The Promise Of The Holy Spirit

The Promise Of The Holy Spirit

Book of Acts Chapter 2:1-47

Focus: 2:1-6, 22-24, 36-42, 46, 47

It must be very clear to us all, The Holy Spirit is a member of the Triune God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is the One God of the Bible!

In Genesis 1:26 it says "Let Us" and these words mean, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!

A Personality can best be described as as possessing an intellect, having emotions, and having will. As we go through the Book of Acts we will see that the Holy Spirit possesses all these traits and much, much, more.

1.) Intellect: The Holy Spirit searches for the answers from God.

1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: [for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God].

2.) Knowledge: The Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God.

1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? [even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God].

3.) Mind: The Holy Spirit knows how God thinks.

Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, [may give unto you the "spirit of wisdom" and revelation in the knowledge of "him"]:

4.) Emotions: The Holy Spirit has feelings, and is aware of our feelings and has the ability to respond to our needs.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

5.) Will: The Holy Spirit has will.

Jas 1:18 Of "his own will" begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

An example:

Act 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and [were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia],

Each of us have similar traits and in these ways we are made in the image of God but we lack the one main thing and that is "Power".

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; "but of power", and of love, and of a sound mind.

This why the Holy Spirit comes to live with us after we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior!

This is why it is the individual believer that is the Church and not some building or some man-made structure!

SO, What is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

This is defined as the work whereby the Holy Spirit places every believer into union with Christ Jesus and into a union with every other believer as the "Body of Christ".

1Co 12:13 For by "one Spirit" are we all baptized into "one body", whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made "to drink into one Spirit".

So let's begin our lesson:

*****Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

This day at Pentecost will give us an example of the Power Of the Holy Spirit.

The "ministry" of the Holy Spirit is to "Glorify Christ Jesus" in the life and the witness of every believer!

Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: "for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you".

Pentecost means 50Th and it was held 50 days after the "Feast of the firstfruits".

The Passover is a picture or a "type" of the "death" of the Lamb of God.

The Feast of the Firstfruits is a picture or a "type" of the "resurrection" of the Lamb of God.

The Feast of Pentecost is a picture or a "type" of the formation of the early Church.

There was no "Power" to form the Church without the "power" of the Holy Spirit!

Another thing we should realize is, that because of all the things that had happened:

1.) The day of this feast.

2.) The death, burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3.) The raising of Lazarus.

There were probably more people in Jerusalem than at any other time up until that day!

Those first believers were in "one accord" and believed all these things!

They now realized the plan of God!

Notice that Pentecost was always observed on the day "after the Sabbath" or Sunday, the 50th day not the 49th day.

The Church had it's beginnings on "The Lord's Day".

The Resurrection was on the 1st day of the week, "The Lord's Day"!

The tithes and offerings were gathered on The Lord's Day!

This day was a once in a life time event and it will never happen again!

There can only be one day that the Church Age began because there was only one Calvary!

*****Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

We can be sure that the Holy Spirit has not made Himself visible in this passage!

These 120 disciples of the Lord heard "a sound".

"A sound" more like a tornado than just a normal windy day.

*****Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them "cloven tongues" like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Cloven means divided into two parts, much like the hoofs of an animal. Most of these type of animals were considered clean to the Jew.

These were not hooves but resembled a flickering flame.

Tongues means "languages" in every place it is mentioned in the Bible that is not talking of "that piece of meat in our mouths".

These are the only two uses of the word "tongues" in the Bible!

These tongues looked as fire, BUT "they were not fire"!

They flickered as a fire does!

When the Holy Spirit came into this upper room, there was an appeal to the eye and to the ear!

Any "baptism of fire" is for all those who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior and is a sign of "Judgment"!

BUT, For God to reveal Himself by resembling fire was not unusual and these Jews had seen this in the Word of God, such as Moses and the burning bush that would not burn up.

On this day of Pentecost this "sign" showed "these 120 Jews" that God was present in the room with them!

This "sign" also indicated that God was approving the beginning of the Church Age!

Fire is also a "sign" of Judgment and all those that refused the message of Peter that day would be judged for their unbelief which is the only sin that will send you to Hell!

These in that upper room were to be Baptized with the Holy Spirit and not with fire!

Jesus said:

Joh 16:9 Of sin, "because they believe not on me";

All other sin can be forgiven except the "Sin Of Unbelief"!

*****Act 2:4 And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, "and began to speak with other tongues", as the Spirit gave them utterance.

You see the Church has "no power" until the believer is filled with the Holy Ghost and Only God can baptize us with His Holy Spirit!

This filling for salvation can only happen "One Time"!

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, "by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost";

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

And is given at the very moment of salvation:

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: "in whom also after that ye believed", ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

BUT, we need to pray for a constant filling to do our work for God!

Act 4:31 "And when they had prayed", the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

A study of this Book of Acts will reveal that biblical tongues were always languages.

It will also reveal that the tongues of Acts and Corinthians are the same.

It will also reveal that tongues are a gift of the Holy Spirit and actually a lesser gift than the gift of preaching, teaching, and witnessing.

And it will also reveal that tongues will one day cease when their usefulness was complete and this gift ceased to be given by the Holy Spirit when the Apostles had all died.

Tongues were a "sign gift" belonging only to the early Church and used only for the Jews and not the Gentiles:

1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: "but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

What is the truth of tongues?

1Co 14:22 Wherefore tongues "are for a sign", not to them that believe, [but to them that believe not]: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

We should be clear in this matter!

What we need to realize is that on this day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit also began His work of holding back "that Wicked" so the Church would have time to do the work of Our Lord:

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

We use this verse a lot to show us that this work of the Holy Spirit will cease at the "Rapture" of the Church!

*****Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

As we said earlier many people had come from everywhere for not only for the Feast but to see the Resurrected Christ and the Raised Lazarus.

But there were also many devout Jews that had made their homeward journey back to Jerusalem after their ancestors had been scattered out for so long.

It can be said that this proof that there are no lost tribes of Israel!

*****Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, [because that every man heard them speak in his own language].

