Achan: The Consequences of Sin
INTRODUCTION.
A. Sin within your life and my life can have a tragic impact upon our lives
1. There are times when we may commit a sin that is unknown to others. As a result, we bear the guilty and shame upon ourselves. Alone, we must repent and ask God to forgive us.
2. There may be other times when our sin becomes public knowledge and affects other people within our lives.
B. The Bible tells us the story of a man named Achan whose sin impacted not only himself, but the whole nation of Israel.
C. With this lesson we will consider the story of Achan and the consequences of sin.
I. THE STORY OF ACHAN.
A. The story of Achan begins in Joshua 6.
1. Joshua had led the Israelites in battle against the city of Jericho. By following God’s instructions, the Israelites defeated the walled city of Jericho. (Joshua 6:1-27)
2. God gave Joshua and the Israelites specific instructions regarding the spoils from the battle. (Joshua 6:18-19)
a. The Israelites were to abstain from the accursed things.
b. All the silver, gold, vessels of bronze and iron were to go into the treasury of the Lord.
B. As the story of Achan continues in Joshua 7, we learn that Achan sinned against the Lord.
1. Achan took of the accursed things during the battle against Jericho. This disobedience angered the Lord and His angered burned against the children of Israel. (Joshua 7:1-3)
2. Achan’s sin cost Israel the battle against the city of Ai. During the battle at Ai, thirty-six men of Israel were slain in battle. (Joshua 7:4-5)
3. When Joshua tore his clothes and cried to the Lord, the Lord told Joshua the reason He had turned against Israel. The Lord told Joshua to remove the accused thing from Israel and to punish the one who had taken the accursed thing. (Joshua 7:6-15)
4. Joshua discovered Achan’s guilt. Joshua told Achan to confess what he had done. (Joshua 7:16-19)
5. Achan confessed to having taken the accursed things and hiding them in his tent. (Joshua 7:20-21)
6. Joshua and the Israelites took Achan and his family, his live stock and all that he had, along with the accursed things and stoned them and burned them. (Joshua 7:22-26)
7. The Lord’s anger was turned away from Israel. (Joshua 7:26)
II. LESSONS LEARNED.
A. Your sin can bring reproach and shame upon others.
1. Achan’s sin brought reproach, guilt and shame upon the nation of Israel.
2. Sin within our life can bring reproach and shame upon ourselves, as well as others.
a. We must remove that sin from our life by turning away and repenting.
b. There are times when sin must be removed from the local church by no longer keeping company with those living in sin. Paul wrote, “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner— not even to eat with such a person.” (1 Corinthians 5:11, NKJV)
c. Such a person must be delivered to Satan. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5)
d. If the person repents, then the church is to accept him back. (2 Corinthians 2:3-11)
B. The consequences of your sin can affect others within your life.
1. Achan’s sin tainted the whole nation of Israel. Achan’s sin cost Israel the lives of thirty-six men.
2. Sin within your life can likewise affect other people. (This is not the same as bearing the guilt for your sins. Only you bear the guilty of your own sin.)
a. In the case King David, the child which David and Bathsheba conceived, along with David’s family suffered the consequences of David and Bathsheba’s sin. (2 Samuel 12:11-15)
b. Depending upon the sin and the severity of it, your sin can affect . . .
(1) Your family members, i.e. spouse, children, parents, etc.
(2) Your friends.
(3) The members of the local church on different levels.
(a) Members of the church bear the responsibility of correcting you when you sin. (Galatians 6:1-4)
(b) Members of the church bear the responsibility of marking you if you do not change. (1 Corinthians 5:4-5)
C. Sin should always be confessed or acknowledged.
1. Achan confessed his sin before Joshua. However, Achan and his family was not spared the punishment for their sins.
2. If you have sin within your life, confess that sin and ask God to forgive you. (1 John 1:9)
3. We can confess our sins to one another so that we might pray for each other. (James 5:16)
D. Remove the sin from your life.
1. In order for the Lord to turn away His wrath from Israel, Joshua had to destroy the accursed things kept by Achan.
2. To conquer sin within our lives, we must likewise remove the sin, the “accursed things,” from our lives.
a. Putting to death the old man of sin is the process of removing sin from our lives. (Romans 6:5-11)
b. Put off the old man of sin. (Ephesians 4:17-24)
c. Jesus taught his disciples to remove the temptations from their lives. (Matthew 5:27-30)
CONCLUSIONS.
A. As we close this lesson, please carry with you what we have learned here today.
1. Sin is very dangerous, destructive, and deadly. Sin can bring shame and reproach upon yourself and those around you.
2. The consequences of your sins can affect others within your life.
3. If you are guilty of sin, then confess your sin to God and ask Him to forgive you.
4. Then, remove the sin from you life. If possible, remove the temptations from your life as well.
B. Israel paid a heavy price for Achan’s sin. Achan and his family paid their life for Achan’s sin.
1. If you are not yet a child of God, then repent and turn to the Lord today, lest you loose your soul at judgment.
2. If you are a Christian, but, you are guilty of sin, then repent and turn back to the Lord, lest you also loose your soul at judgment.
Achan: The Consequences of Sin - August 22, 2004 -- File: 881 - Men, OT
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK