“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.”
Psalm 149:4 ESV
The first Christmas tree I can remember was a silver foil tree with round blue ornaments made of glass. The tree didn’t have lights on it. Instead, a projection lamp sat on the floor in front of it. It had a rotating cover with pie shaped slices of color. The entire tree (and room) would turn blue, then green, then red, and so on. Thankfully, those trees went out of style with the end of the 1960’s. This gaudy and outlandish Christmas tree was followed by many variations throughout the years. There were fresh cut cedar trees from the old home place, fir trees from Colorado purchased from the sale lot, and the plastic artificial tree from the December 26 clearance sale.
Yes, I can remember those Christmas trees of long ago. Even the one topped with the Santa Claus surrounded by lights blinking in sequence—probably more fitting for Las Vegas than College Station! The Christmas adornments which brought such light and beauty to my childhood home are probably buried in a landfill. However, there is an adornment that God can give to you which will bring light and beauty to your life forever. God “adorns the humble with salvation.”
It is coming to faith in Christ during the Christmas season of 1973 that is my favorite Christmas memory. May Christ be the center of your Christmas. Enjoy the family traditions, gifts, and, yes, even those trees. Just be sure to enjoy the Savior most! Merry Christmas!
I love each of you!
Pastor Larry
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
God’s Will (Ruth 2:17-23)
As a Christian, there is probably nothing any more important in the Christian life than understanding the will of God and undertaking the will of God. Finding the will of God and following the will of God is an essential, expedient, and exciting part of being saved.
Someone has said, "Out of the will of God there is no such thing as success; in the will of God there cannot be failure." A major key to being blessed of God is being in the will of God.
David Livingstone once said, "I had rather be in the heart of Africa in the will of God than on the throne of England out of the will of God."
A believer that refuses the will of God is rejected for the work of God. If I want to experience God's work in my life, I must do God's will for my life. In the story of Ruth and the passage before us, there are some lessons that we can glean concerning the will of God. As we have seen in this chapter, Ruth is learning and growing in her Christian experience. In the process, she is confronted about being obedient to Boaz and the blessings of doing so.
[Ruth 2:17-23]
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
18 She took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied.
19 Her mother-in-law then said to her, “Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Again Naomi said to her, “The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives.”
21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “Furthermore, he said to me, ‘You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.’ ”
22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that others do not fall upon you in another field.”
23 So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
1. THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S WILL
Notice Ruth 2:21, Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “Furthermore, he said to me, ‘You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” Also we read in Ruth 2:8, "Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.'”
Ruth declared unto Naomi, "He said to me."
Boaz had made his desires for Ruth known. He had spoken his will and he had shown his will. He had said in effect, "This is what I want you to do. Stay in my field."
Paul said in Ephesians 5:17, So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
God has a will for your life. It stands to reason that He wants you to know His will. If He wants you to know His will, then He will show you His will.
I believe there are two major reasons why people do not know the will of God.
The first reason is because of the failure to do what is already known to be the will of God. We know that we are to be faithful to Church. We know that we are to tithe of our income. We know that we need to pray and read our Bibles. Yet, we are often disobedient in these matters. I think of what Jesus said in John 7:16-17, “So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.”
The key to knowing what you don't know is doing what you know to be the will of God. If you will not do what has already been revealed, you will not do what will be revealed in the future.
The second reason people don't understand the will of God is that they want to check it out first and then decide if that is what they want to do. We want to make sure it fits our plans and preferences. Someone wrote an imaginary letter from Paul in response to the call from Macedonia:
"DEAR SIR AND BROTHER:
Doubtless you will recall the invitation you extended to me to come over into Macedonia and help the people of that section. You will pardon me for saying that I am somewhat surprised that you should expect a man of my standing in the church seriously to consider a call on such meager information. There are a number of things I should like to learn before giving my decision, and would appreciate you dropping me a line, addressing me at Troas.
First of all, I should like to know if Macedonia is a circuit or a station. There is another item that was overlooked in your brief and somewhat sudden invitation. No mention was made of the salary I was to receive. I have been through a long and expensive course of training; in fact, I may state, with reasonable pride, that I am a Sanhedrin man, the only one in the ministry today. Kindly get the good Macedonian brethren together and see what you can do in the way of support.
You have told me nothing about Macedonia beyond the implication that the place needs help. What are the social advantages? Is the church well organized? I recently had a fine offer to return to Damascus at an increase of salary, and am told that I made a very favorable impression on the church at Jerusalem.
For recommendations, write to the Rev. Simon Peter, D.D., at Jerusalem. I will say that I am a first-class mixer and especially strong on argumentative preaching. If I accept the call, I must stipulate for two months' vacation and the privilege of taking an occasional lecture tour. My lecture on "Over the Wall in a Basket" is worth two drachma of any man’s money.
Sincerely yours,
PAUL"
That is only an imaginary letter in Paul's case, but it is not so imaginary in many cases. We want to approve the will of God before we answer the will of God. Doing the will of God is like taking a blank sheet of paper and signing your name at the bottom, then letting God fill in the page with whatever He so desires.
Boaz made known to Ruth what He wanted her to do. God will make known to you what He wants, if you will yield yourself to do whatever He may ask.
2. THE UNDERTAKING OF GOD’S WILL
Notice in Ruth 2:23, “So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law.”
We see Ruth understanding and undertaking what Boaz wanted. He said and she submitted. There is comprehension and compliance. There were the orders of Boaz and the obedience of Ruth.
The Will of God is not some theological course to ponder, but a personal call to pursue. Paul said in Ephesians 6:6, “Not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”
Now you may be someone who feels that you cannot do much for God and that you are limited.
I think about a story I read about a psychologist, an engineer, and a theologian that were on a hunting trip in Canada. The weather began to get bad so they started looking for shelter. They came upon a small, isolated cabin. They knocked on the door, but no one was at home. The door was unlocked, so they walked on in.
As they stepped inside, they saw something strange. There was a large, pot-bellied, cast iron stove suspended in midair by wires attached to the ceiling beams. They were all puzzled as to why the stove was elevated from the floor?
The psychologist concluded: "It is obvious that this lonely trapper, isolated from humanity, has elevated his stove so that he can curl up under it and vicariously experience a return to his mother’s womb.”
The engineer theorized: "This man is practicing laws of thermodynamics. By elevating his stove, he has discovered a way to distribute heat more evenly throughout his cabin."
The theologian speculated: "I'm sure that hanging his stove from the ceiling has religious meaning. Fire lifted up has been a religious symbol for centuries.”
While they were debating the matter, the trapper returned. They immediately asked him why he had hung his pot-bellied stove by wires from the ceiling. He said, "I had plenty of wire, but not much stovepipe."
I’ve had many believers say to me that they can’t do much in the service of Christ because they are limited either physically or financially. My question to those is always, “Are you doing what you know you can do?”
You may come short in some areas; but God has a purpose, plan, and place for your life. Our place is not to question the what, why, or even the when. Our place is to obey and say yes! God wants us to understand His will and undertake His will.
Notice Ruth 2:22, Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that others do not fall upon you in another field.” What Boaz had asked of Ruth was not a burden, but a blessing. What he had commanded was not something that discouraged, but delighted both Ruth and Naomi. The will of God is more than a job, it is a joy.
I think of what Paul said in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
3. THE UNIQUENESS OF GOD’S WILL
Ruth would have missed the unique blessing that God was orchestrating if she would have failed to follow Boaz’ instructions. Boaz not only wanted Ruth in his field, but also wanted her to stay in his field. Notice Ruth 2:21, “Furthermore, he said to me, ‘You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” Also we read in Ruth 2:23, "So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. She was told to stay in the field until the end of the harvest. We read that she obeyed and stayed in the field as directed.
She stayed in the field day by day until the harvest was in and completed. We are to know the will of God, obey the will of God, and do the will of God until our work or His work is done.
There is no such thing as a retired Christian. There are Christians who may have changed jobs, but they are not retired!
During the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, the engineer that was over the construction was injured. For many months he was confined to a bed and a room as an invalid. Each day his wife would carry his orders and the plans to the workmen. Finally the great bridge was completed. The invalid architect asked to be taken to see the finished bridge. He was placed on a cot and carried to a place where he could see the great structure.
He scanned the work intently. His critical eye ran over the great cables, the massive piers, the mighty girders. He noted every detail carried out precisely as he had dreamed it in his dreams and wrought it out in his plans and specifications. And then with a joy of achievement filling his soul as he saw and realized that it was finished exactly as he had designed it, he cried out: "It's just like the plan; its just like the plan."
I want to do His will and stay in His field until He calls me home or comes after me. I want to be able to look upon His face and hear Him say: "It's just like the plan!"
Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” The word “easy” doesn’t mean painless or without hard work. It means “to fit well.”
God has a will uniquely designed for your life. I challenge you to learn God’s will through surrendering your will to His will.
Someone has said, "Out of the will of God there is no such thing as success; in the will of God there cannot be failure." A major key to being blessed of God is being in the will of God.
David Livingstone once said, "I had rather be in the heart of Africa in the will of God than on the throne of England out of the will of God."
A believer that refuses the will of God is rejected for the work of God. If I want to experience God's work in my life, I must do God's will for my life. In the story of Ruth and the passage before us, there are some lessons that we can glean concerning the will of God. As we have seen in this chapter, Ruth is learning and growing in her Christian experience. In the process, she is confronted about being obedient to Boaz and the blessings of doing so.
[Ruth 2:17-23]
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
18 She took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied.
19 Her mother-in-law then said to her, “Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.”
20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “May he be blessed of the Lord who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead.” Again Naomi said to her, “The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives.”
21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “Furthermore, he said to me, ‘You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.’ ”
22 Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that others do not fall upon you in another field.”
23 So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
1. THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S WILL
Notice Ruth 2:21, Then Ruth the Moabitess said, “Furthermore, he said to me, ‘You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” Also we read in Ruth 2:8, "Then Boaz said to Ruth, 'Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.'”
Ruth declared unto Naomi, "He said to me."
Boaz had made his desires for Ruth known. He had spoken his will and he had shown his will. He had said in effect, "This is what I want you to do. Stay in my field."
Paul said in Ephesians 5:17, So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
God has a will for your life. It stands to reason that He wants you to know His will. If He wants you to know His will, then He will show you His will.
I believe there are two major reasons why people do not know the will of God.
The first reason is because of the failure to do what is already known to be the will of God. We know that we are to be faithful to Church. We know that we are to tithe of our income. We know that we need to pray and read our Bibles. Yet, we are often disobedient in these matters. I think of what Jesus said in John 7:16-17, “So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.”
The key to knowing what you don't know is doing what you know to be the will of God. If you will not do what has already been revealed, you will not do what will be revealed in the future.
