INTRODUCTION - THE MASTER TEACHER TRIES TO TEACH US A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON ABOUT OUR PERSONAL LIVES

• Joshua is a great book of history and allegory on the Victorious Christian life - Ephesians
• Every Christian has to pass through the valley of Achor, and decide what to do in secret
• Thank God for Grace - we may not have to pay Achan's price, but we must beware his sin!

Unless we watch out we might well do something that might cost us our physical life!

I. DEFEAT BECAUSE OF SIN (1-6)

After every spiritual victory - Jericho- there is a great defeat unless we are very careful

A. SEPERATION FROM GOD'S PROTECTION COMES BECAUSE OF ANY HIDDEN SIN, HIDING IT IS VERY DANGEROUS

1. The instructions for Jericho had been plain- (5:19-9) and there was no room to ignore them
2. But Achan (Dryden) looked, coveted, endured, pitied, embraced then wallowed in sin- v.1
3. He took, hid, kept in secret place the accursed thing -don't try to reason why God cursed it

B.  BLINDNESS AND WEAKNESS CAME UPON ALL ISRAEL BECAUSE OF THE HIDDEN SIN OF ACHAN, v.2

1. The spies viewed Ai were blind to its strength, & they wist not God's spirit had departed.- Sampson
2. Some 12-1500 defeated 3,000 men of war and Israel lost 36 - a cowardly defeat
3. This is the only battle thus far where they had any casualties at all- God spoke loud-SIN

C.  SUFFERING CAME UPON ALL BECAUSE OF THE HIDDEN SIN OF ONE PERSON OF FAMILY

1. When we share the benefits of civilization we also pay its cost- teamwork- all forward-or
2. The hearts of the people melted- they did not even know what was wrong, but it affected them
3. Luke 12:2,3 tells nothing kept secret- Rom 2:16 when God will judge secrets of man

How will you feel when your life is revealed - its secrets - Think of it next temptation!

II.  SIN WAS DISCOVERED IN THE САМР v. 7-18

Joshua was shocked at the defeat, fell on his face, cried out blaming God v.6-9

A.  GOD DIRECTED THE SEARCHING PARTY FOR THE CULPRIT, AND THEY BROUGHT THE SIN TO LIGHT v.10

1. God spoke rather harshly to Joshua- Get up, stop praying, take action, quit whining!
2. God told Joshua the problem-v.11-13 and the solution- v.12b,13 and Joshua wasted no time-
3. God even guided Joshua in the judgement- 14-15- no shortcuts, we must search own hearts-

B.  GOD DEALS WITH INDIVIDUAL SINS, AND WITH GROUP SINS, AND THE PUNISHMENT IS FAIR

1. As God dealt with Achan and Israel, so he deals with us today, but we are too smart to see it
2. We have lost our ability to be shocked at sin- and Civil Rights has paved the way to sin
3. The unconfessed sin soon becomes a way of life,- & temptation to others to go farther-

C.  SIN OR RIGHTEOUSNESS AFFECTS THE ENTIRE CHURCH, CITY, STATE, NATION, AND WE ALL PAY

1. Achan's sin was not hidden from God or from his self-(family?) His attitude changed-
2. This attitude of Doubt of God's word willfulness-(maybe fear of punishment) broadcast around
3. What you do in secret is such a part of your life that it broadcasts to others - & infects them

The problem is in that we get all beat out of shape over appearance - God judged the heart

III.  SIN WAS CAST OUT AND VICTORY CLAIMED 19-26

God told Joshua to get up- take action and go forward - not to be stopped by unsettled sin

A.  SIN MUST BE CONFRONTED, CONFESSED, AND DEALT WITH IN AN HONEST WAY - AND ACHAN DID SO

1. When Achan vas caught- Joshua urged him to confession- v.19 so he did v.29
2. We as Christians are told that we too must confess - I John 1:9 and James 5:16-to each other
3. Maybe what Achan did was salvation for his soul-but it was too late to save his physical life

B.  SIN MUST BE FORSAKEN, CAST OUT, DEALT WITH, AND THEY DID THIS

1. Achan delivered the location 21-23 and Joshua sent men to collect the cursed thing
2. The Ill gotten gain, of pleasure- is never enjoyed- it always causes a sore place-
3. We must mortify the deeds of the flesh- Col 3:5 Note how many are attitudes-cut them off

C.  SIN MUST BE PAID FOR, AND ACHAN PAID A HORRIBLE PRICE BEFORE ALL ISRAEL FOR HIS SIN

1. Lest you sympathize with him- or his family- just remember the 36 who died- they had families
2. The sooner a sin is cared for the less scar it leaves - even the smallest one can cause death
3. We must pay our debt to society- after confessing to God- make it right with brother - did you?

God gave Joshua and Israel a great victory and - Ch. 8 - Ai fell after sin cared for

CONCLUSION - IF NOT FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, AT LEAST FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR FRIENDS, CLEAR SECRET SIN OUT!

1. Some sins are so secret- they need to be confessed only to God- but do so! Prayer altar-
2. Some sins need to be confessed publicly- they know about your sin- why not your confession?
3. You will never have Christian Victory until you deal with the sin in your life - need it be named? The Holy spirit will do so right now!

_{SWC SE462-71}