BOLD FAITH, NOBLE CHARACTER
Notes
Transcript
REFELCTION:
TEXT: RUTH 3
INTRODUCTION:
Q: When you think of God providing for you…what comes to mind?
Q: When I say, God’s “Providence”, where does your mind go?
most of us like to think of things we don’t have to “make happen”
most of us probably think of “good things” not really tough things.
Chapter 1 of RUTH gives us a devastating picture of when of what can only be described in the moment as God’s bitter providence.
Naomi left her home, lost her husband, all but one daughter-in-law, and lost her hope.
Chapter 2 gave us glimpses of hope - as this same God begins to reveal that a plan is in place by His incredible mercy and grace.
we see that GOD’S PLAN WORKS
THERE IS PROTECTION AND KINDNESS FROM THE LORD THROUGH PEOPLE
GOD’S BOUNTIFUL GRACE IS BEGINNING TO COME INTO VIEW CLEARLY
Now we come to Chapter 3
I want us to notice the BOLDNESS and RISK taken…
I also want you to be aware of the thread that is here: There is a real desire for doing what is good and right…even at great risk here.
LOOK AT VERSE 1 WITH ME:
1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
Naomi tone and demeanor have changed, now that hope and rest are beginning to break on the horizon.
Naomis’s desire is for what is GOOD AND RIGHT…FOR RUTH!
>> I know we all have great needs…desires…hopes…dreams…BUT THIS IS A CHALLENGE FOR US TO WANT WHAT’S BEST - GENUINELY BEST - FOR THOSE AROUND US, even if our circumstances don’t change.
Naomi needs rest.
Ruth needs rest.
I don’t mean a Sunday afternoon nap
I mean the kind of rest that only a covenant relationship can bring. Rest for our minds, rest for our souls
9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
One day we will rest from our labors…
Naomi then unpacks the next steps of the plan in the next few verses.
There are some who suggest that her instructions could be interpreted as “do whatever it takes” to make this happen
which implies “less-than-holy” aspirations
After spending much time in the text, I think this is a sensational “reach” that is not supported by any of the words in our passage
They are playing on a cultural practice…but without embracing it fully…
Notice first that…
1. GOD’S PLAN INVOLVED BOLDNESS & RISK
1. GOD’S PLAN INVOLVED BOLDNESS & RISK
RUTH 3:1-7
The thrashing floor was an open air setting, where the sheaves of grain would be delivered. The people of Bethlehem took turns using the threshing floor… This is where the grain is loosened from the straw.
The men often remained there after a long day of work, having their dinner and drinking there to celebrate a wonderful harvest. The men would sleep there overnight to guard the grain.
Boaz already has a reputation of being a man of integrity… Naomi knew that Ruth could find him there.
Naomi hoped that Ruth would be safe there.
Notice she unpacked the plan and let’s look at versus 5-7 together:
5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.
It’s one thing to hear about a plan.
It’s another thing to act up upon a plan.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I struggle with this… I can let perfection be the enemy of execution.
Years ago, a pastor wrote a book to encourage his congregation and other Christians in the area of evangelism and entitled the book, “just walk across the room” (not an endorsement…But the title alone is a challenge for us to just do the thing.”
Being aware of a problem is important
Properly diagnosing a problem is
Outlining the implications of a problem if it’s not addressed is important
But none of that fixes the problem… None of that addresses the actual issue.
God has a plan for our lives and when we say yes to Jesus, it requires boldness and courage that God will give us as we yield to him and keep in step with the spirit.
It will require boldness for you to overcome the desires of your flesh, which are to just coast through life spiritually.
You may be driven in areas of your career, of academia, of self-care, of parenting, but your laziness spiritually will stunt your growth and limit your role in kingdom impact for the glory of God.
God’s people walking in obedience to God’s plan are a bold people who believe Jesus is worth the risk!
4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Ruth not only hears about this plan - but she embraces it…she “steps into it”.
I said there is risk involved… Certainly there’s risk involved here in Ruth story as she is a woman about to enter a place with a bunch of men and the time with the judges when everybody’s doing what’s right in their own eyes.
Although Boaz is a man of integrity… You might even say he is the best of men, he is still a man at best.
Boaz may very well be investing in his men around him that are serving with him, but that does not mean that they are as chaste and filled with integrity as he is in the situation.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
Moab was so harsh to Naomi and Ruth.
The initial day in Bethlehem were not easy for Naomi and Ruth.
A glimmer of Hope begins to emerge as God’s mercy is on display for Naomi and Ruth.
But just because something begins to move in the right direction doesn’t mean everything is going to fall your way today.
We’ll find in the coming verses that Ruth has a reputation as well, she is known as a worthy woman.
She’s risking that reputation with this plan.
When is the last time you risked something for the sake of the kingdom of God?
Are you calculating to make sure that everything you do is safe?
