Restoring Broken Faith
Joshua 2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsHave you ever faced a setback that made you question your faith? In “Restoring Broken Faith,” we explore Joshua 7 and how Israel’s disobedience led to defeat—but also how God provided a path to restoration. Just as Achan’s sin impacted the entire nation, our choices affect our spiritual journey and our church’s mission. Join us as we learn how to repent, realign with God’s will, and step back into His promises. Don’t miss this powerful message of redemption and renewal! 📖 Scripture: Joshua 7 🙏 Next Steps: Trust God, remove spiritual obstacles, and walk in obedience. 🔔 Subscribe for more faith-building messages! #RestoringFaith #Joshua7 #ChurchBuildingCampaign #TrustGod #FaithJourney
Notes
Transcript
Subtitle: Overcoming Setbacks to Reclaim God’s Blessing
Sermon Series: Taking the Land God Promised.
Have you ever experienced a moment where everything seemed to be going well—your faith was strong, God was blessing, and progress was happening—only to suddenly hit a wall? Maybe it was a financial struggle, a personal failure, or a spiritual setback that left you feeling like God’s presence had withdrawn. As we press forward in our church’s vision for a new Community Center, we too will face challenges that test our faith. In Joshua 7, Israel experiences a devastating setback after an incredible victory. A single act of disobedience disrupts their progress, but God provides a path to restoration. Today, we will explore how to restore broken faith and keep moving forward in God’s promises.
Understanding the Devoted Things
Understanding the Devoted Things
1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel.
As we dive in to the message today I want to answer a question that is on everyones mind.
“Why would a loving God kill the inhabitants of Jericho in the Promised Land?”
People devoted to destruction
People devoted to destruction
17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it
21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.
God was destroying the descendents of the Nephilim.
God was destroying the descendents of the Nephilim.
The Nephilim are the giants of sons of God and the daughters of men.
The Nephilim are the giants of sons of God and the daughters of men.
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
Discovered by the first spies of the Land.
Discovered by the first spies of the Land.
33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
These cities and nations had been worshiping other Gods and the Nephilim reappeared after the flood.
These cities and nations had been worshiping other Gods and the Nephilim reappeared after the flood.
God was cleansing the land of the Nephilim just as he did during the flood.
They were devoted to destruction because of their worship of other God.
For more study on this subject read “The Unseen Realm” by Michael Heiser
Things devoted to God
Things devoted to God
19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord.”
The law of firstfruits.
The law of firstfruits.
The first spoil of the land was to be placed in the treasury of the Lord.
The first spoil of the land was to be placed in the treasury of the Lord.
The Lord doesn’t need spoils but the Lord would use the spoils to later build the house of God in the land.
The Lord doesn’t need your firstfruits but when we bring them into the house of the Lord they are used to build His kingdom.
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Right now in our congregation only 15% of our households are tithing to the Lord.
Right now in our congregation only 15% of our households are tithing to the Lord.
That means 85% of our households lack the faith to trust God with their finance.
If we want to see a great move of God in the treasury of the Lord, we must learn to walk by faith.
Israel broke faith regarding the devoted things.
Israel broke faith regarding the devoted things.
1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things…
“Broke faith will rob you of all the power and blessings of God.”
God cursed the people of Israel for the sin of one family.
God cursed the people of Israel for the sin of one family.
The sin of Achan cursed the nation.
The sin of Achan cursed the nation.
2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
God took His tithe from the people of Israel.
God took His tithe from the people of Israel.
They became devoted for destruction when they took the things devoted to God.
They became devoted for destruction when they took the things devoted to God.
12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.
God isn’t playing around when you are representing Him.
God isn’t playing around when you are representing Him.
You might say, “Pastor are you trying to put some fear of God is us?”
The answer is yes.
28 And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’ ”
Restoring Broken Faith Starts with a Repentant Heart
Restoring Broken Faith Starts with a Repentant Heart
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”
You can’t blame God for the actions of the people.
You can’t blame God for the actions of the people.
10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. 12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.
Get Up! God is not trying to make you downtrodden.
Get Up! God is not trying to make you downtrodden.
Understand the real issue and address it.
Understand the real issue and address it.
Get Up! Consecrate the people
Get Up! Consecrate the people
13 Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.”
Make right what is wrong.
Make right what is wrong.
14 In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the Lord takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the Lord takes shall come near by households. And the household that the Lord takes shall come near man by man. 15 And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’ ”
Begin to obey the Lord again.
Begin to obey the Lord again.
16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17 And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18 And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
Restoring Broken faith is complete when you get the sin out of the camp.
Restoring Broken faith is complete when you get the sin out of the camp.
Confess your sin before the Lord.
Confess your sin before the Lord.
19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” 20 And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”
The Pattern of Covetousness:
The Pattern of Covetousness:
I saw
I saw
I coveted
I coveted
I took
I took
This is the same pattern found with Eve.
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
Remove the offence before God.
Remove the offence before God.
24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
Jesus has paid the penalty of death for our offence.
Jesus has paid the penalty of death for our offence.
We were found guilty before the Lord until Jesus stepped in.
We were found guilty before the Lord until Jesus stepped in.
Remember for the future.
Remember for the future.
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.
We raise up a cross to remember.
We raise up a cross to remember.
We take communion to remember.
We take communion to remember.
Conclusion:
Setbacks are not signs of God’s absence; they are opportunities for course correction. Israel’s failure at Ai was temporary because they repented and realigned with God’s commands. As we step into God’s vision for our church, we must ensure our faith is strong, our obedience is steadfast, and our trust in God is unwavering. Let’s remove every barrier and walk boldly into His promises!
Action Steps:
1. Examine Your Heart – Is there anything in your life hindering your faith or obedience? Surrender it to God.
2. Commit to Faithful Stewardship – Trust God by tithing, giving generously, and dedicating your resources to His work.
3. Step Forward in Bold Faith – Whether through serving, giving, or praying, actively participate in God’s vision for our church.
Small Group Discussion Guide:
1. What does Achan’s story teach us about personal responsibility and its impact on the broader community?
2. In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God completely? How can you take a step of faith this week?
3. How can we, as a church, ensure that we are aligned with God’s will as we move forward in our building campaign?
