WEBVTT 00:00:00.050 --> 00:00:06.110 I hope that you will turn with me in a Bible to the book of Joshua, Joshua chapter two. 00:00:08.509 --> 00:00:13.220 And we will be looking together at versus one to 21 today. 00:00:14.060 --> 00:00:25.280 Joshua two versus one to 21 in our journey through what we often call the hall of faith. 00:00:26.089 --> 00:00:41.659 In Hebrews chapter 11, we have arrived at probably the most surprising name in this entire list of individuals. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:48.590 We expect to see the likes of Abel Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. 00:00:49.130 --> 00:00:53.030 We expect to see people like Isaac and Jacob. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:54.920 We expect to see Joseph in there. 00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:56.689 We expect to see Moses, of course. 00:00:58.729 --> 00:01:12.079 But when we come to verse 31, we read by faith, the prostitute rehab, because she welcomed the spies was not killed with those who were disobedient. 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:17.450 Wait, what, Rayhab the prostitute? 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:19.250 What, what is she doing in there? 00:01:19.609 --> 00:01:22.700 How does she end up in this hall of faith? 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:27.980 Well, because she had faith. 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:34.280 And when you learn about Rayhab, you may think you have very little in common with her. 00:01:35.780 --> 00:01:38.099 Maybe you think I've never lived a life like that. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:42.140 I'm thankful she's in here, but I have very little in common with her. 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:45.530 We may think, but we would be wrong to think that. 00:01:46.504 --> 00:01:53.314 Because what we need to see inhab is the choice that confronts every single one of us. 00:01:53.314 --> 00:01:57.394 It's a choice that is staring us in the face right now. 00:01:59.405 --> 00:02:38.344 And that choice is this, will we invest our lives in the world that is now, or will we invest our lives in the world that is to come the world, God has promised that's the choice and what we're going to see inhab is that when we trust and what God has promised, and we, we trust in the world that God has promised to bring about the more we will be prepared to see what we need to do in the world that is now. 00:02:40.115 --> 00:02:48.455 and conversely, our failure to see what God has promised to do in the world to come, leads us, to fail, to see what God wants us to do in the world. 00:02:48.455 --> 00:02:49.835 That is right now. 00:02:52.384 --> 00:02:53.405 That's the choice. 00:02:54.305 --> 00:02:55.835 How will you choose? 00:02:57.064 --> 00:03:06.514 Let's read together beginning at chapter one of Joshua two, then Joshua's son of none. 00:03:07.444 --> 00:03:12.395 Secretly sent two spies from Shaim go look over the land. 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:13.805 He said, especially Jericho. 00:03:14.854 --> 00:03:20.585 So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 00:03:21.724 --> 00:03:26.854 The king of Jericho was told, look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land. 00:03:27.604 --> 00:03:30.965 So the king of Jericho sent this message to rehab. 00:03:31.985 --> 00:03:37.685 Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house because they have come to spy out the whole land. 00:03:39.259 --> 00:03:42.409 but the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. 00:03:43.699 --> 00:03:50.479 She said, yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from at dusk. 00:03:50.810 --> 00:04:03.439 When it was time to close the city gate, they left, I don't know which way they went, go after them quickly, you may catch up with them, but she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stocks of flax. 00:04:03.710 --> 00:04:05.449 She had laid out on the roof. 00:04:06.919 --> 00:04:12.530 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the Fords of the Jordan. 00:04:13.370 --> 00:04:31.790 And as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, I know that the Lord has given you this land 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. 00:04:32.689 --> 00:04:35.810 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the red sea for you. 00:04:36.214 --> 00:04:51.725 When you came out of Egypt and what you did to Saan and Aug the two Kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed when we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone's courage failed because of you for the Lord. 00:04:51.730 --> 00:04:55.264 You're God is God and heaven above and on the earth below. 00:04:56.314 --> 00:05:03.185 Now, then please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. 00:05:03.964 --> 00:05:10.264 Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters in all who belong to them. 00:05:10.535 --> 00:05:14.884 And that you will save us from death, our lives for your lives. 