THE FAITH OF THE SINNNER

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GOOD MORNING CHURCH!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING

A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE WE BEGIN

PRAYER REQUESTS

Pray for our city

That our city would understand the value of Social Distancing

That God would intervene on behalf of our homeless population

Pray for our Mayor, Governor, and Preseident

That they would make wise decisions

That they would be surrounded by people who have wisdom from above

That they would be courageous in these times

Pray for our Governor

That God would

Pray for our President

Pray that the People of God would be fully activated in God’s Mission

That we would not have a spirit of fear, but of power and sound mind

That God would use the church mightily in these times.

Pray for Small Businesses

Coffee Shops, Start ups, etc

Pray that God would comfort them and intervene in this time of need

That many would begin to trust God

Pray for our Church

Bob & Lorraine: That God would continue to protect them. That the Lord would sustain their health.

Tim Woolery: That God would continue to heal him

Daniel Pulido: That God would sustain him and give his doctors divine wisdom to alleviate his seizures.

Single Parents: That they would continue to trust God. Know that their children are His.

LAST WEEK

We looked at

We saw Joshua receive from the Lord

We saw a couple of ways we can react to the reality that we are in

We have two options right church?

Walk away from the promises of God

Walk in the promises of God.

THIS WEEK

We are going to look at a very interesting story

A story that says so much about our God, his heart for people of all kinds.

Friends, the God of the Bible is so unique

They way he cares for us

How He loves us

How He speaks to us

How He nourishes our soul

So unique

So selfless

Unmatched

TURN TO

Joshua 2 NKJV

1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.” 4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) 7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. 8 Now before they 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, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.” 17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.” 21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. 23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”

PRAY

Joshua 2:1–10 NKJV

1 Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men have come here tonight from the children of Israel to search out the country.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the country.” 4 Then the woman took the two men and hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And it happened as the gate was being shut, when it was dark, that the men went out. Where the men went I do not know; pursue them quickly, for you may overtake them.” 6 (But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.) 7 Then the men pursued them by the road to the Jordan, to the fords. And as soon as those who pursued them had gone out, they shut the gate. 8 Now before they 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, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. 10 For 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 the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.

Joshua 2:1-

JOSHUA WANTED O KNOW IF THINGS HAD CHANGED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE JORDAN

So Joshua sends out a couple of spies to go check out what is going on in Jericho

As the spies arrived in Jericho, they came to the house of a young woman

A prostitute by the name of Rahab

AS THE SPIES ARRIVED IN JERICHO, THEY CAME TO THE HOUSE OF A YOUNG WOMAN

A PROSTITUTE BY THE NAME OF RAHAB

AS WORD BEGAN TO SPREAD IN JERICHO THAT SOMETHING WAS UP.

Somehow the King found out that these two spies had come to search out the land and that they were at Rahabs house.

LET’S PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND RECOGNIZE WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SPIRITUAL REAL

This woman was a prostitute

But more accurately she was an inn keeper

Her home served as a Hotel to foreigners

Which is why the spies chose to go to her home in the first place.

She and the God of the Bible had very little in common

She and the God of the Bible had very little in common

She was a gentile.

She was a business woman

She was a sinner, separated from God because of her lifestyle.

SOMEHOW THE KING FOUND OUT THAT RAHAB MAY HAVE BEEN HIDING THESE MEN

So he heads over to her Inn and asks Rahab to release the men that have come to spy out the land

INSTEAD OF HANDING THE MEN OVER, THIS YOUNG WOMAN HIDES THE TWO SPIES

Not only does she hide the men

She proceeds to lie to the King, putting her life on the line, but for what reason?

Why would she put her life on the line?

Why would she hide spies in her Inn?

She, has no business being involved in God’s business, or does she?

