Greetings from the Pastor

As we enter the month of May, I challenge each of you to join me in taking full measure in keeping the family together God’s way.

God is looking for a generation of people who will go beyond the norm to keep the family together.

It is God’s desire that we know and understand that a family is a unit. Unit within it self means whole. God wants to keep the family whole. Rather it is your immediate family or your extended family, which is the spiritual family.

God wants it to be one because the family unit can be a strong source of stability, security, and happiness. It can nurture support, love and togetherness.

Now! When things go wrong within the family unit, it can become the opposite: A source of great stress and tribulation. The family key motivation should rest in the desire to preserve the family unit and keep it intact at all cost.

In the book of Joshua a story is written about a woman whose name is Rahab. Rahab, like all of us, had sinned and come short of the glory of God.

God wants us to focus on this story relative to Rahab to help us better understand two basic things.

1. God does not want us to cast away a family member or family members because of their life style or occupation.
2. God uses whomever He desires to keep the family together.

Church family, we need to know that there are certain occupations that we associate with certain biblical characters. To say a particular name immediately brings a certain occupation to mind.

For Example:

Abraham was a herdsman.
David was a shepherd.
Nehemiah was a cupbearer.
Isaiah was a prophet.
Peter was a fisherman.
Herod was a king.
Esther was a queen.
Matthew was a tax collector.
Caiaphas was a high priest.
Joseph (NT) was a carpenter.
Paul was a tentmaker.
Lydia was a seller of purple cloth.

Perhaps the strangest of all is Rahab. The occupation that comes to mind at the mention of her name is “a harlot.” Rahab traded sex for money in what has sometimes been called the world’s oldest occupation known to man.

Providence, we need to know that the Bible makes no bones about Rahab’s occupation and makes no attempt to cover it up.

The first time we meet her in Joshua 2:1, she is called “a prostitute named Rahab.” She is called “Rahab the prostitute” in Joshua 6:17 and again in Joshua 6:25.

Now, if that is not enough. Her occupation is mentioned twice in the New Testament.

In (Hebrews 11:31) it is written by “By faith the prostitute Rahab”
and in James 2:25, it is written “Rahab the prostitute.”

So! There you have it! Your name, not only from the Biblical sense indentifies you but your name in the secular sense indentifies you as well. Thomas Norris – the teacher, John Henry Jones- the manager, Kirk Cofer - the Deacon, Kevin Green – the Musician, Linda K Pope – the Computer Programmer, Janie  Norris – the Principle, Jackie Jones– the caterer, Juanetter  Moore –  the nurse, Sara Cofer  – the Deacon’s wife.

Yes! You are identified by who you are and what you do.

Now! How does this relate to keeping the family together?

It relates to keeping the family together because God wants us to know that regardless of the occupation or life style, He uses whomever He desire to keep the family together.

Now Providence! No doubt Rahab had given up all hope of turning her life around. But God had other ideas.

We need to know that God, through the blood of Jesus Christ, can turn shame into glory in one shining moment of redemption.

As you study this second chapter of Joshua, you will note that it does not record many details about Rahab. However, it does tell us that she lived in Jericho near the city wall. She was well-known to the men of the city because the two spies had no trouble finding her house and the king of Jericho knew who she was and where she lived.

This chapter of Joshua does not give any information as to how she became a harlot or any of the like. But it does tell us that she knew the Lord had given the land to the spies’ people. She also made known unto the spies that all the people in her land were afraid of them because they had heard how the Lord delivered them on dry land when they came out of Egypt, and how the Lord had destroyed two cities and the Amorite kings for them.

She went on to say also our men are afraid to fight you because the Lord your God rules heaven and earth.

Now Providence! These are the words of a harlot, not the words of a saint of God.

Now! God can use whomever He desires to keep the family together His way.

I know He can because as you steady the 12^th verse of this 2^nd chapter of Joshua you will note that Rahab, the harlot asked the spies from the camp of God’s children of Israel to make her a promise.

She said, “Promise me before your God that you will show kindness to my family as I have shown kindness to your family.”

In other words keep my family together God’s way as I am keeping your family together God’s way.

The two spies said to her you must do as we tell you or we will not be responsible for what happens to you and your family.

You must tie a red rope in the window through which you let us down to escape. You must bring your entire family into your house and keep them together in your house God’s way.

God wants us to keep the family together at all cost.

Remember! God uses whomever He desires, regardless of their life style or occupation to keep the family together.

Be blessed and Happy Mother’s Day

Rev. Dr. Alexander Pope, Jr.

Positive Thought for May

Every thing is possible for him that believes

Sermon Theme for May

Keeping the Family Together

Remember the 3 Ps for 2012:

Be Present

Be Prompt