1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,320 Please open your Bible at Hebrews, 2 00:00:02,320 –> 00:00:05,780 And chapter 11, just two more weeks to go 3 00:00:05,780 –> 00:00:10,260 in our series entitled Living By Faith. 4 00:00:10,260 –> 00:00:12,620 We’ve been seeing that God teaches us 5 00:00:12,620 –> 00:00:15,860 in this remarkable chapter through a whole series 6 00:00:15,860 –> 00:00:19,100 of real-life examples. 7 00:00:19,100 –> 00:00:23,160 And, each one of them highlights an aspect of the faith 8 00:00:23,160 –> 00:00:25,340 to which every one of us is called. 9 00:00:25,340 –> 00:00:29,379 We’ve looked at the lives of Abel, and Enoch, and Noah. 10 00:00:29,379 –> 00:00:32,540 Abraham, and Sarah, and Isaac, and Jacob. 11 00:00:32,540 –> 00:00:34,180 We’ve looked at the faith of Joseph, 12 00:00:34,180 –> 00:00:37,139 and we’ve looked together at the faith of Moses. 13 00:00:37,139 –> 00:00:40,580 Now, who would you expect to come next 14 00:00:40,580 –> 00:00:44,419 as a hero of faith after Moses? 15 00:00:45,580 –> 00:00:48,759 Well, Joshua was the successor to Moses. 16 00:00:48,759 –> 00:00:53,759 And without any doubt, he was a man of extraordinary faith. 17 00:00:55,220 –> 00:00:58,060 He was the one who in the time of Moses 18 00:00:59,020 –> 00:01:03,439 was one of the 12 spies sent out by Moses. 19 00:01:03,439 –> 00:01:05,580 And you remember that at that time, 20 00:01:05,580 –> 00:01:09,779 10 of them returned with a really gloomy report. 21 00:01:09,779 –> 00:01:12,059 They said, the land flows with milk and honey, 22 00:01:12,059 –> 00:01:14,500 that was good, but then they said the people are strong, 23 00:01:14,500 –> 00:01:16,260 the cities are fortified, 24 00:01:16,260 –> 00:01:19,500 and we are not able to go up against them. 25 00:01:19,500 –> 00:01:21,540 The people are much stronger than we are. 26 00:01:22,739 –> 00:01:26,279 10 spies said, it cannot be done. 27 00:01:26,339 –> 00:01:30,080 But there were two spies who said, 28 00:01:30,080 –> 00:01:31,639 if the Lord delights in us, 29 00:01:31,639 –> 00:01:34,480 he will give us this land. 30 00:01:34,480 –> 00:01:35,639 And one of these was Caleb 31 00:01:35,639 –> 00:01:38,080 and the other one was Joshua. 32 00:01:38,080 –> 00:01:41,639 Joshua was a man of great faith. 33 00:01:41,639 –> 00:01:45,279 And when Moses died, 34 00:01:45,279 –> 00:01:48,040 the leadership of God’s people went to Joshua. 35 00:01:48,040 –> 00:01:50,879 He was the one who brought them into the land of Canaan. 36 00:01:50,879 –> 00:01:52,720 He was the one who led them 37 00:01:52,720 –> 00:01:55,839 as they marched around the city of Jericho 38 00:01:55,879 –> 00:01:58,839 on that occasion that we’re going to look at today 39 00:01:58,839 –> 00:02:01,599 at when the walls fell down. 40 00:02:01,599 –> 00:02:03,459 And that story is recorded, 41 00:02:03,459 –> 00:02:08,460 you’ll see in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 30. 42 00:02:08,699 –> 00:02:12,419 There’s no doubt that Joshua was a great hero of faith 43 00:02:12,419 –> 00:02:17,360 but his name does not appear in Hebrews chapter 11 44 00:02:19,199 –> 00:02:22,539 not even in regard to the falling down 45 00:02:22,539 –> 00:02:25,779 of the walls of Jericho. 46 00:02:25,800 –> 00:02:30,479 The next person named after Moses 47 00:02:30,479 –> 00:02:34,919 is not Joshua but Rahab. 48 00:02:34,919 –> 00:02:36,979 Verse 31 of Hebrews 11. 49 00:02:36,979 –> 00:02:41,940 By faith, Rahab the prostitute 50 00:02:41,940 –> 00:02:45,940 did not perish with those who were disobedient 51 00:02:45,940 –> 00:02:50,940 because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 52 00:02:51,339 –> 00:02:55,940 To the spies, now of all the heroes and heroines 53 00:02:58,759 –> 00:03:01,559 of faith in Hebrews chapter 11, 54 00:03:01,559 –> 00:03:06,279 Rahab is without any question, the most surprising. 55 00:03:07,460 –> 00:03:10,279 Remember that God’s promises had been given to Abraham 56 00:03:10,279 –> 00:03:11,740 and to his descendants, 57 00:03:11,740 –> 00:03:16,240 and Rahab was not one of Abraham’s descendants. 58 00:03:16,240 –> 00:03:17,919 She was not one of God’s people. 59 00:03:18,839 –> 00:03:23,380 And clearly she had not lived a righteous life. 60 00:03:23,380 –> 00:03:27,119 We’re told in this verse she had been a prostitute. 61 00:03:27,119 –> 00:03:32,119 Yet, here she is held up for us as a model of faith. 62 00:03:34,539 –> 00:03:36,100 The writer to the Hebrews is saying 63 00:03:36,100 –> 00:03:37,539 after commenting on Moses, 64 00:03:37,539 –> 00:03:40,479 oh, if you want to know what faith looks like, 65 00:03:40,479 –> 00:03:43,919 just look at Rahab. 66 00:03:44,860 –> 00:03:47,600 So it seems that the Holy Spirit 67 00:03:47,600 –> 00:03:50,740 must have something very special 68 00:03:50,740 –> 00:03:55,320 to teach us from Rahab’s story. 69 00:03:55,320 –> 00:03:58,139 And that story is told in Joshua in chapter two 70 00:03:58,139 –> 00:04:02,199 which was read for us just a few moments ago. 71 00:04:02,199 –> 00:04:06,119 When God’s people were about to enter the promised land, 72 00:04:06,119 –> 00:04:10,259 Joshua sent out two spies to gather 73 00:04:10,279 –> 00:04:14,600 a particular intelligence about this city of Jericho. 74 00:04:14,600 –> 00:04:17,339 And when these men came to the fortified city, 75 00:04:17,339 –> 00:04:20,859 they lodged with Rahab. 