WOW Faith To Live

Intro:

The cliche “Location, location, location” gives insight into the business of real estate business. It matters where the property is and access to commercial businesses, transportation, schools and job opportunities. Location matters. Location matters in constructing a building or a home. If you want plumbing in multiple rooms in the house the location of the plumbing is key. In a commercial building accessibility to exits and parking has to meet specific guidelines as ordered by the city and the county. Depending on your location the codes are different. Location matters. You can a million dollar building and or home in a bad location and it is no longer worth a million dollars. You can have $30K house in a great location and find it is worth a million dollars. Location, location, location.

Just as location the noun demonstrates the place. Locate the verb tells us the place or position of something. I want to talk about God as the location and your faith to be located in him.

Understanding Faith.

Faith is based on evidence.

Hebrews 11:1 NLT

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Our faith in God is based on the ability of God to deliver on his word. Because God is who he is we constantly look to God depending on the word of God totally. God’s word is his promise. His word is our assurance. His word gives life.

Power of God’s word and our faith.

God’s word is his promise because, whatever God declares he will be able to establish and bring to fruition. When we hear God’s promise we believe it to come. We place our faith in God because of the evidence of God’s faithfulness.

We need to know God’s word to know his promises.

We need to totally trust God’s word in our life.

Know God is faithful even when we are not.

What situations in your life have you taught you to trust God?

Rahab’s faith.

Hebrews 11:31 NLT

31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

He

Rahab heard of the God of Israel.

Hebrews 11:1 NLT

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Joshua 2:9

Joshua 2:9–11 NLT

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.

Hebrews 11:1

Our faith in God is based on the ability of God to deliver on his word. God’s word is his promise. Whatever God declares he will be able to establish and bring to fruition. We place our faith in God

She demonstrates her faith in the Lord through her telling of the work of the Lord. She is telling of the wonderful works of the Lord she did not personally witness. She speaks in confidence of the evidence of Israel now approaching Jericho. She demonstrates this faith in the Lord by saying:

I know the Lord has given you this land.

We have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when Israel left Egypt.

We know what you did to the two Amorite kings.

The Lord your God is the supreme God of heavens above and the earth below.

Hearing of the power of God changes lives.

Hearing of the news that there is a God who loves you and desires to bless you with eternal life full of peace and love is good news. Hearing the news that God has come to set the captives free, make the blind to see and the lame to walk and deliver the poor. That sounds like good news. To know that God saves. That alone is good news.

We are to stay in God’s word.

Know the reports of God for yourself.

Trust God’s power for yourself.

Joshua 2:12–13 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.”

Joshua 2:12

Rahab shows her faith in the reports and the power of God to give them the land she was willing to give up her land in exchange for her family and her own life. She shows us the cost of following Christ. WE too are called to give up to gain life.

Matthew 16:24 NLT

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

Follow Jesus.

We are to follow the Lord our God. Let go of the things in your life that will only bring you death.

Matthew 16:25–26 NLT

25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?

Matthew 16:25-26

Following Jesus leads us to let go of this world and embrace the promises that comes from him and him alone.

Do you remember hearing the good news?

How does hearing God’s word still encourage you?

Rahab’s faith saved the life of her and her family.

Joshua 6:23

Joshua 6:23 NLT

23 The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel.

Saving Faith

Trusting in the Lord will save your life. God’s word is for our benefit and breaths life into our life.

Her faith came from the evidence of the power of God.

Knowing God is might to save means what to you?

God’s power meant everything to Rahab. She staked her life on this promise of God and was rewarded for her faith.

Rahab’s faith brings her into the family of God.

Matthew 5:

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.

This shows us that Rahab was the mother of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed whose mother was Ruth. This is lineage teaches us that Obed is the Father of Jesse.

Matthew 1:6 NLT

6 Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).

God can take you from one place that is destined for destruction and connect you with the right people at the right time and link you to eternal promises. The power of God.

Have the Faith to live.

Choose life and live for the Lord.

Choose to place your faith in the one who is the God of heaven and earth.

Place your faith in the only one who can save you.

Locate your Faith in God and live in him.

There is no better place to live but in the presence of the Lord.