The Sermon God Searching Out One by David McGee
Apr 06, 2014
God Searching Out One (36:04)
Referenced Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-12; Hebrews 11:30-31
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Joshua 2:1-12
1) Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies secretly, saying, Go, view the land, and Jericho. They went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and lay there.
2) It was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in here tonight of the children of Israel to search out the land.
3) The king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men who are come to you, who have entered into your house; for they have come to search out all the land.
4) The woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yes, the men came to me, but I didn‘t know whence they were:
5) and it happened about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out; where the men went I don‘t know: pursue after them quickly; for you will overtake them.
6) But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order on the roof.
7) The men pursued after them the way to the Jordan to the fords: and as soon as those who pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
8) Before they were laid down, she came up to them on the roof;
9) and she said to the men, I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the fear of you is fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.
10) For we have heard how Yahweh 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, to Sihon and to Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11) As soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you: for Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath.
12) Now therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father‘s house, and give me a true token;
Hebrews 11:30-31
30) By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
31) By faith, Rahab, the prostitute, didn‘t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
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Well this morning on were going to read from Joshua chapter two. And I think of this is a very young talk about Ray and the title of my message is God searching out one. I goes along with what we were studying last week with Luke chapter fifteen, but God surging out one were reading from Joshua chapter two verse, beginning at verse one and Joshua son of nun secretly sent out from the Shipton to man. S five go look over the land check out Jericho, they left it arrived at the house of the harlot named Rahab, and stayed there the king of Jericho was was told, we've just learned that men arrive tonight to spy out the land they are from the people of Israel, the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab bring out the man who came to you to stay the night in your house. Their spies. They come to spy out the whole country. The woman had taken the two men, and hid them. She said yes. The two men didn't come to me, but I didn't know where they come from a dark when the gate was about to be shot the men left, but I have no idea where they went to chase them. You can still catch the jet actually taken them up on the roof and hidden them under the stocks of flax that were spread out on her roof, so the men were sent set chase down the Jordan Road toward the Fords as soon as they were gone. The gate was shut before the spies were down for the night. The woman came up to them on the roof and said I know that God has given you the land were all afraid everyone in the country feels hopeless. We heard how God dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you I went before you when you left Egypt and what he did to the Amorite kings east of Jordan shy on and on whom you put under the April high holy cars and destroy. We heard it in our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us and all because of you. God, your God, the God of the heavens above and the God of the earth below, now promise made by God, I showed you mercy now show my family mercy and give me some tangible proof. I guarantee of life for my father and mother, my brothers and sisters. Everyone connected with my family save our souls from death our lives for yours said the men but don't tell anyone in our business when God turns this land over to us will do right by you in loyal mercy. She lowered them down out of window with the rope because her house was on the city wall to the outside. She told them run for the hills. So your pursuers won't find you hide out for three days and give your pursuers time to return then get on your way. Then, using the man told her in order to keep this oath, you made us swear here is what you must do. Hang this red rope out of the window through which you let us down and gather your entire family with you in your house, father, mother, brothers and sisters. Anyone who goes out the doors of your house into the street and is killed. It's his own fault. We aren't responsible buffer, everyone within the house. We take full responsibility if anyone lays a hand on one of them. It's our fault, but if you tell anyone of our business here. The old you may swear is canceled were no longer responsible. She said if that's what you say that's the way it is and sent them off. They left and she hung the red rope out the window right half. She's quite a lady and want to find out a little more about her. As we go through this, but yet I wonder why Jack is why Joshua would send spies back to Jericho coming your forty years prior. Joshua and Caleb are part of the twelve spies sent by Moses into the promised land. They came back with this yelled with the report and tell them, said we can't do it, which I think is land and all blogs anything are giants. They got all these problems and all the stuff and and we can go in there. So God said okay, take a trip, so they took a trip for forty years. Come back to the same place. Joshua now Moses is dead. Joshua was in charge. He sends to spies and lands Joshua. It wasn't. It didn't work the last time, what makes you think of the work this time now, but he does because there's something greater and this is his part in another part that I look at with this five families and things that I want you to invite what you pray about and write down their names is that God has a plan and sometimes we have to work the plan. And sometimes we don't know what the plan is that we have to do the work to set it up now, why would you send spies into a city to slide out when you're not going to go up against the city. Anyhow ill. It is like find out where the weak spot of the wall is, and that's forward going to attack and find out what how we can sneak in through