To admit…

Prayer with Worship Leaders (10:45)

Light Reflective Music

Bible Enters (Organ)

Welcome / Intimation (Rev. Bosch)

I greet you in the Name of God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe - in the care of Christ Jesus.May it be that we receive mercy, peace and love.

Intimations, Funerals, Baptisms (remember to share this before Sunday Worship)

13th of August, 19:00, Reflective Service, Church Hall

18th of August, 19:00, Stewardship Month Workshop, Church Hall

23th of August, 14:00, Stawberry Tea, Church Hall

Funeral Update: Isabella Connachan funeral will be 12th of August at 11am at Seafield Crematorium conducted by Marliyn Steele.

We are seeking a new Treasure for our church.

Prayer corner after service.

Testomony (Try to identify someone.)

Caitlin Frew from Safe Families is coming to speak to us.  (Need to double check if she will still be speaking.)

Call to Worship: 

Minister: The Lord will make you prosperous.

All: We will keep His commandments.

Minister: The Lord will take delight in you.

All: We will keep His commandments.

Let us worship God!

Hymn: CH 608 - Spirit of truth and Grace

Declaration:

Blessed be the name of the Lord now and evermore.From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Lord’s name be praised. Let us pray:

Prayer of Approach and Confession (Rev. Bosch)

Mighty God, You guide us in unknown places. We gather to worship Your holy name. Your power inspires faith in our hearts. Grant us courage to act in Your will. Protect us with Your mercy and strength. We trust Your promise of deliverance. Lead us as You led your people into the promiseland. We confess our fears and lack of trust. Forgive us for doubting Your faithful care. Cleanse us with Your boundless grace. Renew our hearts to follow Your path. Help us believe in Your mighty deeds. Let us honor You with bold faith. Fill us with Your Spirit to worship you in full. In Jesus’ name, we pray together.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Hymn: Bless the Lord, O My Soul (10,000 reasons)

(Children enter.)

Children’s Address: Spies!

Hymn: CH 186 - Father God I wonder

(Children exit.)

Reading: Joshua 2: 1-24

Rahab Hides the Spies 2 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. 8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.”

Sermon: (Rev. Bosch)

She admitted that the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

The Lord expected the Israelites to adhere to the laws and commandments He gave to Moses. Yet, we find the most unlikely person confessing the lordship of God. She was a prostutude and did not fit the criteria upheld by the Laws of Moses. 

Yet, she heard of the mighty acts of God. This confinced her that God was and still is legitimite. God was and is not fake but truly the delivere of His people.    

Hearing of God's might helps us to consider His laws and commandments. 

She told the Israelite spies of how she and inhabitants of the land was afraid. Also, she new the land was given to the Israelites. It was a done deal! She was convinced by what she heard of God. 

A prostitute admitted. A prostitute confessed. A prositute had insight.

In other words, she turned from her destructive ways, by acknowledging God's holiness. 

 The most unlikely person converted. This gave her the opportunity to negotiate with the Israelite spies that ultimitly saved her whole family. 

Theologically speaking we read of a sinner who converted that leaded to her salvation. This sound fumaliur considering our understanding of Jesus and his teachings. As Jesus said in Matthew 11:

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

Turning from our destructive ways to the Lord brings about rest. Also, turning from our bad ways to to the salvation in Christ will give the opportunity to experience the warmth of our Lord. 

Rabab a prostitute acknowledged her desperate situation and admitted that the Lord is God. According to Laws of Moses she was not worthy, yet due to her acknowledgement of God her salvation become secure. Her acknowledgement of God saved her from her own destruction. 

A spiritually unrightsious person received grace after realising the might of God. 

The reading teaches us to acknowledging God espessially when we are desperate. When circumstances are not ideal, it is noteworthy to consider God. We have read that only after acknowledging God it becomes possible to negotiate, or rather interact with Him. 

God becomes real when recognising and considering Him and His reign. Rahab, negotiated and begged for salvation after realising the realities of God's power. 

 When we follow the line of the story, the result  of Rababs insight is the overall realisation of God's grace and His specific mercy in Her situation. The same theology applies to us today and that is to say when acknowledging God the windows to God's grace opens. The curtians open for us to see the obvious mercies of God all around.  

 The Israelite spies was convinced that God was giving them the land after their experience. After the Rahab saved and showed kindness to them if became clear that God will fufill His promise. 

The fact that the most unlikely person protected them gave the spies motivation to report positively about their expedition. More so they new God will deliver, because a person that was truly detacted from from God, admitted that the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

Therefore, the spies reported to Joshua and said the following: 

"Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” 

This story reads like an action movie, with all the components needed to make a great film. The centre point to which all these components revolves are a unrightsious person acknowledging God. 

How often do we acknowledge God in our lives? How often do we acknowledge God when we realise we are unrightsious?

Do we consider his reign in our decitions? Do we consider his reign in our decitions, when we know we are not worthy?

Might it be that we shiver when acknowledging God's reign? Might it be that we shiver when we realise we truly need God's mercy?

In desperation consider God, this is what we learn from Rahab. Consider God. Acknowledge God. Let curiousity drive us to find out more about God's mercy, grace and salvation. 

Not just when it goes well, but also when the signs are written on the walls. Signs that indicate that we truly need to admit there is something mighter then our circumstances. 

God's mercy was mighter then Rahab's situation. 

May those who are heavy laden go to God and experience his gentleness and find rest for our souls. For the yoke of Christ is easy, and His burden is light. 

When we hear of the Lord's power and of His might - the time has come to utter the words of Rahab: 

The Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

Amen

Hymn: CH466 - Before the throne of God above

Prayer for Others (Margo):

Heavenly Father,

We come before you, inspired by the courage and faith found in your word.

We pray for those who, like Rahab, face uncertain times with bold trust.

Grant wisdom to those hiding in fear, seeking safety amidst danger.

Guide those who scout unknown paths, like Joshua’s spies, with clarity and protection.

Strengthen the hearts of those who risk much to help others in need.

Soften the hearts of those who doubt, showing them your mercy and truth.

Provide refuge for those in vulnerable places, as you did for Rahab’s household.

Bless those who act in faith, trusting your promises despite the odds.

Lead communities through turmoil, as you led Israel toward the Promised Land.

May your Spirit stir courage and hope in all who face daunting challenges.

We thank you for your steadfast love, which delivers and redeems.

Amen.

Offering (The person at door duty brings the plate to the table.)

Prayer of Thanks

Hymn: CH110 - Glory be to God the Father

Rethink and Blessing (Rev. Bosch)

Go and know that the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

In the presence of the Holy Spirit, may the peace of God, 

which is beyond all understanding, 

guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Amen

Sing/Play Amen (Organ)

Bible Exits (Organ)