ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

As we make our way through this Hall of Faith I want to offer you several real-life examples of a faith-lift. In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews this is illustrated by many key characters-Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua. Now we come to a most surprising person who is listed as a Hall of Fame person of faith. This one is very different. This one is a woman, but not any woman. This person of faith in God is a prostitute by the name of Rahab. It says: By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. Rahab was very instrumental in the destruction of Jericho and the siege of the land of Canaan. When Joshua sent spies into the land, it says: So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.

Here's how the story unfolds: It was told the king of Jericho, saying, 
"Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land." And the king of Jericho sent word 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 land." But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. "It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."

To sum up, Rahab hid the spies and lied to the king's men about it. So, she hid them on her rooftop until the king's men left the city and the city gate was shut. But before they went to sleep, she asked for a commitment that she and her family would not be harmed in the battle for Jericho. They agreed and told her to make certain to place a scarlet thread in the window.

Rahab confessed her faith in the Lord and said: "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath."

The next morning she let them down out of the city through that window. After letting them down out of her window, Rahab tied the scarlet cord in her window and no one in her home was destroyed when the children of Israel took the city of Jericho.

James used Rahab to illustrate his major point of the balance of faith and works. He says: You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Her faith in the Lord was clear and her works that demonstrated her faith was when she risked her own life in order to hide the spies from the king's men.

Rahab was a harlot. She used to manage a place called Rahab's Rest Stop! HOWEVER. And this is the great HOWEVER of God. God used her for His great purpose. No matter what you have done in the past or are now doing in the present, God will accept your faith. Her works proved her faith conclusively.

Do you ever feel that your past or present lifestyle holds you back from being used by God? Rahab had a very colorful past, but when she was given an opportunity from God, she seized it. Note that she seized it by her faith in the God of Israel and the proof of her faith was clear through her works.

The pendulum swing is between faith on one side and works on the other. Many are into faith alone. Others are into works alone. But there must be a union of both faith and works. It's like a rowboat with two oars-one is faith and the other is works. If you insist on using only one of these oars, you'll just go in circles-you'll go nowhere.

So how does Rahab's story help you to demonstrate the balance of the two? FIRST-No matter your past or your present situation, God will honor your genuine faith.

SECOND-God will honor your genuine faith when He can see your faithful works.

THIRD-God will honor your genuine faith and faithful works by using them for His purposes.

FOURTH-God will reward your genuine faith and faithful works with personal protection for you and your family in the worst of times.
Rahab demonstrated the works of faith-the fact that faith and works are never alone. Martin Luther put it this way: "Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone." In other words, the work of faith is the only faith that works! All other expressions of faith without works are simply empty.

THE MAN AGAINST ALL ODDS

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

As we make our way through this Hall of Faith I want to offer to you a faith-lift by illustrating how several ordinary people were able to live extraordinary lives. We saw the "work of faith" was in Abel-work that emerged from the heart! Next we saw the walk of faith illustrated by the only two men who were ever said to "walk with God"-Enoch and Noah! With Abraham we have the illustration of the "way of faith", because when God called him out of his comfort zone, he obeyed. Then in the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we discovered the "wealth of faith" through being blessed and blessing others.
We examined the incredible life of Joseph who had all kinds of things go against him. Joseph illustrates the "won't of faith", because he refused to compromise his walk with God no matter the circumstances. Yesterday we dealt with the life of Moses. Moses illustrates the "will of faith". Moses discovered that the will of faith in the midst of frustration is the way to maturity.

Today we come to the life of Joshua. Although the writer of the book of Hebrews doesn't mention Joshua's name here, he does identify one of the great events in the life of Joshua-the conquest of the city of Jericho. It says: By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. (Hebrews 11:30)

Joshua took over the leadership of the Jewish people after Moses and found himself against all odds. He was to lead God's people into the land of the Canaanites. The Canaanites were deeply into prostitution (both male and female) and child sacrifice. They were into all sorts of corruption. They were known as a brutal people. Battle after battle Joshua continually was against all odds. "And Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one time, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel" (10:42).

As the children of Israel came to the land of Canaan, twelve spies were sent on a mission into the land of Canaan. Upon their return only two of the spies had the faith to believe that the children of Israel could take the land, empowered by God. The other ten came back with a very negative report, not believing God had given the land into their hands. Because of their unbelief, the children of Israel had to wander in the wilderness until that generation of unbelief had died out.

When it came time to finally enter the land of Canaan, Joshua was the man placed to lead his people to first conquer the city of Jericho. Joshua was an experienced military leader, but nothing in all his military training could have prepared him for God's plan to take Jericho. It would require a lot of faith to complete his mission.

Jericho is considered the oldest known inhabited city in the world. Around 1400 B.C. Joshua laid siege to the fortress city. The armies of Israel surrounded it so that no one could enter or leave it. This was the plan: For six days the army was to march around the city once each day while the priests blew their ram's horns. The priests with trumpets went first, then the priests that carried the Ark of the Covenant, then the army. The only sound would be the sound of the horns; no one could speak a word. Then on the seventh day, they would encircle the city seven times in the same manner, and then when Joshua gave the signal, they would shout with a great shout. It was at that moment the walls would fall flat, so they could capture the city.

What a battle plan! I keep thinking how tough it must have been to pass along to his highly trained generals and officers just what the plan was to be. "Are you kidding me? What kind of plan is that?" Talk about a battle that was against all odds! Well the truth is that it is a battle plan that could only be accomplished by trusting in the power of their God. Joshua was successful because he followed God's battle plan to the very last detail. By building a wall of faith with his people, he was able to bring down the walls of Jericho.

