WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:17.839 The couple who are involved with the church plant in Kinsale, I'll leave it at the back there, but it's just a thank you to express their thanks for our support to them in many different ways in their work in their church plant there in Kinsale. 00:00:17.960 --> 00:00:23.379 So that's from Craig and Heather. I'll leave it at the back and you can have a read of it afterwards. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:41.340 Thank you, Cherry. Sorry. No, no, just the door. 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:46.780 No, she can come back, honestly. It was just the door. 00:00:52.260 --> 00:00:59.100 So Joshua chapter 2. Let's pray and ask for God's help. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:01.000 Amen. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:17.420 Our Father God, we thank you so much for these amazing stories which have been recorded for us, kept preserved over many hundreds and thousands of years. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:20.780 So that we today can read them. 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:29.780 And we pray that they would speak to us afresh, telling us and reminding us of the great God that you are. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:34.540 The God who has come to change us and transform us. 00:01:34.540 --> 00:01:42.100 And we pray, Father, that we would meet the God who met with Rahab. 00:01:43.880 --> 00:01:49.160 And that we would experience the same things that she experienced. 00:01:50.680 --> 00:01:52.600 That our lives would be changed. 00:01:52.820 --> 00:01:53.800 In Jesus' name. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:01:54.900 Amen. 00:01:54.900 --> 00:01:55.000 Amen. 00:01:58.380 --> 00:02:05.920 When I was little, one of my favorite stories to listen to was called The Magic Porridge Pot. 00:02:06.800 --> 00:02:08.500 Any of you ever read that? 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:10.420 Yeah? 00:02:10.540 --> 00:02:11.159 You remember it? 00:02:11.200 --> 00:02:13.159 Some of the older people might know it. 00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:19.439 Well, for those of you who don't know the story, it's about a little girl and her mum who are very poor. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:26.699 They have no money and they're in hard times and can't buy any food. 00:02:26.819 --> 00:02:32.620 So the little girl goes off into the woods to buy or to find some mushrooms and wild berries. 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:38.280 And while she's out in the woods, she meets an old lady who gives her a magic porridge pot. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:41.159 The pot came with two rules. 00:02:41.900 --> 00:02:48.579 By simply saying, cook, little pot, cook, the magic pot would go on making porridge. 00:02:48.580 --> 00:02:56.040 And by saying, stop, little pot, stop, the magic pot would stop making porridge. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:00.660 And one day, as the story goes, the little girl goes off to visit her grandmother. 00:03:01.240 --> 00:03:03.980 And the mum at home decides to make some porridge. 00:03:04.100 --> 00:03:09.760 So she puts the pot on top of the stove and she says, cook, little pot, cook. 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:14.280 But the problem is she can't remember the words to stop it. 00:03:14.920 --> 00:03:16.460 This is how the story goes. 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:19.300 No more now, little pot. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:21.700 But it kept making porridge. 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:24.280 That's it, little pot, stop. 00:03:25.020 --> 00:03:29.840 But the porridge started to overflow from the pot and spill onto the stove. 00:03:30.460 --> 00:03:32.219 Stop it, she cried. 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:36.420 But the porridge overflowed onto the floor and it filled the kitchen. 00:03:36.980 --> 00:03:40.520 It poured out into the street and then into the next house. 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:46.660 Then it poured through every street in the town and no one knew how to stop it. 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:52.260 People came with buckets and pots to scoop it up, scoop up the porridge. 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:56.719 But as fast as they did, more and more porridge filled the streets. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:02.099 You'll have to go out and buy it to find out the rest of the story. 00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:08.759 But in Joshua chapter 2, we don't have anybody cooking porridge. 00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:12.900 But we do have overflowing grace. 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:21.980 Grace is God's generous favor whereby he welcomes and accepts undeserving rebels like you and me. 00:04:21.980 --> 00:04:29.400 God's grace begins to flow through the streets of Jericho. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:37.680 Up until this point of the Bible story, it seems as if God's grace is limited to the people of Israel. 00:04:38.020 --> 00:04:40.100 But that was never God's intention. 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:48.780 God's grace came to Israel so that it would overflow from one nation to all the other nations. 00:04:48.779 --> 00:04:54.379 Do you remember the promise that God made to Abraham back at the very beginning? 00:04:54.939 --> 00:04:57.619 You can read it in Genesis 12 and 15. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:00.139 He says, you will become a great nation. 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:03.019 You will have your own place to live. 00:05:03.599 --> 00:05:09.599 And all the peoples on the earth will be blessed through you, through your family. 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:18.399 In other words, God's grace would overflow from those people to the people of the world. 00:05:18.779 --> 00:05:27.419 And as much as we would like to shout, stop, it just keeps on flowing. 00:05:28.239 --> 00:05:33.379 No one and nothing can stop the overflow of God's grace. 00:05:34.179 --> 00:05:38.219 That's the message of Joshua chapter 2. 00:05:39.079 --> 00:05:43.359 Well, let's dig a little deeper and find out how that's so. 00:05:43.479 --> 00:05:46.799 First of all, the inclusiveness of God's grace. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:53.340 Remember, the whole nation of Israel are camped on the east side of the Jordan River. 00:05:53.480 --> 00:05:57.300 On the other side of the river lies the city of Jericho. 00:05:58.199 --> 00:05:59.020 Verse 1. 00:05:59.900 --> 00:06:03.900 Then Joshua, son of Nun, secretly sent two spies from Shittim. 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:08.879 Go look over the land, he said, especially Jericho. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:10.500 Go check it out. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:12.120 Go see what's going on there. 00:06:12.180 --> 00:06:13.420 What are their armies doing? 