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How to Bring Real Political Change

JOSHUA 7:10-26 NLT

Get the money out of politics

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 TIMOTHY 6:10 ESV

But the LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction. JOSHUA 7:10-12 NLT

Hold your own side accountable

“Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the LORD. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you. In the morning you must present yourselves by tribes, and the LORD will point out the tribe to which the guilty man belongs. That tribe must come forward with its clans, and the LORD will point out the guilty clan. That clan will then come forward, and the LORD will point out the guilty family. Finally, each member of the guilty family must come forward one by one. The one who has stolen what was set apart for destruction will himself be burned with fire, along with everything he has, for he has broken the covenant of the LORD and has done a horrible thing in Israel.” JOSHUA 7:13-15 NLT

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. ROMANS  2:1 NLT   

Always support voting transparency

Early the next morning Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the LORD, and the tribe of Judah was singled out. Then the clans of Judah came forward, and the clan of Zerah was singled out. Then the families of Zerah came forward, and the family of Zimri was singled out. Every member of Zimri’s family was brought forward person by person, and Achan was singled out. Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, by telling the truth. Make your confession and tell me what you have done. Don’t hide it from me.” JOSHUA 7:16-19 NLT   

Accept human nature for what it is

Most people are good until they have an opportunity to be bad.

Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.” JOSHUA 7:20-21 NLT

Look for stolen items in your own tent

So Joshua sent some men to make a search. They ran to the tent and found the stolen goods hidden there, just as Achan had said, with the silver buried beneath the rest. They took the things from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites. Then they laid them on the ground in the presence of the LORD.

Then Joshua and all the Israelites took Achan, the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor. Then Joshua said to Achan, “Why have you brought trouble on us? The LORD will now bring trouble on you.” And all the Israelites stoned Achan and his family and burned their bodies. They piled a great heap of stones over Achan, which remains to this day. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Trouble ever since. So the LORD was no longer angry. JOSHUA 7:22-26 NLT

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.” MALACHI 3:8 NLT

Give the Lord what’s his or he may take what’s yours.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. MATTHEW 6:24 ESV

God will not hold me accountable for what happens in the world, but he will hold me accountable for what happens in my home.

Group Leader Note
We’ve prepped a short opener video to help your group get ready to navigate some potentially tricky conversations this week. Check it out at move.sc/groupsopener.

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few minutes to settle yourself in a quiet space. As you prepare your heart for this reflection time, ask God to help you get honest with yourself and him. As you heard the message this weekend, what challenged or ministered to you and why do you think it did? If you were challenged, what is the first step God might be asking you to take that would bring about a real change? Ask God, “Are there things that I hold onto with a white-knuckle grip that really belong to you? Am I convinced that more makes me happier?” Ask yourself, “What do my feelings reveal about my willingness to trust God to bring about his purposes?” If you find yourself anxious about politics or your finances, ask God to show you where your beliefs about these things are not in line with his truth. Reach out to someone you trust this week about your handling of politics and money and chat with them about how you are struggling to get to that place of freedom. Ask them to pray for you and help you see things from God’s perspective.

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you been learning about yourself, God or others in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
  2. Read 1 Timothy 6:10. When have you observed the truth of this passage in your own life?
  3. Read Joshua 7:10-12. Why do you think God cares so much about money and in what ways do you think that applies to the tithe (10%) he has asked you for? (See Malachi 3:8 for reference)
  4. Continue reading Joshua 7:13. As you think about your life, what specific sins are holding you back and what can we do to help you overcome them?
  5. Continue reading Joshua 7:14-18. When have you been caught red-handed doing something wrong? What changed in you or your life as a result?
  6. Continue reading Joshua 7:19-26. In what ways do you see your secret sins affecting those around you and what new changes do you need to make before any more damage is done