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.

Break Every Chain

Every bondage begins with a lie.  

It is a belief that something can give me happiness besides God. 

Freedom comes by releasing the lie that holds me.  

Luke 15:11-32 (NLT)

11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 

12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 

14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 

15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 

16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

Sometimes you have to lose everything to appreciate anything.  It gives you a new perspective. Freedom comes not from what I say to you, but what you say to you.

17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 

1. Recognize that you need help.  

We try to fix up what we've messed up.  Satan has no power, but the power to deceive.

Self-leadership comes from this discouraging realization. You have participated in every bad decision that you have made. 

When I lost all of my excuses, I found all of my results.  Sometimes we hold on to all our excuses;therefore, we stay in bondage to our past.  We can't fix ourselves.  

18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

2. Recognize that you need to repent. 

Repent of all your sin. We have a natural bent to sin from birth. Only the blood of Jesus can wash us from all our sin.  

During Passover, they put blood on the doorway.  The people were spared not by their good works, but by the blood placed upon their doorway.

God can take a brown cow eating green grass to make white milk.  God can take a black heart and apply Jesus's red blood, and make it whiter than snow. 

I don't understand it, but I'm blessed by it when I repent.  Repent is not a bad word, but a good word.  It means to change your mind and direction.  Going from God and going to God.  

It's not about perfection, but direction.  What you don't repent from, you will repeat. God's not trying to pay you back, but bring you back.        

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 

3. Return to the Father.

You don't earn your way into the family of God.  It comes by birth. Not by works. The Father stood looking for His boy. He was looking for Him (and He is looking you).  

He ran after that boy.  He lost all His dignity.  It was the only time in Scripture that you see God running to reach His boy. God loves you, and there is nothing you can do about it.   

  

21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

4. Rejoice with the family. 

The Father didn't want to talk about His boy's past, but his future.  

22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. 

The Father gave Him back his prosperity.  

Get a ring for his finger 

The Father gave Him back his authority.

and sandals for his feet. 

The Father gave Him back his 

direction. 

23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

The Father threw his boy a party! 

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, 

‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. 

All bondage begins with a lie.  This was lie #1. 

And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 

Lie #2.  The older brother was in more bondage than the younger brother. Self righteousness smells just as bad as a pig pen.  

Verse 12 says that the inheritance was divided between them.  In the Jewish culture, the older boy had received twice as much as the younger boy, and he still had his.  

30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 

The resources for the party came from the older boy!  A win for your brother is a win for you.  A loss for your brother is a loss for you.  If you don't embrace the redemptive power of God, you'll miss the party.

32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Mike Haman, Healing Place Church 

The Final Word

Of all the words that you speak throughout your life time, which words are the most important?

Which of Jesus's words are the most important?  There is a word that stands as His highest. 

John 19:28-30 NIV

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 

29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 

30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

1. The Word of Redemption: “Tetelestai”

At His death, Jesus didn't turn water into wine, but He changed sinners into saints. 

He didn't open the eyes of a blind man, but He made it possible for the eyes of all mankind to be enlighten. 

John 19:30 NIV

30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Salvation is complete!  The work Jesus came to do is done. He spoke of it as early as a 12 year old.   

Luke 2:49 NKJV

49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

It is finished means the final payment of a purchase.  It is a business term. 

John 19:29-30 NIV

29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 

30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Doesn't wine vinegar sound bitter. Just like our sins to the spirit of the Son of Man. 

Exodus 12:22 NCV

22 Take a branch of the hyssop plant, dip it into the bowl filled with blood, and then wipe the blood on the sides and tops of the doorframes. No one may leave that house until morning.

The hyssop plant was used during Passover for protection against the destroyer. Christ's blood promises protection from the destroyer as well.  

Hebrews 10:14 NASB

14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Humanity gets in trouble, and Jesus handles it.  In Hebrew, it means that peace has been made. 

John 19:30 NKJV

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus lowered His head when His work of redemption on the cross was finished.  

John 10:17-18 NIV

17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. 

I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

No one took Jesus's life, but He gave it up willingly.  What was finished?  What was complete?  He still teaches.  He still heals. It was the...  

2. The Work of Redemption

2 Corinthians 5:21 RSV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Behold the double transfer.  Jesus's righteousness to us, and our sin to Him.   

2 Corinthians 5:19 RSV

19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

This is an accounting term.  The ledger has been changed by Jesus for us.   

Hebrews 10:14 NKJV

14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

We are saved, but we are being developed.  

Hebrews 10:12 NKJV

12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

When someone is finished, they sit down. Satan can't take it from us, and we can not add to it.  I can benefit from it, but I can not contribute to it.   

Be open to this miracle.

Please embrace this great work of God for you.  Please do not refuse the gift. Please accept the great gift of God's grace.  Why wouldn't you?  

If your sins are so great, that's the point.  You weren't consulted.  God has already conferred it upon you if you'd but ask.       

“God ... grants me the benefits of the perfect expiation of Christ, imputing to me his righteousness and holiness as if I had never committed a single sin, or had ever been sinful, [and as if] I had fulfilled myself all the obedience which Christ has carried out for me, if only I accept such a favor with a trusting heart.” (Heidelberg Catechism)

Be a part of this miracle.

What is the Holy Spirit saying to me through this message?

Max Lucado, Guest Speaking at Gateway Church

http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/life/events/individual-messages-2018/session/2018/11/10/the-final-word