Title choice and action
Content Joshua 2:15-24 Choice and Action 2009/8/9
In the 19th century, the United States and the Soviet Union were the two most powerful powers competing for each other. Now, the Soviet Union has collapsed and the United States is standing tall as the greatest power.
At that time, the Soviet Union had unrivaled technological prowess ahead of the United States in space development. So you didn't launch the first spaceship? But the Soviet Union collapsed, and in the last half century, a terrible genocide took place, killing 60 million people. Solzinitzin, the 1983 Templeton Prize winner, said in his speech:
For reference, Templeton, an American businessman, donated a huge amount of money to the religious world because it is a pity that there is no award for religion in the Nobel Prize category. The first winner was Mother Teresa, and the 11th winner was Solzinitzin, who revived religion in the Soviet Union.
he says
“Why did Russia have such a horrific catastrophe that killed over 60 million people in the last half century? It is because people have forgotten God.”
This is probably not just Solzinitzin's view of Russia. This is the confession of Christians looking at the present.
I see people who lose God more and more and live their lives.
I see people who thoroughly undermine themselves with their sins.
Even Christians can't help but be amazed at how they forget God and live their lives.
The reasons vary, but generally speaking, it is comfort. Because of comfort.
Now, because the space is comfortable and comfortable, he is not interested in having intimate fellowship with God. Also because of the demand for the material. Let's earn, earn hard, eat happily, and spend happily. Dead while eating.. Isn't the color pretty? And it's all focused on these things. Not only that, but because it is difficult to find God in every part of our lives that we see, hear, and live. The Bible says about this because we live for the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes for the pride of life. Because we live and move according to our own lusts and desires rather than God's will, we are making us live a life that has forgotten God.
The same goes for Rahab. Will you hand over the two spies to the king of Jericho and live a more wonderful and splendid life with the reward? Or we may be caught and killed, but will we live for the salvation of God in heaven and earth?
Will you choose the lust and the pride of this life? Will you choose the invisible God?
Rahab makes the most difficult and important choice in her life.
“Yes, let’s change the way we live in Jericho, which has been the basis of our lives. Let's sell people's laughter and change the way we live for the lusts of the flesh. Let's abandon the king of Jericho, who lived only for ourselves, abandon the gods of Jericho, abandon the joy of pleasure, and choose the God of heaven and earth."
Even if we get caught and die, let’s clear our sinful life and choose God.”
He decided and chose a God whom no one else had chosen.
The spies who helped Rahab choose say the following to Rahab.
Joshua 2:18 says, “When we come into this land, tie this red cord to the window that let us down, and gather your parents and your brothers and your father’s family to your house.” The Bible records the results.
Joshua 6:25 “And Joshua saved Rahab the prostitute, her father’s family, and all that belonged to her, and she has dwelt in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”
Rahab's determination, choice, and obedience changed her life, her life and her family. Choosing God was an eternal blessing to Rahab and her family.
Then, if we choose God every moment, won't we be given the same changes and blessings in our lives? That's right. If you choose God, you will receive eternal blessings.
As I looked at Rahab, who chose God, I saw two important beliefs.
First, they acted immediately by faith.
The spies gave Rahab a red cord and told her to hang it from the window.
Verse 18) When we entered this land, we tied this red cord to the window that let us down.
As I read the verse, did Rahab prepare the red cord? Did the spies give it to you? looked at The meaning of the red line is very important.
Why is it supposed to be a red stripe? In the North and China, red is often used. In Korea, there are people who like primary colors, but when it comes to red, there is a sense of distance. When you write your own name or your parents' names, don't you write it in red? Because it makes you think about death.
It was the same at the time. If it was red, it symbolized blood, and if it was blood, it meant death and life. Then, is the red cord that Rahab crossed is death? is it life? It may have included a meaning that reminds you of .
This blood symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ who suffered on the cross.
Death passes to the family where the blood of Jesus is, and death comes to the family without the blood of Jesus. Eventually, he learns that the red rope crossed by Rahab means the salvation of the Lamb who died on the day of the Passover, that is, Jesus Christ.
Not Rahab from Jericho, a sinful people who would fall down Jericho and be killed by the Israelites. It is proof that you will be saved and have life through Jesus Christ. Rahab must accept this with faith.
Rahab can think a lot about the red line. Why is it supposed to be a red line? Why the red line? It may be obvious.
The prophet Elisha tells Naaman, who is afflicted with leprosy, to bathe in the Jordan River seven times.
