Sin in our midst is like a cancer and must be rooted out

"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. 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."" (Joshua 7:10-13).

Although the people of Ai were not an opposing force, Israel got whipped when they went into battle against them. Thirty six of the men of Israel were killed in this battle. As a result, Joshua fell on his face and began to cry out to God in confusion and distress. But the reason for this defeat was not a lack of prayer but sin in their midst. God said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned..." (Joshua 9:10).

Notice that God attributed one man's sin to all of Israel. F. B. Meyer wrote, "Living as God's holy people isn't an every man for himself undertaking." Israel was responsible before God and to each other to live righteously before Him. They were to encourage eachother and hold one another accountable to be God's holy people. In the same way, the body of Christ as a whole has a responsibility to hold eachother accountable and encourage each other to live holy lives to the glory of God. They are to lovingly and with grace deal with sin in their midst if they expect to experience God's nearness and power among them. We cannot sweep sin under the rug and expect to experience God's blessings. God knows what's under the rug. Sin is like a cancer that will spread and kill if not dealt with. Ask God to search out the sin in your life and root it out. "Be killing sin or it will be killing you" (John Owen).