Our Darkest Story

For when you’re feeling disappointed with your life...

“Let God write your story.”

God’s Story

God searches for you to be in His story.

(Joshua 2:1) Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

God always makes a way for us to be in His story.

  

Rehab the harlot helped the Hebrew spies escape capture in Jericho.  She saved her entire family for doing this.  

(Joshua 2:17-21) Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down... 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.

God’s story always has a redemptive 

ending.

Redeem means to put something back to it's original intent, and it's better than it was before. 

God has the unique ability to take the darkest story and turn it to good (Romans 8:28).

(Matthew 1:3, 5-6) Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar... Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth...David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.

God has more of a story for you than you can even understand.

Rehab became the ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ.  

Rahab’s Words of Encouragement

1. “God invites you to be a part of His story— join Him.”

If you want God involved in your life, you have to say yes.

(John 8:12) Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus saves you.  Forgives you.  Cleanses you. 

Give your life to God.  He can do more with it than you can. 

(Luke 9:23-24) Then he (Jesus) said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.

2.“God wants to surprise you with His love— accept Him.”

(Hebrews 4:15-16 MSG) We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's (Jesus) been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

3. “God wants you to love others with your actions—serve Him.”

The God story never ends with just you. 

(1 John 3:16-18) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

4. “God signs His Name to your story—

 thank Him.”

(1 Timothy 1:15-17 NLT) This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

Everyone can be great because everyone can serve - Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/rahab 

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.