The Cursed Things

In this GoToMeeting session, the speaker discusses the importance of examining the things written in the Old Testament and applying them to ourselves. He refers to 1 Corinthians 10 and emphasizes that Jesus Christ was the Lord God of the Old Testament. He also mentions the account of Joshua and the cursed thing, highlighting the promises given to Joshua and the success in conquering Jericho. However, there was a setback with the city of Ai, where they faced defeat due to disobedience. Joshua is distraught and questions why this happened. The speaker encourages us to learn from these examples and remember God's promises to us. Well, hello everyone again, it's again really good to be back together with you on another GoToMeeting session. And, you know, time goes on and here we are back from the feast and I'm sure all of us are thinking about the coming spring holy days now, but later in this country we've got the winter to go through, but there's a lot of things we can accomplish in the winter as well. So, Brogan, I want to go over an account today of the Old Testament, in the Old Testament. But first, I want to start going back to 1 Corinthians, if you'll look with me, 1 Corinthians, the 10th chapter. And what we're going to do is read about why it's so important for us to examine the things written in the Old Testament and apply them to ourselves. Let's see what Paul says here in 1 Corinthians 10, verse 1. He says here, Now I do not wish you to be ignorant of this, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. And they all ate the same spiritual meat, and they all drank of the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock, and that followed them, and that rock was Christ. So, that's a good scripture to remember when there's discussions about who was the God of the Old Testament, you know, the two gods that existed. This shows us right here, as a scripture, we can remember that Jesus Christ was that rock. He was the Lord God of the Old Testament. That was with Israel. Continuing on then, it says, But with many of them God was not pleased, for their dead bodies were strewn in the wilderness. Now these things became examples for us, so that we might not lust after evil things as they also lusted. So, remembering the things written here were examples for us. So, let's go ahead and read on now. In verse 11 and 12, it says, Now all these things happened to them as examples, and were written for our admonition. On whom the ends of the ages are coming, therefore let the one who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. So, examples are written for us, these examples in the Old Testament, real actual accounts that happen for our admonition. So, do we take these examples and apply them to ourselves? Do we take these examples and apply them also to the church? Well, we should be. That's again why God had these things written and recorded for us. Now, the one thing for all of us to just keep in mind is, we have God's Spirit. And with having God's Spirit, the things we read about in the Old Testament, we can apply spiritually. So, how much more valuable are they to us to think about and meditate on? So, in this message today, we're going to be reading about the account of Joshua and the cursed thing. So, let's go back to Joshua 1 to begin with. Joshua 1. Because there was a cursed thing there that was brought in to the children of Israel. Joshua 1. And we're going to start in verse 5 of Joshua 1 and just be reminded of some of the things that God told Joshua. Some promises He gave Joshua. Joshua, the first chapter, verse 5. It says, No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. Now, just think about this in the case of Joshua. Joshua got to observe all the things that Moses went through. And how God worked with Moses and how God stood up for Moses and supported Moses. And Moses followed God. So, there was a lot of works of power done through Moses. Joshua got to see or hear about these things. You know, a lot of times, maybe some of the forefathers and those mentioned in the Bible did not have someone to look to or observe how God worked through them. But in the case of Joshua, he got to see Moses and what happened with Moses. So, certainly as God says here, as I was with Moses, Joshua knew how God was with Moses. So, continuing on, he says here, be strong and of good courage. For you shall divide an inheritance for this people of the land which I swore to their fathers to give it to them. That was going to be given to Joshua to do. He says here now, only be strong and very courageous so that you may observe to do according to all the law which my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left hand so that you may prosper wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. But you shall meditate therein day and night so that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. Then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall have good success. Some promises given there to Joshua. If he did these things, he was going to have a prosperous way. He was going to have good success. Not only him, but also the children of Israel. We'll finish up in verse 9 here. It says, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid, neither be dismayed. For the Lord your God is with you in all places where you go. So, wow, what promise is given to Joshua directly from God. And when we think of ourselves, these things apply to us too. God is with us. He'll never forsake us, not ever. And our part is to make sure that we stay with God. So, again, what promise is given here to Joshua that he believed, that he had faith in, that he was looking to continually. So, again, our