INSPECTING Our CHURCH FIELD-III—Joshua 2:1-24
Attention:
Upon close examination, our perception of a situation may be much different than the reality.
We may be surprised at what we find.
We may be surprised at what we find on the church field—around & even ‘in’ our church.
Joshua sent spies to determine what they would encounter in the promised land.
We can & should determine/examine what we will encounter on our church field.
What will we discover about those on our church field?
7 Discoveries in our own church field.
Last time we found that...
Examining our church field, we discover People given to...
1. SIN(:1)
2. FEAR(:2)
3. PREVENTION(:2-3)
4. ALLIANCE(:4-7)
5—Examining our church field we discover...
People given to SIGHT & INSIGHT(:8-11)
Explanation:(:8-11)
:8—Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,”
Because of the city’s being put on ‘high alert’ & the search for the Israelite spies, the spies were evidently going to sleep or at least rest “on the roof” among the flax. But prior to their being able to rest, Rahab approached them where they were.
“Lay down”(See :1—“Lodged”)—bkv shaw-kab’—
“Came up”(See :6—“Brought...up”)—hle aw-law'—
:9—& said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, & that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.”
She spoke to the spies, revealing that she had a knowledge of Israel, Israel’s intent, & Israel’s God, YHWH(‘the LORD’).
Rahab divulged that she personally “knew” that the God of Israel/the Hebrews(“YHWH”) had indeed “given” them “the land” of which Jericho was currently a part & very possibly beyond Jericho’s holdings. We do not know if she understood YHWH’s comprehensive plan for the boundaries of the nation of Israel.
Rahab was not the only one who knew of Israel’s progress thru & to the nations, but all the pagan inhabitants of the city of Jericho were also aware. They were not only aware of Israel’s doings but were fearful as a result of the word of it & witnesses to it.
Not only did Rahab & those of Jericho know & fear, but the same “terror” gripped “all the inhabitants of the land” as a whole, to such an extent that these too became “fainthearted” as a result.
News had traveled regarding Israel & thus of Israel’s God, YHWH.
“Know”—edy yaw-dah’—Qal Perfect—1) To know. Strong—a primitive root; To know (properly--To ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically & inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; & causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.).
“Given”—Ntn naw-than’—Qal Perfect—1) To give, put, set. Strong—a primitive root; To give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.).
“Land”—Ura eh'-rets—
“Terror”—hmya ay-maw'—1) Terror, dread. Strong—Fright; concrete--An idol(as a bugbear[a cause of obsessive fear, irritation, or loathing]). Used 17X.
“Fallen on”—lpn naw-fal'—1) To fall, lie, be cast down, fail. Strong—a primitive root; To fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative).
“All”—lk kol—1) All, the whole. Strong—properly--The whole; hence--All, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense).
“Inhabitants”—bvy yaw-shab’—Qal Participle Active—1) To dwell, remain, sit, abide. Strong—a primitive root; properly--To sit down(specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication--To dwell, to remain; causatively--To settle, to marry.
“Fainthearted/Melted away”—gwm moowg—Niphal(passive) Perfect—1) To melt, cause to melt—1b) (Niphal)--To melt away. Strong—a primitive root; To melt, i.e. literally--To soften, flow down, disappear, or figuratively--To fear, faint.
“Because of/Before”—yk keey—Conj.—1) That, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since. Strong—a primitive particle [the full form of the prepositional prefix] indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; by implication--very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb [as below]; often largely modified by other particles annexed.
:10—“For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, & what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon & Og, whom you utterly destroyed.”
It appears that Rahab must have known the larger picture of the conquest, given that she knew of the Red Sea crossing & the battles leading up to Israel’s imminent crossing of the Jordan(:10-11).
The inhabitants of Jericho were well aware that both “Sihon & Og”—both recognized sovereign authorities in their own right—had been completely & “utterly destroyed,” having been thus ‘dedicated for destruction/banned’ by YHWH thru the Israelites.
Both kings were Amorite-ish with Og being king of Bashan specifically. Bashan was an area bordered roughly by Mt. Hermon(N.), The Yarmuk River(S.), & the Jordan River(W.).
Sihon’s territory was roughly between the Jabbok River(N.) & the Arnon(S.), with the southern Jordan & northern Dead Sea as its western border.
“Heard”—emv shaw-mah’—Qal Perfect—1) To hear, listen to, obey. Strong—a primitive root; To hear intelligently(often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively--To tell, etc.).
“Dried up”—vby yaw-besh’—Hiphil(causative) Perfect—1) To make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered—1c) (Hiphil)—1c1) To dry up, make dry—1c1a) To dry up(water), 1c1b) To make dry, wither, 1c1c) To exhibit dryness. Strong—a primitive root; To be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also, as failing--To dry up(as water) or wither(as herbage).
