A CRY FOR MERCY

Joshua 6:21-25, Hebrews 11:31

The message today is indeed revolutionary. If we look at Hebrews 11:31, we see what is happening--it could be disturbing. Today, we wonder why Rahab's name was on this list in Hebrews, on this Holy list.

This list is considered a Holy list of men and women who lived and operated by faith. Why is Rahab's name on this list? The last name mentioned on this list was Rahab's name. So what does this explain about what faith is all about. What is her name doing on this list?

Rahab's faith delivered her. Rehab was also justified by her works and by her faith when she hid the spies--so our good deeds avail nothing without faith in God's mercy through Christ.

Rahab's faith was the cause of the salvation of others. Had she not believed in God, her relatives would have shared the fate of Jericho.

This list in Hebrews includes such giants as Able and Enoch who walked with God. Moses himself is listed here--Joseph, Joshua, Noah, Gideon, Isaac, Samuel, Abraham, David and then comes Rahab. How does a harlot, a prostitute, a lady of the evening, a pleasure woman--how does her name get on this Holy list? It was Rahab's life that would cause the sovereign God of Glory to speak to the writer of Hebrews who placed her name on this list?

God saves anybody he wants to save, regardless of their status in life. We cannot be picky, we cannot be choosy to whom we preach or share the Good News. If we were, we would not preach to Rahab. We would not put her name on the list. We might put Moses on the list, our good friends, our family member's names, but not Rahab. Brethren, if God is to be pleased, Rehab needs to hear the Gospel.

Well brethren, you are familiar with the fact that Israel prayed for nearly 400 years that the Lord would deliver her out of the hands of the Egyptian captivity. The Lord moved in their lives to put them right and sent to them someone by the name of Moses. Moses came and said to Pharaoh, "The Lord said: 'Let my people go.'" The Bible declared while they traveled the Lord was with them, leading them, protecting them, feeding them. God moved in their midst in a mighty way--to possess the Law.

Moses sent twelve men to spy on the land. Eleven of them came back with an evil report. We can say also, eleven of them, my brothers and sisters, had a grasshopper faith. They had a grasshopper mentality. They said what we saw is that they're giants and we are as grasshoppers before them. In other words, they were weak and frail and little before that nation as shown in the faithlessness of the eleven. Israel ended up spending 40 years wandering around in the wilderness.

We have to be careful whom we put on our committee. Eleven men who had no faith, eleven men who had no confidence in God, eleven men who had not the power of God came back and said we are as grasshoppers. Beloved, do not get in God's way. God will just let you die. Do not get in God's way.

The eleven got in the way of God's program, frustrating the man of God. They came back frustrating Moses' program. Some died and some others came on the scene. God spoke to Moses, "You can view the land, but cannot go in. I will only let you look at it."

How long will you stop God's program, God's vision? How long will you stop murmuring against God's vision? I challenge you today, let God's program go forth.

After Moses death, Joshua was the one to take over. A savior must lead them to the Promised Land, and God said to Joshua, "It is up to you now. As I was with Moses so I will be with you, get my children ready. I want you to move over to the Promised Land." Joshua was careful in picking his committee. He got a committee of two men who loved the Lord, two men who feared God, two men who knew the power of God, two men with confidence in God who came back with a different report. They said, "We can go and we will be victorious." So Joshua prepared them and told them to move into Jericho. The Bible declared the enemies were there in the city. Two men were sent to spy on the land. The men decided to hide somewhere.

As they started looking for a hiding place, as they looked, my brothers and sisters, they saw a house. I said they saw a house. Maybe the house had a sign written on it: "Rahab's Pleasure Palace," "Rahab's Massage Palace," or "Rahab's Escort Palace."

The men determined to hide there and when they got there to the door Rahab said, "Come on in." She rescued them. God helps us todayÉ.God gets some people out there where he puts his seal upon them. They may have some bad attitudes, but it's our job to carry the Gospel to where they are.

