GateWay Church of Visalia
Reaching Forward
Pastor Ed Kemp Joshua 7 & 8
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
BOOK: Ripples: Learning to let go of the past and leave a new legacy. Hicks & Hindes
BOOK: Ripples: Learning to let go of the past and leave a new legacy. Hicks & Hindes
So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land. Joshua 6:27
NEGATIVE RIPPLES
1. DISTRUST leads to DISOBEDIENCE
But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan…took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.
1. DISTRUST leads to DISOBEDIENCE
But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan…took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the Lord burned against the sons of Israel.
2. DISOBEDIENCE leads to DEFEAT
Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty six of their men…-
Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai struck down about thirty six of their men…-
3. DEFEAT leads to DESPAIR
…so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
7 Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned back before their enemies? 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?” Joshua 7:7-9
…so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
7 Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned back before their enemies? 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?” Joshua 7:7-9
The progression of despair:
• Questioning GOD “...why did you...”
• Regretting CHOICES “If only...”
• Exaggerating FAILURE “...routed...”
• Predicting DISASTER “...wipe out...”
Despair’s conclusion: “My FAILURE is FINAL,” is a self-fulfilling prophecy!
• Questioning GOD “...why did you...”
• Regretting CHOICES “If only...”
• Exaggerating FAILURE “...routed...”
• Predicting DISASTER “...wipe out...”
Despair’s conclusion: “My FAILURE is FINAL,” is a self-fulfilling prophecy!
So What?!
POSITIVE RIPPLES
1. DESPAIR can lead to DIAGNOSIS
So the Lord said to Joshua, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. 12 Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. 13 Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the Lord, the God of Israel, has said, “There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.” Joshua 7:10-12a, 13
Repentance is not about FEELING SORRY; it’s about taking ACTION.
2. DIAGNOSIS can lead to DISCLOSURE
So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.” Joshua 7:20-2 1
So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted them and took them; and behold, they are concealed in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.” Joshua 7:20-2 1
3. DISCLOSURE can lead to DELIVERANCE
Now the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. Joshua 8:1
Your FAILURE isn’t FINAL! (See Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; Romans 8:37-39)
Why do we not all die for our sin?
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Why do we not all die for our sin?
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
BOTTOM LINE: REFOCUS ON GOD & HIS PROMISE’S.
Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal… 32 He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel. 34 Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them. Joshua 8:30-35
Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal… 32 He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel. 34 Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them. Joshua 8:30-35
Reaching Forward
Pastor Ed Kemp, Feb. 20 & 23, 2020
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Do you have any positive slogans that you repeat to yourself internally?
Read: Joshua 7 & 8
The progression of despair:
• Questioning God, “...why did you...” Can you think of one small example of doing this that you can share with your group? • Regretting choices, “If only...” This is often called second guessing, can you think of a time when you second guessed yourself?
• Exaggerating failure, “...routed...” Do you ever exaggerate failure? Share one example.
• Predicting disaster, “...wipe out...” In the newspaper world the slogan was, “If it bleeds it leads!” When I was in Jr. High, we were entering a new ice age, then over-population, now it’s global warming, do you think our culture glorifies predictions of gloom and doom. Despair’s conclusion: “My failure is final,” is a self-fulfilling prophecy! Can you think of any famous comeback stories from athletics or another field?
God’s response to all Joshua’s negativity is, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?” Do you ever feel like you have to stay down on your face groveling before God so that He will forgive you? Do you feel like you have to ask forgiveness over and over again so that it will really happen?
Read: Hebrews 13:5, What does God never leaving us or forsaking us have to do with the love of money? From where do you get your sense of security? Which would you give up first your bank account or your church?
Read: Romans 8:31-39, vs. 32 says that God gives to us His most valuable possession, His Son, what else could he give us that would be more valuable? If you could ask God for anything, what would it be? Vs. 35 asks the question, “Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?” and the answer is nothing can! Who did you express love to on Valentine’s Day and what did you do for them? Vs. 37 says, “…we conquer through Him who loved us.” People conquer others through military weapons, economic pressure or cyber warfare, but Paul says we conquer through Jesus who loves us. Vs. 38-39 tells us what we conquer, we conquer separation from God and His love. Do you fear being separated from God?
Family Time: Play hide and go seek with your kids and ask them why it’s so much fun to hide. Tell them how Achan hid treasure that he stole and that God says that’s wrong.
Pastor Ed Kemp, Feb. 20 & 23, 2020
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Do you have any positive slogans that you repeat to yourself internally?
Read: Joshua 7 & 8
The progression of despair:
• Questioning God, “...why did you...” Can you think of one small example of doing this that you can share with your group? • Regretting choices, “If only...” This is often called second guessing, can you think of a time when you second guessed yourself?
• Exaggerating failure, “...routed...” Do you ever exaggerate failure? Share one example.
• Predicting disaster, “...wipe out...” In the newspaper world the slogan was, “If it bleeds it leads!” When I was in Jr. High, we were entering a new ice age, then over-population, now it’s global warming, do you think our culture glorifies predictions of gloom and doom. Despair’s conclusion: “My failure is final,” is a self-fulfilling prophecy! Can you think of any famous comeback stories from athletics or another field?
God’s response to all Joshua’s negativity is, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?” Do you ever feel like you have to stay down on your face groveling before God so that He will forgive you? Do you feel like you have to ask forgiveness over and over again so that it will really happen?
Read: Hebrews 13:5, What does God never leaving us or forsaking us have to do with the love of money? From where do you get your sense of security? Which would you give up first your bank account or your church?
Read: Romans 8:31-39, vs. 32 says that God gives to us His most valuable possession, His Son, what else could he give us that would be more valuable? If you could ask God for anything, what would it be? Vs. 35 asks the question, “Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ?” and the answer is nothing can! Who did you express love to on Valentine’s Day and what did you do for them? Vs. 37 says, “…we conquer through Him who loved us.” People conquer others through military weapons, economic pressure or cyber warfare, but Paul says we conquer through Jesus who loves us. Vs. 38-39 tells us what we conquer, we conquer separation from God and His love. Do you fear being separated from God?
Family Time: Play hide and go seek with your kids and ask them why it’s so much fun to hide. Tell them how Achan hid treasure that he stole and that God says that’s wrong.