When Hidden Sin Brings Trouble to Everyone

Joshua 7 puts two dangerous ditches on either side of the Christian life. Flesh indulgence says, “I want it, I’m gonna have it.” Flesh dependence says, “God, we’ve got this. You can take a break.” Both are flesh based. Walking in the Spirit is the narrow line in the middle, where God’s people depend on Him instead of indulging self or trusting self.

Achan shows what flesh indulgence looks like when temptation comes. He saw the goodly Babylonish garment, the silver, and the gold. Seeing it was not yet the sin, and even wanting it brought him to the point of decision. God’s will said, “That belongs to God.” Achan’s flesh said, “But I want it now.” Faith would have said that God is good, God knows the desires of the heart, and God can provide in His time. Achan instead coveted, took, and hid.

Sin enters through the eye gate and the ear gate, then the battle is fought in the mind. Satan lies that satisfaction requires giving in, that God’s command is not really serious, that nobody will know, and that taking matters into personal hands is necessary. Achan could not even use what he stole without exposing himself, yet the lie still sounded good in the moment. Sin always promises more than it gives and costs more than it first appears.

Achan’s hidden sin was never private. Israel suffered defeat at Ai. Thirty-six men died. God’s name was dishonored before the enemy. Achan’s family and all he possessed were swept into the Valley of Achor, the Valley of Trouble. Sin affects others because sin is never just about the one who commits it. Adam’s sin entered the world and brought death, yet Christ’s righteousness provides the one sufficient sacrifice able to deal with sin for all who come to Him.

Achan also dissembled. He concealed sin under a false appearance and blended in with the people of God. Ananias and Sapphira reveal the same danger: a form of godliness that wants the recognition of being spiritual while holding back the heart from God. Outward religion cannot cover inward rebellion. Sin that is hidden from people remains fully open before God.

God’s answer is not better image management but honest confession. Sin that people cover, God will uncover. Sin that people uncover before God, He removes as far as the east is from the west. Walking in the Spirit means daily dependence: asking God for help in ordinary choices, bringing fleshly reactions to Him quickly, and refusing to live by “me, me, mine, mine.”

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Both ditches are still flesh [40:30] Flesh indulgence is easy to spot because it openly chases sinful desires. Flesh dependence is subtler because it can wear religious clothes, perform good works, and still trust self. Neither ditch produces spiritual victory, because both leave God out of the center. [40:30]
• 2. Temptation becomes a faith decision [56:53] Achan’s real conflict was not merely about gold, silver, or a garment. God’s will said no, while the flesh demanded immediate satisfaction. Faith trusts that God is good enough to obey even when the desired thing seems close, useful, or urgently necessary. [56:53]
• 3. Hidden sin never stays private [01:07:54] Achan tried to keep his sin beneath his tent, but its consequences reached the whole camp. Secret sin quietly reshapes families, churches, testimony, and fellowship with God. A person who keeps sin hidden cannot control where its damage will spread. [67:54]
• 4. God sees beneath religious appearances [01:16:17] A form of godliness can protect a reputation while the heart remains far from God. Achan and Ananias both show the danger of wanting to look right more than wanting to be right. God is not fooled by outward ceremonies, spiritual vocabulary, or a carefully maintained image. [76:17]
• 5. Walking in the Spirit is daily dependence [01:24:36] Walking in the Spirit is not reserved for major crises or dramatic temptations. God calls His people to seek His help in food, work, irritation, speech, private choices, and every ordinary moment. Dependence begins when self stops saying, “I’ve got this,” and starts looking to God for strength.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [32:15] - Returning to Joshua 7
• [37:38] - The Two Ditches of the Flesh
• [40:50] - Israel’s Flesh Dependence and Achan’s Indulgence
• [43:58] - Achan’s Sin Revealed After Defeat
• [48:45] - The Secret Sin in the Camp
• [50:59] - Saw, Coveted, Took, and Hid
• [59:05] - Satan’s Lies in Temptation
• [63:31] - Dissembling and the Religious Game
• [67:26] - The Uncontrolled Consequences of Hidden Sin
• [70:02] - Captive in the Snare of the Devil
• [72:10] - Ananias and Sapphira’s False Front
• [77:24] - Sin Brings Defeat and Dishonor
• [80:21] - Dealing With Sin God’s Way
• [83:36] - Walking in the Spirit Daily

Bible Reading

Joshua 7
“But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel. And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai. And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you. In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man. And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel. So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken: And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it. So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. 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 asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.” [37:14]

Acts 5:1-11
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” [01:12:10]

James 1:14-15
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” [50:30]

Observation questions

1. In Joshua 7, what sequence does Achan describe from first seeing the items to hiding them in his tent? [50:59]
2. What did Israel assume about the battle at Ai, and what happened instead?
3. According to Joshua 7, how did Achan’s sin affect people beyond Achan himself? [01:17:40]
4. In Acts 5:1–11, what was the real sin of Ananias and Sapphira: keeping some of the money, or pretending they had given everything? [01:13:33]

Interpretation questions

1. Why is flesh dependence—doing religious or good things while trusting self—just as dangerous as openly indulging sinful desires? [40:00]
2. Achan had seen God’s power at Jericho and knew God’s command, yet he still took what was forbidden. What does this show about the battle that takes place in the mind when temptation comes? [52:37]
3. James 1:14–15 describes desire leading toward sin and death. How does Achan’s choice show that sin usually grows through steps rather than appearing all at once? [57:39]
4. Why do Achan and Ananias and Sapphira show that outward religious activity cannot replace honesty before God? [01:15:22]

Application questions

1. Which ditch are you more likely to fall into: flesh indulgence, saying, “I want it, so I will have it,” or flesh dependence, saying by your actions, “God, I’ve got this”? What are some warning signs that reveal it? [01:23:28]
2. What kinds of things most often enter through your “eye gate” or “ear gate” and become a temptation in your thoughts—media, conversations, comparison, money, comfort, attention, or something else? What could help you respond before desire becomes a settled decision to sin? [51:42]
3. When you are tempted, which lie is easiest for you to believe: “I need this to be satisfied,” “It is not that serious,” “No one will know,” or “If I do not take control, God will not provide”? How can God’s goodness and timing answer that lie? [59:28]
4. Is there any area where keeping a good appearance before others has become more important than being honest with God? What would it look like to stop managing the image and bring that area into the light? [01:16:17]
5. Hidden sin affects families, friendships, churches, and testimony in ways a person cannot control. How does remembering those wider consequences change the way you view a “private” choice? [01:07:41]
6. What ordinary moment this week—at work, with food, while driving, in your speech, or in an irritating situation—would be a good place to practice saying, “Lord, I need Your help”? [01:24:32]
7. When the Spirit brings conviction quickly after a fleshly response, what can help you confess rather than defend, hide, or continue in that pattern? [01:22:00]