76 00:04:20,859 –> 00:04:23,679 Clearly the spies had not been very successful 77 00:04:23,679 –> 00:04:26,079 in concealing their identity 78 00:04:26,079 –> 00:04:28,440 because verse two of Joshua chapter two 79 00:04:28,440 –> 00:04:33,200 makes clear that word about these men of Israel 80 00:04:33,200 –> 00:04:35,200 got about time there are visitors, 81 00:04:35,200 –> 00:04:38,299 there’s a couple of men that are from Israel. 82 00:04:38,299 –> 00:04:40,739 And since it was obvious that God’s people 83 00:04:40,739 –> 00:04:43,320 were heading towards Jericho, 84 00:04:43,320 –> 00:04:45,700 it was not at all difficult to work out 85 00:04:45,700 –> 00:04:48,380 why these men had come. 86 00:04:48,380 –> 00:04:53,100 And so when the king of Jericho heard about the visitors, 87 00:04:53,100 –> 00:04:58,059 he sent messengers to Rahab with an order 88 00:04:58,179 –> 00:05:03,179 that she should turn these visitors over to the messengers 89 00:05:03,880 –> 00:05:06,579 who would then escort them to the king. 90 00:05:07,579 –> 00:05:11,200 Well, Rahab must have guessed that this would happen, 91 00:05:11,200 –> 00:05:14,760 and before the king’s messengers even arrived, 92 00:05:14,760 –> 00:05:18,019 she had taken the spies up onto the roof of her house 93 00:05:18,019 –> 00:05:20,760 where she had laid out bundles of flax 94 00:05:20,760 –> 00:05:24,339 and hid them among the stalks of flax. 95 00:05:24,339 –> 00:05:26,980 And when the king’s messengers arrived, 96 00:05:26,980 –> 00:05:31,079 well, Rahab really sent them off on a wild goose chase, 97 00:05:31,079 –> 00:05:33,200 that’s the only way I can describe it. 98 00:05:33,200 –> 00:05:35,140 She said, well, these men have gone already. 99 00:05:35,140 –> 00:05:36,160 I don’t know where they’ve gone. 100 00:05:37,160 –> 00:05:39,519 But if you follow quickly, you’re sure to catch them. 101 00:05:39,519 –> 00:05:42,399 And so off went the king’s messengers 102 00:05:42,399 –> 00:05:45,019 on this wild goose chase after the spies 103 00:05:45,019 –> 00:05:49,359 who all the time were hidden under the stalks of flax 104 00:05:49,359 –> 00:05:52,179 on Rahab’s roof. 105 00:05:52,179 –> 00:05:55,320 And then the Bible records Joshua chapter two in verse seven, 106 00:05:55,320 –> 00:05:57,720 and the gate was shut 107 00:05:59,399 –> 00:06:04,399 as soon as the pursuers had gone out. 108 00:06:04,579 –> 00:06:05,459 You see what’s happening. 109 00:06:05,459 –> 00:06:08,239 The search for the spies was on 110 00:06:09,200 –> 00:06:12,700 and once the city gate was shut, 111 00:06:12,700 –> 00:06:14,779 well, the whole city was in lockdown. 112 00:06:15,899 –> 00:06:18,559 No one could enter the city. 113 00:06:18,559 –> 00:06:22,440 And with the gate shut, no one could leave. 114 00:06:23,779 –> 00:06:26,179 So now the spies had a real problem. 115 00:06:27,160 –> 00:06:29,140 They were stuck. 116 00:06:29,140 –> 00:06:31,140 They were trapped. 117 00:06:31,140 –> 00:06:34,619 How could they possibly escape from the city 118 00:06:34,619 –> 00:06:36,279 when the gate was shut? 119 00:06:37,859 –> 00:06:42,760 Well, now Joshua tells us that Rehob’s house 120 00:06:42,760 –> 00:06:45,899 was right at the edge of the city. 121 00:06:45,899 –> 00:06:48,920 In fact, verse 15 of Joshua and chapter two, 122 00:06:48,920 –> 00:06:53,920 the house itself was built into the city wall. 123 00:06:54,140 –> 00:06:56,059 So if you were in Rehob’s house 124 00:06:56,059 –> 00:06:57,440 and looked out from the front, 125 00:06:57,440 –> 00:06:59,980 you would look onto the streets of the city, 126 00:06:59,980 –> 00:07:02,179 but if you were looking out from the back, 127 00:07:02,179 –> 00:07:04,320 you would look right through the city wall 128 00:07:04,320 –> 00:07:08,000 out into the open countryside beyond. 129 00:07:08,880 –> 00:07:11,320 And so when darkness came, 130 00:07:11,320 –> 00:07:15,839 Rehob let the spies out of the city 131 00:07:15,839 –> 00:07:20,839 by lowering them on a rope out of her window. 132 00:07:23,119 –> 00:07:25,959 Now, why did Rehob do this? 133 00:07:25,959 –> 00:07:28,920 Why would she put loyalty to these two men 134 00:07:28,920 –> 00:07:31,540 who just had arrived at her house 135 00:07:31,540 –> 00:07:35,459 higher than loyalty to her own king 136 00:07:35,459 –> 00:07:38,140 who demanded that she hand the men over? 137 00:07:39,220 –> 00:07:41,459 Well, very clearly, Rehob saw 138 00:07:41,459 –> 00:07:44,820 that a great conflict was coming. 139 00:07:44,820 –> 00:07:47,859 She realized that she faced a choice. 140 00:07:47,859 –> 00:07:52,160 She chose a side and she made a commitment. 141 00:07:52,160 –> 00:07:57,140 And Hebrews tells us that she did this by faith. 142 00:07:58,140 –> 00:08:00,420 Now, I want us to learn three things 143 00:08:00,420 –> 00:08:02,859 from the story of Rehob this morning. 144 00:08:02,859 –> 00:08:07,859 And the first of them is the simplicity of Rehob’s faith. 145 00:08:09,140 –> 00:08:11,299 Notice Hebrews 11 and verse 31. 146 00:08:11,299 –> 00:08:14,519 By faith, Rehob did not perish 147 00:08:14,519 –> 00:08:15,940 with those who were disobedient 148 00:08:15,940 –> 00:08:20,940 because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 149 00:08:22,600 –> 00:08:24,220 Now the first thing I’m suggesting 150 00:08:24,220 –> 00:08:26,299 that we’ll learn from Rehob’s faith, 151 00:08:26,299 –> 00:08:29,179 which after all, is held up in Hebrews as a model 152 00:08:29,179 –> 00:08:32,919 for us to understand what faith is and what it does, 153 00:08:32,919 –> 00:08:35,919 first thing we need to learn is that you do not have 154 00:08:35,919 –> 00:08:39,599 to have vast knowledge before you can believe. 