Almost A Year

Becky and I received the word that we would be leaving Union and coming back to Greenville to pastor one year ago this weekend. I was 43 years old when we moved to Union and enjoyed 13 years of ministry there. I felt that God was through with us and was looking forward to our new post of ministry at DCOG. However I found out that 13 years in one place makes a difference when you are finally making a transition. I am writing this for the benefit of someone who may be trying to find the Lord's Will about a move in hopes that it will prepare them for the adventure ahead, especially if you have been a long term pastor.

-First, I found out that 13 years makes a difference in a lot of ways. It was a lot easier to adapt to a new environment and new people when I was 43 than it was when I was 56. You've heard that old saying that "people are people everywhere"-well, in some respects that is true. However, trying to learn names, faces, places, and the quirks of a new congregation is a lot harder when you're older than when you are younger. The main problem that I inherited at DCOG is that several people only come on Sunday morning and it's hard to get acquainted with folks that you only see one time a week.

-Second, some churches accept change well and others don't. I've never had a problem adapting to a church situation because I was raised to do so and accept what the Bible says to be content in whatever state of mind or environment I'm in. DCOG has accepted my implemented changes slowly but surely and more will be coming. When people understand the changes are not about ego or self, but are about what helps the church to do the work of God better and more efficiently it's easier to make the needed transitions.

-Third, no matter where you are you will not please everybody. I had complainers in Union just like I do at DCOG. Man, if people would work for God as much and as hard as they find something to complain about, we could turn the world upside down for Jesus. But I will never see that happen in my lifetime unless the younger generation refuses to be set in their ways like their elders. My biggest problems in the last 3 years have come from those who are not regular in church attendance. I do not count as regular those who just come on Sunday morning unless their work keeps them out of church. They usually are the people that complain the most. Yet, most of their complaints could be solved if they would just be in church like they agreed to be when they joined the church!

-Fourth, there are good people in every church. For every complainer I have 2 good people who love God, love their pastor, and want to see the church go forward. Most pastors find when they make a move that they don't escape from problems-they just change faces. However, their are some folks that you automatically fall in love with because you see they share the same vision and compassion for souls that you have. I found that at UCOG and I've found that at DCOG as well.

Valentine's Weekend 2010 we said good-bye to UCOG. The next Sunday we started here at DCOG. It has been a wild year filled with a lot of ups and downs, but I can honestly say I still believe God sent Becky and I here to pastor. Have I done the best job I could this past year? I think so. Could I have done more? Probably, but can't we all say that?

I miss my friends of 13 years and the closeness that we had. We were a part of many families during our time at UCOG and we miss many of them. Yet God has given us a new family and we have fallen in love with so many of them it will be hard to say good-bye when God is finished with us here.

That's why I'm convinced in my spirit that God knows much more than me and I am trusting Him to reveal His next step in my life. It's been almost a year, and I know I'm where He wants me to be. But I will never shut the door on God or what He has planned for my future. I advise you to do the same.

Victory Over Death

What is that victory over death? Let's think together and reflect for a moment on some of the great declarations of the Bible:

(1) Because of Christ's victory for us, God assures us in His Word that this separation is not permanent for believers in Christ. For one day there will be a reuniting of believing loved ones in heaven, never to be separated again. Even now, (Name) is enjoying not only fellowship with the Lord, but with other members of her family that have gone on before.

In the OT, it is often repeated that a saint who died "was gathered to his people." This was said of Abraham, Isaac, Aaron, and Moses. This does not mean they were laid to rest with their people, for Moses was not. It means their souls and spirits were reunited in a place called Abraham's bosom or paradise.

When David's child died, he said in 2 Samuel 12:23 "Can I bring him back? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me." It was comforting to David to know he would someday be reunited with his child whom he would know and with whom he would have eternal fellowship.

(2) The Word of God tells us that the sting of death has been swallowed up in the victory of Christ. The "sting of death," Scripture says, "is sin," and Scripture says because of this sin "it is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment." But for (Name), the sting, which is sin, has been removed and so also the judgment. For Romans 8:1 says "there is therefore now no condemnation (no Great White Throne Judgment for sin) to them who are in Christ Jesus."

(3) For (Name), this appointment has been canceled because an earlier appointment was made and kept when she received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Christ's death canceled sin's penalty and its judgment was born by the Lord in the sinners place on the cross.

(4) Because of the victory of Christ, death for (Name) was a departure for home and means being in the presence of the Lord as well as in the presence of other believing loved ones. In II Timothy 4:6, Paul wrote to Timothy "for I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand."

The Greek word here for departure is analusis which is (a) a nautical term used of a ship which pulls up its anchor and sets sail; (b) it also used in a military way of an army breaking camp to move on; and (c) it was used of freeing someone from his chains.

Do you see? This, for the Christian, is what death is--it’s setting sail, it’s breaking camp, it’s being freed from this life so we can go home. The anchor is weighed and we set sail for the golden shore of the blessed presence of God, carried into God's presence.

Have you never been away from home and then boarded a plane or train, and as the time to depart approached, experienced that warm feeling and the thought--I am going home. This explains what death is like for the believer--it’s a going home experience.

John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

II Corinthians 5:8 "We are of good courage, I say, and prefer to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."

There is no intermediate state. The Bible teaches us there is no soul sleep, no purgatory, but instant entrance into God's presence and home. So, heaven is our eternal home. Our Lord is there. Our friends and loved ones in Christ are there. There is no sin nor sinful nature there to cause unhappiness.

Death for the believer is not a venture into the unknown, or a strange or alien atmosphere: it’s like going home. But it is even more wonderful than that because it is a home in God’s presence.