The second reason people don't understand the will of God is that they want to check it out first and then decide if that is what they want to do. We want to make sure it fits our plans and preferences. Someone wrote an imaginary letter from Paul in response to the call from Macedonia:
"DEAR SIR AND BROTHER:
Doubtless you will recall the invitation you extended to me to come over into Macedonia and help the people of that section. You will pardon me for saying that I am somewhat surprised that you should expect a man of my standing in the church seriously to consider a call on such meager information. There are a number of things I should like to learn before giving my decision, and would appreciate you dropping me a line, addressing me at Troas.
First of all, I should like to know if Macedonia is a circuit or a station. There is another item that was overlooked in your brief and somewhat sudden invitation. No mention was made of the salary I was to receive. I have been through a long and expensive course of training; in fact, I may state, with reasonable pride, that I am a Sanhedrin man, the only one in the ministry today. Kindly get the good Macedonian brethren together and see what you can do in the way of support.
You have told me nothing about Macedonia beyond the implication that the place needs help. What are the social advantages? Is the church well organized? I recently had a fine offer to return to Damascus at an increase of salary, and am told that I made a very favorable impression on the church at Jerusalem.
For recommendations, write to the Rev. Simon Peter, D.D., at Jerusalem. I will say that I am a first-class mixer and especially strong on argumentative preaching. If I accept the call, I must stipulate for two months' vacation and the privilege of taking an occasional lecture tour. My lecture on "Over the Wall in a Basket" is worth two drachma of any man’s money.
Sincerely yours,
PAUL"
That is only an imaginary letter in Paul's case, but it is not so imaginary in many cases. We want to approve the will of God before we answer the will of God. Doing the will of God is like taking a blank sheet of paper and signing your name at the bottom, then letting God fill in the page with whatever He so desires.
Boaz made known to Ruth what He wanted her to do. God will make known to you what He wants, if you will yield yourself to do whatever He may ask.
2. THE UNDERTAKING OF GOD’S WILL
Notice in Ruth 2:23, “So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law.”
We see Ruth understanding and undertaking what Boaz wanted. He said and she submitted. There is comprehension and compliance. There were the orders of Boaz and the obedience of Ruth.
The Will of God is not some theological course to ponder, but a personal call to pursue. Paul said in Ephesians 6:6, “Not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”
Now you may be someone who feels that you cannot do much for God and that you are limited.
I think about a story I read about a psychologist, an engineer, and a theologian that were on a hunting trip in Canada. The weather began to get bad so they started looking for shelter. They came upon a small, isolated cabin. They knocked on the door, but no one was at home. The door was unlocked, so they walked on in.
As they stepped inside, they saw something strange. There was a large, pot-bellied, cast iron stove suspended in midair by wires attached to the ceiling beams. They were all puzzled as to why the stove was elevated from the floor?
The psychologist concluded: "It is obvious that this lonely trapper, isolated from humanity, has elevated his stove so that he can curl up under it and vicariously experience a return to his mother’s womb.”
The engineer theorized: "This man is practicing laws of thermodynamics. By elevating his stove, he has discovered a way to distribute heat more evenly throughout his cabin."
The theologian speculated: "I'm sure that hanging his stove from the ceiling has religious meaning. Fire lifted up has been a religious symbol for centuries.”
While they were debating the matter, the trapper returned. They immediately asked him why he had hung his pot-bellied stove by wires from the ceiling. He said, "I had plenty of wire, but not much stovepipe."
I’ve had many believers say to me that they can’t do much in the service of Christ because they are limited either physically or financially. My question to those is always, “Are you doing what you know you can do?”
You may come short in some areas; but God has a purpose, plan, and place for your life. Our place is not to question the what, why, or even the when. Our place is to obey and say yes! God wants us to understand His will and undertake His will.
Notice Ruth 2:22, Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, “It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that others do not fall upon you in another field.” What Boaz had asked of Ruth was not a burden, but a blessing. What he had commanded was not something that discouraged, but delighted both Ruth and Naomi. The will of God is more than a job, it is a joy.
I think of what Paul said in Romans 12:1-2, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
3. THE UNIQUENESS OF GOD’S WILL
Ruth would have missed the unique blessing that God was orchestrating if she would have failed to follow Boaz’ instructions. Boaz not only wanted Ruth in his field, but also wanted her to stay in his field. Notice Ruth 2:21, “Furthermore, he said to me, ‘You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.’ ” Also we read in Ruth 2:23, "So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. She was told to stay in the field until the end of the harvest. We read that she obeyed and stayed in the field as directed.
She stayed in the field day by day until the harvest was in and completed. We are to know the will of God, obey the will of God, and do the will of God until our work or His work is done.
There is no such thing as a retired Christian. There are Christians who may have changed jobs, but they are not retired!
During the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, the engineer that was over the construction was injured. For many months he was confined to a bed and a room as an invalid. Each day his wife would carry his orders and the plans to the workmen. Finally the great bridge was completed. The invalid architect asked to be taken to see the finished bridge. He was placed on a cot and carried to a place where he could see the great structure.
He scanned the work intently. His critical eye ran over the great cables, the massive piers, the mighty girders. He noted every detail carried out precisely as he had dreamed it in his dreams and wrought it out in his plans and specifications. And then with a joy of achievement filling his soul as he saw and realized that it was finished exactly as he had designed it, he cried out: "It's just like the plan; its just like the plan."
I want to do His will and stay in His field until He calls me home or comes after me. I want to be able to look upon His face and hear Him say: "It's just like the plan!"
Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” The word “easy” doesn’t mean painless or without hard work. It means “to fit well.”
God has a will uniquely designed for your life. I challenge you to learn God’s will through surrendering your will to His will.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Experience Christmas As a Child Again
“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” --Luke 2:10-12 NASB95
“Dad…would you stop acting like a little kid!” Those words or similar are repeated by my two boys every Christmas. ‘Tis the season to cherish the childish. I get so carried away that Dallas and Daniel just roll their eyes with a “there goes Dad again” look on their faces. Christmas is the time that Anissa and I see eye-to-eye on most things: warm holiday cookies, warmer hot chocolate, cold weather, Santa, and brilliant light displays. Most of all, we like the idea of having a birthday party for Jesus. I love the Christmas season so much that I listen to Christmas albums in July and like to sneak a Christmas carol into a worship service during the summer. I had a great Sunday afternoon putting festive lights in the yard and on the house. Later, Anissa and I stood at the darkened street admiring their simple beauty. As I stood holding her hand, I thanked God for the simple joy understood by a little child.
Some other Christmas trappings that never seem to weary me are certain stories and movies. One of my favorite books of all time is Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. There is one scene that has always fascinated me. The Ghost of Christmas Past has just paid a very discomforting visit to Ebenezer Scrooge. Clearly the old miser is shaken by the entire ordeal. But when he awakens from his sleep, does he take the message to heart? No, he simply dismisses it by saying: “Bah, humbug! It wasn't real.” He says to himself, “Just a bit of last night’s undigested beef. There is more gravy about you than the grave." Not portrayed in the stage plays and most movies, at the end of Dickens’ story, Ebenezer goes to church and sings the praise of the Christ child with the joy and wonder of a child. The Christ has changed Scrooge, not some vague “Christmas spirit.” Could it be that we don’t have the joyful spirit of Christmas because we are too caught up in the things of this world? So in love with this world, that embracing the joy of Jesus unnerves us? A vision to be taken to heart, or simple indigestion?
Listen to the angel’s tidings to the shepherds with the simplicity of a little child. See the Christ-child with the eyes of a four-year-old. May your heart be so filled with the joy of Christ this Christmas season that you feel like a kid again!
Love,
Pastor Larry
“Dad…would you stop acting like a little kid!” Those words or similar are repeated by my two boys every Christmas. ‘Tis the season to cherish the childish. I get so carried away that Dallas and Daniel just roll their eyes with a “there goes Dad again” look on their faces. Christmas is the time that Anissa and I see eye-to-eye on most things: warm holiday cookies, warmer hot chocolate, cold weather, Santa, and brilliant light displays. Most of all, we like the idea of having a birthday party for Jesus. I love the Christmas season so much that I listen to Christmas albums in July and like to sneak a Christmas carol into a worship service during the summer. I had a great Sunday afternoon putting festive lights in the yard and on the house. Later, Anissa and I stood at the darkened street admiring their simple beauty. As I stood holding her hand, I thanked God for the simple joy understood by a little child.
Some other Christmas trappings that never seem to weary me are certain stories and movies. One of my favorite books of all time is Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. There is one scene that has always fascinated me. The Ghost of Christmas Past has just paid a very discomforting visit to Ebenezer Scrooge. Clearly the old miser is shaken by the entire ordeal. But when he awakens from his sleep, does he take the message to heart? No, he simply dismisses it by saying: “Bah, humbug! It wasn't real.” He says to himself, “Just a bit of last night’s undigested beef. There is more gravy about you than the grave." Not portrayed in the stage plays and most movies, at the end of Dickens’ story, Ebenezer goes to church and sings the praise of the Christ child with the joy and wonder of a child. The Christ has changed Scrooge, not some vague “Christmas spirit.” Could it be that we don’t have the joyful spirit of Christmas because we are too caught up in the things of this world? So in love with this world, that embracing the joy of Jesus unnerves us? A vision to be taken to heart, or simple indigestion?
Listen to the angel’s tidings to the shepherds with the simplicity of a little child. See the Christ-child with the eyes of a four-year-old. May your heart be so filled with the joy of Christ this Christmas season that you feel like a kid again!
Love,
Pastor Larry
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Fellowship at the Table (Ruth 2:14-17)
As we end the Thanksgiving holiday, I am longing to sit at my great-grandmother’s table one more time. When I was a child, we always went to Granny Ruth Lee’s house for turkey day. Granny Ruth’s favorite holiday was Thanksgiving, and her favorite hobby was cooking. The intersection of those two things made Granny Ruth’s home on Thanksgiving Day the holy grail of gluttony. Granny was ninety years old, but most people thought she was in her 70’s. Granny served everyone, and it was impossible to get her to sit and eat until she was sure that everyone else had surrendered to the smorgasbord. She started baking pies three days before. Granny believed that using a “store-bought” pie crust was a sin forbidden in the Ten Commandments. It was lying about your baking skill. Every year the pie selection included: pecan, chocolate meringue, coconut meringue, lemon meringue, german chocolate, sweet potato, and buttermilk. There were three of each kind. Why so many? Granny cut her pies with two cross cuts, to make four wedges of indulgence. She would put a quarter of a pie on your plate at dessert. We always had pity on newbies who dared to eat all their piece of pie. Granny would smile and say, “Honey, you finished all your pie. There ain’t no body leaving my table hungry! Here’s another piece.” Plop on the plate would go another fourth of a pie.
As much as I would like to taste Granny’s cooking one more time, the best part would be the fellowship, the communion of the table with family.
As we continue looking at the story of Ruth we see her enjoying sweet communion with Boaz as she sits at his table. She is growing in her knowledge of Boaz, becoming more acquainted with him, and getting closer to him. Paul expressed the passion of his life in Philippians 3:10, "That I may know Him." Knowing Christ is what spiritual growth is all about. It is becoming acquainted with Christ. It is getting closer to Christ. Communion and fellowship with Christ is an essential step in this process and in the matter of spiritual growth.
