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[0:00] Well good morning, a warm welcome to church this morning and it's good to see a number of visitors with us this morning as well from different places and you're especially welcome.

[0:12] There's tea and coffee at the end of the service, if you're able to stay please do be nice to meet with you and to have a chance to speak with you. There's no evening service this evening as was indicated last week.

[0:25] The Scalpy Communions have been on over the last few days and we meet with the Scalpy Congregation at the Community Centre in Scalpy at half past six.

[0:37] Now for those who need a lift through from here to Scalpy, there's a mini bus going to be available and that mini bus will leave from the Tourist Information Car Park at not six o'clock but 5.45.

[0:52] So 5.45 leaving the TI car park, heading to Scalpy, there'll be a mini bus and that will come back into the Tourist afterwards as well. If you intend to use the mini bus, maybe you could have a word with me just so I make sure we've got enough seats.

[1:07] It's a 17 seater and I'm sure there'll be a few cars as well if there is need for more than that. A number of things on the course of the week which are as usual, ladies Bible, study, meet, tomorrow at 8 in Tarbert.

[1:24] First Truth Fellowship as usual, half past seven on Tuesday, Church of Scotland Hall, go to Recovery Tuesday 8 here in the Community Centre and the prayer meeting is on Wednesday at half past seven in the Community Centre also.

[1:37] The services next Sunday will be at 11 and 6, God willing, and the evening service next Sunday will be in Gallic, by the way, won't it?

[1:49] Yes. Yes. And the teacher at that service will be? Donald John Morrison-Maric. Donald John Morrison-Maric. Morrison from Maric, Dan Maric. So that's a Gallic service next Sunday at 6 o'clock.

[2:04] Service as usual in English in the morning at 11. There'll be an evening fellowship afterwards at 8, I assume, and we'll give details of what's happening there next Sunday. Scaldale camps, there's forms there if you're interested.

[2:18] If you're aged between P7 and S6, there's two camps if they're of interest. Information there and booking forms. Please look at them at the end of the service if that's of interest.

[2:30] One more thing is that the missionary, Adam, inverted commas, it's not his real name, but his name is protected just because of the nature of the work that he's involved with.

[2:41] He's worked for many years in Iran and he's holding a meeting in the Target Community Centre on Friday 23rd, that's this coming Friday, at half past seven, to talk about his work and to encourage both prayer and practical support for it.

[2:56] The work for a missionary in Iran is always difficult and often dangerous and support for Adam is warmly encouraged. And so I encourage you to attend that. That's organised by Andrew Coggle.

[3:08] He's been in Scalpey before, I understand, but I don't think he's been in Target before. So if you could make a note of that and come along if you're able. These, I think, are all the notices.

[3:19] And so we'll begin our service by worshipping God and singing to his praise. And we sing from Psalm 8 and the whole psalm. Psalm 8, the words which are on the screen.

[3:32] Our excellent in all the earth, Lord, our Lord is thy name, who hast thy glory far advanced above the starry free. We sing the whole psalm and we stand to sing.

[3:43] O excellent in all the earth, Lord, our Lord is thy name, Who hast thy glory far advanced above the starry free.

[4:25] From him, thou hast thy name, thou didst strength ordain.

[4:43] For thy voice, O God, that's all the might. For thy voice, O God, that's all the might.

[5:00] The avenging for his sin. When I look up unto the heavens, Which thine own fingers stream, Unto the moon, unto the stars, Unto the moon, unto the stars, Which well by thee are gain.

[5:48] Then say I'm what is man that ye remembered is by thee.

[6:04] For what the sun of man that thou, For what the sun of man that thou, So kind to him should see.

[6:29] For the sun of man that thou, For the sun of man that thou, And thou mayest, With glory and with dignity, With glory and with dignity, Thou counted as his head.

[7:09] Of thy hands were so made, Said the Lord, All others fit the tree, All sheep and oxen, Ye and peace, All sheep and oxen, Yea and peace, That in the field do stray.

[7:48] For softly, Fish of the sea, For thou pass through the same, How excellent in all the earth, How excellent in all the earth, Lord, our Lord is thy name.

[8:29] Just before we pray, We've been mindful of Marian, One of our congregation, Nurse Marian, Has been in Malawi over the last couple of weeks.

[8:42] I was just wondering this morning, Early on when I was praying, How she was doing, And I got a text just before the service began. So I'll just share it with you. Hi David, We're winding down now, Still very low, 39 degrees yesterday.

[8:55] We're all pretty exhausted. But the work has gone well, We pray that the Lord will bless it, And that the people of Nancy, Will grow spiritually, And we'll also see improvement, In their lifestyle and health.

[9:08] We have certainly noticed a difference, Since last year. Thank you for your prayers to you all, And God bless. And that's so Marian. So, We continue to pray for Marian, And the work that she, Is undertaking there at this time.

[9:21] Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, We thank you for this day. We thank you for this, Your day. And Lord, We acknowledge, That this is a gift, That you have given us, That you have, Called us to, Take one day, In, In serving it.

[9:43] And Lord, To be still, And to stop work, And to know that you are God, To find rest, And refreshment, In your presence. And we thank you, That we have the assurance, This morning, As we meet together, In this place, In the name of Jesus, That you will, Presence yourself, Amongst us, By, Your spirit, That you will speak to us, Through, Your holy word, And Lord, That you will, Meet us, Each one, At the point of our need.

[10:14] We thank you, God, That you know us, We thank you, That you love us, We thank you, That you are, The personal God, Who has an interest, In each one of us, And we thank you, For the words, Of the psalm, That we have sung, That although you are, The God, Who is, Far advanced, Above the study frame, You are the one, Who has made us, You are the one, Who has, Ordained all things, And who holds, All things together, By the word of your mouth, We thank you, That although, You are the God, Of heaven, And earth, We are not forgotten, But we are remembered, By you, And we thank you, For the extent, Of your love for us, That you would send, Father your son, To die, So that we, Could live, We thank you, For the fact, That on the cross, The curtain tore, From top to bottom, As that invitation, To come into the holiest, Of all places,

[11:15] That place where, You dwell, By your spirit, And Lord, We thank you, For the fact, That this morning, We can make a response, To that, And we can come, Not in our own name, But in the name of Jesus, And not, On account of our own strength, Or our own merit, But on account of the grace, Of our Lord Jesus Christ, We thank you, That when we were not able, To save ourselves, He has done, Everything possible, Everything necessary, To make it possible, For us to be saved, And so we pray, That we would, Each one of us, Be found, Looking in faith, To Jesus, And receiving, The grace, That is sufficient, For all eternity, And the grace, That is sufficient, For each day, That you give us in time, We acknowledge, That this morning, You have given us this day, And we pray, That we would use it, For your glory, We pray, For those who are, Removed from us, By geography at present, But who are seeking,

[12:15] To glorify your name, In the place that we are in, And we thank you, Especially of, Nurse Mary, And we thank you for her, We thank you for, The work that you have called her to, In Malawi, This last few weeks, And we pray that you would help her, We pray that she would know, Your strength, We pray that she would know, That stamina, For the last few days, We thank you for the encouragement, That she has received, In seeing progress, Both spiritual, And temporal, In the places that she visited before, And we ask for that you would, Continue to bless her, And continue to bless, That place, That they will know, Further progress, And that they will know, More and more of your presence, Be with her, Be with the team, And enable them, In the last few days of their trip, To continue to work, And to glorify, Your name, We thank you that we are, Able to go out from, This place, We thank you that the calling, That we have received,

[13:15] Is to take the gospel, To the ends of the earth, And we look, At the world, As we see it, Presented to us, In the news, In the papers, We see so much need, We see so much tension, Even this morning, As we, Read off the strain, In relations, Between, One country, And another, And the, The danger, That that can bring, We pray, Lord, For the world, That you have created, The world that we live in, We see so much, That is so volatile, We can be tempted, At times, To worry, And to panic, But we thank you, That you are God, And you are sovereign, And you are, In control of all things, And so we look to you, We pray for those countries, And these situations, And these people, Who are suffering, The most acutely, And we ask that you would meet them, At the point of their need, As we pray that, You would meet us, At the point of our need, We ask word for, Those this morning, Who are in particular need,

[14:18] We pray for those, Absent from us, Who are suffering, With their health, And we ask word, That you would, Help them, And that you would, Lay your hand, Upon them, If it would be your will, That you would heal them, For whatever, We ask word, That they would know, Your presence, And your grace, For each day, We thank you for the psalms, That we suffer in sin, We thank you that, The psalms tells us, That they, Will have no fear of bad news, Whose hearts, Are steadfast, And trust in the Lord, And we thank you that that's true, Although we hear so much bad news, Across the world, Although sometimes, We are faced with bad news, In our own experience, We thank you that, When you are trusting in Christ, We can be steadfast in him, We pray now, That you would continue, With us in this day, We pray, That you would bless, The students, Who are apart from us, Still, And still settling down, In different cities,

[15:18] And we ask for, That you would bring them, Into fellowships, With your people, Where they will be fed, And where they will, Be cared for, And we ask that you, Would govern their friendships, And that you would, Enable them to, To be in the places, That you would have them in, To be salt and light, For you, In these different cities, Hear our prayers, Cleanse us from our sin, Fill us with the Holy Spirit, And we pray that, In all that we do, In all that's right, In all that we sin, In all that we meditate upon, We ask that Christ, To be lifted up, And that we would be drawn, To him, And we pray these things, In Jesus name, Amen, Boys and girls, Would you like to come forward please, Anyone had a good week, This week, Yes, What's been good about this week, Good week Lily, Good stuff, Good stuff, Alistair, Happy birthday, It won't sing to you,

[16:20] You can sing in the tea time afterwards, If you want to, I can't start it, How old are you Alistair now, Seven, Did you have a good party, Did you slide off the bouncy castle, No comment, Now boys and girls, Here's a wee test for you, I'm going to tell you something, And I wonder whether you believe me, Or whether you don't, Ears open, What I'm going to tell you, Is that, I have hidden, Some, Delicious, Delicious, Sweets, A box of delicious sweets, Somewhere, In this hall, That's what I'm telling you, A box of delicious sweets, Are hidden somewhere, In this hall, Now boys and girls, Do you believe me,

[17:22] Or do you not believe me, Speak to me, Speak to me, Pardon Alistair, Come on, Come and just sit, I believe, You believe me, Are you sure you believe me, Okay, Okay, Thank you, Sit down, Anyone else believe me, Do you want to know, What did you say, You believe me, Anyone else believe me, Anybody believes me, Believe me, Believe me, Believe me, You know the ones, That said, Believe me, My own children, How can I be sure, How can I believe, That you believe me, How can I be sure, That you believe me, That's the question, Tell me, How can I be sure, That you believe me, I've told you,

[18:22] There's a box of sweets, In the hall, Delicious sweets, Do you believe me, You said, Yes, But I'm not so sure, How can I be sure, That you believe me, Pardon, How can I be sure, Is anybody awake, John Roddy, How can I be sure, That you believe me, I can trust, If I can trust, In you, I'm not sure, If I do though, How can I be sure, That you believe, That there's a box, Of delicious sweets, In this hall, John has told me, He believes me, Alistair's told me, He believes me, John Roddy, Do you believe me, No, No, No, No, Some other ones, Told me you believe me, How can you tell, How can you show me, That you believe, How can they show me,

[19:23] That they believe, Produce the box, I'm not going to spoon feed them, Come and find them, If you believe, There's a box of sweets, In this hall, Exactly Katie, Go and find them, If you believe, A box of sweets, In this hall, Take the next, 30 seconds, Go and find them, In this hall, Not out that door, Not out any of these doors, Just in this hall, If you believe me, Go and find them, Go on then, Go on then, Go on, Come, I'll see you're getting warmer.