That word "noised" is the Greek word "phone" which means they used their voices to broadcast this message!

No one spoke in some angelic language and no one heard some angelic language!

People heard the Word of God spoken in their own language and even in their own dialect!

There was no one that did not understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was being spoken that first day of the early Church!

What can be said is that this day of Pentecost was a reversal of that day at the Tower of Babel!

At the Tower of Babel and at God's presence and at His "Judgment" people were scattered by the different languages because they could not understand each other "but at this Pentecost" believers were united by languages because they understood the Word of God and that it was for all people and all nations!

What was that message they heard?

*****Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Act 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Our lesson did not cover verse 21 but it needs to be mentioned also. The Apostle Peter was referring to the prophecy of the Book of Joel 2:32.

Joe 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

This prophecy has not been fulfilled even up to the time of our day. This will take place near the end of the Great Tribulation when the Lord will call out His remnant of the Jews.

Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

This same verse is mentioned by Peter and also by Paul:

Rom 10:13 For "whosoever" shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This verse shows us that from this day of Pentecost, that "whosoever" (no matter where they come from) calls on the name of the Lord, "Shall Be Saved up until the Day of Judgment"!

The Church Age did not begin until the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit.

It is this day that believers were introduced to the Body of Christ!

Vs 22)

We have already said that the main reason that Jerusalem had its greatest crowd this day was because they had heard of all the things of Jesus Christ.

1.) They had heard of Jesus of Nazareth, a fulfillment of prophecy.

2.) They had heard that Jesus was the Messiah, a fulfillment of prophecy.

3.) They had heard of all the miracles and wonders, a fulfillment of prophecy.

4.) Many that were at this gathering had been "eye witnesses" to most all of these things, including those 120 that had been in the upper room.

5.) Peter was preaching the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

6.) And it is the truth that "makes" not "sets", us free!

If you are only set free you may be caught again But when you are MADE FREE, you are indeed free forever!

*****Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel [and foreknowledge of God], ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

We must believe that none of these things that had happened were outside the "Will of God".

This had been God's plan all along! This is the same plan that Satan had tried, to no avail, to stop ever since his attack on Adam and Eve!

Isa 53:10 Yet "it pleased the LORD" to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

*****Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: [because it was not possible that he should be holden of it].

It was an incredible thing that Jesus, The Son of Man, should be defeated by death!

To some this was a terrible crime!

BUT in reality it was God's victory!

The Greek word "odin" translated "pains" means "birth pains"!

In other words that "tomb" where they laid our Lord Jesus was more a "womb" out of which Jesus was "born" into Resurrected Glory!

Act 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, [Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee].

And what was the importance of all this to the Jew and to the Church?

*****Act 2:36 [Therefore] let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

"Jesus" was His human name and as Savior, He was ordained of God Himself!

Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

"Christ" which means "Messiah" the "Anointed One", is the title representing His threefold office as "Prophet", "Priest", And "King"!

First to Israel and "then to all nations on this Earth"!

"LORD" to "whosoever" will call on His name for salvation!

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth "the Lord Jesus", and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Thus His full name "The Lord Jesus Christ"!

*****Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men "and brethren", what shall we do?

The "convicting" work of the Holy Spirit is shown in this verse:

1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, "it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe".

Holy Ghost conviction is at work here:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, 'and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart'.

So what can we do?

*****Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, "Repent", and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Repenting is not just saying "I'm Sorry"!

Repenting is a Complete Change Of Mind:

Php 1:27 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ": that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Php 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Both Repentance and Baptism must be done in the name of Jesus Christ!

Repenting is the "coming" to Christ, and Baptism is the "evidence" of repentance!

Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; [what doth hinder me to be baptized]?

Act 8:37 And Philip said, [If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest]. And he answered and said, [I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God].

If we do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, The Messiah sent from Heaven, then we are not believers and therefore cannot be saved!

We can take as many dunks in the water as we want but we are only washing the skin and "not cleansing the soul".

*****Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

The "Gospel Message" is for all nations and "not just for the Jews"!

I am so glad I was one of those that was included in those that were "afar off"!

This verse is also an encouragement to parents. It shows the gradual progress of the Holy Spirits work, beginning with each individual, extending to the family, and then to the uttermost parts of the world.

The call of the Gospel is not confined to one nation, nor to one age, while we are still in the Church Age!

Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psa 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Psa 85:12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

Psa 85:13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

The message then and the message today is verse 40!

*****Act 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

There can be no doubt the intent of this verse. We are to get away from all false religion and all unbelievers and cling to the Lord Jesus Christ!

"Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded"

We must focus on the Lord and make the right choice!

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We must completely separate ourselves from the world we live in!

Not to be a hermit but to be mentally separated by the Word of God.

Pro 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

We must quit being foolish and trust in the truth of the Word of God.

*****Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

What is the first thing we notice here?

When those 3000 were saved they did not just step back into the world but they stayed in the church under the preacher and were taught the truth of the Word of God.

They knew there was real a need to know the Word of God!

That word "fellowship" did not just mean associating with the Apostles and the other disciples.

To the early Christian it included having all things in common!

Rom 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

To be a Christian in this day of the early church would mean excommunication from the Jewish religion and also the Jewish way of life and there was a great need to share in order to survive.

"Fellowship" today is to be understood by every believer as to break down the barriers that exist between all peoples.

It is a truth that the word "race" came from the teachings of Evolution.

God never uses any such thing in His Word!

There are only Jews and Gentiles!

Red and yellow, black and white, they are "all" so very precious in His Sight!

In God's sight there is "no human" that is "Common"!

Heb 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

So what are the signs of the true church:

1.) A true church will continue stedfastly in the "Apostles Doctrine"!

Not some new man-made interpretation but the correct doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Heb 1:2 "Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son", whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

2.) There must be true "Fellowship"! A sharing of all the things in Jesus Christ!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

3.) There will be a breaking of bread.

This more than just going through the ritual of The Lord's Supper.

This means a true relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ!

1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

4.) The true Church will always be a house of prayer!

Mar 11:17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations "the house of prayer"? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

*****Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

To these of the early church it was not enough for them to meet only once a week.