As soon they got to Rahab's house the enemies knocked on the door and said, "Hello Miss Rahab." She answered the door and they said, "The king of Jericho sent us to you Rahab. Bring forth the men. We heard that they are here; somebody saw them coming to your door. We know they're here." Rahab said, "No, they're not here. They were here. You just missed them. They left. I tell you, if you run real fast you might catch up with them." She said to the men hiding in her house, "Use the rope. Go up the mountain and hide there. Prepare to leave town. Hide out there three days." Rahab said, "I would like you to do something for me. Would you promise to save me and save my house. When you and your army come to destroy this place, would you promise to save my me, save my house?" Beloved, that sounds like a cry for mercy. "I beg you," she said, "do not let me die. I am known as being bad in this town. I know you are God's messenger sent to destroy this town. I know I deserve to die, but save me."

She cries for mercy.

What right beloved, does Rahab have to ask for mercy? She is as sinful as the rest of the city, in fact morally she may be worse. She is a sinner, a bad sinner, a horrible sinner, a lowdown sinner. What right does a harlot have to ask to be saved? Well preacher, she did help the servant of God. She did hide the spies, she did protect them from their enemy, she did good works. Surely her good works should win her favor in the sight of Joshua. Many religious people think their good works are going to guarantee them a seat in the Kingdom of God. Some people will come to the door of the church give their money, but will not stay for worship service.

Rahab, your good work will not save you. Rahab, your possessions will not get you in. Rahab, you cannot buy your way in. Rahab, you cannot force your way in. Rahab, you cannot walk your way in. Rahab, you deserve death. Rahab, you deserve to die with the rest of the town because you are no better than they are. In fact, Rahab is just as depraved as the rest of the town. She does not have a right to expect mercy, yet she cried for mercy. She cried and said, "When you come to the city, spare me."

Even though she does not deserve saving. Even though her work could not save her. Even though she deserved to die right along with the rest of the sinners. Yet the Bible declares Rehab was saved and even her name is found among the faithful of Hebrews chapter 11.

Well what was it that saved a nogood harlot? If you go back to Joshua 2:9-11, where she got up, went to the spies and spoke to them. Right there Rahab made an affirmation of faith and she does not sound like a harlot. Beloved, we'd better know the God that we are serving. We are serving a God who gives a second chance. Rahab said, "I know God has given to you this land. I know you will win. I know you're going to be victorious and it is because of your God. Victory shall be yours. I heard about your God. I heard what he did to the kings. I heard what he did to the Red Sea. I know you're going to win because of your God. He is a mighty God. He is a Holy God. He is a Sovereign God. He is God in heaven and God on earth." Beloved, what kind of talk is that coming from a harlot? Sometimes church people do not talk like that. Somewhere along the line Rahab gets a revelation from God.

I do not know when she got it. I do not know who told her about God. Somewhere she heard about God.

Unless you hear from God you will never be saved. Somebody needs to hear about God today. God needs to reveal himself to somebody today.

I tell you if you ever get a revelation from God you will cry for mercy. You will cry for help. Do not be too proud of your religion. Paul was on the road to Damascus and bowed down to God. David said have mercy on me, O Lord. When you know that God died for you, you bow down to him and you want to serve him.

God always sends grace before he sends judgment. This is the kind of God I serve. God always sends warning before he sends judgment. Seven days he warned Jericho. There were many people in the city, but nobody heard the warning, nobody paid attention.

We need to bow down before God and cry for mercy. You shall not stand.

Lord, create in me a clean heart. O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

The Lord's forgiveness is full and free through Christ raised. God puts the best robe upon us and rings on our fingers as tokens of his joy at our return.

When you cry for mercy, when you cry for help;
God will give you a tender heart;
God will send you help;
God will give you a new spirit;
God will give you a new revelation;
God will sprinkle upon the conscience;
God will purify the guilty;
God will sanctify the heart;
God will cause you to walk in his statutes;
God will cause you to have wisdom;
God will cause you to have power;
God will cause you to change;
God will cause you to be concerned about others;

God does not force anybody. If you have a willing heart, come; he will put his spirit within you. You will be his people and he will be your God. Mercy, mercy.

When you cry for mercy, you will not lean on your own understanding. God will hold your hand for safety. When you cry for mercy, there will be a breakthrough by faith; deliverance will come.

February 11, 2007

Pastor Luc Deratus

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