How Do We Handle Problems That Overtake Us?
INTRO: The Battle of Ai was a disaster. What happened? The Church at Jerusalem was overtaken by certain defeat, when Herod reached out against the church. We face problems everyday. How do we handle them? This is what is very important. Defeats can be victories.
Joshua 7:1 - 26
1
But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.2
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.3
And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.4
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.5
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.6
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.7
And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!8
O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!9
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?10
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?11
Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.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.13
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.14
In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.15
And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.16
So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:17
And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:18
And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.19
And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.20
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:21
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.22
So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.23
And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.24
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.25
And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.26
And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.First, I want to look at Ai, and the…
The problem at Ai - Joshua 7:1-5
Sin was the big problem of Achan vs.1
Achan lusted for things he did not need
Achan reached out for things unpleasing to God
Achan was self-serving
Achan "hid" his sin - almost!
We can often be guilty of internal problems that hurt us just like Achan.
[Read James 4:1-17]
James 4:1 - 17
1
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?2
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.5
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.9
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.12
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?13
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.15
For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.16
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.So if we are not careful, we fall into the same realm of Achan, we become part of the problem like Achan was.
Also…
The people had developed over-confidence in human things vs. 3
The people had become self-dependant in their eyes
(they did not consult God) vs. vs. 2-3
The cost at Ai
Death of innocent soldiers
Often when we have internal problems, it is not only the guilty that suffer.
Death of Achan and family
I know this does not seem hardly fair does it? Why does Achan's family pay the price? Why do they have to die? This is but another example, of how important that we do our very best to serve God while we can influence our loved ones! Ask yourself the question about your life, "How am I affecting my children or grandchildren, etc.?"
Doubting of God by everyone vs.8-9
Heb. 11: 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
The Solution at Ai
Looking to God (prayer) 6-9
Get close to God (sanctify) vs. 13
Identify the sin vs. 13-21
Removing the sin 22-26
Following the right plan 8:1-29 (God's plan for the battle and destruction of the city)
Trusting God totally 8:30-35
Joshua 8:30 - 35
30
Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,31
As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.32
And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.33
And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.34
And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.35
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
Now let us read…
Acts 12:1 - 25
1
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.2
And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.3
And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)4
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.5
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.6
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.7
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.8
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.9
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.10
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.11
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.12
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.13
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.14
And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.15
And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.16
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.17
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.18
Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.19
And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.20
And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.21
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.22
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.23
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.24
But the word of God grew and multiplied.25
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.Now I want to look at Jerusalem, and…
The problem at Jerusalem - Acts 12
Persecution from outside the church
Church was being squeezed
(emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially)
The cost at Jerusalem
Death
Fear
Confusion, etc.
The solution at Jerusalem
Prayer vs. 5
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Obedience (Peter obeyed the angel) 7-10
7
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.8
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.9
And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.10
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on throughChurch services 12-17
12
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.13
And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.14
And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.15
And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.16
But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.17
But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go show these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
Praise vs. 17c
…declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison
Perseverance 17g (went to another place)
Idea is he continued in the ministry of the Lord
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church 07807pm - first used - 11-14-99am