They met daily!

They cared daily!

They witnessed daily and souls were added daily!

Their Christian faith was a day-by-day reality not a once-a-week routine!

It was by the Resurrection Power of God and the filling of the Holy Spirit and Faith in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that formed the early church and it is only by these things "and MUCH Prayer" that the Church can do a work in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Plan Of Christ Jesus For His Church

The Plan Of Christ Jesus For His Church

Book of Acts 1:1-14

The Book of Acts is the first chapter, "the beginning of the truth of the history of The Church", which is the Body of Christ, and just as important, The Bride of Christ.

This is the time called by some "the Church Age" that began at the ascension of Jesus, Our Lord and will not end until He returns in the clouds to get His Church. This called the "Rapture"!

And the "Church Age will be ended by the "Rapture"!

The Book of Acts was written by Luke. Luke was not one of the 12 disciples pick by Jesus. But Luke was an educated man and is mentioned as a physician. Luke was a doctor.

We may not realize it but there are medical journals as far back as 3000 BC and medical schools at least as far back as 500 BC.

There is strong evidence that suggest the Book of Luke was written about or very near 63 AD before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.

The "theme" of the Book of Acts and the command to the Church, can be seen in Chapter 1:8:

This verse is called by some "the Great Commission"

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The greatest thing we see here is that the Church had no power until the Holy Ghost began this new function after the ascension of Our Lord!

We must also remember this other command of Jesus to His disciples:

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

The Book of Acts describes to us the spread of Christianity and the establishment of many houses of God which were called "churches".

That word Church means: "The Lord's House" and a place to worship God in "spirit and in truth"!

The word "church" comes from the Greek word "ecclesia" which means "an assembly".

The church "in the beginning" depended entirely on Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Ghost for everything and "today" the church still depends entirely on Jesus Christ and the Power of the Holy Ghost and this will not change during the Church Age!

There will never be a new message to the Church!

There will never be a revised message to the Church!

We already have the complete, ever living, Word of God!

In the Bible, the Church denotes the whole entire body of the "Redeemed", all those whom "Our Father in Heaven has given to His Son Jesus Christ.

All those that have their name written in the Lamb's Book of Life!

Jesus Christ writes down the name of every one that calls on His name, and each one is a member in good standing in His Church!

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, [which are written in heaven], and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Let's begin:

*****Act 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

Act 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

The author of the Book of Acts is closely tied to the author of the Book of Luke. We have already said that Luke was an educated man, and in fact he was a doctor, a physician and it shows as he wrote while inspire by the Holy Ghost.

Col 4:14 [Luke, the beloved physician], and Demas, greet you.

Luke also says that he had a perfect understanding of the life, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We find that in the Book of Luke:

Luk 1:3 It seemed good to me also, [having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first], to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

This "perfect understanding" could have only come through the Holy Spirit!

Luke affirms to what we already know, that salvation can only come through Jesus Christ:

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: [for there is none other name under heaven given among men], whereby we must be saved.

We know the world still rejects the truth of God's Holy Inspired Word!

This Theophilus was probably a real man but that name means "Lover of God" or "Friend of God"!

This Book of Acts will show us at least these two things:

1.) We will see the threat of the Jews who rejected Jesus Christ and Christianity.

2.) We will see the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman controlled world.

3.) This book presents Christianity as distinct from Judaism "but also as the fulfillment of Judaism", which is still also rejected by most Jews because they are still blind to the Gospel.

Luke will show us in the Book of Acts that Christianity follows in the historical pattern and is based upon the foundation of Judaism.

The proof of that can be found in the words that Jesus said to the woman at the well of Samaria:

Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: [for salvation is of the Jews].

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, "when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth": for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him "must worship him" in spirit and in truth.

The Book of Acts will also reveal to us that the Apostle Paul had the same Christ given authority as that of the Apostle Peter and the other Apostles.

The Book of Luke told us of the things that Jesus did BUT the Book of Acts tells us what Jesus continued to do because of what He taught to the Apostles through the Power of The Holy Spirit.

There is a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit in this book and it is through the Power of the Holy Spirit that the Church has strength.

It is the Holy Spirit that is "the shield" of the church:

2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: [only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way].

Jesus had told them:

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, [he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you].

The Church can work only as the Holy Spirit dictates the Words of Jesus!

Those that removed the Work of the Lord Jesus Christ are not part of the Church:

This the prophesy of the end of the Church Age and the Laodicean Church.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

If Jesus is outside and knocking on the door to get in then He is not part of that church.

We can see this happening before our very eyes!

*****Act 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

Luke had already said that he had a perfect understanding of all these things about Jesus and he now says there were many infallible proofs.

The Greek word "tekmerion" is used here and it is the only place this word is used in the New Testament. This tells us that the evidences for Jesus Christ's resurrection were not based on philosophical speculations but on "Certain Facts".

There is no other event in the Bible that is more confirmed than the "bodily" resurrection of Jesus Christ and that grave is still empty. This cannot be said of any other religious leader.

Jesus Christ died for "all" our sins and He arose again for "all" Our Justification!

There are 10 or more appearances of the resurrected Christ to the disciples!

That empty tomb, that remarkable change in the disciples who are now the Apostles, and in the development and the spread of the Church as a result of this preaching of the Cross and of the Resurrection are also proof!

The change of worship from the Sabbath to Sunday, "The Lord's Day".

The long observances of "Easter" by the Church.

The long observances of the "Lord's Supper" since that first one with Jesus and His disciples.

The teaching of the full immersion of "water baptism" which is in type, The Death, The Burial, and the Resurrection of the Body of Christ.

The written testimony of every Holy Ghost inspired writer of the New Testament.

The "absolute fact" that if the Body of Jesus could have been found "it would have been found"!

These are additional proofs that cannot be denied!

As Jesus was victorious over Satan in His 40 days of temptation. He witnessed to His disciples for 40 "of this greater victory" over Satan!

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; "that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death", that is, the devil;

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

*****Act 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Act 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Waiting on God for the anointing of the Holy Spirit is the condition of all our blessings in the Lord. When we are saved and employed by Christ Jesus, He will give us a much better Spirit than we had!

John the Baptist had "immersed" the disciples in water and they were shortly to be "immersed" in the Holy Spirit!

John the Baptist had said:

Mar 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but "he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost".

The Greek word "baptizo" means "immersion" and "not sprinkled" in both instances!

In accordance with the Promise of Jesus:

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; "whom the world cannot receive", because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Paul wrote that all believers were to be baptized in this same manner:

1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Again, Baptism means "a full immersion" and not just a sprinkling!

If you get a sprinkling of the Holy Spirit "you are not indwelt by the Holy Spirit"!

We must be "fully immersed" in the Holy Spirit!

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, "by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost";

Tit 3:6 Which "he shed on us abundantly" through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Abundantly not sparingly!

*****Act 1:6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou "at this time" [restore again] the kingdom to Israel?

Act 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

It should be very clear to anyone who studies the Bible that the Lord will, at some future time, RESTORE the kingdom of King David, to Israel.

The Bible teaches to the Church Age:

Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

Act 15:16 After this "I will return", and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

Act 15:17 That "the residue of men" might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

Jesus was specific that this was not a concern for His disciples. Not then and not now!

The Church has other things to concentrate it's time on, which is specifically to the command of our next verse 8.

We know that Jesus Christ was 100% man but He was also 100% God and Jesus says that not even His human side knew when the Father would do these things, although His God side had to know when these things will happen.

The Bible gives us much information about "when this time may be near", which if we open our eyes we can know that Jesus could come any day now, as their is no dominant prophesy that has not already been fulfilled about the Church except the Rapture!

We must remember the prophesies that remain are mostly for the Second Coming and the Church will be Raptured out of this world before that time!

If we noticed the words of Jesus in verse 5, we know that John the Baptist had spoken of being baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire BUT Jesus said nothing about "fire" in verse 5.

WHY, we might ask? Because the "baptism of fire" is the "future judgment" after the Church Age when the nation of Israel will go through the Tribulation period!

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, "and with fire":

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and "he will throughly purge his floor", and gather his wheat into the garner; but "he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire".

We should not be confused thinking that the appearing of "the tongues of fire" is a baptism of fire!

Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Those Apostles had every right to ask all these questions and Jesus did not rebuke them for doing so. They knew that Jesus had proven Himself to be the Messiah by His Resurrection.

What they did not understand was the "Church Age". The period of time between the prophecy and the restoring of Israel.

So what is God doing today?

Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared [how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name].

God is forming His Church out of the Gentiles!

And what is the purpose of this Church? Again, Verse 1:8!

*****Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

This is the command of Our Lord Jesus Christ to His Church. The "Power" to form the Church must come by the "Power of the Holy Ghost".

What does the title Ghost mean? This is an old English word that is equivalent to soul or spirit.

It is the translation of the Hebrew word "nephesh" and the Greek "pneuma", both meaning "breath," "life," "spirit," the "living principle".

The Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit, whichever you prefer as they are interchangeable, is the "Breath Of God"!

This is much more than a dynamic preaching style!

It is the "boldness" and "grace" to be a "witness" centered on the Wisdom of the Word of God!

It can be said that every Holy Ghost filled child of God will possess the "Fruit of the Spirit".

Which is:

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Notice the word fruit is not plural. The fruit of the "Spirit" is all these things. We do not get one and not get all the rest!

To be a witness is not only a "Command" directly from Our Lord Jesus but it is also a fulfillment of prophecy!

We can see that we are to witness at our homes(Jerusalem).

We can see that we are to witness to our communities.(Judaea)

We can see that we are to witness to the adjacent communities in our nation(Samaria)

And, we can see that we are to witness in every location where humans dwell on the face of this Earth.(uttermost part)

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into "all" the world, and preach the gospel to "every" creature.

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; [but he that believeth not shall be damned].

Our witnessing is to be the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

There is no other message of the Church more important than this, His message!

Pro 14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

It is the Holy Ghost that will decide who goes where, like to a foreign land BUT we are all to work at home!

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ":

These 3 things are the function of the Church!

*****Act 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Notice this verse does not say Jesus got in His spaceship and went up. It does not say Jesus had some kind of special spacesuit either.

This ascension of Jesus was a slow upward movement until He was out of sight because of the clouds!

And, There was only a cloud that received Our Lord.

What kind of cloud was this?

Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me "with thine own self" with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Where have we seen this cloud?

Exo 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day "in a pillar of a cloud", to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Exo 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

This same Jesus:

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and "the express image of his person", and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Col 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God", [the firstborn] of every creature:

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

From the Beginning till the End:

Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, "and all that are in them", heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, "and unto the Lamb" for ever and ever.

*****Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Jesus Christ went up in His physical "Glorified" body!

Jesus is sitting on a physical "God Made" throne!

Heaven is a real place!

Heaven is not just some dimension in time!

Heaven is not just some dimension of space!

Heaven is not just some black hole in space!

My God is real, His home is real, and therefore my home is real!

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: "if it were not so, I would have told you". I go to prepare a place for you.

Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

SO, Who are these two men in white apparel?

They may have been the same two who stood by the empty tomb who told of the resurrection:

Joh 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

They may have been the same too men that came with Jesus to meet Abraham:

Gen 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

Gen 18:3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

They may be the two witnesses described in prophecy:

Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

It is not so much important as to who these two are as the message they bring!

They said:

"why stand ye gazing up into heaven"

In other words quit standing around gazing up to the sky.

IT IS TIME TO DO WHAT THE LORD HAS SAID DO!

And the next message was this:

This "same" Jesus will still be in His glorified body when He returns.

He ascended to a cloud and He will descend from a cloud.

He ascended from the Mount of Olives and He will return to this exact same place at the Mount of Olives.

Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

While will it be necessary for this earthquake. There was a Muslim king who was trying to defy the God of Glory and placed a cemetery between the Mount of Olives and the Eastern Gate of Jerusalem.

My question is if every Muslim goes to Heaven to 70 virgins then who is in all those graves?