At this point Naaman says: “Why Jordan River? There are better waters in our country.” There are better rivers.
What does this word mean by faith? Why only church? Why is it holy water on Sunday? Why Tithing? Why Evangelism? That's how you might think.
But the conclusion is that it must be the red line.
It must be a church and must be Jesus Christ.
There is no other name by which we can be saved but the name of Jesus. Besides faith in Jesus Christ. Except for Sunday holy water. It means that there is no way to receive God's blessings other than tithing, the Bible, and worship.
If there is another way other than this one, please tell me.
If there is an easier and simpler way to choose God, please tell me.
Nothing in the world, or anything we have, can replace the red stripe, that is, Jesus. If you replace it with something else, you die. can't live
As soon as Rahab received the red cord, she would immediately hang it on the window. Because if you leave it for a day or two, you can forget about it, and you can be crazy when a war breaks out.
Because of that, I immediately acted in faith.
In this way, faith must be immediately followed by action. In fact, it is easy for faith to follow action. But it can also be difficult. I always use this expression instead of this sentence.
“Your mind is different when you enter the bathroom and your mind when you leave the bathroom.”
Yes Yes I answer yes, but there is always no movement after turning. There is no change
But if you obey immediately, miracles happen.
Cast your net into the depths and act immediately - catch the fish to submerge the double.
Throw your net to the right - how big is the boat so there is a left and right side In the sea, in the sea? But immediately obeyed - 153 caught.
Soaked in Jordan River water 7 times - leprosy is cleared
Rahab hung a red rope, and only everything in the house survived.
If you immediately obey the Word of God, you will see God's miracles.
If you obey the Word, your life and your life will change.
I make a vow that all the saints in the nations think only of Jesus and that the grace of salvation of Jesus fills their thoughts, homes, and lives.
Second, it means that you completely entrusted yourself with the problems of your life.
There are two kinds of Christians on this earth. Those who believe in Jesus are worldly Christians who believe but formally believe, and those who truly believe and obey Jesus are true Christians.
Even though they say they believe in Jesus, they never entrust their troubles or problems to Jesus. You live your life as you think.
Even when the Lord tells us to pray, we do not pray. Even when asked to carry heavy loads, they will not. If you hold on to my will without entrusting it, it will only hurt your body.
The family retreat for the nations went well. I rode a banana tube and a motor boat through the Jaeong brothers.
It was so fast and moving so badly.. I was tingling. However, after hitting the ball, everyone said that their shoulders were sore. The reason was that he was holding on tight to keep from falling. By the way, the best way to ride is to entrust yourself to the boat. If you lean on your body and let it move, you can have fun riding it.
The same goes for swimming. If you try to force it to float, force is applied and it sinks into the water. However, if you put your body in the water, it will float. When you stand still, your body floats on water.
This is what it means to surrender to the Lord. We entrust everything we have to the Lord.
Rahab left. And he even gave his parents and his brothers and sisters into the house and entrusted them with their lives. Even as the whole land of Jericho shook, and the walls of Jericho fell to pieces, he believed. Hearing the pain of hell cries out here and there to save people, he will be safe in our house. He was sure that God would protect him.
He and others kept the door shut, covered their ears, and did not leave the place. Perhaps Rahab blocked the door and stopped those who were trying to get out.
It was because they believed in the two spies and the Almighty God in heaven and earth. Because he gave everything to him.
We must live the life we entrust to each day. It's about completely trusting the Lord. Even when difficulties come, even when discouragement comes, by praying. Obedience, faithfulness, the Lord will reward you. The Lord will help you. With this faith, we entrust our lives to the Lord until the end. This includes the belief that ‘even if you will not do it’.
It includes trusting in the Lord, even if He leaves me to die in a pit of fire.
Many people live a life of faith zealously until some point. You work hard and you work hard. But at some point it stops. Devotion and service cease. The reason is obvious. I want to tell them this.
Where is the “even if you do not” faith?
I would like to say that the Lord is asking for even if he does not do so.
You only live once, Even if you die, for the Lord, while serving the Lord. I will die for dedication.
Even if we fail, we will perish as we dedicate ourselves to God.
I will give what I have to the Lord and perish, even if I am in deficit. You are asking for this belief.
Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.”
Verse 21) so that those who love me may find wealth and fill their treasuries.
I pray that all the families of our nations will live a life that can show the act of faith only in Jesus. I pray that you will become people of the nations who do not lose God and trust only the Lord until the end no matter what difficulties come. praise of wealth)