SHE’S NOT THE GIRL SHE USED TO BE
JOSHUA 2:1-24
Story of rough uncultured man who fell in love with beautiful vase in shop window--------------gradually the whole room was transformed
It is this kind of transformation we witness here in these verses
-----as the Israelites were about to enter Canaan and claim their promised land-----the first city they were to face was the great walled city of Jericho
When these two spies entered Jericho they went to the home of a harlot?----why----probably because the sight of men entering into a harlot’s home would not attract too much attention
-------------also because this would be a good place to gather information
-----------but the ultimate reason was because of the divine appointment given them by God
You see as they went into this home -----they found someone out of amazement-------Rahab was not the girl that she used to be
What we will see today is how the Lord takes sinners who will place their faith in Him and change them by His power and His grace
Now I want you to understand that believers should be aware of satanic strongholds
--------Jericho was satanic stronghold for Israel----it stood in their way of receiving what God has for them
----------same is true for us----as we cross over into our Spiritual land
There are many strongholds in our lives-----(define strongholds) ---------but in the world in which we live today there is one major stronghold in our lives--Materialism
How many blessings are we missing because of the strongholds in our lives
II Corinthians 10:3-6
Folks—Satan knows what God has in store for His people when they cross over into that Spiritual promise land----and he wants to keep us out-------and he uses those strongholds to keep us from experiencing all that God has for us
But praise God----He has those Rahab’s out there to help us to overcome those strongholds
----Who would have ever thought that God would use Rahab
Folks—God has always got a plan-----all we have to do is trust Him
-----but so often we think it has got to be done our way----not God’s
and folks God is not into tradition-------near as much as we are
I)—Rahab the Call girl—v. 1
A)—Her Spiritual Condition
Rahab was a harlot-----she was engaged in this wicked and evil lifestyle whereby she sold her body for money
Folks I want you to understand that Rahab is a picture of every person who is lost in sin this morning
Romans 3:23-----------Ephesians 2:1-3 & 12
B)—Her Spiritual Condemnation
She lived in a city that was slated for destruction-----God had already determined that Jericho would fall---------You see God had already passed sentence upon them and they were doomed to destruction
Folks understand----that is the same way it is with the sinner this morning--------The Bible tells us that the lost are condemned already
John 3:18 & 36
C)—God’s Spiritual Compassion
Notice v. 10-----expound
Rahab had experienced the grace and patience of God in giving her time to come to faith in Him
II Peter 3:9----“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for nay to perish but for all to come to repentance”
How many years has the Lord given you?------How many times has He knocked on your hearts door?
Isaiah 55:6 & 7
Folks it is a dangerous thing in delaying coming to the Lord-----or coming back to the Lord
II)—Rahab the Converted Girl—v. 2-11
A)—She Heard the Word–v. 10-11
Rahab had heard about the God of Israel-----It was a message of judgement that she heard but it introduced her to the true and living God
—the message that she received was the message of life
She heard that God can take any sinner and make them a new creation-----------You see that is the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ -----that He can take any sinner and make them a new creature------II Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come”
This message tells us about a God who loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins on a Cross
You see—this message is the only message that will bring eternal life to a person dead in sin
B)—She Heeded the Word—v. 9-11
Not only did Rahab hear the message, but she heeded it as well
-----this message produced a response of faith in the heart of Rahab
-----the fact that she believed the message is proven by what she says about God—v. 9------“LORD”----she used the covenant Name Jehovah
Notice v. 11----Notice what she says about the Lord
Notice v. 12----She calls on God to witness the pact she is about to make with the spies
Notice Hebrews 11:31
-------Rahab acted on what she heard and understood
This is exactly what must happen in the life of the lost person to bring them to Jesus------They must hear the message and then they must act on that message by accepting Jesus as their savior
Romans 10:12-15
III)—Rahab the Completed Girl—v. 12-22
After Rahab come to faith in the true and living God----her life was forever changed
What God did with her is a miracle of His love and grace--------and understand that God is no respecter of persons and what He did with Rahab He can do for you
God used Rahab in a mighty way-----and He can and wants to do the same in your life
A)—The proof of her completion—v. 12-22
1)—She labored for the Lord–v. 1-7
One of the surest proofs that Rahab was genuinely converted is the fact that she involved herself with the work of the Lord
she hid the spies and covered up for them-----no understand that we cannot condone her lie
Understand something here-----Notice v. 6----Flax was used in the production of linen----it is evident that she had trusted the Lord before the spies arrived-------it may be that her life had been radically changed by the power of God before they arrived as well
Even James uses Rahab as an example of the believer who proves their salvation by the works of their lives-----------James 2:23-26
The truth of our profession is proven by the work in our life
James 2:17-18----Expound
Matthew 7:15-23
2)—She loved the lost—v. 12-13
expound---------------I have a problem with people who don’t care about people being saved--------people who don’t want new folks from coming to Church--------problems with FAITH
B)—The payoff of her Completion
Because she placed her faith in the Lord God of Israel—she obtained some precious possessions-------notice how God took this former harlot and blessed her new life with the richest of His blessings
1)—She found a New Freedom—6:20-25
Because of her faith she was spared from the destruction that overtook her city
----when the walls of Jericho fell down-----there was apparently one section that remained standing--------how awesome our God is!!!!!!
Rahab and her family was spared by God
Notice v. 17 & 18------notice her faith
Folks that scarlet thread is symbolic of the blood of Jesus Christ
I Peter 1:18-19--------------Revelation 1:5—“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sin by His blood”
2)—She found a new Family--6:25—Ruth 4:21 & 22 Matt 5:1
When all these verses are taken together—we have the rest of the story concerning Rahab-----she married into the people of Israel and became part of all the covenant blessings of the Lord
She went from being part of judged nation to being part of a holy nation
This is the way it is for a lost person who trust Jesus Christ for salvation-----they instantly are transformed from a sinner to a saint and they instantly change families
I Corinthians 2:9—“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
3)—She found a new Fame—Matthew 1:5 and Heb 11:31
Rahab was taken from the house of shame and wound up in the hall of fame------only God can do that
Rahab became an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ----David’s great-great grandmother
God gave this trusting sinner a place in His eternal and divine plan
-----and He wants to do the same thing with you
What the Lord did for Rahab ----He can and will do for you
The Lord loves you just as you are and He will accept you and save you and make your life one of blessings and honor for His glory
-------you see----the Lord loves you just as you are and will accept you just as you are----but He will never leave you like you are
God specializes in taking lost sinners, saving them by His grace and then using them to touch the world by His Power
I Corinthians 1:26-29
Rahab is not the girl that she used to be------but what about you?
