Timothy: Let’s talk about simple projects and hidden sin.
Intro: Welcome to the Consider Podcast where we turn our minds to consider wisdom, madness and folly. Join the host Timothy and Jacob on a quest to have God enlighten the mind according to verse 25 of Ecclesiastes chapter 7. So, I turned my mind to understand to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. Ecclesiastes 72:5. The Consider Podcast, examining today’s events and Paulorrow’s realities at www.archive.consider.info.
Timothy: How’s it going today, Jacob?
Jacob: Going good.
Timothy: And let’s talk about simple projects and hidden sin or really for that matter any sin but let’s just deal with hidden big ones that people sometimes have. Let’s go to Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1. We’re going to glance at that as we move into the town of Ai. Where Joshua and the Israelites are going to go in and conquer the town and they learn some valuable lessons and are driven back because of hidden sin. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. There’s a lot there, I wish I was preaching again. We could just take that one passage and spend at least 60 minutes because I always push the envelope on time. Again, therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. So, we’re going to look at Joshua who’s a witness, who’s watching the church do battle or not do battle. And it goes let us throw off everything that hinders everything. There’re some things that are actual sin-sin and then there are things that are just hindering us. Everybody who seems to want to concentrate on if they do it all with sin. It’s got to be major sins right Jacob?
Jacob: Correct.
Timothy: You don’t really find too much discussion on the minor side. I’m sure there are groups out there that do. That’s not my point, the point is that all anything no matter what it is if it hinders us in Jesus Christ, you just throw it off and then you have to start running and you have to run with perseverance. And sin just easily entangles us. When you look at all the so-called victories that happen for the church out there that are in the news, so often you pretty much know disasters coming. Right Jacob?
Jacob: Correct.
Timothy: For instance, there’s a movie out there about child trafficking what what’s happening? There’s a big controversy now. Supposed sins going on there. How is this possible? It’s because well number one, they’re not watching their life and doctrine closely. Kind of find out the individual that actually the movie is made about is Mormon. Well, the life and doctrine are not going to be sound. So, don’t go just running out and looking for a battle to do. You need to be trained. It says, let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us. Each individual needs to discover what the race is for them. You don’t look at next person over here, you don’t pay attention to a movie that inspires you or somebody saying this is a good cause over here, you need to go into the prayer closet, hate your own life, hate your own ministry, despise what it is you want to do, fall to the ground and die to your thoughts and goals and plans and whatever it is you want to accomplish and say, okay, God, what is the race that you want me to run on? Where’s the course? Where does it go when we know where it’s leading to and that is the complete crucified of laying down your life of following Jesus where Jesus went which was Golgotha. So, unless you’re willing to go all the way I wouldn’t even bother calling myself a Christian. Let’s go to Luke chapter 12 verse 47, Jacob and I’m going to have you read this because I want to emphasize again a couple things. One, do not go marching out to get persecuted or to do a big deed for God. That’s the leading of the Holy Spirit and that’s after Jesus has trained you. Number two, watch out for victories. That’s very often where some of the greatest dangers come. You have a victory in God and that’s what’s happened with Joshua. See here in a moment. They have a victory. So, they’re all confident. They think the relationship is good. Come to find out there’s hidden sin within the camp and they’re liable for destruction unless they deal with that. So, you have to watch out especially right after victory. Remember David committed adultery when he was walking around on his roof. He had won some battles. He was at home. Everybody else was fighting. Number three, do not be surprised if God seeks to cleanse you as you go on a battle or you go to do his job or his work. When Moses was called to go back to Egypt to lead them out of that bondage and slavery, that’s when God met Moses to oppose him. So, God is always looking to refine us of disobedience. He’s not going to look for your agreement or he’s not going to say is your doctrine correct. He’s going to say what’s your life and doctrine. We have to be ready by Jesus Christ. Can you imagine if the twelve apostles come to Jesus Christ the first three weeks they just start on their own. Go out and preach the gospel. What kind of mess would that have been, Jacob?
Jacob: Big mess.
Timothy: Big mess. Well go ahead and read Luke chapter 12 verse 47, Jacob.
Jacob: “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows”.
Timothy: Oh, and then okay let’s go to Galatians 6:1 also.
Jacob: Galatians 6:1. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted”.
Timothy: This is the big danger. I’ve seen too fast, too young, a Christian sent out to do things or the minute they come to Jesus Christ or baptize whatever they’re on to this giant ministry, right? You have to be fully trained in the message of the cross. You have to let God do some crucifixion. Otherwise, you’re going to wind up being just like Joshua as they win the town of Ai, there’s going to be hidden sin and you’re going to lose. It’s not going to work out. Now, understand, I’m not saying that every time you lose a court battle that somehow God wasn’t in that or that’s not a victory. You have to have a spiritual understanding of what a victory is and that may or may not be winning a court battle. The point is don’t go looking for these things. Don’t go pursuing them until you are confident and I mean supremely confident that God has called you to and has disciplined you in every way. Luke 12:47 again, “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready”. In other words, there’s a time period there you’ve got to get ready. You’re always moving towards this. Is that making sense, Jacob or by kind of beat up on this too much?