(5) While the ultimate wiping away of every tear awaits the final battle and the resurrection, our victory in Christ means that at death, we are ushered into the Lord's presence which brings joy unspeakable. In this heavenly home there won't be the sorrow, the tears, and the pain that we have here, and certainly, there is no death there (Revelation 21:4). The believer there experiences perfect happiness and all the joys which attend being in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When thinking of the glories of heaven and being at home with the Lord, the apostle Paul wrote, "I am in a straight between two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better, or to abide here."

So you can see we should receive much comfort and joy if we think about what death really means to the departed believer in Christ.

(6) Our victory in Christ also assures us that the believer will one day experience a glorious resurrection and a glorified body like that of Christ. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live."

Paul said, "For our manner of life is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" (Philippians 3:20-21).

This life is so often beset by ailing and painfully sick bodies, but our future body will know no such problems.

(7) The Word of God assures us that the victory accomplished for us by the Lord Jesus means a glorious, eternal inheritance "an inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, which is reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:3-5).

In other words, our heavenly inheritance is everything that our earthy inheritances are not. Our heavenly inheritance is: incorruptible in substance, undefiled in purity, unfading in beauty and joy, and reserved in heaven (kept sure) for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ by the eternal power and love of God in Jesus Christ (Rom.ans 8:39).

This means that our work on earth is never forgotten and that the labors of believers will follow them into eternity. So the Apostle concludes the resurrection chapter with these words:

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

(8) Finally, we can find further comfort in knowing "that precious in the sight of the LORD, is the death of His saints." There are no accidents with God, His timing is perfect, and He works all things together for good, for the one taken and those left (Romans 8:28-29). When a believer is called home, it's because God's purposes for that believer are over. It's because in God's love and wisdom, He wants that believer with Him in glory.

The apostle also wrote: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Just Say What You Mean

It amazes me how so many people want to make excuses for their actions on a daily basis. I will be the first to admit that I am not perfect, that I have many flaws, and that I get very easily frustrated with the actions of people who just don't seem to try. All that I ask from anybody is that they be straight forward with me-good or bad- and we can make things work out.

It's those kind of people that say stuff to everybody else except to you that drive a pastor crazy. They never come to him with their problems, but blame him when they are not solved. They never share their needs with him, but they complain when he doesn't seem to read their minds and understand what they are going through. They never express their feelings to him, but they sure don't mind expressing them to others. It's those kind of people that turn a pastor's hair gray before its time.

So here's the thought for today-just say what you mean. No more excuses, no more lies, no more gossip, just say what you mean. I will look you in the eye and apologize if I've done wrong and I expect the same response. I will make things right if I have harmed you in any way. Isn't this what the Bible says we are supposed to do-just say what you mean?

Matthew 5:22-24 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

So just be honest with yourself and others-just say what you mean and mean what you say. Put the past in the past and press forward in Jesus name. I promise-you will be glad that you did.

Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid

Matthew 12:36 "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

Words have power within them for the good and the bad. Words can encourage, enlighten, engage, and enthrall a listener, but they can also destroy, damage, detour, and decrease one as well.

Sometimes things are better left unsaid than said because people are looking for something to harm or hurt others with today and they take things we say and try to turn them to their advantage.

So be careful what you say. Here are just a few tips to help along your journey through life:

-Be careful of the words you speak in public because you never know who is listening. Many things get misinterpreted because somebody hears just a part of a conversation and repeat the portion that they hear.

-Be careful of the words that you print. Because of the increase in the social media with Facebook and My Space more people have access to your thoughts than ever. Some will twist what you say for their advantage and make you look like a fool.

-Be careful putting your thoughts into words. There is a desire to retaliate especially when someone tries to make you look bad, so be careful of the words that you use. Many times they will come back to haunt you later on in life.

Remember that old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me?" Well, in today's world that's entirely wrong. All it takes is one person's words that are spiteful or filled with vengeance to ruin your reputation or your life.

So just be careful of the words you speak, print, or write. Some things are just better left unsaid and put into the hands of the Lord. He knows the truth and He will reveal it one day along your journey.

A Few (Ugh) Laughs About Valentine's Day

1. What would you get if you crossed a dog with a valentine card? A card that says, "I love you drool-ly!"
   
2. What did the painter say to her boyfriend? "I love you with all my art!"
   
3. What does a man who loves his car do on February 14? He gives it a valenshine!
   
4. "Do you love me more than you love sleep?" "I can't answer now. It's time for my nap!"
   
5. What did the man with the broken leg say to his nurse? "I've got a crutch on you!"
   
6. Did you hear about the romance in the tropical fish tank? It was a case of guppy love.
   
7. What do you call two birds in love? Tweethearts!
   
8. What do you call a very small valentine? A valentiny!
   
9. What did Frankenstein say to his girlfriend? "Be my valenstein!"
   
10. What do farmers give their wives on Valentine's Day? Hogs and kisses!
    
11. Why did the pig give his girlfriend a box of candy? It was Valenswine's Day!
    
12. Do skunks celebrate Valentine's Day? Sure, they're very scent-imental!
    
13. What did the paper clip say to the magnet on Valentine's Day? "I find you very attractive."
    
14. What did the French chef give his wife for Valentine's Day? A hug and a quiche!
    
15. What did one pickle say to the other? "You mean a great dill to me."
    
16. Why do valentines have hearts on them? Because kidneys would look pretty gross!
    
17. What did one light bulb say to the other? "I love you a whole watt!"
    
18. What did the caveman give his wife on Valentine's Day? Ughs and kisses!

“When Good People Go Bad-Part 1”

Hosea 14:4 NKJV “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely,
for My anger has turned away from him.”
In the book of the prophet Hosea is described the undying love of God toward a people whose hearts have wandered far from His ways. Here are expressed the deep, inner longings and desire God’s heart to woo them and win them back by His love. "I will heal their backsliding," He promises; "I will love them freely."