To sum up Joshua's life listen to one of his most memorable challenges to the people: "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15)

Frequently, you may find yourself against all odds. So what must you do? #1-RESPOND TO THE LORD. Fear (reverence, respect, bow in awe, etc.) the Lord. JUST DO IT!

#2-RISK SERVING HIM. Joshua was there at the Red Sea crossing. He saw that the waters didn't part until someone stepped into the water. God isn't going to do a thing until you put your foot in it. You have a mini Red Sea crossing of your own.

#3-REPENT. Clean up your act. God will not work as well without a clean heart-a heart that is bent toward Him. So change your mind about where you are and turn toward God.

#4-REMOVE THE GODS OF YOUR FATHERS. Put away all other gods-your personal, relational, material and religious gods.

#5-RECOMMIT TO CHOOSE HIM ABOVE ALL OTHERS. You make your choices.
When Joshua was against all odds at Jericho, he only had to do a few simple little things. They walked around the city a prescribed number of times, blew their horns, and shouted. His part was simple and God's part was the most complex. You do the little things and God will do the large things-you, the possible and God, the impossible. You do your part by faith that God will do His part.

When you are up against a wall of frustration or fear, turn it into a wall of faith! When you do, God will shatter the walls of frustration and fear and strengthen your walls of faith! Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods of your society, the gods of your religiosity or the gods of your making; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. How about you?

THE MAN WHO WOULD IF HE COULD

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

As we make our way through this Hall of Faith I want to offer to you a faith-lift by illustrating how several ordinary people were able to live extraordinary lives. We saw the "work of faith" was in Abel-work that emerged from the heart! Next we saw the walk of faith illustrated by the only two men who were ever said to "walk with God"-Enoch and Noah! With Abraham we have the illustration of the "way of faith", because when God called him out of his comfort zone, he obeyed. Then in the life of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we discovered the "wealth of faith" through being blessed and blessing others. Yesterday we examined the incredible life of Joseph who had all kinds of things go against him. Joseph illustrates the "won't of faith", because he refused to compromise his walk with God no matter the circumstances.
Today we come to the amazing life of Moses: By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
 
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

The story of Moses is a phenomenal illustration of the process of maturity. By faith he was hidden as a baby. By faith he refused the lifestyle of Egypt to live with the Jews. By faith he led God's people out of Egypt. By faith he kept the Passover. By faith he crossed the Red Sea. Moses did these things by faith in His God.

The way to maturity is breaking through the impasses of life-the frustrations and blockages. A baby must breathe or die. He must eat, crawl, and walk. But each of these is a break-through. As a child learns to overcome frustration, he grows up. When a child is not given enough frustration or is baled out of it, he is spoiled-emotionally crippled.

Moses was prepared for a great and most memorable mission for God. Even to this day it is celebrated as the Passover. Moses was miraculously spared and placed in the palace of the Pharaoh for 40 years, where he was highly educated in the things of royalty. Then, after killing an Egyptian who was hassling one of his Jewish brothers, Moses fled to the desert, where he learned the principles of herding and caring for sheep and the ways of survival in the wilderness. Then at 80 years of age he was ready-prepared by God-to fulfill his mission to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.

Moses illustrates the "will of faith". Moses discovered that the will of faith in the midst of frustration is the way to maturity. The will to do what is necessary in order to do the things you've been called to do, can be found in the life of Moses. There are four observations here that lead to practical application of the will of faith.

#1-FOCUS ON YOUR BURNING BUSH. Moses' burning bush experience is when God spoke to him to give him direction. God is continually speaking to you through His "burning bush" today-His living and written word. Jesus is the living word and He is also the living expression of the written word. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the spoken word of God"-the life and teachings of Jesus. The written word speaks of Jesus and Jesus speaks to you, when you seek Him with all your heart and listen for His direction. Focus on it by listening and learning and living it! The action step is to REPROGRAM YOUR MIND around Jesus!

#2-FACE YOUR BLOCKAGES. When God spoke to Moses and called him through the burning bush, he responded with several excuses-"I can't speak very well!" or "The people of Israel will not follow!" or "What will make the Pharaoh acknowledge what I have to say?" So when God speaks to you and calls you to a certain calling, what's your excuse? What are your blockages? The action step here is to REMOVE THEM the best you can!

#3-FIND YOUR BOOSTERS. Moses' best booster was Aaron. Without his support Moses couldn't have accomplished all that he did or matured to one of the most significant leaders ever. You need your friends and family as your own personal boosters-your support team. They become your inner security system. The action step here is to REACH OUT TO YOUR BOOSTERS!

#4-FOLLOW THE BASICS. Moses followed the Lord simply and basically, step by step, one day at a time. He stayed with the basics. On your way to maturity you must follow the basics. The action step here is to REMIND YOURSELF TO KEEP DOING THE BASICS!

Follow the life of Moses and you will find the will of faith. The will of faith is the willingness to be content with God's preparation in your life no matter how long it takes and then a willingness to do what He calls you to do no matter how impossible it seems. God wants to do great things in this world and He has chosen to do great things through those who have the will of faith to participate.

Are you willing to do great things with God as your partner? God has great things for us. Unfortunately, much of the time we're like the caterpillar that watches a butterfly fly by and says to himself, "You'll never get me up in one of those things", when God had exactly that in mind all along! The will of faith. Think it over!