Exiled

[1Pe 1:1-25 ESV] 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5  guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Peter is one of the most influential people in the Gospel story. In this letter, Peter is reviewing the trials that he has gone through and is communicating to the churches that they too shall endure trial until the end. Over the next few months, we will be studying these letters he wrote and reflect on how our lives intersect with the context of these letters.

How would you act differently if you lived like you are living in a foreign land? Peter is writing to the ones who have been exiled from Israel and are experiencing trials and troubles because of their exile from the main body of the church. They are living away from their home that they have always known.

Throughout history, God's people are known to be nomadic and aliens in the world. The reason for this is the affect of sin and the affects of the fall of Adam and Eve. Remember, Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden for agreeing with the serpent and eating the forbidden fruit. From that moment on, we are disconnected from our true home and will not know peace. Even though Christ has redeemed us, we are still not home.

Israel failed to enter the promised land and they were deemed to wander. Once they entered the land, they fell away and were scattered. Through all this failure, God works through and among his people. In the New Testiment, there is a new oppressing nation, Rome, that is occupying Israel and God's people are oppressed.

God hears our cries for freedom and yet, we will never be at home here in this life. We operate as exiled ambassadors waiting for our savior to arrive and claim the whole world for his own. We operate within the kingdoms of the world while operating by the Kingdom of Heaven.

These letters are generally written 25 years after Stephen was put to death by the zealots which included Saul. This subject is hard for those in the US to comprehend due to the comfort that we have experienced throughout our lives. Even though the US is known as a "Christian" nation, it never really, truly was. Many Americans are only nominally Christian and live more secular lives than Holy lives.

We are the
* Elect
* Chosen
* Exiles
* Born again

Questions -

* Is God in charge of your salvation?

* Do you have a choice in your salvation?

God has positioned The Bridge in a way that we yearn to see the Body united. We long to see the Bride of Christ united, thus we are "The Bridge." We come from various beliefs and interpretations of whether or not we believe in choice or predetermination. Amazingly, we can honor both lines of thought because, no matter the belief, in Christ alone through his holy spirit, we are saved. As one body, through the light of God's revelation, we should focus on walking with God all of our days.

It is good to examine our faith -

"Timeless salvation"

Savlation is described as
* Past
* Present
* Future

ALL AT ONCE

Romans 8:29

[Rom 8:29 ESV] 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

In seeing the elect before time began, he planned that they would be transformed into his image.

Even in this letter from Peter, talks about God's foreknowledge of our salvation.

John Wesley called this prevenient grace - in that God sets us up to come to know him.

We do not have anything to do with this plan, but that eventually we recognize this grace that has been extended to us. Our salvation occurs long before we exist on the earth. The moment we are saved happens without our foreknowledge and yet we are covered by the blood of Christ because He knew us first. There is a moment in our life that we realize the grace of Christ has intersected our lives. We live in that salvation moment for eternity, and our salvation continues to happen as we live out the rest of our lives.

Even now, we live in a moment of salvation because of God's grace. We are continuously being rescued and guarded through faith.

In the future, we will be finally rescued in "the last time". (1 Peter 1:5 guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time). This is described as being removed from the stain of sin and being justified before God. There is an ongoing moment were we are being cleansed from our sin. We believe that God wants to place Christ's spirit in us. He calls us "more than conquerers" and that we will, one day be free from the burden of sin.

We should long to experience the fullness of God.

When are we saved? Yes. We are saved in the past, present and future. God is "Yes" and "Amen"

How are we saved? Through Grace. Eph 2:8-10 - You are saved through grace by faith, not of yourself. We are God's workmanship created for good works.

[Eph 2:8-10 ESV] 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

It's all about what Christ has done, salvation is part of his being. All of him, the spilling of his blood, the breaking of his body, the revealation of his glory in the coming kingdom is Salvation.

Christ is not created, He was with God in the beginning, we was the Word, He IS with God from the beginning, He IS the Word.

What now? How big is the salvation? Are we just Saved??

NO IT'S MUCH BIGGER!!

Our response is -

REPENT
BELIEVE

Every time we have an encounter with the Spirit, we are led to REPENT, and to BELIEVE deeper than we could have imagined.

By believing in Christ, we live with more fullness everyday of our lives.

One man speaks and collectively we hear Him, but individually, God calls us to follow His leading.

At the end of the day -

Will you deny everything else, and give yourself whole heartedly to Christ???

What does this even look like?

We believe Christ and want to follow him.

My fears and unbelief prevent me from completely following Him. Oh, GOD, break down the fear and unbelief in me!!

The Choice

Joshua: Strong and Courageous

[Jos 1:9 ESV] 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Review - we have been discovering what strong and courageous looks like. Today, we are looking at Joshua's final words.

What do Joshua and the Lord think are the most crucial things to remember. These final chapters cover what happened 25 years after the conquest of the promised land. Joshua is about 110 years old. He purposes that Israel will transition well into the next season after he passes.

[Jos 23:1-16 ESV] 1 A long time afterward, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, 2 Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, "I am now old and well advanced in years. 3 And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you. 4 Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. 5 The LORD your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the LORD your God promised you. 6 Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, 7 that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, 8 but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day. 9 For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. 10 One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. 11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God. 12 For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, 13 know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the LORD your God has given you. 14 "And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. 15 But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you, 16 if you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you."

Joshua reviews what God did for the families of Israel through Moses in the first part of the next chapter.

[Jos 24:1-33 ESV] 1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. 3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac. 4 And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 5 And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out. 6 "'Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. 7 And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time. 8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you, 10 but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand. 11 And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. 13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.'

14 "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, 17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God." 19 But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good." 21 And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD." 22 Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses." 23 He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey." 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God." 28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

God is jealous. We must choose whom we will serve, God or ourselves. God is faithful to follow through with his promises. Not making a choice is the realm of satan, we need to make a choice, we cannot sit on the fence else our choice for evil will be made for us. We are called to remember - remember what God has done for you and those before you. This happens many times throughout the Bible. Specifically, here, there is a history of what Israel has experienced within the lives of everyone who heard Joshua. We are called to repent - depending on whether or not we are currently worshiping something besides God, to reject the temptations of idols. We are called to renew - we should continually renew our covenant with God. We should be surrenduring to God daily regardless of whether we are being blessed or going through trials. This time of year (Fall) typically causes a change in life. Our response should be to say "YES" to God and "NO" to things that would take us away from God's will. Jesus warns his disciples on the last night of his time on earth, that while their flesh is weak and weary, their spirit is strong. We cannot follow God in our own strength. When the law was given on Mount Sinah, God warned the nation to not come to the mountain because they would be consumed because of their wicked ways. They agreed to do everything that God commanded through Moses, but they made this commitment without realizing they could not hold up the law in their own strength. When Moses was with God on the mountain, they asked Aaron to build them an idol to worship. They could not even wait for Moses to return before sliding back into their old ways. Even on these chapters, as soon as Joshua was gone, the nation of Israel began to fall. Even Peter failed to keep his promise to not abandon Jesus or not deny him. Peter FAILED because he made his promises in his own strength and he had not received the power of the Spirit. Jesus' blood speaks of a better, more faithful Word that we need to accept and embrace. We must realize that there is nothing we can offer to the Lord that is righteous or worthy of God.

Paul states, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."

We make empty promises of following Jesus out of our own strength. True strength comes from the realization that we cannot come to Christ without His strength. When we realize that our efforts are fruitless, we can begin to trust the Lord. We cry out to God out of the desperation of our weakness, our nothingness, our ugliness. We are wretches that Christ has chosen to make Holy through His Righteousness. We must realize that our lives have to be wholly God's for him to direct.

Heb 12:25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27 This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

This same warning that Joshua gives is echoed in Hebrews. We don't do anything out of our wretcheness, we totally forfeit our lives to God's purposes out of reverence and awe for God's greatness.