“Water”—Mym mah'-yim—1) Water, waters—1a) Water, 1b) Water of the feet, urine, 1c) Of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.). Strong—dual of a primitive noun(but used in a singular sense); Water; figuratively--Juice; by euphemism--Urine, semen.
“Red”—Pwo soowf—1) Reed, rush, water plant. Strong—probably of Egyptian origin; A reed, especially the papyrus.
“Sea”—My yawm—1) Sea. Strong—from an unused root meaning to roar; A sea(as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically(with the article)--The Mediterranean Sea; Sometimes a large river, or an artificial basin; locally--The west, or rarely--The south.
“Came out”—auy yaw-tsaw’—Qal Infinitive—1) To go out, come out, exit, go forth. Strong—a primitive root; To go (causatively--Bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally & figuratively, direct & proximally.
“Egypt”—Myrum Mits-rah'-yim—Egypt = “Land of the Copts”—Noun Proper Locative—1) A country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, & through which the Nile flows.—Egyptians = "double straits.”—Adj.—2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt. Strong—Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper & Lower Egypt.
“Did to”—hse aw-saw’—Qal Perfect—1) To do, fashion, accomplish, make. Strong—a primitive root; To do or make, in the broadest sense & widest application.
“Kings”—Klm meh’-lek—1) King.
“On the other side of/Beyond”—rbe ay'-ber—1) Region beyond or across, side—1a) Region across or beyond, 1b) Side, opposite side. Strong—properly--A region across; but used only adverbially(with or without a preposition)--On the opposite side(especially of the Jordan; usually meaning the east).
“Utterly destroyed”—Mrx khaw-ram’—Hiphil Perfect—1) To ban, devote, destroy utterly, completely destroy, dedicate for destruction, exterminate—1a) (Hiphil)—1a1) To prohibit(for common use), ban,1a2) To consecrate, devote, dedicate for destruction, 1a3) To exterminate, completely destroy.
:11—“And when we heard it, our hearts melted & no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above & on earth beneath.”
—Outward Perception—Israel is warlike people bent on destruction under the thumb of an undefeatable God.
Though the nations serve other gods, they have chosen to serve them even in the face of YHWH’s obvious & overwhelming presence & power(Rom. 1:16-23ff).
The reconnaissance mission encouraged the faith of the spies & all Israel more so than a good battle plan.
Out of touch with reality.
Rely totally on sight to convince them.
Yet this sight was enough to draw & convict Rahab, causing her to denounce her & her people’s false ‘gods.’
All ‘gods’ are lesser gods in comparison to Israel’s God YHWH.
“Heard”—emv shaw-mah’—Qal Imperfect—1) To hear, listen to, obey. Noun Masc.—2) Sound. Strong—a primitive root; To hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively--To tell, etc.).
“Hearts”—bbl lay-bawb'—1) Inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
“Melted/Sank”—oom maw-sas’—Niphal(passive/reflexive) Imperfect—1) To dissolve, melt—1b) (Niphal)—1b1) To melt, vanish, drop off, melt away, 1b2) To faint, grow fearful(fig.), 1b3) Wasted, worthless(participle). Strong—a primitive root; To liquefy; figuratively--To waste(with disease), To faint(with fatigue, fear or grief). Used 21X.
“Remain/Failed”—Mwq koowm—1) To rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up. Strong—a primitive root; To rise(in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive & causative).
“Courage”—xwr roo'-akh—1) Wind, breath, mind, spirit. Strong—Wind; by resemblance--Breath, i.e. A sensible(or even violent) exhalation; figuratively--Life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension--A region of the sky; by resemblance--Spirit, but only of a rational being(including its expression & functions).
Argumentation:
*1Cor. 2:14—“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, & he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.”
*2Cor. 5:7—“for we walk by faith, not by sight-...”
Faith directs/influences or sight.
Rom. 8:8-9—“...& those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”
Seek the things of God
To lost people, Miracles become mysterious works of the devil.
Mat. 12:24, 31—“But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons....And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you...."Therefore I say to you, any sin & blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.”
Rom. 8:6-7—“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life & peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;”
2Cor. 4:7-18—“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God & not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed & therefore I spoke,” we also believe & therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, & will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Lk. 9:25—“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, & is himself destroyed or lost?”
