Trying to hide things from God

1. Trying to hide things from God Joshua 6: 18 - 197: 1, 2 – 5, 6 – 9, 10- 15, 16 – 21, 22 – 25, 26

2. Trying to hide things from God Introduction: I am sure that we all can remember as a child trying to “Hide something” or “even ourselves” from our Parents or some other person who had watch over us. We would get in a box and think we can’t be seen. It was fun, it was also A way of not getting caught – We thought!!!!

3. Trying to hide things from God • I CAN REMEMBER DOING SO – HOW FOOLISH IT WAS TO THINK THAT IT WOULD WORK, THAT I WOULD BE SUCESSFUL AT CONSEALING WHATEVER IT WAS. • My mother had (has) eyes in the back of her head. • To this day I still wonder – • “How did she know?”

4. Trying to hide things from God 1. How successful were we at escaping the consequences that we thought the “hiding” might accomplish? Maybe it would work for a little while, but not for long. 2. How About trying to hide things from God? Has anybody ever tried such a thing? Would anybody try to such a thing, even today? Would there be a consequence in attempting to do so? Individually? For Others?

5. Trying to hide things from God 3. How about that last one? a. Can what we do or fail to do have a consequence for others? Interesting thought!!!!!!1

6. Trying to hide things from God 3. The New Testament teaches us that the things recorded or written in the Old Testament serve to teach us things that are important to know today. * ROMANS 15: 4“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” (NKJV) * I Corinthian 10: 1 – 12←READverse 6 “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” So what can we learn about this topic, Trying to hide things from God. What Happens?

7. I. The Story of the Battle of Ai. A. Joshua is now in control of the Army (People) of God leading them into the Promised Land after Moses has gone to Mt. Nebo never to enter at the Promised Land, because of his sin at the waters of MeribahKadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, Numbers 20: 1-12, Deut. 32:48-52, Deut. 34: 1- 4. Joshua 1: 1-3, 3: 1ff.

8. They have just won the first of many battles, ( Joshua 6: 20 – 21) they will fight to receive the Promise of God, the battle of Jericho, but there was a command of God concerning this battle, Joshua 6: 1ff. (Joshua 6: 18 – 19). • It had a far reaching effect.

9. a. They were not to take any of the Spoils (“the accursed thing”) from the battle for themselves. The silver and gold, vessels of bronze and iron were to go into the Treasury of the house of God. Vs 18. b. They were to destroy everything else. V. 21 c. But Achan did. 7:1 d. They lost the Battle of Ai7: 2-5

10. e. Achan hid the spoils from the people and he thought from God, He “troubled the people” of God, because of his sin. Joshua told him that God would “trouble him for his sin.” 7: 10-25 f. When the sin had been corrected, the Battle was won, but not until then. 8: 1ff

11. II. Differing forms or methods of Hiding Things from God A. Self after Sins of Disobedience 1. Adam and Eve Genesis 3: 8-10 B. Ones Service 1. Jonah - Jonah 1: 3 2. Elijah 1 Kings 19: 1 - 10

12. II. Differing forms or methods of Hiding Things from God 3. One who received the “One Talent” Matthew 25: 10 C. Gifts/Money Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:2

13. II. Differing forms or methods of Hiding Things from God Our sins, no matter what form they take - can and may be hidden from mankind for a while, even forever; - but they can not be hidden from God.

14. III. What Should we Do? 1. Isaiah 29: 15“Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say - who seeth us, and who knoweth us?” • Where we do what we do tells a great deal about who and what we are.

15. III. What Should we Do? 2. Proverbs 28:13 tells us “He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whosoever confesses and forsake them shall have mercy.” • We fool ourselves if we think that we will gain in some way by hiding our trespasses. By admitting what we have done, this brings about the Mercy of God.

16. III. What Should we Do? 3. John 3:16 - 22 It is not God or Christ that condemns us, but rather we condemn ourselves by our own actions. • When we live an OPEN life in Christ for all to see, we are ashamed of nothing that we do.

17. Conclusion 1. Paul tells us Time is running out To make the necessary changes in our lives, to get back into the light. ROMANS 13:12 • “The night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us there fore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.”

18. Conclusion 2. We can not hide from God nor the things which do or fail to do, PSALMS 90:8 • “Thou has set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy Countenance.”

19. Conclusion 3. We need to be reminded of the Words of Moses when speaking to the Children of Israel, specifically the tribes of Rueben and Gad, before Joshua took over to fight that first battle of the Promised Land. • Numbers 32 1- 6 32: 16 – 19, 32: 20 – 23. • V 23. “ But if ye will not do so, behold you sinned against the Lord, and be sure that your sins will find you out.”

20. Conclusion 4. What does God know about us, personally and as a group? • Are we “troubling the Camp” with something we think that nobody knows about? • We can not hide from God?

21. What MUST You Do to Be Saved? • Hear The Word Of God Romans 10:17 • Believe His Word Mark 16:16, John 8:24 • Repent of your sins Luke 13:3, Acts 2:38 • Confess your belief Romans 10:10, Acts 8:37 • Be Baptized Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38 For the Remission of Your Sins Acts 22:16 Galatians 3:26, 27 • Live Faithfully Titus 2:11-14