Scripture Passage: Hebrews 11:31

Faith has the incredible ability to radically and dramatically change people.

In Joshua 2, Rahab the prostitute was transformed by faith. She was a Canaanite woman living in spiritual darkness, but after God saved her, she became part of the bloodline of Jesus Christ.

Rahab’s transformation reveals four things about the power of faith.

First, the providence of God confronted Rahab.
In Joshua 2, two spies approached Rahab’s home with a message of Jericho’s imminent destruction. Rahab believed them and agreed to hide them in her home.

God works on both sides of our circumstances; He will bring people together in order to save them. He finds tender, ready hearts and brings to them soul-winners to share their faith.

Second, the Spirit of God convicted Rahab.
As she helped the two spies in Joshua 2:9-10, Rahab confessed that she knew what God had done for their people. She had heard of God’s mighty, miraculous power, displayed through them.

The Holy Spirit convicts others through people who are living and walking in victory. As Christians, the Holy Spirit uses our transformed lives to convict others of their sins.

Third, the Word of God confirmed Rahab.
By receiving these two messengers into her home, Rahab welcomed in the Word of God, spoken through them.

Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”

Finally, the grace of God cleansed Rahab. The messengers instructed Rahab to hang a scarlet cord over her doorpost so that when they came to avenge Jericho, they would pass over her home and spare her. This act illustrates the principle of the Passover, in which God instructed the Israelites to paint their doorposts with the blood of sacrificial lambs, to spare them from the death angel.

As a result, Rahab was delivered from destruction and her character changed; she was justified and made right in God’s sight.

Adrian Rogers says, “There are none so bad they can’t be saved, and none so good they need not be saved.”

Apply it to your life
Has your faith transformed you from the inside out; have you been confronted by God’s providence? Has the Holy Spirit convicted you, Scripture confirmed your belief, grace cleansed you?