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:15.480 What way can we penetrate? 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:27.360 Now, while Joshua is concerned about the lie of the land, God is concerned about the spread of his grace towards people. 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:30.020 The rest of verse 1. 00:06:30.019 --> 00:06:39.899 And so the spies went and entered the house of a prostitute, a brothel, to a woman named Rahab. 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:41.779 And they stayed there. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:52.879 Now, from the point of this story forwards, it all focuses around this rather dubious woman called Rahab. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:54.159 Verse 2. 00:06:54.159 --> 00:07:00.379 The king of Jericho was told, look, some of the Israelites came here tonight to spy out the land. 00:07:00.719 --> 00:07:03.860 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab. 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:11.139 Bring out those men who have come here and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land. 00:07:11.139 --> 00:07:16.060 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. 00:07:17.240 --> 00:07:22.639 She said, yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 00:07:23.979 --> 00:07:27.000 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. 00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:29.079 I don't know which way they went. 00:07:29.979 --> 00:07:31.300 Go after them quickly. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:33.079 You may catch up with them. 00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:40.259 But Rahab had taken them up onto the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof. 00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:46.659 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan. 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:55.279 And as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut, leaving the spies still at Rahab's house. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:08:05.639 Now the moral of the story here is not to go and do likewise, because Rahab was telling big fat porkies, wasn't she? 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:08.319 A lot of lies were going on here. 00:08:09.159 --> 00:08:12.179 So it doesn't mean to say it's okay to tell lies. 00:08:13.079 --> 00:08:19.679 Now I think what's going on here is that it's introducing us to the people that God longs to welcome in. 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:23.379 It's introducing us to this woman, Rahab. 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:35.399 Now there seems to be three reasons why first readers of this story would consider Rahab to be excluded from God's grace. 00:08:36.319 --> 00:08:37.980 First of all, she's a woman. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:47.939 Women in that culture were thought of as nobodies, second class citizens, not much better than the animals out in the pen. 00:08:48.259 --> 00:08:49.360 That's the way they were treated. 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:55.919 Secondly, she was a prostitute, a lifestyle that was worthy of stoning. 00:08:57.680 --> 00:08:59.759 And third, Rahab is a pagan. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:09.360 She didn't worship God, but she served most likely at the local temple fertility shrine, 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:14.600 basically offering sex to evoke the blessings of the gods on the people. 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:23.540 So on all three counts, socially a woman, morally a prostitute, spiritually a pagan, 00:09:24.540 --> 00:09:28.420 Rahab ought to be excluded from God's grace. 00:09:28.419 --> 00:09:38.279 In fact, later on in Jewish culture, we learned that the first prayer that the Jew would pray, 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:40.399 the Jewish man would pray, went like this. 00:09:40.459 --> 00:09:42.839 The first prayer in the morning, he'd wake up and he'd say, 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:45.860 I thank you God that I am not born a Gentile. 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:48.519 I thank you God that I am not born a woman. 00:09:48.979 --> 00:09:51.199 And I thank you that I am not born a slave. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:54.600 Rahab was all three, wasn't she? 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:57.280 A pagan Gentile, an outsider. 00:09:57.940 --> 00:10:01.400 She was a woman, an outcast, a sex slave. 00:10:02.800 --> 00:10:07.120 But yet, as we will see, Rahab was included. 00:10:07.680 --> 00:10:11.980 She was welcomed into the community of God's people. 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:19.779 So this story is not so much about spies checking out the lie of the land. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:24.620 It's more about a story where we're checking out God's grace. 00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:28.120 But that's not the end of Rahab. 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:38.039 You see, I think stories here are written to remind us of God's desire to welcome and accept the outsider. 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:43.039 From Joshua onward, Rahab goes off the radar. 00:10:43.839 --> 00:10:50.500 We don't hear much about her until we start looking back into the family tree of God's son, Jesus Christ. 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:56.339 Hold your finger in Joshua and jump all the way to Matthew's Gospel, chapter 1. 00:10:56.399 --> 00:10:58.519 It's on page 965. 00:11:01.599 --> 00:11:02.879 Matthew, chapter 1. 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:13.599 Rahab turns up in Joshua 2. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:15.159 We don't hear much more of her. 00:11:15.959 --> 00:11:18.759 And then she turns up in Matthew, chapter 1. 00:11:19.839 --> 00:11:21.000 Look at verse 1. 00:11:21.799 --> 00:11:22.159 It says, 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.639 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:29.059 This is the whole family line of Jesus before us. 00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:32.000 And there's some pretty famous people in here. 00:11:32.099 --> 00:11:32.559 Verse 2. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:37.879 Abraham, the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah, 00:11:38.199 --> 00:11:42.559 and his 12 sons that we're actually reading about as they go into the Promised Land. 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:44.559 So they're big, important people. 00:11:46.239 --> 00:11:52.339 And then we get down to verse 5 and we read of Salmon, the father of Boaz, 00:11:53.479 --> 00:11:56.839 whose mother was Rahab. 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:01.720 Rahab, we're told there, had a son called Boaz. 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:04.740 And Boaz later had a family. 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:08.300 He was married to Ruth, by the way, another great story. 