A Woman of Substance

 

The Bible features many amazing women who played significant roles in various narratives. On this International Women’s Day, we would like to highlight one such woman – Rahab, a Canaanite woman who helped Israelite spies and later became part of the lineage of Jesus.

Rahab is a significant figure in the Bible, known for her bravery, faith, and role in the Israelite conquest of Jericho. Her story is primarily found in the Book of Joshua, chapter 2, a powerful example of faith, courage, and redemption. Her actions had a lasting impact on the Israelite history and the lineage of Jesus Christ

To understand the importance of her role, we must first understand why Jericho was so important to the Israelites?

In the biblical account, Jericho holds significant importance as the first city the Israelites encountered after crossing the Jordan River into Canaan around 1,400 BCE. The story highlights the miraculous destruction of the formidable Wall of Jericho, which fell after the Israelites marched around it for seven days, bearing the Ark of the Covenant. This event symbolizes not only a pivotal moment in the Israelites’ conquest of the Promised Land but also serves as a testament to their faith and obedience in following divine instructions.

Knowing the importance of capturing Jericho, the Israelis sent spies into the city to do what spies do: Ascertain strengths and weaknesses. If these spies had been captured or killed, the morale of the Israelis would have gone crashing to the ground. After all, if they could not capture the first city they encountered in the promised land, what would they do for the rest? They probably would not have attempted to war with Jericho, their faith in God would have been shaken and a defeat at Jericho could have delayed the Israelites' conquest of the Promised Land. Jericho was a key entry point into Canaan, and losing the battle would have hindered their progress and possibly prolonged their efforts to take possession of the land. They knew that.

And that is where Rahab mattered. She made sure that the spies were NOT captured and the Israelis went ahead and did what God wanted them to thus fulfilling the promise of divine intervention and Gods plan. She had faith in God, His promises and His power even though she was not an Israelite. 

Rahab's story is a powerful example of faith, courage, and redemption. Her actions had a lasting impact on the Israelite history and the lineage of Jesus Christ. Rahab is commended for her faith in the New Testament. She is mentioned in the "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews 11:31, and James 2:25 highlights her righteous deeds.

Do read about Rahab today. Her story is a powerful reminder that our past does not govern our future and faith, courage, and positive choices can lead to transformation and a meaningful legacy. Her example inspires us to believe in the possibility of change, take risks for what we believe in, and live out our faith in God in tangible ways. 

The Bath Tub

If you were told to empty a bathtub and the choice was to use a bucket, a glass or a spoon, which would you use? 

The answer of course is none of the above. The smart way would be to simply pull the plug, because using any of those above-mentioned alternatives would never completely empty the tub. There would be a remnant of water remaining. 

Similarly in our spiritual life, if you don't pull the plug there will always be remnants of our previous sins which will remain. 

The problem is when called upon to pull the plug, our strength fails us. We are unable to empty that tub completely because of our attachments to our earthly desires and possessions. But Jesus can! 

He sacrificed himself to pull the plug and drain out sin from the world, including for you and me. 

Today, as we fill our own tubs, let us be careful that we fill it with what Jesus wants, not what we desire from this world. 

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Two Ways to Play the Game: Pastor Rajiv's Mid-Week Message

 

Play to Win or Play Not to Lose! 

The 7 Christians

As we read Revelations, trying to understand, one thing stands out: the significance of the 7 churches to our lives today, with 7 different types of Christians in the world. Let's take a look:

The Loveless Christian:

First, we have Ephesus, a prominent city with a church mentored by Paul and pastored by Timothy. They are doings things right and yet do have their faults, primary among them is that their devotion to Christ had declined.

What can we learn from this church? Like the Ephesian church, we can easily fall prey to a cold, mechanical observance of religion. Like the Ephesians, many tend to focus solely on doctrinal purity and hard work, to the exclusion of true love for Christ. As this letter shows, no amount of zeal for the truth or moral rectitude can replace a heart full of love for Jesus.