Rom. 8:24-25—“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
**Heb 11:1, 6—“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”.....“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, & that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Illustration:
Snakes!/How many are afraid of snakes/Recently on facebook I saw some local pictures of two snakes that someone found intertwined in their garage—mating/They both ended up killing the Rat Snakes(Corn)!/We rightly fear their poison, but kill all snakes/Refuse to learn of them/We make rash decisions when we operate by sight/Sight says all are bad/Faith says certain ones are good, can be beneficial & can be identified/Given to SIGHT
Mushrooms!/How many are afraid of eating mushrooms?/We rightly fear their poison, but refuse to eat mushrooms is silly/We make rash decisions when we operate by sight/Sight says all are bad/Faith says certain ones are good, can be beneficial & can be identified & separated/Given to SIGHT
Lightning/Deadly but also necessary for producing fertilizer within the soil/Given to SIGHT
Fire!/I would be tempted to call the authorities & have them put the fire out if I saw it!/BUT...Occasional Controlled burning in the forest encourages healthy natural woodland populations/Given to SIGHT
Computers/Don’t understand them/Shun them as if they are evil/Given to SIGHT
Application:
?Your world given to fleshly SIGHT or godly INSIGHT?
?Does SIGHT or INSIGHT guide your faith?
?Frightened by what you see & don’t understand?
?Back off or learn about it/them?
?Does what you see dismay & determine your direction?
5—Examining our church field we discover...
People given to CONVICTION(:11-16, :4, 9)
Explanation:(:11-16, :4, 9) Surrender
:4—“Then the woman took the two men & hid them. So she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.”
Though Rahab lied, it was her faith in the God of Israel that lead her to it. She knew of no other means by which she could accomplish deliverance for herself, her family or the spies.
“In this we see the extent God goes to in bringing one woman & her father’s house to salvation—someone seemingly ‘impossible’ to save.”—David Guzik
Though we may be appalled at the fact that Rahab was a prostitute or that she lied, but she was saved thru the outworking of her faith.
:9—“& said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, & that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.”
“Know”—edy yaw-dah’—Qal Perfect—1) To know. Strong—a primitive root; To know (properly--To ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically & inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; & causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.).
:11—“And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above & on earth beneath.”
:12—“Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, & give me a true token,”
:13—“& spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, & all that they have, & deliver our lives from death.”
Though Rahab is a pagan stock, she loves her family & evidently they love her & one another. God’s love is not only ingrained in us, but is clarified & enhanced thru dependence upon God. It is surely an aspect of our being made in His image.
Rahab’s love for her family sought to rescue them from an untimely “death” at the hands of the imminent Israelite invasion.
“Joshua would be a savior for Rahab[as well as her family], but a judge of the rest of Jericho. In the same way Jesus is [the] Savior for those who trust in Him, but a judge for those who reject Him.”—Guzik
:14—“So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly & truly with you.”
Rahab’s “true token”(:12) comes in the form an oath(:17, 20) from the spies.
They pledge their very “lives” regarding their honest treatment of Rahab & her family. They do indeed swear to do “kindly & truly” regarding them out of all the people of the city who will surely perish in the slaughter.
:15—“Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.”
Witness(es) of God are worth protecting(:4-7)
Salvation of God is worth protecting & thereby relating(:12-16) to others!
Rahab’s hope of salvation rested upon the righteousness, mercy, & grace of the Lord God of Israel.
:16—“And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”
Rahab gave instructed the spies to “get to the mountain”(west of Jericho—rises 1200ft.) Obviously there was a “mountain” nearby to which they could flee. It is assumed that the “mountain” would not be searched as the Jericho envoy(“pursuers”) would attempt to thwart the spies’ returning across the Jordan River via the road leading to the fords(:7), east of the city.
Rahab gave instructions to the spies as she was knowledgable about the habits of her city’s protectors. She therefore told them to remain in hiding on the mountain for “three days” while their “pursuers” sought to find & stop them.
“Three days” was probably the customary time for such pursuers to search. Regardless, “three days” would have been certain needed to ensure the search party’s satisfaction.
“Mountain”—rh har—1) Hill, mountain, hill country, mount. Strong—A mountain or range of hills(sometimes used figuratively).
“Pursuers”2X(See :)—Pdr raw-daf’—Qal Participle Active—1) To be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after. Strong—a primitive root; To run after(usually with hostile intent; figuratively--[of time]Gone by).
“Meet”—egp paw-gah'—1) To encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession. Strong—a primitive root; To impinge, by accident or violence, or figuratively--By importunity.
“Hide”—hbx khaw-bah’—Niphal(passive/reflexive) Perfect—1) To withdraw, hide, hide oneself—1b) (Niphal)--To hide oneself, remain hidden, withdraw. Strong—a primitive root [compare 02245]; To secrete. Used 5X.
“Returned”—bwv shoowb—1) To return, turn back. Strong—a primitive root; To turn back (hence--Away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively(not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally--To retreat; often adverbial--Again.