(1) The word "backslide" literally means "turn back" or "turn away":
-from God-1 Kings 11:9
-from our first love-Revelation 2:4
-from the gospel-Galatians1:6, 7; 3:1-5
-to return to Satan-1 Timothy 5:15
-to a life of evil-Psalms 125:5
-or returning to the habits of the world-2 Timothy 4:10

(2) Scripture describes the backslidden state as…
-Serving two masters.
-Forsaking the Lord.
-Going our own way.
-Leaving our first love.
-Forgetting God.
-Falling away.
-Turning aside.
-Growing cold.
-Departing from the faith.
-Putting a hand to the plow and looking back.
-Salt that has lost its savor.
-A dog returning to his vomit.
-A dead branch.

With the abundance of Bibles in America, a church in every neighborhood; and bookstores, tape ministries, and nationwide religious television and radio, why do they backslide? How do they fall? How do good people who love the Lord begin to lose that love for Him and return back to this present world?

The backslider does not suddenly wake up one morning and go out and commit adultery. Over a period of time, he may have become lax in his thought life, or entertained fleshly desires. King David watched Bathsheba undress, and soon it was but a little step for him to give expression to the imagination of his heart.

(3) What causes a good person to go bad? Amos 6:1 “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria, notable persons in the chief nation, to whom the house of Israel comes!”

Spiritual decay is a gradual process. If it came as a splash of cold water in the face on a sweltering day, we'd recognize it for what it is. But Satan is sly, and his tactics are subtle. Even as the onslaught of many diseases can be insidious, the wasting away that occurs in the heart of the backslider may be nearly imperceptible. It may begin with a general feeling of spiritual indifference. As we fail to focus upon spiritual things, the flesh seeks fulfillment.

Initially, the prayer life may be crowded out with other interests, even innocent pastimes such as sports, hobbies, or television. As we fill our hearts and lives with junk food, our hunger for the Word diminishes. Church attendance usually slackens off (though some continue in a state of hypocrisy), and relationships undergo extreme stress, as the conviction of the Holy Spirit becomes increasingly uncomfortable.

(4) Good people go bad when they ignore God’s signals! 2 Kings 17:15 “And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He had made with their fathers, and His testimonies which He had testified against them; they followed idols, became idolaters, and went after the nations who were all around them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them that they should not do like them.”

As we ignore God's appeals to return our zeal and concern for souls subsides, due to a sense of guilt and hypocrisy. In time, the fear of God departs and a complete re-ordering of priorities in our life occurs. An overall feeling of lostness and lack of purpose causes great discontentment of heart.

(5) Good people go bad when they regain their tolerance for evil! 1 Timothy 4:1, 2 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron…”
Then one day, we realize that our abhorrence of sin is gone. It becomes easy to justify actions we never otherwise would have considered acceptable. And since our sensitivity to spiritual things is not what it used to be, we may sense very little guilt. The calloused heart becomes stone; our conscience, "seared". Now, the farther we stray, the more distant the voice of God becomes, and the more difficult it seems to find our way back.

(6) Good people go bad when they become more confident in their abilities than trusting in the Lord!

Luke 6:46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Even while struggling in a fallen state, the backslider may verbally identify himself with the Lord. The inconsistencies in his life may disturb him; but more often he will be blind to his own spiritual state.
Revelations 3:17, 18 “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”  

An over-confidence in one's former standing with God (as opposed to confidence in God) can falsely convince an individual that God will overlook his present conduct.

Some have a propensity to falter-they just keep on backsliding.                             
-They are bent to backsliding-Hosea 11:7 “My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, none at all exalt Him.”
-Their condition appears perpetual-Jeremiah 8:5 “Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return.”
-Their hearts are always going astray-Hebrews 3:10 “Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.”

(7) Good people go bad despite because of a gradual yielding to the flesh. Even as individuals vary in their degrees of spirituality or commitment, some are more prone to falling away, by reason of choice or personal weakness.

Like a garden that must be carefully tilled and weeded our spiritual lives require diligent attention. Neglect and laziness, as well as trampling the vines, can wreak havoc. Backsliding is, as the word implies, a sliding back – not a jump off a cliff, but a coasting downhill. We cannot ascend the mount of God in neutral. Spiritual growth requires a conscious effort, or it will be only "natural" that we succumb to the ways of the flesh.

The condition, however, while not sudden in onset, may escalate rapidly. -All it takes is "a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest..." according to Proverbs 8:10; 24:33.
-"A little leaven ferments the whole lump," says Galatians 5:9.
"... The little foxes... spoil the vines," according to Song of Solomon 2:15.

Satan tempted Jesus when He was physically weak (fasting), and he attacks us at our weakest times, in our weakest areas. An A-student might not be tempted to cheat, but to become proud of his achievements. The Christian might never be tempted to murder, but faces countless opportunities to hate or speak evil of his brother.

(8) Good people go bad because of a spiritual condition that begins in the heart. Proverbs 14:14 “The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways…”
Often concealed in secret, the backslider's condition may remain hidden behind a facade of religiosity. We can have all the right doctrines, and bear every appearance of honor among men – yet still be filled with lust, jealousy, bitterness, etc. The wayward heart, however, does not long tarry near the altar of God, but squirms under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and writhes in discontent.

