Joshua's Conquering & Rahab's Saving Faith - Part 1 Series

Topic: Sunday Sermon Series – Living By Faith

Text: Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.- NIV

Title: Joshua’s Conquering & Rahab’s Saving Faith! (Part 1)

Intro: We have been walking through the 11th chapter of Hebrews in order to see what a “real, vibrant, biblical, saving faith” looks like in not only the good times, but in the hard times, in the face of tests, trails, tribulations, problems, persecution and pandemics!

The importance of faith cannot be overstated! Not only does the bible say…

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

But the bible says:

A) We are saved by it!

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

B) Justified by faith

Rom 5:1: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1.,That means declared righteous and acquitted of our sin!

Mark 2:5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My son, your sins are forgiven‘.

D) Sanctified by faith

1. Paul in his testimony said that Jesus said this:

Act 26:18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me

E) Shielded by it

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked

F) Kept by it!

1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. -KJV

G) Can move mountains by it!

Mark 11:22-24: And Jesus answering said unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

H) Conquer kingdoms by it!

Hebrews 11: 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

I) The POINT OF THIS ALL IS TO REMIND US: That we are to live by it!

Hebrews 10: 37 For,

“In just a little while,

he who is coming will come

and will not delay.”

38 And,

“But my righteous one will live by faith.

And I take no pleasure

in the one who shrinks back.”

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Transitional statement: Our scripture passage presents to us in vivid detailed a picture of two vastly different individuals, on two different sides of this dramatic event’s fence. Yet it shows that by faith in God, one conquered, and one survived the conquest! Reminding us that it is faith that is difference maker in the battles of life!

One component of a faith that conquers begins with the proper:

I. Foundation:

A) Joshua? (Bit of a review from last week)

1. The promises of God!

2. The perseverance of men!

Joshua 1: 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.

Hebrews 6:12b do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. – NKJV

3. The predetermination of God?

a) Predetermination is defined as the ordaining of events beforehand.

b) Point is that God had predetermined their plot of land: their territory!

Joshua 1:4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

c) God has predetermined our boundaries and territory!

Acts 17:26 From one person God created every human nation to live on the whole earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

4. The presence of God!

Joshua 1: 5a No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life…

Q: Why?

Joshua 1: 5b As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

a) The presence of God (God going before you, with you) is essential to entering into the promised land!