the drain Susan, you know up through the author, the sewer system get inside the wall and go in and unlock the gates and we can everybody all the people in charge and at night, and we can take the city no, just go in there and spy out well. He said the spies and the city and he said the spies, and they were to report back to him, not to the congregation, while in the city. The two spies by the providence of God found in in on the wall and the lady who ran the end was Rahab the harlot, now what are the chances that these two spies are modifying the only person in town, and the whole city that once to believe or does believe in the God of the people of Israel. Anyone are the chances water. The chances that these two guys who are going to say and you know what, if they had checked her out and her credentials that would have gone there like this is a harlot, which is known as a prostitute in her community and she runs the NBA is where all the travelers who are caravans were coming into the city of Jericho, they come in and yelled, they have to look for a place to stand. They stay in her house for her in so here we are the greatness of sin that she is experiencing in her life is no barrier to the pardoning mercies of God, our sin is never a barrier to the mercy of God, just like the disciples, just like Jesus washing their feet are while we done wrong, what we will do wrong doesn't interrupt God touching our life now because this is such an overwhelming perspective, I make you talk about having hope we have hope in any hopeless situation, because God is there God is with us, and there are many before the conversions. They were, they were pretty wicked people. But God knows the heart. He knows what's going on. He looks beyond the wickedness which looks beyond the things that are that we would look at it and say in our dislike in Luke chapter fifteen, with we looked at last week. The Pharisees. Jesus, what you dealing with all the centers and Jesus tells them the three stories last week so there was one person in all of Jericho. One person in all of Jericho that believed in the God of Israel. Her name is Ray have divine provision divine provision brought the spies to her in he told how the fear of Israel, the God of Israel has come over the city and Ray had heard of this God by way of the travelers, and by those who believe that the God of Israel was able to take this city and everything because the people of Israel had done such such miraculous things I have done such extraordinary things I had in their deliverance from Egypt and their survival in the desert and they are coming now to take over Jericho and the people were afraid and Rahab. She was pretty clever and wise, and no, she was that she was pretty intelligent woman because she saw the judgment coming upon the being city of Jericho and she can look for plan of escape from this whole situation, and when the plan presented itself she was writing. It's like the missionaries you there was a missionary years ago that went to Chinese study Chinese language and they they went there to study Chinese language because God spoke to their heart and told them China's going to open up for missions. I want you to be ready. The first ones ready to go in and these people went like two years three years ahead of time to learn the Chinese language and sure enough there was that the Daubert is right down. They were the first ones in that they were ready. There's in our hearts. There is this thing that God does. It's like you know what there's nothing around me. Nothing here that says this is hospital work, but in my heart. I think I believe that something is coming. I believe that it's going to work now. I know if you noticed, and to me today. I filled up all the trays film on everyone know why I do that I believe some day the Robin B and even saying that I believe that some communion Sunday, all of these are to be empty. Why, because there is a purpose for us being here in the purpose of our serving God is greater than just need doing what I'm doing now and it wouldn't matter if we had a thousand living, still believing that God two thousand or five fifteen hundred and where effectively gluing over seventy five with seventy five ago, brown, black, because there is a progression of what God wants to do. Not only growing us, but in growing us. He helps us touch the lives of others. And so what we're doing is we're preparing for something where preparing for something that we can't see without faith. The Bible talks about hope we have the blessed hope of Jesus coming back the hope of Christ's return is Jesus is coming back. It's a definite timeout in the future in which he is coming back. We just haven't got there yet, so, God allows us to understand see things in and out like we know something 's going to happen now. I don't I don't go for the I know something bad is going to happen, and sure enough it will know to be a break now and if you look long enough, the outside e-mails that if you look long enough, you find what you looking for, if you look long enough, you can find what you're looking for. Why, because we have faith to believe we have faith to believe for certain thing our faith. This happens the believe that we got one foot in the grave, and one on a banana peel zero later roof. All in just watched your rights, your rights as going to get worse but I believe it's going to matter what happens in against life, it doesn't matter him ever gets worse in the final something that is going to happen. I believe ACR believe it is our motivation are desired they were preparing for the opportunity, and when it arises, we die. Red Hat has been preparing knowing that these people live in wandering the wilderness when they show up here. I'm out of this place a lot hang on, I'm getting out of here and what happens is Joshua, since- city what man is, right mindfulness, and to despise into the city when he thought even got it all into the city, but there is to spy the need to go into the city because they need to find this in in which there is a lady called Rahab was a harlot less. Here's one for you. Let's go seek out the prostitutes house and stay there tonight. Now, though Lenny base. Even in that house, and what's going to go on you know the resident to see this is what happened with the two spies. They went to this lady and you know what we find that these two spies went in there. She risked her life to preserve them. She hid them under the flax on the roof and so here they are. They are there and she knows the Kingdome. These guys are there. Did you ever see somebody walking down the streets of whimpering, you know, they just don't feel what they are not from here. If they're not from