Transformed By Ruth - Part 4
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Transformed By the Book Of Ruth - Living By Faith In God
Transformed By the Book Of Ruth - Living By Faith In God
1 Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.
2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.”
3 So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.
Pray
Confession of Faith
Confession of Faith
I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus Name
I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus Name
Intro:
There are times in our lives were we struggle! Struggle financially, struggle emotionally, struggle spiritually, struggle physically, struggle communicating to love ones, struggle understanding ourselves, struggle with choices made or decisions not made!
There are times we have and there are time when we just don't have it! How many times I look back on my childhood and it look like we had more than enough only come to find out we wore just as poor and struggling as everyone else in the neighborhood! But I believe my mom was living by Faith in God!
When you don;t have food, or decent clothes to wear, or a roof over your head, no job, not even the necessities of life - It’s difficult surviving in this world
We see the increased level of homelessness, - many people living in tents along the freeway and in parks! The seasons are changing and across this world folks will be looking for shelter, for protection , for warmth at night
Here we see Naomi and Ruth were poor, utterly destitute.
But not only did they not have anything, they were widows and neither had any children! Basically, these two women were left alone in this world to fend for themselves
And by the way we are talking about a time where it truly was male-dominated in the land!
It’s not like they could go out and get employment!
Add to that Ruth was a foreigner - who was getting the side eye everywhere she went by the neighbors
But in the midst of all that - God was moving on their behalf!
In the midst of their situation God was strategically setting them up for a blessing!
Ruth had made a commitment to God to follow him with her whole heart
16 But Ruth said, “Don’t beg me to leave you or to stop following you. Where you go, I will go. Where you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
We must walk this walk living by faith in God
Because of her genuine commitment to God, she was placed under the wings of God.
Because of her commitment to God - God was taking care of Ruth and Naomi!
Because of her commitment to God - God was moving people and creating events in order to protect Ruth and Naomi
Because of her commitment to God - God was working to meet the needs of both of these women
When we commit to God we get his care, we receive his guidance and we benefit from his provisions!
Here is something I want you to think about
9 “When you harvest the grain in your land, don’t harvest the grain in the corners of your fields or gather what is left after you’re finished.
10 Don’t harvest your vineyard a second time or pick up fallen grapes. Leave them for poor people and foreigners. I am the Lord your God.
Whenever you are blessed as a Christ Follower always consider the poor and leave a blessing for them. Why?, because God gave you/us the blessing and he has every right to tell us how to use it.
Among the people of God - you will always find God’s concern and his provision for his people!
Ruth was not only a poor widow, but she was also a foreigner
But, she had every right to look to God for His help and provision.
No matter what you situation or circumstance as a Christ follower you can always look to God for his help and his provision!
18 He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.
Watch God!
1 There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
Baoz!
Say Boaz
Boaz is introduced, so it seems, out of nowhere. There was no mention of him before and we only know a little about him!
As a matter of fact - he has not entered Naomi or Ruth’s lives at this point!
It's like God a showing us - I am moving in the lives of people for your benefit, I am moving and shifting people and things around for your blessing! I am doing things in other area that you cannot see, but you just have to have faith in me!
For some of us God is preparing a Boaz to enter our lives
Boaz was a relative of Naomi's husband, Elimelech.
God is using Boaz to be a blessing!
God is using Boaz to fix somethings
God is using Boaz to turn hopelessness to joy
God is using Boaz to rescue
God is using Boaz to save
Boaz was the son of Rahab, the prostitute who was saved
5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,
At this point, Naomi and Ruth were unaware that God was about to save them from their desperate situation.
See God always does exceedingly and abundantly more than we can think or imagine
But this was not to be all: God was also planning to use them to fulfill His great promise to Abraham, the promise of the promised seed—the wonderful promise that the Savior or Messiah would come through the descendants of Abraham. Ruth was to become a part of the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ. The sovereign power of God was moving the events surrounding Naomi and Ruth in order to fulfill His promise made to Abraham.
Naomi and Ruth in the middle of desparate times were going to play a very important part in fulfilling God's great promise to send the Savior into the world.
Just think , no matter what you are going through God is preparing you to use you in His mission to save all who will come to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior!
We must walk this walk living by faith in God
2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.”
To live by faith means to take God at His word and then act upon it
James 2:20 (NKJV)
20 ... that faith without works is dead?
Ruth believed that God loved her and would provide for her, so she set out to find a field in which she could get some food.
This was completely an act of faith because, being a stranger, she didn't know who owned the different parts of ground that made up the fields.
Ruth demonstrated courage in looking for food for her and Naomi to eat! This to me is a clear picture of being diligent, not lazy, in doing the things to take care of your need
Ruth knew about what the bible said about making sure there was food for the poor
22 “When you harvest the crops of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.”
How she knew that - the bible doesn’t tell us! But this is a reminder to each of us! We must know the Word of God to receive the blessings of God!
There are at least three strong lessons for us in this experience of Ruth:
You have to be diligent, You got to show strong initiative to meet your needs.
You can’t depend on anyone else, when you are able to work and earn a living yourself.
If you are physically and mentally able, you must be diligent!
24 Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.
23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
4 Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.
We cannot be lazy, in work and responsibility.
12 We do not want you to become lazy. Be like those who through faith and patience will receive what God has promised.
It was not chance that led Ruth to the field of Boaz. It was the sovereign power of God. God was guiding Ruth, working all events out for good—all because she loved God and was totally committed to Him.
So it is with all who love God and are committed to Him. He works all things out for our good. God works behind the scenes for us even when we are not aware of His working.
We must walk this walk living by faith in God
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
9 He shows those who are humble how to do right, and he teaches them his ways.
It is here that Boaz enters the story
3 So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.
By God’s grace
By God’s providence
By God’s guidance
Ruth gleaned in the portion of the field that belonged to Boaz. The record says Ruth "happened" to come to this portion of the field, but it was no accident. Her steps were guided by the Lord
We must walk this walk living by faith in God
Genesis 24:27 (NKJV)
27 As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”
God's providence working in our lives is both a delight and a mystery.
God is constantly working with us
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
God is constantly working for us
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
God is always accomplishing His gracious purposes through us.
Even when We pray,
Even when we seek His will,
and Even when we make decisions (and sometimes make mistakes);
It is God who orders events and guides His willing children.
He works all things out for our good. God works behind the scenes for us even when we are not aware of His working.
We must walk this walk living by faith in God