(9) Although backsliding begins in the heart and mind however, the condition eventually becomes evident externally.
Jesus said that a person's inward spiritual condition becomes obvious by the fruit he bears. Matthew 7:16-18 “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?  Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”

Paul said it is possible to profess the truth verbally, but deny the Lord in our actions-Titus 1:16 “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

If our lives fail to measure up to our profession of faith, our actions will declare our words obsolete-1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Even the term "believer," as used in the New Testament, is not a noun but a participle:  "one who is believing." We must always remember that Christianity is not a one-time trip to the altar, but a day-by-day walk of life and faith in Jesus Christ.

Refiner and Purifier

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver...'

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God ...

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: ' He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.'

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time.

The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?'

He smiled at her and answered, ' Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Pass this on right now. This very moment, someone needs to know that God is watching over them. And, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end.

Wild Girls Gone (Part 3)-She Let The Dogs Out”

2 Kings 9:4-10 CEV “The young prophet left for Ramoth. When he arrived, the army officers were meeting together. "Sir, I have a message for you," he said. "For which one of us?" Jehu asked. "You, sir," the prophet answered. So Jehu got up and went inside. The prophet poured olive oil on Jehu's head and told him: The LORD God of Israel has this message for you: "I am the LORD, and I have chosen you to be king of my people Israel. I want you to wipe out the family of Ahab, so Jezebel will be punished for killing the prophets and my other servants. Every man and boy in Ahab's family must die, whether slave or free. His whole family must be destroyed, just like the families of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. As for Jezebel, her body will be eaten by dogs in the town of Jezreel. There won't be enough left of her to bury."

According to E.B. Johnston in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, “The name Jezebel usually evokes for us an image of a painted woman who is sexually alluring or trying to be, a manipulator of men… The Bible’s condemnations of her, however, concern her role in public religious and political affairs, not her private (im) morality.”

When people are into control, power, prestige, and having it their way, they own ugly souls.

(1) Jezebel was power hungry!

I Kings 16:30-33 CEV “Ahab did more things to disobey the LORD than any king before him. He acted just like Jeroboam. Even worse, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon and started worshiping Baal. Ahab built an altar and temple for Baal in Samaria and set up a sacred pole for worshiping the goddess Asherah. Ahab did more to make the LORD God of Israel angry than any king of Israel before him.”

-She married Ahab for power. Their marriage was political, as the Syrians were becoming a threat to Ahab’s kingdom.

-She came from a powerful and treacherous family. Ethbaal, king of Sidon (Phoenicia), was a priest of Baal who assassinated the king and took over his kingdom. Unlike the Jews who had a male priesthood, the Phoenicians had priestesses, so Jezebel would have been a priestess of Baal and Baal’s cohort, Astarte. Astarte was a fertility goddess worshipped through temple prostitution. Jezebel brought in her idols, heathen temple, and a staff of Baal worshipping priests and priestesses making the Northern Kingdom of Israel more fully pagan.

-She had the true prophets of God executed- 1 Kings 18:3, 4 CEV “At that time Obadiah was in charge of Ahab's palace, but he faithfully worshiped the LORD. In fact, when Jezebel was trying to kill the LORD's prophets, Obadiah hid one hundred of them in two caves and gave them food and water.”

-She promoted heathen religion-1 Kings 18:16-19 CEV “Obadiah left and told Ahab where to find Elijah. Ahab went to meet Elijah, and when he saw him, Ahab shouted, "There you are, the biggest troublemaker in Israel!" Elijah answered: You're the troublemaker--not me! You and your family have disobeyed the LORD's commands by worshiping Baal. Call together everyone from Israel and have them meet me on Mount Carmel. Be sure to bring along the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table.”

Revelation 2:20 “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.”

-She even threatened the great prophet Elijah 1 Kings 19:1, 2 CEV “Ahab told his wife Jezebel what Elijah had done and that he had killed the prophets. She sent a message to Elijah: "You killed my prophets. Now I'm going to kill you! I pray that the gods will punish me even more severely if I don't do it by this time tomorrow."

(2) Jezebel controlled her husband!

-She initiated the tragedy of Naboth’s vineyard-1 Kings 21:8-13 CEV “Jezebel wrote a letter to each of the leaders of the town where Naboth lived. In the letters she said: Call everyone together and tell them to go without eating today. When they come together, give Naboth a seat at the front. Have two liars sit across from him and swear that Naboth has cursed God and the king. Then take Naboth outside and stone him to death! She signed Ahab's name to the letters and sealed them with his seal. Then she sent them to the town leaders. After receiving her letters, they did exactly what she had asked. They told the people that it was a day to go without eating, and when they all came together, they seated Naboth at the front. The two liars came in and sat across from Naboth. Then they accused him of cursing God and the king, so the people dragged Naboth outside and stoned him to death.

-She pushed her husband, Ahab, to great evil-1 Kings 21:29 CEV “No one was more determined than Ahab to disobey the LORD. And Jezebel encouraged him. Worst of all, he had worshiped idols, just as the Amorites had done before the LORD forced them out of the land and gave it to Israel”.

The Bible says that Ahab repented briefly, but then allowed himself again to be dominated by the wishes of his power hungry, evil wife, Jezebel. Sometimes a person has to stand on their own two feet and go against what they know is wrong.

(3) The Jezebel legacy lives on even today!
Jezebel represented everything that was wrong with humankind:
-She had no compassion.
-She had no nurturing desire about her. It was all selfish.
-She had no respect for human life or the dignity of others.
-She made every decision based on the simple fact of “What do I get out of it?”

-The influence of one in power can be encouraging or discouraging. Jezebels think they are the exception to the rule. That includes teaching the rejection of God’s truth, promotion of false teaching, and craving power and control.