[20:28] Jono you're getting warmer.

[20:40] You're very warm Jono, you're very very very warm.

[20:56] Jono, you're very warm. Jono, you're very warm.

[21:12] Jono, you're very warm. Jono, you're very warm.

[21:28] Jono, you're very warm. Jono, you're very warm.

[21:44] Right everybody? Let's calm down. Calm down. Did you get the point? If you want to show me that you really believe, if you have faith in what I was telling you, you could tell me you had faith, you could put your hand up and show that you had faith, but if I really want to know that you have faith, the only way that I can see that is if you get off your bottoms, and you get into the hall and you make a little less noise than you were making, and you go and you find the sweets.

[22:32] You find the first Jono. And the last shall be first and the first shall be last. Okay. Who believes in Jesus?

[22:50] Jesus wants us to have faith in him. He wants us to put our hands down now. He wants us to trust in him and to believe in everything that he's done for us.

[23:06] How can Jesus know that you have faith in him? Well, you can tell him in prayer. You can put your hand up and you can say to other people, I go to church and I believe in Jesus and I believe in everything that he's done.

[23:24] But do you know if you really want to show Jesus that you have faith? Do you know what you've got to do? What do you think? You pray and you speak to him.

[23:36] What else can you do? Yeah. You can come to him. You can come to him. You can look for him actually.

[23:48] If you want to show Jesus that you have faith, you have a Bible. Who speaks to us in the Bible? Who speaks to us in the Bible? God does.

[24:02] Jesus does. We can pray. And we can speak to him as we pray. And we can trust him. And come near to him.

[24:14] And say to him, Lord Jesus, I want you please to take away my sin. And come into my life. And be close to me. Seek him, the Bible says.

[24:28] And you'll find him. So we want to show Jesus that we believe in him. We don't just speak about him. We don't just tell other people about him. But we come to him.

[24:40] And so we'll pray about that. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word to us. And we thank you that your word is true.

[24:52] We thank you that you don't ask us to earn our way into heaven. But you just tell us to trust you. And so we pray that you would help us to trust you.

[25:06] Each one of us. And help us to show other people as well that we trust you. Help us to speak about Jesus when we get the chance. Help us to take time to pray and to listen to what you are saying to us in the Bible.

[25:20] And help us through our lives to show not only you, but our people. That we are your people. And so we pray all these things.

[25:31] In Jesus name. Amen. Thank you boys and girls. You were very quiet the last few weeks. You made up for it this week. We're going to sing now. We're going to sing the words on the screen. We'll be in a screen in just a minute.

[25:44] And this is a hymn about coming to God. Or coming back to God. And trusting him. I once was a stranger to grace unto God. I knew not my danger.

[25:55] And felt not my load. Though friends spoke and raptured. Of Christ on the tree. The Romans in Kenya. There's nothing to me. And we read about someone who comes to Jesus. Okay.

[26:06] We'll stand to sing. I once was a stranger to grace unto God.

[26:18] I knew not my danger. And felt not my load. The Lord. Love and spoken rapture.

[26:30] Of Christ on the tree. Jehovah's and tenure. Was nothing to me.

[26:43] When three graves abroke me. By light on the high. Then later fear shook me.

[26:56] I turned for to die. Nor have you no safety. In self could I see.

[27:07] Jehovah's and tenure. My savior must be. My terror.

[27:18] Joe vanished. Before a sweet name. My guilty fear vanished.

[27:29] With boredness I came. To break out the fountain. Like giving and fee. Jehovah's and tenure.

[27:44] This all things to me. Jehovah's and tenure. My treasure and force.

[27:56] Jehovah's and tenure. Jehovah's and tenure. Jehovah's and tenure. Jehovah's and tenure. My never can be lost. In thee I shall conquer. My flood and my field.

[28:09] My cave or my anchor. My breastplate and shield. In threading the valley. The shadow of death. Let's watch for child body.

[28:20] My forging prayer. For why from life's fever. My God sets me free. Jehovah's and tenure.

[28:41] My God sets me free. Jehovah's and tenure. my death song shall appear let's pray for a moment heavenly father we thank you for the demons and as we see them going out into Sunday school we pray for them we ask that we would deal with the teachers give them a clear message of the gospel help them to put across the good news in a way the children can understand we pray that their hearts would be ready and that they would indeed trust Jesus in their young days and that they would grow up to show other people of the faith that they have in Christ we pray for them, we pray for others as well, we give thanks for new life that we hear in the community even over the last couple of days and we pray your blessing on each wee one that is brought into this world, we ask that they would be brought to know you and we pray for the parents for Sander, for Billy and we rule the brother and we ask that you would be with him and be with the newborn child as we pray for our own ones that are in the congregation just now we ask all these things in Jesus name

[30:03] Amen we're going to read together from Joshua chapter 2 Joshua chapter 2 Joshua chapter 2 we look a second time in chapter 2 a last time in chapter 2 and we look from verse 1 Rahab and the spies this is God's word then Joshua son of man secretly sent two spies from Shittim remember they're on the the threshold of the promised land and Joshua sends out the two spies to view the land go look over the land he said especially Jericho so they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there the king of Jericho was told look some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land so the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab bring out the men who came to you and entered your house because they have come to spy out the whole land but the woman had taken the two men and hidden them she said yes the men came to me but I did not know where they had come from at dusk when it was time to close the city gate the men left

