By Faith Rahab
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
After you ever broken one of the 10 commandments? Yeah, me too. We won’t have a contest to see who had broken the most. The fact is, that we all for short.
The Bible says
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
That means that you and I, no matter what we do and what we have done, fall short of what God needs us to be. But I have good news, there is nothing that you have done, nothing that I have done that nor nothing that we will do that will keep up from the reach of God’s love and mercy!
Our text today shows that is a very beautiful way. We are going to study about a lady named Rahab.
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
In this one verse, we learn of Rahab’s profession and the harboring of spies for which she could have been killed over. Rahab lacked the moral integrity and religious identity like the others in this chapter. Yet she played an integral role in Israel’s future!
The Old Testament parallel to this story is found in where we see the details of Rahab and what she did. We have already learned that the Israelites had come to this town of Jericho where it was occupied by men and women that were against God and served idols and graven images. The people were commanded by God to march the city for seven days in silence. On the seventh time around on the seventh day, they were told to blow the trumpets and then shout. When they did this, the Bible says the walls came tumbling down. So how did they get the in-tell about the lay of the city and what it was like inside those walls?
They used spies that Joshua had sent in to gather information about the city. These spies come in contact with Rahab and we see first hand how her faith advanced the Israelites.
Through the story of Rahab, you and I can see that sin needs faith.
Sin that Needs Faith
Sin that Needs Faith
Did you hear the story of the three preachers that wanted to get together hold each other accountable? They decided they would spend time together and confess their shortcomings
so they can help each other minister more effectively. The Baptist preacher started about by saying he had a problem with drinking alcohol and would frequent the local saloons and embarrassingly his wife had to come drive him home sometimes. The Methodist preacher said that he had a problem with eating candy to the point where he would steal the candy from the local stores to support his habit. The Advent Christian preacher said he had a problem being a gossip and he had to leave and go to another meeting with the newspaper reporter.
Rahab is introduced to us by a label of sin. If someone was writing about you and in doing so made your sin part of your name, what would it be? Would it be a drunk, a thief, a gossip, a person who criticizes, a (you fill in the blank)?
Sometimes our society gives us a label of what we have done. The truth of the matter, as already mentioned, is that all of us fall short of the mark. All of us are imperfect. We all are sinners.
Rahab had heard about what the Israelites had been through and how their God had parted the Red Sea and given them safe path across on dry ground, saving them from the Egyptian army. She had heard that God saved these people and she felt obligated to help any way she could.
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. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea 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. 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.
She gave a friendly welcome to the spies believing that the God who had delivered the Israelites could also deliver her. So she asked them in
Joshua 2:12-13
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 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.”
Rahab lived in a way of sin. She believed that God was a redeeming God and that compelled her to make decisions that would be on the side of God. She gave protection to the people of God. What do you think prompted her do give a friendly welcome to the spies?
Her Faith
Her Character
Her God
Rahab is a perfect example of the fact that faith is not obtained on one’s natural identity or personal history. She recognized her need for being saved from the coming terror.
You and I should take note of this!
Now more than ever, I feel we are in the latter days.
2 TImothy 3:1-4
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—
But we all have Hope! A sinful life does not prevent salvation! Faith can cover the wounds of sin and not only cover them but heal us from their devastating effect!
The Bible says
stating effect!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Rahab made the decision to turn from her ways and follow the ways of God. She sent evil in another direction, away from the harm that was intended and to a life cleansed by the power of God.
Rahab experienced salvation that comes from faith.
Salvation that Comes from Faith
Salvation that Comes from Faith
It has been said where sin abounds, grace abounds more! Rahab found that through her faith, she could be saved from the terror of things to come. When you and I have that type of faith, we can find salvation! Rahab’s salvation comes through a scarlet chord.
The men said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 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. 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. But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
“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.
Joshua 2:17-
For us, is it not a scarlet chord in which we must use. but we must acknowledge that we are redeemed by the power of the blood of Christ!
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,
1 Peter
Rahab’s faith gained her the privilege of not perishing with those that did not believe. Her neighbors died. Their cause of destruction was unbelief. Joshua spared her because of she carried out the task of the sign. She hung the chord out of the window!
We only have to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we shall be saved!
for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
True faith shows itself in good works, especially towards the people of God.
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?
Rahab’s story was produced by faith.
Story that is produced by faith
Story that is produced by faith
Do you know what happen to Rahab? The Bible tells us in that the whole city was indeed burned but the household that had the scarlet chord was spared. Rahab and her family was brought out of the city and lived among the Israelites.
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
Matthew 1:5-
Matthew 1:17
Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.
Do you see that in the genealogy of Jesus there is a redeemed prostitute? The Son of God became a Son of Abraham to provide salvation for all people in a way all people could see and with which all people could identify. Aren’t you glad?
Even the most unlikely people can receive God’s word and His saving power. The story of Rahab shows us that God will use all kinds for His
God’s love
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 5352 The Boy Crawled Forward
Dr. Marshall Craig, preaching in a southern university, pleaded for young men and women to place their all on God’s altar. They began to come—the president of the student body, football players, beautiful girls, campus leaders—sincerely, honestly giving themselves to Christ. And then Dr. Craig saw a strange thing. Far back toward the rear of the auditorium, he saw a boy start down the aisle toward the front. And that boy was crawling on his hands and knees.
Dr. Craig turned to the president of the university, who said, “It’s all right, sir. That boy is one of our students, but he is a hopeless cripple, and the only way he can get around is on his hands and knees.” Dr. Craig waited until the boy had made his way to the front, then leaned down to greet him.
The young man looked at the great preacher, and said to him, “Sir, you said God had a place for a man. I know God has a place for these athletes with their muscles of steel; I know God has a place for these campus leaders. But tell me, sir, does God have a place for a wreck like me?” And Dr. Craig told him through his tears, “Son, God has just been waiting for a wreck like you.”