here, whether from either of many firms are Saturday from New York City, whether from here. If you go to some city someplace outside of this area. Now, Donna and no, Georgia, and you start talking to be put on their watch that happen yet from your you not guilty people don't take care about to while you now have an& found that in not from here. I got that the wizard of them. You know, and I just so we can obligor for the children managed to write this adjacent to walk everything everybody else is doing from here that there prior that band across the river, so I been to Jericho on the Jericho then good in the towel. Place really think perhaps the walls of Jericho stood and Jericho is some six thousand years old when the children of Israel show up, so this is an ancient city. While you know if the same place. This is a desert area and there's water in Jericho, there's water in Jericho for some eight thousand years there been there than water coming out of the cistern that the Jericho, and where there is water there is a city and winners this day there is Gates and his walls and so Jericho is a walled city that has been there for now some eight thousand years, the same well as producing water that was running water. When Joshua shows up with the armies of Israel wrecked Rahab, Randy and the hotel sort that she was a well-informed woman because she knew everything she knew everything is going on in the city that you everything was going on outside of the city and all the caravans. The caravans would come through and there the men would come to the earth to stagger hotel then from all over the East brought news of these and it's called swarms of people. Now there's a million to five million people. The Jewish people that are wandering the wilderness. They that the people of it is of Jericho in that region it's hard enough for a band of twenty fifty, a hundred Macs to find and sustain life out in the desert. We have in the children of Israel, a million to five million people walking the desert. Everybody knows where the rat all the caravans nowhere thereat they know where these people on what's going on and they had heard of the miraculous stories about the exploits of the children of Israel, how the God brought them out of Egypt brought in through the Red Sea and you know what I was. This is a Dave McGee interpretation, the caravans in the treasure hunters wouldn't know where the armies of Egypt were swarmed under wash thunder in the window till they came to an dryland and in the waters came in and killed all the Egyptians. How would you know what happens when the ship goes down when we looking for with that plane that went down in the in the ocean were looking for the things that surface while how many years later to things wash up wash at the our own colloquialism. I washed up. So how do they come from, not in all that had been under the waters for a while war step wash up on the shores that women taking these things up, they would repent, be retelling the stories, what it happen and how the children of Israel had gone through the Red Sea and how the God provided for them, and these travels of travelers were to elect this information in an translated talk about it in the cities and people would have been coming into Rahab 's place to stay first, I was meant, so the people of Jericho. Now I'm very much aware of the impossibilities of how this large group of people have survived in this promised land. While how that they had gone to battle and one against these two Kings, so the rumors have it that the people. The Rahab was following their journey she was well aware of what it taken place our faith came by hearing what God had done in the lives in the nation of Israel. Joshua the son of nun is now the leader of Israel, we find where Joshua had come to the city before came back without we can do attitude and he was postponed for forty years and now is back to take the city. The land was promised to them, and Joshua sent these two spies to find the secrets of the cities. And while the two spies filed their way to Rahab 's in while if you're going to spy out a city and you get out. Want to be caught. God has to provide for you, especially when you stick out like a sore thumb and your your address and your manner is different than any traveler that comes through that comes through the gates they knew immediately these two were spies from that bunch across the river, you got a million people so at Jericho. It can stand there up kind of separate almost against the hillside, the one the back wall within against the amounts and and you can look across the sea clear across the valley, which is probably thirty miles or whatever twenty miles across and in the middle of this Valley is the Jordan River the Jordan River is not as big is pink, great, here night, but in-flight time, what time it's very flat and so the crake is, if you will never, we were up at the Sea of Galilee we run the bus the bus stopped in front of the bus in the back in the bus spanned the Jordan River of how big it is better than was not very deep. Either made about three or four feet deep in the flood season, the Jordan River is the water that comes from Dan Jourdan River, the water to come from Dan which is the northern tribes, which is the mountain peaks in the mountain peaks when the snows melt all that water comes down and is no place for the girls, so it overflows and flood the entire region, so the elegantly maybe a mile across is all flooded and swamped and that's kind of how they fertilize the Valley, the silt than the water from the north and down goes across there. Naturally, that's for their water is so here they are. There's a million people across the water across the Valley a million people. So you're standing on the walls of your city, looking out across this water and on the other side of the water. There's a million people at least a million people and all you got to defend yourself if these walls while Rahab decided, you know what I'm side with them and their God. When McCain want to despise. She though she had been, and then she told the two spies. This I know that the Lord has given this land to you now who's been preaching to her husband Dellinger, Brad, you know what you need to quit just saying you need to give your life to God, and you need to get out of the city and don't join up with the Israelites. Nobody's been preaching to her. She knew in her heart she needed to go with the God of the Israelites. She says. I know that the Lord has given this land, Hugh and that a great fear of you has fallen upon us. The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below your God is the God is greater than all the ones we