[31:21] I don't know which way they went go after them quickly you may catch up with them but she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof so the men sent out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan and as soon as the pursuers had gone out the gate was shut before the spies laid out for the night she went up on the roof and said to them I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to Sihon and all the two kings of the Ammonites east of the Jordan whom you completely destroyed when we heard it our hearts sank and everyone's courage failed because of you for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below now then please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family because I have shown kindness to you give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother my brothers and sisters and all who belong to them and that you will save us from death our lives for your lives to me assure them if you don't tell what we are doing we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us this land so she let them down by a rope through the window so she let them down by a rope through the window for the house she lived in was part of the city wall now she had said to them go to the hills so that the pursuers will not find you hide yourselves there three days until they return and then go on your way the men said to her this oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless when we enter the land you have tied the scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down and unless you have brought your father and mother your brothers and all your family into your house if anyone goes outside your house into the street his blood will be on his own head we will not be responsible as for anyone who is in the house with you his blood will be on our head if our hand is laid on him but if you tell us but if you tell what we are doing we will be released from the oath you made us swear agreed she replied let it be as you say so she sent them away and they departed and she tied the scarlet cord in the window when they left they went into the hills and stayed there three days until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them then the two men started back they went down out of the hills forward the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them he said to Joshua the Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands all the people are melting in fear because of us

[34:19] Amen and may God bless that evening of his word to us John McSween now will lead us in faith and power to go away Oliva Sir good now have you to the future简直まge Poe we will be horses and women fare sure what couple of days?

[35:15] Peace and hope for one day. And you're ready to run like this, you should meet again someday, you may come here and see more beautiful things between your inner beauty today, and hopefully in the future of your Knowledge Let's ride nobody will never forget until yourinto journey has been raised thinkingday now.

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[38:07] And to walk as a child, as a child, as a child, as a child, as a child, as a child. You have a good life. You have a good life. You have a good life.

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[40:09] I'm going to sing again to God's face.

[40:23] This time we sing from the Psalms. And Psalm 25 and verses 5 and 6. We sing together. Psalm 25 and verses 4 to 6.

[40:41] Show me thy ways, O Lord, thy path, so teach thy need. And do thou read me in thy truth, and in my teacher thee. For thou art God that doth to me salvation send, and I upon thee all the day expect thee to attend.

[40:55] The words of the verses will be on the screen. And we remain seated to sing in Galilee. And we remain seated.

[41:33] And we remain seated. And we remain seated. And we remain seated.

[41:48] And we remain seated. And we remain seated.

[42:02] And we remain seated. And we remain seated.

[42:16] And we remain seated. And we remain seated. And we remain seated.

[42:27] And we remain seated. And we remain seated. And we remain seated.

[42:42] Thank you.

[43:12] Thank you.

[43:42] Thank you.

[44:12] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[44:24] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[44:40] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[44:52] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[45:04] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[45:16] ways that you would speak to us through your word and that you would make us responsive in our hearing, in our hearts, in our lives. We pray that you would impress upon us, even as we approach this passage just now, that these matters that we come to each time we come to your word are matters of eternal life and death. So help us, we pray, to give these things our attention, our full attention. We pray that we would be able to leave this place this morning, knowing that we are saved, that we are secure, that we are in Christ.

[46:03] And we ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. Just the other day I was speaking to somebody, I can't remember who it was, but I couldn't remember that we would tell you anyway. And they were speaking to me about the fact that for the first time in their lives they were having to prepare a CV, Curriculum Vita. They were having to prepare a summary, a synopsis, a list of the different things that they wanted to present about their lives to prospective employers. Where they came from, their interests, their school grades, their school grades, further education, their job at the schools, etc., etc.

[46:44] Up until this point in their life they managed to get jobs without any such scrutiny, but for the first time in their lives they were saying they were having to prepare and present a CV. And this morning we begin by looking at Rahab's CV.

[47:01] We look at Rahab's CV. We look at Rahab's CV. We look at Rahab's CV. We look at Rahab's CV.

[47:20] We look at Rahab's CV before we consider the wider story. And we must consider the story. That's the point I want to make at the outset of the service today. We must consider the story of Rahab.

[47:34] Because the story of Rahab is very deliberately inserted into this book. Take your Bible if you have it. And look at Joshua chapter 1. And just again consider and remember that the plot line of Joshua chapter 1.

[47:52] Moses is dead.

[48:22] That comes into the spotlight. They're told be strong and courageous and trust God's word and have faith and proceed into the promised land. That's the end of chapter 1.

[48:34] So we finish at the end of chapter 1. Only be strong and courageous. Now bypass chapter 2 altogether. And go straight to chapter 3.

[48:46] And verse 1.

[49:16] We won't miss it. If you delete the whole of chapter 2. Actually the plot line and narrative flows more smoothly.

[49:26] Because by the end of chapter 1. We're on the threshold. The beginning of chapter 3. We're starting to move forward. Chapter 2.

[49:38] Gets in the way of that. And yet chapter 2 is there. God the Holy Spirit. Inspired the writer. Joshua.

[49:49] To break the flow of the book. And tell us the story about Rahab. So we'll take note of it. You know sometimes you can be watching a film on TV.

[50:02] Or a big game of football. And you're right in the middle of the story. You're right in the middle of the plot line. You're absolutely immersed in this game.

[50:14] And all of a sudden there's a news flash. Rarely happens. But when it does happen. It absolutely arrests you. You get the commentators saying. I'm sorry. But we're going to have to just take a break for a moment.

[50:26] And head to the BBC studios. We see the news broadcaster. And they tell us the account of some story that's breaking.

[50:38] Now why do you break a film? Or why do you break a sports broadcast to give a news flash? Well it's because it's important. It's deemed to be so important that we will be arrested.

[50:52] And we'll break the flow of our concentration. So we'll know about this. And we'll act upon this if necessary. If we're watching the Kamenath Cup final. And we get a broadcast interrupted by BBC Alaba.

