You Are Not Insignificant

There are many people walking in the earth who have been physically, verbally, emotionally, mentally and sexually violated.  These offenses have left them in a state of brokenness, feeling wounded and in a state of down.  The truth of the matter is the devil meant it for their demise, but God can turn it around for their good.  Our heavenly Father knew you before you were even formed in the womb of your mother; way before your mother and father were born; even before their father's father and mother's mother were born, "GOD KNEW YOU!  God is well acquainted with you for He created you and "YOU ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT!"

Let's take a look at the story of Rahab.  Everyone has come to know her as a prostitute, someone who most will look upon as INSIGNIFICANT.  It is one where Joshua the son of Nun was appointed leader of the Israelites shortly after the death of Moses.  Joshua along with Caleb about forty years prior to this, had accompanied a group of men who were sent to spy out a land being urged to siege it.  Joshua now being the leader sent our two spies to Jericho to investigate their secrets.  Jericho was a city fortified by walls that were 12 to 15 feet apart and were so considerable that houses were built on them which made them most distinquished.  In their quest, they found their way to Rahab's house, a harlot, a prostitute.  She was a resident in one of these houses.

Let's explore some questions that one may ponder...

1.  WHY WOULD THE HOUSE OF A PROSTITUTE BE A GOOD PLACE FOR THE
     SPIES TO GO WHEN THEY ENTERED THE CITY?

It was very common in the days of Joshua to build houses on town walls.  These houses were built with wooden logs and laid across the top of these walls.  It is believed that this is the type of house that Rahab resided in with a window that looked out of the city itself but also of the area outside of these protective walls.  She probably had a view not only of the city itself, but also of the area outside of these protective walls which proved to be most beneficial to the spies as providing an ideal location for quick escape.  This view also gave her the perfect advantage point for spotting potential customers because she entertained locals and welcomed guests from various caravans whose routes crisscrossed Jericho.

Men from all over the East brought a noise about a particular group of people encamped east of the Jordan known as the Israelites.  She had heard the marvelous stories about the exploits of the great God of the Israelites; how He had dried up the Red Sea so they could escape their Egyptian slave masters; how He had given them victory in the battle against Sihon and Og; (the two kings of the Amorites)  How for forty years the God of the Israelites had trained and toughen them in the desert.

Perhaps the good Lord Himself led the Israelites spies directly to Rahab's house because He knew she would be receptive to them by opening her heart to the God she had heard about through the marvelous stories of His mighty acts.

2.  WAS RAHAB JUSTIFIED IN LYING TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE ISRAELITE
     SPIES?

We know that lying is a sin and the Word of God does not condone this act nor does it speak negatively about it.  Rahab was deceiving the enemy, a normal and acceptable practice in those wartimes; Rahab not being a Jew could not be held responsible for keeping the moral law; she broke a lesser principle--telling the truth----to uphold a higher principle in protecting God's people.  Rahab was both clever and wise.  She knew judgment was inevitable and was able to implement a plan of escape for the spies as well as provide protection for her and her family.

SUMMARY

Rahab was a prostitute living in the middle of an idolatrous and heathen people.  Her story clearly illustrates how God's grace accepts those who we may look upon as having no value, not being of any importance or to make it plain and simple, INSIGNIFICANT...
It reveals God's willingness to use the less than perfect, the outcast, who we may see as unsuitable to accomplish His Holy purpose.

She found joy in the God of the people of promise because He had given her, an idolater, a prostitute a chance to know Him and to belong to His  people.  Her victory was in her faith that saved her and her entire household from the terrible death that was decreed for her city.

Rahab is the only woman singled out by name and commended for her faith as part of the great "cloud of witnesses" mentioned in the Book of Hebrews.

IN CLOSING

God does not wait for us to become spotlessly clean or totally mature in our faith in order to use us.  Instead, He takes ordinary, willing people and accomplishes the extraordinary, both in their lives and in the lives of those around them.  God chose a stutterer name Moses to speak for Him; a weakling name Gideon to defend Him; an infertile woman named Sarah to be a mother of a nation; a ruddy younger son name David to become the most unforgettable King of Israel; an unknown virgin name Mary to become the mother of His Son Jesus; and a persecutor of Christians name Paul to take the gospel to nations.  If God can take a prostitute and use her for His glory as He did Rahab, just think of what He can use you for.

Please remember, YOU ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT...

Wait and Don't Give Up!

Waiting on something that one really wants requires plenty of patience and discipline.  Many single Christian women are waiting on that special man that seems like it is taking forever for him to find her.  Proverbs 18:22 (KJV) reads- Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.
In order for something to be found, it must be in a place not easily accessible; a hidden place. Women that are a part of God's Kingdom are to keep themselves chaste and set apart from the world.  They don't conduct themselves like those in the world as the world's philosophy is "go after whatever you want."  They don't bring attention themselves by dressing loosely and provocative. A "REAL MAN OF GOD" will not allow himself to be lured by the trappings of a big butt and a smile, remember that girl is poison.  What are you doing while you are waiting?  It is very important to keep your mind clear from the devices that the enemy will surely place there.  It is also important to guard your heart and not allow it to continually lead you into places where you and it should not be. Also be very careful of where you spend your time and how you carry yourself.  Find yourself diligent in the things that pleases God while He is preparing you for what and whom He has prepared for you.

Here are some important things to do while waiting:

1. 2 Corinthians 10:5 reads - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that comes to exalt itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.  The enemy is going to constantly bring images of the past of those you were in a lot of love with; those you had a crush on or even one you are attracted to. These images will not be ones that are honorable to God.  They will be perverted and very displeasing.  Rebuke and cast those thoughts down and bring them into the obedience of Christ by His Word.  Plead the blood of Jesus over your mind and thoughts.  Be careful what you allow your mind to focus and stay on.
2. Jeremiah 17:9 reads-  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  The heart is the seat of our emotions.  It has led us into some very hurtful places.  It has caused one to trust when there was none; believe when there was nothing but lies; and to give those things that are most precious of ourselves away.  The enemy will always keep you on a path that he knows your heart is weak to.  We must give total control of our hearts to Christ in order to be prepared to wait on God and what He has ordained for us.
3. Romans 12:1 reads- I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  Just as Christ presented His body as a living sacrifice to atone for all of the sin of mankind, we too must present our bodies back to God which is the least we can do considering what Christ did to redeem us back to His Father.  Our bodies were not created to be instruments of sin.  Sexual immorality is one thing that has separated many from God.  Sexual sins are the only sins committed against our body as these sins causes one to be linked with souls ties.  Souls ties are very damaging as the soul that you have attached yourself to could be attached the souls of many others.  Whatever bondage that person had, has now been attached to you.  Soul attachments separates one completely from God and He knows the danger of one's soul connected to that of another.  God created all men for His glory.  We were not meant to demean or partake in any activity that will bring shame to God and defame our temple. 

In summarizing all of the above, while waiting it is very important to guard your thoughts and what you allow your mind to linger on.  Remember to immediately cast down those imaginations (deceptive fantasies) and high thing (deceptive reasoning) that come to elevate itself against that which you know is not pleasing to God!  Guard your heart by giving it completely over to Jesus Christ.  Don't continue to allow your heart to take you back to where your flesh has deceived you.  Last but not least, your were created for God and his Holy purpose. Remember, "but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.  This is a great advantage afforded to you just by waiting. This strength is one that can only come from God himself which is rewarded to those that just wait.......