[Ruth 2:14-17]
14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left.
15 When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her.
16 “Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
As we think about this fellowship, first think with me of:
1. THE SPECIAL RIGHTS OF COMMUNION
Through the years I have had the opportunity to meet a few famous people and a few powerful people. In their eyes, I did not have a right to expect attention from them. Yet, as a child of God, I have a right to receive attention from my heavenly Father. There is no greater right than to fellowship with the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our fellowship with the Lord Jesus is a:
A. Granted Right
We read in Ruth 2:14, At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here.” Boaz was inviting her to eat lunch with him. Ruth, a gleaner in the field, was getting the privilege to eat with the owner of the field.
I once read about a 6th grader’s unusual privilege during the Camp David peace talks under President Carter. His teacher had challenged her class to write someone famous and see if they could get a reply. Because of the peace talks, the name of President Begin of Israel was frequently heard. This little boy wrote President Begin. To his surprise, he not only received a reply, but an invitation to come to Israel and spend a week. For one week, this little boy had the privilege of spending a week with a national and international leader.
When I read the story, I could not help to think of the great right I have of spending each day with the greatest leader and figure that history has ever known. We have the privilege of fellowshipping with the Lord Jesus Christ.
What if tomorrow there was a knock at your door, and when you opened the door there was the postman with a registered letter for you. You signed for it and as you did so, you noticed that in the left hand corner of the envelope were the words, "The White House." When you opened the letter, you found that it was a personal invitation from President Obama to come and spend a few days with him. I believe I know what you would do. After the rest of the family picked you up from the floor, you would have been on the phone calling everyone you know, "Guess what! I just got an invitation from the President to visit the White House." You would be beside yourself with excitement. Yet, we have the glorious privilege of visiting with the King of kings and Lord of lords anytime we want, and we don't even need an invitation. We have the glorious right of having fellowship with Jesus because we are family!
Our fellowship with Jesus is also a:
B. Gracious Right
What had Ruth done to receive this invitation? Absolutely nothing. Yet she had the privilege of eating with Boaz. I think of the High Priest that had the glorious privilege of entering into the Holy Place on the Day of Atonement. What a glorious privilege. Yet, we must never forget it was a gracious privilege. He could have never entered into the Holy Place without the blood. His access was undeserved, but provided for in another. Our access to the Father is unlimited, but we must never forget it is undeserved.
Carl Sandberg, in his great biography of Abraham Lincoln, tells the story of Lincoln's little boy, Tad. Tad had a speech impediment; a cleft palate. Because of his impediment, his father had a special love for him and would give him just about anything he wanted. One day a group of frontiersmen had come from Kentucky to see the President. When they arrived they had problems being able to see President Lincoln.
As they were standing outside the grounds of the White House, they were half cursing and saying to themselves, "Ole Abe won't see us." Little Tad heard them and said, "Would you like to see Ole Abe? You can see him." Tad went in and said, "Papa, there are some friends of mine outside that want to see you." President Lincoln said, "Any friends of yours are friends of mine. Bring them in." Tad Lincoln brought in the men who had been trying for over a week to see the President and introduced them.
We have right of access to our Heavenly Father through the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a granted right but we must never forget a gracious right.
Secondly, when we look at this communion we see:
2. THE SPECIFIC REASONS FOR COMMUNION
Communion with God is not only a right, it is also a requirement. Spurgeon said, "The most healthy state for a Christian is that of unbroken and intimate fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ." Notice in Ruth's case why fellowship with God is a necessity in the Christian life.
First, this communion is needed to:
A. Refresh Your Depleted Life
Notice when Boaz invited Ruth to eat with him. In verse 14, we see that it was at mealtime Boaz said to Ruth: “Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” This mealtime was around noon. We would call it the lunch break. They had worked in the field all morning. Reaping and gleaning was hard, back-breaking work, as one had to constantly bend over as they worked. It was a hot and sweaty work as they labored under the hot sun. Mealtime was a time of rest, a time to sit down, eat, and refresh themselves for the rest of the day.
Serving God is a matter of giving and giving. What many fail to realize is that one who gives and gives must somewhere take in to make up for what has been given out. Never in history have we heard more about burn-out, stress, and mental, physical, and emotional break-downs. We are a lot like one lady who went to her doctor. He asked what was wrong. She said, "I feel rundown." After he examined her, he said, "Lady, you’re not rundown, you're too wound up."
In many cases it is both a case of being rundown and wound up in life. We need to take a bit of advice from the instructions given for a Grandfather clock: don't let it run down, and don't wind it too tight. I believe the biggest reason why folks are burning out, burning up instead of burning on, is there has been no "mealtime with Jesus."
Vance Havner once said, "If we don't come apart we will come apart." He also made this wise observation: "There is no work that is more likely to crowd out the quiet hour with God than the very work that draws strength from that quiet hour." We need to get away and get alone and fellowship with Jesus to replenish our depleted strength. As someone has well said, "Our Master never asks of us so heavy labor as shall leave us no leisure for sitting at His feet." Time with God is essential. Like Ruth, we need to draw near and eat of the heavenly bread and drink of the heavenly vinegar to restore the strength that has been expended in service.
We also see that this communion is needed to:
B. Receive His Divine Life
Notice verse 14, “So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain.” Boaz not only invites Ruth to eat with him, but he shares His own with her. He gave her "roasted grain." This is very special and meaningful.
The history of Israel can be divided into three periods: Egypt, the Wilderness, and Canaan. They were brought out of Egypt, which symbolizes a sinner being saved and brought out of the world. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Those 40 years symbolize a carnal believer. It speaks of someone who has been saved, but never goes much further in their Christian life. They are brought out, but not brought in. Canaan is a type of the victorious life. It is living in resurrection power. It is a life where one is the conqueror rather than being the conquered. It is the experiencing of the Divine life that enables the devout life.
Now each of these three stages can be described by a particular kind of food. In Egypt they ate leeks, onions, and garlic. In the wilderness they ate manna. But we read in Joshua 5:11-12, that after they crossed the Jordan into Canaan, "They did eat of the grain of the land…unleavened bread, and roasted grain… neither had the children of Israel manna any more."
Roasted grain was the food of Canaan. It was the food of a victorious life. Fellowship with God is essential, for it is in this time of communion that we receive from Him that which enables us to live victoriously.
The Christian life is the Christ life. The life that is required on the earth is a life that is received from heaven. In fellowship, He gives the "roasted grain" of Divine life. He gives us His power, strength, and resources to enable us to serve Him.
We also see that this communion is needed to:
C. Receive a Delightful Life
Again notice verse 14, “and she ate and was satisfied.” The word “satisfied” ("sufficed"—KJV) means "to be full.” It was like Thanksgiving at Granny Ruth’s table! She had her needs met and was satisfied. The Psalmist said in Psalm 16:11, "In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Why do many believers lose their joy? For one reason they have not been spending time with Jesus.
Adoniram Judson wrote in his diary, "I have this day attained more than ever to what I suppose Christians mean by the enjoyment of God. I have had pleasant seasons at the throne of God." May we learn the valuable lesson of spending time with the Lord.
Lastly, think with me of:
3. THE SPIRITUAL REWARDS OF COMMUNION
After lunch, Ruth went back to work. But she found her work different after she had spent time with Boaz. She had worked earlier and no doubt did fairly well. But after time with Boaz, her work in the field was greatly blessed. One of the greatest lessons that those who serve God can learn, is that worship must precede work.
You can serve God energetically without worship, but you cannot serve God effectively without worship. Those who are always doing something for God without taking time to be with God, may be busy for God, but they will not be blessed of God. Notice how Ruth's work in the field changed after she had spent time with Boaz.
Communion results in:
A. Effective Service
Notice verse 15, When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her.
Boaz said to his workers, "Do not do anything to hurt her or hinder her." Boaz saw to it that she could work effectively without any hindrance.
If we want our work for God to be effective, we must spend time with God. God will bless those who fellowship with him. I have often heard people say, "Something was hindering the service today." Most likely, the hindrance was the lack of time spent with Jesus.
Communion also results in:
B. Encouraging Service
Notice verse 16, “Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” Boaz told his workers to drop some handfuls on purpose. I can see Ruth as she is gleaning behind the reapers picking up what they missed, picking up a little here and a little there. Suddenly she comes upon this huge handful of barley. "Wow," she says to herself. "Yoo-hoo! Hey! You dropped this." Nobody turns around. She says, "Well, praise God, I'll keep it then."
I am sure her heart beat harder and harder as she came upon one handful after another. Notice verse 17, So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. An ephah was ten times as much as the children of Israel gathered manna for each day. Instead of going home with an armful she went home with a basket full. I can only imagine how her heart leaped with joy over the blessings she experienced.
For those who work in God's field, along the way, He sends those encouraging handfuls on purpose. You pick up a little here and a little there, and you get to thinking, "I'm not getting much done. My life is fruitless and ministry is so powerless." Then God gives you a handful on purpose to encourage you heart.
If we want to serve without hindrance and reap effectively, spend time with Jesus.
As much as I would like to taste Granny’s cooking one more time, the best part would be the fellowship, the communion of the table with family.
As we continue looking at the story of Ruth we see her enjoying sweet communion with Boaz as she sits at his table. She is growing in her knowledge of Boaz, becoming more acquainted with him, and getting closer to him. Paul expressed the passion of his life in Philippians 3:10, "That I may know Him." Knowing Christ is what spiritual growth is all about. It is becoming acquainted with Christ. It is getting closer to Christ. Communion and fellowship with Christ is an essential step in this process and in the matter of spiritual growth.
[Ruth 2:14-17]
14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left.
15 When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her.
16 “Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.”
17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
As we think about this fellowship, first think with me of:
1. THE SPECIAL RIGHTS OF COMMUNION
Through the years I have had the opportunity to meet a few famous people and a few powerful people. In their eyes, I did not have a right to expect attention from them. Yet, as a child of God, I have a right to receive attention from my heavenly Father. There is no greater right than to fellowship with the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our fellowship with the Lord Jesus is a:
A. Granted Right
We read in Ruth 2:14, At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here.” Boaz was inviting her to eat lunch with him. Ruth, a gleaner in the field, was getting the privilege to eat with the owner of the field.
I once read about a 6th grader’s unusual privilege during the Camp David peace talks under President Carter. His teacher had challenged her class to write someone famous and see if they could get a reply. Because of the peace talks, the name of President Begin of Israel was frequently heard. This little boy wrote President Begin. To his surprise, he not only received a reply, but an invitation to come to Israel and spend a week. For one week, this little boy had the privilege of spending a week with a national and international leader.
When I read the story, I could not help to think of the great right I have of spending each day with the greatest leader and figure that history has ever known. We have the privilege of fellowshipping with the Lord Jesus Christ.