Misunderstandings

What is some of the motivation behind the responses of the leaders of the tribes across the river?

When we encounter Jesus, there is an opportunity for growth. Take the opportunity to turn toward Jesus today and everyday.


[Jos 22:10-34 ESV] 10 And when they came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of imposing size. 11 And the people of Israel heard it said, "Behold, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built the altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel." 12 And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to make war against them. 13 Then the people of Israel sent to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, every one of them the head of a family among the clans of Israel. 15 And they came to the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they said to them, 16 "Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD, 'What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the LORD by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the LORD? 17 Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the congregation of the LORD, 18 that you too must turn away this day from following the LORD? And if you too rebel against the LORD today then tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel. 19 But now, if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over into the LORD's land where the LORD's tabernacle stands, and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against the LORD or make us as rebels by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God. 20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity.'" 21 Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, 22 "The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today 23 for building an altar to turn away from following the LORD. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the LORD himself take vengeance. 24 No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD.' So your children might make our children cease to worship the LORD. 26 Therefore we said, 'Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, 27 but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the LORD in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, "You have no portion in the LORD."' 28 And we thought, 'If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, "Behold, the copy of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you."' 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD and turn away this day from following the LORD by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle!" 30 When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation, the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh spoke, it was good in their eyes. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh, "Today we know that the LORD is in our midst, because you have not committed this breach of faith against the LORD. Now you have delivered the people of Israel from the hand of the LORD." 32 Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs, returned from the people of Reuben and the people of Gad in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them. 33 And the report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. And the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and the people of Gad were settled. 34 The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, "For," they said, "it is a witness between us that the LORD is God."

What was the motive of the tribes on the West of the Jordan? Fear - The fear that they would be considered rebellious for building an altar. The altar of witness was built on the western side of the Jordan.

The eastern side?
They don't want to be forgotten and excluded from the blessings of God. They don't want to be left out of the nation of Israel. They were concerned that future generations would be rejected by the 10 tribes across the Jordan. They didn't want to be excluded from worshipping God.


Touch point:
- Bob Ruble's necklace to Alex.
[Pro 27:17 ESV] 17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Sometimes we need a reminder of what we have with each other and with God.

We do things to make sure that we keep these relationships strong.

This is a story that you can celebrate for both sides in that they did not go to war with each other. They decided that the unity of Israel was worth it.

Think about Personal Holiness:

[1Jo 1:9 ESV] 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We are going to sin from time to time; however, God is faithful to forgive our sins. Many of the commands that God gives us are corporate commands. We have to think larger than ourselves.

[2Ch 7:14 ESV] 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

[Eph 5:25-27 ESV] 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Christ cleans His Church as well as each one of us individually. What we do affects those around us. We have a direct effect on the community of people around us even if they never find out what we did.

Christ considers us part of a body, people see us collectively because we are a reflection of Christ.

[1Co 12:26-27 ESV] 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

We received Christ's blessing or curse together collectively. When one person does something (Achin) that causes destruction, that person affects so many.

Challenge - Being accountable and devoted to each other.
1. Get rid of all excuses - When there's conflict with someone else, excuses come up.
* It's not worth it, I am offended, means that I am lazy and don't want to do the hard things in life. What God wants is for you to come along side each other.
* They won't listen anyway. God is constantly making plans to guide each of us. It's not our job to convince anyone.
* There's no hope.

Get rid of the excuses in Jesus name.

Show us who we are to move along side and be a blessing to.

In this situation, there was a misunderstanding and the tribes on the west of the Jordan explained their motive. Nothing was done wrong and what was done was good. The tribes blessed each other and the representatives went back to their perspective tribes.

Be humble enough to receive each other and be willing to put aside differences to make reconciliation a priority. Count each other worth the cost so that we can be whole and stand in front of God as restored and Holy before Him.

Throughout the whole of scriptures, there are stories of God's mercy and restoration; however, there are also warnings where these things do not happen, but it is God's right to deal with those situations.