Jacob: It doesn’t make sense.
Timothy: “It does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows”. So, there’s a getting ready process not a get ready, get set, go and hey, I won the marathon. Look, this is in public school where get stars for having a star or you get a star for failure and you get a star if you succeed. This isn’t a level playing field. You have to be made ready. You have to pass the test. Paul will say those that have been given a commission or a prophecy, have to prove faithful. I’ve seen a lot of people have prophecies or commissions from the Lord or something God has given them to do and they were unfaithful. You have to prove faith in what God is calling you to do. The other danger too is Galatians 6:1. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently”. It takes some maturity to go out there and to deal with people that are trapped in sin. I think of the woman at the well. How Jesus went and talked to her one on one by himself out by the well, right?
Jacob: Yes.
Timothy: You really better before you go. Well, Jesus did it. So, I’m going to go talk to this woman by myself. You better be dead to all kinds of things that have to do with lust or impurity. There’re several stories I can tell you when I first became a pastor. That kind of situation. I went over to share the gospel. The next thing you know they’re falling into immorality. Obviously, it caused me to search my heart and to plead to be crucified in Christ. If they’d had done that, they wouldn’t have gone out ahead of time and/or they’d have known the message of the cross and thought of themselves with sober judgement. “Brothers, if someone is caught in sin you who are spiritual”. The hard part is getting people to meet where they are or are not. We’ll see this here in a moment that Joshua is being brought to a place to meet what the reality of things are. We all have to be opened up. Why am I failing or why is God holding me back or what is he trying to refine here or we should just simply say, look, I’m not qualified to do this. I’m not qualified to go do this. Don’t play a game. Look at yourself with sober judgment and be sure that you yourself are spiritual enough, ground enough in the word of God, hating your own life, all the things that it means to be disciple before you go out to gently try and restore somebody that got caught into sin. Because it says what? “Watch yourself or you also may be tempted”. One thing that you can do just kind of as a little tidbit. Go and just read the book of James. That book is so contrary to the church out there today. It’s as if it doesn’t exist. Just read through that. And when you come to line say Lord what about this with me? What about this with me? Show me this. Crucify me. Bring all of these things into play. James is an extremely sobering book. Let’s go to Acts chapter 7 verse 23 and let me give you another example of allowing God to work in us before we go and do these things, because this is Joshua. Joshua had been thoroughly trained watching Moses staying beside the tent. He saw many failures of the Israelites. He saw many battles take place yet when we get to the town of Ai, he falters. He still has something to learn. I still continue to work out my salvation with fear and trembling. Much more so as I get older, different challenges, different kinds of sins that come my way, different situations. So, there’s always this humility in this Brokenness that I allow God to work so that he can work the resurrected life. We see this in Moses. Acts chapter 7 verse 23. You’ll hear in the church so often somebody comes to Lord and oh God’s called you do these things, right Jacob?
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: Or at least those are the ones that are advertised or there’s a ministry over here or this is going to take place. When we know Moses was called, Moses felt that, but look what happened, Acts 7:23. “When Moses was 40 years old, he decide to visit his fellow Israelites”. So even that took 40 years. That took some time. Verse 24. “He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian”. Verse 25. This is what Moses was thinking. Jacob, go ahead and read what the thoughts of Moses were as he was killing this Egyptian.
Jacob: “Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not”.
Timothy: We don’t have time to go too deep with this, but how often God will even the 12 apostles did that Jesus says, go do this and they’re rejoicing in the wrong things. They’re looking at it from a worldly point of view. They had to be rebuked and corrected. Moses was in the same way he had a mindset. He had a worldly thinking about what God was going to do in God’s timing. So, he reaches out and kill somebody and he thought everybody else realize, oh God is really with you so we’re going to be rescued. And that’s not what happened at all. He’s essentially Kind of doing what Joshua is doing. You’re going to have to pull back from the situation. You’re going to lose at what you’re going to do. And the purpose of that is so that God can refine and purify. Look for if God calls you and you think you’re being called to do a certain ministry or work. Along the way if he doesn’t oppose you or humble you or remind you of something or make you even weaker than when you started. Because that’s to keep us from sin and to purify us. We need the mind of Christ is my point. Well too many ministries and works and books and movies and everything else that are not of the mind of Christ. They might be good causes. Was this a good cause, Jacob?
Jacob: Yes.
Timothy: Moses defending the fellow Israelite against the oppression of the Egyptians. Moses striking, putting forth effort. All of his Modis were good. He was actually defending his fellow Jewish what am I trying to say here? I really got forget.
Jacob: Israelite.