155 00:08:41,179 –> 00:08:44,520 You do not have to have all your questions answered 156 00:08:44,520 –> 00:08:46,760 before you can trust. 157 00:08:47,960 –> 00:08:52,960 Rehob had a very limited knowledge of the truth. 158 00:08:53,979 –> 00:08:55,479 She was not an Israelite. 159 00:08:56,520 –> 00:09:01,099 No prophet had ever come and spoken the word of God to her. 160 00:09:02,340 –> 00:09:05,219 It’s very unlikely that she would have known the stories 161 00:09:05,219 –> 00:09:08,539 of Abraham or Isaac or Jacob or any of the revelation 162 00:09:08,539 –> 00:09:10,119 that God had given to them. 163 00:09:11,539 –> 00:09:15,760 But she did have some knowledge of the Lord. 164 00:09:15,760 –> 00:09:19,119 Notice verse nine of Joshua in chapter two. 165 00:09:19,119 –> 00:09:24,119 She says, I know that the Lord has given you the land. 166 00:09:24,679 –> 00:09:26,919 Now, do you notice that the word Lord 167 00:09:26,919 –> 00:09:30,400 there has four capital letters, LOD. 168 00:09:30,400 –> 00:09:33,440 And when you see the word Lord or the name Lord 169 00:09:33,440 –> 00:09:36,760 with four capital letters in the Old Testament, 170 00:09:36,760 –> 00:09:39,760 it signifies the name by which 171 00:09:39,760 –> 00:09:41,840 God had made himself known to Moses. 172 00:09:41,840 –> 00:09:45,840 Remember I am who I am. 173 00:09:47,280 –> 00:09:50,539 And Rahab, if you look closely in your Bible you’ll see this 174 00:09:50,539 –> 00:09:53,859 Rahab prefers to God by name. 175 00:09:53,859 –> 00:09:56,299 By the name that he had revealed to Moses, 176 00:09:56,299 –> 00:09:57,979 Lord, four capital letters, 177 00:09:57,979 –> 00:10:02,099 four times verse 9, verse 10, verse 11, and verse 12. 178 00:10:03,400 –> 00:10:05,659 Notice then what Rahab knew about God. 179 00:10:05,659 –> 00:10:08,500 She knew who God is, verse 11. 180 00:10:08,500 –> 00:10:11,419 The Lord, four capital letters, your God, 181 00:10:11,419 –> 00:10:15,599 he is God in the heavens above and the earth beneath. 182 00:10:16,619 –> 00:10:19,919 She says your God’s the Lord. 183 00:10:21,020 –> 00:10:23,799 The God that you worship, I’ve come to believe, 184 00:10:23,799 –> 00:10:26,880 reigns in heaven and rules over the earth. 185 00:10:26,880 –> 00:10:29,020 And what that means is that all our idols 186 00:10:29,020 –> 00:10:31,580 here in Jericho are going to fall before him. 187 00:10:32,739 –> 00:10:35,020 Rahab knew who God is. 188 00:10:35,020 –> 00:10:36,020 The Lord. 189 00:10:37,739 –> 00:10:39,380 Rahab knew what God had done. 190 00:10:39,380 –> 00:10:41,299 Look at verse 10. 191 00:10:41,299 –> 00:10:45,580 We have heard how the LORD, four capital letters, 192 00:10:45,580 –> 00:10:48,780 dried up the water of the Red Sea before you 193 00:10:48,780 –> 00:10:51,820 when you came out of Egypt. 194 00:10:51,820 –> 00:10:53,419 So it’s not surprising, of course, 195 00:10:53,419 –> 00:10:56,979 that this amazing story of what had happened in the exodus, 196 00:10:56,979 –> 00:11:00,419 the story of international significance, 197 00:11:00,419 –> 00:11:02,659 it had got around. 198 00:11:02,659 –> 00:11:05,799 Israel’s God parted the waters. 199 00:11:06,940 –> 00:11:09,979 He blew upon them and separated them 200 00:11:09,979 –> 00:11:12,119 so that they were piled up like great walls, 201 00:11:12,119 –> 00:11:14,059 defying the laws of nature, 202 00:11:14,059 –> 00:11:16,380 God intervened in his own laws. 203 00:11:17,320 –> 00:11:20,599 And his people walked over on dry ground 204 00:11:20,599 –> 00:11:24,260 and then God too away his hand 205 00:11:24,260 –> 00:11:27,820 and the waters came crashing down on the oppressors 206 00:11:27,820 –> 00:11:30,820 who were pursuing God’s people. 207 00:11:30,820 –> 00:11:34,059 Rahab knew who God is, she knew what God had done 208 00:11:34,059 –> 00:11:36,059 and she knew what God was about to do. 209 00:11:36,059 –> 00:11:37,140 Look at verse nine, 210 00:11:37,140 –> 00:11:40,179 I know that the Lord, four capital letters, 211 00:11:40,179 –> 00:11:42,840 has given you the land. 212 00:11:43,679 –> 00:11:48,599 She knew this because Rahab was part 213 00:11:48,599 –> 00:11:53,599 of a community with a long history of evil 214 00:11:55,500 –> 00:11:57,940 and God had determined that that community 215 00:11:57,940 –> 00:12:00,059 in its entirety would be destroyed. 216 00:12:01,859 –> 00:12:03,880 The very important reference, by the way, 217 00:12:03,880 –> 00:12:07,700 in Genesis chapter 15 and verse 16, 218 00:12:07,700 –> 00:12:10,080 way back in the time of Abraham. 219 00:12:10,140 –> 00:12:14,320 God said this to Abraham in the fourth generation, 220 00:12:14,320 –> 00:12:16,280 now that means in 400 years, 221 00:12:16,280 –> 00:12:20,559 but for lifetimes and to end in 400 years, 222 00:12:20,559 –> 00:12:22,960 your descendants will come back here, 223 00:12:22,960 –> 00:12:24,840 that is to the land of Canaan. 224 00:12:24,840 –> 00:12:26,780 And why will it take 400 years? 225 00:12:26,780 –> 00:12:27,880 Why will it be that long? 226 00:12:27,880 –> 00:12:29,119 Why that long delay? 