I mean is there anything in my life that is so different that a person might come to me and say Adrian, I can’t explain you apart from God. Did you know that the only part of you that has any right to be believed by another is the part that cannot be explained. What is there in your life sir and in your life and in your life now that nobody can explain apart from God, they said, what does this mean? And then they said, what must we do? Mm hmm. Adrian Rogers ability to apply biblical truth to everyday life was one of the many things that made him such a remarkable pastor teacher and writer today on love worth finding. He’ll be bringing that uniqueness to this series of messages that were calling champions of faith. Have your bibles open to hebrews chapter 11 and join us for today’s message. And if this message is an encouragement to you remember you can stream this message again and download Pastor Rogers outlined notes and other resources to go along with this message all at L WF dot org. Now let’s join Adrian Rogers Take God’s precious word and find hebrews chapter 11 Talking about Champions of Fate, The Champion of Faith we’re going to be talking about today was a Harlot radically dramatically eternally changed by the power of God, Hallelujah for that. Look if you will Hebrews 11 verse 31 by faith The Harlot rehab perished. Not with them that believe not when she had received the spies with peace. Now if you don’t know the old testament story that won’t make much sense to you now but in a few moments it will. My Lord is in the transformation business and the greatest, the greatest power on earth is the grace of God made available by faith. This is the story of rehab. Let me tell you the plight that she was in. Let me tell you what she was up against. She was a page living in spiritual darkness. She was a harlot living in sinful degradation. She was a came night destiny for sure destruction. And God reached into the heart of Rehab. This prostitute and God saved her and let me tell you how her life was changed. First of all, I want you to see what I’m going to call the confronting power of the providence of God. Now let’s go back in the old testament to Joshua chapter two. Because the new testament is commentating on what happened so long ago. So go backwards to Joshua chapter two and there we’re going to we’re going to see the confronting power of the providence of God Joshua chapter 2: verse one And Joshua, the son of Nun sent out of sheet um two men despise secretly saying go view the land. Even Jericho and they went and came into an harlot’s house named rehab and lodged there and then Joshua to four and the woman took the two men and hid them and said thus there came under me that there came men under me. But I wish not and knew not once they were. Now here’s the situation. The joan of Israel are coming out of Egypt, they’re going to Canaan, the promised land. There’s the river john beyond Jordan’s lies the city of Jericho. Jericho, one of the oldest cities on the face of the Earth. Great in antiquity and great in okay. And general Joshua says I need some men to wreck annoyed her. So he sends out some spies and furtively like the special Ops they go and they’re looking around and they come to the house of a harlot. A woman named Rehab and we’re going to see that she took them in and hit them from the men of Jericho and was used of God to help Joshua to conquer Jericho. Now, here’s the question I’m talking about the providence of God. Do you believe that it was by chance. Do you believe it was by happenstance that they happen to come to rehabs house no friend. The holy spirit of God is in operation right here. Here was rehabs heart rehab had already been under deep conviction as we’re going to see she has been sensitized to the things of God. She is longing to know God. She is dreading the in fear the judgment of God and God by his providential. Mercy brings these men to her specific house on that day. Let me tell you how God the Holy Spirit works. Listen, this is the providence of God. God will find somebody whose heart is tender toward him. God will find somebody who longs to know him. And then God will get a soul winner who’s in the stream of the spirit, Somebody who is obeying him and God by his providence brings them together. Could it be that God is bypassing you and not using you to be a soul winner because you’re not in the stream of the Spirit and God can’t guide you. Did you know our city is full of people whose hearts are hungry and God by his providence, wants to guide you and that person and God works on both sides of the equation. God works in the heart of the center and God works in the heart of the sole winner and God gets the two together. Many of us remember Manley Beasley, great man of God has spoken from this pulpit, he’s in heaven. Now, Manley Beasley used to say, you get with right with God, get right with God, You have to backslide to keep from being a soul, one just get right with God, get in the stream of the spirit. Now what I’m I’m saying, here’s this woman, It was not by happenstance that she is there, this is God’s Holy Spirit working Now here’s the second thing I want you to see not only the confronting power of the providence of God, but now notice with me the convicting power of the Spirit of God. Now this woman was convicted by the Holy Spirit, Joshua to beginning in verse nine and she, that is rehab said unto the men. I know that the Lord has given you the land and that your terror is fallen upon us and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the red sea for you when you came out of Egypt, what he did unto the two kings of the Ameri. It’s that were on the other side Jordan, shy han and auge whom he utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt. Neither did there remain any more courage in any man because of you. Now listen to this for the Lord, your God, he is God in heaven alone and in earth beneath. Here’s a woman under great conviction. How did the Holy Spirit of God bring under such great conviction. She saw what God had done for his people. That’s it. She saw God in the life of these people. She saw them marching from victory to victory to victory. She saw God performing miracles for his people. And that brought her under great conviction. She had come to believe there is no God like Jehovah. She had come to believe that the only hope was in Jehovah. Now where did a pagan woman get such beliefs. Look again, Joshua chapter two verse 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the red sea for you. That is I have seen what God is doing for you. Now listen folks, is God doing anything for you? Can your neighbors see any difference? Can your associates see any difference? Not only are we witnesses friends? We are part of the evidence. There needs to be a transformed life. That’s what’s going to convict those round about us. Why should anybody believe in our faith? If we’re not transformed? If we’re not different? If the hand of God is not obviously upon us on the day of Pentecost? Back over now in the new testament on the day of Pentecost, the