serve. Please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to me and my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters and all that belonged to them and that you will save us from death. She was ready those spies were in the Cayman evening and that and the NA and. They were going out for yourself before morning. She had a plan in her heart that if something happens, I'm out of here and she was ready for it. And when they showed up. She had a plan, and she presented she kept she knew something was going on wrath, a remarkable statement of faith, all because she hurt about things got and that's where you and I know these five families and individuals, families, groups, there are people who are waiting on the walls living in whatever condition they are in their life waiting for you for an invitation. Now we don't know what's going on in their mind, because God does God has presented input into the hearts of people. They've got a change from whatever for whatever reason, for whatever thing was I never do not want to talk about how bad people are talking about God being able to look at the disciples and wash their feet, knowing the Robin walk away. But Jesus knew what they needed before they knew it. That's what I think God would put our heart. There are people. He has been working on their hearts working on their lives and they know they need to change in Gaza to give you their name. They know what they may not come this this Easter may come next Easter than ever come this week or next week may come the week after we allow the invitation is there an and Rahab, what she did as she lowered about the back on a scarlet cord and they were instructed into. She was instructed to tie the cord to the window and that when the children of Israel came that they would all be safe. You know when the children of Israel left Egypt. They passed to the Red Sea, and now when passing over Jordan and the flood season. They walk through on dry ground. Now this wasn't a big body of water that was no twenty feet deep or something. This was the Jordan River that was mod and mucking in whatever perhaps a mile across and maybe through two feet deep. Maybe it was just flooded and women. When Joshua and the children of Israel were going to go across to take Jericho the arc. The presence of God went before them, that they stepped in the water and the water stopped, and the people of million people walk through on dry ground. They got to the other side now Rahab doesn't know the plan so he imagine she's got her record out the window stutter family in the house. Everybody's is both the same and the Ottoman house and she's ready the people dual march around the city and nothing happens, ran, you're not side with those people. You're not day to walk around the city, date three. Nothing happens four five six seven seven. I walk around several times he imagine how her family is telling her you know what you decided with the wrong people were here and those who didn't stick with Ray have laughed and they would've died for their decision, but those who stayed with her in her decision found safety when disaster struck. Now solve when the problem came when the walls came tumbling down right having those she loved were spared her faith saved her and not only harbor. They saved her family and her entire household. Jericho 's and reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah were God saved lots of his wife and family. He saves Rahab and her family and you know what's really fantastic about this whole story in Hebrews Chapter 11, verse thirty, thirty one, it says by faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days and the walls fell flat by an act of faith, Rahab the Jericho harlot welcome despised in the stick and the cane on those who refuse to trust God. Not only that I have is in the family lineage of King David, who is the lineage of Jesus Christ, you see an act of faith. God. God has a way of looming in people 's lives to change them. We see God 's grace has no boundaries. The red court that hung out of Rahab 's house reminds us that we are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as wool that was Isaiah so may have story is a lot like Luke chapter fifteen last week when the Pharisees are coming against Jesus and saying you know what you what you don't spend it all this time with sinners. What does Jesus tell them, tell them about the lost sheep ninety nine are saying, but there's one that goes out to get you goes and gets the one ten coins. One is lost, scours the whole house looking for has a great celebration when she finds that the lost son. The prodigal son, who runs off and gets wasted all of his living, everything gets wasted. He comes back home. The father is looking for him. This is the story of God looking for the one in the entire city and God is looking for the one that in her heart is different than everyone else and what were doing in our lives. We recognize that God has blessed us he has given us many blessings in our lives, but you know what there's still people that are the ones that are waiting in the heart to find that place where God is speaking to them, and this is our opportunity to be the one who goes find them. You see, God chose a stutter to speak for him. His name is Moses, he found an infertile woman to be the mother to be the mother of the nation. Her name was Sarah. He found problem possibly the most we just less least influential person to save Israel and defend him. It was getting took a forgetful, a forgettable youngster. The sign that was left and forgotten about made him king that was David took an unknown young woman made her the mother of his son that was Mary and he took a persecutor that was ravaging the church turned him into a great evangelist to take the Gospel to the nations and that was Paul. He sent two spies into a city to find a harlot, his heart was ready to receive him. God uses ordinary people to reach ordinary people who need God. That sucks event that stands selling size you think about Easter Sunday, five families, but I thought was everybody in our kids. Every young people whatever right out five people and then get together and mom, dad others in such a fire did you have for five years ago and combine them together and make it five seven. Cannot all my reviews then you make a five and just invite them, don't have to twist there are in ion. Say you back on the argument of the church Ralph L Wald- Donegal and I know what Sanya I got how might be my fault, you know, I think it. While some people need saved anyway you look at it, but God will direct us in think and I think of this. Sorry with Rahab hobbit, you know, it's just impossible in the whole city. How, how probable is it