Consider how to deal with unrepentant sin:

[Mat 18:1-35 ESV] 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. 10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 11 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. 15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."


God wants us to examine ourselves. What is he saying to you right now?

Is there someone who you are holding at a distance?
Have you caused offense against someone?
Do you have some heart issues to work out?
What is God's plan?
Is there something that you need to share with your spouse?

Reflect on these questions and consider how you should respond.

Real Power

Real Power for Us or our Adversaries?

Joshua 5:13-6:27

13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" 14 And he said, "No [Neither, None]; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" 15 And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. 3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him." 6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." 7 And he said to the people, "Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD." 8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. 9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. 10 But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout." 11 So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. 12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. 15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city. 17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. 19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD." 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. 21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword. 22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her." 23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel. 24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates." 27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.

First, God's Army Shows Up

Joshua 5:13-15

The commander of the army of the Lord comes to Joshua as neither for or against Israel or Jericho.

As in the supernatural revelation to Moses, God desires to be known and when he or his emissaries appear, the ground they stand on is Holy.

This is a revelation of God's authority, and reinforces that Joshua must walk with the Lord and not try to take Jericho on their own strength. We also must recognize God's authority and power over every situation we find ourselves in.

"Are you for us or for our adversaries?" NO. Joshua is asking the wrong question. There is another option, God is for himself, He is for our redemption and the redemption of those who are against Him. This includes Muslims, Hindu, Pagans, and any other people group that sets themselves up against the Lord. We should be asking, "How do we fit into God's plan, or What is God's plan?"

A Plan

Joshua 6:1-5

This is a strange plan and not normal. When we are fully surrendered to the Lord, we will do crazy things for His glory. For example, people are dedicating themselves to serve the desperate and destitute. IE - Elmira - Love Your City

Joshua 6:6-27

Obey - Israel obeyed God's plan because they trusted Him. The Wall fell, except for Rahab's house and everyone in it. This place stood until Joshua and the spies went to her.

Pentecost - Power Revealed

Sometimes, we have to wait for God's power to be revealed:

Luke 24:45-49 - 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

Acts 2:1-4, 14-21 - 1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. ... 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

We truly can't grasp the fullness of God's identity. Fortunately, He always provides himself either in the word, flesh, or spirit.

We are clothed with God's power through His revelation to us. His power is revealed for the salvation of the whole world. This revelation is solely for the purpose of transforming us into his ambassadors.

In Acts 2, those that are gathered are praying and seeking after God. They are praying on the day of Pentecost, the day that God's law was revealed to Moses and Israel.

The Law is God revealed, Christ is God's law personified, and the Holy Spirit is God's law perfected in those who trust in Him.

In Acts, those that were gathered began to speak so that those around them might understand who God is in a language that they understand.

God grabs hold of each of us differently. He is not caged or predictable to us. His ways are far beyond what we can understand.

In the cases Pentecost and Jericho, God instructed His people to wait. After they had waited, God gave each group what was needed according to His perfect plan. They obeyed the command they were given.

Obedience is a demonstration of our love and trust in God.

"Abide in me and you will bear much fruit"

"If you love me, you will obey my commands"

It is important because when we obey and trust, it reveals our heart. Outwardly, people see one thing, but God is concerned with our inner being. He wants to fill in the missing parts of our inner being. That which we are lacking, He will provide.

He will provide

* Anointing
* Love
* Passion
* Obedience
* Clarity

Act 2:14 - Peter addresses the crowd that they would know that the group is not drunk, but fulfilling the prophecy of Joel.

Joel 3

1 "For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. 4 "What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken." 9 Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. 10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, "I am a warrior." 11 Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD. 12 Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great. 14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. 16 The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the LORD is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. 17 "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it. 18 "And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim. 19 "Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20 But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. 21 I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the LORD dwells in Zion."

Those that heard Peter were enabled to understand what he was saying and they were compelled to respond and consider what they had done in the mob's cries for Jesus' crucifixion.

Things do not always go according to our plan -

The stoning of Stephen resulted in his death, but Saul was marked and encountered Jesus a time later. Paul went on to make the most significant impact on the world for the Kingdom.

