Glen Bond Picayune MS. July 30, 2006 Subject: the power of the Lord or (What are you trusting in) The Lord has all power. Do you think that he can't save you? People of Jericho had no power when Israel went to destroy their city. The Lord had went before them, and prepared the way. Joshua2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. The people of Jericho were almost ready to surrender, and Israel had not even come against them yet. Yet the people of Jericho trusted in the walls. The Lord had sent Israel to destroy Jericho because they were wicked and this was just another sign that they didn't believe in God. They trusted the walls. And God is able to destroy the walls. What are you trusting in today? The destroyer is coming to destroy YOU. Death is coming. What are you trusting in? Are you going to be like the people of Jericho? Are you trusting in something that is not able to stand before God? Look at Joshua 2:11 Rahab speaking) And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. The Lord is able to melt your hard heart just as he melted the hearts of the people of Jericho. The melting of the heart is a removing of pride. You no longer think 'I can do it'. Rahab knew that the Lord was the one who had delivered Israel. The other people of Jericho thought that Israel was just strong people and good warriors. They did not believe in God. There are two types of UN-belief: One says that there is no God. The other says that there is a God, but "I won't have this man to rule over me." Which type of UN belief do you have? Look at the unbelief of Jericho, I think that there were both types of unbelievers there. But Look at what happened to the un-believers. They were ALL DESTROYED ALIKE. Only the believers were saved. I believe that Rahab was saved. and I believe that when she heard the people of Israel were coming, I think that she began to pray for deliverance. And the Lord sent the spies to her house. The Lord preserved the spies by her, and he preserved her by these spies. The Lord has all power. The Lord didn't have to send these spies to Rahab, They could have been sent to some one else. Satan could have prepared a way that all of them would have perished. But the Lord takes care of his people. Rahab trusted in the Lord, and the Lord delivered her. Who are you trusting in today? Are you trusting in some material thing? If your trust is in something other than Christ, then your hope is vain. We are all going to die sooner or later, and after that the judgement. If you are trusting in your money to buy good health and good doctors, The Lord has still promised to you - death. You can't take your money with you, so you will stand at the judgement alone. You must give account of the deeds that you have done. You must give account for rejecting Christ, for trampling under foot the Son of God, and hath counting the blood of the covenant, wherewith you was sanctified, an unholy thing... (Hebrews 10:29) Who are you trusting in today? Look at Joshua 3:13-16 13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. 14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. The Lord told them that HE would clear the way across the river. He said that when their feet touch the water, then the He would open the river before them. The Lord didn't open the water before they came to it. The Lord has made a way of salvation for you, and you must come to him. If these priest had went to the water and looked out, they would have seen nothing but water, They would say "we can't cross this river." They had to go in faith believing what God had said. A sinner must go in faith. You say "I can't come to Christ" "I don't see how to come." You come by faith. You take one step at a time. As you take a step, then the next step will open before you. But don't say, "Oh, I made it through that step but I don't see how." Don't worry about "how". Acknowlege that the Lord brought you, and start over again for the next step, one step at a time. Don't look out and say, "I don't see the way". You will never be able to see the way that the Lord is bringing you. Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. A light to my feet and a light to my path. You can only see your feet and the path near them. You can't see far off. You can see where your next step should go and not much more. You must trust the Lord for your next step. If you could see where you are going, you would not go. You would be to much afraid. You would say "I don't want to go there." I can tell you these things because that is how the Lord saved me. Joshua 3:15-17 but, Look at the river, This river was about a mile wide, and who knows how deep. When the priests feet touched the water, the river just stopped flowing. It "rose up upon an heap" it just piled up, a mile wide. And the ground dried up immediatly. God has power over the river, he has power over the Red Sea, he did this same thing there. He has power over the hearts of man, and he CAN turn your heart to himself. The bible says that there is only one power, that is the power of God Romans 13:1 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Don't you believe that the Lord God of the universe has power to save you? The Gospel is "Christ died for sinners". and "Gospel" means "Good NEWS". If you are not a sinner, then the Gospel is not good news to you. A guilty sinner sees his need of a saviour, a self-righteous person cannot see that he is a sinner and needs a saviour. Therefor, the Gospel of Christ is not good news to him. Does the Gospel mean good news to you? If not, then ask the Lord to MAKE it mean Good News to you. He is able, He has all power. He made the water of the river to pile up in a heap. Joshua 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.