early church was there loving one another, seeking the face of God, praying, waiting before the Lord. And suddenly the holy Spirit came and filled the room. It was like a tornado on the inside cloven tongues of fire said on everybody’s head. They began to speak in strange languages, languages that they never heard the pagans were there. They were looking around, they were amazed, unbelieving, jews were there looking around amazed. two questions were asked there that day, Acts two verse 12 and they were all amazed and were in doubt saying to one another what means this? What is all of this? That was the first question. The second question is in Acts two verse 37 and they said, men and brethren, what must we do Now notice, first of all they said, what does this mean? We don’t understand it. Then they said 2ndly, what must we do? Do you know what’s the problem with many of us today? We’re trying to get them to ask the second question before they’ve ever asked the first question. We’re trying to get them to come to us and say how can I be saved? What must we do before they’ve ever seen anything in us to make them ask that question. I mean, is there anything in my life that is so different that a person might come to me and say Adrian, I can’t explain you apart from God. Did you know that’s the only part of you that has any right to be believed by another is the part that cannot be explained. What is there in your life, sir and in your life and in your life now that nobody can explain apart from God, they said, what does this mean? And then they said, what must we do rehab? The harlot was convicted by the spirit of God when she saw a miracle working God in the hearts and lives of God’s people. What makes you any different from your neighbor? What right do you have to say? Believe in the God who has not even changed my life no friends. Rehab saw a miracle working God. There was the confronting power of the providence of God. It was not by accident happenstance that they got together. There was the convicting power of the spirit of God. Now, here’s thirdly, there is the convincing power of the word of God. Because providence and conviction need convincing. Now. It’s not just your life that’s going to save. They need the word of God. Look, if you will now Joshua. Chapter two verse 11, here’s what Rehab says. As soon as we had heard these things underscore this. She’s hearing something. Our hearts did melt. Neither did there remain any more courage in any man because of you. For the Lord, your God, he is God in heaven above and in earth beneath. Now, therefore, I pray you square under me by the Lord. Since I’ve showed you kindness that you will also show kindness unto my father’s house. And give me a true token. She’s saying, look, spare me, I don’t want to die. I want to be one with you. I want to be part of the people of God. Promise sirs, but I will not die. And give me a sign. Give me a token. Now, listen to this. Give me a true token verse 13 that you will save a life my father and my mother and my brethren and my sisters and all that they have and deliver our lives from death. And they answered her underscore that they answered her. Our life for yours. If you utter not this our business that is, we’ll lay down our lives for you. Rehab. If you keep it a secret that we’re over here. Well, we were spies. And it shall be when the Lord has given us the land that we will deal kindly and truly with the Now Chapter 2: verse 21 here also is very key. And she said according to your words, so be it. We say this was just conversation. That’s not the word of God. Yes, it is the word of God. These men. We’re speaking for God. You say Adrian. How do you know? Well, I’m glad you asked the question. James. Chapter two verse 25 Likewise, also was not Rehab. The Harlot justified by works When she had received the messengers. Messengers. More than spying. These were divine messengers. They were speaking the word of God to her. You see, there’s the convicting power of the spirit of God. There’s the convincing power of the Word of God. Now, rehab is famous for her faith. According to our scripture here in Hebrews 1131. Well, how did she get faith? The same way you’re gonna get faith. I’m going to get faith. Anybody’s gonna get faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing. By the word of God Romans. 10 verse 17. The Bible says she believed again hebrews 11 verse 31. by faith. The Harlot. Rehab pierced not with them that believe not. She wasn’t one of those that believe not. She was one of those that believed. Now let’s come to the the next thing. And there is the cleansing power of the Grayson. So grateful for this! The cleansing power of the Grace of God. Notice here how the Grace of God begins to operate and change this fallen woman and turn her into a saint Joshua 2: verse 18. And this messengers also. The spy spoke to her and said, behold when we come into the Land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window, which thou just let us down by. So it’s more than like a sewing thread. These men were able to go over the wall. Uh with this chord, it’s a scarlet cord, uh which thou hast let us down by. And thou shalt bring thy father and thy mother and thy brethren and all thy father’s household, home unto thee. And it shall be that whosoever shall go out of the doors of the house into the street. Notice this phrase, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guilty and whosoever shall be with thee in the house. His blood should be on our head. If any hand be upon thee. And I mentioned blood twice. And he mentioned the scarlet thread a scarlet cord. Now, what what he’s saying is, look rehab, we’re going to come into the city, this city. He’s going to be visited with dad. But rehab! If you will take this scarlet cord and hang it outside the window. When we come, we will pass over you. Now, where did they get an idea like that? But you it’s a picture Passover when you put the blood of the lamb upon the door posts and the lintel of the house and God said in the last message, we talked about this when I see the blood, I will pass over you. This was the best they could do right now. But they’re saying, look, we know the power of the shed blood. And so when we see this scarlet thread in the window rehab, we’re going to pass over your house. But make sure that those that you love or in the house, that is, that they are under the blood Hebrews. Chapter 9: verse 22 says without shedding of blood, there is no remission. You see the blood in the old testament. I mean there is a scarlet thread that runs throughout the bible. It begins with Adams coat and Abel’s lamb and Noah’s sacrifice and Abraham’s ram and the Passover lamb and the temple sacrifices. It is all telling us without shedding of blood. There is no remission of sin. And every page in the divine word is staying with the precious blood of our dear savior, jesus christ put a scarlet thread in the window. What’s he saying? There’s power power, wonder, working power in the precious blood of the lamb. Now we’re talking about the cleansing power