Sermon Central
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Rahab's Faith; A Saving Faith Series
Contributed by Chad Bolfa on Oct 23, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Rahab is an example of the grace of God at work. Her salvation was not based on her character: she lived in a doomed city, practiced a sinful profession, engaged in rebellious activities, & lied about her actions. But she acted upon faith, & was spared th
Letting your Faith do the Walking Part 14
Rahab’s faith; A Saving Faith
Introduction
In Paris there stands a monument called the “Arc de Triumph” it stands 165 ft. in height & 145 ft. wide. It is so big that a daredevil pilot once flew his plane through it’s pillars. It was commissioned in 1806 after the victory at Austerlitz by Napoleon at the peak of his fame & finally completed in 1833.
I read this week that all over Europe there are varieties of triumphal arches or columns, they stand there in order to remember the battles won by their country’s generals, emperors, or kings.
This is exactly what we have been studying these last few weeks; this is our faith’s monuments in order for us to remember.
We have faith triumphing over death: Enoch entered not the gates of death, but reached heaven by another road.
We have faith triumphing over infirmity: Abraham & Sarah having a son in their old age.
We have faith triumphing over affection, as we see Abraham climbing to the top of the mountain & raising the knife to slay his only son at the command of God. Then we see God providing a lamb.
We have faith triumphing over worldliness. "By faith Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt."
Tonight we will see faith triumphing over sin: "Rahab perished not with them that believed not…
Rahab is an example of the grace of God at work. Her salvation was not based on her character: she lived in a doomed city, practiced a sinful profession, engaged in rebellious activities, & lied about her actions. But she acted upon faith, & was spared the judgment of God.
I love what the late Dr. Adrian Rogers says “Nature forms us, sin deforms us, the world conforms us, education informs us, but faith transforms us.”
Here was woman who was transformed by faith.
What a terrible woman she was to begin with:
~She was a pagan living in spiritual darkness.
~She was a harlot living in sinful depravity.
~She was a Canaanite bound for sure destruction & yet this woman found grace through faith & was transformed.
She was so transformed that she married a prince of Israel. She became the great-great grandmother of King David. She became a part of the bloodline of Jesus Christ.
She went from a child of hell to a citizen of heaven; from a shady lady to a shiny star; from call girl to converted girl; from disgrace to dignity; from the house of shame to the hall of fame ---transformed by the grace of God.
How did it happen? You have to turn to Joshua 2 to see the story. God had commanded His people to take the land of Canaan. They came out of the wilderness & there between them & the Promised Land was the city of Jericho. Joshua selected two men, who were God’s representatives, who went into the city of Jericho & there they met Rahab. And through their witness she was converted.
Read Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-24, Hebrews 11:31
I. She was convicted by the Spirit.
Joshua 2:9-11 “and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 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 Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”
Can you imagine a sinful woman (an idol worshipper) making such a statement of faith? Who had been working on her? Who had been speaking to her? It was the Holy Spirit.
Think of the great city of Jericho…all of the people in that city. Do you think it was by chance that they happened to go the house of Rahab? NO!!! It was the providence of God! These men were in the stream of the Spirit & like a guided missile God brought them right to the heart; house; & home of a woman that He had been preparing.
What does that mean to us? All over our town the Holy Spirit is working... tenderizing hearts; & He wants you to be so led of the Spirit that a hungry heart & that a helpful soul winner will be brought together because the Holy Spirit is working both sides of the fence. Out there He’s preparing a heart & right here He’s preparing a messenger.
