Thursday, April 19, 2012
Prove Your Faith By Work
Joshua 2: 1-7
Rahab proved her faith by doing God's Work!
Rahab was genuinely converted. She proved it by her involvement in the work of the Lord; she hid the spies and covered up for them.
Rahab told a lie. The Bible didn't condone her lie; it merely recorded it.
Rahab wasn't the only person in the Bible who lied. Abraham lied (Gen. 12:10-20); Isaac lied (Gen. 26:6-11); David lied (1 Sam. 21:2; 2 Sam. 12); Elisha lied (2 Kings 6:18-23).
We cannot condone her lie. But it was a case of "the lesser evil for the greater good." Given the right circumstances, most people would have done the same thing. we would lie to protect a loved one, or ourselves. Like Rahab, we might choose to commit "the lesser evil for the greater good."
Rahab was a pagan. She was raised in a culture of corruption, where lies were as common as dirt. Rahab was a believer. But she had never been taught or read a Bible. Rahab wasn't perfect. She lied. But God was able to use her sin for His glory!
James used Rahab as an example of the believer who proves their salvation by the works of their life (James 2:25).
The truth of our profession is proven by the way we live our lives (James 2:18)! We can say anything we like, but what we really are is revealed in what we do! A life that belongs to the Lord Jesus will be a life that wants to be involved in the things of God! The fruit of our lives proves the root of our lives (Matt. 7:20)! Jesus told us that we have been "created in Christ Jesus to do good works" (Eph. 2:10). Works don't save, but they sure point out those who are!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Rahab And Her Spiritual Fulfillment
Joshua 2: 12-22
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When Rahab came to faith in God, her life was forever transformed!
She was a changed woman!
*******
What God did in Rahab is a miracle of His love and grace.
God love her.
God saved her because of His grace upon her!
*******
What God did for Rahab, He can do for us too.
God can save us by His love and grace.
God can make us into a new creation!
*******
God made a few changes in the life of Rahab.
These changes in her life brought her fulfillment as she walked with the Lord.
*******
Let us study the few changes God did on Rahab.
*******
When Rahab came to faith in God, her life was forever transformed!
She was a changed woman!
*******
What God did in Rahab is a miracle of His love and grace.
God love her.
God saved her because of His grace upon her!
*******
What God did for Rahab, He can do for us too.
God can save us by His love and grace.
God can make us into a new creation!
*******
God made a few changes in the life of Rahab.
These changes in her life brought her fulfillment as she walked with the Lord.
*******
Let us study the few changes God did on Rahab.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Rahab Accepted God
Joshua 2:9-11
Not only did Rahab hear the message of Israel's God, she heeded that message as well.
This message produced a response of faith in Rahab's heart.
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The fact that Rahab believed the message was proven by what she said about God.
In verse 9, she called Him "the LORD", using His covenant name "Jehovah."
In verse 11, she expressed her faith in Him as the "God in heaven above and on the earth below."
In verse 12, she again expressed her faith in God as she called Him to witness the pact she was about to make with the spies.
*******
Rahab heard the message and she acted on it in belief.
She put her faith in the God of Israel!
*******
This is exactly what must happen in the life of the lost person who comes to Jesus.
He must hear the message and then act on it by accepting Jesus as his Savior by faith.
*******
The message of salvation is preached to the sinner.
They hear the Gospel and are convicted of the truth of the Gospel by the Holy Spirit (John 6:44).
When they believe the Gospel, they are saved by the grace of God.
*******
Salvation cannot be ours if our faith is in anything else but Jesus Christ and His finished work.
Nothing else can save us!
*******
We must accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must have faith in Him and His finished work.
Nothing else can save us!
Not only did Rahab hear the message of Israel's God, she heeded that message as well.
This message produced a response of faith in Rahab's heart.
*******
The fact that Rahab believed the message was proven by what she said about God.
In verse 9, she called Him "the LORD", using His covenant name "Jehovah."
In verse 11, she expressed her faith in Him as the "God in heaven above and on the earth below."
In verse 12, she again expressed her faith in God as she called Him to witness the pact she was about to make with the spies.
*******
Rahab heard the message and she acted on it in belief.
She put her faith in the God of Israel!
*******
This is exactly what must happen in the life of the lost person who comes to Jesus.
He must hear the message and then act on it by accepting Jesus as his Savior by faith.
*******
The message of salvation is preached to the sinner.
They hear the Gospel and are convicted of the truth of the Gospel by the Holy Spirit (John 6:44).
When they believe the Gospel, they are saved by the grace of God.
*******
Salvation cannot be ours if our faith is in anything else but Jesus Christ and His finished work.
Nothing else can save us!
*******
We must accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must have faith in Him and His finished work.
Nothing else can save us!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Rahab Acknowledged God
Joshua 2: 10-11
Rahab told the spies that she and the people in Jericho had heard of what happened in Egypt.
They had heard of the two kings they had defeated along the way.
They had heard that they were coming to Jericho.
They had heard that the God of Israel was alive and powerful.
And they were frightened.