-Usually the nastiest people we have to deal with are control mongers, and nothing exposes how control-oriented we are as having to relinquish control.
-Church conflicts are about control.
-Many marital/family conflicts are about control.
-Money conflicts are always about control.
-We are out to protect our self esteem, and control is how we attempt to protect it. Therefore, the more secure we are, the more balanced our attitude toward control.

(3) She let the dogs out!

2 Kings 9:30-37 CEV “Jehu headed toward Jezreel, and when Jezebel heard he was coming, she put on eye shadow and brushed her hair. Then she stood at the window, waiting for him to arrive. As he walked through the city gate, she shouted down to him, "Why did you come here, you murderer? To kill the king? You're no better than Zimri!"  He looked up toward the window and asked, "Is anyone up there on my side?" A few palace workers stuck their heads out of a window, and Jehu shouted, "Throw her out the window!" They threw her down, and her blood splattered on the walls and on the horses that trampled her body. Jehu left to get something to eat and drink. Then he told some workers, "Even though she was evil, she was a king's daughter, so make sure she has a proper burial." But when they went out to bury her body, they found only her skull, her hands, and her feet. They reported this to Jehu, and he said, "The LORD told Elijah the prophet that Jezebel's body would be eaten by dogs right here in Jezreel. And he warned that her bones would be spread all over the ground like manure, so that no one could tell who it was."

James 3:16, 17 KJV “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

“Wild Girls Gone (Part 2)-Salome-She’s Just Like Her Mother!”

Mark 6:17-29 “Herod had earlier married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. But John had told him, "It isn't right for you to take your brother's wife!" So, in order to please Herodias, Herod arrested John and put him in prison. Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she could not do it because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew that John was a good and holy man. Even though Herod was confused by what John said, he was glad to listen to him. And he often did. Finally, Herodias got her chance when Herod gave a great birthday celebration for himself and invited his officials, his army officers, and the leaders of Galilee. The daughter of Herodias came in and danced for Herod and his guests. She pleased them so much that Herod said, "Ask for anything, and it's yours! I swear that I will give you as much as half of my kingdom, if you want it." The girl left and asked her mother, "What do you think I should ask for?" Her mother answered, "The head of John the Baptist!" The girl hurried back and told Herod, "Right now on a platter I want the head of John the Baptist!" The king was very sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests. At once he ordered a guard to cut off John's head there in prison. The guard put the head on a platter and took it to the girl. Then she gave it to her mother. When John's followers learned that he had been killed, they took his body and put it in a tomb.”

The name Herodias is the feminine form of Herod, the title worn by the political rulers during the life and times of Jesus and the apostles. Herod means heroic, but the people in this story were far more hellish than heroic. Herodias is the embodiment of the most despicable traits of this despotic ruling family.

Herod the Great was king at the time of Jesus’ birth and responsible for the massacre of all the children, up to the age of 2, in Bethlehem according to Matthew 2. He married numerous times, but toward the end of his life he became insanely suspicious and murdered member after member of his own family. Herodias’ father was one of the victims.
She marries her uncle Herod Philip, half brother to her father, who was not among the political figures. but lived as a wealthy, private citizen in Rome and they have a daughter, Salome. When Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee visited Rome, he was entertained by his half-brother Philip and his wife, Herodias. However when Antipas leaves, he takes Herodias and her daughter, Salome, divorces his Arabian wife and makes Herodias the new queen. John the Baptist then approaches him with this statement: “It isn't right for you to take Herodias, the wife of your brother Philip.” To finally rid herself of John’s critical voice, Herodias uses her own daughter, Salome, dance a sexually provocative dance for the drunken crowd at Herod’s birthday party. Herod drank too much, lusted too much, and promised too much and Herodias silences her critic by having him beheaded!

(1) Our background and circumstances may influence who we are but we are responsible for who we become.
-Salome came from one of history’s worst families, but dysfunctional practices can be stopped. Women provide the stability for home and society—if not, the infrastructure crumbles and both will implode, like the twin towers of 9-11 but with greater casualties and destruction.

-Antipas and Herodias are equally guilty of this creating this ungodly atmosphere for Salome. The ambition of Herodias to gain a place of political prominence cause her to put her very own daughter in a place of jeopardy. She was willing to pay any price, even the soiling of her daughter, to gain what she desired.

-What price are you willing to pay for your wants, even if they are wrong? The most amazing fact about sin is that many will forfeit a lifetime of accomplishment and honor for a moment of delusional gratification and then live the rest of their life in misery.

-Tradition holds her accountable for the ruin of Antipas. She was so jealous of her brother Agrippa’s appointment as King that she prods Antipas to ask Emperor Caligula for that title. She is then charged with treason, banished to France, and dies in exile and shame!

(2) Herodias did not like what she heard John the Baptist say, because of the convicting power that it brought to the situation.
-John the Baptist was recognized as God’s prophet and his word was critical of her living arrangement. John is called to the king’s place overlooking the east side of the Dead Sea and is imprisoned
-Herod was puzzled and yet drawn to John’s message because he feared and respected John, but the influence of Herodias was too much for Him to overcome. She uses her own daughter, Salome, to entice and create desire in Herod’s heart.
-Herodias hated John the Baptist and all he stood for because it was in direct opposition to her wants and desires and she knew exactly how to handle Herod in order to get what she wanted!
-At Antipas’ birthday party, when everyone was well intoxicated, she capitalizes upon Herod’s impulsiveness-by using Salome. She knew he couldn’t back down from a public vow, and the promise he makes to Salome begets John’s head on a platter.

(3) Some people believe they are above the laws of God.

