Four Steps to Change Your Life

intro

a lot of people want to change their lives

I have some simple and plain truth for you

many of you already know most of these steps, if not all of these steps . . .

if so it is a great reminder

if you don’t know them . . . I got you

Background

Children of Israel, under a new leader, Joshua, are about to enter the Canaan (The Promised Land).

But they can’t just walk into it, they have to fight powerful people to take it.

in Chapter 1

God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous, for I will give you this land

Be strong and courageous, and lead the people according to my law

and the people also tell Joshua to be strong and courageous

easy to see that Joshua plays a vital role. He is the person for the job . . . he has been faithful, obedient, lived right, trained, chosen, anointed, appointed

But in Joshua, chapter 2, we meet another person who will play a vital role, the total opposite of Joshua

she has been in those streets

she has not lived right

no training, no preparation

she receives no encouragement

turns out that she has been anointed and appointed but it doesn’t look like it

this Bible hero is a prostitute named Rahab

Scene 1 - Retell Joshua 2:1-7

Joshua secretly sends two spies to Jericho (opposite of what they did last time)

They stayed in the house of Rahab, a prostitute, good hideout for strange men traveling through

The king of Jericho found out about it and sent his men to Rahab to turn them over

She deceived the king’s men and said that the men were there earlier, but had just left the city

In truth, she had hid the spies on the roof of her house under some stalks of flax

good news is that the king’s men left to chase after them, bad news they have shut the gate of the city, and the spies are trapped in Jericho

Step 1 to change your life

Step 1: Believe God’s reputation.

Joshua 2:8–11 NLT

8 Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. 9 “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10 For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

Explanation

Wow! She informs the spies that she knows know the Lord has given the Israelites the land

we have become terrified of you

the people here have no courage to fight

because we have heard about the mighty miracles that the Lord has performed: From the Red Sea miracle up to now . . . and recently you just defeated two powerful Amorite kings

your God is truly God . . . in heaven above and on the earth beneath . . . he is the supreme God above all

Your God is in control

your God is powerful

he’s not regional or seasonal like these other gods . . . he really is God

so I know that this land belongs to you . . . it’s a done deal

She has heard what people are saying about God and believes it.

She believes God’s reputation

if you want to change your life, you must believe that God is what the Bible says he is

if you want to change your life, you must get it deep down in your heart and soul and mind that God is above all things, and has all power, and is in total control of the heavens above and the earth below

if you want to change your life, you must believe God’s reputation

Step 2, if you want to change your life . . .

Step 2: You must adjust to God.

Joshua 2:12–14 NLT

12 “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that 13 when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.” 14 “We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety,” the men agreed. “If you don’t betray us, we will keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the land.”

Explanation

Rahab believes that God is bringing Israel to take over their land and that they are all doomed!

that’s her future, and her family’s future . . . unless . . . . . she adjusts

in other words, unless she makes a change

she believes in God’s reputation, the signs of what is coming next are obvious, so Rahab adjusts her whole life based on what she believes

That’s why she hid them . . . and then she asks that since she has saved their lives, if they would save her family’s lives.

They promise to do so

Lesson

IF you want to rise above your reputation, don’t ignore who God is, what God is doing, where God is moving

You have to realize who God is, what God is doing and adjust to it

And Rahab is making a big adjustment, she switches allegiences

I know have a new God

I now have a new nation

I now am a fellow spy, I work with you

she adjusted to God’s plans

Many times we say we believe in God but apparently not enough to adjust

Many times we say that we believe in God, but we want God to adjust to us

but it doesn’t work that way

everyone that God called adjusted to Him

Rahab wasn’t the only one in Jericho who heard about God’s reputation, but she was the only one believed enough to adjust her whole life . . .

Commercial: God allows some of us to go through hard times because when things are bad we have an easier time adjusting . . . because we have less to lose

we’re like Rahab . . . down and out . . . of no reputation . . . at the bottom of society . . . why not believe God and adjust?

but some people think they are doing too well to adjust . . . figure they have too much to lose

think about the king of Jericho . . . Rahab would have to give up being a prostitute, but he would have to give up being a king . . . so he did not adjust

he is going to “just see what happens”

just maybe these walls will hold

yet he needs to adjust just as badly as Rahab does

Illustration

It’s like the weather

The weather is so powerful that you shouldn’t ignore what it is doing

the weather does not adjust to us, so we should adjust to it

when the weather calls for the roads freeze over - we should adjust our schedule and go to the store and stock up

tornadoes - seek shelter

powerful hurricanes - wise people board up and leave their homes

good weather - plan an outdoor activity

then there are those people who refuse to adjust - killed in the hurricane (ride it out), stranded on the highway, drowned in their car on a rainy day

How do we know what the weather will do?

we see the signs . . . look at the sky, the clouds, time of year, feel pick up of the wind, hear the thunder

we trust in the experts who know meteorology, the weather men and women

and not too much takes us by surprise

How do we know what God will do? Same thing with God

he gives us signs . . . speak to our hearts, situations in your life will crop up, people will speak directly to your situation and they won’t even know it

we have preachers who know the Bible who tell us

and not too much should take you by surprise

Pay attention to what God is doing, and adjust to it

if you want to change your life

You must believe in God’s reputation

You must adjust to what God . . . and what He’s doing

Step 3: You must use what you have.