227 00:12:29,119 –> 00:12:30,159 Here’s the answer 228 00:12:30,159 –> 00:12:35,159 For the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached full measure 229 00:12:35,760 –> 00:12:38,900 That’s Genesis 15 and verse 16. 230 00:12:38,900 –> 00:12:39,880 In other words, 231 00:12:39,880 –> 00:12:42,659 the sin of the Amorites was great, 232 00:12:42,659 –> 00:12:47,039 even in the time of Abraham, 400 years earlier. 233 00:12:47,039 –> 00:12:52,039 But God is always merciful. 234 00:12:52,039 –> 00:12:58,559 And he held back judgment on this defiant 235 00:12:58,900 –> 00:13:06,599 and evil community for 400 years 236 00:13:06,599 –> 00:13:13,559 until their sin reached full measure. 237 00:13:14,820 –> 00:13:19,219 And Rahab knew that in her day, 238 00:13:19,219 –> 00:13:21,340 she was part of a community 239 00:13:21,340 –> 00:13:23,700 whose sin had reached full measure. 240 00:13:23,700 –> 00:13:26,299 She realized that her city was going to be destroyed 241 00:13:26,299 –> 00:13:27,820 in the very judgment of God. 242 00:13:27,859 –> 00:13:30,000 And she said, I know the Lord 243 00:13:30,000 –> 00:13:33,739 has given you this land. 244 00:13:35,380 –> 00:13:40,659 Now, here’s what we learned from Rahab’s faith. 245 00:13:40,659 –> 00:13:44,219 Faith rests on who God is, 246 00:13:44,219 –> 00:13:46,299 what he has done, 247 00:13:46,299 –> 00:13:48,380 and what he will do. 248 00:13:48,380 –> 00:13:50,099 Who is God? 249 00:13:50,099 –> 00:13:53,799 God is the ruler of heaven and earth. 250 00:13:53,799 –> 00:13:55,619 What has he done? 251 00:13:55,619 –> 00:13:58,400 He has sent his son to save his people 252 00:13:58,400 –> 00:14:01,280 by given himself as a sacrifice for sin 253 00:14:01,280 –> 00:14:03,260 and then rising from the dead. 254 00:14:04,679 –> 00:14:06,400 What will God do? 255 00:14:06,400 –> 00:14:08,260 God will bring justice. 256 00:14:09,320 –> 00:14:12,219 God will destroy all evil. 257 00:14:13,200 –> 00:14:15,280 God will bring his people 258 00:14:15,280 –> 00:14:17,960 into all that he has promised a new heaven 259 00:14:17,960 –> 00:14:18,820 and a new earth, 260 00:14:18,820 –> 00:14:20,919 that will be the home of righteousness 261 00:14:20,919 –> 00:14:22,500 forever and forever. 262 00:14:22,500 –> 00:14:25,320 Now, do you see how simple Rahab’s faith was? 263 00:14:26,619 –> 00:14:28,419 I mean, she had no bible, 264 00:14:29,299 –> 00:14:31,580 she had no pastor, 265 00:14:31,580 –> 00:14:33,500 and she had no Christian friends, 266 00:14:35,739 –> 00:14:38,200 but she knew that there was a great God in heaven. 267 00:14:39,099 –> 00:14:41,599 She knew that he would bring judgment on the earth 268 00:14:42,479 –> 00:14:45,880 and she knew that God was with his people. 269 00:14:45,880 –> 00:14:48,359 You don’t need to know everything about the bible 270 00:14:48,359 –> 00:14:49,799 before you can believe. 271 00:14:50,940 –> 00:14:53,500 You don’t need to have all your questions answered 272 00:14:53,539 –> 00:14:56,219 before you can trust. 273 00:14:56,219 –> 00:14:58,640 Here’s what you need to grasp. 274 00:14:58,640 –> 00:15:02,900 God reigns in heaven and he rules over all the earth. 275 00:15:02,900 –> 00:15:04,539 He is who he is. 276 00:15:04,539 –> 00:15:07,020 He’s not whoever you want him to be. 277 00:15:07,020 –> 00:15:10,580 He will judge all sin and he will destroy all evil, 278 00:15:10,580 –> 00:15:13,700 but he has sent his Son to save his people 279 00:15:13,700 –> 00:15:17,780 and if you are among his people you will be saved. 280 00:15:19,900 –> 00:15:22,340 So do you see faith rests on who God is, 281 00:15:22,440 –> 00:15:24,320 what he has done, what he will do, 282 00:15:24,320 –> 00:15:29,320 and on that basis faith commits to God’s people. 283 00:15:30,919 –> 00:15:33,880 Now that brings me to the second thing 284 00:15:33,880 –> 00:15:36,739 that I want us to see from Rahab’s faith today. 285 00:15:36,739 –> 00:15:39,659 We’ve looked at the simplicity of her faith. 286 00:15:39,659 –> 00:15:41,140 What I want us to see second 287 00:15:41,140 –> 00:15:45,500 is the depth of her commitment. 288 00:15:45,500 –> 00:15:47,500 Notice what it says in Hebrews 11, 289 00:15:47,500 –> 00:15:51,580 by faith Rahab did not perish 290 00:15:51,580 –> 00:15:53,140 with those who were disobedient 291 00:15:53,140 –> 00:15:58,140 because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 292 00:16:02,299 –> 00:16:04,940 Now Hebrews makes it clear, 293 00:16:04,940 –> 00:16:06,380 do you see this in the verse, 294 00:16:06,380 –> 00:16:11,380 that it was by faith that Rahab did not perish? 295 00:16:11,919 –> 00:16:15,239 Right clear at the top of this verse. 296 00:16:16,219 –> 00:16:18,700 But do you see that this verse also makes clear 297 00:16:18,700 –> 00:16:20,739 that the proof, or the evidence, 298 00:16:20,739 –> 00:16:22,460 that her faith was genuine 299 00:16:22,460 –> 00:16:26,679 was that she gave a friendly welcome to the spies? 300 00:16:27,960 –> 00:16:30,700 In other words, the strength and genuineness 301 00:16:30,700 –> 00:16:33,440 of Rahab’s faith was shown 302 00:16:33,440 –> 00:16:36,380 in her commitment to God’s people. 303 00:16:37,619 –> 00:16:41,580 Now we have seen that faith believes what God has revealed 304 00:16:41,580 –> 00:16:43,859 and that faith trusts what God has promised, 305 00:16:43,859 –> 00:16:45,520 that’s what faith is. 306 00:16:46,700 –> 00:16:48,419 But the whole point of Hebrews 11 307 00:16:48,460 –> 00:16:50,859 that we’ve been learning all the way through these weeks 308 00:16:50,859 –> 00:16:54,440 is that faith shows itself by what it does, 309 00:16:54,440 –> 00:16:56,299 that’s how you know it’s genuine. 