that these two spies don't know what they're doing. Don't know where they're going. Walk into a city I stick out like a sore thumb. Gall to the holy place in town. The always the only place in town that would save them and keep them safe from the soldiers would want to kill them, and God takes a break to this harlot 's house this innkeeper and there they find security and rescue her and her family. Her lineage is in the lineage of Christ. What are the chances. God has that same thing for us, father, thank you for your blessing. Thank you for how you watch over us and God. You have come into our life, and you made us a very special person. The person we were intended to be, you change us from the inside out, God, you are so good to us, you look beyond our fall to see the needs you touch our lives with your grace and your mercy you restore us, you bless us God. We are just thankful to you for all the great things you've done for us. What you will do in our lives, we thank you. In Jesus name we pray. Everybody said amen. God bless youWell this morning on were going to read from Joshua chapter two. And I think of this is a very young talk about Ray and the title of my message is God searching out one. I goes along with what we were studying last week with Luke chapter fifteen, but God surging out one were reading from Joshua chapter two verse, beginning at verse one and Joshua son of nun secretly sent out from the Shipton to man. S five go look over the land check out Jericho, they left it arrived at the house of the harlot named Rahab, and stayed there the king of Jericho was was told, we've just learned that men arrive tonight to spy out the land they are from the people of Israel, the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab bring out the man who came to you to stay the night in your house. Their spies. They come to spy out the whole country. The woman had taken the two men, and hid them. She said yes. The two men didn't come to me, but I didn't know where they come from a dark when the gate was about to be shot the men left, but I have no idea where they went to chase them. You can still catch the jet actually taken them up on the roof and hidden them under the stocks of flax that were spread out on her roof, so the men were sent set chase down the Jordan Road toward the Fords as soon as they were gone. The gate was shut before the spies were down for the night. The woman came up to them on the roof and said I know that God has given you the land were all afraid everyone in the country feels hopeless. We heard how God dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you I went before you when you left Egypt and what he did to the Amorite kings east of Jordan shy on and on whom you put under the April high holy cars and destroy. We heard it in our hearts sank. We all had the wind knocked out of us and all because of you. God, your God, the God of the heavens above and the God of the earth below, now promise made by God, I showed you mercy now show my family mercy and give me some tangible proof. I guarantee of life for my father and mother, my brothers and sisters. Everyone connected with my family save our souls from death our lives for yours said the men but don't tell anyone in our business when God turns this land over to us will do right by you in loyal mercy. She lowered them down out of window with the rope because her house was on the city wall to the outside. She told them run for the hills. So your pursuers won't find you hide out for three days and give your pursuers time to return then get on your way. Then, using the man told her in order to keep this oath, you made us swear here is what you must do. Hang this red rope out of the window through which you let us down and gather your entire family with you in your house, father, mother, brothers and sisters. Anyone who goes out the doors of your house into the street and is killed. It's his own fault. We aren't responsible buffer, everyone within the house. We take full responsibility if anyone lays a hand on one of them. It's our fault, but if you tell anyone of our business here. The old you may swear is canceled were no longer responsible. She said if that's what you say that's the way it is and sent them off. They left and she hung the red rope out the window right half. She's quite a lady and want to find out a little more about her. As we go through this, but yet I wonder why Jack is why Joshua would send spies back to Jericho coming your forty years prior. Joshua and Caleb are part of the twelve spies sent by Moses into the promised land. They came back with this yelled with the report and tell them, said we can't do it, which I think is land and all blogs anything are giants. They got all these problems and all the stuff and and we can go in there. So God said okay, take a trip, so they took a trip for forty years. Come back to the same place. Joshua now Moses is dead. Joshua was in charge. He sends to spies and lands Joshua. It wasn't. It didn't work the last time, what makes you think of the work this time now, but he does because there's something greater and this is his part in another part that I look at with this five families and things that I want you to invite what you pray about and write down their names is that God has a plan and sometimes we have to work the plan. And sometimes we don't know what the plan is that we have to do the work to set it up now, why would you send spies into a city to slide out when you're not going to go up against the city. Anyhow ill. It is like find out where the weak spot of the wall is, and that's forward going to attack and find out what how we can sneak in through the drain Susan, you know up through the author, the sewer system get inside the wall and go in and unlock the gates and we can everybody all the people in charge and at night, and we can take the city no, just go in there and spy out well. He said the spies and the city and he said the spies, and they were to report back to him, not to the congregation, while in the city. The two spies by the providence of God found in in on the wall and the lady who ran the end was Rahab the harlot, now what are the chances that these two spies are modifying the only person in town, and the whole city that once to believe or does believe in the God of the people of Israel. Anyone are the chances water. The chances that these two guys who are going to say and you know what, if they had checked her out and her credentials that would have gone there like this is a harlot, which is known as a prostitute in her community and she runs the NBA is where all the travelers who are caravans were coming into the city of Jericho, they come in and