Timothy: Israelite, thank you. So, Moses thought that his own people would Realize that God was using him to rescue them but they did not. “The next day Moses came upon two Israelites two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, “Men you are brothers. Why do you want to hurt each other?” But the man who was mistreating and the other pushed Moses aside and said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us”. So now they just completely reject Moses. Now he didn’t think that was going to happen. He thought he was on something. He protected them overnight. He’s probably thinking yeah, the people will see who I am and we can come together and we can be united and we can do this. He has a worldly just earthly kind of understanding about what God is calling him to do. Verse 28. “Do you want to kill me as you kill the Egyptian yesterday?” It’s amazing how they always attack whatever weak thing you did or maybe the thing you were trying to do good and they’ll turn it evil. I’m not saying Moses should have killed him. My point is they don’t just go well who made you ruler and who are you? They’re just rebellious to begin with and then they accuse him of fault. Verse 29, “When Moses heard this, he fled the Midian, where he settles a foreigner and had two sons”. So, he’s really settled in. There’s a lot of time taking place here that God is making him ready. So, we don’t go out and just do battle. We don’t go say, oh I’d like to do this over here or I’d like to do this over here or this would glorify God. He may or may not have called you to do that and just blessed are you if you’re getting ready and it never happens. We are to be a people always getting ready. Verse 40s or verse 30 of Acts 7. Go and read that Jacob.
Jacob: “After 40 years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai”.
Timothy: Notice anything about that scripture off the top of your head?
Jacob: Well Jesus was 40 days in the desert. This is 40 years.
Timothy: That’s good. Yep. What’s it what’s it saying verse 23 of Acts 7.
Jacob: 23. Oh yeah it was another 40.
Timothy: Yeah, so that’s really into these 40s, isn’t he?
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: So yeah, Moses is 80 years old at this point. Ironically, we don’t have time again today but by the time God is through dealing with Moses, he doesn’t want to go do it. So, that youthful zeal of ignorance.
Jacob: He was all gung ho. Yeah, we’re going to do it.
Timothy: Yeah, we’re going to go out.
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: So, then he goes settles down and no doubt what he did probably is just sinking in and you’re just, well, no doubt. You’re doing a lot of examination and that kind of quiet. You’re raising a couple kids. You have a wife and maybe had I’m not even sure on that particular pointm but the responsibility said since he’s learning a lot of basic things about himself, about life, and about sinful human nature, correct?
Jacob: Correct.
Timothy: The wisdom is very quietly. Go ahead, Jacob.
Jacob: Well, I just think it’s interesting where it says that where he settled as a foreigner. So, he went from an extreme, right? He was a prince of Egypt with all this power. Yeah, like he thought he was going to do this stuff. But that’s really low. Suddenly, he’s in a different country and as a foreigner, you would have been botPaul of the food chain like the botPaul-botPaul and he would have been at the botPaul for like 40 years apparently.
Timothy: Yeah. Well, definitely for 40 years. It reminds you too. Scripture says, we are foreigners in this world. So, in a sense, when we come to Jesus Christ, he pulls us away from the world all the way. Most people won’t go but let’s just say they do go. You’re then living for a very quiet period of time doing nothing and when I say nothing except waiting on the Lord, growing in the Lord, being broken in the Lord. And then when the time comes after God has shown you really who you are and how weak you are, guess what? You’re going to go, no, no thanks. Don’t want to go. Been there, done that. I know I’m not capable and that’s when God can actually put you to use. I shudder so many times when I watch people, they just take off on these ministries. Well, you got this current one where the coach, he got a victory and so it’s easily predictable. Okay, church, ministry, so on and then a promoted revival and things like that. So, they just bring in all of this human zeal and effort and bypass the brokenness of the cross, because it could be another 30 years before he does anything. When you’re 80, God finally says, okay, now you’re qualified. Well, guess what? I’m sure no doubt Moses in better shape than I am, but at 80 years old, it’s like no. No, you send somebody else. In fact, Moses keeps it up to the point God really gets kind of frustrated with him. So, that’s how much brokenness that God worked and Moses just as typical we go a little bit too far. Anything on that before we actually start looking at the town of Ai, Jacob?
Jacob: No.
Timothy: Alright, let’s go and play. We’re going to play the first section just to kind of give everybody a broad-brush stroke of what we’re looking at here and we’re going to come back then and look at it in specific ways. Video: Joshua 7, but the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things. Aiken, son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. Son of Lord anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai which is near Beth Haven 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 2,000 or 3,0000 men to take it. And do not weary all the people. For only a few men are there”. So about 3000 men went up. But they were routed by the men of Ai who killed about 36 of them. They chased the 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. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down 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. And Joshua said, “Ah sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring these 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. O Lord, what can I say? Now that Israel has been routed by its enemies. 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?” The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up. What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned. They have violated my covenant which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of devoted things. They have stolen. They have lied. They have put them with their own possessions. 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”. Go consecrate the people. Tell them, “Consecrate yourselves in preparation for Paulorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel said, that which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it”. In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the Lord takes shall come forward clan by clan. The clan that the Lord takes shall come forward family by family and the family that the Lord takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire. Along with all that belongs to him. He is violent the covenant of the Lord and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.
Timothy: Jacob, go ahead and read Joshua chapter 7 verse 1. Let’s back up now and let’s dig in this. We’re not going to be able to go deep but let’s least take a nice decent look at it.
Jacob: “But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted thing”.
