Joshua 2:1-7, 17-21
INTRO: NOTE: Before Message give background of what is taking place.
1. ILL. A USA Today article spotlights multi-billionaire Ted Turner. Turner is the Time Warner Vice Chairman who also happens to be the country's largest landowner with more than 1.6 million acres, on which he runs his herd of 17,000 buffalo. His successes include ownership of television channels CNN and the Superstation TBS. He won the America's Cup in 1977, and his Atlanta Braves won the 1995 World Series. According to the USA Today article, "behind his entrepreneurial spirit lies a much higher, and deeper, social agenda…. To his core, Turner believes in anything that promotes peace, harmony, understanding, and brotherhood."Toward the end of the article, Turner explains his motives: You know, I'm not looking for any big rewards. I'm not a religious person. I believe this life is all we have. I'm not doing what I'm doing to be rewarded in heaven or punished in hell. I'm doing it because I feel it's the right thing to do. Almost every religion talks about a savior coming. When you look in the mirror in the morning, when you're putting on your lipstick or shaving, you're looking at the savior. Nobody else is going to save you but yourself.
2. If your Savior is who you see in the mirror each morning then you have a poor Savior.
a. It’s time for a reality check!
b. I don’t have the power to save myself, to change my condition, transform my life.
c. But there is a Savior that does – I know I’ve experienced the power of a Salvation greater than myself, greater than my sin, greater than my circumstances.
3. In our text we meet a woman by the name of Rahab who had little chance to be anything more than what she was – a Prostitute. The odds where stacked against her.
a. Her birth was against her. (Not born a Jew, but a Gentile)
b. Her history was against her. (Probably never been anything more)
c. Her reputation was against her.
d. Her poverty was against her.
e. Her condition was against her.
f. Her location was against her.
4. But God chose to lead Joshua’s spies to her house.
a. They knew that in such a place they’d be a policy of “no questions asked.”
b. They knew that in such a place strangers were common.
c. They knew that in such a place their identitiy would be kept secret for the right price.
d. They also knew that Rahab’s house sat on the wall of Jericho and would make for a quick escape.
e. But, little would they realize that God would use this encounter to change Rahab.
5. They found someone bound by a cycle of sin and shame, but they offered her the most simple solution – Just One Scarlet Cord.
a. Her future would be changed by Just One Scarlet Cord.
b. The cycle of sin, poverty, reputation would be broken with Just One Scarlet Cord.
6. When the spies handed her that scarlet cord, I believe they remembered Passover night in Egypt when they where also marked their homes with scarlet – the blood of the Lamb.
a. His blood bond to our lives is the simple solution of Salvation — Our Scarlet Cord
b. All you need is Just One Drop of His Scarlet Blood!
I. ONE SCARLET CORD WAS ALL HER FAITH NEEDED.
a. The spies didn’t know the magnitude of what they had promised Rahab, since they didn’t know what God had planned. If they did they may have never promised this.
b. They thought they where offering her Salvation of Joshua as he stormed the city, but they where in reality offering her the Salvation of God from Judgement.
c. Quite a promise since Rahab’s house sat on the walls that God intended to fall flat.
d. But, God honored their promise, because God honored Rahab’s faith.
e. That scarlet cord tied to her window expressed both her confidence that Jericho would be destroyed and that she would be saved.
f. You don’t need great faith to see great things happen, just simple faith in the blood of the Lamb.
A. HER FAITH WAS A SIMPLE FAITH
1. Needed no explaination how it worked, she simply beleived.
2. I don’t know How he did for me what he did, but I know it works!
3. She wasn’t bothered by it’s simplicity–she simply beleived.
4. What a world we live in. They deny that such a simply solution can do so much.
5. But when every section of that wall fell flat, Rahabs section of the wall stood like a tower above it all – a tower of the simple faith in a simple red cord.
6. She simply left the bulk of the agreement to the originator of the promise.
7. ILL. A recent Reader's Digest article told of a 67-year-old man named Bill who had donated over 100 pints of blood over the years. No doubt many people owe their lives to this man's kindness. How do you think this man's good deeds go over in heaven? Here's what Bill thinks: "When that final whistle blows, and St. Peter asks, 'What did you do?' I'll just say, 'Well, I gave 100 pints of blood,'" [Bill] says with a laugh. "That ought to get me in." Hope he’s joking. He’s trusting in the wrong blood.
8. That scarlet cord speaks to us today. It represent the blood of Jesus... the simple promise of salvation. Will you trust in it?
B. HER FAITH WAS A OBEDIENT FAITH
1. Her simple faith demanded a simple obedience.
2. Wasn’t enough to just have the scarlet cord she had to tie the scarlet cord to the window.
3. Her’s was an exact obedience – not substituted, not questioned, or challanged.
4. If you’re looking for loopholes to Salvation you’re wasting your time.
5. Her’s was an instant obedience. (No time to waste, she knew what was at risk)
6. Jesus made it as simple as he could. Repent & Believe. A simple response to a simple faith.
C. HER FAITH WAS A CLAIMING FAITH
1. The act of tying this cord to her window was appropriating or claiming it’s power over her life and her home.
2. We must not only beleive that Jesus can save, but beleive He can save Me!
3. Some only appropriated a part of Christ – we must appropriate all salvation holds for us - forgiveness, justifaction, sanctification, acceptance and grace.