of the Grace of God, She received divine protection. Because the Bible says in hebrews chapter 11 and verse 31 that she perished. Not There’s never mind you John 316 for God, so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not bear. She perished. Not, but not only was the divine protection. There was divine transformation. It’s not just that she deny she was changed. You say pastor? How do you know she was changed Again? I go back to James. Chapter two verse 25. That tells us she was justified, justify not just that sand was overlooked. No, she’s changed. She’s no longer highland. She’s had an inward change. She’s been made pure. She brought into the bloodline of the Lord, jesus right, radically dramatically changed. It was battered and scarred and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to spend much time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile. What am I bidden? Good folks! He cried. And who will start the bidding for me? A dollar, $2. And who will make it three, $3 once, $3 twice and going and going, said he, but no! From the back of the room, gray haired man step forward and picked up the both wiping the dust from the old violin and tuning up all the strings. He played a melody pure and sweet, as sweet as an angel saying. The auctioneer. The music ceased and the auctioneer, and a voice hushed and low said, what am I bid for the old violin? And he held it up, It’s a bone $1000. And who will make it to 2000? Who will make it? three, once, 3000 twice. Going and gone, said he, People cheer, but some exclaim, we don’t understand what changed the world, the man replied. The Touch the master’s hand, and many life out of tune with God, all battered and scarred with sin is auctioned cheap to a foolish crowd, much like that old violin mess of pottage, glass of wine, a song, and he travels on. He’s going once, he’s going twice, he’s going and almost gone. But the master comes and the foolish crowd can never quite understand the worth of a soul. And the change that is wrong by the touch of the master’s hand. His name is jean, his name is jesus, he’s the one who’s in the transformation business. He’s the one who could take a filthy harlot and make her wider than snow. Now don’t you sit here and say, well that’s good for Harlan, I don’t need that. Do you know what jesus said in the book of Matthew too self righteous people, he said, Tax collectors and harlots are going to heaven before you. Do you know why? Because of their self righteous pride, if you want to get the meaning of this message today. Give it to you in the senate. There’s no one so bad. He cannot be saved And No one is so good, he need not be saved. Even our righteousness is as filter rags in the sight of our God. But I’m telling you there is the transforming power of the grace of God and God will change you. He changed me when I was a team, he changed me. I know he changed me. My teachers knew he changed me. This is church history friend. When I went back to school, the teachers began to talk and they said what happened to Adrian? I mean they’ve it’s what happened to Adrian tell you what happened. The God that savory has save me. If any man be in christ, he is a new creature. All things have passed away. Be a whole lot of things are become new now. If your religion hasn’t changed your life, you better change your religion. You don’t have the new testament kind. He’s in the transformation business. There’s no one, no one so bad. He cannot be saved. God is not finished with you. God loves you And There’s No one So Good. He or she need not be saved. Bow your heads in prayer. I want to lead you in a prayer today. And in this prayer you can pray and ask, jesus christ to come into your heart and save you. And I promise you on the authority of the word of God, he’ll do it. If you’ll trust him. Would you pray this prayer? Dear God, dear God, I am a sinner and I’m lost and I need to be saved and I want to be saved, jesus, you died to save me and promised to save me if I would trust you, I do trust you. I believe you shed your blood for me. I want to put a scarlet cord in the window of my heart right now. I want to say Lord jesus, I believe in you. I come to the shed blood for safety. I believe in you. I receive you. I want to be delivered from judgment, but more than delivered from judgment, I want to be changed and I can’t change myself. I want to be changed. I want to be made over. Come into my heart, forgive my sins. Save me, Jesus, save me, Jesus pray it and mean it, Lord, I pray that many. Today. We’ll have prayed that prayer in your holy name. Amen. Well, amen. We’re so grateful for these who have prayed and asked christ to come into the heart. What a glorious service this has been. But many of you want to make the same decision. You want to pray and ask christ to come into your heart. Perhaps you prayed with me in the service or perhaps you’ll pray right now and say, Lord jesus come into my heart and what you’ve done for these others do for me. I want to be saved. I want to be a part of your family. I want a home in heaven. I want your presence in my heart, pray and ask jesus to save you. And if you do, would you write to us and let us know that you’ve done it well, rejoice and we’ll send you some literature to help you to get started in your christian life. Mm hmm. We hope that you’ve been encouraged by these character studies from Hebrews Chapter 11 that we’re calling champions of faith. You can stream this message again, share this message with a friend and download other resources related to this message all at L WF dot org or the my L WF app while you’re there, be sure to check out our new bible studies on today’s topic as well as many other topics at L WF dot org. You can also subscribe to our daily heartbeat emails. Each heartbeat contains a daily devotional from Adrian Rogers, 90 seconds. A profound truth also from Adrian Rogers as well as a link to our daily radio program, all in one place, delivered directly to your computer or mobile device each day. Or you can catch up with our program each week on our facebook page or youtube channel and on the my L WF app. Thanks for joining us for today’s message. We’ll see you next time. May I tell you, my dear friend that all of the bible is about jesus. And as you open your bible and read it carefully and prayerfully standing somewhere in the shadows, you’ll find the Lord jesus christ. And if you read the bible and don’t find the Lord jesus christ, you’d better reread it because he is there somewhere, learn about God’s purpose and plan from genesis to revelation. See, jesus in all of history and better understand the message of redemption in this insightful new book, from love worth finding his story in this collection of eight powerful messages, Adrian Rogers shares the whole bible story in a simple and clear way for your gift. This month we’d like to send you a copy of his story call 1 806 479400. Or you can give online at L WF dot org. His story will help you learn practical ways to increase your head knowledge and heart knowledge of jesus call. Or go online today.