Timothy: Alright, let me just stop you right there. The church needs to repent. By the way, just everything we just listened to if revival ever broke out among all these people that are saying revival broke out. You’d be seeing this kind of thing. This kind of pure going on but that’s not what’s going on and that’s why there aren’t really any real victories being won. It’s a grasping for straws but the Israelites acted unfaithfully. We have to realize that obedience and faith go hand in hand. There’s no, this whole separation bit about but you can believe in Jesus and then obedience is somehow put on the botPaul drawer. They’re tied together to believe in God is to obey. So, the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regarded to the devoted things. Look, there are sins and then there sins that are sins-sins. In Ezekiel chapter 22 verse 26, because when you go to church right now and you look at do you see any pastors up there in suits Jacob?
Jacob: Some churches.
Timothy: Some churches. For the most part what courts when I’m kind of looking in a different direction I see leisure suits or T-shirts.
Jacob: Certainly, you could say the popular mainstream churches of today.
Timothy: Thank you.
Jacob: The popular ones.
Timothy: Sure.
Jacob: The ones with the actual attendance. The actual you know what I mean?
Timothy: Yeah. Oh, I’m sure there are some good.
Jacob: There’s just there’s pockets of very conservative churches that are still wearing suits. You know what I mean?
Timothy: Correct.
Jacob: But if we’re talking about mainstream American churches. No, everybody’s in like jeans and T shirts.
Timothy: Now, you bring me a point. Let me rephrase it. The generalized message that’s being put out there is that there’s no difference between what’s holy and what’s common.
Jacob: Oh, they got like tattoos too. These guys are in like jeans and T shirts and maybe not like full sleeves but they got a couple of tattoos showing. You know what I mean?
Timothy: Yes.
Jacob: That’s like super common too.
Timothy: It’s really so bad in terms of all the entertainment. It makes those who look conservative to be conservative and they may not be. It’s just a different style that drags out. The main thing we’re after a moment is that there’s always some devoted things that need to be destroyed. Now, there are everyday things where we need to search our heart and there’s everyday things where we need to confess our sins to one another and I know that’s not going on with any much depth. But it says, “Her priest do violence to my law and profane my holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the common”. We’ve looked at this before in earlier podcast. But there should be a special suit or shirt or a pair pants or shoes”. Whatever you can’t afford, whatever you can’t afford to do, you have a special set apart set of clothings just for going to church. That’s just one minor thing. It says, “They do not distinguish between the holy and the common”. They teach. It’s not that like they’re neutral. They teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean. Right now, if I went to church somewhere and I came dressed in a shirt, but I mean a suit, what kind of reaction do you think I would get, Jacob?
Jacob: You would stand out and they’d be like, well, what’s wrong do.
Timothy: Exactly. They come to me and say, we don’t do that here and number one, you can say relax.
Jacob: I tell you to relax. Relax, man. You don’t got to wear a suit here. Jesus will accept everyone just as you are.
Timothy: And you know on the side issue is they’re being convicted but they’re not going to come at that. They’re going to try and bring you back.
Jacob: Nowadays, they may not even be convicted but anyways, go ahead.
Timothy: You bring up a good point. So, they teach. They demonstrate. They show by their lives that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbath. Now football and Sabbaths and Sunday and it’s just anything and everything you want to do. Nobody can think about throwing anything out or being clean or repenting in that kind of revival so that I’m profaned among them. And that’s what’s happening with Joshua. You’ve got something that was supposed to be destroyed and there are certain things in Jesus Christ that just have to be destroyed. You’re not supposed to have tattoos. Women are not supposed to dress like men. Men are not supposed to dress like men. There are a lot of solid things that are understood that are presented right there in front of us and it’s the leadership that’s not saying, you know, that’s cleaner, that’s not unclean. Everything needs to be done in a holy way. We did that when the church we had, right, Jacob?
Midpoint
Jacob: Yes.
Timothy: Alright, so let’s go to Joshua chapter 7 verse 2. And we’re going to note well as you look through this. God names, names. Everybody’s name is written and everything is recorded what you did. We really don’t let that sink in. I think we’ve subtly or not so subtly been taken in by that a God only sees Jesus and no matter what we do that that’s never going to be brought in the light or anything like that. But God wants to deal with sin right now today to make us as holy as possible for eternity. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to A which is near Beth Haven to the east of Bethel and told them, “Go up and spy out the region”. So, the men went up and spied out A. It reminds me of first Thessalonians 5:21. Says, “Test everything hold on to the good”. So, there should be this testing, this examination. You just don’t go marching into a battle no matter what it is even though God may be with you and he’s on your side. In fact, God is with them and he’s on the side but you still go up and you spy out. You take a look. You examine. You think. You test everything. We’re not the foolish people like on jury duty who just get all emotionally moved in a direction and declare somebody guilty or innocent based on emotions. We spy it out. We look everywhere. We dig deep and that’s just one example. Jacob, you count it on my life. I do that pretty much in everything, right?
Jacob: Correct.
Timothy: Test everything, hold on to the good. I test the test. I test what I’m testing with. I test the doctrine by which I’m testing. I test how I understand. Everything is laid before the Lord and there’s a great deal of testing going on and examining and then I throw up my hands. Okay, Lord, glorify your name, show me what to do. You ultimately come down to surrender. Let me give you a practical example of that. Let’s go to Acts chapter 17. Jacob, go ahead and read Acts 17:16 and look at what Paul does while he’s in Athens.