Jesus will come in a cloud to get His "Church" but "He will step out of that cloud" So Every Eye Will See Him, at His Second Coming.

When He comes for the Church:

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

When He comes to rule as King:

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

*****Act 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.

SO, What is a Sabbath's Day journey?

A Sabbath-day's journey, according to Jewish tradition, was about three-quarters of a mile. It was "the supposed distance" between the camp and the Ark that the priest carried it into the River Jordan the day Israel marched into Canaan Land.

Jos 3:4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.

*****Act 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

We find the 11 Apostles all in the upper room. Judas the betrayer had already committed suicide.

There had been many times of contention during their 3 and 1/2 years of training but not now.

Waiting on God for the anointing of the Holy Spirit is our condition of blessing and the fulness of "Power"!

All those that will be witnesses for Christ Jesus qualify for a better spirit than their own.

The Holy Spirit is God's representative to each of us and will live within us!

This is also the first occasion of at least 30 times that "prayer" is mentioned in the Book of Acts.

There should be no doubt that "Prayer" is the greatest weapon we have. There are many things we as individuals cannot do, But We Can All Pray!

The ministry committed to every disciple of Jesus Christ is to bear witness of Him in all the world but we are powerless unless We Pray!

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

It is also good to see that the earthly family of Jesus are also now all in one accord.

The Mother of Jesus. Mary had been at the cross and had seen her Son crucified. She had stood by her Son all her life because she knew the truth and now after His resurrection "all these that were with her knew the truth".

Jesus Christ, her son was God in the flesh just as she had been told by Gabriel:

Luk 1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Luk 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Luk 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Mary had been the subject of name calling and ridicule all her life but now she was surrounded by believers.

"and his brethren"

The step brothers of Jesus who had been fathered by Joseph "and not the Holy Spirit", had never believed much about their older brother:

Joh 7:5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.

But, that had all changed since His resurrection and His ascension.

Who were these brothers?

Mar 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

We will later see more about James, and even Jude wrote one of the Books of the Bible called by his name.

We have said many times. God has a plan for this world. We can be a part of His plan of "Salvation" or we will be left out of it.

BUT, We cannot have our own plan!

God laughs at our plans!

Psa 59:8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.

Psa 59:9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Ruth

Ruth, Rewarded For Faithfulness

Text: Ruth Chapter 3-4

Focus Chapter 3:1, 2, 4, 9-12; 4:6, 9, 10, 13-17

God places great emphasis on the family in the Bible and the Bible says the family begins with one male and one female. It is this union of male and female that are to produce children. This does not mean that God does not endorse adoption because without adoption not one of us could be saved as every believer is adopted into the family of God.

In this story of Ruth, we have Ruth, a young widow and Boaz a single man. It is from this beautiful story in the Bible that we get a "type" of our redeemer, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Type in the scriptures is a person, or an event, or some thing that resembles the things Christ Jesus did.

The Apostle Paul put it this way:

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The Greek word "tupos" is used for the word "ensamples" or "example". This Greek word "tupos" is where we get our English word "type".

The Holy Spirit decided to use the concept of the Kinsman-Redeemer to portray the work of Christ Jesus on this Earth.

This is the Hebrew "Goel".

1.) He had to be related:

OT:

Deu 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.

NT:

 Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

2.) He must be able to pay the price:

OT:

Rth 2:1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

NT:

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot

3.) He must be willing to redeem:

OT:

Rth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

NT:

Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Let's watch as God prepares the way to Israel's greatest King.

Let's Begin:

*****Rth 3:1 Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek [rest] for thee, that [it may be well] with thee?

Ever since Boaz came into Ruth's life, Naomi has been a different person. Naomi had been full of self-pity but her concern was no more for herself but for this precious daughter-n-law that loved her so much.

It is a fact that we can get great satisfaction from serving others!

We may not think Naomi knew her Bible but we will soon see that she did. Naomi had a plan to get "rest" for Ruth which means, she had a plan to get Ruth a home and as the fairy tales always say "to live happily ever after".

If we pay close attention we will see Jesus Christ's relationship to all those who trust Him!

It may have been possible for Ruth and Naomi to survive since they were back in Bethlehem and among God's people.

BUT, When we have been accepted into the family if God, it is not enough to know He will never forsake us and will provide our needs, "it is in our best interest to seek a closer relationship with our Savior".

We need a personal, one-on-one relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. A "bride" should want to be with her husband.

*****Rth 3:2 And now is not Boaz [of our kindred], with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.

Ruth was a beautiful and virtuous woman and we can be sure that she was desired by other men but they could not have redeemed her. Only a kinsman could do that.

The harvest of the barley and the threshing would normally take about six weeks and it is obvious that Ruth had excited the interest of Boaz from the gifts she had received from him during this time.

Let's not forget this story take place during the time of the Judges. The theme of the Book of Judges was that mankind did what they thought was right in their own eyes.

BUT, Here we see that God still had some people that were trying to honor the Word of God presented in the five books of Moses and the Book of Joshua.

We will also see that God gave women certain rights that were not to be taken lightly especially the childless widow.

The threshing floor was not only a place to reap the harvest but it was also a place of feasting and festival at the end of Barley season.

*****Rth 3:4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

Our lesson did not cover verse three but Naomi explained to Ruth that she needed to wash and anoint herself and change her clothes before she went to the threshing floor.

In Oriental custom Naomi was instructing Ruth to act like a "bride" before presenting herself to Boaz.

To the Bride of Christ it is written:

2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Psa 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ruth went forward to Boaz because of what was written in the Word of God:

Deu 25:5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.

Any man could have approached Ruth and asked for her hand in marriage but by the Word of God Ruth would have to approach her Kinsman-Redeemer in order for him to take any action toward her.

In our day it would be like a woman proposing to the man. For those that say this not right, then they do not line up with the Word of God. It may not be the norm but this is how Ruth got to be in the line to Jesus Christ.

And Ruth was following the Word of God to the Jews!

Ruth took off the garments of the widow and put on the garments of the Bride.

When we approach the Lord we need to be obedient to the rules laid out for us.

