Rahab - Dec. 15

Women of Courage : Ladies Bible Study- Rahab- Dec. 15

The Fear of God and Faith –seems to be the focus of this lesson. 

Joshua 1:9   Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

2 Tim 2:15  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Rahab seeming to have no redeeming qualities up to this point, but God chose her.  And Mary also, with no known redeeming qualities was selected and chosen by God to restore and redeem her and to bear His son.  

Could Rahab lived a different life? She still would have been a sinner in need of redemption.  The would have been condemned for her sins no matter what.  To what extent are women today responsible for their sin, Romans 1 tells us we are all without excuse!

Ecc. 12:13-14
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
¹⁴ For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.

2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

Confluent- the flowing together of forces, we live our lives knowing that there are forces that weave into our lives and we know that God is directing our footsteps day by day.  Many people use the situation that happened in Connecticut as a proclamation that there is no God. But we know that God is very active and his plans are before us. 

Ezek 36:20-

20 When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ 21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.

22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. 23 And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. 29 I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. 30 And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. 32 Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”

33 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. 34 The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. 35 So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.”

37 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”’”

Psalm 119:133 Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

Jeremiah 10:23   O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

So what is God trying to tell us?  How can we be separate from the sins of our nation?

How have we profaned the name of the Lord or allowed God’s name to be profaned by others? We hear of the shootings here in this land, and the stabbing of children in China, and the many other things that are happening in our world.  They are spiritually dead, influenced by forces within spiritual wickedness. We need to stay away from the world, its’ influences and the evil around us. Any time we profess to be a Christian and don’t behave like one, anytime we don’t speak up for God. Pray that God changes our hearts of stone. We need to be strong in the Lord, living in his word, drawing closer daily to our Lord.  Be a part of the two and not of the ten! Be strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might, walking in faith, walking the narrow road.

Let us pray for God to reveal our “idols” so that we no longer profane God’s name. Let us speak God’s word in truth and love to others. Praise God for his word, the fact we have access to it and He can guide us as we learn daily to walk closer to him.  

 

Post Script: The Jesus Film app is available to all; it is free to send to others.

Also mentioned it the beginnings of a mobile medical unit for pregnant women in need locally.  They are working to prepare the motorhome to get everything ready to go.