part is also remembering God's promises to us and being strong in those things as well. So, as we move forward with Joshua, we're going to read briefly about an account, again, written for us with Jericho. Now, there was success with Jericho. And God said you would have success. And he had success in conquering Jericho. And let's just read briefly about that as we move through the accounts here. Joshua, the sixth chapter, let's go there. And we'll read just a few verses here about Jericho and bring out a couple things we need to remember. Joshua 6.15 And all that is in it. So, let's remember that. God said, the instructions there to Joshua and to Israel that Joshua reminded them, you keep clear of the curse thing. Lest you make yourselves cursed when you take of the curse things and make the camp of Israel a curse and trouble. But all, now let's pay attention to this too, but all the silver and gold and vessels of bronze and iron are devoted to the Lord. They shall come into the treasury of the Lord. So, pretty clear instructions here given by Joshua to Israel there when it came to the conquering of the city Jericho. So, as we read through this, let's just go ahead now and read down on verse 24. See what happens here. It says, And all that was in it. But only the silver and the gold and the vessels of bronze and iron they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. For God's instruction. So, again, there was success here. Joshua was expecting the success because of all the promises God had given him and so was Israel. But there was some instructions here God had given them too. Did they follow this? Well, let's read on here of the account I want to get to and let's see what happened. So, we're going to talk about the city of Ai. So, let's continue then in reading in Joshua the seventh chapter. It says, For Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zaddi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the saints which was cursed. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethlehem on the east side of Bethel. So, we'll just make note of what's going on here. But there was someone in Israel that took of, as Achan, took of the cursed saints. But they were unaware of this. So, continuing on in verse two, And he spoke to them, saying, Go up and look over the country. And the men went up and spied out Ai. So, again, here comes another city that they were going to take over and conquer. And they returned to Joshua and said to him, Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike Ai. Do not make all the people labor there, for they are few. So, yeah, they spied it out. They looked at it and they're like, hey, there's a few here. We don't need to send, you know, the whole army of all of us up there. We can just send two or three thousand men should take care of this. Thinking and knowing that God will be with us, right? That's the most important thing. So, about three thousand men of the people went up there. And they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai killed about thirty-six men of them. For they chased them from there before the gate of Shebarim and attacked them on the road going down. Therefore, the hearts of the people melted and became as water. And Joshua tore his clothes and fell down to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord, until they even tied he and the elders of Israel and put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord, why have you at all brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? And oh, that we had been content and lived on the other side of Jordan. O Lord, what shall I say when Israel turned their back before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear and shall surround us and shall cut off your name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name? So, here Joshua is distraught over what has happened here. So, in my thoughts here, he was surprised. You know, you think back, Joshua did, I'm sure, all the promises given to him. All the things God said he would do, he would make him prosper. He would have good success. There would be no man stand before him. He would be with him in all his ways, wherever he went. And here he runs into a situation here with this smaller city that they were supposed to be able to easily conquer. It didn't work out for him, and I'm sure he's thinking, what happened here? Let's continue reading, and we think about, has that ever happened to us? Or sometimes we're like, wow, what happened? I wasn't expecting this. Well, there could be reasons for things that happened. But again, Joshua, he did not know. And most of all, the children of Israel did not know what happened either. But we're going to find out as we read what happened. And the Lord said to Joshua, get up. Why do you lie upon your face this way? Israel has sinned. And they also have broken my covenant which I commanded them. And have even taken of the cursed things. And have even taken of the cursed things. And have also stolen and pretended falsely. So there was someone among them, this Achan, that he was a pretender. He wasn't doing what Israel was supposed to do. Believing in it, trusting in God, following God wholeheartedly. He was a pretender. And taken of the cursed thing and brought it into Israel. He said, and they have even put it among their own things, these cursed things. It says, therefore, the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies. They will turn their backs before their enemies because they have become cursed. I will not be with you again unless you destroy the one who was cursed from among you. Up, sanctify yourself. For tomorrow, for thus says the Lord God of Israel, a cursed thing is in the midst of you, O Israel. And here's what we need to pay attention to. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the cursed thing from among you. Again, as we've read back there in the Corinthians, these things are written for us. For examples, for our admonishment, for us to meditate and think on how they apply to us. So that the cursed thing was there among them. And God said, if you don't take care of this, I'm not going to be with you. God told them plainly, you cannot stand before your enemies when the cursed thing is among you. So we, it's good for us to think about these things rather than how they apply to us today. Let's go ahead and finish up here what happened in Joshua 7 and we'll drop down to verse 19. So here, Achan was the one who brought this in. Verse 19, it says, And Joshua said to Achan, My son, I pray you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and make confession to him. And tell me now what you have done, do not hide it from me. And Achan answered Joshua and said, Indeed, I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this have I done. When I saw among the spoil a goodly robe of Shinar, a Babylonian, Shinar is Babylonian. He saw this robe there, a goodly robe. Now, what was his intentions behind obtaining that robe and keeping it? Don't know, but not a good intention there. It says, And two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels of weight, I coveted them. I coveted them. Where was the gold and the silver supposed to go to? Well, it belonged to God. It was to go into the treasury. That's what God gave instructions to Joshua to give to Israel to do. He didn't follow that. He took it. And behold, they are hidden in the earth in the middle of my tent, and the silver under it. Well, wow, you know, no good can come from that, right? And sometimes we're going to look at this a little bit later and apply it. But, you know, if you've got to take something and you have to hide it and bury it, it shows you something right there is not right. But that was the mindset of him. And, you know, by him burying that and hiding it like he did, yeah, he knew that there was maybe some consequences and something wrong there about what he did. But he coveted those things. So going on, and it says in verse 22, And Joshua sent messengers, and they ran into the tent, and behold, it was hidden in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the middle of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the children of Israel, to all the children of Israel, and they laid them out before the Lord. It was all laid out before God. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan, the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his donkeys, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had. And they brought them to the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? And certainly that did bring trouble. The Lord shall trouble you this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones and burned them with fire, and they had stoned him after they had stoned him with stones. So we see here the cursed thing was brought in, and it brought trouble to Israel. And they weren't able to stand before their enemies. And God even made it clear that, you know, he would not be with them as long as this occurred. So one thing I want to bring out here, too, it's very important that, you know, Joshua and Israel, once this was discovered, they took care of it. Now, it's just not only the leader's responsibility, and Joshua was the leader here. It was not only Joshua's responsibility to take care of this. It was Israel's, and they all participated in taking care of this man and, unfortunately there, all that he had and what he had taken. And there was a harsh judgment there for that, but all Israel took care of it. I mean, what we can learn from this is, you know, within the church, and that's what we're going to be talking about. Within the church, it's just not the spiritual leaders, ministers, or elders within the church to look out for these things and take care of these things. It's the responsibility of all the church to be doing this, just like all Israel had their heart here in taking care of this. It's something we need to remember. So, obviously, there's a consequence for bringing in the cursed thing, the things that God said not to have within His people, whether it was Israel at that time or whether it's the spiritual Israel of today, the church. There's a consequence for bringing in the cursed things. And certainly, we want God a part of us and leading us and helping us. Have we seen this in the church? Again, applying this to ourselves. Have we seen the cursed things brought into the church? Have we seen stealing occur within the church in various ways, things that were supposed to be of God, dedicated to God, of God, by God, for God, but taken from God? Well, the answer to that is, yes, we have. And those things go on today. And we need to be mindful of them. Let's just review some things here as we move through the account and, again, apply these things to ourselves and to the church. What's the church's responsibility? The church is the called out ones, right? It's all of us. What's our responsibility? Thinking about us being future kings and priests, what's our responsibility? Let's go back to Ezekiel. Just be reminded of some things we need to be doing. In Ezekiel 22, Ezekiel 22-26, it says here, let's actually go back to 24. Some man say to her, you are a land that is not cleansed nor rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst. Like a roaring lion tearing the prey, they have devoured souls. They have taken the treasure and precious things. They have made many widows in her midst. So there's a behavior there that's just not right. Going on to say here of those, it says, her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and the profane and have not taught the difference between the clean and unclean and clean. They have hidden their eyes from my sadness and I am profane among them. So within the church, brethren, we need to remember that we can't be like this. Our job is to be able to understand the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, the profane things and the unprofane things. And as we're mentioning in the message here, understanding the cursed things, the things that God doesn't want us to have any part of and make a difference between those. That's our responsibility to do that. Do we know the difference? Yes, we do. And we learn that continually to know the difference. But the other part is knowing the difference, but do we make a difference? Are we doing things then we know, but then are we doing things to separate ourselves from this and make a difference? Well, that's what we strive to do. But this is the responsibility of all of us in the church to make a difference. Let's go back to 1 Peter, the second chapter. 1 Peter 2, and we're going to start in verse 9, and it's good to just take time to remember who we are. It's God's people. Once God has called and placed his spirit in and made us his children, knowing that we can call upon the Father and call him Father, he's our dad. But just to remember who we are as his people, in 2 Peter 2 and 9 it says, That's what our jobs are continually. We proclaim his excellent virtues. It's not ours. It's his that we proclaim. Who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, who once were not a people, but now are the people of God, who had not received mercy, but now have received mercy. Beloved, I exhort you as strangers and sojourners to restrain yourselves from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. Having your way of life honest among the Gentiles, so that although they speak against you as equal doers, through having witnessed your good works, they may glorify God in the day of visitation. So, again, we always need to be remembering who we are as God's people and what he expects us to be doing all the time. And as it applies here, we're talking about this message, the cursed thing. Just remember those things we don't want on the heart of us in any way. Let's go back to Matthew 16. Matthew 16, we're going to pick it up here in verse 13. Christ talking to the apostles here. In verse 13, it says, now after coming out into the parts of Caesarea, Philippi, Jesus, questioned his disciples saying, whom do men declare me the son of man to be? And they said, some say John the Baptist, and others Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said to them, but you, whom do you declare me to be? Then Simon Peter answered and said, you are the Christ, the son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said to him, blessed are you, Simon Barjahmus, for flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say also to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the grave shall not prevail against it. So, it's good for us to remember that Christ is the head of the church. And ask ourselves the question, who is Christ to us? Who do we proclaim Christ to be? We need to think about that. And hopefully Jesus Christ is first in our lives. And it's very important that we're living our lives in a way to please him and God. And be building the mind of Christ, and again, putting out things we don't want within the body of Christ. You know, when we think about Christ and him being the head of the church, and everything being built upon him, do we recognize when things come within the body of Christ, or maybe within ourselves, that's not based upon Christ? And that's what we need to be continually looking for. Now, Paul reminds us, and we're going to read this back in 1 Corinthians 3, what everything is built upon. So, let's just review that again in 1 Corinthians the 3rd chapter. 1 Corinthians 3, in verse 9, it says, For you are God's fellow workers, and you are God's husbandry, even God's building. That's pretty special to think that we belong to God, and we're his husbandry. We're God's building. I mean, he's doing something with us and through us that sometimes we just don't completely understand. But nonetheless, through the power of the Spirit, God is working through us and developing us. As a wise architect, according to the grace of God that was given to me, I have laid the foundation, and another is building upon it. But let each one take heed how he builds upon it. For no one is able to lay any other foundation besides that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. That's the only foundation that can be laid upon. So, do we stand up for Christ? Are these things important to us, that whatever the church builds upon, whatever the church is doing, whatever takes place, that we're watching out to make sure it's being built upon Christ? Well, hopefully we're all in full support of Christ and what he's doing with all of us and the truth. And again, when things come within the body of Christ that shouldn't be, we want it removed. We want it destroyed. It's our responsibility, isn't it, to be watchful for these things. I'm going to be turning back now to Luke, the eighth chapter. Luke 8. So, one thing all of us need to be careful is not developing an attitude where we think, well, God doesn't know. God doesn't see. Now, he took of those things he wasn't supposed to and he took them in his tent and as we covered, he buried them. Did he not think that God didn't know what had happened? And, of course, they brought it all out and laid it before God. But, you know, we have to be careful ourselves that we think, well, God doesn't know these things. God doesn't see these things. Let's see what Christ said here in Luke 8, verse 16. He says, Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a couch but puts it on a lampstand so that those who are entering may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that shall not be made manifest nor any secret that shall not be known and come to light. Therefore, take heed how you hear. The brotherness is an important principle. Christ is telling all of us here to take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him shall be given. But whoever does not have, even that which he seems to have shall be taken from him. So, how do we hear? Do we take heed to that? Are we paying attention? And we need to be. Especially in the times we live in. And for what's coming. Because we've been warned about these things in God's Word. So, brethren, everything is going to come to light and be made known. And certainly in the end, everyone's going to have to give an account. So, brethren, these are good things for us to remember. And we don't want to have a mindset of God doesn't see or God doesn't know. Let's go back to Isaiah. And see what Isaiah says. Isaiah 29. So, we're going to go to Isaiah 29. In verse 15. It says, Woe to those who go deep to hide their purpose from the Lord. And their works are in the dark. And they say, Who sees us? And who knows us? Well, God sees and knows. Boy, a lot of things go on in this world that are so wicked and evil. And perhaps a lot of these people of faith even acknowledge that God exists. This attitude they have is who sees or who knows. And it really comes back to the blinding of sin. You know, when we sin or enter into sin, it has a way of blinding us. To a point where if we continue on with that sin, it leaves our minds that we even think that God doesn't know what we're doing. Or we don't even think about God witnessing us in our actions. So, brethren, something we need to be mindful of is what sin can do. And how important it is to separate ourselves and make a difference. And certainly not enter into an attitude which we have seen the churches enter into. Where they act like God doesn't know or doesn't see what's going on here. Let's cover one more scripture on this. Let's go back to Psalm 94. Psalm 94, and we're going to read starting in verse 1 of Psalm 94. It says, O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs, O God, to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself. And boy, we are all waiting for the return of Jesus Christ, aren't we? Matter of fact, we love his appearance. Because we know what his appearance is going to bring. Lift up yourself, judge of the earth. Render recompense to the proud in this time, this is coming. How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult? They dash forth words, they speak arrogant things. All the workers of iniquity fault themselves. Wow, we see that today. And certainly with this election we just had in the United States. We see how some things have come out. And we know the power behind, the wicked power behind some of these things that go on in this world and this culture in the U.S. They crush your people, O Lord, and they inflict your inheritance. And yes, there is enmity out there. Between this world and the wicked things that go on in this world, and the church. And the church, those of the church, and they would love for things to be brought into the church. They kill the widow and the stranger and murder the fatherless, yet they say the Lord shall not see. Nor shall the God of Jacob observe it. Understand, you British ones among the people, and you fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear shall he not hear? He who formed the eye shall he not see? Foolishness. God created and designed all these things. Is he not going to see and hear? He who chastens the nation shall he not correct? He who teaches man knowledge shall not he know? The Lord knows the thoughts of man that they are vanity. So, it's good for us just to meditate on this because God knows what's going on at all times. And we need to remember that. And we need to remember that. And being a part of the church, and as we covered there in 1 Peter, who we need to be is God's people. We need to remember too, God's watching us all the time to see what we're going to be doing. Are we making a difference? And we should be. But there is a warning for us. Let's go back and look at that in Hebrews, the second chapter. Hebrews 2. I'm going to read 1 through 3. It says, And, you know, we read back there in Luke what Christ said about our hearing. We need to be paying attention to our hearing and remember what we've heard. But we pay much greater attention to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should slip away. For if the word spoken by angels was enforced without fail, and every transgression and disobedience received just recompense, how shall we escape if we have neglected such a great salvation? And wow, you know, the grace given to us and the calling we have to salvation. In no way we should be neglecting this. Which was first received when it was spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him. In the writings we have today, these things have been recorded for us. Many of these things are by direct inspiration from God. Well, we know all of it was, but some heard God speak of the Lord God and Christ speak directly to them about these things to be recorded. So we do need to be paying attention as part of our calling to these things. Let's go back to Philippians 30. Philippians 3 in verse 14. Joshua was told by God that you couldn't stand before your enemies. And within the church, we do have enemies. And we need to be mindful of that. There are things out there at work. Spiritual things, spiritual powers at work, demonic powers. Philippians 3 verse 14. It says, I press toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. So then let as many as be perfect be of this mind. So that's the mind we need to have. Press forward to look at the calling we have to achieve that calling, which we will if we remain faithful. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal even this to you. And isn't that a blessing that, you know, the things that we might have going on in our minds, things that potentially aren't correct that we need to repent of and get out. God reveals those things to us through his spirit. So we can have a chance to repent and grow and develop Christ's mind. It says, nevertheless, in regard to that which we have attained, let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind. Brethren, be imitators together of me. And bear in mind those who walk in this way as you have us for an example. And we'll talk about that in a little bit. For many walk contrary. I have often told you of them. And I tell you now with weeping, they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. And, you know, Paul says here, many walk contrary. So we notice this in the world for sure. But, you know, within the church, we need to be on guard for this, too. Because they're enemies of Christ. And there also are enemies. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, whose glory is their shame, for they mind earthly things. And that is the difference. And that's what we saw in Achan there. He was minding, he was coveting the earthly things. That goodly robe of shine armor. And whatever intention and purpose he had to want to obtain and keep that robe in the gold and the silver. That's what his mind was on, coveting. And we see that same thing here. Those things are enemies of the cross. They don't go together. But Paul continues on here as, again, a focus for us. But for us, the commonwealth of God exists in the heavens. From where also we are awaiting for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who will transform our vile bodies that they may be conformed to his glorious body according to the inner working of his own power. Whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. So it's just good for us to remember, even within the church, there are problems and things brought in. And there are enemies that can come in. And we need to be examples for each other. Paul talked about there, you know, you have us for examples. But certainly all of us need to be examples for one another against these things. Let's go back to Proverbs, the 16th chapter. And bring something out here that's really important for us and encouraging for us, too, to remember. In Proverbs 16, verse 7. Proverbs 16, verse 7. It says here, and we're speaking of enemies. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Well, let's expound this. And look at all the things that God does for us. You know, if we are doing the things that please God, which I think we would all agree one of the major things we need to be doing to please God is obeying him. And follow him. If we're doing this and obeying his voice, it says here his enemies will be at peace with him. When you think about our enemies and you expand upon this, we want to be at peace with our enemies. What was Joshua told again? You know, because of what was brought in, he said, you cannot stand against your enemies. And certain things are within us or among us, we can't stand against our enemies. So that's what our focus needs to be is let's do the things that please God. Let's obey God. And if we do, we've got a promise here. We'll be at peace with our enemies. God will remove our enemies. God will protect us from our enemies. There's many ways we can be looking at that. But there are enemies out there. Well, it's important that we all look out for the cursed things. And, again, we support each other, brethren. How important is it that we, all of us, are in support of each other? Go back to Hebrews, the third chapter. Hebrews 3, in verse 12, it says, Beware, brethren, lest, perhaps, there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief and apostasy. Hebrews 3, in verse 12, it says, Beware, brethren, lest, perhaps, there be any of you an evil heart of unbelief and apostasy from the living God. Rather be encouraging one another each day while it is called today, so that none of you become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we are companions of Christ if we truly hold the confidence that we had at the beginning steadfast until the end. As it is being said today, if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. For some, after hearing, did rebel, but not all, who came out of Egypt by Moses. So, again, the point here is we all need to be doing our part and to encourage one another because we don't want to see sin within the body of Christ. And what sin does, the hardening of sin, once it's brought in and it's ignored, we don't separate ourselves from it. Again, looking out for one another. Hebrews 10, this is brought out more in Hebrews the 10th chapter. In verse 22, it says, Let us approach God with a true heart and with full conviction of faith. Our hearts having been purified from a wicked conscience and our bodies having been washed with pure water. Let us hold fast without wavering to the hope that we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one another and