When is the last time you risked your comfort, your perceived reputation… To walk across the room and engage somebody with a life-changing message of the gospel?
You may not have time to do a robust theological treatment from creation to fall to red redemption to glory… But you might be able to plant a seed or water a seed or maybe even reaper harvest if they are ready by God’s grace.
What are you risking for the sake of a kingdom of God?
It was a great risk for our family… There was a path laid out for me that minimized risk that I could’ve agreed to in my last ministry assignment. But that path would’ve caused me to compromise in the areas of integrity, and what I believe to be obedience to the great commission.
And so at 46 years old, it became clear that God was calling our family into his plan to plant a church.
46 years old, with five children, with the same bills and needs we had while serving in an established church… We were taking a huge risk to step out on Faith with no guarantee of anything and see if we could Shepherd and serve a disciple-making church for the glory of God.
I was literally looking up church planting online.
I’m still learning.
We have a lot of growing left to do, but I am excited about the future of Mission Bible Church.
I had friends around me that were encouraging me not because they wanted my fame, or “success”…But they were encouraging me to be bold and take risks to be obedient to God’s plan.
I have to confess that’s a great little story to tell.
But I have missed opportunities to just walk across the room and talk to somebody.
God’s plan is for us to live for his glory, and that will require boldness and risk taking.
Will it be worth it?
Let’s read on…
WHILE GOD’S PEOPLE ARE EMBOLDENED AND TAKING RISKS…THE WAY WE DO IT MATTERS…
2. GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE INTEGRITY AND HONOR
2. GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE INTEGRITY AND HONOR
Ruth 3:8-15
Let’s read this passage…
8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”
Ruth must’ve thought carefully about how to respond to this…
She calls back to mind his earlier words in Ruth 2
Ruth 2:12 “12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!””
Remember kids, the first part of this was your memory verse from last week.
By Ruth invoking the word, redeemer, this is consistent with the customs of the day as it relates to marriage and Kinsman redemption to redeem her and a Elimelech’s land.
Boaz understood this. Ruth was asking him to marry her.
Boaz responds:
10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.
I can relate a little bit…with some of the details switched around.
when Ashlie Megan Hughes said yes to my proposal of marriage - neither of us knew what awaited on the other side of that.
We were wonderfully young, in love with Jesus, and I was in love with her…She was allowing me to “grow on her”!
Truth is: I have grown WITH HER…BECAUSE OF HER…BESIDER HER.
We’ve walked through cancer, loss, financial strain, ministry disappointments…deep, dark valleys…parenting struggles
But we have seen the goodness, the kindness, and the faithfulness of God
we have seen girls and boys, women and men say yes to Jesus - be strengthened in their walks with God, and reach others for Christ!
we will soon celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary: all glory and honor to Jesus!
We were friends for two years, then we dated/corded for two years and then we were married.
Not sure what I would’ve done if I would’ve found out that somebody else had first dibs on Ashlie. I was smitten…still am!
Look at Boaz’s integrity:
12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
HE HONORS GOD WITH HIS PURITY.
HE HONORS RUTH WITH HIS PURITY.
HE HONORS THE FAMILY WITH HIS FOLLOWING THE RULES.
Look back at verse 11: Ruth is also known as a ‘WORTHY WOMAN!” - a woman of integrity.
People are watching.
The honor and integrity continues in verse 14-15…
14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.
He protects her. By the way, that’s what real men do - they protect others.
He honors her…by making sure her testimony is unmarred.
NAOMI AND RUTH BEGAN IN SCARCITY…NOW GOD IS POURING OUT IN ABUNDANCE
Question that Naomi asks Ruth in verse 16 is not just how are you doing?
She is asking her, have you come back as my widowed daughter-in-law or have you come back as Mrs. Boaz?
The first part of this chapter began with planning and execution of the plan. The plan involved, boldness and risk.
The middle part of this chapter shows us the integrity and honor of Ruth and Boaz as they are fulfilling God’s plan.
The final words of this chapter end in WAITING & HOPING.
The aim here is for a a REST that can only be given by a redeemer.
A hope that can only be Realized by a redeemer.
a need that can only be met by a redeemer.
A blessing that can only come through a redeemer.
Of course, you were already there. There is a parallel here to the redeemer of our souls, the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you long for the rest and the victory that only heaven can bring, the only path to heaven is the way the Bible says… Through the redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ
The story resonates with a big picture of redemption through Christ.
You and I have no hope apart from God’s plan of redemption. You and I have no chance of having our greatest need met apart from God’s plan of redemption.
You and I are blessed only because of God’s plan of redemption.
[[LAY OUT GOSPEL]]
APPLICATION / INVITATION
APPLICATION / INVITATION
3:1-5
— pray that God would give you boldness to obey His plan and call on your life
3:8; 11
— pray that God would make you a “worthy” man or woman
3:5
— work when it is time to work
3:13
— wait when it is time to wait