Jacob: “While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols”.
Timothy: Same thing that we’ve seen going on with Moses or God or just testing everything. While you’re there you might be, oh they’re a bunch of idol worship when you get all worked up emotionally. Now I’m not telling you Paul isn’t getting worked up. But it’s balanced with an examination. And a thinking. He examined. He’s looking. He’s looking at the culture. Who are these people? What’s going on? I don’t walk. I guess most people what they do is who they are in Jesus is what they apply to every situation. That makes sense?
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: Okay, let me give you an example. Missionary, your white missionary from England, you use the King James Bible, you go over to Africa and you preach to the natives and what Bible do you give them to read and make them learn?
Jacob: KJV.
Timothy: King James. There’s no examine. Well, what’s the culture here? What’s going on? And then you apply the same standards or whether it be dress code or whatever or how things were done and you just pull that in instead of the Lord, how do we clean this up? How does it become holy in you? So, Paul is examining, he’s waiting for them, he’s looking around, he’s becoming distressed, he sees us full of idols so that when he finally opens his mouth to speak. And we’ll see that here in a moment in verse 23 of Acts 17, he uses that as a springboard, all of that knowledge he gained to explain that to them what’s going on. Jacob, go ahead and read Acts 17 verse 23.
Jacob: “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your object of worship. I even found an altar with inscription to an unknown God. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you”.
Timothy: There’s a lot of wisdom and understanding who you’re talking to and who the audience is. And I don’t mean human wisdom or getting that kind of knowledge. What I mean is you look around, you examine, you see who you’re talking to. And then you go and do what Paul did. He says, I came to the Corinthians with fear and trembling. He got before God and said, okay, God what are the words? What should I say? What’s the frame of reference? Where do I begin? If I were talking to and I should be so blessed to be able to rebuke a group of prosecutors, I would know what their culture is, who they are, what they need to hear, what needs to be said. If I was talking to a group of prisoners, I’d know what that culture is, I’d know what they need to hear. Would both of them want to hear what I have to say, Jacob?
Jacob: Probably not.
Timothy: No, they probably be united in both coming after me but that’s a different point. You’re there after the one or two people that will actually surrender to God. “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship”. You see what Paul is saying? He’s examining. He’s looking. This should be happening with your neighbor. You’re watching their life. You’re not being judgmental. You’re looking, examining and who are these people and what motivates them and where do they go? Not to manipulate, not to come anything kind of shameful like that. This is a matter of love. Well, who are just like Jesus. He came to Earth and he took on our form and he talked to us on that way and on our level. That’s all that you’re doing is walking in the way that Jesus walked with his love. There would probably be a group of people that would go oh don’t bring up their idols. You don’t go there and then you got the other side that that’s all they do is bring in their idols. You know we copy the world’s music. We copy the world’s dress. That goes too far. He’s using, did you want to add something to that Jacob?
Jacob: No, I was green.
Timothy: He uses their unknown God. Their question mark to bring them to holiness. Much different. Alright, let’s go back to Joshua chapter 7 then verse 3. They went and spite out the land and they’re going to be routed here in a moment which if you don’t know what that means, a route is an undisciplined, panicked retreating of troops on the battlefield. It’s just everybody running for cover. It’s not the most generals would like to at least have an orderly retreat because then you can save as much of your ammunition and your equipment and men as possible. But once this breaks down, everybody’s just running helter-skelter everywhere. Joshua 7 verse 3. “When they return to Joshua, they said, “Not all the people have to go up against Ai”. Not all the people have to go. This is an easy thing. Be very careful in your church, in your ministry, in your life as you’re heading out of doing something that you think God has called you to go. Well, this is not a big deal. I mean, everything is a big deal in Jesus Christ. Number one, everything carries eternal consequences. It doesn’t matter if I’m mowing my neighbor’s yard, whether I’m giving a dollar to the homeless person, or whether I’m doing a flat on discussion and wrestling somebody big time with their sin to the ground. It doesn’t matter what it is. Everything has eternal significance to it and they’re losing sight of that. It’s kind of amazing as we move into this. Joshua stood by the tent of Moses through the whole generation that perished, right?
Jacob: Yes.
Timothy: He saw them lose battles. He saw them win battles. He saw God working and move. He saw the grumbling. He experienced all. He saw the pain and the turmoil that Moses was Going through and yet no matter who you are in Jesus Christ, he’s going to let that slip for a minute and we’ll see that here in a little bit. So, I don’t get confident. I don’t think of myself better than I am and I be careful when I’m standing firm at least you fall as what scripture says. It’s when we think we’ve kind of got something figured out that we’re not going to fall into what other people did that we become the most vulnerable. We’re all capable of the most horrendous of sins except by the grace of God, and I mean that not as a cliche but is the power. Alright, not all the people will have to go up against a sin 2000 or 3000 men to take it and do not weary all the people. For only a few men are there. Kinda downplaying this whole situation. It’s clearly a minor situation, correct?
Jacob: Correct.