stirring up one another unto love and good works. And that's, again, part of our responsibility. Being full of conviction. Just like Joshua was. Joshua, you think about him, he was full of conviction. And, yeah, he was very troubled there at what happened to Israel when they didn't have success against I. But then God revealed what was going on. And I'm sure they learned a lot from that and moved forward. Now we know that they continued to stumble. But for the ones who got it, how much growth and development did they have? Let's go back. While we're in Hebrews, let's go to Hebrews 13. So earlier we talked about Paul there in Philippians. Paul mentioned you have us for examples. And Paul was an example. And so was Joshua. For God's people. Hebrews 13, verse 16 and 17. It's important to remember this when it comes to the spiritual leaders within the churches of God. Among the people of God. It says here, And our fellowship is really important. And we all know that because of what we do for each other as God works through us. You must be ready to give an account to God in order that they may do this with joy and not with groaning. Because that would be unprofitable for you. So we follow our leaders. Because they are looking out for the spiritual well-being of the brethren. But again, we have to be observant of that. Are the spiritual leaders within the churches of God looking out for the spiritual well-being? Or are they looking out for something else? Are they looking out for physical well-being? Things we've already covered here in this message to be looking out for. The earthly things. Well, we all have to be on guard and watching for that. And you know, Paul was very clear about himself. He was an example. He truly followed God and Jesus Christ. But he was very clear about when he said, You follow me as I follow Christ. Paul wouldn't want anybody following him if he wasn't following Christ. Paul wouldn't want anybody following him if he wasn't truly watching out for their spiritual well-being. And that's something we need to take note of. All the leaders within the churches of God need to be following God. And if they're not, we shouldn't be following them. But their responsibility is to watch out for the spiritual well-being of all God's people. Paul did that. And Joshua did that. Just look at the attitude of Joshua back there when that happened with the city of Ai. And boy, he was just distraught over what happened. Because he really cared about pleasing God and obeying God. And he really cared about Israel, God's people. So hopefully all the leaders within the churches of God have this same attitude. Let's conclude by going back to 1 Thessalonians, the 5th chapter. We're going to start in verse 11. And again, as we conclude here and read through this, let's think about, again, who we are as God's people. Let's think about making a difference. Separating the things of God from the things of this world. Thinking about, we don't want things within the church that shouldn't be in the church. Because we want God to be with us. We want God to fight for us. We want to be protected from our enemies. Let's think about what we do for each other and how important it is. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 11. Therefore, encourage one another. And edify one another, even as you are already doing. Now, we beseech you, brethren, to acknowledge those who are laboring among you and overseeing you. And are instructing you in the war. And greatly respect them and love for the sake of their work. And we've already just covered. Yes, we do that. That's important. But they have a responsibility, the ones overseeing, to do their part, too. It goes on to say here, be at peace among yourselves. Now, we encourage you, brethren, to acknowledge those who are irresponsible. Within the churches of God, within the church of God, are there those sometimes who act irresponsibly? Well, there sure is. But we're told to admonish them. It would be like to see them repent and have change. Console the faint-hearted. There is faint-hearted within the church. Console those. Support the weak. Be patient toward everyone. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always be concerning what is good toward one another and toward all men. Rejoice always. Pray unceasingly. Give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you, whence not the Spirit. Despise not prophecies. Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good. Abstain from every form of wickedness. Again, tying into the message today, but we are to abstain from every form of it. You know, we don't want to, we don't have any part with it. But even abstain from every form of it. Now, may the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly, and may your entire spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he who calls you, who will also perform it. Brethren, pray for us. And certainly, we all need prayers. And the leadership within the church needs prayers, too. To help guide and lead God's people to God and Jesus Christ. To be proper examples for them. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I dare you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. And again, we get to read this. At least part of this epistle here, 1 Thessalonians, to the holy brethren. And we get to read it over and over and over again as it's been recorded for us. So brethren, as we close up here, let's just remember to strive always to search out and put out the curse thing. And then look to God and to Jesus Christ. Look to God and to Jesus Christ. Strive to please them, to obey them, to honor them. And then hopefully admonish and encourage each other to do the same thing.