What if tomorrow there was a knock at your door, and when you opened the door there was the postman with a registered letter for you. You signed for it and as you did so, you noticed that in the left hand corner of the envelope were the words, "The White House." When you opened the letter, you found that it was a personal invitation from President Obama to come and spend a few days with him. I believe I know what you would do. After the rest of the family picked you up from the floor, you would have been on the phone calling everyone you know, "Guess what! I just got an invitation from the President to visit the White House." You would be beside yourself with excitement. Yet, we have the glorious privilege of visiting with the King of kings and Lord of lords anytime we want, and we don't even need an invitation. We have the glorious right of having fellowship with Jesus because we are family!
Our fellowship with Jesus is also a:
B. Gracious Right
What had Ruth done to receive this invitation? Absolutely nothing. Yet she had the privilege of eating with Boaz. I think of the High Priest that had the glorious privilege of entering into the Holy Place on the Day of Atonement. What a glorious privilege. Yet, we must never forget it was a gracious privilege. He could have never entered into the Holy Place without the blood. His access was undeserved, but provided for in another. Our access to the Father is unlimited, but we must never forget it is undeserved.
Carl Sandberg, in his great biography of Abraham Lincoln, tells the story of Lincoln's little boy, Tad. Tad had a speech impediment; a cleft palate. Because of his impediment, his father had a special love for him and would give him just about anything he wanted. One day a group of frontiersmen had come from Kentucky to see the President. When they arrived they had problems being able to see President Lincoln.
As they were standing outside the grounds of the White House, they were half cursing and saying to themselves, "Ole Abe won't see us." Little Tad heard them and said, "Would you like to see Ole Abe? You can see him." Tad went in and said, "Papa, there are some friends of mine outside that want to see you." President Lincoln said, "Any friends of yours are friends of mine. Bring them in." Tad Lincoln brought in the men who had been trying for over a week to see the President and introduced them.
We have right of access to our Heavenly Father through the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a granted right but we must never forget a gracious right.
Secondly, when we look at this communion we see:
2. THE SPECIFIC REASONS FOR COMMUNION
Communion with God is not only a right, it is also a requirement. Spurgeon said, "The most healthy state for a Christian is that of unbroken and intimate fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ." Notice in Ruth's case why fellowship with God is a necessity in the Christian life.
First, this communion is needed to:
A. Refresh Your Depleted Life
Notice when Boaz invited Ruth to eat with him. In verse 14, we see that it was at mealtime Boaz said to Ruth: “Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” This mealtime was around noon. We would call it the lunch break. They had worked in the field all morning. Reaping and gleaning was hard, back-breaking work, as one had to constantly bend over as they worked. It was a hot and sweaty work as they labored under the hot sun. Mealtime was a time of rest, a time to sit down, eat, and refresh themselves for the rest of the day.
Serving God is a matter of giving and giving. What many fail to realize is that one who gives and gives must somewhere take in to make up for what has been given out. Never in history have we heard more about burn-out, stress, and mental, physical, and emotional break-downs. We are a lot like one lady who went to her doctor. He asked what was wrong. She said, "I feel rundown." After he examined her, he said, "Lady, you’re not rundown, you're too wound up."
In many cases it is both a case of being rundown and wound up in life. We need to take a bit of advice from the instructions given for a Grandfather clock: don't let it run down, and don't wind it too tight. I believe the biggest reason why folks are burning out, burning up instead of burning on, is there has been no "mealtime with Jesus."
Vance Havner once said, "If we don't come apart we will come apart." He also made this wise observation: "There is no work that is more likely to crowd out the quiet hour with God than the very work that draws strength from that quiet hour." We need to get away and get alone and fellowship with Jesus to replenish our depleted strength. As someone has well said, "Our Master never asks of us so heavy labor as shall leave us no leisure for sitting at His feet." Time with God is essential. Like Ruth, we need to draw near and eat of the heavenly bread and drink of the heavenly vinegar to restore the strength that has been expended in service.
We also see that this communion is needed to:
B. Receive His Divine Life
Notice verse 14, “So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain.” Boaz not only invites Ruth to eat with him, but he shares His own with her. He gave her "roasted grain." This is very special and meaningful.
The history of Israel can be divided into three periods: Egypt, the Wilderness, and Canaan. They were brought out of Egypt, which symbolizes a sinner being saved and brought out of the world. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Those 40 years symbolize a carnal believer. It speaks of someone who has been saved, but never goes much further in their Christian life. They are brought out, but not brought in. Canaan is a type of the victorious life. It is living in resurrection power. It is a life where one is the conqueror rather than being the conquered. It is the experiencing of the Divine life that enables the devout life.
Now each of these three stages can be described by a particular kind of food. In Egypt they ate leeks, onions, and garlic. In the wilderness they ate manna. But we read in Joshua 5:11-12, that after they crossed the Jordan into Canaan, "They did eat of the grain of the land…unleavened bread, and roasted grain… neither had the children of Israel manna any more."
Roasted grain was the food of Canaan. It was the food of a victorious life. Fellowship with God is essential, for it is in this time of communion that we receive from Him that which enables us to live victoriously.
The Christian life is the Christ life. The life that is required on the earth is a life that is received from heaven. In fellowship, He gives the "roasted grain" of Divine life. He gives us His power, strength, and resources to enable us to serve Him.
We also see that this communion is needed to:
C. Receive a Delightful Life
Again notice verse 14, “and she ate and was satisfied.” The word “satisfied” ("sufficed"—KJV) means "to be full.” It was like Thanksgiving at Granny Ruth’s table! She had her needs met and was satisfied. The Psalmist said in Psalm 16:11, "In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Why do many believers lose their joy? For one reason they have not been spending time with Jesus.
Adoniram Judson wrote in his diary, "I have this day attained more than ever to what I suppose Christians mean by the enjoyment of God. I have had pleasant seasons at the throne of God." May we learn the valuable lesson of spending time with the Lord.
Lastly, think with me of:
3. THE SPIRITUAL REWARDS OF COMMUNION
After lunch, Ruth went back to work. But she found her work different after she had spent time with Boaz. She had worked earlier and no doubt did fairly well. But after time with Boaz, her work in the field was greatly blessed. One of the greatest lessons that those who serve God can learn, is that worship must precede work.
You can serve God energetically without worship, but you cannot serve God effectively without worship. Those who are always doing something for God without taking time to be with God, may be busy for God, but they will not be blessed of God. Notice how Ruth's work in the field changed after she had spent time with Boaz.
Communion results in:
A. Effective Service
Notice verse 15, When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her.
Boaz said to his workers, "Do not do anything to hurt her or hinder her." Boaz saw to it that she could work effectively without any hindrance.
If we want our work for God to be effective, we must spend time with God. God will bless those who fellowship with him. I have often heard people say, "Something was hindering the service today." Most likely, the hindrance was the lack of time spent with Jesus.
Communion also results in:
B. Encouraging Service
Notice verse 16, “Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her.” Boaz told his workers to drop some handfuls on purpose. I can see Ruth as she is gleaning behind the reapers picking up what they missed, picking up a little here and a little there. Suddenly she comes upon this huge handful of barley. "Wow," she says to herself. "Yoo-hoo! Hey! You dropped this." Nobody turns around. She says, "Well, praise God, I'll keep it then."
I am sure her heart beat harder and harder as she came upon one handful after another. Notice verse 17, So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. An ephah was ten times as much as the children of Israel gathered manna for each day. Instead of going home with an armful she went home with a basket full. I can only imagine how her heart leaped with joy over the blessings she experienced.
For those who work in God's field, along the way, He sends those encouraging handfuls on purpose. You pick up a little here and a little there, and you get to thinking, "I'm not getting much done. My life is fruitless and ministry is so powerless." Then God gives you a handful on purpose to encourage you heart.
If we want to serve without hindrance and reap effectively, spend time with Jesus.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Oh to Grace How Great a Debtor (Ruth 2:8-13)
In Robert Robinson’s great hymn, “Come Thou Fount,” we sing these words:
Oh to grace how great a debtor,
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord,
Take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
The story of every believer’s life is a story of grace. Whether it is fully comprehended or not on our part, each of us is to grace a great debtor. In each of our lives, there is the story of saving grace, living grace, and dying grace. The commencement of the Christian life, the continuation of the Christian life, and the conclusion of the Christian life are a story of grace.
I think of John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace.” Two or three years before Newton died, his sight was so dim that he was no longer able to read. A friend and brother in the ministry would have breakfast with him, and their custom was that he would read the Word of God. Newton would make a few remarks on the passage and then they would pray.
One particular day they read the words of Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (see 1 Cor.15:10). Newton was silent for the longest and finally he said, “I am not what I ought to be! How imperfect and deficient I am! I am not what I wish to be, although I abhor that which is evil and would cleave to that which is good! I am not what I hope to be, but soon I shall be out of mortality, and with it all sin and imperfection. Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor yet what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was: a slave to sin and Satan. I can heartily join with the Apostle and acknowledge that by the grace of God I am what I am.!”
Each of us must say, “I am what I am by the grace of God!” Each of us must say, “Oh, to grace how great a debtor!” Each of us must say with John Bradford, “There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford.” Someone has given us this acrostic of grace: “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Grace has been defined by a comparison to God’s mercy as: “Grace is that we get which we don’t deserve, and mercy is that which we don’t get that we do deserve.”
[Ruth 2:8-13]
If anyone ever understood how great a debtor one is to grace, it was Ruth. She, like Paul and Newton, had to say, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” All the glories she experienced were because of the grace she experienced. Notice the emphasis on grace in chapter two. We read in verse 2, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” Also in verse 10, “Why have I found favor in your sight...?” Let’s notice the story of grace in the story before us.
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.
9 “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.”
10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
11 Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
12 “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”
13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”
1. GOD’S GRACE IS AMAZING
John Newton described grace as “amazing.” A few years ago, there came out a song that said, “There’s no other word for grace, but amazing.” There are many adjectives for grace and “amazing” is definitely one of them. In Ruth we see God’s amazing grace.
As we look at Ruth, first we see that:
A. Ruth was rejected as a foreigner.
Notice in verse two that she is called and identified as “Ruth the Moabitess.” When Boaz asked his servant who the stranger in his field was, the servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman” (vs. 6). We might say that someone is from Canada, Mexico, etc, and not think anything about it. But to a Jew, to say that one was from Moab, had serious significance. God had said, "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” (Deut.23:3) The Ammonites and the Moabites, because of their wickedness, were subjected to disgrace by God and the nation of Israel. They were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites.
Ruth was a member of a race that was judged and condemned by God. It was a nation and people under condemnation. It was a nation and people that were divinely rejected. Ruth in type is a picture of us all before God saved us. We all were sinners under condemnation. Because of our wicked state and life, we were cut off from a Holy God. We were under the wrath and judgment of a Holy God.
Paul described our condition in Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”
Paul tells us that we were satanically dominated. We walked according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air. We lived under Satan's control and lived according to Satan's commands.
We were also spiritually disobedient. The spirit of disobedience worked within us. We were rebellious to God's Word; we were resistant of God's ways, and we were resentful of God's will.