[51:06] Telling us there's a giant dragon. Careering around Harvard. We need to know that. We need to act accordingly. And you know that's what's happening here.

[51:16] Joshua interrupts the flow of the story. To tell us very deliberately the news about Rahab. Because there's something here that we have to notice. And so we give this our attention.

[51:30] There's three things to note in the time that we've got. The first point is we have Rahab's track record. Or our CV. The second point we'll look at is the transaction that Rahab is at the centre of.

[51:43] And the third point is we consider her testimony. So that's the structure for our thoughts this morning. First point is Rahab's track record.

[51:53] So let's take a very brief look at her CV. What do we know about Rahab? Well we know three things. The first thing we know is that she was a Gentile. And that means that she was not one of God's chosen people.

[52:07] She wasn't part of the nation of Israel that God had chosen especially to relate to. Sometimes we get a letter through the post.

[52:20] And in the letter you see an offer that's available. And there's a huge cash prize. And there's a car.

[52:31] And there's something. There's this one. There's that. And the next thing. If you read the small print. You recognise very quickly. Although there's this huge cash prize offered. I'm not eligible. My postcode has actually not been selected.

[52:45] It's not the best illustration. You wouldn't be getting it through the mail. If it was a postcode offer. But you get the point. Sometimes you by nature of where you stay. Or the details of your life.

[52:56] Find yourself disqualified from some huge offer. And Rahab's postcode disqualified her from God's favour in that sense.

[53:08] She was a foreigner to God. She didn't qualify for any of the special privileges that were afforded to the Jews under the old covenant at that time.

[53:18] That's the first thing. Not in her favour. She was a Gentile. She was disadvantaged by geography. The second thing to note.

[53:29] Is not only was she a Gentile. But she was an Amorite. And her people. Were people who were distant from God. But not only distant from God.

[53:40] But they were defiant against God. As violently defiant as you can imagine. And there's no time to go back. And look at some of the history of different accounts of their defiance.

[53:53] But they were a people who were notorious. They were violent. They were horrific. One of the commentators says. They were a corrupt, vile people.

[54:05] Even sacrificing children. In their depraved religious practices. And so that's where she came from.

[54:18] She was an Amorite. She was one of these people. Who were notorious. For their hateful acts. Not only of their own.

[54:29] But for those who were God's people especially. So she was a Gentile. She was an Amorite. Not looking good for her. The third thing is she was a prostitute.

[54:44] And the commentators. When you read them. They try. Sometimes. Some of them. To excuse her this. And some of them do a bit of legwork.

[54:54] To try and dress her up. And present her as something. A little bit more palatable. As an innkeeper. But the word that's used in the Hebrew. Is quite clearly the word. Of a prostitute.

[55:06] And we have it here. And then. As we are drawn. In our attention. To see they have again. The New Testament. Again she's identified. As one. Who is a prostitute.

[55:18] So in terms of. I was thinking. She wasn't. What you would expect. She wasn't a church gore. She didn't come with her Bible. Under her arm. And her vest goes on.

[55:30] She never heard a sermon. She was a Gentile. She was an Amorite. Defiant against God. And she was a prostitute.

[55:44] So her CV. Is not too impressive. Her background. Doesn't look hopeful. And yet.

[55:54] She is the one. Who's picked out here. And she is the one. That God chooses. To come for. And the question is.

[56:07] Why? Why Rahab. The Gentile. Amorite. Prostitute. Why did God. Why did God. Determine.

[56:18] To take. Two. Spies. And risk their lives. On some special mission. Crossing the Jordan. Into hostile territory. To relate to.

[56:30] A prostitute. Called Rahab. That's the question. And the answer. Is why not. Why not. Jesus.

[56:42] In fact. Said that. Why not her. Jesus. Remember. In Mark. Chapter 2. And in verse 17.

[56:52] He was being criticized. For eating. With all the wrong. Kinds of people. And mixing. With all the wrong. Kinds of people. And when people. Started pointing.

[57:03] The finger. At Christ. And saying. Why are you with them. There's nice people. You can speak to. Why are you spending. Time with them. Why are you with the tax collectors. Why are you with the sinners.

[57:13] Why are you with. The people that we consider. To be the lowest. Jesus. Responded. To point their fingers. By saying. It's not the healthy. You need a doctor. But the sick.

[57:26] I have not come. To call the righteous. Those who think. That they're good enough. Those who take their. CD. And their back. And then wave it.

[57:37] And say. Look at the credentials. In my life. I've not come for them. Says Jesus. They're not interested. In what I have to say. They don't see. They're near of me. I've come for sinners.

[57:53] And Rahab's track record. Is full of sin. Her life. Is sin. Saturated. But God called her. And God saved her.

[58:06] By his. By his. Amazing grace. We're going to sing. At the end of the service. What grace is mine. That he who dwells.

[58:17] In endless light. Called through the night. To save. My. Distant soul. As I was reading.

[58:28] The lyrics. It just. Struck me. It's a line. That Rahab. I think. Would. Would send. With great gusto. What grace. Is mine.

[58:39] That he. Who dwells. In endless light. God almighty. Called through the night. Through a secret mission. In a hostile territory. To find. My. Distant soul.

[58:53] Did God make a mistake. With Rahab. Now did he. Not. Know. What he was getting involved with. When. When he determined to. To relate to.

[59:04] To Rahab. Did he not know. How bad she was. Of course he knew. That's why he called her. Because he loved her.

[59:17] And he wanted. To save her. And he wants. Us. To see. This morning. That if Rahab. The Amorite.

[59:28] Gentile. Prostitute. Can be saved. Anyone. Can be saved. Anyone. Anyone. No matter. How bad.

[59:39] Our chat. That record. Might be. No matter. What skeletons. In our cupboard. God's grace. Is so rich. And it's so full.

