The key to holiness is obedience
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: This passage from Joshua 7 illustrates the importance of obedience and holiness. God had instructed the Israelites to destroy everything in Jericho, including valuable items, but a man named Achan disobeyed and took some of the spoils of war for himself. His greed led him to sin, and it had consequences for the entire nation, as they suffered defeat in their next battle.
We too must be careful not to let our desires and passions lead us astray from God's commands. We must have faith in His wisdom and trust that His ways are just and good, even when we don't understand them. We must strive for holiness in all areas of our lives and obey His word, even when it goes against our own desires and reasoning. This is the path to true blessing and power in our lives and ministries.
The story of Achan in the book of Joshua illustrates the principle that sin not only affects the individual, but also the community, the family, and even the earth itself. Achan's disobedience and theft of property that belonged to God contaminated and cut off the blessing of all the people. Sin can affect an entire nation, and it cuts off the flow of God's blessing. We must examine ourselves in the light of the Holy Spirit and ask for understanding to know where to order our lives and fight against situations that threaten to destroy us. God is willing to help us in this process, and we must confess our lack to Him. We must also take care of ourselves and others because we are all part of a systemic relationship.
The sermon discusses the story of Achan, who sinned by taking items that were forbidden by God, leading to defeat in battle for the Israelites. God takes sin seriously, and it must be confessed and acknowledged before blessings can come. The speaker emphasizes the importance of holiness and aligning with God's principles, rather than imposing our own. The sermon also touches on current moral issues, such as the government forcing Catholic agencies to provide coverage for contraceptives, and the importance of speaking the truth and standing firm in the principles of the Kingdom of God. The speaker concludes that God wants to bless and use the church, but there is a price to pay for aligning with His ways.
The speaker talks about how we must stick to the word of the Lord and consecrate ourselves to Him. He invites anyone who hasn't received Jesus as their Lord and savior to do so and surrender themselves into the hands of God. He blesses those who have made the decision and asks for God's guidance and approval in their lives. The speaker emphasizes that God is a merciful and kind God who asks very little of us ultimately.
We too must be careful not to let our desires and passions lead us astray from God's commands. We must have faith in His wisdom and trust that His ways are just and good, even when we don't understand them. We must strive for holiness in all areas of our lives and obey His word, even when it goes against our own desires and reasoning. This is the path to true blessing and power in our lives and ministries.
The story of Achan in the book of Joshua illustrates the principle that sin not only affects the individual, but also the community, the family, and even the earth itself. Achan's disobedience and theft of property that belonged to God contaminated and cut off the blessing of all the people. Sin can affect an entire nation, and it cuts off the flow of God's blessing. We must examine ourselves in the light of the Holy Spirit and ask for understanding to know where to order our lives and fight against situations that threaten to destroy us. God is willing to help us in this process, and we must confess our lack to Him. We must also take care of ourselves and others because we are all part of a systemic relationship.
The sermon discusses the story of Achan, who sinned by taking items that were forbidden by God, leading to defeat in battle for the Israelites. God takes sin seriously, and it must be confessed and acknowledged before blessings can come. The speaker emphasizes the importance of holiness and aligning with God's principles, rather than imposing our own. The sermon also touches on current moral issues, such as the government forcing Catholic agencies to provide coverage for contraceptives, and the importance of speaking the truth and standing firm in the principles of the Kingdom of God. The speaker concludes that God wants to bless and use the church, but there is a price to pay for aligning with His ways.
The speaker talks about how we must stick to the word of the Lord and consecrate ourselves to Him. He invites anyone who hasn't received Jesus as their Lord and savior to do so and surrender themselves into the hands of God. He blesses those who have made the decision and asks for God's guidance and approval in their lives. The speaker emphasizes that God is a merciful and kind God who asks very little of us ultimately.
Let's go to the word of the Lord, brothers, in the Book of Joshua, Chapter 7. I want to continue with this theme that we have been developing. We have been in this definition year talking about the position of our church in different elements of the Christian life. And we have stopped at this issue of holiness, what we believe to be a comprehensive, balanced holiness, a holiness that not only looks at the obviously moral aspect, but also looks at the subtle aspects of character, formation, the expression of Christ's love. , sincerity, tolerance, patience, plus more of that sanctity in the moral aspect, although everything is ultimately moral, and ethical.
My point has been that we have to get away from simplifying the subject of holiness and see it in its entirety. But, it is often good to go to specific events in the Bible that illustrate how this theme of holiness illustrates us theologically. Because many times the Bible uses events, stories, narratives, anecdotes to illustrate very deep theological principles. And sometimes the stories and the anecdotes and the stories are more memorable, they are more graphic, they teach us many things and it becomes more interesting to see things that I have exposed throughout these weeks. You can see them in action at one point in the life of Israel.
My point has been that we have to get away from simplifying the subject of holiness and see it in its entirety. But, it is often good to go to specific events in the Bible that illustrate how this theme of holiness illustrates us theologically. Because many times the Bible uses events, stories, narratives, anecdotes to illustrate very deep theological principles. And sometimes the stories and the anecdotes and the stories are more memorable, they are more graphic, they teach us many things and it becomes more interesting to see things that I have exposed throughout these weeks. You can see them in action at one point in the life of Israel.