00:05:15.154 --> 00:05:16.055 The men asserted her. 00:05:16.264 --> 00:05:22.475 If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land. 00:05:23.404 --> 00:05:28.805 So she let them down by a rope through the window for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 00:05:29.225 --> 00:05:30.814 She said to them, go to the hill. 00:05:30.814 --> 00:05:34.595 So the pursuers will not find you hide yourselves there three days until they. 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:36.529 And then go on your way. 00:05:37.850 --> 00:05:42.470 Erman had said to her, this oath you made us swear will not be binding on us. 00:05:42.470 --> 00:05:49.819 Unless when we enter the land, you have tied this Scarlet cord in the window, through which you let us down. 00:05:50.329 --> 00:06:01.339 And unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house, if any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads. 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:05.779 We will not be responsible as for those who are in the house with you. 00:06:06.110 --> 00:06:08.029 Their blood will be on our head. 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:09.709 If a hand is laid on them. 00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:13.639 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath. 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:14.540 You made us swear. 00:06:15.709 --> 00:06:16.220 Agreed. 00:06:16.790 --> 00:06:18.560 She replied, let it be, as you say. 00:06:19.220 --> 00:06:25.730 So she sent them away and they departed and she tied the Scarlet cord in the window. 00:06:30.199 --> 00:06:31.970 These events are happening. 00:06:32.975 --> 00:06:50.254 around 40 years after what we studied last week in exists, chapter 14, about 40 years after God brought his people, Israel out of slavery in Egypt, after he parted the red sea, he made a way for them, where there appeared to be no way. 00:06:50.435 --> 00:06:57.125 He led them through the red sea and he provided for them in the wilderness. 00:06:58.084 --> 00:07:02.824 But that generation was disobedient along with Moses their leader. 00:07:02.824 --> 00:07:07.264 And so that generation was not allowed to enter the promise land. 00:07:07.865 --> 00:07:14.524 This land presently occupied by people like the Amorites in the city Jericho. 00:07:16.084 --> 00:07:29.524 So God's people have a new leader, Joshua, Joshua, the great general, and he has taken charge and he like any good general decides to scope out the terrain. 00:07:30.545 --> 00:07:33.394 he decides to gauge the morale of the enemy. 00:07:34.175 --> 00:07:53.045 And he does this by sending these spies across the Jordan river, into this fortified city of Jericho and what we're looking at Jericho, we're looking at a city that is armed and ready to defend itself, but we're looking at a type of city state. 00:07:53.464 --> 00:07:54.814 This is not like Pharaoh. 00:07:54.814 --> 00:08:13.985 This is not a great empire, but it is a powerful nation state, a place ready to fight seemingly impregnable, especially from people who have just been wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, eating nothing but manana from heaven and quail from heaven. 00:08:15.665 --> 00:08:18.365 But here they are, God has promised this land to them. 00:08:18.365 --> 00:08:27.964 And so Joshua sends out these spies and they find refuge in the house of a prostitute named Rayhab. 00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:56.899 And what I want us to look at in studying rehab is the danger that we all face in having the present world and, and the affairs of this present world pull on us, tug on us and end danger us from investing in the world to come what God has promised to bring about. 00:09:01.250 --> 00:09:09.289 And we need to see how saving faith must invest in the world to come. 00:09:09.529 --> 00:09:17.509 Despite all these many dangers that we see threatening rehab, what are these dangers? 00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:27.169 How can we trust and what God will do in the world to come so that we'll be better prepared to see what God wants us to do in this world right now. 00:09:30.289 --> 00:09:37.370 Well, first and foremost, what is most obvious probably is Rahab's sinful lifestyle. 00:09:38.509 --> 00:09:46.639 She's a prostitute and we have every reason to think she's continuing to engage in this life of selling her body. 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:48.620 Here she is. 00:09:48.620 --> 00:10:00.139 And we may think, well, how is someone like that going to share in what God has promised to bring about for his people? 00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:13.039 How can this, holy God, who has called his people to be holy as he is holy, how can he lead someone like Rahab leads, someone like rehab to share in this coming kingdom. 00:10:14.929 --> 00:10:26.600 We may think that her past sin, her past shame about what she's done would keep her from obeying. 