I. The Need of Planning and Action (Joshua 2:1).
A. We believe in the sovereignty of God. He rules over the nations.
He sets up kings, and pulls them down at His pleasure.
B. God gave the land to the Israelites. He ruled that they should
have it, but at the same time they were responsible to TAKE it.
C. Likewise the Christian life. Joshua laid plans. He sent in spies.
In the same way each of us must plan and work and fight to live for Christ.
D. Jesus said to serve the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.

II. The Reality of the Enemy.
A. The spies found a real enemy in Jericho, and had to hide and flee to
escape with their lives.
B. Christians have real enemies. Often flesh and blood. But always
dark spiritual forces are arrayed against us. (Not the "dark side of
the FORCE.")

III. The Question of Rebellion Against the Government.
A. Rahab was a citizen of Jericho. Yet she rebelled against her government.
She committed treason. She lied to the King's men, and helped spies.
B. Christians of every era must wrestle with their relationship to government.
Generally speaking, we are commanded to be loyal submissive citizens.
(Romans 13:1-5)
C. But Christians are citizens of God's Kingdom, too. When the goals and
commands of any worldly government conflict with God's commands,
we are obliged to obey our Heavenly King.

IV. The Nature of Saving Faith.
A. Saving Faith is characterized by action (James 2:14).
(Rahab hid the spies.)
B. Saving Faith is in Jehovah alone, and no other God (Ps. 96:3-5).
(Rahab abandoned the gods of Jericho to serve Jehovah.)
C. Saving Faith is relatively rare (Matt. 7:13-14).
(In the entire city, only Rahab had saving Faith.)
D. Saving Faith brings salvation.
(Rahab was saved physically and spiritually--an ancestor of Jesus,
and listed in the roll of heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11.)