Little Things BIG CONSEQUENCES

Little things that made a huge difference! From Jericho to Ai...

Little things that made a huge difference! From Jericho to Ai... And into our world

1. The power of mustard seed faith. Matthew 17:20 And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”

Jericho FALLS! Joshua 6:15 Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times.

Jericho FALLS! Joshua 6:20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city.

GREAT SUCCESS!...brings with it some temptations.

2. The power of mustard seed sin. couldn’t use the items. no one would know. items were hidden. very small in proportion.

Notice the progression. Joshua 7:4 & 5 a army routed – loss of life Joshua 7:5 b “so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.” – loss of courage

No Progression/Advancement v.6 - Joshua falls down and prays. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the L ORD until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.

Joshua 7:7-9 7 Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord G OD, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? If only we had been willing to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 “O Lord, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? 9 “For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”

It was not a great powerful nation that routed them, it was the wimpy, weakling city of Ai. The defeat brought them to their knees before God. The defeat brought them to their knees before God.

Notice God’s reply to Joshua Joshua 7:10 So the L ORD said to Joshua, “Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?

After one defeat Joshua acts like the whole idea of conquering Canaan was a bad idea.

There is a reason for their loss, Joshua 7:11 “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things.”

What is done in private has a public effect. I Corinthians 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?

The disobedience of one individual can have a negative effect on the whole community.

Numbers 32:23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the L ORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.” Joshua 7:20 So Achan answered Joshua and said, “Truly, I have sinned against the L ORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did:”

Notice the sequence of events leading to his sin: 1. “I saw”... ( v.21 ) 2. “I coveted them” “I took” “They are hidden”...

Because of Achan’s sin 36 men lost their life Army was routed

My sin effects you, your sin effects more than you. There are corporate consequences for our sins. God didn’t say Achan has sinned but, “Israel has sinned”.

God can turn disaster into hope and victory. Joshua 7:26 They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the L ORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.

Hosea 2:15 “Then I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.” Hosea 6:1 “Come, let us return to the L ORD. For He has torn us, but He will heal us; he has wounded us, but He will bandage us.”

Joshua 8:1 Now the L ORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.

Even mustard seed faith brings amazing victory every time!