Timothy: I think of, we’re having a church picnic. No big deal, whatever. Just have so and so. Help give out food or do whatever and you just kind of like that’s what we do on Sunday and it could be one a biggest event that causes you to lose something, because you’re not paying attention to what God’s calling you to do. So, their attitude is one of a lazy affair type attitude. “Sin 2000 or 3000 men to take it and do not weary all the people for only a few men are there”. This isn’t much. This is a minor thing. It’s a minor thing and work in Jesus Christ during God but there is major sin that’s going to cause this to collapse. So much of this what you hear in the news or you see going on in the church you’re going, that’s just too easily predictable. At least this is hidden. You can’t have your life and your doctrine just to be a mess without being easily to predict and say, this is not going to turn out well or they’re powerless in what they’re really doing or they’re doing more harm than good. Joshua 7 verse 4. Go ahead and read that Jacob.
Jacob: “So, about 3,000 men went up but they were routed by the men of Ai”.
Timothy: 3,000 kind of interesting in Acts. How many men were there at Pentecost, Jacob?
Jacob: I don’t, is that about 3,000.
Timothy: It’s 3,000, yeah were added to the number that day I believe. Now you got me down you’ll have to go look it up later. Oh, everybody else can go look if I’m wrong let me know.
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: So, about 3,000 men went up, but they were routed by the men of Ai. So, these only these few men that were there. Just routed them out. You can see them running. You can see the panic. Once that panic sees in, everybody’s eyes get big and you start running and you’ll throw away weapons you’ll do whatever you do just to get out because fear just builds on fear. Verse 5 says, “Who killed about 36 of them”. That’s a rough day. That’s a rough lesson to learn. Wouldn’t you say Jacob?
Jacob: Yes.
Timothy: You go out on a mission work or whatever and you if you had that many people when you 36 of them were killed. That’s rough. “They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes”. This is not even a pretty death. I’m picturing this. They’re chased, they get the edge of the court, kind of rocks from being thrown at them or being thrown off, whatever. “At this, the hearts of the people melted and became like water”. Everybody loses their courage. So, they make another mistake. They come back into the camp. They’re all panicky. You know, as they’re running toward Joshua or going, they’re spreading throughout the camp what went on and how many people were killed and all the bad things that went on. So, the whole congregation becomes demoralized, right? Let’s go to Exodus chapter 12 verse 15. One of the reasons this is taking place or we know that there’s hidden sin in the camp. The feast of yeast means that you go through your house and you look for those small things of sin and small things of sin that you sweep out of the house. Because yeast is compared to sin. Jacob, read Exodus 12:15 and this is kind of what’s missing on in the church on a yearly daily basis or whatever.
Jacob: “For 7 days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day, remove the yeast from your houses. For whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh day must be cut off from Israel”.
Timothy: Yeast is a very small thing in fact when we take the Lord’s supper. Technically this is one of the things we’re participating in. But what’s missing is if you announce that say you’re going to have communion the next Sunday. Jacob, do people go back to their house and look for little pieces of yeast to throw away or look for the yeast in their hearts to repent of before they get there?
Jacob: No.
Timothy: No. Is this not even thought about it? Somehow this cutesy little thing, we looked at Trump’s comments way back when in a couple podcasts and he what do you call it the little cracker?
Jacob: Yeah, he called it a little cracker.
Timothy: And what do you call the wine? Did he say wine?
Jacob: I think he might have a little yeah little cracker.
Timothy: Yep. Yeah, I’m not getting onto Trump. I’m really getting on the congregation because he’s talking to Christians at that point.
Jacob: Correct.
Timothy: And they’re laughing going along supporting him. So again, there’s no distinction about what’s holy and what’s righteous. There’s no awe to it anymore. Alright, so you have to, alright let me back in. Does sin creep up on us, Jacob?
Jacob: Yes, it does.
Timothy: It creeps on me. I live in the world. I have to watch a lot of videos and news and TikTok. Guess what? Does anybody realize those things aren’t particularly holy or edifying? But I look at all those things even the news. Even the Christian news my whatever it’s all impure. So, a little bit of yeast or a little bit of being taken in or I don’t know bringing a movie in that you kind of thought was okay, but eventually you get convict of it again and so you start cleaning your house. I’ve gone through many of house cleaning down the little stuff whether it’s magazines or not. That’s not to say it doesn’t kind of come back in. Sin is always coming back in. But there’s this cleansing process really every time you take the Lord’s supper or you do the yeast the feast of yeast kind of thing. You’re looking for that. And this is, you have to almost think I know the whole family would look but you kind of picture the woman going through the whole house and looking for yeast, right? Which is really I wish we had time to dig it’s more but which is really prophetic about the quality of what our wives need to be or a wife needs to be in a home. That’s why Galatians 5:9 warns us, “A little yeast works to the whole batch of dough”. I was very protective in a holy way and in a freedom way in Christ of the church didn’t put up with much that would come in and cause sin increase did I Jacob?
Jacob: No.
Timothy: I was not someone to, I don’t want this to sound all macho or Clint East woody or John Wayne or whatever all that is and people don’t really have a frame of reference. So again, Jacob died seemed to walk around with a chip on my shoulder all tough and like, oh that jeez let’s get it out there and this fire brimstone type attitude.