00:12:09.660 --> 00:12:13.840 And they had a family and so on, all the way down through the generations, 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:17.680 until we come to a young teenage girl called Mary. 00:12:17.800 --> 00:12:18.899 Look at verse 21. 00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:23.919 Where we're told that she will give birth to a son, 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:27.159 and you are to give him the name Jesus. 00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:32.039 And your notes at the bottom of the Bible, there's a little letter there. 00:12:32.559 --> 00:12:34.360 And you'll see the note at the bottom there. 00:12:34.959 --> 00:12:39.000 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves. 00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:43.579 Because he will save his people from their sins. 00:12:43.580 --> 00:12:55.379 Rahab was used by God to bring in Jesus Christ. 00:12:56.500 --> 00:13:00.259 Without Rahab, we would never get to Jesus. 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:05.740 Don't you think that it's ironic that Rahab, who we might exclude, 00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:08.320 who we would write out of the story, 00:13:08.520 --> 00:13:13.060 is the vital link to the main character. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:16.220 To the centerpiece of the whole story. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:21.120 The one that we would reject, the one that we would consider not suitable, 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:28.500 is welcomed in by God to bring about the birth of his son, Jesus Christ, 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:34.639 so that God's grace would overflow to the whole world. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:43.679 That is the inclusive nature of God's grace. 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:54.879 Now God's grace is amazing because, like Rahab, we all desperately need God's grace. 00:13:54.879 --> 00:14:00.100 You see, as God's grace begins to flow out towards the nations, 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:03.139 he also begins to deal with the nations. 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:07.860 As Israel moved towards the promised land, 00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:13.399 so God was beginning to confront the nations with who he is. 00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:19.659 Look back to Genesis chapter 15. 00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:28.079 Genesis chapter 15. 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:35.259 In that chapter we read about God giving promises to Abraham about the land, 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:37.600 about him becoming a great nation. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:42.279 But he also says this in verse 16 of chapter 15. 00:14:48.920 --> 00:14:52.000 Abraham is presently in the promised land. 00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:54.159 This is hundreds of years before. 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:58.300 And God is promising him that the land where he is, 00:14:58.379 --> 00:15:00.639 that that will one day belong to all his family. 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.460 But he says in verse 16, 00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.940 In the fourth generation, 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.879 your descendants will come back here. 00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:14.620 For the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure. 00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:20.080 God has not only made promises to give them rest, 00:15:20.980 --> 00:15:23.920 but he has also made a promise that he is going to come back 00:15:23.920 --> 00:15:26.280 and he's going to judge the Amorite people. 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:30.259 Now when we get to Joshua, 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:32.879 600 years later, 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:38.019 Abraham's descendants are now under the leadership of Joshua 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:40.819 and are camped on the edge of Jericho, 00:15:41.179 --> 00:15:42.339 the Amorite people. 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:46.120 They're on the edge of the promised land that God had given to them. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:49.339 And for 600 years, 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:50.799 the people of Jericho, 00:15:50.939 --> 00:15:51.699 the Amorites, 00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:54.179 have been living as they wanted, 00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:55.679 rejecting God 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:57.539 and rebelling against God. 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:01.419 As it said in Genesis 15, 16, 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:04.379 their sins were mounting up to their full measure. 00:16:04.819 --> 00:16:05.739 Year after year, 00:16:05.959 --> 00:16:08.899 it was just getting worse and worse and worse. 00:16:09.919 --> 00:16:11.019 And now God 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:12.959 is moving against them. 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:16.039 Well, you say, 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:19.259 maybe they never heard about God. 00:16:19.359 --> 00:16:21.799 Maybe it's not fair that God is going to judge them. 00:16:21.859 --> 00:16:23.559 Maybe they didn't know about God. 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:26.579 Well, they did know about God. 00:16:27.059 --> 00:16:28.819 Back in Joshua chapter 2, 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:30.879 verse 8, 00:16:32.879 --> 00:16:35.279 Before the spies lay down on the night, 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:37.119 Rahab went up on the roof 00:16:37.119 --> 00:16:38.019 and she said to them, 00:16:38.739 --> 00:16:42.299 I know that the Lord has given this land to you 00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:46.439 and that a great fear of you has fallen on us 00:16:46.439 --> 00:16:50.599 so that all who live in this country 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:52.379 are melting in fear 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:53.399 are melting in fear because of you. 00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:55.100 So it wasn't just Rahab 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:56.659 who had heard about God. 00:16:56.659 --> 00:16:58.940 The whole city knew about God 00:16:58.940 --> 00:17:00.000 and what he had promised. 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.980 Look at verse 10. 00:17:02.920 --> 00:17:04.059 We have heard 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:07.120 how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea 00:17:07.120 --> 00:17:09.500 for you when you came out of Egypt. 