Joshua 2:15–16 NLT

15 Then, since Rahab’s house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. 16 “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.”

Explanation

Her house is built on the city wall (common thing)

so she is able to let them down by a rope through a window, because the gates are closed

She tells them where to hide, and how long to hide

Lesson

She is not just talking about adjusting, she is doing it

She is not talking about it, she is being about it

she has a faith that leads to action

implementing a plan

I’m on your side now, let me do something to help you

she didn’t have extra soldiers, money, a strategy to take over the town, so she used what she had

She is using the resources at her disposal: house on a wall, stalks of flax on the roof, a rope, intelligence, and information - hide three days in the hill country (info she probably got from being a prostitute)

So use what you already have to do God’s will

to promote God’s plan

to push God’s agenda

Don’t sit around waiting for what you don’t have, use what you do have

Don’t let the “once I gets” stop you

once I get this

once I have this

when I get this

when I get that

whatever is at your disposal now, use it now

your resources, your talent, your intelligence

and Don’t worry about what others have: their resources, experience, talent . . . give what you do have in service of the Lord . . . that’s all he’s asking, that is all he requires

and if you need more, God will give it to you at the right time.

if you want to change your life

You must believe in God’s reputation

You must pay adjust to what God’s is doing

You must use what you have

If you want to change your life

Step 4: You must trust God to do the rest.

Joshua 2:17–19 NLT

17 Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. 18 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. 19 If they go out into the street and are killed, it will not be our fault. But if anyone lays a hand on people inside this house, we will accept the responsibility for their death.

Explanation

The spies instruct her to tie a scarlet cord in the window that she let them down from. And the soldiers would not attack anyone that’s inside the house that has the scarlet cord in the window

Lesson

Rahab helps the two men, she joins the Lord’s side, but now she has to trust

will they forget about her

will they forget about their promise

in the chaos of a battle will things go wrong?

are they tricking her?

did someone see them sneaking out and her plan will be discovered?

she must trust

She can’t save her family, but she trusts that by serving God and his agenda, God can save her family

She will do what she can do and God will do what she couldn’t do

She will do her part and trust God to do his part

and we must trust God

that He won’t fail us nor forsake us

that he keeps his word

that he is faithful

that he is on the case

that he might not come when we wanted, but he’ll be there when we need him

Trust God today, he will do the rest, he will do his part

Do you want to change your life?

if you want to change your life

You must believe in God’s reputation

You must adjust to what God.

You must use what you have

You must trust God to do the rest

What step are you on?

working on belief (he is all that!)

working on adjusting (lifestyle, step of faith)

need to go ahead and use what you have

need to quit worrying and trust?

and some of us are in such a bad situation like Rahab (prostitute in a doomed city) . . . what do you have to lose?????

A changed life!

(Follow up)

The plan worked flawlessly, and the spies return safely to Joshua, and they tell him everything that happened and it of course encourages the one that has such a big job that everyone tells him to be strong and courageous . . . and he agrees to save the lives of Rahab and her family

Result of following the Four Steps: God does more than you would have ever imagined.

first she was able to save herself and her whole family - that was the plan

Joshua 6:25 NASB95

25 However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Secondly, the Bible considers her a hero of faith.

In the book of Hebrews, she is mentioned in the same breath with (Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David) . . .

Hebrews 11:31 NASB95

31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

the book of James also mentions her as an example of faith

Thirdly, her whole life turned around - She got married and had children . . . and was likely rich

Matthew 1:5 NLT

5 Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse.

Salmon is the father of Boaz, Boaz we know from the book of Ruth was a rich man, so good chance that his parents, Rahab and Salmon were at leat well off

Fourthly

Boaz was the father of Jesse . . . Jesse is the father of David . . . So Rahab is the great-great grandmother to the great King David

the one who slew Goliath

the one who wrote most of the Psalms

the one who God said was a man after my own heart

Fifthly,

and what is this family list from?

it ends this way . . . .once you go down all the names

Matthew 1:16 NLT

16 Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

This is the Genealogy of Jesus from the human side. . . . she is a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ

how does you rise from prostitute to ancestor of the Christ?

only God

believe in God’s reputation

adjust to God

use what you have

trust God to do the rest . . . and he will do more than you could ever ask or think

Jesus

and if you are not a Christian

You must believe in God’s reputation

God has a reputation as one who loves you dearly

Jesus has the reputation as a Savior

the Holy Ghost has a reputation of coming to live in your heart

do you believe

Just adjust to what God did

he sent his son Jesus to the cross for your sins, that’s what he did

so accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior

adjust your life to make him your leader

You must use what you have

you have a decision, use it

decided to follow Jesus

Trust God to do the rest, and more than you imagined

help in this life and assurance in the life to come

Illustration

It’s like walking into the store, and you know you have a lot of money on your debit card

friendly with the cashier

add on extra items in the aisle (add on these batteries and Reese cups)

ask for cash back

if it doesn’t go through, you’re not worried, “I must have put in the wrong pin”

but some of us think about God, they way we do when the card is low, and you’re just hoping that it goes through anyway

“Anything else, sir” . . . no that’s all

“cash back” . . . . no, not this time (with a nervous laugh)

“You can enter your card now” . . . and everything moves in slow motion