The Umbrella Protection Of the Church
The Umbrella Protection
Of the Church
I Peter 1:3-7
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
How many of you remember what it was like being at home at night when a storm came?
Some were in a place of fear others perhaps not!!
But when Mom and Dad were both home you knew everything was going to be OK!!!
You see when Dad is home I am safe, because I know my Dad can take care of anything.
Ever had dreams of the boogieman and so forth, maybe but all is well because my Daddy is home.
As long as I was in the house and in my bed under the covers I knew all is well!!
As long as I stayed where I was suppose to be everything would be alright.
I knew that if I were to get out where I shouldn’t be there could be catastrophe!
Joshua2:1-4
1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
3And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
Rahab hid the two men from the people of Jericho.
Now Rahab was interested in making a deal:
11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
12Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
13And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
14And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
And the deal was made as such…
18Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.
19And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
They were instructed to stay in the house!!
And staying in the house was the key issue.
Being obedient to God is so important in always being safe when the enemy is out to get you!!
And now I believe that you know the story of how they marched around the city and the walls came tumbling down.
And so what happened to Rahab and her family??
23And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
24And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
25And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Staying in the house where it was safe brought life and happiness to Rahab and her household!!
Turn with me to Acts chapter 27;
9Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
This is the story of when Paul was being taken to Rome because he appealed unto Caesar.
And Paul gives them a warning…
Paul tried to tell them of a storm that was coming, but…
21But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
23For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
And it is obvious that they did not and now much harm can come to them, BUT…
31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
You must stay in the ship!!
STAY IN THE SHIP!!!
And I say to you all that this is the same scenario concerning your walk with GOD and you Salvation.
You must stay in Church; you cannot stay saved playing in the world!!!
STAY IN THE CHURCH!!!
Your eternity depends upon it!
Walk in the ways of the Lord!!
Hebrews 10:23-26
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