00:17:09.640 --> 00:17:10.940 That great big story 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:13.000 when the people were let go from Egypt 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.759 and they came to the Red Sea 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:16.099 and the waters parted 00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:18.679 and Israel marched through on dry land. 00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:20.839 They got through safely to the other side 00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:22.159 and when the Egyptians followed, 00:17:22.439 --> 00:17:24.899 the waters came crashing back down on them. 00:17:25.899 --> 00:17:28.039 Jericho heard all about that. 00:17:29.719 --> 00:17:31.079 The rest of verse 10. 00:17:31.699 --> 00:17:35.059 And they heard about what you did to Zion and Og, 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:37.459 the two kings of the Amorites 00:17:37.459 --> 00:17:38.619 east of the Jordan, 00:17:38.879 --> 00:17:40.740 whom you had completely destroyed. 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:45.180 As they came round to the River Jordan, 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:46.819 they came across these two kings 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.380 and they said, 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.880 let us pass through. 00:17:49.700 --> 00:17:51.339 God has given us this land. 00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:52.559 If you let us through, 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:54.140 nothing will happen to you. 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:57.400 But they refused to let them by 00:17:57.400 --> 00:18:01.339 and they were completely destroyed. 00:18:03.319 --> 00:18:05.880 It was all over the local news in Jericho. 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:09.299 Facebook and Twitter were bouncing with stories 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.839 of what had happened to the nations 00:18:10.839 --> 00:18:13.039 as they tried to stand in God's way. 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.779 Anyone with an ounce of sense 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:18.839 would have turned in repentance to God. 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:22.419 They were a rebellious people 00:18:22.419 --> 00:18:25.539 and God was moving in judgment 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:27.180 towards Jericho. 00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:30.940 And we knew how they feel. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.180 Look at verse 11. 00:18:32.180 --> 00:18:34.559 When we heard of it, 00:18:34.659 --> 00:18:35.859 our hearts sank 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:38.399 and everyone's courage failed 00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:39.399 because of you. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.579 For the Lord your God 00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.659 is God 00:18:42.659 --> 00:18:43.599 in heaven, 00:18:44.219 --> 00:18:45.719 above and on the earth below. 00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:46.939 There's no other God. 00:18:47.439 --> 00:18:49.000 We do have our own little gods, 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:50.159 but they're nothing. 00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:51.879 This is the one and true God. 00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:54.279 They knew who he was 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:55.479 and they knew that judgment 00:18:55.479 --> 00:18:57.079 wasn't far behind. 00:18:57.899 --> 00:19:00.719 So how were Jericho going to respond? 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:04.140 Well, we know how Rahab would respond 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:06.259 and we'll find out 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.860 how the rest of the city responded 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:09.519 in chapter 5 later on. 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:12.779 But I think it reminds us, 00:19:12.860 --> 00:19:13.240 doesn't it, 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:15.380 that God takes sin seriously. 00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:18.059 He can't let the people 00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.420 and the nations of the world 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:21.660 carry on as they wish, 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:23.779 wrecking their own lives 00:19:23.779 --> 00:19:25.980 and destroying everybody else's. 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:28.819 He gives the nations warning. 00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:30.599 In this case for Jericho, 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:32.299 there were 600 years 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.599 that they had to respond 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.559 to God's grace. 00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.899 It wasn't like God woke up 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:38.599 one morning after a bad night 00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.759 and he had a sore head 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.779 and he decided to let it all out 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.720 on poor Jericho. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.779 No, it was his reasoned 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:47.759 and his just and fair response 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.119 to a rebellious people. 00:19:49.659 --> 00:19:51.859 God had been entirely gracious to them. 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:57.480 Now hundreds of years later, 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:59.799 the warning still sounds to us today. 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:04.579 And that's why we all need God's grace. 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:08.519 Because what we see happening here 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:09.220 to Jericho 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:11.299 is only a picture 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:13.319 of what will happen 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:15.180 on a universal scale. 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:17.700 As we begin to move 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:19.279 through the Bible story, 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:21.480 the judgment of God moves 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:23.000 from the local 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:24.660 and the temporary, 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.039 what would happen to Jericho 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:27.279 and just for the nation 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.900 or just for a generation, 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:31.400 as we move through the Bible, 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.799 it moves to the global 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.180 and the eternal. 