The Open Word (Audio)

Our past does not determine our future! Today we will learn the incredible story of Rahab, a prostitute that trusted the Lord enough to put her very life on the line! She was even mentioned in the New Testament as an example of FAITH! Pastor David will teach us about God’s REDEMPTIVE work. Along with so many other sinners, we will find Rahab in the family line of Jesus! When we allow God to lead us, He brings healing and redirects our paths. He uses people with stains and failures. People like… each of us!

Rahab was willing to put her life at risk to save her family. In today’s message, Pastor David will be teaching on this supernatural encounter between the prostitute Rahab and the two Israelite spies. She had heard about the power of the LORD. She confesses that there is no other god like Him! She protects the spies and begs for them to spare her life and the life of her family when they take over Jericho. This is a great example of FAITH, and of a heart of an intercessor!

Pastor David will teach today about the AMAZING confession of Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho that hosts and protects the two Israelite spies when the kings’ men come looking for them. She had NO reason to help them! She risked her own life for these strangers! However, we notice the Lord revealing Himself to her - as she surprisingly confesses that she has heard what Jehovah God has done, and that there is no god on heaven or earth like Him! We will learn today about the provision of our mighty God through this powerful story!

Some Christians may be more mature in their walk with the Lord, while other brothers and sisters still have battles to fight. Pastor David will teach today that even though the children of Gad, Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh had already arrived in their share of the Promised Land, they didn’t get settled. They continued fighting the battles alongside the other tribes, until ALL of them were set. Are you willing to leave your “settled land” to fight for others, in order that they may also have the victory that has been promised to them?

Joshua is a book of faithfulness and disobedience. People were strong, but also fearful. Doesn’t that also describe… us?! Today Pastor David will be teaching about the choices we have to make between flesh and spirit, as we study the Israelites’ journey into the Promised Land. Moses said to the Lord: “if your Presence is not coming with us, we are not going!” Do we pray that kind of prayer? Are we willing to give up our own desires, in order to assure that we are fully within the perfect will of God for our lives?

When Joshua became the new leader of Israel, God revealed to him that the people would rebel against the Lord; they would absorb terrible behaviors from the foreigners who lived in that land… There would be GREAT battles to be fought… What an intimidating new job! We will learn with Pastor David that it doesn’t matter how challenging a task or a calling may be; when you have the covering of the Holy Spirit over you, just like Joshua, you WILL be able to move forward in power! And NOTHING will stand against you!

The Lord is ALWAYS faithful. We can be quick to judge the Israelites, their rebellious behavior, and their lack of faith; but we can ALSO often forget the faithfulness of God in our own lives! In today’s message, Pastor David will teach about a GREAT tool that the Lord gave Moses: a SONG! God wanted the Israelites to have that song in their minds, so that when they entered the Promised Land, they would remember those words from the Lord, and never forget that His words never fail!

When Joshua became the new leader of the Israelites, there were a lot of challenges ahead of him; but the Lord encouraged him, speaking over and over again: “I will not leave you or forsake you; be strong and courageous.” So often in our lives, we also face situations that seem so overwhelming and beyond our abilities. Today we will learn with Pastor David that Joshua actually BELIEVED what God said, and walked in that faith! And BECAUSE he believed, he was able to enter the Promised Land. God blesses our faith and our obedience!

God chose Israel not because they were great and powerful, but because they were little! In this way, GOD’S power would be EVIDENT to all the nations! Throughout the story of Joshua, we hear repeatedly the words: “Be strong and courageous,” and “do not fear, because the LORD is with you.” In today’s message, we will learn with Pastor David that, as with Joshua, God is always with us – and THAT’S why we are strong! That’s why we have nothing to fear! It’s HIS power in us, so we can be a living testimony of the glory of JESUS!

The power of UNITY strengthens the body of Christ! In today’s message, we have the people of God confronted by all the challenges still ahead of them, in order for them to enter the Promised Land. Pastor David will teach us that in a moment of struggle, the best thing we can do is to remain UNITED. Isolation is a great weapon from the enemy to keep us powerless and defeated. So many Christians may have made it out of “Egypt,” but then settled in the wilderness! God wants us to keep pressing forward in unity into the Promised Land!