"WE HAVE HEARD"
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“WE HAVE HEARD”
“WE HAVE HEARD”
We just started this new sermon series, and the first sermon on “shift” was such a powerful message.
As i was preparing for my thought for today i had the option of speaking on chapter 2 or 3. Believe it was way much easier for me to speak on chapter 3, because there was much more excitement and i was very familiar with that chapter. However as i was reviewing the book of Joshua i really felt impressed and that the lord was tugging at me to speak on Joshua chapter 2. I really fought with that idea i fought with that ideas for almost four days and it was already Thursday. Nevertheless i was obedient to the voice of God.
Chapter 3 is dominated by a woman called Rahab. If you know scripture you would know that she is referred as “RAHAB THE HARLOT”. We see that in the beginning of chapter two. Joshua sends out two spies to spy out the land that the lord has given them. As the two spies enter Jericho they go into Rahab house and hide there. The kings finds out that the spies are at Rahab house therefore he sends soldiers to her house to arrest the two spies. Instead of Rahab turning the two spies she hides them up on the roof under straws of flax. She tells the soldiers that she had no idea that they were spies and told them that they fled and that there was a chance that they could catch them. As soon as the soldiers leave, here is where we pick up in scripture.
Key Verse:
9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
HARKEN YOUR EAR
HARKEN YOUR EAR
“We have heard”
Many times as christians we are listening to the wrong voice. We listen to voice of the enemy (the word) anything contrary to Gods voice is the enemy.
Also due to lack of knowledge in the word of God.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
We are giving an ear to the enemy rather than to God and wonder why are stuck and battling the same spirits and we wonder why:
we are depressed
fully of anxiety
battling oppression
insecurity
“competing with the Kardashians” (trying to paint this pretty picture).
doubt
feeling unqualified
fear (BIG TIME)
The list goes on and on
Sometimes we hear everyone else’s words? When you fill your head with CNN , social media or the latest string of gossip, you might be repeating those same words when you speak. In a sense, you are prophesying (unknowingly) and it’s negative, and harmful.
A chinease proverbs said -
“Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
Sometimes we hear what the enemy wants us to hear and we become so immune to the voice of the enemy and we cancel out the voice of God.
we unawarely self destruct our destiny and those we are called to lead as well (families)
by what we allow to consume our thoughts, we become so immune to the voice of the enemy and react according to what we hear.
Especially this last year, we have seen so many people live in fear and reacted to it.
HOW SO:
toilet paper for some reason the whole world went crazy with toilet paper! I bet alot of us here tried to stock up as well. Do not get me wrong it is good to plan and prepare.
We all started to buy and stock up on food! canned foods, etc
i heard people say that they did not want to have children because of how the world is shifting.
All the gun stores sold out on guns and ammo
some of us Got depressed
we were afraid
We choose to give an ear to the enemy!
Rather than to God who says:
I will never leave you or forsake you.
Bible says, Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
That is why sometimes we are not so much responsive to the word of God and the preaching because our spiritual ears have gone cold or dry. That is why there is no break through and we live in defeat and battle all these spirits.
Some of us have grown up in the church and this is all we know, but even then our spiritual ear can still be dormant. We paint this pretty picture on social media and how wonderful our lives are and etc, But deep down we are dryer than the flax on top of Rahabs house.
We are dry and suffering!
We give our ears to the enemy rather to God.
11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
ALL OF ISRAEL HEARD THE VOICE
As soon as they heard the voice of the enemy they fall into fear
All were in fear of Goliath because they heard him taunt them every morning and evening.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
ALL, BUT David. The bible says:
15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Beth-lehem.
David did hear the voice of the enemy, as a matter of fact when he heard the lion and the bear approach him. The spirit of God would come upon and he would smite the lion and the bear!
Bethlehem = house of bread.
We all know that scripture relates the word of God as our daily bead!
Gives us today our daily bread!
David has been with God, david had been in the presence of God.
That is why when he heard the voice of the Goliath, taunting and mocking the lord of Israel he was furious!
Because we knew the power of God he had been with God! He KNEW (which will be my next point) That God was much more powerful and greater than them!
It is not what you appear it to be! The people of God were afraid of crossing the Jordan and afraid of their enemy and little did they know that the enemy was afraid of them!
Can i tell you today church the enemy is afraid of you and he will do anything and everything in his power to destroy you! Because he knows the power that you can posses can destroy him and brake every yoke of bondage and depression upon you life!
IT NOT WHAT IS APPEARS
It is time that we give ear to what thus saith the lord
It is time we get back into the word and consecration and seek the face of the lord
To live in victory
To have the joy of the lord within you
To know that you are more than conquers
Can i speak to little to men today?
Sometimes its our wives putting us to shame, its our wives reading the word and praying over you family and children.
Can i tell that just because you may provide for you family does not justify or exempt you. YOU chose to get married you chose to want to have children. So you need to provide, but
the most essential thing in your life is your spiritual life!
3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
Sometimes we as men want to make more and work more and yes with somewhat good intention, but what cost?
Time is ticking and we are all racing against it, if you work more it will take away time from your family and you will come home fatigued and you show your family that you value that more than other things.
Men it is time we lift up the standard and declare it like Joshua as for me and my house WE SHALL SERVE THE LORD!
Give time to your family lead by example don’t allow them to get this concept that church and your relationship with God are one because they never see you in the word or on your knees!
Therefore they associate God and church as one, they think it is the same thing, BUT IT IS NOT!
SIDE NOTE: AS A YOUTH PASTOR I SEEN THIS ALL THE TIME WITH PARENTS THEY SIMPLY THOUGHT WELL IF I TAKE MY KIDS TO CHURCH I AM DOING MY JOB, NO SIR!
HARKEN YOUR EAR TO THE VOICE OF GOD!
KNOW THAT HE IS YOUR LORD OF ALL
UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE
UPPER ROOM EXPERIENCE
The bible says she hid them in the upper room and after the soldiers had left she went up to the upper room and said,
“I know that the Lord hath given you the land”
“I know that the Lord hath given you the land”
Know = hear from, learn. REVEAL.
The biblical symbolism in scripture, it is always a good practice to go back to the first mention of the thing you are researching and see the significance of it there. The very first mention of an “upper room” in scripture was in 1 Chronicles when David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple. At this time upper rooms were only associated with temples and palaces, and the priest and kings who occupied them. These were the only ones who could afford to construct these large, open, spacious, yet private rooms, secluded from the hustle and bustle of the busy streets below.
In later years, upper rooms became a bit more common among the homes of everyday people. However these large open rooms (often being the nicest room in the house) were usually reserved for special gatherings or as a lodging for esteemed and cherished guest. Therefor, if someone of importance was coming to visit you, you prepared your upper room to receive them.
Our greatest and most precious communion with God still comes when we prepare the upper room of our temple to receive a personal visitation from Him. Though God no longer dwells in temples made by men, He still comes to visit and commune with those who have prepared a place for Him in the upper room
In short “The upper room” represents a place of prayer. A secret quiet time and place that you prepare and set aside for the habitation of your Lord and Master. A place of personal communion with God.
We see throughout scripture how the upper room experience changes your life
The book of acts they went up to the upper room to pray and seek the lord!
A. Peter was one who went up to the upper room. Peter was living in fear even though
hiding and in fear and feeling as a failure because he denied Jesus, but he had an
upper room experience.
Peter was no longer living in fear, but has been possessed with boldness
Jesus met his disciples (in the last supper) in the upper room to have communion and to reveal what would come to pass. There he revealed the one who would betray him.
sometimes we are so naive and unaware of friendships and toxic relationships that we are unaware of and are unhealthy in our lives.
We see here Judas, a man that was going to betray Jesus for money, be careful who you surround yourself with.
In in the upper room experience, God will reveal those toxic relationships that are not healthy for you. That are affecting your life and you need to cut those ties.
An upper room experience shifts your entire life! For the GOOD! It allows you to walk into your destiny God has in store for you!
“I KNOW THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU THE LAND”
There was a certainty in Rahab after an upper room experience
That we was willing to “turn the page in her life” and leave her country, her culture
and start a new life. a new covenant with the God of Israel.
The was so much Faith in this woman that she is even mentioned in the N.T. in the hall of fame of men & woman of great faith.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
bible says,
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Not only did Rahab hear, but she acted upon her faith (what she had heard).
Such boldness!
That is what the upper experience does to you, you are willing to risk it all!
We see this in the early church as they literally gave their lives for the cause of christ!
many were martyred for christ gave every thing they had more the gospel!
They left a legacy behind!
When you have an upper room experience you wanted to live for christ!
You not only want it for you but for your family and children and spiritual children and future children!
THE GOD OF COVENANT
THE GOD OF COVENANT
“: Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: 13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”
Swear = to vow, to make a covenant
We see throughout scripture that GOD is a God of covenants
11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.
12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
10 For the mountains shall depart, And the hills be removed; But my kindness shall not depart from thee, Neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, Saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
First lets see who Rahab is, what is her occupation
The Biblical text identifies her as a zônāh, a prostitute (Joshua 2:1), Indeed, the first-century C.E. historian Josephus reports that she kept an inn and ran the business.
Rahab was also a Canaanite, who were the hated enemies of Israel
Spiritually, Rahab was not in an ideal circumstance to come to faith in the one true God, the God of Israel. She was a citizen of a wicked city that was under God’s condemnation. Rahab was part of a corrupt, depraved, pagan culture.