yelled, they have to look for a place to stand. They stay in her house for her in so here we are the greatness of sin that she is experiencing in her life is no barrier to the pardoning mercies of God, our sin is never a barrier to the mercy of God, just like the disciples, just like Jesus washing their feet are while we done wrong, what we will do wrong doesn't interrupt God touching our life now because this is such an overwhelming perspective, I make you talk about having hope we have hope in any hopeless situation, because God is there God is with us, and there are many before the conversions. They were, they were pretty wicked people. But God knows the heart. He knows what's going on. He looks beyond the wickedness which looks beyond the things that are that we would look at it and say in our dislike in Luke chapter fifteen, with we looked at last week. The Pharisees. Jesus, what you dealing with all the centers and Jesus tells them the three stories last week so there was one person in all of Jericho. One person in all of Jericho that believed in the God of Israel. Her name is Ray have divine provision divine provision brought the spies to her in he told how the fear of Israel, the God of Israel has come over the city and Ray had heard of this God by way of the travelers, and by those who believe that the God of Israel was able to take this city and everything because the people of Israel had done such such miraculous things I have done such extraordinary things I had in their deliverance from Egypt and their survival in the desert and they are coming now to take over Jericho and the people were afraid and Rahab. She was pretty clever and wise, and no, she was that she was pretty intelligent woman because she saw the judgment coming upon the being city of Jericho and she can look for plan of escape from this whole situation, and when the plan presented itself she was writing. It's like the missionaries you there was a missionary years ago that went to Chinese study Chinese language and they they went there to study Chinese language because God spoke to their heart and told them China's going to open up for missions. I want you to be ready. The first ones ready to go in and these people went like two years three years ahead of time to learn the Chinese language and sure enough there was that the Daubert is right down. They were the first ones in that they were ready. There's in our hearts. There is this thing that God does. It's like you know what there's nothing around me. Nothing here that says this is hospital work, but in my heart. I think I believe that something is coming. I believe that it's going to work now. I know if you noticed, and to me today. I filled up all the trays film on everyone know why I do that I believe some day the Robin B and even saying that I believe that some communion Sunday, all of these are to be empty. Why, because there is a purpose for us being here in the purpose of our serving God is greater than just need doing what I'm doing now and it wouldn't matter if we had a thousand living, still believing that God two thousand or five fifteen hundred and where effectively gluing over seventy five with seventy five ago, brown, black, because there is a progression of what God wants to do. Not only growing us, but in growing us. He helps us touch the lives of others. And so what we're doing is we're preparing for something where preparing for something that we can't see without faith. The Bible talks about hope we have the blessed hope of Jesus coming back the hope of Christ's return is Jesus is coming back. It's a definite timeout in the future in which he is coming back. We just haven't got there yet, so, God allows us to understand see things in and out like we know something 's going to happen now. I don't I don't go for the I know something bad is going to happen, and sure enough it will know to be a break now and if you look long enough, the outside e-mails that if you look long enough, you find what you looking for, if you look long enough, you can find what you're looking for. Why, because we have faith to believe we have faith to believe for certain thing our faith. This happens the believe that we got one foot in the grave, and one on a banana peel zero later roof. All in just watched your rights, your rights as going to get worse but I believe it's going to matter what happens in against life, it doesn't matter him ever gets worse in the final something that is going to happen. I believe ACR believe it is our motivation are desired they were preparing for the opportunity, and when it arises, we die. Red Hat has been preparing knowing that these people live in wandering the wilderness when they show up here. I'm out of this place a lot hang on, I'm getting out of here and what happens is Joshua, since- city what man is, right mindfulness, and to despise into the city when he thought even got it all into the city, but there is to spy the need to go into the city because they need to find this in in which there is a lady called Rahab was a harlot less. Here's one for you. Let's go seek out the prostitutes house and stay there tonight. Now, though Lenny base. Even in that house, and what's going to go on you know the resident to see this is what happened with the two spies. They went to this lady and you know what we find that these two spies went in there. She risked her life to preserve them. She hid them under the flax on the roof and so here they are. They are there and she knows the Kingdome. These guys are there. Did you ever see somebody walking down the streets of whimpering, you know, they just don't feel what they are not from here. If they're not from here, whether from either of many firms are Saturday from New York City, whether from here. If you go to some city someplace outside of this area. Now, Donna and no, Georgia, and you start talking to be put on their watch that happen yet from your you not guilty people don't take care about to while you now have an& found that in not from here. I got that the wizard of them. You know, and I just so we can obligor for the children managed to write this adjacent to walk everything everybody else is doing from here that there prior that band across the river, so I been to Jericho on the Jericho then good in the towel. Place really think perhaps the walls of Jericho stood and Jericho is some six thousand years old when the children of Israel show up, so this is an ancient city. While you know if the same place. This is a desert area and there's water in Jericho, there's water in Jericho for some eight thousand years there been there than water coming out of the cistern that the Jericho, and where there is water there is a city and