As well, we were sensually depraved. We lived our lives fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh, and mind living lives that were immoral, wicked, and carnal.
Furthermore, we were specifically doomed. We were, as a result, by nature, children of wrath. We were individuals under the condemnation and wrath of God.
We were no better off than Ruth, she was no worse off than us. We were all sinners under condemnation.
Yet, we see that:
B. Ruth was received as family.
Ruth was first called a Moabitess, but now notice how she was addressed in verse 8: Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter.” Boaz didn’t receive her as a foreigner, but as family. He called her “my daughter,” not a Moabitess. The law rejected her, but Boaz received her.
Oh, dear friend, is this not the story of us all? We were condemned and without hope, but by God’s amazing grace, we have been accepted in the beloved.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found,
Twas blind but now I see.
We were sinners, but by grace we are saints. We were children of wrath, but now we are the children of God. Once we had no hope, but now we have the blessed hope. Once we were rejected, but now we are received.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow could write a poem and it would be worth hundreds of dollars. We call that talent. Donald Trump could sign his name to a piece of paper and buy a skyscraper. We call that capital. The United States Treasury department can take a special piece of paper and some special ink, press it between special plates and make a $100 bill. We call that money. The Wright Brothers could take some used bicycle parts, wire, metal and canvas covering and make an airplane. We call that genius. Michelangelo could take some brushes and some paints and paint a masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We call that art. A mechanic can take a used and ruined part from your automobile engine, replace it with a new one, and make the car nearly as good as new. We call that skill. God can take a poor worthless, devastated hell-bound sinner, condemned by God, wash him in the blood of Jesus Christ and make him a child of God. We call that grace!
John said, "Beloved, now we are children of God" (1 John 3:2) That's God's amazing grace! Paul said in Ephesians 1:6, “…to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” That's God's amazing grace! Peter said in 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Ruth was a Moabitess, but to Boaz she was family. She had been rejected, but now she is received. Instead of getting what she deserved, she found grace. How amazing the grace of God!
2. GOD’S GRACE IS ABUNDANT
In Ephesians 2:7, Paul spoke of the "exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." In Ruth we see the exceeding riches of grace that were shown to her by Boaz. When we talk about the grace of God, we speak of all that has been given to us by God. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:15, “For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” Grace is abundant in our life.
How is grace abundant in your life? First, think with me of how:
A. Grace brings purpose to your life.
Notice in verses 8-9, that Boaz said to Ruth, “Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them.” She receives words of guidance and direction from Boaz.
Grace brings into your life the blessing of purpose and direction. Before you were saved, you were like a ship on a stormy sea without a captain or compass. But when you were saved, by grace, a Captain stepped on board and you are guided by His divine compass.
We read in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”
We also read in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Also, I think of how:
B. Grace brings protection to your life.
Notice verse 9, “Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you.” Boaz was concerned that others might take advantage of Ruth. From what we know of Ruth, she was a very attractive woman. But Boaz made sure that she would be safe. God is watching over our lives. He is the keeper of our soul and guard of our life. We have this promise in Psalm 121:5, "The Lord is your keeper."
During World War II, a B29 Bomber took off from the Island of Guam for Kokura, Japan. When the plane arrived at its primary target, a thick cloud covering hid the target. They circled above for 30 minutes, then 45 minutes, until 55 minutes had passed and their gas supply was dwindling to the dangerous point. They didn't want to pass up the primary point, but they had no choice. They headed for their secondary target where they dropped their bomb.
Weeks later, an officer received information from military intelligence that sent cold chills down his spine. Thousands of allied prisoners of war, the biggest concentration of Americans in enemy hands, had been moved to Kokura a week before the suspended bombing. The city they had originally intended to bomb had become a huge prison camp. Had they bombed it, thousands of Americans would have died. That which stopped them was a cloud, and the city they bombed instead was Nagasaki, and the bomb they dropped was the world's second atomic bomb.
There is a God in heaven who watches over His own. In the abundance of grace we find protection.
I also think of how:
C. Grace brings pleasure to your life.
Notice again in verse 9, “When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.” Under God's welfare program she could glean in the field, but that was about it. Yet, Boaz told her that she could drink of the water that was provided for his workers when she was thirsty. He said, "If you get thirsty, you satisfy your thirst."
The abundant grace of God has brought pleasure to your life. Before you were saved, you were like workers laboring under the hot, burning sun, without a drop of water to quench your thirst. But grace has provided for you water to quench that thirst and satisfy your longing.
Essayist Charles Lamb said, "I walk up and down thinking I am happy, and knowing I am not." To many, joy is about as rare as the bald eagle. The New York Times estimated that about 5 million people living in America had tried to kill themselves.
One couple wrote to a syndicated columnist: "We have a nice home, well-furnished; a new car, and money in the bank. Our two sons have finished college and are happily married and doing well. We have excellent jobs and our combined incomes make it possible for us to live comfortably. So why are we writing this letter? Because suddenly, we find life empty and boring. Are we different, or does this happen to all couples in later mid-life?"
The answer to purpose in life, protection for life, and pleasure in life is the personal experiencing of God's abundant grace.
Harry Truman at first thought he lost the election in 1945. The headlines read, "Dewey defeats Truman." Later when the count was all in, Truman had defeated Dewey. Truman wrote to his mother, "I had hurried to the White House to see the president, and when I got there, I found out I was the president."
Ruth came from Moab with nothing, only to find out when she got to the field of Boaz, she had everything. How abundant is the grace of God.
3. GOD’S GRACE IS AMPLIFIED
Everything had happened so fast. One day she didn't know where the next meal was coming from, and the next day her life is blessed beyond comprehension. Notice how her experience of grace affected her.
First, Ruth learned:
A. God’s grace is overwhelming.
Notice verse 10, “Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, ‘Why have I found favor [grace] in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?’” It was more than she could believe. All she could say was, "Why?" I submit unto you that there is nothing any more overwhelming to the heart than what God has done for us in Christ.
I heard about a woman who had 16 children. They were like stair steps. As you can imagine she had her hands full. One day one little girl fell into a mud pit. She had mud all over her. It was in her hair, ears, up her nose, and under her fingernails. She was covered in mud. Her mother started trying to clean her up and in frustration said, "I declare, I believe it would be easier to have another one than clean this one up."
The truth is, we were all a mess. There was nothing in us or about us that deserved God's love. There was nothing in us that merited God giving His Son to die for us on a cross. In the state and condition we were in, we should have been in hell.
Most of us were a lot like the daughter of Jonathan Edwards, the great preacher, theologian, and revivalist. He had a daughter with an ungovernable temper. It was not well-known to the outside, but was regretfully known in the home. A godly young man fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. He came to see Edwards and asked for her hand in marriage. He abruptly said, "You can't have her." The young man, taken back somewhat said, "But I love her." "You can't have her," again was Edward’s reply. "She loves me." "You can't have her." Finally the young man asked, "Why?" Edward's said, "Because she is not worthy of you." The young man said, "She is a Christian, is she not?" Edward's replied, "Yes, she is a Christian, but the grace of God can live with some people with whom no one else could ever live."
It is overwhelming to the heart to realize that God would love you, save you, and make you His own child. In the word's of the songwriter, "And it's all because of God's amazing grace."
If we are so undeserving, then why? Notice verse 11-12, “Boaz replied to her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.’” She had experienced the kindness and grace of Boaz because she had embraced the people of Israel and had trusted the Lord God of Israel.
Paul said in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The amazing and abundant grace of God is experienced when by faith you put your trust in the Lord. It is not because you earn it, deserve it, merit it, nor achieve it; but because you put your trust in the Lord as Savior and Lord. Still, it is overwhelming to the soul!
Furthermore, we see what she experienced was that:
B. God’s grace is overflowing.
Notice verse 13, “Then she said, ‘I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.’” Overflowing from her heart was a desire to please Boaz. She wanted to find favor in his eyes. A desire to please God is the proper response to God's grace.
As Robert Robinson said, "Oh to grace how grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be. Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee." An understanding of God’s grace makes you realize what a debtor to grace you are. May God bind our wandering hearts to Him!
Oh to grace how great a debtor,
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord,
Take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
The story of every believer’s life is a story of grace. Whether it is fully comprehended or not on our part, each of us is to grace a great debtor. In each of our lives, there is the story of saving grace, living grace, and dying grace. The commencement of the Christian life, the continuation of the Christian life, and the conclusion of the Christian life are a story of grace.
I think of John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace.” Two or three years before Newton died, his sight was so dim that he was no longer able to read. A friend and brother in the ministry would have breakfast with him, and their custom was that he would read the Word of God. Newton would make a few remarks on the passage and then they would pray.
One particular day they read the words of Paul, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (see 1 Cor.15:10). Newton was silent for the longest and finally he said, “I am not what I ought to be! How imperfect and deficient I am! I am not what I wish to be, although I abhor that which is evil and would cleave to that which is good! I am not what I hope to be, but soon I shall be out of mortality, and with it all sin and imperfection. Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor yet what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was: a slave to sin and Satan. I can heartily join with the Apostle and acknowledge that by the grace of God I am what I am.!”
Each of us must say, “I am what I am by the grace of God!” Each of us must say, “Oh, to grace how great a debtor!” Each of us must say with John Bradford, “There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford.” Someone has given us this acrostic of grace: “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Grace has been defined by a comparison to God’s mercy as: “Grace is that we get which we don’t deserve, and mercy is that which we don’t get that we do deserve.”
[Ruth 2:8-13]
If anyone ever understood how great a debtor one is to grace, it was Ruth. She, like Paul and Newton, had to say, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” All the glories she experienced were because of the grace she experienced. Notice the emphasis on grace in chapter two. We read in verse 2, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” Also in verse 10, “Why have I found favor in your sight...?” Let’s notice the story of grace in the story before us.
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.
9 “Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.”
10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
11 Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
12 “May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”
13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.”
1. GOD’S GRACE IS AMAZING
John Newton described grace as “amazing.” A few years ago, there came out a song that said, “There’s no other word for grace, but amazing.” There are many adjectives for grace and “amazing” is definitely one of them. In Ruth we see God’s amazing grace.
As we look at Ruth, first we see that:
A. Ruth was rejected as a foreigner.
Notice in verse two that she is called and identified as “Ruth the Moabitess.” When Boaz asked his servant who the stranger in his field was, the servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman” (vs. 6). We might say that someone is from Canada, Mexico, etc, and not think anything about it. But to a Jew, to say that one was from Moab, had serious significance. God had said, "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” (Deut.23:3) The Ammonites and the Moabites, because of their wickedness, were subjected to disgrace by God and the nation of Israel. They were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites.
Ruth was a member of a race that was judged and condemned by God. It was a nation and people under condemnation. It was a nation and people that were divinely rejected. Ruth in type is a picture of us all before God saved us. We all were sinners under condemnation. Because of our wicked state and life, we were cut off from a Holy God. We were under the wrath and judgment of a Holy God.
