He Is Providing Victory
Intro: There once was a city that people thought couldn’t be destroyed or taken by an enemy. It’s name was
Jericho. With walls as high 25 feet and in come places 20 feet thick. The Caananite would position themselves on top and
look for miles in each direction. Not that it mattered…nothing had happened for thousands of years. What possibly could
happen?
-Well, as the learned Joshua and the Israelites would take the city and destroy it.God’s children would experience victory.
*Now many are familiar with the victory of Israelites; but this morning let’s look at how an unlikely person would experience
such great victory for her and her family. Her name is Rahab.
Text: Joshua 2: 9-14; 6:17
1) God gave Rahab the victory because she heard and believed what God was doing. (vs.10,11)
-At this time news about Israel was spreading. The news of them crossing the Red Sea and the river was all over place. Yet
the common Canaanite thought was God was a God of nature not a God of war.
-The people of Jericho didn’t care about Israel’s God. He didn’t matter because his specialty couldn’t affect them. There
were walls you know.
*How true to believe others and not Word of God. Many Christians try to limit God. Yeah, It’s great at church, but at work
He doesn’t seem to be there. The Spirit is not the same and because of the wicked walls of Satan; you fall victim to some
enemies. Two walls you might not be able to knock down are:
a) The Tongue. James said in James 3:8 “the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity”
-I have talked to many people who let their tongue go forward while the brain is still in park. OH-the mischief a loose
tongue can bring. James goes on to say that no man can tame his tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”
James 3:8.
*Not only have their been wars, family feuds, and marriage problems of what was said; there have been battles over what
was not said.
-James said no man can tame his tongue. And he is right. No man can; but God can.
Illus: Three preachers, from the same town but different churches, went out on a fishing trip together and
as they got out into the middle of the lake they started to confess their sins to one another. The first preacher started
talking. “You know what my big sin is? My big sin is drinking. I go once a month into a neighboring town where nobody knows
me and I get drunk. I know that it is wrong but I still do it.”
The second preacher stated taking. “My big sin is gambling. I went to Las Vegas last year and lost a large sum of money.”
The third preacher started talking. “ Guys I guess that I should have gone first.” The other two preachers looked puzzled
and asked why. “My big sin is gossiping.”
*Controlling the tongue; knocking down that wall of trouble is as easy as taking God at his word….like Rahab.
James 3:12 “no fountain can yield both salt and fresh water.” Get in the wisdom that is first “pure,
then peaceable, gentle, full of good fruits” and that wall will fall.
-Just believe God’s Word.
b)Another wall may be a particular temptation:
-Had people tell me they can’t find victory over a certain sin. Well I want you to know this morning God is not limited.
He can give you victory over any agony or addiction. It may be lust, anger, drugs, eating. Etc. God can give you victory
if you believe His Word. 1 Cor.10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man, but God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape.”
Illus: A Mountain man, a mama, and a son came into a big city. The Man wanted to familiarize his son with the way
of a big city. The came upon this very large building, and while the Mom waited in the car, the man beckoned his son inside the building.
Once inside they noticed an elderly woman waiting for an elevator. The doors opend and she stepped inside and was gone. A
few minutes later, the elevator doors opened again and out stepped a beautiful young girl. Dad said to his son “Go get your
mama son”.
-That man wanted his wife to change instantly, but it wasn’t going to work that way. Neither will our victory over temptation
be instantaneous. It will take effort on your part. But the wall can come crushing down.
-Just as Israel marched several times around; it may take you several trips around the wall.
2) Next; God Gave Rahab the victory because she didn’t trust what was built by man: (vs.10-11)
-The walls had been there since she was born. The experts said the God of Israel wasn’t greater than their god. But she knew.
Vs.10 – “I know the Lord will give you the land.” How did she know? Everyone else said the opposite.
The Key is found in vs. 11 “our hearts did melt” When the battle was coming to the front door, Rahab
listened to her heart and not her mind and she lived.
-The King called her in: she being a prostitute could have bartered and gotten some wealth. Instead she trusted in what was
going to happen and the immediate event.
Illus: Luke 12:16-21 talks of people who work for today. God gave this man everything: business, grain, barns,
health, and not one time do we see his name.
Illus: Opening Statement: The chairman of a community charity eveny called on a notorious miser. “Sir,” said
the fund-raiser, “our records show that despite your wealth, you’ve never once given to our drive.”
“Do your records show that I have an elderly mother who was left penniless when my father died?” fumed the tightwad. “Do
your records show that I have a disabled brother who is unable to work? Do your records show I have a widowed sister with
small children who can barely make ends meet?” “No, sir,” replied the embarrassed volunteer. “Our records don’t show those
things.” “Well,” said the miser. “I don’t give to any of them, so why should I give anything to you?”
*God gave Rahab the victory because she believed His Word.
*God gave her the victory because she didn’t completely trust what was built by man.
3) God gave Rahab the victory because she joined hands with God’s family (fellowship) Vs.12
-She is asking for them to remember her. When you take the city remember me. Not "if”, but "when". Rahab had complete
confidence in what she hadn’t seen yet. Isn’t that faith “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
-Rahab wanted to be on the winning side.
-Can’t fellowship unless you belong to God: John 8:44
-Can’t fellowship unless you love Christians: “He that loveth his brother walketh in the light” 1 John 2:10; goes on to say
if you don’t then you walk in darkness.
-Can’t fellowship with Lord unless living right; Rom.8:6-8 “To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to law of God neither indeed can it be.
They that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Close: Rahab is one of only 2 women mentioned in hall of faith. She is an ancestor of Jesus. She put her
fear aside to do something great for God. Vs.16: God took care of Rahab. She got the victory. For her and her family.
-Because she believe what God was doing.
-she believed in God not man’s accomplishments.
-she fellowshipped with right people (she became as an Israelite).
**God today still wants to give us victory in our life. Over whatever wall we think we have.
Illus: