Do
we have faith enough to step out?
Will we share the gospel and share our
lives? Significant
Relationships: Our relationships should strengthen our spiritual lives. This is intentional relationship building, which facilitates
spiritual growth.
One of the first acts of Joshua
was to defeat the city of Jericho. In
order to destroy them in wanted to know more about them, so he sent out a
couple of spys to gather the info that he wanted.
In order to help them with their mission God called on a woman named
Rahab to help them. She then
became one of God’s champions.
Scripture Text:
Josh 2:1 (NIV) Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from
Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially
Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named
Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of
the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the
king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came
to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole
land." 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said,
"Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from.
5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't
know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with
them." 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under
the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in
pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and
as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut. 8 Before the spies
lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I
know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you
has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear
because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red
Sea {[10] Hebrew Yam Suph; that is, Sea of Reeds}for you when you came out
of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites
east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.
11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage
failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and
on the earth below. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you
will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give
me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my
brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us
from death." 14 "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured
her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and
faithfully when the LORD gives us the land." 15 So she let them down by
a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city
wall. 16 Now she had said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers
will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and
then go on your way." 17 The men said to her, "This oath you made
us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you
have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and
unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your
family into your house. 19 If anyone goes outside your house into the
street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As
for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a
hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be
released from the oath you made us swear." 21 "Agreed," she
replied. "Let it be as you say." So she sent them away and they
departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
Rahab was transformed from a woman who loved men to
become a woman who loved and trusted in the Lord.
God will choose whoever will to become one of his champions.
This woman who once was a prostitute became a hero of the Lord for her
outstanding actions and commitment to God and to his people.
Who are the champions of the Lord?
What is the making of a Champion of God?
1. Rahab
believed the reports about God. because
of you: for the LORD your God, he [is] God in heaven above, and in earth
beneath. As the Lord
gives the victory to the people of the Lord, his reputation will spread so
that the Lord will receive the honor and glory for all that is accomplished.
2. Rahab
Acknowledged The Only True Living God in Heaven and in Earth.
James 2:24 You see that a person
is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was
not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she
gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. When people hear and see that
there is a living God who is real on heaven and earth they will believe.
Those who are without will believe when our works confirms our faith.
3. Rahab
loved and helped those who were working with the Lord. Go with God or against Him. If you are for the Lord you will
then be for the people of the Lord. Who
are the people of the Lord? They
are those who are going with God. Will
we go with them?
4.
Rahab loved and
cared For Her Family. She
took the necessary steps to see her family saved.
Do we love and care for our family and friends enough to do what it
will take to save them? Rahab did
and they were saved.
5.
Rahab took a risk and
gave them a shelter in the time of storm.
She worked against the attempts to stop the men from God.
6.
Rahab Asked For A Symbol.
The symbol of the scarlet rope was given to her.
The scarlet rope of God’s Love is the sign that has been given to us.
She wanted to see something that she could believe in that would assure
her that she and her family would be saved through the judgment that would
come upon the rest of the world.
7.
The Spies went into the enemy’s city and into Rahab’s house.
They took a chance and they were saved and so was Rahab’s family.
We have to be willing to take a chance to reach out and to see people
saved. This will be to our
benefit and to their salvation.
8.
The Spies had mercy on the repentant and gave them God.
We must too have mercy on others so that too may come to know the
Lord.
9.
The Symbol bound them all together.
The symbol of the Scarlet Cord bound them all together. The symbol of the blood of Jesus was given to all that
believe that the judgment of God will not pass upon you.