*******
What the people of Jericho had heard had become a message of judgment to them.
But it introduced Rahab to the true and living God!
In the end, the message had become a message of life to Rahab!
*******
So is the Gospel message.
It is the only message that can take the vilest sinner and make him a new creation.
*******
The Gospel is a message about God who loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins on a cross (John 3:16).
The Son of God suffered in terrible agony and shed His blood so that our sin debt might be paid.
Three days later he arose from the dead to bring eternal life to everyone who would call on His Name (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
*******
The Gospel is the only message that will bring eternal life to a person dead in sin (Romans :16)!
*******
Rahab acknowledged God!
So must we!
We must turn to God for Salvation!
Let us do it TODAY!
Rahab told the spies that she and the people in Jericho had heard of what happened in Egypt.
They had heard of the two kings they had defeated along the way.
They had heard that they were coming to Jericho.
They had heard that the God of Israel was alive and powerful.
And they were frightened.
*******
What the people of Jericho had heard had become a message of judgment to them.
But it introduced Rahab to the true and living God!
In the end, the message had become a message of life to Rahab!
*******
So is the Gospel message.
It is the only message that can take the vilest sinner and make him a new creation.
*******
The Gospel is a message about God who loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins on a cross (John 3:16).
The Son of God suffered in terrible agony and shed His blood so that our sin debt might be paid.
Three days later he arose from the dead to bring eternal life to everyone who would call on His Name (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
*******
The Gospel is the only message that will bring eternal life to a person dead in sin (Romans :16)!
*******
Rahab acknowledged God!
So must we!
We must turn to God for Salvation!
Let us do it TODAY!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Rahab's Spiritual Failures
Joshua 2:1
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Rahab Was A Defiled Sinner
Rahab was a prostitute.
She was engaged in a wicked lifestyle, selling her body to men for money.
Her life was a life of deep depravity and wickedness.
*******
Rahab is a picture of every person who is lost in sin.
They are in a helpless and hopeless situation.
Their lifestyle is wicked in the eyes of the Lord.
*******
Rahab Was A Dead Sinner
Rahab was living her life, but spiritually she was dead in her sins.
*******
This is the condition of every person outside of a relationship with the Lord Jesus.
They are dead to God and to all He represents.
And they will face the Second Death (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:11-15).
*******
Rahab Was A Doomed Sinner
Rahab lived in a city that had already been selected for destruction.
God had already determined that Jericho would fall!
The people living there might felt confident and reasonably safe behind the walls of their city.
But God had already passed sentence upon them, and they were doomed to destruction!
*******
Every lost sinner is in the same situation!
They may feel secure and may not believe that there is any danger.
The Bible tells us that the lost are condemned already (John 3:18).
It tells us that they abide under the wrath of God (John 3:36).
It tells us that their ultimate destiny is eternity in Hell, to be forever separated from the presence of God (Psa. 9:17; 2 Thes. 1:8-9).
*******
In spite of her lifestyle, in spite of her pagan background, in spite of her lost condition, God had given Rahab forty years of grace, mercy and warning.
*******
Likewise, God has given us enough time to repent and to receive Him.
God had touched our heart many times before.
Oh! What a gracious God we serve!
*******
But there is a limit to patience in calling the lost to come to Him for salvation.
*******
It is a dangerous thing to delay coming to the Lord!
*******
We must wait no more!
We must come to Jesus now while He is calling us!
*******
Rahab Was A Defiled Sinner
Rahab was a prostitute.
She was engaged in a wicked lifestyle, selling her body to men for money.
Her life was a life of deep depravity and wickedness.
*******
Rahab is a picture of every person who is lost in sin.
They are in a helpless and hopeless situation.
Their lifestyle is wicked in the eyes of the Lord.
*******
Rahab Was A Dead Sinner
Rahab was living her life, but spiritually she was dead in her sins.
*******
This is the condition of every person outside of a relationship with the Lord Jesus.
They are dead to God and to all He represents.
And they will face the Second Death (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:11-15).
*******
Rahab Was A Doomed Sinner
Rahab lived in a city that had already been selected for destruction.
God had already determined that Jericho would fall!
The people living there might felt confident and reasonably safe behind the walls of their city.
But God had already passed sentence upon them, and they were doomed to destruction!
*******
Every lost sinner is in the same situation!
They may feel secure and may not believe that there is any danger.
The Bible tells us that the lost are condemned already (John 3:18).
It tells us that they abide under the wrath of God (John 3:36).
It tells us that their ultimate destiny is eternity in Hell, to be forever separated from the presence of God (Psa. 9:17; 2 Thes. 1:8-9).
*******
In spite of her lifestyle, in spite of her pagan background, in spite of her lost condition, God had given Rahab forty years of grace, mercy and warning.
*******
Likewise, God has given us enough time to repent and to receive Him.
God had touched our heart many times before.
Oh! What a gracious God we serve!
*******
But there is a limit to patience in calling the lost to come to Him for salvation.
*******
It is a dangerous thing to delay coming to the Lord!
*******
We must wait no more!
We must come to Jesus now while He is calling us!
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