00:10:27.605 --> 00:10:29.615 what God has called her to do now. 00:10:30.365 --> 00:10:38.825 And you see this choice very clearly when she's hidden the spies here, and we don't have any reason to think that there's any kind of sexual liaison happening here. 00:10:39.184 --> 00:10:45.965 Hebrew has a very specific grammatical form for describing those kinds of acts and those aren't here. 00:10:46.384 --> 00:10:54.154 Likewise, it's true that the Bible doesn't have any hesitation whatsoever about describing such sinful acts. 00:10:54.365 --> 00:10:59.315 We don't have any reason to think that that's what's happening here, but nevertheless, they find themselves in her household. 00:10:59.315 --> 00:11:08.375 Maybe it's an in, maybe it's a place where many travelers would gather so that they wouldn't stand out from the rest of the people in Jericho. 00:11:09.274 --> 00:11:12.184 That's where they are, but the king gets word of it. 00:11:12.184 --> 00:11:16.894 And he sends his men to urge rehab hand over these men. 00:11:16.894 --> 00:11:23.495 I know who you're hiding hand'em over and right here. 00:11:24.440 --> 00:11:28.730 she may think, who am I to resist this king? 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:45.350 Who am I to defy this directive from the powers that be, look at what I do for a living look at my past, but that doesn't keep her from obeying. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.549 In fact, she lies. 00:11:50.059 --> 00:11:53.600 She says, I don't know where they came from. 00:11:53.870 --> 00:11:55.850 Yeah, they were here, but they went out. 00:11:55.850 --> 00:11:56.509 They're gone. 00:11:56.629 --> 00:12:04.879 Maybe you can catch'em if you leave right now, all kinds of, of lies, intertwined in what she says, but she chooses. 00:12:05.149 --> 00:12:06.110 And that's the thing we need to see. 00:12:06.110 --> 00:12:19.429 She chooses to align her life despite her past, despite her shame with God's cause, and with God's people, anybody here have a past. 00:12:22.835 --> 00:12:26.615 Anybody here have something you're ashamed of something. 00:12:26.615 --> 00:12:36.815 You've said something you've done something you've thought we all have a past we all have fallen short of the glory of God. 00:12:36.965 --> 00:12:42.184 We all have said things and done things and thought things that we should not have. 00:12:43.595 --> 00:12:45.034 This is our story. 00:12:46.235 --> 00:12:56.764 And the teaching here is that we cannot allow past sin and failure to keep us from present obedience. 00:12:59.434 --> 00:13:02.284 We may think I don't have any right to be with these people. 00:13:02.735 --> 00:13:14.315 Even if she is convinced that one day they will conquer this city one day, this land will be theirs by edict of God, but she may think I don't have any right to share in that. 00:13:14.404 --> 00:13:15.004 Look at who I am. 00:13:15.004 --> 00:13:15.875 Look what I've done. 00:13:17.929 --> 00:13:22.159 I deserve to be with these people of Jericho no far from it. 00:13:22.309 --> 00:13:24.740 She obeys nevermind her past. 00:13:24.830 --> 00:13:27.200 Nevermind her guilt, nevermind her shame. 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.610 She acts now. 00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:34.429 And that same calling is urged upon you. 00:13:34.434 --> 00:13:46.940 And upon me right now, consider this parable from our Lord in Matthew chapter 21, beginning at verse 28, he says, what do you think? 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:49.429 There was a man who had two sons. 00:13:50.690 --> 00:13:54.409 He went to the first and said, son, go and work today in the vineyard. 00:13:56.299 --> 00:13:56.769 I will not. 00:13:57.529 --> 00:14:04.970 He answered, but later he changed his mind and went then the father went to the other son and said the same thing he answered. 00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:06.019 I will, sir. 00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:14.450 But he did not go, which of the two did what his father wanted. 00:14:15.889 --> 00:14:17.210 the first they answered. 00:14:17.750 --> 00:14:26.299 Jesus said to them, truly, I tell you the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the king of God ahead of you. 00:14:26.629 --> 00:14:29.179 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness. 00:14:29.269 --> 00:14:32.929 And you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:39.440 And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him never. 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:39.889 Nevermind. 00:14:39.889 --> 00:14:43.370 How many times you have said no to God in the past. 00:14:44.899 --> 00:14:45.379 Nevermind. 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:58.759 How many times you have rebelled against him and defied him and said the things you should not say, no matter how much shame or guilt may weigh you down, God is saying to you right now, will you obey me? 00:15:00.710 --> 00:15:04.399 Yeah, I know you said no yesterday, but will you say yes today? 