[59:49] And it's so compelling. He calls. And he saves. The most depraved. Sinners. Like me. And like you. Sometimes.

[60:02] We see. Vehicles. And. They've been involved. In a. In a bash. And they're abandoned. They're. They're written off. They're beyond. Repair. They're beyond.

[60:13] Salvage. Now. There's no. Write-offs. In God's. Reckoning. Not in his. Creation. We may have. Crashed. Spectacularly.

[60:25] Sinfully. Many. Many. Times. But if we. Respond. To Christ's. Call. To look. To him. In faith. And to be. Saved. We will be.

[60:36] Saved. No matter. What's in the. Backtrack record. No matter. What the. The CV. Has looked like. Up to this point. So. Take that.

[60:49] As a word. Of encouragement. If you're here. This morning. And. Knowing. Your own heart. And the darkness. Of it.

[60:59] You hear the devil. In your ear. Whispering. And pointing. The finger at you. If you're hearing him. If. You. Have. That. Satanic. Voice.

[61:10] Saying. You are too bad. You are too far gone. You are the dregs. You are. Disqualified. Take this. As a word. Of encouragement.

[61:24] Rahab. Tells us. That there is no one. Who is too bad. Too far gone. Too. Entrenched. And soon. And to become a Christian.

[61:39] And if you're here. This morning. And if. You. Are somebody. Who has been. For weeks. Looking at someone else. And thinking.

[61:52] I could never ask them. To come to church. I could never speak to them. About Jesus. I could never. Share my faith.

[62:02] With them. And give them. A word of encouragement. Because. You know. They're just too bad. They're too far gone. They're. They're just. Too far. From. From God's voice.

[62:12] And God's call. If you're looking at. Anyone. If anyone. Comes into your mind. That is too far gone. For the gospel message. Take this. As a stern word.

[62:23] Of correction. I take it first. For myself. We never get to look at anyone. And say. Not them. Because very often.

[62:35] In our estimation. It's the not them's. That God takes hold of. Dear Ralph Davis. Says. As he's speaking about.

[62:46] The whole scandal. Of Rahab. Becoming a prostitute. And. Thinking about. How she. Swops into church life. Etc. He says this. He says. We say.

[62:57] We can't have that. We can't have the Rahabs. The church is only for. Respectable. Clean. Middle class school. But that's like saying. That hospitals.

[63:08] Are only for doctors. Nurses. And extra machines. Instead of sick people. Who then. Should be in the church.

[63:19] But sinners. The church. He says. Is not a club. But a refuge. For sinners. Who have been touched.

[63:30] By the grace. Of God. So remember that. When we extend the mutations. So first of all.

[63:41] We see Rahab's. Track record. Secondly. We see this transaction. What's a transaction? Well a transaction.

[63:51] It's a deal. It's an arrangement. It's a. It's an agreement. A party's come to. And two weeks ago. We looked into this. When we looked at this. Chapter. The first time. We saw how Rahab. She protects the spies.

[64:02] She stands her ground. Against the king. As his questions are fired in. She sends the Jericho. Police off. On a wild goose chase. And having done that.

[64:13] We looked into the whole. Ethics of that. We're not going back there today. Having done all that. She turns back. To the spies. The police. Are running down the street.

[64:24] In pursuit of the people. Who are not there. But hiding in her roof. And then she turns. Back to the spies. And she comes to an arrangement. With them. There's a transaction.

[64:35] That we note here. And we see it in verses 12. And following. So let's just. Look at it again. Rahab. Has this conversation with them. And she says in verse 12. Now then.

[64:46] Please swear to me. By the Lord. That you will show kindness. To my family. Because I have shown kindness. To you. Give me a sure sign. That you will swear. The lives. Of my father and mother.

[64:57] My brothers and sisters. And all who belong to them. And that you will save us. From death. Our lives. For your lives. As the men assured her. If you don't tell. What we are doing.

[65:08] We will treat you kindly. And faithfully. When the Lord gives us. The land. The men said to her. This oath. Verse 17. You may not swear. We will not be binding on us. Unless. When we enter the land.

[65:19] You have tied the scarlet cord. In the window. Through which you let us die. And unless you have brought. Your father and mother. Your brothers. And all your family.

[65:30] Into your house. These are the terms. Verse 19. If anyone goes outside. Your house. Into the street. His blood will be on his own head. And we will not be responsible.

[65:42] As for anyone. Who is in the house. With you. His blood will be on our head. If a hand is laid in it. But if you tell what we are doing. We will be released. From the oath.

[65:52] You may not swear. Agreed. Verse 21. She says. Let it be. As you say. So these are the terms. Of the transaction. These are the. The terms.

[66:03] Of the deal. The arrangement. That Rahab comes to. The prostitutes. Now what do we see here. As we think about this. Well what we see.

[66:13] In this transaction. Is a picture. Of God's mercy. And God's grace. You know. If we go back.

[66:25] Through. Biblical history. We can see. That for. 400 years. The Amorite people. Were in.

[66:36] Violent defiance. Against God. The atrocities. In their nation. Were beyond. Congregation. Christians. And they were warned.

[66:48] They were warned. To turn. That they would not turn. In one year. In ten years. In fifty years. In a hundred years.

[66:58] And they're not turning. In a hundred and fifty years. And they're not turning. In two hundred years. And they're not turning. In three hundred years. And things are getting worse. In four hundred years. And they're still in defiance.

[67:10] Against God. They are still. A bloodthirsty. Violent. Sinful. People. Who refuse. To repent. Who refuse. To turn. From sin. And four hundred years.

[67:23] Along the line. Of God's patience. God says. The time is up. Judgment. Has come. You won't turn.

[67:37] And judgment. Is about to fall. But God. Who is merciful. And who is gracious. In this act here.