Persecuted Christians: 

Then we have Smyrna. Persecuted Christians. Jesus encourages them to remain faithful, for more persecution is to come. Like the people at Smryna, many today face persecutions of different kinds. They may face satanic persecution like Job or Maybe at work, or in society or in some nations. However, They are blessed because they remain faithful to Jesus.

The Compromising Christian: 

At Pergamos the church is question on its "purity". While they were commended on the fact that believers lived in a difficult place, surrounded by pagan influences, yet they held fast to Christ’s name and did not deny Him during difficult times. Yet they were compromising with "those in the church who contradicted the ethical implications of the very gospel they followed" (Jeremiah Study Bible). Do we, as a church or as individuals, also compromise in such matters?

The Corrupt Christian

The Church at Thytira were an active, flourishing, busy, growing church yet Their problem was that they were tolerating sin. They had a false teacher who was corrupting some of them yet The church leadership failed to rebuke or remove this false teacher from their midst. This situation is seen as a symbol of the danger of allowing worldly influences to creep into the church, our families or ourselves, and compromise Christian values.

Do we do the same with people or the world around us?

The Hypocritical Christian: 

Church at Sardis. The Sardinian Believers had effectively built a winning brand for themselves in their community. By all appearances, the church in Sardis was a vibrant, effective powerhouse. But inside they were lifeless. Spiritually dead. When a church attempts to operate from any other power source than Christ, that church can officially be identified as dead. The problem with a deceased church is that it rarely recognizes the condition. A dead church will often continue to function in its own power, programs, and pomp and attribute the momentum to Christ—celebrating every temporal victory as if it had eternal merit.

This applies to us as well - when we are separated from God, we rarely recognize it and continue as before. Therefore We do not regenerate our relationship with Him because we don't know it's broken in the first place.

The faithful Christian: 

Philadelphia

Unlike other churches mentioned in Revelation, Jesus did not criticize or condemn the church at Philadelphia. Why? because they remained faithful to Jesus despite facing persecution and having little strength, holding fast to His word and not denying His name, even when under pressure; essentially, they demonstrated unwavering loyalty in difficult circumstances.

This is what we all should strive for.

The Lukewarm Christian

Finally the Chruch at Laodicia. A church who thought they needed nothing more. The Christians of this city had permitted wealth to dull them spiritually; they became prideful and independent. In fact, they behaved as though they did not need God. The land provided for them; they had enough water. They imagined they were safe because they believed Jesus was the Risen Lord, even though they did not act as though Christ’s life, death, and resurrection had impacted their hearts. They allowed God to exist but did not let Him live in them.

They lived as though they had one foot in the world and one foot in heaven, but they were foolish if they thought He would permit such wavering.

Does that sound familiar?

Those seven churches tell us what not to do and what to do, to be spiritually alive. Each individual can find their likeness within these seven churches. Finding yourself if the first step to bettering yourself and these 7 churches help us to know our own spiritual condition.

Let us wake up before it is too late, and ask God to open our eyes to see our own spiritual condition—repent of complacency, compromise, materialism and stubborn independence; respond to the leadership of Jesus Christ and do not lose your reward!

Sunday Quotes

                 

You will never be saved against your will; God drags nobody to heaven by the ears. Charles Spurgeon

This life is the only hell believers will ever know. But for those who die in their sins, this is their only heaven - Ray Comfort

Let me remind you that this is God's universe, and He is doing things His way. You may think you have a better way, but you don't have a universe to rule - J. Vernon McGee

When we share Christ, the Truth behind our transformation, we are offering people an opportunity to be transformed - David Jeremiah

Too many Christians live their Christian lives inside their heads; it never gets out through hands and feet and lips - Vance Havner

When the Lord's white sheep become dirty gray, all black sheep feel more comfortable - Vance Havner

If you see a Bible that is falling apart, it probably belongs to someone who isn't! Vance Havner

God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way. - Aiden Wilson Tozer

Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.  Alexander MacLaren

We should not pray for God to be on our side, but pray that we may be on God's side. Billy Graham