Paul described our condition in Ephesians 2:1-3, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”
Paul tells us that we were satanically dominated. We walked according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air. We lived under Satan's control and lived according to Satan's commands.
We were also spiritually disobedient. The spirit of disobedience worked within us. We were rebellious to God's Word; we were resistant of God's ways, and we were resentful of God's will.
As well, we were sensually depraved. We lived our lives fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh, and mind living lives that were immoral, wicked, and carnal.
Furthermore, we were specifically doomed. We were, as a result, by nature, children of wrath. We were individuals under the condemnation and wrath of God.
We were no better off than Ruth, she was no worse off than us. We were all sinners under condemnation.
Yet, we see that:
B. Ruth was received as family.
Ruth was first called a Moabitess, but now notice how she was addressed in verse 8: Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen carefully, my daughter.” Boaz didn’t receive her as a foreigner, but as family. He called her “my daughter,” not a Moabitess. The law rejected her, but Boaz received her.
Oh, dear friend, is this not the story of us all? We were condemned and without hope, but by God’s amazing grace, we have been accepted in the beloved.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found,
Twas blind but now I see.
We were sinners, but by grace we are saints. We were children of wrath, but now we are the children of God. Once we had no hope, but now we have the blessed hope. Once we were rejected, but now we are received.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow could write a poem and it would be worth hundreds of dollars. We call that talent. Donald Trump could sign his name to a piece of paper and buy a skyscraper. We call that capital. The United States Treasury department can take a special piece of paper and some special ink, press it between special plates and make a $100 bill. We call that money. The Wright Brothers could take some used bicycle parts, wire, metal and canvas covering and make an airplane. We call that genius. Michelangelo could take some brushes and some paints and paint a masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. We call that art. A mechanic can take a used and ruined part from your automobile engine, replace it with a new one, and make the car nearly as good as new. We call that skill. God can take a poor worthless, devastated hell-bound sinner, condemned by God, wash him in the blood of Jesus Christ and make him a child of God. We call that grace!
John said, "Beloved, now we are children of God" (1 John 3:2) That's God's amazing grace! Paul said in Ephesians 1:6, “…to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” That's God's amazing grace! Peter said in 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Ruth was a Moabitess, but to Boaz she was family. She had been rejected, but now she is received. Instead of getting what she deserved, she found grace. How amazing the grace of God!
2. GOD’S GRACE IS ABUNDANT
In Ephesians 2:7, Paul spoke of the "exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." In Ruth we see the exceeding riches of grace that were shown to her by Boaz. When we talk about the grace of God, we speak of all that has been given to us by God. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:15, “For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” Grace is abundant in our life.
How is grace abundant in your life? First, think with me of how:
A. Grace brings purpose to your life.
Notice in verses 8-9, that Boaz said to Ruth, “Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them.” She receives words of guidance and direction from Boaz.
Grace brings into your life the blessing of purpose and direction. Before you were saved, you were like a ship on a stormy sea without a captain or compass. But when you were saved, by grace, a Captain stepped on board and you are guided by His divine compass.
We read in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”
We also read in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Also, I think of how:
B. Grace brings protection to your life.
Notice verse 9, “Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you.” Boaz was concerned that others might take advantage of Ruth. From what we know of Ruth, she was a very attractive woman. But Boaz made sure that she would be safe. God is watching over our lives. He is the keeper of our soul and guard of our life. We have this promise in Psalm 121:5, "The Lord is your keeper."
During World War II, a B29 Bomber took off from the Island of Guam for Kokura, Japan. When the plane arrived at its primary target, a thick cloud covering hid the target. They circled above for 30 minutes, then 45 minutes, until 55 minutes had passed and their gas supply was dwindling to the dangerous point. They didn't want to pass up the primary point, but they had no choice. They headed for their secondary target where they dropped their bomb.
Weeks later, an officer received information from military intelligence that sent cold chills down his spine. Thousands of allied prisoners of war, the biggest concentration of Americans in enemy hands, had been moved to Kokura a week before the suspended bombing. The city they had originally intended to bomb had become a huge prison camp. Had they bombed it, thousands of Americans would have died. That which stopped them was a cloud, and the city they bombed instead was Nagasaki, and the bomb they dropped was the world's second atomic bomb.
There is a God in heaven who watches over His own. In the abundance of grace we find protection.
I also think of how:
C. Grace brings pleasure to your life.
Notice again in verse 9, “When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw.” Under God's welfare program she could glean in the field, but that was about it. Yet, Boaz told her that she could drink of the water that was provided for his workers when she was thirsty. He said, "If you get thirsty, you satisfy your thirst."
The abundant grace of God has brought pleasure to your life. Before you were saved, you were like workers laboring under the hot, burning sun, without a drop of water to quench your thirst. But grace has provided for you water to quench that thirst and satisfy your longing.
Essayist Charles Lamb said, "I walk up and down thinking I am happy, and knowing I am not." To many, joy is about as rare as the bald eagle. The New York Times estimated that about 5 million people living in America had tried to kill themselves.
One couple wrote to a syndicated columnist: "We have a nice home, well-furnished; a new car, and money in the bank. Our two sons have finished college and are happily married and doing well. We have excellent jobs and our combined incomes make it possible for us to live comfortably. So why are we writing this letter? Because suddenly, we find life empty and boring. Are we different, or does this happen to all couples in later mid-life?"
The answer to purpose in life, protection for life, and pleasure in life is the personal experiencing of God's abundant grace.
Harry Truman at first thought he lost the election in 1945. The headlines read, "Dewey defeats Truman." Later when the count was all in, Truman had defeated Dewey. Truman wrote to his mother, "I had hurried to the White House to see the president, and when I got there, I found out I was the president."
Ruth came from Moab with nothing, only to find out when she got to the field of Boaz, she had everything. How abundant is the grace of God.
3. GOD’S GRACE IS AMPLIFIED
Everything had happened so fast. One day she didn't know where the next meal was coming from, and the next day her life is blessed beyond comprehension. Notice how her experience of grace affected her.
First, Ruth learned:
A. God’s grace is overwhelming.
Notice verse 10, “Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, ‘Why have I found favor [grace] in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?’” It was more than she could believe. All she could say was, "Why?" I submit unto you that there is nothing any more overwhelming to the heart than what God has done for us in Christ.
I heard about a woman who had 16 children. They were like stair steps. As you can imagine she had her hands full. One day one little girl fell into a mud pit. She had mud all over her. It was in her hair, ears, up her nose, and under her fingernails. She was covered in mud. Her mother started trying to clean her up and in frustration said, "I declare, I believe it would be easier to have another one than clean this one up."
The truth is, we were all a mess. There was nothing in us or about us that deserved God's love. There was nothing in us that merited God giving His Son to die for us on a cross. In the state and condition we were in, we should have been in hell.
Most of us were a lot like the daughter of Jonathan Edwards, the great preacher, theologian, and revivalist. He had a daughter with an ungovernable temper. It was not well-known to the outside, but was regretfully known in the home. A godly young man fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. He came to see Edwards and asked for her hand in marriage. He abruptly said, "You can't have her." The young man, taken back somewhat said, "But I love her." "You can't have her," again was Edward’s reply. "She loves me." "You can't have her." Finally the young man asked, "Why?" Edward's said, "Because she is not worthy of you." The young man said, "She is a Christian, is she not?" Edward's replied, "Yes, she is a Christian, but the grace of God can live with some people with whom no one else could ever live."
It is overwhelming to the heart to realize that God would love you, save you, and make you His own child. In the word's of the songwriter, "And it's all because of God's amazing grace."
If we are so undeserving, then why? Notice verse 11-12, “Boaz replied to her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.’” She had experienced the kindness and grace of Boaz because she had embraced the people of Israel and had trusted the Lord God of Israel.
Paul said in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The amazing and abundant grace of God is experienced when by faith you put your trust in the Lord. It is not because you earn it, deserve it, merit it, nor achieve it; but because you put your trust in the Lord as Savior and Lord. Still, it is overwhelming to the soul!
Furthermore, we see what she experienced was that:
B. God’s grace is overflowing.
Notice verse 13, “Then she said, ‘I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants.’” Overflowing from her heart was a desire to please Boaz. She wanted to find favor in his eyes. A desire to please God is the proper response to God's grace.
As Robert Robinson said, "Oh to grace how grace how great a debtor, daily I'm constrained to be. Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee." An understanding of God’s grace makes you realize what a debtor to grace you are. May God bind our wandering hearts to Him!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
THE FIELD OF BOAZ (Ruth 2:4-7)
In our last study, we were introduced to Boaz (whose name means “mighty man” or “super man”), a type of the Lord Jesus. We also saw Ruth as a type of the new Christian and her happy happening into a field owned by Boaz. As we learned, after Boaz is introduced in 2:1, that which follows is a series of events by which Ruth is brought into an intimate relationship with Boaz. One of the important factors in the development of this relationship is the field of Boaz. There is no way to underestimate the importance of this field and the events that followed.
[Ruth 2:4-7]
4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, “May the Lord bless you.”
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
6 The servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.
7 “And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”
A field in the Bible is often symbolic. Jesus said in John 4:35, "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest." The fields the Lord was referring to are the multitudes around us who are lost.
In Matthew 13:38, we find that the countries of the world are symbolized by a field. We read, “The field is the world.” We also read that Babylon is symbolized by a field in Ezekiel 17:5.
In the case before us, the field of Boaz, we have a wonderful picture and type of the Church. The field of the earthly Boaz is symbolic of the Church of the Heavenly Boaz—Jesus Christ.
As I stated, this field was a very important factor in the development of the relationship between Boaz and Ruth. The same is true in our Christian life and spiritual growth. The Church is a very important factor in our relationship with Christ.
You can go to a good church and not be a Christian, but you cannot be a good Christian and not go to church. The Lord’s church is essential in developing a relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s notice this field and glean some truths about the church.
1. JESUS IS PRESENT IN THE CHURCH
We read, “Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem” (2:4). We see Boaz visiting his field. Boaz was present in the field. I am reminded that the Lord is present in His church. We read in Revelation 2:1, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands.’” The stars are representative of the pastors; and the lampstands, or candlesticks, are representative of the churches. John saw the Lord walking in the midst of the lampstands. He saw the Lord present in His church.
We also read in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Wherever and whenever God’s people gather, the Lord is in their midst. He is present.
A few years ago, a pastor in Washington, D.C., who ministered at the church President Bush attended, received a call on a Saturday afternoon. “Will the president be in the services tomorrow?” the caller asked. The pastor replied, “That I don’t know, but the Lord will be here.”
As a pastor, my heart is filled with pleasure over the folks who attend the services. My heart is filled with perplexity over those who are absent. Yet, regardless who is present and who is absent, my heart is filled with praise that the Lord is present.
