The Israelites conquered the city of Jericho at God's command. All inhabitants except Rahab the prostitute were killed, as the city was devoted to God and accursed. Rahab was spared because she hid Israelite spies and demonstrated faith in God. Centuries later, when Hiel rebuilt Jericho, his firstborn and youngest sons died as Joshua had prophesied due to defying God's curse on the city. Faith in God brought down Jericho's walls and saved Rahab.

1. I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.

2. 17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. The Israelites were to take nothin g for themselves from this accursed place. Vile sin, including religious fornication and infant sacrifice ruled this wicked city.

3. 17b "Only Rahab the harlot shall live." A Canaanite and a harlot; Why would she live? She believed the Truth of the Living God; She put her faith into action . God saved her and her family. Her faith in God was true; It produced good works.

4. Rahab the harlot became Rahab the wife of a man of God. When she put her faith in God Almighty, She turned from sin unto righteousness.

5. 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. When we refuse to keep ourselves from sin, we bring on ourselves the curse of sin. So many Christians are living lives of perpetual " bad luck " because of sinful attitudes, words, or deeds. There is no luck. There is blessing or cursing.

6. 19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord. They had been used for evil, but now they would be set aside unto the Lord . That happens whenever a man or woman is born of the Spirit of God.

7. 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout , that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. Not a plan that a man would plan.

8. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. 22 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. Her house was on the wall; how did God preserve her house when the walls fell? The same force field that held the Jordan River; The force field of the Holy Ghost .

9. Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her . We are as good as our word , And no better. Colossians 3 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10. 23 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. 24 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 . If you want wrong made right, Give it completely to God.

11. If your life is a mess, with troubles wall to wall, Give it completely to God. Set yourself aside unto God, living your life His Way. Quit thinking as you've always thought ; Quit behaving as you have always behaved. Live your life as a Christian gentleman or a Christian lady, and enjoy God's best .

12. Romans 12 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice , holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service . 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renew-ing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good , and acceptable , and perfect , Will of God .

13. 25 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. Hebrews 11 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

14. 26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. The Israelites would occupy, with God's blessing , many of the cities that they conquered. But not this center of wickedness.

15. 1 Kings 16 33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the Word of the Lord, which He spake by Joshua the son of Nun. Don't defy the Will of God.

16. 27 So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country. Joshua didn't win this battle. Neither the sword nor the bow won this battle. Faith in God brought down the walls of Jericho and gave victory to God's people.

17. By faith the walls of Jericho fell and the city was destroyed. By faith Rahab was saved from that destruction. James 2 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? Faith lives in works.

18. www.rossvillechurch.com New pictures in a PP presentation December 6, 2009