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.799 God's judgment 00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:37.240 isn't just in a little place 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.559 and just for a little bit of time. 00:20:38.779 --> 00:20:39.940 It goes globally 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:41.380 and it's for an eternity. 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:44.259 What God said to Jericho, 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:46.059 he is now saying to the world. 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:49.519 And what God did to Jericho, 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.759 he will do to everyone 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:53.899 who refuses to turn to him 00:20:53.899 --> 00:20:56.839 and who rejects his grace. 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.720 Whoever we are, 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:04.099 we are all desperately needing 00:21:04.099 --> 00:21:06.039 God's intervening grace 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:09.339 to save rebellious people like us 00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:11.740 from his coming judgment. 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:22.220 Well, the wonder of God's grace 00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:25.160 is not only that he is patient, 00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:27.400 giving people lots and lots of time, 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.559 but that he has made his grace available 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:33.180 and we can receive it. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.000 Look at how Rahab responds 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.859 to God's grace in verse 12. 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:42.000 Now then, please swear to me 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:42.959 by the Lord 00:21:42.959 --> 00:21:44.519 that you will show kindness 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.740 to my family 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:47.699 because I have shown kindness to you. 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:50.059 The word kindness there 00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:53.039 is about God's faithful covenant 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.599 or promised love. 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.899 It's a love that's dependent 00:21:56.899 --> 00:21:58.019 not on us, 00:21:58.479 --> 00:22:01.079 but it's entirely dependent upon God. 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:02.839 It's a promised love 00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:05.819 so that God remains faithful to us 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:08.220 even when we are unfaithful to him. 00:22:08.419 --> 00:22:09.960 That's what kindness means. 00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:13.899 And so here Rahab in verse 12, 00:22:14.179 --> 00:22:16.099 it's like she's throwing herself 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:18.419 completely into the faithful, 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.919 loving arms of God. 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.960 She's entrusting herself 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:23.319 into God's kindness. 00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:26.200 Give your kindness to me. 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:29.859 It's an act of faith. 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:32.059 It's a means of trust 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:34.240 as the story shows. 00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.639 Look at the rest of verse 12. 00:22:36.679 --> 00:22:38.619 Give me a sure sign, 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.119 she says, 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:40.819 that you will spare the lives 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:42.099 of my father and mother 00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:43.439 and my brothers and sisters 00:22:43.439 --> 00:22:45.220 and all who belong to them 00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:47.720 and that you will save us from death. 00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:51.319 Well, what would the sign be? 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.079 Verse 14. 00:22:53.659 --> 00:22:55.359 Our lives for your lives, 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:56.439 the man assured us. 00:22:56.519 --> 00:22:58.299 We will put our lives on the line. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.859 Death itself will make sure 00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:03.179 that this promise will remain. 00:23:03.180 --> 00:23:05.320 Verse 17. 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:06.900 So the men said to her, 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:09.060 this oath you made us swear 00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:10.900 will not be binding on us 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:14.279 unless when we enter the land, 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:16.900 you have tied this scarlet cord 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:18.340 in the window through which 00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.320 you let us down. 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.860 Verse 21. 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:25.940 Agreed, Rahab replied. 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:28.220 Let it be as you say. 00:23:28.840 --> 00:23:29.920 So she went away 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.039 and they departed 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:33.799 and she tied the scarlet cord 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:35.200 in the window. 00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:38.000 Now I want us to notice 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:40.720 that Rahab doesn't have to do anything. 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.740 All she, 00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:44.240 she doesn't have to kind of like 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:45.279 go to church. 00:23:45.340 --> 00:23:46.940 She's not asked to read her Bible. 00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:48.700 She's not asked to do anything. 00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:51.319 All she does is tie 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:53.019 this scarlet cord 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.819 in the window 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:56.200 which is an act of faith 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:58.779 in what God has promised to do. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.440 God has promised 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.600 to save her, 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.600 to rescue her. 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:05.000 And so all she does 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:06.299 is tie this ribbon 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.559 in the window 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:09.340 as an act of faith 00:24:09.340 --> 00:24:11.360 because the salvation of Rahab 00:24:11.360 --> 00:24:12.980 is not based on her social, 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:14.900 moral or spiritual condition. 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:17.420 It's all based on God's promise 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:18.360 towards her. 00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:20.200 And that promise 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.799 becomes effective to her 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:23.019 as she trusts 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:24.539 in what God is going to do. 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.980 And this faith 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:30.240 leads to the protection 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.240 for herself 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:33.519 and for her whole family. 00:24:33.860 --> 00:24:35.380 Go back again to verse 12. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:36.620 She says, 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.819 Give me a sure sign 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:39.299 that you will spare the lives 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:40.720 of my father and mother, 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:42.360 my brothers and sisters 00:24:42.360 --> 00:24:43.860 and all who belong to them, 00:24:43.860 --> 00:24:46.160 that you will save us from death. 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:50.100 Rahab longs that God's grace 00:24:50.100 --> 00:24:51.660 would flow not just to her, 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.160 not that she would just be 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:54.500 the only privileged one, 00:24:55.300 --> 00:24:56.740 but that it would extend 00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:58.160 to her whole family. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.680 And so we're left with the question, 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.980 is God so generous 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:03.640 that he would move 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:05.080 not just to Rahab? 00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:06.500 Would he also include 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.420 everybody else? 00:25:09.360 --> 00:25:10.680 Well, look at verse 17. 00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:11.860 The men said to her, 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:13.740 This oath you made us swear 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:15.240 will not be binding on us 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:17.519 unless when we enter the land 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:20.060 you have tied this scarlet cord 00:25:20.060 --> 00:25:20.799 in the window 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.060 through which you let us down, 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:23.840 and unless you have brought 00:25:23.840 --> 00:25:25.340 your father and mother, 00:25:25.340 --> 00:25:26.039 your brothers, 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.859 and all your family 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.940 into the house. 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.859 If anyone goes outside 00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:32.139 your house into the street, 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.399 his blood will be 00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:34.220 on his own head. 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:36.379 We will not be responsible. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:38.379 As for anyone 00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:39.960 who is in the house with you, 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:42.359 his blood will be on your head 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:44.619 if a hand is laid on him. 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.879 The promise is made 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:50.379 that if they too 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:51.879 come into the house, 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:54.039 if her mum and her dad 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:55.000 and her brothers 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.859 and her sisters 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:57.680 and all their wives 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.220 and husbands 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.940 and all of their children 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.299 and all the grandchildren, 00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.720 if they all come 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:04.099 under the shelter 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:05.079 of the house, 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:07.019 the house that God 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:08.599 has promised to protect, 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:12.200 they would all be kept safe 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:14.879 when Israel march 00:26:14.879 --> 00:26:16.259 against Jericho. 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:18.740 Would God do it? 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:21.079 Would he really save them? 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:23.960 Well, have a look 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.919 at chapter 6, 00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:26.099 verse 22. 00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:33.319 This is after 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:37.079 Israel have gone up 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:38.039 against Jericho. 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.179 Joshua chapter 6, 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.919 verse 22. 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:45.379 Joshua said to the two men 00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:47.159 who had spied out the land, 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:50.880 go into the prostitute's house 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.980 and bring her out 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:55.140 and all who belong to her 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:58.700 in accordance with your oath to her. 