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:06.860 Will you go work in my vineyard today? 00:15:06.889 --> 00:15:08.240 Never mind yesterday. 00:15:08.419 --> 00:15:09.379 Never mind a year from now. 00:15:09.409 --> 00:15:09.799 Nevermind. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:12.649 10 years in the past today. 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:13.179 What do you say. 00:15:13.490 --> 00:15:20.809 It, it doesn't matter if you're a tax collector or a prosecutor, it doesn't matter what you've done. 00:15:20.929 --> 00:15:22.639 It doesn't matter what you haven't done. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:37.490 God is calling you to repent and to trust him and obey rehab did will you everywhere. 00:15:37.490 --> 00:15:41.690 She's commended in the new Testament, we're told she was a prostitute. 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:43.580 This is part of her identity. 00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:59.629 We're also told this in James chapter two verse 25 in the same way was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction as the body, without the spirit is dead. 00:15:59.634 --> 00:16:02.090 So faith without deeds is dead. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:09.740 Rayhab the prostitute by faith Rayhab the prostitute was saved because she hid the spies and peace. 00:16:11.389 --> 00:16:15.289 This is part of who she is, but that doesn't keep her from obeying. 00:16:15.289 --> 00:16:19.580 And you see how God's grace shines. 00:16:19.580 --> 00:16:27.230 So clearly here, if God can work even through rehab, what can he do through you? 00:16:27.230 --> 00:16:27.289 Now? 00:16:30.529 --> 00:16:41.389 We may also say, well, didn't she lie is God's word condoning, lying here. 00:16:41.809 --> 00:16:42.889 And it's lie upon lie. 00:16:42.894 --> 00:16:43.759 It's not just one. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.470 She says, I don't know them. 00:16:45.470 --> 00:16:46.730 I don't know where they came from. 00:16:46.850 --> 00:17:05.059 I don't know where they are now when all the, while she's hidden them on the roof, what are we gonna do with this number one, remember that our actions, even our best actions are mingled with sin. 00:17:06.349 --> 00:17:08.930 Sometimes even when we're doing the right thing, we're doing it for the wrong reason. 00:17:10.130 --> 00:17:13.069 Even when we're doing the right thing, sometimes we're thinking something we should not be thinking. 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:17.210 We all are subject to this in this life. 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:26.750 It's part of living in a fallen world that even our best actions always have a tinge, maybe more, but at least a tinge of sinfulness in them. 00:17:27.619 --> 00:17:30.410 So don't wait for perfection to obey. 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:37.670 Don't say when I, once I get my life together, then I'll obey. 00:17:37.819 --> 00:17:38.690 No obey. 00:17:38.690 --> 00:17:42.650 Now, even our best actions are mingled with sin. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:57.019 And number two, remember this, God can use in the use any sin without excusing sin. 00:17:58.579 --> 00:18:02.390 This is part of God's sovereign governance of our lives and of the world. 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.859 He's not condoning this. 00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:05.359 God is a God of truth. 00:18:05.690 --> 00:18:09.500 And he demands that his people be people of truth. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.420 The Lord Jesus never lied. 00:18:12.650 --> 00:18:15.230 And if we follow the Lord, Jesus, we should not lie. 00:18:15.230 --> 00:18:17.299 So we're not excusing. 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:25.549 Rahab's lies here in her sinfulness, but we're seeing how God can use even our lies. 00:18:25.549 --> 00:18:28.190 Even our sinfulness to accomplish his purposes. 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:34.130 This is part of how God works in this sinful messed up world. 00:18:35.509 --> 00:18:39.950 So do you appreciate how God can use even the worst things in this world? 00:18:40.130 --> 00:18:45.619 The worst, the most heinous, the most horrible things without excusing them or condoning them. 00:18:46.970 --> 00:18:49.789 That's the kind of God Rayhab chooses here. 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:57.980 Don't let your past, don't let your lack of perfection. 00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:00.829 Now keep you from obeying God's call. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.720 Don't let those things keep you from choosing. 00:19:04.565 --> 00:19:09.365 the world to come next. 00:19:09.694 --> 00:19:13.595 We could see how Rayhab may see an opportunity here. 00:19:15.934 --> 00:19:17.884 We see what she does for a living. 