb 12:1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Look forward to high calling and crown of Christ - Phi 3:13-14 . . .[this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And focus on the ever heightened conscience through the Holy Spirit and opportunities for righteousness! - Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Each of us have destinies that are tied together, we are unified even if we don’t want to be! Though Achan’s sin effected all, it was eventually Him and his family the Lord destroyed, don’t ignore your need for each other. Then you cut yourself from God’s hand. Loike it or not we effect each other, we are all of the same vine or tree. But when you see a tree, it looks to be entangled and a mess. But if you get close enough, you’ll see it is not entagled, but orderly and working together to grow; a refuge to other living things and a snare to the enemy. So today, as God is calling these to baptism's obedience and is pleased with their committment, He is calling this church to again be baptised! To be filled again with the Holy Spirt Fire! To die again to self as a living sacrifice and rise in newness of life! To remove the hidden things of shame in your mortal tent, bringing them again to light by repentance with unity in holiness and love! Eph 4:3-5 Eph 4:3 Diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Unity does not happen by accident, it takes constant work, what part are you doing? We need to make a committment to ONENESS in obedience, and dedicate ourselves in holiness to God and His one Body! As long as we are guarded towards God’s Body, we cannot put our guard up against the enemy! Open yourself to being entangled with God’s Body. “One baptism” is the committment today, it is a continuation of all our baptisms and is a part of the continual massage that we give the body of Christ, from a possible ACHAN back! Each prayer for one another, each sin resisted, each temptation overcome is a massage from an, all too easy, ACHAN back! Whatever is buried in your tent, dig it up today! Eph 4:3-5 Eph 4:3 Diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism.Are you fighting for unity or just hoping it happens accidently? Are you letting your gaurd down to God and His body? Are you still a part of the One Lord, one faith, one baptism? Whats hidden in your tent?
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