As we think of the Lord's presence in His church, first think with me of how:
A. Jesus Is Personally Present in the Church
We see Boaz coming to his field. He is paying a personal visit to his field, much to the delight of those in the field. I know the Lord is always present when believers assemble, but there are times we are not aware or conscious of His presence. In the church service where somebody is saved or someone repents, we know the Lord’s presence is real. In those services, people often say, “The Lord showed up today!” He is always present, but I like it when He shows up and pays us a visit!
Astronaut James Irwin said, “My trip to the moon was a spiritual awakening, in which I was brought to a realization of my dependence upon God and my relationship to Jesus Christ. The only thing I was not prepared for on the moon was that I could feel God’s presence closer than I had ever felt before.”
There are times when we gather, like Irwin, we can say that we “feel God’s presence closer than we’ve ever felt it before.” Oh, those blessed moments. How sweet and special are those times when His presence is so real in His church. How glorious it is when He pays a visit to His field.
B. Jesus Is Perpetually Present in the Church
In the case of Boaz, it is doubtful that he spent every hour of the day in his field. It is probable that he only occasionally visited his field. Yet, even though he was not there in person, he was there all the time in a representative. We read, “Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers” (2:5). Boaz had someone over the field who acted in and on his behalf. In this servant, the will, plans, and desires of Boaz were carried out on a continual and daily basis. In this servant, Boaz was always present.
If you will notice carefully, this servant is unnamed. In the Bible there are several unnamed servants. There was the unnamed servant of Abraham who went in search of a bride for Isaac. There was the unnamed servant of Joseph who was sent to bring the brethren home. In this case, there is the unnamed servant who watched over the field and the reapers. These unnamed servants in the Bible are a type of the Holy Spirit. They are unnamed in that the Holy Spirit seeks not to draw attention to Himself, but to the Lord Jesus. Jesus said in John 16:13-14, But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
The Holy Spirit is the unseen guest of every service. He is the unseen guide of every service. He is the unseen guard of every service. He is the unseen gift of every service. Jesus is always present in the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Lord of the Church. He is the Life of the Church. He is the Leader of the Church. He is the Liberty of the Church. He is the Lover and the Light of the Church. The Holy Spirit is the One whom Jesus has set over the Church to capture the attention, to control the activity, complete the assignment, to conduct the affairs, to certify the accomplishments, conform the attendants, and cause the additions to the Church.
The Lord is present in His Church! He is not seen, but He is sensed. He is not visible to the eye, but He is vocal to the heart. You cannot walk up to Him and shake His hand, but He can shake your heart. You cannot touch Him, but He can touch you. He is always present! Thank God for the Lord's presence in His Church.
2. JESUS HAS PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH
In verses 4, 5, 6, and 7, reference is made to the “reapers.” These reapers are a type of the Lord’s people in His church. As we look at these reapers we find:
A. They Are Assembled
These reapers are gathered together in Boaz’ field. A person, a place, and a purpose had brought them together. The Church is where God’s people gather, congregate, and assemble. The writer of Hebrews said, “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves” (Heb.10:25). The plan of God is for the people of God to be in the place of God: His Church.
Now you think with me for a moment. These were the reapers of Boaz. Would it have been proper for them to have been in another field? Would it be normal for the reapers not to be in the field? I can’t imagine a reaper calling the servant that was over the field, “I know I’m supposed to be in the field today, but if it will be alright, instead of being in Boaz’ field, I’ll be at the ball field.” Do you think the servant would say, “Yes, that’s fine. Don’t worry about your work and your job. You have a good time. I hope you can get back real soon, God bless you.”?
There never seems to be a shortage on excuses when it comes to Church attendance.
I think of a church in Michigan that had a “No Excuse Sunday.” Their advertisement in the paper read: “Please join us next Sunday for Church. We’re going to make it possible for everyone to attend Church next Sunday by having ‘No Excuse Sunday.’ Cots will be placed in the vestibule for those who say Sunday is my only day of rest. Steel helmets will be there for those who say, the Church will cave in if I ever come. Blankets will be furnished for those who say the Church is cold and fans for those who think it is hot. We will have hearing aids for those who think the pastor preaches too softly, and cotton for those who think he preaches too loudly. Scorecards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites who are present. Some relatives will be there for those who like to go visiting on Sundays. There will be TV dinners for those who cannot go to Church and cook Sunday dinner too. One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to worship God outdoors. Finally the sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who have never seen the Church without them.”
We ought to feel about Church attendance the way Oliver Holmes did when he said, “There is a plant in the corner of my heart called reverence, and it needs watering at least once a week.” I like Ruth’s example. We read, "Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while" (2:7). She came to the field and did not want to leave.
The reapers are assembled and:
B. They Are Appreciative
We read, “Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, ‘May the Lord bless you’”
(2:4). It is very obvious that Boaz and his reapers had a good relationship. His greeting, “May the Lord be with you,” was both a salutation and a prayer. It was a Jewish expression that spoke of all that happy and holy hearts wished for and needed. Boaz expressed his kindness and love to them. They, in return, expressed their love and appreciation to him. They responded, “May the Lord bless you.” It was an expression of their appreciation for his kindness to them.
The Church is a place where God’s people are gathered and God’s praise is given. The Lord has been good to all of us, and in return we should give Him thanks and praise. Psalm 100 says, Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.
When we assemble we ought to come with gratitude in our hearts and glory on our lips. Since he has blessed our life we ought to bless His name. A Church service is not a place where we are restrained from praise but released to praise. May the Lord be praised in His Church.
Rudyard Kipling was a great British poet whose writings have touched generation after generation. Because of the success of his writings, he made a great deal of money at his trade. One day he was approached by a newspaper reporter that said to him, “Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over $100 a word.” Kipling raised his eyebrows and said, “Really? I wasn’t aware of that.” The reporter cynically reached into his pocket and pulled out a $100 bill and handed it to Kipling saying, “Now give me one of your $100 words.” Kipling looked at the $100 for a moment, folded it up and put in his pocket. Then he said, “Thanks.”
May I say that the word “thanks” is a word that we should use when we come to Church. After all the Lord has done for us and given us, He deserves our praise.
We see that the reapers are assembled, appreciative and:
C. They Are Active
In verse's 4-7, the servants of Boaz are called “reapers” four times. They were workers in his field. They were not idle but involved. They were active for their master. When it comes to work in the church, many are shirkers instead of workers. Someone has said that the theme song of many members is, “I Shall Not Be Moved.”
I once read about a pastor who was very rigid about keeping an appointment at 10 o’clock each morning. If he was in a meeting, he would excuse himself, get into his car and leave. No one knew what he was doing or where he was going. His secretary did not know. His wife did not know. His best friends did not know. Since this aroused the suspicions of his members and deacons, they decided to investigate. They followed him one day to a place just outside of town. They watched him as he parked his car and entered a patch of woods. When they caught up to him he was standing by a railroad track. He was shouting and cheering to the top of his lungs and pumping his fists into the air at a passing train.
When the train had passed, his deacons walked up to him and asked, “What on earth are you doing, preacher?” He answered, “I can’t help it. I just get excited when I see something moving and I’m not the one pushing it!”
As one has said, “It seems our Churches are full of willing people: some who are willing to work and others who are willing to let them work.” Are you one of the Lord’s people? Then I ask you, are you attending the house of God faithfully? Are you appreciative of the blessings of God personally? Are you active in the work of God diligently?
We have noted that Jesus is present in the church and that Jesus has people in the church. Lastly, let’s see:
3. JESUS’ PERCEPTION OF THE CHURCH
Notice verse 5, Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” No sooner did Boaz walk into his field that he noticed Ruth. It is obvious that he knew everyone in the field and was aware that a new person was gleaning in the field.
Boaz' notice of Ruth reminds us that:
A. Jesus Is Discerning of You
He saw her. She was not lost in the crowd. There was more than just a group of people in the field. There were individuals of whom he was aware and knew. How it thrills my heart to know that the Lord knows his own. When we gather, we are more than a group. We are individuals that our Lord knows and observes.
The Lord sees and knows each of you. He knows your needs. He knows what you are going through at every moment. He knows the burdens of your heart. There is not one of you unnoticed by the Lord. You may feel lost in a crowd, but the Lord sees you personally.
A young man, before setting abroad, was presented a watch by his father. On its dial were miniatures of his loving parents. “Take this watch,” said his father, “and carry it with you in all your journeying. Every time you look to see the hour, the eyes of your father and mother will look into yours. When you see our faces, remember we are praying for you. Go no place where you would not want us to see you. Do nothing you would not want us to see.”
God’s eyes are always upon us. There is never a moment that He is not watching. Such a realization can be a convicting or a comforting thought.
His notice of Ruth also reminds us that:
B. Jesus Is Drawn to You
Boaz asked, “Whose young woman is this” (Vs.5)? I love J. Vernon McGee’s translation: “Well, where in the world has she been that I haven’t met her before?" (1) The best way I know how to describe this scene would be love at first sight. She not only caught his eye, but won his heart. Oh, blessed thought to know that not only does the Lord see us, but is also graciously drawn to us and gloriously in love with us.
Psychologists tell us that one great need of every human heart is to feel loved. Quite often people feel unloved. A wife feels that her husband doesn’t love her anymore. A child feels unloved. Yet I can assure you of God’s love.
A woman once wrote in her diary, “My husband has always been just to me--coldly just, but I am dying in his home for the want of love.”
You are never in want of God’s love. Whoever you are, whatever you are going through, whenever you are in need, wherever you are; you are loved by God. Many are going around plucking daises, “He loves me, He loves me not.” When good things happen we say, “He loves me.” But when bad things happen, we say, “He loves me not.” We must never forget that the answer is always, “He loves me!”
I am glad to be in the Church of the Heavenly Boaz.
[Ruth 2:4-7]
4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, “May the Lord bless you.”
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
6 The servant in charge of the reapers replied, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.
7 “And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while.”
A field in the Bible is often symbolic. Jesus said in John 4:35, "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest." The fields the Lord was referring to are the multitudes around us who are lost.
In Matthew 13:38, we find that the countries of the world are symbolized by a field. We read, “The field is the world.” We also read that Babylon is symbolized by a field in Ezekiel 17:5.
In the case before us, the field of Boaz, we have a wonderful picture and type of the Church. The field of the earthly Boaz is symbolic of the Church of the Heavenly Boaz—Jesus Christ.
As I stated, this field was a very important factor in the development of the relationship between Boaz and Ruth. The same is true in our Christian life and spiritual growth. The Church is a very important factor in our relationship with Christ.
You can go to a good church and not be a Christian, but you cannot be a good Christian and not go to church. The Lord’s church is essential in developing a relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s notice this field and glean some truths about the church.
1. JESUS IS PRESENT IN THE CHURCH
We read, “Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem” (2:4). We see Boaz visiting his field. Boaz was present in the field. I am reminded that the Lord is present in His church. We read in Revelation 2:1, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands.’” The stars are representative of the pastors; and the lampstands, or candlesticks, are representative of the churches. John saw the Lord walking in the midst of the lampstands. He saw the Lord present in His church.
We also read in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Wherever and whenever God’s people gather, the Lord is in their midst. He is present.