Jacob: No.
Timothy: And you feel free to say life because we can always edit it for that matter. Pretty nice guy, right? Yeah, really but I was always watching out. If there was a little bit of something and it happened many times because first of all you’re dealing with sinners who coming into church. You’re dealing with visitors coming into the church. I don’t expect them to be holy. But I have to protect the church. And so, part of at protection might involve revealing that sin to the person that’s visiting or certainly revealing it to those in the church and to those who have been there a long time that know better maybe a rebuke that needs to be sharp because they’re letting this thing get in that’s unholy. That’s a little bit of yeast just a little bit will work through the whole batch of dough. A lot of the reasons why churches and for matter Christian prosecutors or police, the reason they’re such a mess is they’re arranging their fellowship. If you allow go God to arrange the fellowship and bring in all the dynamics of everybody and all of their gifts to keep the church clean and holy and allowing God to work that. Guess what? You can come up with a pretty holy environment and there was a point in time when that basically was there. But the warning is very clear. A little bit of yeast works with the whole batch of those. So, the Israelites come marching back in, they’re yelling, they’re upset. These are men. See, that’s part of the problem. The men are not being meant. Even if, I mean, they don’t even have the stoic attitude, you’re right, they’re getting routed, they’re getting killed, they’re coming back in to women, to children, to everybody. What are they doing? They’re going, we got defeated. We’re running, we got whooped and there’s people that are dead. You’re really not even being a people leadership and please, let no man get all cocky and confidence about this thing. We can all run into panic mode because why? Because there’s sin in our life that is not confessed that has not been destroyed. We think we’re tough but we’re blind to our sin and then when we’re called to really do something in Jesus Christ, we can’t do it and we fail. Now, I know okay, who you going to blame, Jacob? You’re in a usual church, you go out and do this thing, you get whooped, you get all smacked down. Guess who’s fault it is?
Jacob: Leadership.
Timothy: Okay, well, yeah. Okay, that’s one point but let’s say your leadership, you go out, you do all this and guess who’s fault it really is?
Jacob: The devils.
Timothy: That’s right. It’s all the devil’s fault. There’s no searching of the heart and letting God get before God’s to let him reveal these things. We always blame it on something else. So, when you look at the church, it is more and more ungodly and more and more unholy and we’re losing battles left and right. Even the concept about what is a winning battle is so worldly that that’s all mixed up. That would have to be crucified first. So, do not take your idea what you think is victory and apply it to what I’m saying. I’m talking about preaching the gospel in such a way to present only Jesus Christ and him crucified and that could involve having your head chopped off in prison or somebody repenting. You don’t know. So be very careful what you consider to be victory. Jacob, anything else before we move much further?
Jacob: Well, I don’t want to jump ahead too much of the story but up until this point because all this came down to one dude’s sin. As we’re going to find out, right?
Timothy: Right.
Jacob: But up until this point, like even Joshua, he doesn’t this isn’t necessarily out of the norm, right? He sends guys, they come, they report. As we find out later, I know I’m jumping ahead but like, this is all like standard stuff until we find out that there is sin in the camp.
Timothy: See if you can botPaul line that just a little bit more, because I’m trying to grab exactly what you’re saying.
Jacob: Well, I’m sort of just asking the question like because at one point we you were talking about how like Joshua like anytime somebody comes back and like oh this is going to be easy, it’s not too bad at all. But up until this point they’ve had a bunch of victories that actually kind of were easy like and I guess that’s part of the trap like, oh well, we’ve crossed you know Moses has died we’re going to the promised land it’s going to be easy-peasy from here. Is that what even Joshua is thinking like oh this should be no problem?
Timothy: That’s a good question. You’d have to think so, whether it’s Joshua or the People for sure. Well first of all, it’s mostly the people because they’re the ones saying we spite it out. No big deal we can do it. And you bring up a very very good point. It’s when we have those victories and we think we’re doing well. Be careful because bam it’s just going to hit you. There was never a downtime when I go well this church is doing well. I’m just going to turn you know relax. That’s not there. That’s when you really got to watch out. And I think that’s what you’re saying and I’m glad you brought that up and keep hammering that if you got more to say because that’s a very true statement.
Jacob: No, I’m just kind of asking the question as we’re reading the story and thinking about it.
Timothy: They’re just overconfident.
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: They’re overconfident.
Jacob: But it all comes down to the particular sin of that’s why they’re losing, and the whole I guess the whole situation God has orchestrated. God has allowed it to happen because he’s dealing with a lot of people.
Timothy: Don’t forget this is a major sin. This isn’t the normal and I’m putting that in quotes everyday sin that we’re supposed to be confessing. That’s why you look at some of these churches or ministries that are going on and you see them doing the work and they’re not even dealing with the yeast.
Jacob: The obvious blatant things I see what you’re saying.
Timothy: Right, and then all of a sudden, oh leadership was in all of this horrendous sin and they act like we didn’t see that we didn’t know that. And you go, what are you talking about? You weren’t dealing with the little sin here. So, you got a leadership that was a total mess and a total wreck because nobody’s dealing with sin. So, what do you expect? You’re propping up unrighteousness within the church. Fortunately for Joshua, he gets before God. So, let’s go to Joshua chapter 7 verse 6. I’m going to have you go and read that Jacob.