Mark 6:14-16 “Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.” But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

-When the news of Jesus’ miracles and public ministry spread, Herod’s memories dredged up those feelings of guilt and fear because of his senseless act of killing John
-As much as he might have feared the ridicule or laughter of his cronies for not keeping the hasty vow, he now faces an even greater fear because he thinks John has returned from the dead!
-The Bible doesn’t have asterisks beside certain commandments, laws or principles with your name written in the margin saying these apply to everyone else but you!

(4)When you speak the truth, even in love, it doesn’t always result in the anticipated or hoped for response.
-People will often take a message quite personally and if the Pastor seems to get too personal, they hold a grudge and will try to exact their revenge—just like Herodias.
-Someone might silence the voice of truth and opposition in order to sin in peace, but everyone needs to remember they will one day still have to stand before Almighty God, the great and righteous Judge.

John 3:19, 20 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”

Surely John the Baptist did not want to die, but he was more afraid of defying God than he was of defying man in speaking the truth. This is what Jesus wants from all of us-total allegiance and abiding without compromise in Him and His Word.

(5) Look at the legacy Herodias left for Salome!
-She was recognized as one of history’s most wicked women-not exactly legacy you’d like to leave!
-Her Old Testament counterpart was Jezebel, but she exceeds Jezebel in her hatred of God’s servant and managed to kill him.                                            -Regardless of how much Herod Antipas respected or feared John and His message the influence of Herodias was greater.

Our legacy is constructed from the principles we embrace, priorities we establish and our philosophy for living—these are all indistinguishable from the remembrance of who we are.

What a home Herodias created, by literally throwing her daughter to proverbial wolves in order to use perversion to bring about the murder of the servant of God. Worst of all Salome faced judgment and eternity without knowing God’s forgiveness and grace because of the unrighteous influence of her mother.

2 Corinthians 5:10,11 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.”

Revelation 22:12-15 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

“Wild Girls Gone (Part 1)-The Faith of Rahab”

Hebrews 11:31 CEV “Rahab had been a prostitute, but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn't killed with the people who disobeyed.”

Matthew 1:1-6 NKJV “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king.”

The faith chapter, Hebrews 11, names only one faithful woman by name-Rahab the Harlot. How could a woman with her reputation and past be included in the faith chapter, let alone be in the lineage of Jesus?If God were to suddenly destroy Union County and spare only one person (and his/her family), how many of you would suppose that God would choose to save a local prostitute? Well that’s exactly what he did in Joshua chapter 2. Instead of a girl gone wild you had a wild girl gone!

(1) What led to the salvation of Rahab?

-Rahab encountered two Hebrew spies-Joshua 2:1-3 “Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.”

-Rahab protected the two spies-Joshua 2:4-7 “Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate.”

-Rahab appealed for mercy-Joshua 2:8-13 “Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”

-Rahab was given the conditions for her rescue-Joshua 2:14-20 “So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.” So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.”

-Rahab believed and was saved-Joshua 2:21 “Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.”

Joshua 6:25 “And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”

(2) What does Rahabs’ faith tell us?

-Faith is for anybody who will believe.

Rahab was not a prominent member of Jericho’s elite—she was a mere prostitute. Yet she is forever known in Scripture as a woman of faith. The kingdom of God is made up of unlikely saints—sinners who come to God in faith.

-Faith comes by hearing.

Rahab was able to believe because he heard the word regarding the works and power of God. When we do not take time to hear God’s Word, we have no basis for belief.

-Faith is evidenced by works.

Rahab not only believed as a matter of philosophical agreement, she acted on her believe by meeting the conditions for her rescue. Faith and works are like two oars needed to row a boat…without one, you will only travel in a circle.

-Faith brings about the fullness of God’s blessings.

Rahab only hoped to be spared from the city’s destruction but in the end, she enjoyed full fellowship with God’s people. We often come to God for mundane things only to realize that His desire for us is much more far-reaching.

(3) How was Rahabs’ life spared?

Rahab was spared from destruction because of the red rope that hung by her window. This red rope, typically a symbol of harlotry, is a symbol of the blood of Christ that brings redemption to all who believe.

Three Facts That Are True For People Who Are In Christ:

-In Christ I Am Free From My Past!

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

-In Christ I Am Unconditionally Loved!

Romans 8:38, 39 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

-In Christ I Have An Amazing Future!

Micah 7:18, 19 “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities.”

Getting Your House In Order

Haggai 1:3-6 “Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

The date is August 29, 520 B.C. Haggai speaks to Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the High Priest. Zerubbabel was in the line of David, but not king, because they are in the time of the Gentiles.

We are immediately introduced to the theme of this book which is the rebuilding of the temple. The people were saying that it is not time to rebuild the temple and they have delayed the building process 14 years.

He addresses the people in verse 4. They are living in paneled houses. Paneling had to be imported from Lebanon because there are no trees around Jerusalem, so it was expensive. This is what they were spending their money on. This first section of Haggai is labeled as one of conviction because in verse 5 he says, “Consider your ways!” What is Haggai trying to convict them of?

The answer is misplaced priorities. That was their problem. They were not putting God first because they were only concerned with their own comforts.

(1) The first result of misplaced priorities was Dissatisfaction-Verse 6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

They were experiencing very unsatisfying lives.

-You eat but are not satisfied and you drink but don't become drunk. This really refers to people who try to deal with life's problems by eating and drinking too much. It doesn't work. All you do is gain too much weight and /or get a hangover. I think this is an illustration of seeking life and happiness through pleasure.

-You put on clothing, but no one is warm enough - Perhaps we could change this for our culture to say, “You buy new clothes, but the styles change.” Perhaps this is indicative of seeking life through praise.