00:19:19.265 --> 00:19:21.275 Think of how she might be rewarded. 00:19:21.275 --> 00:19:29.404 If she were to hand over these spies could be a pretty good bounty on their heads, right? 00:19:30.335 --> 00:19:32.434 And why wouldn't she take it? 00:19:32.704 --> 00:19:35.224 There's an opportunity for advancement here. 00:19:36.664 --> 00:19:40.295 And this is the pool that we all feel in our lives. 00:19:40.625 --> 00:19:44.164 We want to be comfortable in this life. 00:19:45.095 --> 00:19:48.605 We want to be applauded by people in this life. 00:19:48.605 --> 00:19:49.204 Do we not? 00:19:49.325 --> 00:19:50.494 We love getting a plaque. 00:19:50.494 --> 00:19:51.424 We love getting an award. 00:19:51.424 --> 00:19:55.204 We want people to clap, want people to think highly of us. 00:19:55.775 --> 00:20:00.275 And she could see an opportunity here to rescue herself from her reputation. 00:20:00.875 --> 00:20:02.825 All she has to do is say, yeah, they're up on the roof. 00:20:03.289 --> 00:20:03.789 That's all. 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:12.240 And just think of the, the power that's bearing down on her, who is she to defy the king? 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:19.940 And yet she protects these spies. 00:20:20.210 --> 00:20:23.369 She chooses the world to come. 00:20:23.589 --> 00:20:23.809 Why? 00:20:25.329 --> 00:20:32.420 Because Rayhab because rehab knew what really lasts and what doesn't. 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:54.859 Again, the Lord Jesus helps us see this very clearly in Matthew chapter six, verse 19, he says, do not store up for yourselves, treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but stored for yourself, treasures in heaven, where MOS and vermin do not destroy. 00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:59.359 And where thieves do not break in and steal for where your treasure is there. 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:02.029 Your heart will be also. 00:21:03.634 --> 00:21:06.815 And he goes on to saying, verse 24, no one can serve two masters. 00:21:06.815 --> 00:21:07.055 Either. 00:21:07.055 --> 00:21:11.045 You will hate the one and love the other, or you'll be devoted to the one in despise the other. 00:21:11.045 --> 00:21:14.525 You cannot serve both God and money one or the other. 00:21:14.704 --> 00:21:27.454 Either you will live for this world and you will accumulate for yourself, treasures of this world, or you will live for the world to come and you will store up treasures in heaven. 00:21:29.315 --> 00:21:30.275 You've gotta make a choice. 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.204 You can't live for both. 00:21:31.204 --> 00:21:32.704 We want to try to straddle the fence. 00:21:32.704 --> 00:21:35.734 Don't we, we, we want our comfort in this life. 00:21:36.424 --> 00:21:43.204 We want our, our degrees and the prestige of life in this world, but we also want heaven too. 00:21:44.795 --> 00:21:47.555 And Jesus is saying your heart has to choose. 00:21:47.884 --> 00:21:55.085 Doesn't mean you have to get rid of all your possessions or all your money, but your heart needs to be clear on where your real treasure is. 00:21:55.595 --> 00:21:57.275 If you lost all your possessions. 00:21:57.275 --> 00:22:04.775 If, if you went bankrupt, Tomorrow, have you lost at all? 00:22:06.305 --> 00:22:07.684 Or do you have treasure in heaven? 00:22:08.765 --> 00:22:15.335 Rayhab knew where real wealth was to be found and it wasn't going to come from the king in Jericho. 00:22:16.444 --> 00:22:20.345 It wasn't going to come from anything that the people around her could give to her. 00:22:20.884 --> 00:22:22.865 It comes from God. 00:22:24.724 --> 00:22:26.674 So do you know what really lasts? 00:22:27.724 --> 00:22:45.484 It's one or the other, are you storing up treasure for the world to come then look at how she chooses allegiance to God over allegiance to her nation state. 00:22:46.414 --> 00:22:57.585 She says in verse nine, I know that the Lord has given you this land 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. 00:23:00.769 --> 00:23:04.910 She's saying, I know who's going to win in the end. 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:08.839 I know how this story goes. 00:23:09.289 --> 00:23:30.799 I know which side the momentum really is on despite present appearances, but see how she is choosing to forsake her own nation, her own people for the sake of this, God, how astounding is, is how shocking is this? 00:23:31.069 --> 00:23:35.569 That Rayhab the prostitute is someone who confesses faith in the God of Israel. 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:40.789 This is something only God can bring about in someone. 00:23:43.309 --> 00:23:48.920 And here we need to say a word about our allegiance to our nation state. 00:23:49.670 --> 00:23:54.200 And this is especially pertinent on this 4th of July weekend. 00:23:56.075 --> 00:24:00.605 no one is more grateful than I am to be an American citizen. 00:24:01.625 --> 00:24:06.424 No one is more grateful than I am for the inheritance that we have received. 00:24:06.994 --> 00:24:22.954 And we should praise God that we live in a country where we don't have to choose allegiance to Christ over allegiance to our country, usually, but be clear about where your heart is. 00:24:25.684 --> 00:24:43.835 Recognize the allure of thinking that if we can perfect this country, if we can elect the right politicians, if we can legislate the right laws that we can bring the kingdom come, of course, we never put it that way. 00:24:43.835 --> 00:24:51.664 We, we know there's a difference, but look how invested even people who profess to be Christians can get in the things of this world. 00:24:52.144 --> 00:24:55.865 Even when our Lord said, my kingdom is not of this world. 00:24:57.394 --> 00:25:00.365 So does that mean we don't get involved in politics or we don't care? 00:25:00.365 --> 00:25:00.904 We don't vote. 00:25:01.174 --> 00:25:02.525 No, no, no. 00:25:02.825 --> 00:25:07.984 But the more you realize that God hasn't promised that the United States is going to last forever. 00:25:08.555 --> 00:25:13.055 The advance of God's kingdom does not depend upon the United States of America. 00:25:13.805 --> 00:25:26.884 The more you realize that, and the more you realize that what we're looking forward to is not the perfection of the United States of America, but the perfection of God's kingdom, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns, the more you realize that's what we're living for. 00:25:27.154 --> 00:25:29.494 The more you can engage and what needs to be done. 00:25:29.634 --> 00:25:39.484 Now, you can know your duty to your country now without having your heart get too invested in the things of this world, where you suffer disappointment. 00:25:39.484 --> 00:25:50.974 When you're a candidate doesn't get elected, or when things don't go the way you want them to go in this country, our investment is not in this world. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.859 Where your treasure is there. 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:58.730 Your heart will be also, let's be very clear about that. 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:09.740 That's the choice that confronted rehab and she chose the God of Israel. 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:15.920 So we see, she did not allow her past or her shame to keep her from a bang. 00:26:17.150 --> 00:26:21.740 She did not allow the prospect of advancement to keep her from obeying. 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:26.660 She did not allow her allegiance to her nation state to keep her from obeying. 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:45.799 And she does not allow the present weakness of God's people to keep her from obeying look at how unlikely it is that Israel is going to conquer the city state. 00:26:47.509 --> 00:26:50.660 The Israelites have been in the wilderness for 40 years. 00:26:52.325 --> 00:26:53.434 of course there's a new generation. 00:26:53.434 --> 00:26:54.125 Yes. 00:26:55.595 --> 00:26:59.015 But what do they know about tactics on the battlefield? 00:26:59.015 --> 00:27:02.025 What do they know about siege warfare? 00:27:02.855 --> 00:27:05.674 What do they know about establishing a kingdom? 00:27:05.855 --> 00:27:10.505 Nothing look at where they are now. 00:27:10.505 --> 00:27:11.875 They're across the Jordan river. 00:27:13.595 --> 00:27:16.924 They're not really clear on how they're gonna get across yet. 00:27:19.805 --> 00:27:23.855 This is a well fortified, well armed city. 00:27:24.184 --> 00:27:26.884 How in the world is it going to be conquered? 00:27:26.884 --> 00:27:38.434 And yet what we see inhab is an illustration of the truth expressed in Hebrews chapter 11, verse one. 00:27:39.035 --> 00:27:47.345 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 00:27:47.525 --> 00:27:49.474 This is what the ancients were commended for. 00:27:50.690 --> 00:27:53.720 Confidence, what we hope for and assured about what we do not see. 00:27:54.650 --> 00:27:58.609 She doesn't see Israel in power now. 00:27:58.670 --> 00:28:04.819 She doesn't see exactly how they're going to conquer Jericho, but she has assurance that they will. 00:28:05.809 --> 00:28:07.759 And that's the nature of saving faith. 00:28:07.910 --> 00:28:19.849 It's not relying on what things look like now, but trusting and what they will look like one day, not in what God is allowing now, but in what God has promised to do eventually. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:26.900 And she says, I know that the Lord has given you this land, that a great fear view has fallen on us. 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:29.029 And what is the basis of this? 00:28:29.990 --> 00:28:30.980 Look at what she's heard. 00:28:31.009 --> 00:28:36.380 And remember faith comes by hearing faith comes by hearing. 