[67:48] In this chapter. That we have. Preserved for us. He's reaching out. The God of the universe. Is reaching out. To one individual. And he's calling her.

[68:01] To be saved. After four hundred years. In the last. Nine seconds. Still.

[68:13] He's reaching out. To one. And calling her. To trust him. And to be saved. If she will trust his word. If she will. Tie the scarlet cord.

[68:24] In the window. And take refuge. And bring her family in there. So that they will. Have refuge. If that's the case. Judgment. Will be avoided. And salvation.

[68:35] For Rahab. And her family. Will be secured. That's the transaction. That's what we're reading here. And we see God's mercy. And we see God's grace. Sparkling. On the pages here.

[68:48] And this is a picture. That sends us backwards. And it's a picture. That sends us forward. This is how God. So often deals. Think about. Think about Noah.

[69:00] In Genesis 6. And 7. Judgment is coming. On the world. But the Lord says to Noah.

[69:11] Build an ark. Everyone will say you're mad. Build an ark. And you. And your family. Hide in that ark. Take refuge in there. You will be saved.

[69:23] In the world. Exodus 12. The Passover. Judgment was coming. To Egypt.

[69:35] The salvation was offered. To all who would sprinkle. The blood of a lamb. On the doorpost. And take refuge. In their home.

[69:47] And we see the connections here. As we look backwards. Even as we think about the scarlet cord. From the window. We see the connections.

[69:59] Looking back. That place of refuge. But we see the connections. Even. More. Powerfully. As we look forward. And think not about Israel. But think about us.

[70:13] Think about the cross. You know. We can look at the Amalite people. And we can stand back. From that people. And think how awful.

[70:26] How terrible they were as a nation. Drifting away from God endlessly. Defying against God. So sinful. And yet what do I see?

[70:37] I see me. We see our own hearts. This is a mirror. Because don't we drift from God. Don't we shake the fist.

[70:50] And defiance against God. That's our nature. You're sinners. And the Bible tells us. In Romans 12.

[71:00] Wages of sin. Are death. How can we escape. That second death. How can we escape. Judgment. Well. It's not through a scarlet cord. Tied in a window.

[71:11] But it is. Through what the scarlet cord. Points us. Points us to. Because the scarlet cord. Points us to the blood.

[71:23] Of Christ. And all who trust. In Christ. All who ask. For their sins. To be washed away.

[71:34] Through the blood. Of the Lamb. All who take refuge. In him. Are promised. Then. Are promised. That they will be saved. They are promised.

[71:47] That they will escape. The judgment. That has come. They are promised. That they will be saved. Eternal. And absolutely.

[71:59] And utterly. What did Rehab do. Do? Well. She did exactly.

[72:10] What she was told to do. Under the terms. Of this transaction. She trusted. And she responded. In faith. Verse 15.

[72:22] So she let them. Down by a rope. Through the window. For the house. She lived in. It's part. On the city wall. And she had said to them. Go to the hills. So the pursuers.

[72:32] Will not find you. Hide yourselves there. And so on. But what to note. Here. Is that Rehab. Does. Exactly what she was. Called to do. Verse 21.

[72:43] She sent them away. And they departed. And she tied. The scarlet cord. In the window. She responded. In faith.

[72:57] I want to ask the question. How are you responding. To God. In faith. We can hear. All of that stuff. We can hear.

[73:10] About scarlet cord. We can make the connection. Between the scarlet cord. And the blood of Christ. We can know that. In our minds. We can be told. About Jesus dying for sins.

[73:22] We can. Believe. In our heads. That all. Who come. To Christ. And confess. Their sins.

[73:33] Will be saved. That all. Who call. Upon the name of the Lord. Will be saved. But the question is. Have you done it? We have not only heard. But she responded.

[73:45] She tied the cord. In the window. And she was saved. How safe are you? If you're called.

[73:58] From time to eternity. Tonight. How safe are you? Have you? Have you? Have you? Have you? Have you? Have your sins. Been taken away? Have you been assured.

[74:10] That you. Will escape. The judgment. For sin to come. Because Christ. Has taken it. Because you have looked to him. Because you have trusted him. Because you have responded.

[74:24] To the call. He has placed. Upon your life. Are you in Christ? Are you covered. By his blood? It's the only.

[74:35] Safe place. That we can be. Rock of ages. Cleft for me. Let me. Hide. Myself. In thee. This is personal. I can't do this for you.

[74:46] No one else can do this for you. This is a transaction. Between you. And the living God. You have to respond.

[74:58] No track record. It's too dark. The transaction. That was sealed. By Christ's blood. Covers all sin.

[75:10] If we will come to him. If we will respond. So there's the track record. There's the transaction. And finally. In just a word. There's a testimony. Let me just say one more thing.

[75:24] I asked you before I move on. I was reminded of something I heard. This week. When I was listening to. An account on this passage.

[75:35] And William still. An old minister that I. Listened to for many years. And he made the point. Rahab brought herself. And her family. Under the protection. Of the blood.

[75:45] And that's your calling in mind. He said. For Christians. She brought. Herself. And her family.

[75:57] Under the protection. Of the blood. And that's what you must do. You must pray. You must encourage. Those that you love. To look.

[76:07] In faith to Jesus. Third point. Final point. Very brief. It's the testimony. What's a testimony? Well a testimony. Is when. We take the opportunity.

[76:18] That God gives us. To tell someone else. About how we came to know him. And how life has been. Ever since. Did Rahab have a testimony? Well she did have a testimony.

[76:29] How do we know she had a testimony? Well. Normally do we see it. In her actions. But we hear it. From her mouth. Rahab shares.

[76:41] Her testimony. And one of the commentators. Tells me that. This is the first. Confession of faith. That we have recorded. In the Bible. From Rahab.

[76:53] The Gentile. Amorite. Prostitute. She speaks. Her testimony out. In verse 9. And following. She says to.

