As we continue our study from the rest of Joshua 6, we learn how Israel crossed over to possess the Promised Land by capturing Jericho through faithfully following the Lord’s orders. However, before they blew the trumpets and shouted so that the walls would fall down, Joshua charged the people to keep their vow to Rahab the harlot and those who were in her house not to touch anything that was under the ban. What the Lord had placed under the ban was basically the wealth of the city, its gold, silver, bronze, and iron, all of which was to go into the treasury of the Lord as a first fruits offering to Him. Then we read in Joshua 7:1:
 

It is noteworthy that only one person was unfaithful by disobeying the order, Achan, but it was viewed as if the whole nation had been unfaithful. This may seem unfair, but if unity is required in a matter, it is essential to understand this lesson. Many organizations, including churches, ministries, and businesses, have been brought to defeat because of the irresponsibility or dishonesty of a single person. In warfare, it is possible for a ship to be sunk, or even an army defeated, because a guard goes to sleep on their watch.  

This is why in the military boot camps, if one person in the company messes up, the entire company will be made to suffer the penalty. This does seem unfair at first, but what this causes is a unit mentality where everyone watches out for everyone else, and they police themselves so that if one person starts going awry, the whole company will come down on him quickly.

As the body of Christ moves toward some of the ultimate battles between good and evil, this “unit mentality” will have to be acquired. Ultimately, the discipline and unity that the church will have to walk in must surpass that of any military unit. As this time approaches, and the anointing and wisdom on the leadership increases to a true apostolic stature, most will volunteer freely and the motivation will be positive, but we can also expect some acts of discipline such as with Achan, and as we have in Acts 5 in the case of Ananias and Sapphira.

There is an ancient military proverb that says, “Execute one and teach a thousand.” After the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, we read in Acts 5:11, “And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things.” Both of these things will seem cruel and extreme to those who are prone to lawlessness, but as the anointing increases, and the ultimate battles draw near, we can expect the discipline and the consequences for transgressions to ratchet up accordingly—for our sakes! Everyone hates the drill sergeants in boot camp, but at the first taste of battle you love them more than your mother or father, as you understand that they were the ones who truly cared about you.  

If we are called to a place of authority or influence in the body of Christ, we should discipline ourselves accordingly. With real spiritual authority comes real responsibility. Adam was given dominion over the earth, so when he fell every one and everything under his authority suffered, even billions and billions of people. We may not think this was fair, but this “justice” also enabled one Man, the “last Adam,” Christ Jesus, to pay the penalty and redeem billions and billions, and everything else that was under Adam’s authority.

The more authority we have, the greater the opportunity to do good. If we transgress, more will be hurt by our failure. We want dominion, to take the Promised Land, which in Christ is the nations, but are we ready for it? At this time, the obvious answer to that question is “no.” In the prophetic perspective of where we are in this timetable, we are just ready to cross the Jordan. The pain of the circumcision and the discipline the Captain of the host is going to work into His people, teaching them how to bring down strongholds, will bring about this discipline and unity, fast.

Because of where the church is about to go, and what we are about to do, for the next few years the church will become very familiar with the word “discipline,” and we will begin to experience it on a whole new level. Because the Lord’s army is a volunteer army, many will not endure it. This will be the time when the Lord said, "And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold,” (Matthew 24:12). The lawlessness in their hearts will not enable them to endure the discipline that will be required of those who possess the kingdom.

It is probably true that even today there are more Christians who have become disconnected to the body of Christ than are vital members of the church, which is not real if we are not truly connected to a local body of believers. We cannot be rightly connected to the Head without also being rightly connected to His body. I have heard all kinds of excuses and new doctrines about how the church is to include their fellowship at Starbucks as being a church, and though any such gathering can be and should be a gathering of the church, those who are substituting such relationships for true church life will tragically find out very soon how flawed this reasoning is.

Paul warned in I Corinthians 11:30, “For this reason (not discerning the body rightly) many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.” When I inquired of the Lord a few months ago about how real the threat from the Avian flu is, I was given a dream in which I saw a wave of death that stretched as far as I could see and was almost upon us. The only safe place from this was in the house of the Lord that was the closest to me. I woke up thinking about the verse above, and though I have always believed it crucial to have a true local church relationship for true spiritual maturity, since I had that dream I felt a whole new burden to sound the alarm for Christians who have drifted from the church to return, not superficially, but with a genuine commitment of heart.

If the last few paragraphs have offended you, then you are the one who needs to hear this the most. I am not trying to offend you, but I would rather be that drill sergeant that you hate for awhile who nevertheless is prepared for the times ahead.

If you have been hurt by the church, or hurt by the leadership of the church, get over it. I personally do not think it is possible to have a genuine church relationship without getting hurt, disappointed, or rejected some, just as it is not likely that you can escape these things if you are a part of any family. There are many idealistic visions of what the church should be, and it will actually get far higher than even some of the most idealistic can envision, but not without going through the wilderness first. By God’s design, the only way to the Promised Land is through a wilderness that is nearly the exact opposite of what we have been promised. This is where we are prepared for the Promised Land.

Right now, normal church life includes dealing with all of the people issues that Israel had to deal with in the wilderness. If we cannot go through those dealings with the people, then we will not be prepared to cross over with those who have endured them, and we will not cross over with them.

We also need to understand that there is a difference between judgment and condemnation, or damnation. His judgment can result in condemnation or destruction, but usually it is a discipline intended to bring correction or a change of behavior, not destruction. As we are told in I Peter 4:17, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God.” That obviously does not mean that He is going to condemn His house, but how could He bring judgment upon the whole world if those in His own household are doing the same things for which He is going to judge the world? In fact, He is going to bring His judgment upon the world through His church, and not only that, we are called to judge angels!

Were Achan and his family, or Ananias and Sapphira, condemned to eternal punishment? I don’t think so. This could be debated, but I personally believe they were redeemed, and therefore have eternal life. However, they obviously did not fulfill their calling and have the honor of being numbered with the rest of their generation who accomplished such great things for the Lord.

The wilderness was intended to remove as many of the “Achans” from the camp as possible before Israel crossed over. Tragically, many Christians are very close to being similarly removed from this earth. Many of them may seem to us to be “good people,” maybe even some of the best, and indeed they may be in many ways, but the Lord is going to spare many from making tragic mistakes that might cost them, and many others too dearly in the times ahead.

I realize that I myself might be in that group that will not be allowed to cross over, and though I deeply desire to be a part of those who fight for the land, if so, I gladly accept the Lord’s decision. However, I would not be a true watchman if I did not sound the alarm. The times ahead will reveal the true state of everyone’s faith and everyone’s life. One of the most crucial decisions you can make is to get in the right body of believers, where there is real and vital true church life, find your place in it, and do not leave your post. Again, let us again consider Hebrews 12:5-13: