Rahab the Hooker
Sermon Notes
Your past may be a MESS, but God can turn it into a MESSAGE.
[Joshua 2:1] Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, "Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho." So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.
Your FAITH and actions TODAY can define your future.
[Joshua 2:8-15] Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. [9] "I know the LORD has given you this land," she told them. "We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. [10] For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. [11] No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.
Rahab chose to IDENTIFY with God's people rather than her own.
[Joshua 6:22-24] Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, "Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute's house and bring her out, along with all her family." [23] The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel. [24] Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the LORD's house.
God loves to RESTORE what was BROKEN.
[Matthew 1:5-6] Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. [6] Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).
Our PAST does not dictate our potential in God’s PLAN.
[James 2:25-26] Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. [26] Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
Faith is demonstrated by your WORKS not your WORDS.
[Hebrews 11:31-32] It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. [32] How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.
God can REDEEM and use you for His purposes.