[77:04] The spies. I know that the Lord. Has given this land. To you. And that a great fear. Of you. Has fallen. On us. So that all who live. In this country. Are melting in fear. Because of you. We have heard. How the Lord.

[77:14] Dried up the water. Of the Red Sea. When you came out. Of Egypt. And what you did. To Sion. And all the two kings. And the Amorites. East of Jordan. Whom you completely destroyed. When we heard it. Our hearts melted.

[77:25] And everyone's courage. Failed. Because of you. For the Lord. The covenant God. Of Israel. Your God. Is God.

[77:37] In heaven above. And on the earth below. She shares her testimony. There's two things we hear.

[77:50] We hear fear. And we hear faith. She has a fear. Of the judgment. That is coming her way. But she has faith.

[78:02] That she can be saved from it. And that's something. I think that should be. In every testament. If you have a testimony. This morning. That will likely.

[78:13] Be part of it. Certainly. It's part of money. They have feared God. And his judgment. I can remember that fear. I can remember.

[78:24] Going to sleep at night. Struggling. Because I knew. There was judgment coming. And I wasn't ready. To avoid it. And that's an element.

[78:36] Of many of our testimonies. And it's a rational. Sensible. Thing. To fear. The consequences. Of not being right with God. But the fear.

[78:49] That we hear. In Rahab's testimony. Is not a fear. That drives her away. From God. It's a fear. That brings her to God. It's a fear.

[79:01] That causes her. To seek salvation. And causes her. To trust. And receive. The salvation. That God was. So ready to offer. And having.

[79:12] Trusted. And having received. Not only. Is she saved. But she tells it out. Not only.

[79:23] Does something. Change in her heart. But she. Shares it. With those. Who are standing. In front of her. And in giving. This testimony. Of the faith.

[79:34] That she has. In God. She gives. Great encouragement. To the people of God. Because her testimony. Is taken. By two spies. From that place. Back over the Jordan.

[79:47] To Joshua. And Joshua. And all the nation. That was surrounding him. Who were probably. Fearful. Are driven.

[79:58] Great encouragement. Because they hear. The testimony. Of Rahab. The prostitute. Do you have a testimony.

[80:12] Do you have a story. That you can tell. About how God. Found you. Can you speak about a day. Or a week. Or a month. Or a year. Where you came.

[80:23] To know. That God. Was trustworthy. Can you speak about a time. When you came to God. And you said. Yes I'm a sinner. I'm not going to argue.

[80:33] Any more about it. I'm a sinner. And I want to be saved. Can you speak about. When you did that. And when God saved you. When you saw your need of Christ.

[80:44] When you came to Christ. Can you speak about that. And can you speak about. How your life has changed. Since the spirit of the living Christ.

[80:55] Came to live in you. These stories. Of how God. Seeks us. And saves us.

[81:06] And keeps us. These testimonies. Are not meant to be hushed up. They're meant to be shared. And often it doesn't take many words.

[81:23] In just a few weeks. God willing. We will hear an invitation. And it's an invitation. To come.

[81:34] To the Lord's table. It's an invitation. To do this. And take the bread. And take the wine.

[81:44] That we have been pointed to this morning. And to do this. In remembrance. Of him. And you know.

[81:58] We can share a testimony. As we hear that invitation. We can share a testimony. As we speak out. Two words. Of response. And simply say.

[82:12] In obedience to Christ. I do. I do. I will. That's a testimony.

[82:23] That we have commanded to share. If we are God's people. And as we do. Especially for the first time. God is glorified.

[82:36] And his people. Are encouraged. Let's pray. Heavenly Father.

[82:49] We thank you for your word. We thank you for Rahab. The prostitute. Who you sought out. Who you took hold of. And who you saved. Through the blood. Of Christ. That was to be shed.

[83:01] This morning. We. Give you thanks. That. The blood. That was pointed to. Was shed. We thank you. We look back. Upon a cross. With the assurance.

[83:12] That all. Who will look in faith. To Jesus. Though their sin. May be like scarlet. To the shepherd of Christ. They can be made as white.

[83:24] As snow. To help us. We pray. Not only to hear. These things. Not only. Even to. Agree. In our minds.

[83:35] Upon these things. But to respond. As we have been. And we pray. That we. Would have the assurance. That we too. Are safe. From the judgment. To come.

[83:46] And safe. In the arms. Of Christ. In this relationship. Which begins here. And there's no end. And we pray. These things. In Jesus name. Amen. My apologies.

[84:03] We're very late. I've only got one. Preached today. To you'll forgive me. We're going to sing. To finish. That hymn. That I mentioned. What grace is mine. That he who called. Through.

[84:15] He who dwells. In endless life. Called through the night. To find. My distant soul. We'll stand for a second. What grace is mine.

[84:28] That he who dwells in. Start again. We'll help. We'll help. We'll start. We'll find. What grace is mine.

[84:38] That he who dwells in endless life. Called through the night. To find my distant soul.

[84:52] And from his scars. For mercy. For mercy. That would wait for me. That I might live.

[85:05] And in his name be known. So I will go. Whatever he is calling me.

[85:18] I lose my life. To find my life in him. And give my heart.

[85:31] To gain the hope that never dies. I bow my heart. Take up my cross.

[85:41] And follow him. What grace is mine. To know his breath alive in me.

[85:54] He did his wings. My awakened soul may soar. All fear can flee.

[86:06] For death's dark night is overcome. My Savior lives. And reigns forevermore.

[86:19] So I will go. Wherever he is calling me. I lose my life.

[86:32] To find my life in him. I give my hope. To gain the hope that never dies.

[86:44] I bow my heart. Take up my cross. And follow him. And I may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[86:56]  And the love of God the Father. And the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit. You and his own. Both now and forever. Amen.