-You earn money and put it in a purse with holes - I think most of us can identify with this. Do you run out of money before you run out of month? To compensate for this do you work so much that you don't have time for God or family? That’s why so many falter in their spiritual and personal relationships because they are seeking life through possessions and material gain.

We all know the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18:18-30 who could not give up his wealth and politely refused eternal life.

We shake our heads in disbelief, but know this about American culture today:

-Most Americans move 14 times in their lives as promotions lead them from one place to another.

-Consequently, children grow up learning that more money is more important than developing long term relationships.

-Later on, when discussions turn to college, the dialogue focuses on which professions pay the most rather than what would suit the young person's motivated abilities.

-The message we instill in them is that more money will make up for lack of job fulfillment. Money itself will fulfill us. But it doesn't and we now have a society full of dissatisfied people.

Haggai condemned them for living in their paneled houses. We can see that they had become consumed with earthly things. The question we need to ask ourselves where my priorities lay. Are my priorities in the right place as they should be?

Even though this book was written 2500 years ago, it is very applicable for today. Haggai says, “Consider your ways.”

We need to consider our ways. We need to evaluate our lives and see if we are guilty of these things. It is amazing how much effort we put into areas that we think will satisfy us, but they never do.

Isaiah 55:2 NIV “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”

Ezekiel 7:18-20 NIV “They will put on sackcloth and be clothed with terror. Their faces will be covered with shame and their heads will be shaved. They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be an unclean thing. Their silver and gold will not be able to save them in the day of the LORD's wrath. They will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it, for it has made them stumble into sin. They were proud of their beautiful jewelry and used it to make their detestable idols and vile images. Therefore I will turn these into an unclean thing for them.”

(2) Getting the house in order!

Before he moves on Haggai gives them a reminder to resume the construction of the temple. Haggai tells them to consider their ways and to get to work and he gives them the motivation.

There are two reasons:

-To please the Lord with praise and to glorify Him in your temple!

Psalm 69:30-32 “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves. The humble shall see this and be glad; and you who seek God, your hearts shall live.”

Psalm 34:3 NIV “Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.”

Psalm 86:12 NIV “I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.”

God uses temple imagery in the Bible that I think we need to be aware of to truly understand resetting our priorities:

-In the OT the purpose of the tabernacle and the temple was so God could dwell among the people and they could see His glory.

Ezekiel 37:26-28 “Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The nations also will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”

-When you come to the NT you see that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory.

John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

-God’s Holy Temple will tabernacle with us as prophesied by Ezekiel!

Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.”

(3) Remembering our primary priority!

The Believer's body is the temple of God and its purpose is to glorify God!

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

-Every time there is a reference to the temple there is glory  

1 Peter 2:4, 5 “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Verses 11, 12 “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

What is the point?

You and I are now the physical and visible representation of the character and person of God on earth. We need to glorify God. That is why they needed to rebuild the temple so God could dwell among them. That is why we need to do so today. We need to let the world see that God can and does dwell among us. However, we can only do that if we get our house in order.

2 Kings 20:1-6 NASA “In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'" Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight " And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. "I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and ⁽I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David's sake."

"If There Is Sin In The Camp..."

Joshua 7:12 “Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

The bodies of the thirty-six dead soldiers lay crumpled on the hillside before the city gate. The leaders of God’s army were sore afraid. The "hearts of the people melted, and became as water”  according to Joshua 7:5. Joshua and all the elders of Israel fell to the earth before the ark of God, and put dust upon their heads.

Then it was that the voice of God spoke. Joshua 7:10-12 says that God said, "Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them-therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies-neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

In Joshua 6, God gave Joshua and Israel instructions on how to carry on the battle against Jericho. He said in no uncertain terms that Jericho and its possessions were accursed.

Joshua 6:17-19 "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. And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of brass and iron are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord."

Jericho and everything in it is said to be accursed, with the exception of Rahab and her household. Now that word "accursed" is an interesting one. It

means not only "accursed," but also "devoted." These two meanings are not separate and distinct so that sometimes the word means the first and sometimes the second. Both meanings belong together. That which is accursed is devoted. This is why Joshua 6:17 says that "…the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord…".  The margins in various translations even offer the word "devoted" as an alternate translation.

To the best of the knowledge of Joshua, the command had been carried out fully. Achan had heard these words. He knew exactly what was involved. Nevertheless, when Jericho fell and Israel entered the city to carry out the command of God, Achan transgressed. He took of the accursed

thing, brought it back secretly, and buried it in the ground under his tent (Joshua 7:1, 21-23).

The trouble that Achan brought upon the nation was Israel’s defeat at Ai. Even though Achan’s sin was secret, he had brought the curse into the camp and all the nation was guilty for his sin.

Years later, after the conquest of Canaan, we find a sermon in which the sin of Achan is recalled.

Joshua 22:20 "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 did not perish alone in his iniquity."

Thirty-six men were killed, If we have any questions about the severity of Achan’s punishment, let us ponder this a moment. Achan was responsible for the death of 36 soldiers. Assuming all these men were married, Achan was to blame that 36 widows now had to live without a husband. Also Achan was to blame that the children in 36 families had to grow up without a father. Achan, in fact, though indirectly, killed those 36 men.

Joshua went to his knees in prayer! Then it was that God told him to get up and revealed that it was not a time for prayer, but for action. He demanded that the congregation put away the sin that was among them, and stated, “…thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away

the accursed thing from among you” (Joshua 7:13).

The next day, Joshua determined that one of the members of the tribe of Judah, Achan by name, had stolen a Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold. He had hidden the spoil under the floor of his tent. Messengers were sent to bring the stolen loot. It was displayed in the presence of all Israel that there might be no question as to the guilt of Achan. Having established beyond question the sin and the sinner, the whole congregation took the guilty man and his family down into the valley of Achor and there stoned them to death.