Jesus said:

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

By the way that time is now in the Church Age!

Ruth was not familiar with the Word of God so Naomi was her instructor and Ruth was obedient to what she was taught.

*****Rth 3:9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth [thine handmaid]: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; [for thou art a near kinsman].

Boaz might have been caught a little off guard but he understood exactly what Ruth was trying to accomplish.

That word "handmaid" meant that Ruth was ready to be a slave to Boaz.

Notice Ruth was no longer the Ruth from Moab, she was Ruth searching for a new beginning.

Ruth knew she needed to be "born again".

And she went to ask Boaz if he would honor the Word of God and become her Kinsman-Redeemer.

When Boaz spread his mantle(skirt) he was laying claim to Ruth as his own.

The word "skirt" actually means "wing".

The Bible teaches us:

Eze 16:8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

Not just anyone could be the kinsman-redeemer. They first had to be the near kin.

When we think back to Jesus Christ me must remember He had to first be our kinsman to be our redeemer. God became flesh and blood so He could fulfill His written Word.

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

There was no other way for God to redeem His people.

This is the stumble-stone the world refuses to believe, but it is still the truth!

*****Rth 3:10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.

There is no doubt that Boaz was flattered by Ruth's offer of marriage. Boaz responded with a positive answer but also according to Oriental customs.

Ruth was wanting to show the world around her that she wanted to remain a part of Elimelech's family and that of her dead husband. She wanted to keep her new name.

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Boaz already knew Ruth was a virtuous woman and this just made Ruth more so in his eyes. This was the same devotion we all owe to the Lord.

Since Boaz was a near kinsman, he must next be able to redeem. Ruth and Naomi were much to poor to redeem themselves but Boaz had the resources to set them free.

The Bible teaches the Bride:

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

*****Rth 3:11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.

We can see that there was nothing immoral in all these proceedings. Boaz recognized the request of Ruth, he knew her devotion to Naomi, and he was seeing her devotion to the covenant keeping God of Israel.

This is the exact same thing each of us do when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. We realize that Our Savior is also Our Creator, is also the Covenant keeping God of Israel and Our Redeemer.

Boaz considered it a blessing to do this thing.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; [who for the joy that was set before him] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*****Rth 3:12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

It is obvious that Boaz had already given this much thought.

The Bible says:

Joh 17:24 Father, [I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory], which thou hast given me: [for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world].

We can also see Our God has given this much thought!

Here we see the willingness of Boaz to do whatever it took to take Ruth for his "bride".

Then Naomi comforted Ruth.

Rth 3:18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

When we have been obedient in the things of God, we must have patience enough to wait for God to do what He promises.

***** Rth 4:3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:

Rth 4:4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my

people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there

is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.

Boaz and Ruth had come to a personal decision and we must all make a personal decision to accept the Lord

but now comes the legal side.

The approach of Boaz was direct and according to the covenant of God and the traditions of that time.

The gate of the city was the same as the courthouse of our time. Boaz made this nearer kinsman aware of this

parcel of land but at this time he did not mention Ruth.

Boaz had assembled the elders of this community to witness this transaction by the Levirate law. Any action that took place on this day would be legal and would be binding to all parties.

God had everything in place in this part of His plan.

You know if we believe the Word of God we know that "Salvation" is the free gift of God but in the eyes of God "Redemption" was a very costly thing!

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, [which he hath purchased with his own blood].

*****Rth 4:5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.

Rth 4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.

That other kinsman was willing to buy the land until he learned that Ruth was part of the transaction. The only way to understand this is to realize that if he married Ruth and they had a son then not only would that son be heir to the land of Elimelech and Naomi but that son would be heir to all his possessions.

He was not willing to place his own things into the hand of any unborn son of Ruth!

This man was not willing to make any change in property rights. It had nothing to do with Ruth.

This man was not willing to preserve the name of the dead.

We can see that we have a Father in Heaven who sent His Own Son that is willing to preserve the dead:

1Pe 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

The world stays blind to the fact that our Redeemer could not be a man, could not be an angel and could certainly not be any demon. Our Redeemer had to be God who is our true Owner. This world was lost because of the sin of man and man cannot redeem himself.

Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Our Redeemer had to be sent from God:

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

And that Lamb of God was Jesus Christ Our Lord:

Joh 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

*****Rth 4:9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

Rth 4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

There are many things that could be said about the giving of that shoe but it suffices to say that this nearer kinsman was saying he was giving up the rights to ever walk on that land as the owner.

Remember what God told Abraham:

Gen 13:17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

All these things were witnessed by the elders and everything was made legal and more important "Binding".

When we accept the truth of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ and are accepted into the family of God it is a legal and "Binding" agreement the God makes to each believer and God will honor every such agreement.

Thank You Jesus for being willing to pay the price for our souls!

The Bible says:

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even [as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it];

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and [cleanse it with the washing of water by the word],

Eph 5:27 [That he might present it to himself a glorious church], not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

It is the Church that is the "Bride of Christ"!

*****Rth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

Where do we see God's "Grace"?

1.) God had given to Ruth an opportunity to become one of His children.(Holy Ghost Conviction)

2.) God had met her physical needs in the fields of Boaz. (Met her savior)

3.) God had allowed Boaz of Judah, to be her Kinsman Redeemer. (Redeemed by The Lord Jesus Christ)

4.) God had allowed Ruth to be bought for a great price. (The Blood of Jesus)

5.) God blessed Ruth with a son. (Place her in line to Jesus Christ)

6.) Obed means "servant"!(Jesus came the first time to serve and to save)

7.) Obed was a blessing to all his family. (God used His Only Son Jesus to bring a blessing unto the world we live in)

*****Rth 4:14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

Rth 4:15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

It was Obed who was a blessing to Naomi.

It was Obed who was a "restorer" of life to Naomi.

It would be Obed who would care for his grandmother, Naomi.

Obed would be famous because he would be grandfather to David but more important in the line of Jesus Christ!

Every baby born into this world is a step for our future. How many of these precious things have been the victims of abortion and will not be around to lead this nation of America and this world into the future.