4. ILL. In the city of Chicago, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was setting in. A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner, the people were in and out of the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many papers. He walked up to a policeman and said, "Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley and it's awful cold in there, at night. Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay." The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You go down the street to that big white house and you knock on the door. When they come out the door you just say John 3:16 and they will let you in." So he did, he walked up the steps to the door, and knocked on the door and a lady answered. He looked up and said, "John 3:16." The lady said "Come on in, son." She took him in and she sat him down ina split bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace and she went off. He sat there for a while, and thought to himself "John 3:16...I don't understand it, but it sure makes a cold boy warm." Later she came back and fed, washed and put him to bed – Then he thought to himself "John 3:16...Boy, I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy full." – "John 3:16...I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. "John 3:16...I don't understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy rested." "Do you understand John 3:16?" He said, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to use it." She opened the Bible to John 3:16 , and she began to explain to him about Jesus. Right there in front of that big old fireplace he gave his heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. He sat there and thought, "John 3:16. I don't understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy feel safe." You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either, how God would be willing to send His Son to die for me, and how Jesus Christ would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand it either, but it sure does make life worth living.
5. We need to take hold of all Salvation offers us. Tie that scarlet cord to our life.
C. HER FAITH WAS A RESTING FAITH
1. Portions of the Wall of Jericho was 12 feet thick, but Rahab would rather rest in God’s promise.
2. Didn’t feel she needed to do anything more, just hang out the scarlet cord.
3. She had to do no more preparations to defend her house from seige.
4. Scarlet Cord was in the window and she felt secure.
5. When the blood is applied to our soul there’s nothing more that needs to be done to make our lives secure.
6. Becuase of the blood of the lamb the Peace of God is ours to have.
II. ONE SCARLET CORD WAS ALL HER TESTIMONY NEEDED.
a. Rahab was instructed by them to bind it to a window, a place that could be seen.
b. Our faith must not only be accepted, it must be professed.
c. It’s time to let others know – we bear the mark of the Blood of the Lamb!
A. AS A TESTIMONY TO HER CLOSEST FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
1. She had agreed not to tell the authorities about what had happened, but I don’t think she could help tell those nearest her of the Salvation of God that was on the way.
2. That scarlet cord became an evangelistic conversation piece to those nearest her.
3. Even the regualars that once come by, noticed that things had changed radically in Rahab’s house – the business was closed she was getting ready for something important.
4. Is your testimony like Rahab’s or does your days go by without recognizing Him and without remembering His return?
B. AS A TESTIMONY TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD
1. When Joshua’s men came running into the city after the walls had fallen, they smiled when they saw the scarlet cord flapping in the wind.
2. It was the blood stained banner of the lamb that said “She’s one of us.”
3. We need the testimony of each other’s faith.
4. Are you publically known as a part of God’s family? (Call house on Sunday morning are they surprised to not find you there.)
5. That blood stained banner isn’t flattering, popular of considered modern – but I’d rather die than take down that covering in my life.
C. AS A TESTIMONY TO JEHOVAH GOD.
1. This was her public declaration to God of her dependance on Him.
2. She kept checking it to make sure it was there and that it was secure.
3. I want God to know that my place in Him is important – I don’t plan to bearly make it in.
III. ONE SCARLET CORD WAS ALL HER HOUSE NEEDED
a. Only one House in Jericho that was insured by a Scarlet Cord
b. Our faith must move into our Homes if it will ever make a real difference.
c. Rahab didn’t just tie the scarlet cord to her life, but to her house.
d. We need His blood covering our homes again.
A. MARK OF SALVATION ON HER HOUSE
1. Rahab’s profession changed, her only work was getting her family under the covering.
2. The bible testifies that everyone inside her house were saved.
3. We need the blood of the Lamb upon our homes.
4. It’s time to beleive again that the blood has power to bring salvation to every spouse, son and daughter and grandbaby under our roof.
5. Paul told the Jailer to beleive for salvation upon his house as well... let them see your light
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
6. We can't always protect those we love... but His blood is enough. to protect them through eternity.
B. MARK OF GOD’S LORDSHIP ON YOUR HOUSE
1. A house once devoted to impurity and shamefulness was now marked by a Scarlet Cord.
2. Let the world know He is Lord, over your house.
3. He can heal and sanctify homes that once was the playpen of the devil.
4. It’s time we give our homes back to God.
5. Hang a Scarlet Cord over the Door, let the company you keep know, this place belongs to God.
6. Hang a Scarlet Cord over the Television.
7. You’d never let someone come in your house and cuss you out and talk lewdly in from of your family, but will you sit there and let them enter your house by way of some filthy T.V. program.
8. Hang a Scarlet Cord over the Radio.
9. I don’t beleive that everything that is not christian music is wrong. But if it sings about sleeping around and boozing and things promoting an impure lifestyle – it’s time to turn it off.
10. Make Him lord of your house.
IV. ONE SCARLET CORD WAS ALL HER FUTURE NEEDED.
a. Little did Rahab know that Just One Cord would turn her life from Shame to Fame.
A. THE MARK OF A NEW PLACE IN GOD’S PLAN.
1. Rahab would be part of the linage of both King David and King Jesus.
2. She left the prositute in the ruins of Jericho and God made her a vessel He used.
CONCLUSION: From Genesis to Revelation runs that scarlet cord, the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ. It's as simply as believing and acting on that belief to apply that scarlet cord to your life. Will you?