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:01.420 So the young men who had gone, 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:03.540 so the young men 00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:05.600 who had done the spying 00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:07.700 went in and bought out Rahab, 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:10.200 her father and mother 00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.759 and brothers 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:15.000 and all who belonged to her. 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.519 And they brought her 00:27:17.519 --> 00:27:19.500 and her entire family 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:21.359 and put them in a place 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.900 outside the camp of Israel, 00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:24.599 a place of safety. 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:27.619 Can you see the generous, 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.220 overflowing, 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:31.059 protective grace of God? 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:34.059 You get the sense here 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:35.740 that there was 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:38.099 so much grace available 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:39.939 that everybody 00:27:39.939 --> 00:27:41.039 who would trust 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.359 in the promise of God, 00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:43.899 they could be in there 00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:44.839 and be kept safe. 00:27:45.719 --> 00:27:46.699 That was the nature 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:47.699 of God's grace. 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.959 It overflows. 00:27:49.099 --> 00:27:50.219 It can't be contained. 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.699 It can't be stopped. 00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:53.039 It's overflowing 00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:54.539 through the streets of Jericho, 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:55.819 through the family. 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:58.059 And it was there 00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.980 for all 00:27:58.980 --> 00:28:00.539 who would trust 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.839 in Him. 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:01.939 Amen. 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:10.819 The story of God's 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:11.919 overflowing grace 00:28:11.919 --> 00:28:13.779 doesn't stop there. 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:17.219 The house of refuge 00:28:17.219 --> 00:28:18.159 for Rahab 00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:19.079 and her family 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:22.500 is not really big enough 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.219 for the world, 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:23.679 is it? 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:26.159 We need something 00:28:26.159 --> 00:28:27.539 much bigger than a house. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.539 And in His determination 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:32.119 to keep His grace 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:34.019 flowing to the world, 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:36.139 God sent His Son, 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.059 Jesus Christ, 00:28:37.199 --> 00:28:38.019 through Rahab 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.639 as we learned. 00:28:39.319 --> 00:28:40.200 He sent His Son, 00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:40.619 Jesus, 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.960 to die on the cross, 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.500 the place where 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.779 all who will trust 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.240 in Him 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.720 will find shelter 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:48.039 and refuge 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:50.119 from the ultimate 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:51.180 coming judgment. 00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:54.619 The cross stands 00:28:54.619 --> 00:28:56.180 across history, 00:28:56.359 --> 00:28:57.180 across time. 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.119 It stands 00:28:58.119 --> 00:28:59.200 across the nations. 00:28:59.400 --> 00:29:00.500 The shadow of the cross 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:02.160 falls across the world, 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.980 welcoming outsiders, 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.379 welcoming people 00:29:05.379 --> 00:29:06.259 who are socially 00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.019 and morally 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.960 and spiritually 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.519 broken. 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.500 And He says, 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:10.400 come to me, 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:12.339 come into my family 00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:13.879 and you will be safe. 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:19.259 But it doesn't stop there. 00:29:21.139 --> 00:29:22.420 Because all those 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.900 who come into His family 00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:26.220 are brought together 00:29:26.220 --> 00:29:26.960 to be called 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:28.180 God's church, 00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.559 His people. 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:31.259 And the church, 00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:32.059 His people, 00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:33.799 is to be an overflow 00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:35.700 of His grace. 00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:37.220 As we are here 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.359 together this morning, 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:40.279 we are a new community 00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.000 of people 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.299 who have been welcomed 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.279 in by God, 00:29:43.419 --> 00:29:44.779 who are here to welcome 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.419 one another. 