*****Rth 4:16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.

Rth 4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Naomi was no longer Mara the bitter woman but she was back to her own sweet self.

If Ruth is a "type" of the Church we can see that it should be the Church, the Bride of Christ, that should be bringing some joy and peace into this world.

Satan had lost another battle in trying to stop the plan of God.

Noah found "Grace".

Jacob found "Grace".

Joseph found "Grace".

Moses found "Grace" and we have seen that Ruth found "Grace".

Why?

The Bible says:

Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

God has given us this time of "Grace" known as the Church Age.

"Grace is the unmerited favor of God to all mankind".

To everyone God provides sunshine, rainfall, food, and clothing, BUT to the Believer God will with-hold judgment and forgive sin,(true Grace).

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

We will begin a good study in the Book of Acts next week. We will see the formation of the early church.

That word "Grace" is seen 131 times in the New Testament and it is the theme of the Word of God during this Church Age.

We have seen the "Grace" of God in this Book of Ruth so it is a good time to study the Book of Acts.

The Bible says:

Tit 2:11 For [the grace of God that bringeth salvation] hath appeared to all men,

Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing [of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ];

Jesus is coming soon!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Ruth, Devoted To Duty

Ruth---Devoted To Duty

Book of Ruth

Chapters 1:1-8, 14-17, 19, 20; 2:1-3, 11, 12

We only spent 4 weeks in our study of the Book of Judges but for the most part we saw disobedience to Jehovah God, the judgment that followed, and then God sending a deliverer. We saw that over and over again this cycle was repeated.

One of the saddest parts of Judges was the statement that "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes".

But we know this is exactly where the world stands today and this includes America. This is what is called "Religious Humanism".

But in the midst of all this turmoil we have the little Book of Ruth which serves at least two purposes. The Book of Ruth connects the genealogy of the tribe of Judah to Israel's greatest king, David and the line to the Messiah.

The Book of Ruth states that the time period was in the time of the Judges and one of the main things we can observe is that God has a plan and the things that happen in this world are under the control and care of Our Sovereign Lord.

We can also see the Holy Ghost decided we needed to see a "Love Story".

The Holy Ghost decided that we needed to see that the "Grace" of Our Lord extends beyond the national boundaries of Israel.

Some other things we will learn is:

1.) We cannot run away from our problems.

2.) We cannot hide our mistakes nor hide from them.

3.) AND, It is always wrong to blame God because the choices we make don't work out.

BUT, the greatest lesson in the Book of Ruth is the actions of the "Kinsman Redeemer"!

So let's begin:

*****Rth 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

Some things we see is that this story takes place in the days of the Judges. In the Book of Judges we did not see many happy days for Israel.

We can also see that the tribe of Judah was in control of this city of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem means: "the house of bread".

Judah means "praise".

This little city sounds like a great place to live and a great place to be born. In fact King David was born here but more important King Jesus was born here by the miracle of the "Virgin Birth". Not just some "young maiden" but an actual "Virgin Birth"!

A famine was most always a sign of God's judgment. We know that this happened repeatably in the time of the Judges. We also know that the godly had to suffer along with the ungodly.

When trouble comes into our lives we normally do one of of three things.

1.) We endure it and that trial will control our lives.

2.) We run from it and we will miss the opportunity to serve God through it.

3.) Or we learn from our trials and come out better for them.

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

*****Rth 1:2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

We have Elimelech which means "God is King"

And Naomi which means "my delight or sweetness"

And Mahlon which means "sickly"

And Chilion which means "wasting away"

From Ephrathites which means "abundance or bearing fruit" same as Bethlehem "the house of bread"

We see a family leaving this wonderful place to go to Moab.

What does God say about Moab:

Psa 108:9 [Moab is my washpot]; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.

Moab is God's wash pot or God's boiling pot. This does not sound like a good place to live.

In other words this family moved back to the land where they had camped before Joshua had led them into the promised land.

God says this is the place I go to wash my feet!

*****Rth 1:3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

The first thing we see is that this move to Moab brings death! If Naomi was still at there place in Bethlehem she would have still had the land that God had given her family but in Moab she had nothing and lived among the enemies of God's people.

Elimelech had made the wrong decision, he had walked by sight and had not even ask for the council of God.

No matter what our circumstances are when God places us in the "house of bread", that's where we should stay until He moves us!

My "house of bread" is right here at Gethsemane Baptist Temple. This where God has placed me. This where I will stay until God moves me!

Elimelech had not walked by "faith"!

Did God punish him? No, it was the decisions he had made that had caused his death!

The Bible says:

Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

*****Rth 1:4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

These Moabites were descendants of Lot from his incestuous union with his daughters. "They had chosen to be enemies of Israel".

By the commands of Moses the Jews were forbidden to marry Gentile women and especially those of Moab and Ammon.

It was because of Moabite women that 24,000 Israelites had died in their journey to the Promised Land.

Orpah means "deer or fawn" so she was probably athletic.

Ruth means " beauty and or personality". She was beautiful but she was not dumb. Ruth was a very remarkable person and in the end was used of God in the ancestry of Jesus.

*****Rth 1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

At the end of 10 years in God's "washpot" Naomi was left with only those two "daughter n laws". Three lonely widows!

Naomi later said:

Rth 1:21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

*****Rth 1:6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: [for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread].

The famine was over back in the Promised Land but not for Naomi still in God's "washpot".

This report gave Naomi hope enough to return to her homeland. In other words the Lord had visited His people!

We can be sure that the Lord will visit His people Israel again as the Bible promises!

We can also be sure that ancient-oriental societies made no provisions for widows of any age. They had to return to their families or try to find a new husband which was not always very easy. BUT, If Naomi could get back to her homeland she knew God had made some provisions in the Book of Laws for widows. She knew she could at least gather food to eat.

*****Rth 1:7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

Naomi had made the right decision to return to Bethlehem but she had made it for the wrong reason. She was not trying to get closer to Jehovah, she was trying to get closer to food!

Both daughter-n-laws set out with her.