I BET THESE WERE THE QUESTIONS THAT THE SPIES WERE ASKING THEMSELVES

AND WHEN THE KING AND HIS MEN HAD BOUNCED

SHE WAITS AND THEN PROCEEDS TO UNCOVER THE MEN HIDDEN IN THE FLAX

CHECK OUT WHAT SHE SAID:

I know the Lord has given you the land

How would she know?

Our entire community is fearful

Everyone is fainthearted because of you

For we have heard of all that God has done for you

Drying up the Red Sea

What you did to the two Kings of the Amorites

CHURCH THIS SHOULD ENCOURAGE US

PEOPLE KNOW WHAT OUR GOD HAS DONE

PEOPLE KNOW AND HAVE MAYBE HEARD OF JESUS

BUT THEY HAVE YET TO BE INTRODUCED TO HIM ON A PERSONAL LEVEL

Friends, I believe there are many people like this in our neighborhoods

We have neighbors watching us,

People listening to our conversations

Observing how we behave ourselves before the public.

Watching us put grocery carts back in their place

Cleaning up after ourselves wherever we go

Being polite at Costco

Praying with random people in line

Don’t believe for a second that these things go unnoticed.

Our actions and our words are speaking to people more than ever

The question is are they encouraged by what they see and hear

Are they moved to belief in the God you represent?

CHECK OUT HOW THE PEOPLE OF JERICHO FELT ABOUT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE

Joshua 2:11

Joshua 2:11 NKJV

11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.

AS SOON AS THE PEOPLE OF JERICHO FOUND OUT THAT THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE ON THE MOVE

There hearts melted

Neither did there remain any courage in anyone because of you

For the Lord your God

He is the God in Heaven above and on the earth beneath.

FRIENDS, ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO ME IS THE VALUE OF PRESENCE

The Spies hadn’t said much

From what we read here in the text, there wasn’t an elaborate sermon followed by “Comment, Like, and Subscribe”

It was their presence in Jericho that moved Rahab to faith

THIS IS RAHAB’S CONFESSION OF FAITH

SHE BELIEVED GOD AND WHAT SHE HEARD ABOUT GOD AND THIS LED HER TO ACTION

Instead of staying in her devastated faith

Instead of remaining fearful

She took what she had known about God and applied it.

Friends we are a people who know God and are known by God

Because of these truths, our posture should be different

Our vernacular should be different

Our practice should be different.

CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED

Joshua 2:12-

Joshua 2:12–24 NKJV

12 Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, 13 and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.” 17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be free from your oath which you made us swear.” 21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. 23 So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”

FRIENDS, THIS STORY GOES TO SHOW US THAT GOD LOVES ALL PEOPLE

IN WRESTLING WITH THE FAITH WITH SOME OF MY PEERS

I’VE HEARD MANY STATE THAT GOD IS UNFAIR

THAT GOD IS A WARMONGER

THAT DESIRES TO SAVE PEOPLE

Ezekiel 18:32 NKJV

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”

THAT GOD HATED GENTILES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

OUR GOD HAS NO FAVORITES

Romans 2:11 NKJV

11 For there is no partiality with God.

HE IS A LONGSUFFERING GOD

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

HE IS A LOVING GOD

HE IS A LOVING GOD THAT

THIS STORY GOES TO SHOW US THAT WHAT NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS SAID IS TRUE.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR YOU

CHECK OUT WHAT PAUL SAYS IN EPHESIANS

Ephesians 2:4–10 NKJV

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

GOD HAS BEEN TE SAME YESTERDAY TODAY AND FOREVER

HE IS THE UNCHANGING GOD

THE EVERLASTING GOD

THE GOD WHO CAME TO SAVE SINNERS

WE MUST MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHO HE IS

MAYBE TODAY, WE ARE LIKE RAHAB

WE’VE HEARD ABOUT “THE LORD YOUR GOD”

WE’VE HEARD ABOUT HIS MIRACLES

WE’VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR HIS PEOPLE

AND NOW IT’S OUR TURN

TO PUT THOSE TRUTHS TO ACTION.