FAITH…what an obscure word! Such a “church” word, right?

Not necessarily! 

Have you ever heard the famous story of the European tight rope walker?

The famous European tight rope walker had reached such heights (no pun intended, but I am married to the king of puns), that he believed it was time to take his talent to a new level! As the crowd roared and cheered as he began to step out onto the tight rope strung high between two skyscraper buildings, they noticed he was pushing some thing out in front of him! They realized it was a wheelbarrow. The man yelled down, “Do you Believe that I can push this wheelbarrow across this tight rope?” The roar of the crowd rose to an even higher level as they screamed and shouted, “ Yes, we believe!” Then as the roar of the crowd quieted, he asked another question, “If you believe, then who is willing to get into the wheelbarrow?” 

Silence came over the crowd. 

No one got in. They were not willing to put their faith into action!

REAL FAITH MOVES INTO ACTION!

Beyond simply believing something is true, we must move past that belief into action.

It is not enough to simply say we believe it, we must demonstrate what we believe!

No one will question the words that we say when they are made true by our actions!

Easier said than done, right?

It is no wonder this phrase is so popular and commonly used.

I am going to take the next six weeks and attempt to increase my faith and possibly yours, if you are willing to take this journey with me, as we look at six women in the Bible who were willing to jump into the wheelbarrow of life!

They did not simply say they believed they actually put their faith into action instead of merely talking about it!

Our first “wheelbarrow rider” is Rahab. We find her story in the book of Joshua. Rahab demonstrates courageous faith in the face of fear.

Rahab is a citizen of the godless city of Jericho. She is no ordinary citizen, she is a prostitute. She is literally known as and referred to by the title, “Rahab the Prostitute.”

The life she lived was not hidden in the dark. She was known by the people of Jericho as a woman who engaged in sex for money. She would be plagued with terms such as cheap, loose, corrupt and even perverse! The world she lived in would not see her as valuable, rather they would devalue her and deem her unworthy and even profane.

Then, something miraculous happens, she encounters the Living God through those living out His Truth and through the testimony about Him.

Rahab‘s fear of the condemnation she knows is due her given her sinful life, is transformed into a healthy fear and respect for The God Who Saves!

He saved his people from Egyptians and parted the Red Sea to do it! He also empowered them to defeat to Amorite kings!

Joshua 2:9-11

“Rahab said to them, I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, The two Amorite kings you completely destroyed a cross the Jordan. When we heard this we lost heart and our courage failed, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below!”

Rahab had a FEAR of God. Because of what she had heard and was given testimony about. She believed in who God was and what he had done. 

Her FAITH moves into action as her FAITH moves from knowledge into trust in what He can do!

Rahab understands God could punish her sinful lifestyle due to His power. 

But when her FAITH turned from a healthy fear and understanding of who God is and what he can do, to a FEAR of God‘s love and desire to forgive our sins and set us free, it changed everything! She believed God wants to set us free and give us worth, value and meaning! That FEAR became a fueled COURAGE to act in a way that put her FAITH into action!

She says it herself…

“‘According to your words, so be it!’ She sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.” 

Joshua 2:21

The Scarlet Cord was the sign of Rahab’s FAITH in God put into action.

She had moved from a FAITH in the knowledge of who God was, into a FAITH of fear and reverence for what God could do! And she put that faith into action!

TRUTH BOMB

OUR FAITH IN GOD SPEAKS LOUDEST THROUGH OUR ACTIONS RATHER THAN OUR WORDS!

The same can happen for us! Does our FAITH speak through our actions, or does it remain shallow in our words alone? 

Let’s move into action my friend!

He is worthy, faithful and true!

Can’t wait to see you back here next week as we look at our second woman who jumped into that wheelbarrow!

Speak Truth Love