310 00:16:56,299 –> 00:17:01,299 There are certain marks by which faith makes itself known. 311 00:17:01,599 –> 00:17:03,580 For example, we saw in the story of Abel 312 00:17:03,580 –> 00:17:05,880 that faith listens to God. 313 00:17:05,880 –> 00:17:09,319 We saw in the story of Noah that faith fears God. 314 00:17:09,319 –> 00:17:13,819 We saw in the story of Moses that faith depends upon God. 315 00:17:13,819 –> 00:17:16,040 Now we’re seeing in the story of Rahab 316 00:17:16,160 –> 00:17:18,880 that faith commits not only to God 317 00:17:18,880 –> 00:17:22,500 but to His people in particular. 318 00:17:22,500 –> 00:17:27,500 Faith shows itself in what it does. 319 00:17:27,500 –> 00:17:30,920 And of course that is the great theme 320 00:17:30,920 –> 00:17:34,359 of the letter of James in the New Testament 321 00:17:34,359 –> 00:17:38,959 and very significantly, James chooses Rahab 322 00:17:38,959 –> 00:17:41,479 as one of his shining examples, 323 00:17:41,479 –> 00:17:44,599 James chapter two and verse 25. 324 00:17:44,599 –> 00:17:49,599 And in the same way was not also Rahab, 325 00:17:50,060 –> 00:17:54,920 the prostitute, justified by works 326 00:17:56,119 –> 00:17:58,479 when she received the messengers 327 00:17:58,479 –> 00:18:01,339 and sent them out by another way? 328 00:18:01,339 –> 00:18:02,640 You look at the screen and you say, 329 00:18:02,640 –> 00:18:03,920 is there a typo there? 330 00:18:03,920 –> 00:18:05,479 No, there is not! 331 00:18:05,479 –> 00:18:08,020 Justified by works? 332 00:18:08,020 –> 00:18:10,880 Paul says, we are justified by faith. 333 00:18:12,339 –> 00:18:13,420 Now here’s the important thing 334 00:18:13,420 –> 00:18:16,319 to understand and to grasp is very important indeed. 335 00:18:17,900 –> 00:18:22,619 James and Paul used the word justified 336 00:18:22,619 –> 00:18:24,239 in two different ways. 337 00:18:25,640 –> 00:18:28,979 Paul speaks about the declaration 338 00:18:28,979 –> 00:18:31,520 by which God makes us right with him. 339 00:18:32,939 –> 00:18:36,160 James speaks about the demonstration 340 00:18:36,160 –> 00:18:38,819 by which we show that our faith is genuine. 341 00:18:39,640 –> 00:18:42,400 Paul speaks, to put it another way, 342 00:18:42,400 –> 00:18:46,579 about a sinner being set free from condemnation. 343 00:18:47,979 –> 00:18:51,839 James speaks about a believer 344 00:18:51,839 –> 00:18:53,900 being shown to be the real deal. 345 00:18:55,099 –> 00:18:59,939 And Hebrews is right in line with both Paul and James. 346 00:19:01,439 –> 00:19:03,439 As Paul would say, 347 00:19:03,439 –> 00:19:06,540 by faith Rahab did not perish. 348 00:19:07,479 –> 00:19:10,300 Rahab believed who God is, 349 00:19:10,300 –> 00:19:13,540 what he had done, what he was about to do. 350 00:19:13,540 –> 00:19:15,660 And by faith she did not perish 351 00:19:15,660 –> 00:19:19,180 with those who were disobedient. 352 00:19:19,180 –> 00:19:22,939 And as James would say, 353 00:19:22,939 –> 00:19:24,780 the evidence 354 00:19:24,780 –> 00:19:28,819 that Rahab’s faith was genuine was this. 355 00:19:28,819 –> 00:19:32,140 She committed herself without question to God’s people. 356 00:19:33,380 –> 00:19:36,119 And for her to commit herself to God’s people 357 00:19:36,160 –> 00:19:38,939 was a massive risk. 358 00:19:38,939 –> 00:19:39,780 I mean, think about it, 359 00:19:39,780 –> 00:19:41,839 when the King’s messengers came and said, 360 00:19:41,839 –> 00:19:44,680 hand these men who’ve come to your house over, 361 00:19:45,640 –> 00:19:50,560 if they had been discovered hiding in the flax on the roof, 362 00:19:50,560 –> 00:19:54,319 Rahab’s life would have been over. 363 00:19:54,319 –> 00:19:56,079 She took an enormous risk 364 00:19:56,079 –> 00:19:59,040 in identifying herself with God’s people. 365 00:19:59,040 –> 00:20:01,260 But you see the strength and the genuineness 366 00:20:01,260 –> 00:20:04,239 of Rahab’s faith was seen in the depth 367 00:20:04,260 –> 00:20:07,319 of her commitment to the people of God. 368 00:20:09,040 –> 00:20:10,520 Now, this is very important 369 00:20:10,520 –> 00:20:12,640 and that’s what Hebrews is highlighting for us. 370 00:20:12,640 –> 00:20:15,140 How do you know that faith’s genuine? 371 00:20:15,140 –> 00:20:18,140 What does genuine faith look like? 372 00:20:18,140 –> 00:20:21,680 Well, you see we live in a highly individualistic culture. 373 00:20:21,680 –> 00:20:23,119 It’s so easy for us to say, 374 00:20:23,119 –> 00:20:24,939 oh, faith, yes, I know all about that. 375 00:20:24,939 –> 00:20:27,239 That’s a little private deal between me and God, 376 00:20:27,239 –> 00:20:28,719 nobody else is involved. 377 00:20:28,719 –> 00:20:30,339 But Hebrews is telling us 378 00:20:30,339 –> 00:20:32,260 that faith, genuine faith, 379 00:20:32,260 –> 00:20:34,760 shows itself in commitment to God’s people 380 00:20:34,760 –> 00:20:37,239 and what that means for us today is the church. 381 00:20:39,239 –> 00:20:44,239 And Rahab made a lifelong commitment to God’s people. 382 00:20:45,900 –> 00:20:47,520 After the destruction of Jericho, 383 00:20:47,520 –> 00:20:50,119 we read in Joshua chapter six in verse 25, 384 00:20:50,119 –> 00:20:55,119 Rahab has lived in Israel to this day. 385 00:20:56,339 –> 00:20:59,599 It’s writing at the end of the time of Joshua, of course. 