LADIES of HEBREWS 11

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. SARA’S FAITH IN THE FACE OF DISAPPOINTMENT

1. Sara had Faith in God’s Word [v. 11a, Rm. 10:17] why do we repeat this so much? Because- “Faith cometh by…”

2. Sara had Faith in God’s Work [v. 11b, Luke 1:37] For with God nothing shall be impossible.

3. Sara had Faith in God [v. 11c, Mark 11:22] And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

II. RAHAB’S FAITH IN THE FACE OF DESTRUCTION

1. Rahab had a Sincere Faith [v. 30-31, Joshua 2:9-11]

And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 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.

2. Rahab had a Saving Faith [v. 31a, Joshua 2:12-21, 6:22-25]

Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.

And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.

-But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

3. Rahab had a Serving Faith [v. 31b, 1 Thessalonians 1:3]

-Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

III. FAITH IN THE FACE OF DEATH

1. A Slave’s Faith [v. 23]

2. A Widow’s Faith [v. 35, I Kings 17]

3. A Great Woman’s Faith [v. 35, 2nd Kings 4:8-37]