Mar. 27, 2022

“STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD”

“DEALING WITH CURSES”

JOSHUA 6:17-25

Joshua 6:17-25

Did you notice how many times curse, or accursed were used in this passage?

Galatians 3:13 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).”

We were born under a curse:

John 3:16-18

Do you ever feel like your life is cursed?

How To Be Set Free From The Curse:

1.   Some Things Are Just Cursed

Joshua 6:17-19

In Joshua 6 we see an accursed city and in chapter 7 we will see an accursed thing: 7:11-12, 13, 15, 21. Achan is the one that was guilty for bringing the curse on them.

What is accursed about what Achan had took? 

Joshua 6:18-19

“Consecrated” set apart to God, dedicated too.

Principle: When you take what belongs to God and make it yours, you are in trouble.

Malachi 3:8-10

Try it God’s way and prove Him, and He will bless you so much, you will not have room to receive it.

Galatians 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 

Galatians 3:13 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).”

Things that are cursed have a destiny of destruction.

Joshua 6:20-21 “So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.

The only victory over that which is accursed, is utter destruction!

We see this principle in other places in the Bible:

Exodus 22:20 “He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.”

Deuteronomy 12:2 “You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations which you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree.”

Deuteronomy 20:17 “but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you.”

Joshua 6:24 “But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.”

Joel 2:1-3

Application: We need to utterly destroy those things that are accursed in our lives.

Romans 6:6-7 “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7For he who has died has been freed from sin.” 

Colossians 3:5-6 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.”

Everything in our flesh needs to be destroyed. Do you remember Paul’s conclusion:

Romans 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.”

You ask, how do we do that?

Joshua 6:21 “… with the edge of the sword.”

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Principle: God offers to us a way to escape the curse of sin.

God sent Jesus to be a curse for us, so we can go free but you have to have faith:

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

He will deliver you just like He delivered Rahab.

Acts 16:25-31

Joshua 6:25 “And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had.”

Someone may have been the instrument God used to bring the Good News of life to you, but only Jesus Saves.

Ephesians 2:11-19

Joshua 6:26-27 “Then Joshua charged them at that time, saying, “Cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation with his firstborn, and with his youngest he shall set up its gates.” 27So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.”

1 Kings 16:28-34, vs.34 “In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation with Abiram his firstborn, and with his youngest son Segub he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord, which He had spoken through Joshua the son of Nun.”

John 3:16

If there is someone today that is operating under the curse of sin? You need to come and by faith and be delivered from the curse just like Rahab did.