winners this day there is Gates and his walls and so Jericho is a walled city that has been there for now some eight thousand years, the same well as producing water that was running water. When Joshua shows up with the armies of Israel wrecked Rahab, Randy and the hotel sort that she was a well-informed woman because she knew everything she knew everything is going on in the city that you everything was going on outside of the city and all the caravans. The caravans would come through and there the men would come to the earth to stagger hotel then from all over the East brought news of these and it's called swarms of people. Now there's a million to five million people. The Jewish people that are wandering the wilderness. They that the people of it is of Jericho in that region it's hard enough for a band of twenty fifty, a hundred Macs to find and sustain life out in the desert. We have in the children of Israel, a million to five million people walking the desert. Everybody knows where the rat all the caravans nowhere thereat they know where these people on what's going on and they had heard of the miraculous stories about the exploits of the children of Israel, how the God brought them out of Egypt brought in through the Red Sea and you know what I was. This is a Dave McGee interpretation, the caravans in the treasure hunters wouldn't know where the armies of Egypt were swarmed under wash thunder in the window till they came to an dryland and in the waters came in and killed all the Egyptians. How would you know what happens when the ship goes down when we looking for with that plane that went down in the in the ocean were looking for the things that surface while how many years later to things wash up wash at the our own colloquialism. I washed up. So how do they come from, not in all that had been under the waters for a while war step wash up on the shores that women taking these things up, they would repent, be retelling the stories, what it happen and how the children of Israel had gone through the Red Sea and how the God provided for them, and these travels of travelers were to elect this information in an translated talk about it in the cities and people would have been coming into Rahab 's place to stay first, I was meant, so the people of Jericho. Now I'm very much aware of the impossibilities of how this large group of people have survived in this promised land. While how that they had gone to battle and one against these two Kings, so the rumors have it that the people. The Rahab was following their journey she was well aware of what it taken place our faith came by hearing what God had done in the lives in the nation of Israel. Joshua the son of nun is now the leader of Israel, we find where Joshua had come to the city before came back without we can do attitude and he was postponed for forty years and now is back to take the city. The land was promised to them, and Joshua sent these two spies to find the secrets of the cities. And while the two spies filed their way to Rahab 's in while if you're going to spy out a city and you get out. Want to be caught. God has to provide for you, especially when you stick out like a sore thumb and your your address and your manner is different than any traveler that comes through that comes through the gates they knew immediately these two were spies from that bunch across the river, you got a million people so at Jericho. It can stand there up kind of separate almost against the hillside, the one the back wall within against the amounts and and you can look across the sea clear across the valley, which is probably thirty miles or whatever twenty miles across and in the middle of this Valley is the Jordan River the Jordan River is not as big is pink, great, here night, but in-flight time, what time it's very flat and so the crake is, if you will never, we were up at the Sea of Galilee we run the bus the bus stopped in front of the bus in the back in the bus spanned the Jordan River of how big it is better than was not very deep. Either made about three or four feet deep in the flood season, the Jordan River is the water that comes from Dan Jourdan River, the water to come from Dan which is the northern tribes, which is the mountain peaks in the mountain peaks when the snows melt all that water comes down and is no place for the girls, so it overflows and flood the entire region, so the elegantly maybe a mile across is all flooded and swamped and that's kind of how they fertilize the Valley, the silt than the water from the north and down goes across there. Naturally, that's for their water is so here they are. There's a million people across the water across the Valley a million people. So you're standing on the walls of your city, looking out across this water and on the other side of the water. There's a million people at least a million people and all you got to defend yourself if these walls while Rahab decided, you know what I'm side with them and their God. When McCain want to despise. She though she had been, and then she told the two spies. This I know that the Lord has given this land to you now who's been preaching to her husband Dellinger, Brad, you know what you need to quit just saying you need to give your life to God, and you need to get out of the city and don't join up with the Israelites. Nobody's been preaching to her. She knew in her heart she needed to go with the God of the Israelites. She says. I know that the Lord has given this land, Hugh and that a great fear of you has fallen upon us. The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below your God is the God is greater than all the ones we serve. Please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to me and my family because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters and all that belonged to them and that you will save us from death. She was ready those spies were in the Cayman evening and that and the NA and. They were going out for yourself before morning. She had a plan in her heart that if something happens, I'm out of here and she was ready for it. And when they showed up. She had a plan, and she presented she kept she knew something was going on wrath, a remarkable statement of faith, all because she hurt about things got and that's where you and I know these five families and individuals, families, groups, there are people who are waiting on the walls living in whatever condition they are in their life waiting for you for an invitation. Now we don't know what's going on in their mind, because God does God has presented input into the hearts of people. They've got a change from whatever for whatever reason, for whatever thing was I never do not want to