Rahab should have had no chance in entering into the promise land she should have been the least to enter and should have perished with everyone else!
She lived on the walls of Jericho it was common for men to enter into her home because of the location and because of her business or profession.
But nevertheless Rahab found mercy in the sight of God!
because of her faith being put into action!
Can i tell today that is does not matter your back round or your past!
Or you past failures or what has happened to you can i tell you that God wants to use you!
For so much a time as thing!
His blood that was shed for us gave us a new covenant and access to enter into all of God promises for us!
The ark of the covenant was compiled of a box and then a lid on top of it.
The pot of manna - that God fed them in the wilderness
The Rod that budded super naturally = old dead stick that came to life
The stone that had the ten commandments = that moses brought down up from the mountain. That God with his own finger wrote the 10 commandments with.
Then they put a covering which was called the mercy seat with the wings of the cherubims that overlapped each other.
Then they would sprinkle blood 7 times a day on the mercy seat
Many believe this was viewed as a memory of what God had done for them and it could be view that way.
however,
the reality all of these items were rooted in the worst failures of Israel
The only reason why the tables of stone were broken and put in the box was because when moses came down from the mountain. The children were dancing and worshipping the golden calf and Moses got upset and broke the stones and they picked them up and put it in the box, it was rooted in their failure and idolatry.
The only reason why there was a budding dead stick that came to life and began to produce almond. Was because a woman and a man named korah and the children of Israel rose up and they tried to take power over moses and the leadership and GOD said ill tell you who my leader is and he told all the leaders to bring their dead stick and the one that comes alive will be the one that i chose to be my leader. the only reason it was there was because of their rebellion and they wanted to do things their way. God slew 15000 of them and Korah had leprosy..
The only reason that the pot of manna was there was because They complained about the manna and wined they said we do not like the food and God said ill just send the same thing for 40 years and you will just eat it day and night.
THESE THREE ITEMS WERE IN THERE BECAUSE THEY WERE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THIER FAILURES!
God took their failures and put it in a box and put a thing called mercy on top of it because
mercy is always over the law.
They he covered it in blood!
seven times- i have made you complete and perfected you
There came a time when the box was kidnapped by the philistines and they tried to lift up the mercy seat to see what was inside and reach into the box and pull out the past failures of Israel. When they did 5000 of them were slain.
God was saying when i put something under the blood and mercy of God do not let anyone try to dig on your past failures what i have already covered and is under the blood and in my mercy!
It does not matter your past failure what matter is what is ahead of you.
God made a covenant with Rahab the bible says....
18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.
19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
“Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window”
The red scarlet cord represent the blood of Jesus:
His love
his mercy
his grace
compassion
it was the blood on the door post that protected the people of God from the angel of death.
His blood on the cross was a covenant for us
AS LONG AS YOU ARE UNDER THE COVENANT OF GOD AND UNDER THE BLOOD YOU SHALL BE SAVED!
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee.
When those walls came down everyone under the roof of Rahab house were saved from death!
Well you may say i cannot relate to Rahab for she was harlot i cannot relate. The bible says.
1 Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God; you love the wages of a prostitute at every threshing floor.
can i tell you to stay under the covenant stay under the blood! Not only you but your family! cover them!
“ELIAS DEPENDS ON ME AND MY WIFE AS WE DEPEND ON GOD”
Rahab said, “ow therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token”
kindness = HEBREW = HESSED - COVENANTAL LOVE TO MAKE A LEGAL AGREEMENT THAT GOD MAKES WITH HIS PEOPLE TO COVER THEM!
God cover me cover my family!
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
This covenant is not only for you but your family! and future generations!
THAT THREADED CORD IS STILL LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU TO GRAB AHOLD OF IT AND PASS
IT DOWN TO YOU CHILDREN AND CHILDRENS CHILDREN
Ultimately, Rahab married Salmon, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Her son was Boaz, the husband of Ruth. Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, is her direct descendant. ... Rahab was no longer viewed as an unclean prostitute, but as one worthy through God's grace to be part of the lineage Jesus.
5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
God is a generational GOD
We see the fruits flow within the family, with BOAZ & RUTH!
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Atonement - to cover up - until jesus came and paid the ultimate price!
ADAM AND EVE - ANIMAL SKIN
CAIN AND ABEL - PROPER SACRIFICE
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
3. Noah
20 And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
21 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Then to Rahab
to RUTH
and continues on and on
AS long as you stay within the covenant
the scarlot cord with reach generations to come!
bind the cord! bind tie in your family together!
A THREE FOLD CORD IS NOT EASILY BROKEN!
You are stronger together!
unite your family!