When we make God our priority -

We are promised that God will fulfill our plan through us whether we are martyred just like the millions throughout the last 2000 years, or successful like Billy Graham who led thousands to Christ through his crusades.

No matter the result, God's fruitfulness comes when we are faithful.

God Gives Us Power for:
* Taking the Land
* Us to be blessed by being witnesses of the Power of God
* The revelation of God's power

Don't give God lip service -

Joshua warned Israel that once they crossed into the promised land, they should not enjoy the fruits of the land without first acknowledging God's blessing over Israel.

God's blessings are given so that we are a blessing to the nations, to the broken and the lost around us.

If we want God's miraculous power, we have to get outside of ourselves and understand that we are called to reveal truth and life to those around us.

Marriage -

Marriage is simply a way for God to reveal himself to those around us. When we don't recognize this, we start to loose out on God's blessing. It is not our calling to have a great marriage for our own satisfaction, it is our calling to have a great marriage to bless those around us.

What are you being called to?
* Can you do this in your own strength?
* Where do you need God's supernatural power?
* Prayer?

Guide Stones - Remembering the Past

[Jos 5:1-15 ESV] 1 As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel. 2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time." 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4 And this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the men of war, had died in the wilderness on the way after they had come out of Egypt. 5 Though all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD; the LORD swore to them that he would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. For they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 When the circumcising of the whole nation was finished, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. 11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" 14 And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" 15 And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

The nation of Israel now has momentum due to God's blessing. They have crossed the river Jordan and the nations now fear them and their God.

However, God has them circumcise the son's of the generation that came out of Israel. They were to rest until they were healed at Gilgal.

Recall the prayers of the promise -

Sometimes, when a vision is given, we are to just walk in the promise. There may not be obvious effects of the promise, but the scripture is full of those who have gone before. Some of them had to wait years for God's promise to be fulfilled.

Sometimes, we get caught up in other things and fail to pass on or remember what God has blessed us with. Israel did not uphold the circumcision of all the males of the nation. This is a symbol of the chains of slavery being broken. The fact that the descendents of the generation that was freed from Egypt did not uphold the covenant caused the new generation to not be able to enter into the promise of the land beyond the Jordan. They had to commit to uphold the covenant of the circumcision before being allowed to continue into the land beyond the Jordan.

As the mana ceases, was there worry? The nation ate the produce from Canaan during the Passover celebration. You have to wonder if anyone still continued to look for the mana after the form of God's provision changed.

Sometimes we get caught up in the way that God provides for us, or the way that we have experienced Him and we cannot accept Him in a new way, a new experience, or a new form of provision.

Think about how Jesus was criticized for not fasting. He was bringing something to of God to the people and they refused it. They would not allow God to do something new. They would accept a new move of God. They were not positioned to be ready for God's prompting.

We must take care of the foundation of our faith in order to be ready for Him and His blessing to appear in our life. Unless we are ready to cut off everything that is a hindrance to Him, we will not be ready to experience blessing.

God's desire is for us to cut off all that hinders, especially the sin that so easily entangles.

As  we make this commitment, there is freedom to receive blessing, and to go where we would not have gone before.

Strong and Courageous - Belief

What does strong and courageous look like?

Carrying someone out of darkness?
Willing to go against the gates of Hell?
Being the one voice that speaks truth contrary to what is being said in the work place?

What does strong and courageous look like in Joshua 3?

Joshua Chapter 3


[Jos 3:1-17 ESV] 1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before." 5 Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." 6 And Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. 7 The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'" 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God." 10 And Joshua said, "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap." 14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.


In this last chapter strength and courage took the form of

- Belief that the waters of the Jordan would stop
- Belief that the waters of the Jordan would stay until thye had passed
- Obedience in the Lord's command
- The priests had to stand in the water in order for the river to be stopped. (While it is at flood stage)

This miracle marks Joshua as God's prophet as Moses was. In the midst of the miracle, the enemy does not want us to walk in the miracle. The enemy will do whatever is necessary to pull us away.

vv. 2 - 5: The command goes out to the camp to follow the ark at a distance.

Before the miracle happens (many miracles in the Bible) there is a preparation, a first step that the nation gets ready for God to move.

1. Consecration of the assembly - being prepared to be holy and set apart for a purpose. Part of our calling in Jesus is to take up his call daily and following him. We are to die to ourselves and live in Christ.
2. Wait - The postponing and procrastination that we normally do is not what we want to do when we know that God is about to move. They were told to wait until they saw the ark moving before them.
3. Watch - You don't know where you are going, don't get ahead of God. We a really good at obeying, but we need to watch for the move of the Lord. Think of Peter and the boat. Keep your eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of your faith.

The stopping of the Jordan river parallels Egypt with differences

1. When the priests feet touched the water, it stopped in Adam about 16 miles north of where they were.
   - We don't know how God performed this miracle, but what is important is that what he said would happened, happens.
   - This implies that it took some time for the water to receed. It likely took 3 - 5 hours for the water to receed.
   - Are there similar times in your life where God told you to move and you obeyed, but nothing seemed to be happening?
        - Think of Joseph who had to wait many years and deal with misery until finally, he was shown favor and became the savior of Egypt and Israel.

All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to us by Jesus. (The great commandment)

Jesus is with us in the storm and the trials.

Ps 40 - I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.

Is it God's will or my will?

As God has shared what you are called to do, will you step forward in faith, knowing that He is always faithful

Will you trust God even when you cannot see his full plan?

Testing

The testing point of every fruit of the spirit:

Love
Patience
Peace
...



[Mat 1:1-6 ESV] 1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,

Recognize Rahab - She is listed among the genealogy of Christ. His familial history is not clean and pure.

 - Tamar - Tricked Judah into sleeping with her as a prostitute and she has a child.
 - Ruth - The Moabite - Came from Lot's daughter.
 - David - Father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah whom he murdered.

Scripture does not hide or cover up people's brokenness.

We are so fractured beyond fixing, that we truly need God to fix us.

Jesus discussed this about Martha as she wept at his feet. He shared the story of the forgiven debtors - the one who has been forgiven much, loves much. The point isn't who has more sin, but who has more gratitude for the love God has poured out on us.

[Jos 1:9 ESV] 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

----

[Jos 2:1-24 ESV] 1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land." 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land." 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue 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 that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. 8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death." 14 And the men said to her, "Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you." 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said to them, "Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way." 17 The men said to her, "We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear." 21 And she said, "According to your words, so be it." Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us."

Rahab - She has some integrity to the glory of God. We know that she is a prostitute. We know that the whole of Jericho is fearful of the Israelites. Jericho has heard of the things that Israel has experienced since they left Egypt. Rahab's life is a life of hopelessness and desperation. She fears for her life; however, it is a wonder why she is chosen to be a part of the story.

[Heb 11:31 ESV] 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Why did Rahab welcome the spies? Why didn't anyone else welcome them? Why didn't the king try to negotiate with the spies?

Joshua 2:11 - Rahab declares that the God of Israel is the God of the universe and recognizes him. Rahab treats the spies kindly and lies for them. Why is this OK?? There is a greater grace in the midst of this situation, where they must be protected. Faith is expressed in works.

Rahab is humble, she prepares the way for the Lord's coming. Rahab is one among many who are broken people who are included in the Faithful hall of fame in Hebrews 11.

We should follow Rahab's example and walk in the fear of the Lord. Appreciating His greatness and power by submitting to Him. Loving your neighbor as yourself -

Jesus highlights two gentiles Naaman, and Ruth who were blessed by God.

Once we walk in the place of humble obedience, we will see evidence of grace. We will be able to see the work of God in those around us, despite their flaws and sins. We need to take everyone out of the box we have put them in. Stop looking at the people around you in regard to their circumstance and look at them in regard to what God is doing in them or will do in them.