talk about how bad people are talking about God being able to look at the disciples and wash their feet, knowing the Robin walk away. But Jesus knew what they needed before they knew it. That's what I think God would put our heart. There are people. He has been working on their hearts working on their lives and they know they need to change in Gaza to give you their name. They know what they may not come this this Easter may come next Easter than ever come this week or next week may come the week after we allow the invitation is there an and Rahab, what she did as she lowered about the back on a scarlet cord and they were instructed into. She was instructed to tie the cord to the window and that when the children of Israel came that they would all be safe. You know when the children of Israel left Egypt. They passed to the Red Sea, and now when passing over Jordan and the flood season. They walk through on dry ground. Now this wasn't a big body of water that was no twenty feet deep or something. This was the Jordan River that was mod and mucking in whatever perhaps a mile across and maybe through two feet deep. Maybe it was just flooded and women. When Joshua and the children of Israel were going to go across to take Jericho the arc. The presence of God went before them, that they stepped in the water and the water stopped, and the people of million people walk through on dry ground. They got to the other side now Rahab doesn't know the plan so he imagine she's got her record out the window stutter family in the house. Everybody's is both the same and the Ottoman house and she's ready the people dual march around the city and nothing happens, ran, you're not side with those people. You're not day to walk around the city, date three. Nothing happens four five six seven seven. I walk around several times he imagine how her family is telling her you know what you decided with the wrong people were here and those who didn't stick with Ray have laughed and they would've died for their decision, but those who stayed with her in her decision found safety when disaster struck. Now solve when the problem came when the walls came tumbling down right having those she loved were spared her faith saved her and not only harbor. They saved her family and her entire household. Jericho 's and reminds us of Sodom and Gomorrah were God saved lots of his wife and family. He saves Rahab and her family and you know what's really fantastic about this whole story in Hebrews Chapter 11, verse thirty, thirty one, it says by faith, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days and the walls fell flat by an act of faith, Rahab the Jericho harlot welcome despised in the stick and the cane on those who refuse to trust God. Not only that I have is in the family lineage of King David, who is the lineage of Jesus Christ, you see an act of faith. God. God has a way of looming in people 's lives to change them. We see God 's grace has no boundaries. The red court that hung out of Rahab 's house reminds us that we are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as wool that was Isaiah so may have story is a lot like Luke chapter fifteen last week when the Pharisees are coming against Jesus and saying you know what you what you don't spend it all this time with sinners. What does Jesus tell them, tell them about the lost sheep ninety nine are saying, but there's one that goes out to get you goes and gets the one ten coins. One is lost, scours the whole house looking for has a great celebration when she finds that the lost son. The prodigal son, who runs off and gets wasted all of his living, everything gets wasted. He comes back home. The father is looking for him. This is the story of God looking for the one in the entire city and God is looking for the one that in her heart is different than everyone else and what were doing in our lives. We recognize that God has blessed us he has given us many blessings in our lives, but you know what there's still people that are the ones that are waiting in the heart to find that place where God is speaking to them, and this is our opportunity to be the one who goes find them. You see, God chose a stutter to speak for him. His name is Moses, he found an infertile woman to be the mother to be the mother of the nation. Her name was Sarah. He found problem possibly the most we just less least influential person to save Israel and defend him. It was getting took a forgetful, a forgettable youngster. The sign that was left and forgotten about made him king that was David took an unknown young woman made her the mother of his son that was Mary and he took a persecutor that was ravaging the church turned him into a great evangelist to take the Gospel to the nations and that was Paul. He sent two spies into a city to find a harlot, his heart was ready to receive him. God uses ordinary people to reach ordinary people who need God. That sucks event that stands selling size you think about Easter Sunday, five families, but I thought was everybody in our kids. Every young people whatever right out five people and then get together and mom, dad others in such a fire did you have for five years ago and combine them together and make it five seven. Cannot all my reviews then you make a five and just invite them, don't have to twist there are in ion. Say you back on the argument of the church Ralph L Wald- Donegal and I know what Sanya I got how might be my fault, you know, I think it. While some people need saved anyway you look at it, but God will direct us in think and I think of this. Sorry with Rahab hobbit, you know, it's just impossible in the whole city. How, how probable is it that these two spies don't know what they're doing. Don't know where they're going. Walk into a city I stick out like a sore thumb. Gall to the holy place in town. The always the only place in town that would save them and keep them safe from the soldiers would want to kill them, and God takes a break to this harlot 's house this innkeeper and there they find security and rescue her and her family. Her lineage is in the lineage of Christ. What are the chances. God has that same thing for us, father, thank you for your blessing. Thank you for how you watch over us and God. You have come into our life, and you made us a very special person. The person we were intended to be, you change us from the inside out, God, you are so good to us, you look beyond our fall to see the needs you touch our lives with your grace and your mercy you restore us, you bless us God. We are just thankful to you for all the great things you've done for us. What you will do in our lives, we thank you. In Jesus name we pray. Everybody said amen. God bless you