Hearing, Believing and taking Action

On Sunday, we talked about Rahab and how she played a vital role in the fall of Jericho.

So, just as a refresh as to who she was:

• A Prostitute
• From a family and society that had many gods. They did not worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

This is who she was, but this would not define how she would move forward.

Read Joshua 2

1. Joshua charged 2 men to do what at Jericho?
2. The men hid in Rahab's house during the night.  Who was Rahab?
3. Why did Rahab protect the 2 men?
4. When Jericho fell, what happened to Rahab (Read Joshua 6:20-25)

Rahab could have heard all this news about what God had done for the Israelites and just shrugged it off.  However, she heard the news and believed that God could do anything. Therefore, she took action and hid the Israelite spies in hopes that she would be spared when Israel overtakes Jericho.

Because Rahab heard, believed and took action, her family was saved AND she was also part of Christ's geneology.  GOD USED HER in a mighty way!!!!

In the same way, God wants to use us.  The question always boils down to will we let Christ in and allow Him to use us as he did Rahab?

Think about it, how many times do we hear the great works of God, believe them to be true, but then not let it impact our lives?

Application:

This week, let's open up the Bible daily and discover all the great things God has done and has planned for us.  Then, let's take action and follow His lead.  As Phil point out in James 2:14-26 that faith without deeds is dead, we need to not just read and learn about Christ, but take action.

If you aren't currently reading through anything, let me suggest you do these readings this week:

Day 1: Matthew 5:1-12

Day 2: Matthew 5:13-16

Day 3: Matthew 5:17-20

Day 4: Matthew 5:21-26

Day 5: Matthew 5:27-32

Day 6: Matthew 5:33-37

Day 7: Matthew 5:38-48

No matter what you are reading, when you go through your quiet times this week, ask these questions:

1. What is God/Christ talking about here?
2. What is God saying to you in this section?
3. How can you apply what you just read and learned?

Take some time praying this week that God would use what you just read and learned and help give you the strength to take action with it.

We remember Rahab not for what she heard or believed, but for the action she took.  This week, let's put some action behind out beliefs and see where God leads us.

Relying on the Lord's ability

As we talked on Sunday, Moses had to put his fears and doubts and trust in the Lord.  He had to trust God because God had called him to do a mighty work, yet he felt unqualified for the work.

We are all unqualified for the work God calls us to, but if we trust and remain faithful to Him, he will guide and direct us.

The challenge Moses had to lead the Israelites out of Egypt wasn't the last time Moses needed to rely on God.  Read Exodus 17:1-7.  

1. What was the complaint of the Israelites?
2. According to v. 5, how mad where they at Moses?
3. What did Moses do?
4. How did God respond?

Moses was definitely put into a difficult position.  He was the leader of the Israelites and as leader, you hear the good and the bad (often the bad).  So, Moses do when he was faced with this tough situation?  He turned to God and relied on God's ability to do what needed to be done.

Application

When faced in tough or difficult situations, do you turn to God as Moses did and rely on Him to help?  Or do you, like I do more times than not, turn to myself and see how I can get the job done.

1 Peter 5:7 says to "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  

He will take care of you and provide for you for you.  He desires to do that!  What we have to do is to turn to him, seek him, and ask him for direction.

This week, seek him and turn to him to provide for you and see how God works in the midst of that!

Spend some time praying that for some things right now on your mind that you could turn over to God.

Taking Action

In Genesis 12:1-3, God made a covenant with Abraham.  

As we talked on Sunday, Abraham took the promise that God made him and didn't just believe him, but he put actions behind his beliefs.  Because he believed God, he put his faith into action by:

1. Moving to a foreign land  
   
2. Trusting that at the age of 100 he could have a son
3. Being willing to sacrifice his one and only son

Even though he did those things, it wasn't always easy for him to put action behind his faith.  After all, no one is perfect.

One example of the challenge Abraham faced can be found in Genesis 16:1-6.  Read through it and take a minute to answer the 3 questions.

1. Even though God promised Abraham an heir and many descendants, what did Abraham do?
2. How did that effect Sarah and Abraham?
3. Why do you think Abraham gave in and slept with Hagaar?

Like Abraham, even though we, ourselves, know the promises of God, it can be hard to put action behind our beliefs.  Can you recall a time when you struggled to put action behind your beliefs?

It can be very hard, especially with all the pressure we feel from others and we put on ourselves to be accepted and feel included to take a stand for our beliefs and put them into action.  But, as Paul says in 2 Timothy 1:7, God has given us the spirit of power.  When we choose to live out our faith by what we do and say, there comes the power of God behind it. 

We may not see the fruit of our actions or words immediately, but down the road God will bless what you did in front of others.

Application:

Living for the Lord is hard to do as it is, so why be the lone ranger?  My encouragement for you this week is to find someone who will spur you on (Hebrews 10:24-25) and this week go after the Lord together.  This way, you 2 can spur each other on towards Christ and actively living for him.  My encouragement in your selection process is to:

1. find someone who actively desires to pursue the Lord - someone who is at the same level of spiritual maturity as you. 
   
2. find someone of the same gender

If you do not have someone you can think of to team up with, pray to God that he will provide such a person.

I pray that God will bless you and encourage you when you take the leap of faith and proclaim him in your actions and words.