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Crossroads Community Church


We joyfully congregated in God's presence.
Pastor Don prayed, “Dear Father God, as we gather here in your presence this morning, we praise you for your forgiveness and we pray for our hearts to be open, surrendered and obedient to do your will. We pray that as we accept you, Jesus, as our Lord and Saviour, we will move beyond our past sins and transgressions and serve you with unfailing faith and obedience. We pray all this in Jesus Glorious Name. Amen.
Can you think of something in your past that is messy or undesirable in God's eyes?
Today we studied Joshua 2:1-24.
Joshua, as commanded by God, was to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Joshua was a brilliant military strategist and sent out two spies to scout out the land. (Joshua 2:1)
God directed the spies to Rahab's house knowing that she would be instrumental in the Israelite victory at Jericho.
As we study Rahab, we may have perceived her to have had three strikes against her.
First, she was a Cannanite, not a Jew, not one of God's chosen people. Yet, a complete pagan sinner, she showed kindness and compassion to the Israelite spies.
God often uses people of simple faith to accomplish his great purposes.
Second, she was a woman. The prevailing attitude toward women in that society was that they were considered second class citizens.
God can use and work through anyone at anytime, male or female, spotless or stained.
Third, was her occupation. She was a prostitute.
Why would God choose a prostitute? Surely there must have been more reputable people who would have done the same thing.
Despite our, perhaps, preconceived opinion of Rahab's value, she was shown to be right with God by her actions. (James 2:23-26)
Many people struggle, all of their lives, to overcome their past. Often, when we are not able to forgive ourselves, we have a hard time believing that God truly has forgiven us.
Our penalty of sin died with Christ on the Cross, God has declared us not guilty and we need no longer live under sin's power. (Romans 3:23-26)
Rahab's faith is a wonderful demonstration of the grace of God and, remember, grace is “undeserved” favor.
What kind of faith did Rahab have?
Courageous Faith. (Joshua 2:2-7)
Faith is not risky but may require us to take risks. When we consider all God has done and all He promises us, are we willing to take courageous risks like Rahab did? That's the kind of people God is looking for. People who have the courage to take risks, completely trusting in His power and His promises. (Hebrews 11:1)
Confident Faith. (Joshua 2:7-11)
Rahab, a pagan, a Canaanite and a prostitute confirms a confident faith in the Lord.
We must never judge a person's level of Faith in God by his or her background, lifestyle or appearance. (John 1:12-13)
Concerned Faith. (Joshua 2:12-14)
Rahab had experienced the grace and mercy of the Lord and wanted her family to be rescued as well.
Once we have experienced the Lord's salvation in our lives we too should be concerned about others whom we love who don't know the Lord. (John 1:41; John 4:39)
The Covenant of Faith. (Joshua 2:15-25)
Rahab was dirty and stained by the world and her own sinfulness. But God loved her anyway, called her by her faith and her obedience to God saved her and her family.
Our deeds or actions are not a substitute for, but rather a verification of, our faith in Christ. (James 2:17)
God takes us as we are, broken, stained and sinful and when we choose to move beyond our past, in faith, we are free to live for Christ.
As followers of Jesus, we must see ourselves in Christ as forgiven, accepted and victorious. It is then that we will see Satan is indeed forever defeated and our pasts are behind us.
May God richly bless, this his word, and by His grace and mercy may we each, courageously and purposefully keep moving beyond our past. Praise the Lord. Amen.
Post date: 2015-10-01 21:33:33
Post date GMT: 2015-10-02 01:33:33
Post modified date: 2015-10-09 18:53:51
Post modified date GMT: 2015-10-09 22:53:51
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