386 00:20:59,599 –> 00:21:02,040 She continued, it was a lifelong commitment 387 00:21:02,619 –> 00:21:04,359 because she hid the messengers 388 00:21:05,459 –> 00:21:09,040 whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. 389 00:21:09,920 –> 00:21:12,180 Now do you see, this is very important. 390 00:21:13,079 –> 00:21:17,800 Faith shows itself in commitment to God’s people 391 00:21:18,959 –> 00:21:22,040 and the strength, the genuineness of Rahab’s faith 392 00:21:22,040 –> 00:21:27,040 is demonstrated in the depth of her commitment 393 00:21:27,359 –> 00:21:29,680 to the people of God. 394 00:21:29,979 –> 00:21:30,839 Nice comment. 395 00:21:32,560 –> 00:21:36,619 So we’ve looked at the simplicity of Rahab’s faith. 396 00:21:36,619 –> 00:21:41,140 We’ve looked at the depth of Rahab’s commitment. 397 00:21:41,140 –> 00:21:43,060 Here’s the third thing today. 398 00:21:43,060 –> 00:21:47,819 The promise of Rahab’s safety. 399 00:21:47,819 –> 00:21:50,579 And I want you to notice, from Joshua in chapter two, 400 00:21:50,579 –> 00:21:54,520 that before Rahab lowered the spies to safety 401 00:21:54,520 –> 00:21:59,520 from her window, she asked them to swear a solemn promise. 402 00:22:00,280 –> 00:22:03,020 Joshua 2, verse 12. 403 00:22:03,020 –> 00:22:08,020 Now then, please, swear to me, 404 00:22:08,359 –> 00:22:12,140 by the Lord, for capital letters, 405 00:22:13,239 –> 00:22:15,699 that as I have dealt kindly with you, 406 00:22:15,699 –> 00:22:20,079 you also will deal kindly with my father’s house. 407 00:22:20,079 –> 00:22:24,780 Now do you see that Rahab pressed the spies 408 00:22:24,780 –> 00:22:26,579 not only for a promise 409 00:22:27,140 –> 00:22:32,140 but for a promise made in the name of the Lord. 410 00:22:33,180 –> 00:22:35,180 Why did she do that? 411 00:22:35,180 –> 00:22:38,079 Because she knew that a promise 412 00:22:38,079 –> 00:22:41,199 with God’s name attached 413 00:22:42,199 –> 00:22:44,300 was a promise that would always be kept. 414 00:22:45,880 –> 00:22:48,540 And the spies gave that solemn promise 415 00:22:48,540 –> 00:22:51,599 in the name of the Lord. 416 00:22:51,599 –> 00:22:53,479 And they said this, Joshua chapter two 417 00:22:53,479 –> 00:22:55,199 in verse 18, behold, 418 00:22:55,219 –> 00:22:56,939 when we come to the land, 419 00:22:56,939 –> 00:22:59,439 you shall tie this scarlet cord 420 00:22:59,439 –> 00:23:02,719 in the window through which you lead us down. 421 00:23:02,719 –> 00:23:04,520 And you shall gather into your house, 422 00:23:04,520 –> 00:23:08,140 your father, your mother, your brothers, 423 00:23:08,140 –> 00:23:12,439 and all of your father’s household. 424 00:23:12,439 –> 00:23:16,400 And Rahab trusted this promise 425 00:23:16,400 –> 00:23:19,640 because God’s name was attached 426 00:23:19,640 –> 00:23:23,579 swear to me by the Lord. 427 00:23:24,500 –> 00:23:26,660 And the promise was clear, 428 00:23:26,660 –> 00:23:31,140 if you will tie the scarlet cord in the window, 429 00:23:31,140 –> 00:23:36,140 then anyone in your house will be saved. 430 00:23:37,099 –> 00:23:40,500 And Joshua records very simply in verse 21, 431 00:23:40,500 –> 00:23:45,500 she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 432 00:23:46,900 –> 00:23:48,339 Now, do you see what we’re learning here? 433 00:23:48,339 –> 00:23:53,339 It’s very clear, faith commits to God’s people 434 00:23:53,859 –> 00:23:56,699 because of who God is, what He has done 435 00:23:56,699 –> 00:24:01,699 and what He will do and faith trusts God’s promise. 436 00:24:03,939 –> 00:24:05,339 That’s what Rahab did. 437 00:24:05,339 –> 00:24:08,739 This is why she has held up in the book of Hebrews 438 00:24:08,739 –> 00:24:13,739 as a model, an example of faith for us today. 439 00:24:14,540 –> 00:24:16,819 This is what we must do, 440 00:24:16,819 –> 00:24:19,839 we must commit to God’s people on the basis 441 00:24:19,839 –> 00:24:21,839 of who God is and what He has done, 442 00:24:21,959 –> 00:24:25,540 what He will do, and we must trust the promise of God, 443 00:24:25,540 –> 00:24:29,800 the promise that is given to us in His name. 444 00:24:31,239 –> 00:24:34,540 Well let me tell you the continuation of the story. 445 00:24:34,540 –> 00:24:35,560 It’s remarkable. 446 00:24:36,560 –> 00:24:40,260 Sometime after the spies had gone, 447 00:24:41,939 –> 00:24:45,339 the people of God appeared on the horizon. 448 00:24:46,199 –> 00:24:48,959 I’ve no doubt that Rahab, looking through her window, 449 00:24:48,959 –> 00:24:50,739 saw them in the distance. 450 00:24:51,739 –> 00:24:54,000 And as soon as she did, 451 00:24:54,000 –> 00:24:56,699 she went to gather all of her family. 452 00:24:57,959 –> 00:25:02,619 When you believe, you have a great desire 453 00:25:02,619 –> 00:25:05,780 that your loved ones should believe with you, 454 00:25:05,780 –> 00:25:07,780 and that they too should be saved. 455 00:25:08,900 –> 00:25:12,260 And Rahab was concerned not only about her own safety, 456 00:25:12,260 –> 00:25:14,979 but about the safety of her father, 457 00:25:14,979 –> 00:25:18,020 and her mother, and her sisters, 458 00:25:18,020 –> 00:25:20,680 her brothers and all of their families too. 459 00:25:21,979 –> 00:25:24,260 And so Rahab gathered her family. 460 00:25:25,680 –> 00:25:28,319 This city’s going to be destroyed, Dad. 461 00:25:30,160 –> 00:25:32,420 Come to my house and you will be safe. 462 00:25:32,420 –> 00:25:33,739 I’ve been given a promise, 463 00:25:33,739 –> 00:25:36,579 and I’ve been given that promise in the name of the Lord. 464 00:25:37,859 –> 00:25:39,359 I wonder what they made of it. 465 00:25:40,859 –> 00:25:42,459 I expect Rahab had caused 466 00:25:42,459 –> 00:25:45,459 her mother and her father all kinds of anxiety 467 00:25:45,459 –> 00:25:46,780 over many, many years. 468 00:25:46,900 –> 00:25:49,380 I mean, can you imagine if Rahab was your daughter? 469 00:25:51,040 –> 00:25:52,380 Rahab what are you up to now? 470 00:25:54,819 –> 00:25:57,819 And no doubt she explained her very simple faith 471 00:25:57,819 –> 00:25:58,920 to her family. 472 00:25:58,920 –> 00:26:03,099 Listen, there’s a great God in heaven. 473 00:26:03,099 –> 00:26:05,959 He’s about to bring judgment on our city 474 00:26:05,959 –> 00:26:07,979 for all the evil we have done. 475 00:26:07,979 –> 00:26:10,979 But I have been given a promise of safety in his name. 476 00:26:10,979 –> 00:26:14,660 Believe that promise with me and come into my house. 477 00:26:15,579 –> 00:26:17,619 And so the family gathered. 478 00:26:18,500 –> 00:26:22,719 All of them packed into Rahab’s house. 479 00:26:23,599 –> 00:26:27,020 And then what did they make of this strange scene 480 00:26:28,079 –> 00:26:30,920 as the armies of the people of God arrived 481 00:26:30,920 –> 00:26:32,540 and did not attack the city. 482 00:26:33,660 –> 00:26:36,500 Instead, what they did was they marched 483 00:26:36,500 –> 00:26:41,500 all the way around the city in silence. 484 00:26:41,920 –> 00:26:45,099 And at the end, nothing happened. 485 00:26:46,739 –> 00:26:50,939 On the second day, new picture, Rahab’s family 486 00:26:50,939 –> 00:26:54,140 leaning out the window, watching the armies 487 00:26:54,140 –> 00:26:56,859 of God’s people going around the city, 488 00:26:56,859 –> 00:27:00,839 and at the end of the second day, nothing happened. 489 00:27:02,020 –> 00:27:04,140 It was the same on the third day 490 00:27:04,140 –> 00:27:08,420 and the fourth day and the fifth day and the sixth day, 491 00:27:08,420 –> 00:27:13,420 but every time Joshua’s army marched around that city, 492 00:27:13,739 –> 00:27:16,540 they would see that scarlet cord 493 00:27:16,540 –> 00:27:19,119 hanging from this one window. 494 00:27:20,319 –> 00:27:25,319 The people in that house are with us. 495 00:27:26,260 –> 00:27:28,300 When the walls come down, 496 00:27:28,300 –> 00:27:32,020 make sure they are taken to safety. 497 00:27:33,859 –> 00:27:35,739 And then on the seventh day, 498 00:27:36,000 –> 00:27:41,000 the armies of God’s people marched round the city not once, 499 00:27:42,020 –> 00:27:46,780 but seven times, they sounded the trumpets 500 00:27:46,780 –> 00:27:51,780 and the great walls of this fortified city fell down. 501 00:27:52,540 –> 00:27:56,079 And remember that Rahab’s house 502 00:27:56,079 –> 00:27:58,780 was built into the city wall. 503 00:27:58,780 –> 00:28:02,500 What that means is, that when the city wall fell down, 504 00:28:02,500 –> 00:28:05,380 one entire side of her house was completely exposed. 505 00:28:05,439 –> 00:28:07,099 There they are in the house looking straight out 506 00:28:07,099 –> 00:28:08,780 into the country with no protection 507 00:28:08,780 –> 00:28:11,239 and the armies of the people of God outside. 508 00:28:13,459 –> 00:28:16,719 But Rahab’s house had been marked with the scarlet cord. 509 00:28:18,199 –> 00:28:19,699 She was one of God’s people. 510 00:28:20,739 –> 00:28:22,680 And so when the walls came down 511 00:28:23,800 –> 00:28:26,400 and she was completely exposed, 512 00:28:27,500 –> 00:28:30,859 she and her family were ushered to safety. 513 00:28:30,880 –> 00:28:35,880 Rahab, her father, her mother, her sisters, 514 00:28:35,880 –> 00:28:40,540 her brothers, and all of their families. 515 00:28:42,920 –> 00:28:44,420 Friends, in these last moments, 516 00:28:44,420 –> 00:28:48,339 let me make these three very simple and brief applications 517 00:28:48,339 –> 00:28:52,900 of this amazing story that teaches us so much. 518 00:28:52,900 –> 00:28:57,900 The first is that God’s grace covers real sins. 519 00:28:58,819 –> 00:29:03,339 God’s grace covers real sins. 520 00:29:03,339 –> 00:29:07,239 I mean, Rahab had lived a deeply immoral life. 521 00:29:08,959 –> 00:29:12,619 Her sins before she believed were many. 522 00:29:15,140 –> 00:29:20,140 And Scripture records the lie 523 00:29:20,599 –> 00:29:22,300 that she told to the messengers, 524 00:29:22,300 –> 00:29:25,880 which was clearly after she had believed, 525 00:29:28,540 –> 00:29:32,420 any Christian has some awareness that our sins, 526 00:29:32,420 –> 00:29:35,300 though they were many before we came to believe, 527 00:29:36,619 –> 00:29:38,959 are many after we came to believe too. 528 00:29:40,920 –> 00:29:43,180 It’s very interesting to me that some writers 529 00:29:43,180 –> 00:29:46,819 seem to pay more attention to the lie that Rahab told 530 00:29:46,819 –> 00:29:48,459 than the truth that she believed. 531 00:29:49,780 –> 00:29:51,540 But there is no doubt and we shouldn’t try 532 00:29:51,540 –> 00:29:54,319 and hide from it, I mean she broke the ninth commandment. 