Sunday I mentioned there were two admirable attributes of Joshua that I didn’t have time to get into during the talk. So here’s the first bonus track of the weekend message:

Joshua was willing to confront sin in the camp
After the victory over Jericho, the people Joshua led known as Israel, went to take a smaller, not nearly as strong city, named Ai. But a guy named Achan had kept some of the spoils from Jericho for himself when God had clearly commanded that all the spoils from Jericho were to go directly to God ( a type of tithe from the Promised Land). Joshua confronted Achan’s sin and Israel went on to defeat that city as they possessed the land God had given them.

It is admirable and necessary to confront sin in our lives if we are going to possess the promises God has for us. One of the roles the Holy Spirit plays in our lives is to convict us of sin and empower us to overcome it.

Joshua dealt with sin ruthlessly because he knew the damage it can do to an individual and a community. While the cross of Christ represents victory of sin, that victory has to enforced by confronting and repenting of sin as the Holy Spirit brings it to our attention. 

Is there sin in your camp? Are you willing to confront it?