Faith's Journey - Pastor Mark Sage

It is amazing to watch what faith can do in people’s lives. It is not often the path we would choose or would have thought of, but it is nevertheless a path that is truly amazing and is often unusual.

Our Faith takes us to unexpected places, unforeseen circumstances.

The Bible is clear about that:

1 Corinthians 2:9 AV

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Faith in God took Joseph from his family to be a slave with a traveling Ishmaelite caravan, to be the manager of an estate, still yet to be thrown into prison for several years, and then to becoming the most trusted inmate in that prison and even helping to run the prison. Finally, he became the greatest leader Egypt would ever see and was second to the Pharaoh of Egypt. That is where faith took him.

Faith in God took Abraham for the land of Ur of Chaldees to a land that he promised but had never seen. Faith had he and his servants battle with local kingdoms to recover his nephew Lot. Faith in God allowed he who was 100 and his wife who was 90 to bear a son of promise named Isaac. It was through him that was revealed that righteousness comes not by works, but by faith.

Faith takes you to places that you never imagined that you would go. Faith has you doing things today that you never dreamed that you would do.

One of the great statements that Deborah the Judge made Israel’s military leader, Barak, was this:

Judges 4:9 (AV)

And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour;...

It takes you to some exotic and mysterious places. No I am not talking about tropical island destinations, I’m talking about some places that you never thought of you being in, especially in the service of the Lord.

In this account in Joshua 2, we see such a journey of faith. That is what we see even in Rahab’s life. As we look at her journey of faith, perhaps you will see some similarities as to what God is doing in your life:

I. RAHAB WAS ON A JOURNEY OF FAITH

The Journey of Faith is always different for each one of us as well as the people of faith in the Bible. But there are some things we will see from this account concerning Rahab that we can all see in our Journeys of faith as well.

II. HER JOURNEY BROUGHT ABOUT SOME BAD NEWS FOR HER AND HER PEOPLE

Joshua 2:9-11

She had heard that doom and destruction were on their way to her and her people. She knew that there was nothing she could do that would stop it; it was going to happen.

Proverbs 12:25 AV

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Positive news makes you laugh and smile and can really lift your spirits and but negative news cuts to the heart, often brings sorrow, at times - regret. But it does something that good news usually never does - because in our desperate situation it drives us to our knees before God.

Perhaps of lat some of late cut to your heart, perhaps some news was astonishing to you. It could even be the news, what we call the good news, the Gospel that is keeping you up at night, because you know that your life is not good enough.

III. HER REACTION WAS APPROPRIATE AND EXPECTED

Rahab saw the Israelite armies far off, she knew they were coming, she knew victories they had.

Rahab was greatly afraid. It shook her to the core, knowing that destruction was coming, it was a desperate situation.

Have you ever heard some news that rocked your being, which shook you to the core? It left you dazed, confused, without hope in yourself. That is what was happening to Rahab.

In my adult life I have not had those types of things shake me to the core. In my youth, when my father was murdered, and my stepfather died of a hard attack, those things shook me as well.

There are problems that come close at times, problems in the church, but not quite to this degree. But maybe you have had some recently. Maybe it is a problem with a family member, the loss of a loved one, a serious problem at work, something that caused you to fear what the outcome of the situation might be and it shook you to the core.

Maybe it was it the day you realized you were a sinner, the day you realized that according the Word of God, if you died in your sins, you would have to pay for that sin, and the payment for that sin is death and hell.

There is nothing that you can do to escape it, no religious work you can do; no ritual you can perform that will help you to be delivered from it.

IV. SHE HAD FAITH IN THE INSTRUCTION AS TO THE WAY OF HER SALVATION

“Faith in the good news.”

The good news for her was found in verses 12-14.

Bad news, not matter how terrible can always turn to good if we will respond by Believing God and Repenting of our Way.

The bad news that Rahab heard ultimately led to the good news.

You know, don’t be upset when you come to church and the preacher preaches as message about sin and hell, because he will always include the good news, of how to escape hell by having your sins paid for by Jesus Christ.

The good news we read about in verses 12-14 that were saving Rahab was doing more than just saving her life, she was believing and trusting in the God of Jews because she had seen His mighty hand and knew that He was God.

For her to believe God it meant turning from her gods and idols and trusting in the Lord God alone.

To believe God it means you are not going to be with those that believe or go along with those believe something else.

You know something about Rahab, she was in Hall of Faith, she was not

Hebrews 11:31 AV

By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

V. REAL FAITH BRINGS ABOUT REAL CHANGE

Real faith has results, it changes things.

A. Rahab was saved

We understand that, she was saved because the men kept their promise.

By the way, I really like that statement that spies made in Joshua 2:14, they said, “Our Life for yours.” I believe that had significance concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, because that is exactly what Christ did, only he gave His life for yours.

He sacrifice His own life, God’s own Son, on the cross of Calvary for you.

Rahab was saved, not just physically, but spiritually because she put her faith in the God of Israel.

But there is more wonderful results here, it was wonderful that Rahab was saved, but this is what is just as exciting:

B. RAHAB’S LOVED ONES WERE SAVED

Joshua 6:22-23

Because she Heard the news, she feared, and because she feared, she believed the news of salvation by faith. And because she believed the news of salvation by faith, she did what she could to tell others about the salvation she was going to enjoy.

She shared the message with those that she could, those she thought would listen, her family and likely her closest friends.

Because of her witness and testimony many were saved that day. I’m sure they were sad at the destruction of their people. Even those that they loved who perished by the overwhelming forces that were blessed by God.

C. RAHAB BECAME A GREAT NAME IN ISRAEL

Rahab was part of the lineage of Jesus Christ

She didn’t know it at the time, but as a result of her act of faith, she had blessings that were to be attributed to her by God’s grace that will be part of eternity.

You see she married Salmon. They gave birth to Boaz who married Ruth, who were the parents of Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David, whose lineage would be found in Joseph, the man appointed to be the earthly father of God’s Son, the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

Friend, who knows what awaits you on your Journey of Faith. Who knows what wonderful things God has in store for you. Oh, there will be challenges along the way, but if you are Faithful, you will see many wonderful things.

But you must get on your Journey, if you have been saved and understand that your journey has already started, then influence those that are around you, be a witness to them, show them that your life is changed and that God is real to you and in you.

But for those that have not started their journey let me remind you of the news and a couple of things:

There are only two journeys that you can take in life. There is the journey of faith in Christ, or your own journey. The journey of faith will take you to heaven – but your own journey takes you the complete opposite.

Hebrews 9:27 AV

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Revelation 20:12–13 AV

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Revelation 20:15 AV

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

You are a sinner and sinners go to a place of judgment:

Revelation 21:8 AV

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

This news should cause you to fear, it should cause you to cry out to God, knowing that you cannot save yourself; it should cause you to trust in Him, put your faith in Him.

FAITH’S JOURNEY

Joshua 2:1-21

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