*****Rth 1:8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

It can get confusing as to why Naomi did not want her daughter-n-laws to return with her. To send them back to their old homesteads would be sending them back to pagan gods. Naomi was mad at Jehovah but she still knew He was the God of Israel.

The only thing that makes sense is that Naomi believed she was being punished for what her husband had done. What we know for sure is that Naomi was not broken into repentance but she was very bitter!

God says:

Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

And to the New Testament Church, God writes:

Mat 12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

Mat 12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, [ye would not have condemned the guiltless].

Naomi was telling these two girls that she hoped the Lord would provide them with better husbands than that of her two sons.

We can see the bitterness in Naomi and she did not want that bitterness to affect the lives of these two girls.

The Bible teaches us:

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

*****Rth 1:14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Rth 1:15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

Ruth dearly loved her mother-n-law. Naomi tried her best to convince these two girls that their life would be better served if they went back into their world.

If we can use the word "Type" here we can see that the most important decision we make in our lives is that of salvation. Ruth was making her most important life decision!

Nothing in this world can cause God's plan to fail but Ruth's decision that day was a part of the fulfilling of prophecy that the Lord Jesus Christ would be born in Bethlehem.

Orpah turned back but Ruth began this day fulfilling her purpose in the plan of God.

"Once Orpah walked away she was of no use to God"!

We all have some part in God's plan but we may not realize that purpose until we get to Heaven!

Again, God has chosen the least likely of people to accomplish His will on this Earth!

Ruth passed her first test to see if she could be clay in the potter's hand!

*****Rth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Rth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

What does Ruth say here?

There is no doubt the love she had for Naomi. In fact these same scriptures were used by many of us when we were married.

Ruth confesses her love for Naomi even to the time of her death.

Ruth confesses her "faith" in the True and Living God.

AND, She breaks any ties to the false gods she had known since her childhood.

Jesus said:

Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Ruth pledges allegiance to the God of the Bible, the God of Israel and the Creator of this world we live in!

We should point out one thing here:

Deu 23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:

Deu 23:4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.

We might ask how did Ruth overcome this obstacle God had put in place through the Laws of Moses?

I believe it can be said Ruth got in just like every "Born Again" child of God!

We know that The Law excludes every sinner from God's family!

BUT, By trusting God's "Mercy" and accepting God's "Grace" we can all be welcomed into the family of God but "only by Faith" in the LORD Jesus Christ.

2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

God is still long suffering and not willing that any of us should perish!

God is still a "Whosoever will come" God!

To review:

Ruth made her decision to go with Naomi and nothing Naomi said could change her mind.

Ruth said she accepted what Naomi offered her which "was poverty and not riches".

Ruth said she accepted that she would be identified with God's people "unashamed" that the hope of Israel was also her hope and is also our hope!

Ruth said Jehovah will be my God.

Ruth said these decisions I make today will be for my entire lifetime.

*****Rth 1:18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

There was nothing that Naomi could say.

You know if you make these same decisions today God will not say anything, He will just write your name in His Book of Life.

*****Rth 1:20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

It had been 10 years since Naomi had left Bethlehem, the "house of bread". The people of Bethlehem could barely recognize her as those 10 years had taken their toll on Naomi. Naomi had come back different than she had left. She was not that sweet person she had used to be but the trials of life had made her a bitter woman.

We cannot control the circumstances of our lives or those around us BUT we can control how we respond to them!

Naomi blamed it all on The Lord who is never the blame for the choices we make!

Every child of God that goes out full should remain full and also come back even more full!

Naomi may have understood that God does judge the sin in our lives but "He will never kick us out of the family"!

This is His promise!

*****Rth 2:1 And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.

Now we meet the "Kinsman-Redeemer".

We should be very aware as we proceed in this story of Ruth that Boaz is a "Type of Christ" in the Old Testament.

What are the qualifications of a Kinsman-Redeemer.

1.) There must be a "Blood Relationship":

Compare to Christ Jesus:

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

2.) There must the ability to redeem, he must have the necessary resources:

Compare to Christ Jesus:

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

3.) There must a willingness to redeem:

Compare to Christ Jesus:

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

*****Rth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.

No doubt Ruth had heard Naomi say that if we can make it back to Bethlehem we can at least find some food to live on.

SO, What is gleaning?

God had made special arrangements for the poor of the land:

Lev 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.

Lev 19:10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.

God insisted that Israel make arrangements for the poor of Israel "and for the stranger".

Lev 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

God had made this a constant reminder to Israel:

Deu 24:19 When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

Ruth knew she was poor, a widow, and a stranger. If God's Word was true then she wanted to go get them some food and was willing to work for it. This was not a handout.

*****Rth 2:3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.

Now we can believe that Ruth just happened to find the fields of Boaz "but we miss the providence of God if we do so".

God is altogether sovereign!

God is not a God of chance!

Any believer that is seeking honestly to know and to do the will of God, especially in relation to the Will of God already revealed in scripture, can feel secure that the circumstances around him or her are the purpose of God.

It's God's plan and He wants us all involved in His Plan!

We should never make a plan of our own that goes against the Word of God!

To live by "faith" is to take God at His Word!

To live by "faith" is to know that God is constantly working in our lives!

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

This why we can witness, why we can teach, and why we can preach the "truth" of the Word of God!

Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, [the Lord working with them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

*****Rth 2:11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

It is obvious that there was a lot of gossip in Bethlehem.

BUT, It can also be said that if you are a Christian you should stick out in a crowd.

No one had anything bad to say about Ruth.

Ruth had done exactly what Abraham had done:

Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Gen 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

In this sense Ruth is a "type" of the Church.

She will become a Gentile bride to Boaz who is in fact a "type" of Christ.

*****Rth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

Jesus used a similar scene to teach the disciples the seriousness of witnessing:

Mat 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

And rewards will come to all that are obedient to the Lord of the Harvest:

Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

and we should be aware that these are the things that we are judged for "after" salvation:

2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

It is Ruth who made the choice to trust in the God of Israel "and she found a loving God of Salvation":

Psa 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Psa 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

Psa 36:9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Questions?

Let's Pray!