God Is Sovereign

This morning as I read the word, God gave me this portion:

See its not the bad news that I would receive that destroys me, "its what I do with it."

It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. ~Hebrews 11:31

This week in our series Avengers - Heroes of Faith, I spoke about the Prostitute Rahab, a woman who lived in the walls of Jericho, a City destined for destruction.   You know as I think about her life, I have to think: weren't we all headed that way before Christ?  It was as a result of hearing of a God who saves, a God who reaches out to the "whosoevers" of this world that we came to the conclusion we needed saving, that we needed a relationship with God.    

Rahab had heard of the many works of God on the behalf of His people Israel, and it was based on her experience with God that she made a decision to believe in God and was saved.   You may think that you are not impacting people in your circle of life for Jesus, but rest asure you are, maybe you won't be the deciding factor, but God will use your testimony of faith to impact others.   Listen how it affected Rahab

Faith  that saves

9 “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10 For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea[b] when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed.[c] 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. ~Joshua 2:9-11

Hope for our family

Because of your relationship with Jesus Christ, God promises your family:

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.~Acts 16:31 

For Rahab it was her faith that saved her family, she believed in God and the work that was at hand and because she was obedient to His leading it saved her and not only her but her whole famly:

18 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house.  ~Joshua 2:18

 I don't know about you, but this brings hope to my heart, we see this kind of promises play out in Rahab's life and the lives of Israel durring the Passover, anyone who was in the house when the angel passed over would be saved.  God desires that your whole family be saved and for as many who believe He will do just that save them, keep the faith, keep the hope, believe that God will rescue your family.

A Future

Here is something to ponder:   Maybe you don't think your life is important, maybe you don't think that there are much plans, but it is what you don' t know that matters, Rahab did not know she would be part of the liniage of the Messiah, that she would be counted in the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.   Truth is that we cannot change our History, but we can be part of His Story, we can decide to go forward with God beleiving whatever the future He has for us is bigger that we can fathom, bigger than we can see and that because its His plan its the right one for us.

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).
Obed was the father of Jesse. ~Matthew 1:5

Something to take away from this:

Through faith our lives are transformed, our history transforms into  His Story, our family is changed, hope is infused into our lives and we have the promise of a future. 

They tried everything they could do to reject who He was (is,) they crucified Him thinking that it was their plan, but in actuality, it was God's redemption plan for you and I.
They set guards, they set a stone thinking they could stop Him from being the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, Messiah, but they could not because "He is Risen"
Isn't it ironic men trained in the word, leaders of the time, teachers of the covenant of God could be so blind they would actually try to stop an unstoppable plan.
The good news for you and I is:

• He Was Who He Said He Was   (Nothing Is Impossible)
• He Rose So You and I can Rise (Anyone Who Believes Shall Not Perish, But Have Eternal Life)
• He is the Unstoppable Ever Living God  (All Things Are Possible)

Because He Lives there is nothing that we cannot face. Because He lives we have life. Because He lives we have a future.

6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.

~ Mark 16:6

When I remember who you are I am reminded of what you can do. Lots of things I cannot count on but you "I CAN." Lots of things I don't find hope in, but you Lord I find "HOPE" in.
Thank you Lord for reminding me this day:

1. I can count on your presence to re-assure me I am not alone
2. I can count on your power to lift me up when I am weary.
3. I can count on your love to change my life.
4. I can count on you to always show me the way when I go astray.
5. I can count on you to provide for me every need.
6. I can count on you to give direction for my life.
7. I can count on you to use me to bless others.

The list is infinite, but thank you for reminding me of these seven truths.

I am counting on the lord;yes, I am counting on him.I have put my hope in his word.
PSALMS 130:5

Passing it on, how good are we at doing it, I know we are good at passing on to generation after generation things that absolutely don't matter, I know we are good at passing on to generation after generation bad habits/traits.

But how good are we at passing on the word of God. Is it written on your heart so that your children can witness it with their eyes, is it heard in their ears when you speak, have you become a living testimony of the word of God in the lives of those you encounter.

When people see you, do they see Jesus, when people hear you do they hear Jesus.
Israel was instructed every 7th year to read the the book of instruction and teach people the way to be blessed, by following the Lord. This was so that children who had not heard the word would hear of the immutable God they serve and then follow Him.

12 Call them all together—men, women, children, and the foreigners living in your towns—so they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the lord your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions. 13 Do this so that your children who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the lord your God. Do this as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.” Det 31:12-13