Jacob: “Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down 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”.
Timothy: There’s a lot to love about this passage. If you’ll notice well when these churches sin does everybody tear their robes does everybody weep before the Lord.
Jacob: No.
Timothy: No, and usually what happens is the people that were wounded whatever that means write a book, go on to start their own ministry or whatever but look at what Joshua does. This is not hidden intellectual stuff. This isn’t just, what am I trying to say yeah, you’re right if I did something wrong toward God or yes, I did sin or I was helly convicted in the closet and everything’s just kind of hidden. This is all out in the open. This affected everybody. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord. He’s getting as close as he can before the Lord. Notice the next part of that. Jacob, read next three or four words.
Jacob: “The elders of Israel did the same”.
Timothy: Now you got to back up to those other three or four words.
Jacob: “Remaining there till evening”.
Timothy: Look at how they wait upon God. So often if leadership sin or some trouble comes. Nobody’s gives you time to go before the Lord. I remember when there might be perceived problems or something going on or a bitter root going on. Nobody wants to allow time to go seek God. So, Joshua just doesn’t go in and say a simple prayer. He remains on the ground. He’s staying there till evening. He’s waiting on the Lord. We’ve talked before about the Psalm. Always pour your heart out continually before God. Well, if you’re going to do that wait on him then to answer. To deal with you, to convict, to encourage, to do whatever. And please I wish people would the same joy about being convicted as they are about joy that it has to do with jumping up and down and being excited. They’re both of equal value in God. Are they not?
Jacob: Yes.
Timothy: Being convicted is a holy rejoice. I don’t like it but I certainly love it and I rejoice in it and I would encourage or don’t ever stop. I’m not there yet. So, he remains there till evening. He’s waiting upon God and the elders did the same. Blessed are you when you at least have leadership that’s united in the humility and the brokenness of the cross and is embracing the complete gospel message. They’re going to stumble. Everybody’s going to, leadership is going to stumble and have problems. If there’s one thing about that, it’s all the way through scripture. Even Peter withdrew himself from the Gentiles had to rebuke by Paul. We’re all wrestling these things out and those with bitter roots and bad attitudes and don’t like their own cross. Use those an excuse not to go to church or to leave or to ridicule or to get out from under their guilt. But you remain there until evening. You sit and so the elders come also and they sprinkle dust on their heads. I’ve never done that. I’m not encouraging people to do that but I admire that. It’s out in the open before the Lord. It’s this dust up there and you’re waiting upon God. You’re not expecting this to just happen Paulorrow and you’re pouring your heart up to God. You may be wrong on why you’re whining or why you’re praying or what you’re doing but at least you’re there before the Lord and at least you’re there humbling yourself and at least you’re going to wait upon God. You’re not going to, you know what? Today’s church, if you kind of had this going on, right? You’d have a group of people or a couple people come down and to, oh no, don’t take it so hard. I have a word from the Lord. You’re blessed and you’re holy and he’s with you and all things work for the good. You’d have all these do gooder Christians that are so unspiritual. They would take every and I’m putting this in quotes. You can’t say it. Positive scripture that’s in Bible and bringing it into a situation where it doesn’t belong, right Jacob?
Jacob: Yeah.
Timothy: So, it’d be like Joshua and also in a bunch of New Testament oh no rejoice always you just need to celebrate and rejoice in the mercy and the grace. And look how God’s been with you in all these things in the past. Why are you doubting him? It’s your lack of faith. It’s the devil that’s discouraging. Anything, but just humbling yourself before God and waiting upon God to be clear. Early on, early on I can remember people might say that was a really good sermon and I know what’s the Lord say, what is he saying. That’s all I’m really with. I mean I appreciated the encouragement and you’re supposed to share what you’re learning with Jesus Christ. But to be quite honest, it doesn’t mean anything to me when you say really good sermon. I need the feedback. I need to well what did you find positive and that’s very scriptural to share. But in terms of me actually taking it in or patting myself on the back, that just never happened. Because I wanted to hear from God. And guess what? God didn’t usually come along oh great sermon and you did a great job. I had a lot of growing to do he just ignore me. We’re going to see here this in a moment. That’s exactly what goes on. The first thing God does is ignore Joshua. This is really good stuff but we’re going to have to get that in part two. Jacob, take us out of here.
Outro: This has been the Consider Podcast at www.archive.consider.info where yesterday’s folly is today’s madness. In the beginning, the unrepentant sinners words are folly. At the end, they are wicked madness. Ecclesiastes 10:13. Judgement begins with the house of God. Therefore, let everyone who loves the Lord with an undying love pick up their cross and walk the talk. As Peter the wrote. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Be self-controlled”. First Peter 1:13-14. The Considered Podcast, examining today’s events and Paulorrow’s realities. www.archive.consider.info.
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The Consider Podcast Examining today’s wisdom, folly and madness Ecclesiastes 7:25 www.archive.consider.info
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