533 00:29:55,160 –> 00:29:57,400 The spies are gone, she said, 534 00:29:57,400 –> 00:29:59,880 when they were hiding on her roof! 535 00:29:59,880 –> 00:30:01,479 If you hurry, you’ll catch them. 536 00:30:03,359 –> 00:30:05,900 The Bible never defends the lie. 537 00:30:07,439 –> 00:30:09,800 God commands us to speak the truth. 538 00:30:10,719 –> 00:30:14,319 But what I want you to notice is that Hebrews 539 00:30:14,319 –> 00:30:17,319 passes over the lie completely 540 00:30:18,359 –> 00:30:22,520 and focuses only on Rahab’s faith. 541 00:30:23,359 –> 00:30:25,239 Now that’s grace. 542 00:30:26,479 –> 00:30:30,739 God’s grace covers a multitude of sins. 543 00:30:31,599 –> 00:30:32,939 Real sins. 544 00:30:34,839 –> 00:30:37,380 And that’s what gives us believers hope. 545 00:30:39,800 –> 00:30:40,640 Second, 546 00:30:41,800 –> 00:30:45,439 God’s grace offers real hope. 547 00:30:46,880 –> 00:30:51,420 If ever there was a person who was likely to think 548 00:30:51,420 –> 00:30:55,079 there may be hope for others but there will not 549 00:30:55,079 –> 00:30:57,640 be hope for me, it would have been Rahab. 550 00:30:59,079 –> 00:31:01,000 Rahab could have said what I have done 551 00:31:01,000 –> 00:31:03,439 and what I have done for years has shaped the person 552 00:31:03,439 –> 00:31:06,000 that I have become and the person that I am. 553 00:31:07,339 –> 00:31:10,560 But Rahab found hope because she believed. 554 00:31:12,000 –> 00:31:13,599 Jeremiah records an occasion. 555 00:31:13,599 –> 00:31:15,839 This is Jeremiah 18 in verse 12 556 00:31:15,839 –> 00:31:19,400 where God calls people to turn back from evil ways 557 00:31:19,400 –> 00:31:20,939 and the response of the people 558 00:31:21,020 –> 00:31:23,339 is to say there is no hope 559 00:31:25,500 –> 00:31:29,619 and because there is no hope we will follow our own plans. 560 00:31:31,979 –> 00:31:33,939 It’s possible to get to a place like that. 561 00:31:33,939 –> 00:31:35,680 You say I’ve done this so long there is no hope 562 00:31:35,680 –> 00:31:36,780 but I’ll ever change. 563 00:31:39,739 –> 00:31:43,400 But you see the story of Rahab says that there is hope. 564 00:31:44,859 –> 00:31:47,180 Where there is even the simplest faith, 565 00:31:47,199 –> 00:31:52,079 the door to a new and different life truly is open. 566 00:31:54,160 –> 00:31:56,920 Draw near to God in faith and repentance 567 00:31:56,920 –> 00:31:59,439 and whatever your past sins may have been 568 00:31:59,439 –> 00:32:04,439 you will be forgiven and accepted and loved and saved. 569 00:32:06,420 –> 00:32:10,880 And no sin however great however long repeated 570 00:32:10,920 –> 00:32:13,760 can stop you from receiving the mercy of God 571 00:32:13,760 –> 00:32:16,459 if you will trust in His promise 572 00:32:17,680 –> 00:32:18,839 as Rahab did. 573 00:32:20,040 –> 00:32:22,780 Rahab did not perish 574 00:32:24,079 –> 00:32:25,819 with those who were disobedient. 575 00:32:27,140 –> 00:32:28,560 And God so loved the world 576 00:32:28,560 –> 00:32:30,280 that He gave his one and only son 577 00:32:30,280 –> 00:32:33,579 that whosoever believes in him should not perish 578 00:32:35,500 –> 00:32:37,060 but have everlasting life. 579 00:32:39,000 –> 00:32:40,079 The last thing is this 580 00:32:40,079 –> 00:32:42,839 that God’s grace brings real change 581 00:32:42,839 –> 00:32:45,020 real change, wonderful change. 582 00:32:45,959 –> 00:32:50,000 We’ve seen that Rahab became one of God’s people 583 00:32:51,119 –> 00:32:52,619 but the best part of the story 584 00:32:52,619 –> 00:32:53,959 was really yet to come. 585 00:32:55,300 –> 00:32:56,400 And it’s told for us 586 00:32:56,400 –> 00:32:58,280 at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel 587 00:32:59,400 –> 00:33:02,079 where we discover that Rahab 588 00:33:02,079 –> 00:33:05,000 married a man by the name of Salmon 589 00:33:05,939 –> 00:33:07,920 and they had a little boy 590 00:33:07,920 –> 00:33:10,420 whose name was Bāwaz 591 00:33:10,420 –> 00:33:14,000 and Bāwaz was the father of Obed 592 00:33:14,079 –> 00:33:17,660 and Obed was the father of Jesse 593 00:33:17,660 –> 00:33:22,520 and Jesse was the father of King David. 594 00:33:22,520 –> 00:33:27,520 Rahab became the great great grandmother 595 00:33:28,160 –> 00:33:29,420 of King David 596 00:33:30,439 –> 00:33:32,859 and it was into the line of David 597 00:33:34,219 –> 00:33:37,880 that Jesus Christ was born. 598 00:33:39,040 –> 00:33:42,400 That’s what God’s grace did for Rahab 599 00:33:44,339 –> 00:33:47,859 Now think what God’s grace can do for you. 600 00:33:48,800 –> 00:33:50,300 Let’s pray together, shall we. 601 00:33:52,800 –> 00:33:56,439 Father we thank you for your marvelous grace 602 00:33:57,719 –> 00:34:01,060 which opens up hope for us 603 00:34:02,599 –> 00:34:06,979 and causes us to draw near to you in faith. 604 00:34:08,479 –> 00:34:10,320 Help us in the light of who you are 605 00:34:10,320 –> 00:34:12,520 and what you have done and what you will do, 606 00:34:13,419 –> 00:34:18,320 truly to trust in the promise that is given in your name 607 00:34:19,419 –> 00:34:23,159 and to find mercy, to find grace, 608 00:34:24,080 –> 00:34:29,080 to find repentance, to find newness of life, 609 00:34:30,379 –> 00:34:34,500 to find the blessing that can be found in Jesus Christ 610 00:34:36,199 –> 00:34:40,699 for all who will seek him in faith and in repentance. 611 00:34:41,580 –> 00:34:43,419 Hear our prayers 612 00:34:43,419 –> 00:34:46,780 and receive our thanks in Jesus name. 613 00:34:48,020 –> 00:34:48,860 Amen.