00:29:45.419 --> 00:29:46.599 We are to offer 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.839 as a church family 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:49.379 a refuge for the broken. 00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.500 We are to take 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.619 in the outsider. 00:29:52.039 --> 00:29:53.000 We are to proclaim 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.379 the message of God 00:29:54.379 --> 00:29:55.759 that His grace 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:57.359 is always greater 00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.960 than our sin. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:01.559 There is nobody 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.759 who is outside 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.819 the bounds 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.840 of God's grace 00:30:04.840 --> 00:30:05.819 in terms of people 00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:07.079 who God can reach. 00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.740 Rahab is presented here 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:10.819 in this story 00:30:10.819 --> 00:30:12.000 as one who is socially, 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.480 morally, 00:30:12.600 --> 00:30:13.200 and spiritually 00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:14.460 completely outside. 00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:16.759 If God would do that 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:17.319 for her, 00:30:17.620 --> 00:30:18.299 He will do it 00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:18.960 for anyone. 00:30:21.340 --> 00:30:22.539 And we are to be 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:24.120 a community of grace 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:26.400 that would bring 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.039 that grace 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.740 to the world 00:30:27.740 --> 00:30:28.740 in which we live. 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.819 That it would overflow 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:32.139 from our lives. 00:30:32.220 --> 00:30:33.440 That it would bubble out 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:34.980 into our communities. 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.099 That it would begin 00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:37.059 to flow through 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.519 the streets of Carragalline. 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.460 That it would begin 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.359 to flow into 00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:41.940 every home in Ireland. 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:45.379 And that we would be people 00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:46.159 that some here 00:30:46.159 --> 00:30:46.899 would even go 00:30:46.899 --> 00:30:47.920 and bring that grace 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:49.039 to the world. 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.839 Because there is nothing 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.740 that is ever going 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.480 to stop 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.399 the overflow 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:57.480 of God's grace. 00:30:58.900 --> 00:31:00.620 He has welcomed us in. 00:31:01.780 --> 00:31:03.600 And He sends us today 00:31:03.600 --> 00:31:06.019 to welcome others in. 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:09.320 Into His amazing love. 00:31:10.320 --> 00:31:11.680 Let's pray together. 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:23.200 Our Father God, 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.120 we want to thank You 00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:24.640 so much 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.779 for Your generosity, 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:29.340 for Your amazing favor, 00:31:30.180 --> 00:31:31.600 for Your kindness. 00:31:34.100 --> 00:31:35.360 While like Jericho, 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:36.320 we deserve, 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:38.400 we deserve judgment 00:31:38.400 --> 00:31:40.900 because of our rebellion, 00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:42.060 because of our sin. 00:31:43.320 --> 00:31:44.100 But yet, 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:45.420 You have sent Your Son 00:31:45.420 --> 00:31:46.700 and under the cross 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.320 of Christ, 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.880 we find protection, 00:31:48.880 --> 00:31:50.080 we find shelter 00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:50.920 and refuge. 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:53.540 We find a home. 00:31:54.800 --> 00:31:56.160 We find peace 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:57.019 and security. 00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:59.519 We find a Father 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.660 who loves us. 00:32:01.660 --> 00:32:02.720 A Father who will 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:03.840 always accept us. 00:32:03.880 --> 00:32:04.640 A Father who will 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:06.019 never turn His back on us. 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:07.920 A Father who will 00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.680 give to us 00:32:08.680 --> 00:32:10.119 all that we ever need. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:15.259 And it is our prayer 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:17.660 that we would be people 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:19.700 who would welcome others 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:20.779 into Your family. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:22.359 Father, 00:32:22.440 --> 00:32:23.299 help us to be 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:25.019 overflowing with Your grace. 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:26.539 Fill us afresh 00:32:26.539 --> 00:32:27.440 with Your grace 00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.420 every day 00:32:28.420 --> 00:32:30.940 so that we would 00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.779 bubble over, 00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:33.720 that the streets 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.759 in Carigaline, 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:36.339 the homes in this nation 00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:38.519 would be filled 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.519 with Your grace. 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:43.860 Pour out Your Spirit 00:32:43.860 --> 00:32:46.200 and make it happen. 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:48.059 In Jesus' name. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.360 Amen.