(1) It is possible for sin to exist in a congregation without the leadership/people being aware of it.

Achan remained silent during the entire process, probably like many people, believing that he would escape or that God certainly would not punish him. God is praised and glorified when we confess our sins. God is not being praised when we refuse to acknowledge or accept what His word says about our bad attitudes or behavior. By refusing to come forth earlier in the process, Achan revealed his hardened and defiant heart. In addition, sorrow at

this point is really too late for it does nothing to bring back the 36 innocent men who had died because of Achan’s transgression. Joshua did not know of the trespass of Achan.

(2) Sin in the church often affects others than the sinner, and may even cause those who have not been guilty, to stumble and fall.

There were thirty six men who died as a result of the sin mentioned in our text. That is one of the grievous results of sin. It has an influence over others. The defeat at Ai demoralized the people. This is perhaps even more significant than the defeat itself because it created misgivings and a lack of confidence in the Lord. Rather than examine their own lives as the source of their defeat, they began to doubt the Lord and wonder if He had changed His mind or if they had misread His directions.

(3) When sin is known to be in the congregation, it is a time for action rather than for prayer.

It is true that we are to pray always, and in all things, but it is never true that prayer is a substitute for another command. There is a time for mercy and intervention and a time for action and discipline as well. When God instructs the church to withdraw from those who are disorderly, we cannot pray them out, but we must take formal action.

(4) The church can only stand against her enemies when she lives up to the profession she makes.

Unless the lives of the members preach the same kind of sermon as the tongue of the speaker, the church will be in disrepute.

-The prophet Nathan asked David,

2 Samuel 12:9  “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight…"

2 Samuel 12:14 "By this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme…”

-Paul condemns the Jews for their hypocritical pretense, and tells them that they preach a double standard; one for those who hear and another for themselves, and as a result declares in Romans 2:24, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you…”

-Of sinners in her midst, the church may say as did old Jacob to his murderous sons in Genesis 34:30, “…Ye have troubled me to make me stink among the inhabitants of the land…”

Often we are forced to turn our backs unto the enemy when they fling cruel darts of accusation about the lives of the members. No power on earth can face the church and overthrow her when all of the members are following holiness, without which no man can see the Lord!

(5) God’s people often postpone actions essential to purifying and cleansing the church.

Many times there are those in the number of disciples who are fearful and fainthearted.

-They do not want sin condemned publicly in positive terms.

-They do not want the church to take action about which the world will hear.  -They would prefer that the world know the church is tolerating sin than to have it learn that the church is made up of those who are living

consecrated lives.

(6) The steps leading to sin are outlined in the confession of Achan.

- “I saw”

- “I coveted”

-“I took"

-“I hid”  

If we would not look upon sinful things we would always be free from sin. However, if we do see them, we should not covet them.

James 1:14, 15 “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it bringeth forth sin, when it is finished, it bringeth forth death.”  

Sin produces a guilty conscience, a desire to hide! It is interesting that the first sin followed the very same steps mentioned by Achan. Satan has not changed the bait on his hook from that day to this.

(8) The proof of guilt should always be well established before any public discipline is administered.

Joshua was not content with the mere acknowledgment of the sin, but sent messengers to the tent, who found the stolen items and brought them to Joshua and all of the children of Israel and laid them out before the Lord. This would preclude the possibility of any member of Israel later affirming that an innocent man had been punished.

(8) The punishment was administered by the entire congregation.

It was not the work of Joshua and the elders alone. They guided the body of people in ascertaining the guilty person, the nature of the crime, and the correct penalty. But the discipline was the act of the entire group. “And all Israel stoned him with stones” according to Joshua 7: 25.

This was in exact conformity with the law. God had stated through Moses in Deuteronomy17:

Verses 2-5 "If there be found among you… man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God… you shall stone them with stones until they die."

Verse 7 "The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.”

Incidentally, in this passage is found another statement of the care that should be exercised in determining guilt before action is taken.

God said Deut. 2:4, “And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain…”

No man can be scripturally disciplined upon mere hearsay, but when there is a question, diligent inquiry must be made into the facts of the case, until the truth and certainty of the accusation be established. It was a matter of God’s law of justice that no person should be condemned upon the testimony of one man, but two or three witnesses were required to establish an accusation. That principle has been carried into the New Testament.

9. God’s wrath is kindled against His people when they knowingly tolerate sin among them.

The only way to set aside that wrath is by getting rid of the sin. The church cannot prosper as long as she places a low estimate upon sin. She must realize that God’s people are to be a holy people.

There is much in the little word “So” as used in the Bible. After describing in detail the method by which Achan and family received punishment, the record declares Joshua 7:26:

"So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger.”

This means simply that in the manner described was the Lord turned from anger. Let us not forget that the anger of the Lord was directed to the congregation which tolerated the sinner as well as to the guilty person. This is made plain in the first verse of the chapter under consideration.

The question is sometimes asked, “Why did God demand the punishment of the family of Achan as well as the head of the house?”

The law established the fact that one who had knowledge of a trespass and refused to make it known, would bear his iniquity (Leviticus 5:1). Those who uphold evildoers, even of their own kindred, are as guilty as the ones whom they defend, and should be subjected to the same punishment. In the case of Achan all of his physical properties and personal possessions were burned.

One of the first principles we need to recognize is that"…a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6). As long as we cherish, or even tolerate sin in the sense of allowing it to be rewarded and unrebuked, God cannot grant us success in battle. As He said to Joshua, so He says to us, "…Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you" (Joshua 7:12).