Argumentation:
Lk. 7:44-50—“Then He turned to the woman & said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears & wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Lk. 8:48—“And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
Lk. 18:42—“Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”
Habakkuk 2:4—“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”
2Sam. 22:26-34—“With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down.”
Gen. 19:12-15—[2 angels had come to witness the depth of Sodom’s depravity & rescue Lot from its impending destruction]—“Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, & whomever you have in the city--take them out of this place! For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, & the LORD has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out & spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, & said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife & your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.”
Ps. 51:17—“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken & a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.”
Js. 4:6-7—“..."God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil & he will flee from you.”
Job 42:5-6—“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust & ashes."
1Pet. 1:3-9—“Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible & undefiled & that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, & glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible & full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.”
Jn. 20:24-29—“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, & put my finger into the print of the nails, & put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, & Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, & stood in the midst, & said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, & look at My hands; & reach your hand here, & put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered & said to Him, “My Lord & my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen & yet have believed.””
Jn. 10:19-27—“Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings[I am the Door & the Good Shepherd & has power to lay down His own life & take it up again]. And many of them said, “He has a demon & is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, & it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him & said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, & you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. “My sheep hear My voice, & I know them, & they follow Me.”
His greatest liberating & condemning(Jn. 9:39) work was His Resurrection(Mat. 12:39-41; Mk. 16:4 Lk. 11:29-30)!
Js. 2:14-26—“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked & destitute of daily food, & one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed & filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, & I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, & I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--& tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, & by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, & it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, & not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers & sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
Mk. 9:17-21—“Then one of the crowd answered & said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, & becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.” He answered him & said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, & he fell on the ground & wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire & into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us & help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out & said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf & dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him & enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, & came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand & lifted him up, & he arose.”
Gen. chapters 6-8—None of Noah’s family had to enter the ark. They chose to trust & were saved.
Illustration:
My wife’s ‘chopping leaves’—Our house in NC was surrounded by trees/The original builders cut a house-sized group of trees out of the woods & built the house there/Though they are beautiful, leaves are always a lot of work in the fall/We had very little grass but it took about 45 min. to do our whole yard—unless you’re Millie!/She loved to use the lawn mower as a leaf chopper/For some reason known only to her(her conviction), she will take our little 22” push-mower thru the woods chopping up & dispersing all the leaves/I’ve complained constantly that ‘the woods look terrible’(& rightly so in my mind—my conviction) every time she did it/‘Mowing the woods’ exposed the red clay & prevented new soil from forming from the leaf decomposition, which is bad for the trees/It also made our land prone to washing as we’re on a fairly steep hill/Well, lo & behold, she mowed only the lawn one time because she ran out of time/She left a nice border separating the lawn from the woods which looks very nice(even she admitted it!)/Only time will tell, but I believe her time restrictions led her to a new CONVICTION regarding our lawn-leaf controversy!
People in your/our community will do the same if we will only meet them with the Gospel of Christ.
Rancher’s dog Max/Constant companion/One day rancher calls Max & no response/Takes Max to vet...
Vet—‘Max is dead’
R—’Can’t be, check again doc’
Vet—‘Sure enough Max is dead’
R— ‘I still don’t believe it! Are you absolutely certain?’
Vet—Vet walks out & returns with huge tom-cat/Throws cat on Max/Rips Max to shreds/Max never flinches
R—‘Doc, you’re right, Max is dead’...How much do I owe you?’/
Vet—$550.
R—‘What for? He’s dead you couldn’t even help him!
Vet—$50 for the emergency visit & $500 for the Cat Scan!
Rancher was Convicted & Surrendered his money.
People Convicted of the truth of the Gospel will Surrender their lives to Jesus.
Application:
?Any in your church field Given to CONVICTION?
?You given to CONVICTION?
?Are you Convicted of God’s power by His power in these people?
CONCLUSION:
Action:
Examining our church field, we discover People given to...
5. SIGHT& INSIGHT(:8-11)
6. CONVICTION(:12-16, :4, :9)
1. SIN(:1)
2. FEAR(:2)
3. PREVENTION(:2-3)
4. ALLIANCE(:4-7)
Pts. 5-6 Presented 08/09/2015pm to:
FBCCbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(A Ave.)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
Presented 11/11/2012pm to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
CHILDREN’S— ‘Hidden Pleasures’
Hide candy
Have the children look for it.
Describe many ‘dead ends’ & disappointments.
BUT...eventually someone will find the candy!
That’s how it is when we tell people about Jesus. Many don’t care. BUT...every once in a while we’ll share about Jesus & they will be saved!
Presented 11/28/am to:
Providence Baptist Church
975 Providence Rd.
Whigham, GA 31797