00:28:36.710 --> 00:28:47.690 We have heard verse 10, how the Lord dried up the water of the red sea for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to cyan and Aug the two Kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 00:28:49.025 --> 00:28:49.865 we heard of it. 00:28:51.065 --> 00:29:02.734 Now, all the people in Jericho have heard of it, but it's Rayhab who responds, who obey, who says it's true because God has done that in the past. 00:29:03.035 --> 00:29:04.875 I know what he will do in the future. 00:29:05.615 --> 00:29:09.605 And I'm gonna bank my life on what he's promised to do. 00:29:10.234 --> 00:29:10.684 Nevermind. 00:29:10.684 --> 00:29:11.984 What things appear to be now. 00:29:16.625 --> 00:29:27.875 And we need to feel this pull because we're so tempted to base our feelings, to base our actions, to base our expectations on what we can see. 00:29:29.315 --> 00:29:32.404 Are there a lot of people in worship must be going great. 00:29:32.464 --> 00:29:33.454 Not a lot of people. 00:29:33.515 --> 00:29:34.775 Oh, what's wrong. 00:29:36.125 --> 00:29:37.265 Is the church growing? 00:29:38.375 --> 00:29:39.515 If not something must be wrong. 00:29:40.805 --> 00:29:42.994 Is the nation in trouble? 00:29:43.970 --> 00:29:44.839 something must be wrong. 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:49.549 We base everything on what we can see and that's not saving faith. 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:53.750 Saving faith is trusting in what God has promised to do. 00:29:55.039 --> 00:30:00.799 She sees what God is going to do before her eyes can see it. 00:30:01.190 --> 00:30:03.440 She sees with the eyes of faith. 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:06.799 And here's what I hope you've heard. 00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:14.509 You may not have heard about how the Lord dried up the water of the red sea or what the Israelites did to cyan and Aug. 00:30:14.930 --> 00:30:16.009 But here's what I hope you've heard. 00:30:16.015 --> 00:30:41.470 I hope you've heard that this same God that God who brought his people into the promise land is a God who sent his one and only son Jesus Christ to live a righteous, perfect life in your place to die on the cross in your place to shed his blood in your place to die as your substitute and. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:54.559 To be raised to new life so that we know there is a day known to God alone when he will judge this world. 00:30:55.190 --> 00:31:00.529 And it's going to be far more devastating than what God did to Jericho. 00:31:01.490 --> 00:31:07.759 And he's given evidence that the basis of judgment is this one man, whom he has raised from the dead. 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:28.640 And what you say about him, what you do with him, what you believe about him will determine whether or not you are spared in that judgment to come in the world, to come when God cleanses this fallen world of all that ails it. 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:40.130 When there is no more violence, when there is no more disease, when there is no more injustice, there is no more poverty or hunger or thirst. 00:31:41.494 --> 00:31:48.484 When all is, as it should be when God restores the conditions of Eden to this world. 00:31:48.490 --> 00:32:06.994 And there is a new heaven and a new earth that all comes about on the other side of a judgment Rayhab is spared and see how she not only casts her lot with these people. 00:32:07.025 --> 00:32:15.845 She advocates for her family show kindness and mercy to my mother, my father, my brothers, my sisters, and everyone in my household. 00:32:16.444 --> 00:32:18.214 And this is what we can be doing too. 00:32:18.664 --> 00:32:28.384 We're not guaranteed that God's going to save any one of them just because he's given us faith, but we can ask and we should ask, are you praying for the salvation of your loved ones? 00:32:28.654 --> 00:32:33.095 Are you praying that they will live for the world to come and not be so heavily invested in the world? 00:32:33.095 --> 00:32:39.275 That is now father, please save my son, save my daughter, save my family. 00:32:40.085 --> 00:32:41.285 There's a judgment coming. 00:32:42.335 --> 00:32:44.345 I want them to flee from the wrath to come. 00:32:44.555 --> 00:32:55.384 And I praise you father, that you've given an escape through your son, Jesus, and the sign that she trusts. 00:32:55.744 --> 00:33:10.505 And this means of escape is this Scarlet chord, this red emblem, that that is so like what God told his people to do during the Passover. 00:33:10.805 --> 00:33:14.404 He told them smear the blood of lambs on your doorpost. 00:33:14.494 --> 00:33:21.454 And with the death angel comes, he will pass over your households, stay inside. 00:33:21.460 --> 00:33:22.055 Don't go out. 00:33:22.174 --> 00:33:23.765 There's no safety out there. 00:33:23.795 --> 00:33:27.694 Stay inside, gather all your friends and loved ones in the household. 00:33:28.174 --> 00:33:30.365 Tell them that there's safety under the blood. 