Do you know your God?
Joshua 2:12“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign."
I had just preached about the knowledge of God in the early morning 5am zoom fellowship , the place is filled with God, tears running down my cheek I write this...Not because I am sad but because I am filled with anointing. His presence brings tears....
Knowledge of God:
Rahab says "...the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." (Verse 11)Wow! She understood the power of Jehovah through the testimony she heard about God. She did not carelessly listen, she was taking in every Word and understanding it. You can listen and not understand, thereby the stuff has become useless to you. If you are browsing facebook early morning then you cannot understand the things of God.
The Lord with pain said:Hosea 4:6 "my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge."
One particular young Engineer of our Church said, " whatever it may be I will not miss Sunday message". Though the church service is at 8.30, he would daringly walk in at 9 am every Sunday despite me continuously telling him to come on time. I told him, ' respecting church service timing is respecting God, if you are careless in this then you are dishonoring God." Anybody listening to me?
There are lot of people who quarrel, gossip, fight, habour bitterness in their heart and yet, carry big fat Bibles in their hands. One particular boy would carry the Bible in his hands during the entire church service and refuse to keep it down on the floor because that would be disrespecting the Word of God. How sad!
The Lord said:"Isaiah 1:3 "An ox knows its master, and a donkey knows where its owner feeds it, but the people of Israel do not know me; my people do not understand.”
Further Rahab seems to know that the Jews give reverence to the oath that they make in the name of the Lord, that's why she asks, "please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family.."(verse 12)
SHOW KINDNESS:
Having known the Lord, she now exercises her faith, she pleads firmly "show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign ." Awesome! She was serious and determined about her request. "Show me kindness" is a beautiful request. She didn't ask for money, power or wealth, she said "show kindness to me and my family and save us. " She knew this God is a merciful God though He is powerful, He will show kindness to me too. You cannot chase God like this, without knowing Him. Anybody listening?
You will go to church on time, read the Bible, pray daily, join prayer meetings and be with zeal in the things of God if only you know who He is and how He rewards people who please Him. Apostle Paul said: Colossians 1:10 " so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." Amen
PERSISTENCE:
Rahab just did not stop with asking 'show kindness' but further she pressed more and asked " Give me a sure sign". Praise God! Through faith and persistence Rahab and her entire family were saved from destruction. Every home needs a Rahab! We need such aggressive seekers! Since I am also a Principal in Abide School, the school that we run for the poor students, one particular class 3 student would chase me if I had promised to give a pencil as a gift for his good marks, he would stand in front of my office and not move. He knew madam would give him if he asks ceaselessly, he knew I was strict but compassionate too. God is looking for such seekers! Say Amen.
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent."Calvin Coolidge
Testimony:I was out for ministry in a village in Tamil nadu, we were in a crowded bus, I spotted a lady with ashes smeared on her forehead, yellow dress that pilgrims wear and lot of amulets and beads around her neck and wrists. Scary look! I straightaway squeezed my way to her in the crowd, despite the conductor screaming at me and sat next to her in the bus. I shared my testimony of resigning from a foreign bank to serve the Lord as a mother of 2 children. She was on her way back from pilgrimage and spent lot of money for it but still she had no peace. At the end she said" I know your God is powerful if not you would not have resigned your job to do His work even though you have 2 children. " She further asked me"why did you not come to my village" and got down from the bus. I sat shocked with tears running down my cheeks!
