Access to the Promised Future – Part 7: The Penalty of Complacency 

(Don’t worry I’ve got this)📖 Text: Joshua 6:18-19 (NLT)““Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on the camp of Israel. Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the Lord and must be brought into his treasury.””📖Joshua 7:1-5 NLTIntroduction: Complacency killsJoshua went with only 3000 warriors because he underestimated his opponent. He paid with the lives of 36 warriors and humiliation of losing against smaller opponents 🔑 Key Truth:It’s amazing that the first defeat came from the smallest opponent. It’s happened right after victory against the strongest opponent.Practical Application:In our lives we normally take for granted the smaller battles and don’t go all out to win. We don’t lose battles because our enemies are stronger and better than us. We lose when we don’t focus on basic instruction and matters. The things and people we take for granted can hurt us in the processNever change the winning strategy Staying in line with what God commands keeps us winning. 🏆 Never underestimate small issues but you must deal with them promptly It’s just a desire, what’s the big deal? Achan had a desire that he wanted to fulfill Pure desires can put us in disaster because of how to we choose to fulfill them.Practical Examples:Building a family legacy with bribe money Getting promoted at work by back stabbing our colleaguesWhen we want to win by changing the rules to favour usWhen you are looking for comfort on the thighs of DelilahWhen you are looking for a feel good feeling in drugs and alcohol 📖 Proverbs 13:11-13 NIV📖Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT📖 Proverbs 20:21 AMP📖 Proverbs 22:1 AMPAchan missed an opportunity to be known for good but chose money / riches ahead of GodGod doesn’t deserve this, I want to have it for me.Some of our faults causes others to suffer and fall apart.Achan sin was catastrophic to his people.Put God first📖 Matthew 6:24 AMPWhat drives you to do what you do?Who is your masterThe hyper prosperity gospel has created Christians who will do anything for money instead of GodThe first belongs to God - people always twist this and put themselves ahead of even God Himself. 📖 Matthew 6:33 NLTStatement we say about money:Money makes the world go round 🌍Cash is king 👑 Money brings joy and happinessMoney brings peace of mind Money brings securityPeople will love you more when you have money I will do everything for moneyI can not afford to live without money Money will give you a voice and relevanceWhen I have money I have everything I need Money is a spirit that makes people do things they are not supposed to do.As the church we have created money monsters by making gospel all about moneyWhen people pray to God it’s always about money.Lord I have nothing - meaning I have no moneyLord bless me - meaning Lord please give me moneyLord I need breakthrough - meaning Lord please help me I need moneyKey truth:There is plenty resources at our disposal when we put God first.Healing ❤️‍🩹 Process: Purify Ourselves 📖Joshua 7:13 NLTRepentance is the first step towards healing ❤️‍🩹 Go back to where things went wrong and ask God to forgive and give you a way forwardCompletely Destroy Achan spirit📖Joshua 7:24-26 NLTThe New Testament grace applies, we don’t kill physical people because Jesus already died for usWe however completely destroy the spirit and even its offspringsWe deal with the root causes of our problems and don’t scratch the surfaceThe spirit of mammon must die in our lives and be completely removed Conclusion: Recipe for Victory Practical Application:If you failed before, you need to know where did it go wrong and fix📖Joshua 8:1-4 NLTVictory came from following what God say not our own strategyGod restores📖Psalms 51:12 NKJV📖 Isaiah 61:7 NKJV