Matt. 5:8 (NIV) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

I openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust!!!

The Shakin’ and Breakin’ of Fakin’ Achan

Joshua 7:1 - 8:2

• "pure" = free from impurities and fully devoted.
• "devotion" is a prerequisite for "purity"

Story of Achan and Ai

God’s call for devotion:

Josh. 6: 16-19 ...Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD … But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury."

God wanted them to know that their victory was because of Him

Josh. 7:1-3 But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD’s anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there."

Three Flaws in how the Israelites Responded to Ai

1. They were Self-Confident Because Ai was SMALL
2. They Failed to Wait On God and To SEEK God
3. They Did Not Want To WEARY the People

Achan (Achar = 1Chron 2:7) = “trouble” – not grasping purity will always bring ‘trouble.

Shakin’ the Power of Achan in our Lives

1. The Breakin’ of Achan - v. 4-5

Josh 7:4-5: So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

• Ai = Ruin
• Shebarim = Stone quarries = The Breaking Point

You will never be Pure (or healed) until you reach the Breaking Point.

2. Shakin’ Achan – v. 6-10

Josh. 7:6-10 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?” 10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face?

When God is drawing us to Him, our emotions try to take over.

We’d rather have a Pity Party rather then choose to get clean.

Josh 7:11-13 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. 13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.

3. Fakin’ Achan – v 19

Josh. 7:19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

Is 6 – the train of His robe filled the Temple

4. Takin’ Achan – v. 21
v 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them.

• Until you become secure with Purity - You will always be insecure about our culture.
• Our desire to be pure in heart is on a Collision Course with the Unholy Culture.
• Can you be whole-heartedly Devoted to God and whole-heartedly be in an all out pursuit of the things of this world?

1John 2:15 - Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

5. The Makin’ of Achan – v 21

v. 21 - When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

• I saw ... I coveted ... I took ... they are hidden.
• When you covet – you are blind to God
• Watch what you Hide - You give whatever you hide in your life - the power rule you.
• Secret Sins Destroy

Our Secret World is created by our:

1. Secret Sins
2. Secret Pain
3. Secret Habits
4. Secret Idols
5. Secret Thoughts
6. Secret Anger
7. Secret Passions/Lusts
8. Secret Fantasies
9. Secret Regrets
10. Secret Lies

6. Awakin’ Achan – 8:2

Josh 8:2 - “You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves.”

Audio File: 

2010-02-28.mp3

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