00:33:32.674 --> 00:33:35.444 And so also rehab is told. 00:33:36.875 --> 00:33:40.255 That her household will be spared from this coming judgment. 00:33:41.734 --> 00:33:50.224 If they do exactly what they're told and this points to the sign that we will be spared. 00:33:51.934 --> 00:33:56.585 Are you trusting in what Jesus has done for you? 00:33:57.575 --> 00:34:22.054 Are you trusting that when the world to come comes, when it arrives, that your only grounds for being there is the blood of Jesus made available to you through God's grace, what's keeping you invested in this world today. 00:34:24.034 --> 00:34:30.755 What's keeping you from stepping out boldly like Rayhab is it your past some guilt? 00:34:31.565 --> 00:34:39.875 are you, are you so enthralled with the things of this world you want to advancement? 00:34:41.375 --> 00:34:45.335 When you, you realize I'm, I'm really living more for my career. 00:34:45.514 --> 00:34:47.344 I spend more time thinking about my career. 00:34:47.554 --> 00:34:54.994 I spend more time thinking about the affairs of this world than I ever spend reading God's word or praying to God or with God's people in the church. 00:34:56.135 --> 00:34:57.574 Can you be honest with yourself today? 00:34:59.284 --> 00:35:10.445 To what extent is your obsession with politics in empire, building crowding out your ability to live for the world to come? 00:35:14.315 --> 00:35:21.364 To what extent are you allowing the present weakness of God's people now of God's church to keep you from a bang? 00:35:22.085 --> 00:35:23.224 The church really? 00:35:24.215 --> 00:35:27.425 I I'm gonna side with these people. 00:35:27.485 --> 00:35:29.525 This is God's chosen means. 00:35:29.929 --> 00:35:33.039 To redeem his people in a push back darkness in this fallen world. 00:35:34.010 --> 00:35:36.800 And Rayhab could have said these two spies, this is it. 00:35:38.480 --> 00:35:40.550 They're the ones that are gonna conquer this great city. 00:35:41.150 --> 00:35:42.989 Yes, yes. 00:35:43.849 --> 00:35:44.750 That's faith. 00:35:47.570 --> 00:35:50.659 So whatever that is today, whatever you need to repent of. 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:54.019 And we all have something we need to repent of something. 00:35:54.019 --> 00:36:00.829 That's keeping us from being more fully invested in the world to come so that we can see what our duty is in this world. 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:03.170 What is that for you? 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:23.090 I pray that the power of God's grace would overshadow all of those things so that what you would see most clearly is your need for his grace, so that you would see just how amazing it is to save a retch like you and like me all because of Jesus. 00:36:24.889 --> 00:36:33.454 May you see that clearly today, whatever else you may see in your life, Whatever else may be bringing you discouragement and frustration and anxiety and worry and fear. 00:36:33.635 --> 00:36:36.275 May you see Jesus above it all? 00:36:37.025 --> 00:36:40.445 And may you find salvation in him and in him alone. 00:36:41.315 --> 00:36:57.304 As we go to the Lord in prayer father, you are so gracious to make it so clear to us what we need to do. 00:37:00.965 --> 00:37:03.364 We tend to make things more complicated than they need to be. 00:37:04.594 --> 00:37:07.025 We have a craving for novelty. 00:37:07.775 --> 00:37:10.835 We have a craving for what is big and spectacular. 00:37:12.244 --> 00:37:15.474 We have a craving to see the fullness of your kingdom. 00:37:15.934 --> 00:37:17.315 Come right now. 00:37:18.244 --> 00:37:20.855 We have a tendency to want what we want when we want it. 00:37:21.635 --> 00:37:23.735 We have a tendency to fail to wait on you. 00:37:24.005 --> 00:37:26.885 So father, by your spirit lead us to repent. 00:37:28.295 --> 00:37:34.054 Of those temptations, Lord, we need you. 00:37:35.614 --> 00:37:37.655 It's not just that you're an option. 00:37:38.375 --> 00:37:40.085 Well, no, we need you Lord. 00:37:41.434 --> 00:38:00.454 And we praise you that you have done everything that is necessary to bring us back to yourself, by sending Christ, your son, our Lord, we thank you father, that you've done everything in his death and in his resurrection to justify us in your holy presence. 00:38:03.184 --> 00:38:06.755 And so father, I pray for anyone who has yet to turn to you. 00:38:06.755 --> 00:38:09.335 I pray that today would be the day of salvation. 00:38:10.355 --> 00:38:25.565 And for anyone who may be wandering for anyone who may be tempted to allow the things of this world to crowd out their obedience, I pray that today would be a day of repentance that you would bring them back. 00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:38.750 That you would enable them to see clearly what you are calling them to do and that by your spirit and by your grace and for the sake of your kingdom, we would all be more obedient to your son, Jesus Christ. 00:38:38.809 --> 00:38:40.969 And so we pray these things in his name. 00:38:41.869 --> 00:38:42.260 Aw, amen.