A few years ago, a pastor in Washington, D.C., who ministered at the church President Bush attended, received a call on a Saturday afternoon. “Will the president be in the services tomorrow?” the caller asked. The pastor replied, “That I don’t know, but the Lord will be here.”
As a pastor, my heart is filled with pleasure over the folks who attend the services. My heart is filled with perplexity over those who are absent. Yet, regardless who is present and who is absent, my heart is filled with praise that the Lord is present.
As we think of the Lord's presence in His church, first think with me of how:
A. Jesus Is Personally Present in the Church
We see Boaz coming to his field. He is paying a personal visit to his field, much to the delight of those in the field. I know the Lord is always present when believers assemble, but there are times we are not aware or conscious of His presence. In the church service where somebody is saved or someone repents, we know the Lord’s presence is real. In those services, people often say, “The Lord showed up today!” He is always present, but I like it when He shows up and pays us a visit!
Astronaut James Irwin said, “My trip to the moon was a spiritual awakening, in which I was brought to a realization of my dependence upon God and my relationship to Jesus Christ. The only thing I was not prepared for on the moon was that I could feel God’s presence closer than I had ever felt before.”
There are times when we gather, like Irwin, we can say that we “feel God’s presence closer than we’ve ever felt it before.” Oh, those blessed moments. How sweet and special are those times when His presence is so real in His church. How glorious it is when He pays a visit to His field.
B. Jesus Is Perpetually Present in the Church
In the case of Boaz, it is doubtful that he spent every hour of the day in his field. It is probable that he only occasionally visited his field. Yet, even though he was not there in person, he was there all the time in a representative. We read, “Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers” (2:5). Boaz had someone over the field who acted in and on his behalf. In this servant, the will, plans, and desires of Boaz were carried out on a continual and daily basis. In this servant, Boaz was always present.
If you will notice carefully, this servant is unnamed. In the Bible there are several unnamed servants. There was the unnamed servant of Abraham who went in search of a bride for Isaac. There was the unnamed servant of Joseph who was sent to bring the brethren home. In this case, there is the unnamed servant who watched over the field and the reapers. These unnamed servants in the Bible are a type of the Holy Spirit. They are unnamed in that the Holy Spirit seeks not to draw attention to Himself, but to the Lord Jesus. Jesus said in John 16:13-14, But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
The Holy Spirit is the unseen guest of every service. He is the unseen guide of every service. He is the unseen guard of every service. He is the unseen gift of every service. Jesus is always present in the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Lord of the Church. He is the Life of the Church. He is the Leader of the Church. He is the Liberty of the Church. He is the Lover and the Light of the Church. The Holy Spirit is the One whom Jesus has set over the Church to capture the attention, to control the activity, complete the assignment, to conduct the affairs, to certify the accomplishments, conform the attendants, and cause the additions to the Church.
The Lord is present in His Church! He is not seen, but He is sensed. He is not visible to the eye, but He is vocal to the heart. You cannot walk up to Him and shake His hand, but He can shake your heart. You cannot touch Him, but He can touch you. He is always present! Thank God for the Lord's presence in His Church.
2. JESUS HAS PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH
In verses 4, 5, 6, and 7, reference is made to the “reapers.” These reapers are a type of the Lord’s people in His church. As we look at these reapers we find:
A. They Are Assembled
These reapers are gathered together in Boaz’ field. A person, a place, and a purpose had brought them together. The Church is where God’s people gather, congregate, and assemble. The writer of Hebrews said, “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves” (Heb.10:25). The plan of God is for the people of God to be in the place of God: His Church.
Now you think with me for a moment. These were the reapers of Boaz. Would it have been proper for them to have been in another field? Would it be normal for the reapers not to be in the field? I can’t imagine a reaper calling the servant that was over the field, “I know I’m supposed to be in the field today, but if it will be alright, instead of being in Boaz’ field, I’ll be at the ball field.” Do you think the servant would say, “Yes, that’s fine. Don’t worry about your work and your job. You have a good time. I hope you can get back real soon, God bless you.”?
There never seems to be a shortage on excuses when it comes to Church attendance.
I think of a church in Michigan that had a “No Excuse Sunday.” Their advertisement in the paper read: “Please join us next Sunday for Church. We’re going to make it possible for everyone to attend Church next Sunday by having ‘No Excuse Sunday.’ Cots will be placed in the vestibule for those who say Sunday is my only day of rest. Steel helmets will be there for those who say, the Church will cave in if I ever come. Blankets will be furnished for those who say the Church is cold and fans for those who think it is hot. We will have hearing aids for those who think the pastor preaches too softly, and cotton for those who think he preaches too loudly. Scorecards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites who are present. Some relatives will be there for those who like to go visiting on Sundays. There will be TV dinners for those who cannot go to Church and cook Sunday dinner too. One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to worship God outdoors. Finally the sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who have never seen the Church without them.”
We ought to feel about Church attendance the way Oliver Holmes did when he said, “There is a plant in the corner of my heart called reverence, and it needs watering at least once a week.” I like Ruth’s example. We read, "Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while" (2:7). She came to the field and did not want to leave.
The reapers are assembled and:
B. They Are Appreciative
We read, “Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, “May the Lord be with you.” And they said to him, ‘May the Lord bless you’”
(2:4). It is very obvious that Boaz and his reapers had a good relationship. His greeting, “May the Lord be with you,” was both a salutation and a prayer. It was a Jewish expression that spoke of all that happy and holy hearts wished for and needed. Boaz expressed his kindness and love to them. They, in return, expressed their love and appreciation to him. They responded, “May the Lord bless you.” It was an expression of their appreciation for his kindness to them.
The Church is a place where God’s people are gathered and God’s praise is given. The Lord has been good to all of us, and in return we should give Him thanks and praise. Psalm 100 says, Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.
When we assemble we ought to come with gratitude in our hearts and glory on our lips. Since he has blessed our life we ought to bless His name. A Church service is not a place where we are restrained from praise but released to praise. May the Lord be praised in His Church.
Rudyard Kipling was a great British poet whose writings have touched generation after generation. Because of the success of his writings, he made a great deal of money at his trade. One day he was approached by a newspaper reporter that said to him, “Mr. Kipling, I just read that somebody calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over $100 a word.” Kipling raised his eyebrows and said, “Really? I wasn’t aware of that.” The reporter cynically reached into his pocket and pulled out a $100 bill and handed it to Kipling saying, “Now give me one of your $100 words.” Kipling looked at the $100 for a moment, folded it up and put in his pocket. Then he said, “Thanks.”
May I say that the word “thanks” is a word that we should use when we come to Church. After all the Lord has done for us and given us, He deserves our praise.
We see that the reapers are assembled, appreciative and:
C. They Are Active
In verse's 4-7, the servants of Boaz are called “reapers” four times. They were workers in his field. They were not idle but involved. They were active for their master. When it comes to work in the church, many are shirkers instead of workers. Someone has said that the theme song of many members is, “I Shall Not Be Moved.”
I once read about a pastor who was very rigid about keeping an appointment at 10 o’clock each morning. If he was in a meeting, he would excuse himself, get into his car and leave. No one knew what he was doing or where he was going. His secretary did not know. His wife did not know. His best friends did not know. Since this aroused the suspicions of his members and deacons, they decided to investigate. They followed him one day to a place just outside of town. They watched him as he parked his car and entered a patch of woods. When they caught up to him he was standing by a railroad track. He was shouting and cheering to the top of his lungs and pumping his fists into the air at a passing train.
When the train had passed, his deacons walked up to him and asked, “What on earth are you doing, preacher?” He answered, “I can’t help it. I just get excited when I see something moving and I’m not the one pushing it!”
As one has said, “It seems our Churches are full of willing people: some who are willing to work and others who are willing to let them work.” Are you one of the Lord’s people? Then I ask you, are you attending the house of God faithfully? Are you appreciative of the blessings of God personally? Are you active in the work of God diligently?
We have noted that Jesus is present in the church and that Jesus has people in the church. Lastly, let’s see:
3. JESUS’ PERCEPTION OF THE CHURCH
Notice verse 5, Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” No sooner did Boaz walk into his field that he noticed Ruth. It is obvious that he knew everyone in the field and was aware that a new person was gleaning in the field.
Boaz' notice of Ruth reminds us that:
A. Jesus Is Discerning of You
He saw her. She was not lost in the crowd. There was more than just a group of people in the field. There were individuals of whom he was aware and knew. How it thrills my heart to know that the Lord knows his own. When we gather, we are more than a group. We are individuals that our Lord knows and observes.
The Lord sees and knows each of you. He knows your needs. He knows what you are going through at every moment. He knows the burdens of your heart. There is not one of you unnoticed by the Lord. You may feel lost in a crowd, but the Lord sees you personally.
A young man, before setting abroad, was presented a watch by his father. On its dial were miniatures of his loving parents. “Take this watch,” said his father, “and carry it with you in all your journeying. Every time you look to see the hour, the eyes of your father and mother will look into yours. When you see our faces, remember we are praying for you. Go no place where you would not want us to see you. Do nothing you would not want us to see.”
God’s eyes are always upon us. There is never a moment that He is not watching. Such a realization can be a convicting or a comforting thought.
His notice of Ruth also reminds us that:
B. Jesus Is Drawn to You
Boaz asked, “Whose young woman is this” (Vs.5)? I love J. Vernon McGee’s translation: “Well, where in the world has she been that I haven’t met her before?" (1) The best way I know how to describe this scene would be love at first sight. She not only caught his eye, but won his heart. Oh, blessed thought to know that not only does the Lord see us, but is also graciously drawn to us and gloriously in love with us.
Psychologists tell us that one great need of every human heart is to feel loved. Quite often people feel unloved. A wife feels that her husband doesn’t love her anymore. A child feels unloved. Yet I can assure you of God’s love.
A woman once wrote in her diary, “My husband has always been just to me--coldly just, but I am dying in his home for the want of love.”
You are never in want of God’s love. Whoever you are, whatever you are going through, whenever you are in need, wherever you are; you are loved by God. Many are going around plucking daises, “He loves me, He loves me not.” When good things happen we say, “He loves me.” But when bad things happen, we say, “He loves me not.” We must never forget that the answer is always, “He loves me!”
I am glad to be in the Church of the Heavenly Boaz.
Give Thanks
“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.”
Psalm 9:1 NASB95
In 1636, amid the darkness of the Thirty Years’ War, a German pastor, Martin Rinkart, is said to have buried 5,000 of his parishioners in one year—that’s an average of about fourteen funerals a day. His parish was ravaged by war, economic disaster, starvation, disease, and death.
Yet, in the heart of that darkness, with the cries of fear outside his window, Pastor Rinkart sat down and wrote this table grace for his children:
Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His world rejoices.
Who, from our mother’s arms,
Hath led us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.
Martin Rinkart was a man who knew thanksgiving comes from our love for God, not from outward circumstances. (Craig Larson, Illustrations for Teaching & Preaching)
This Thanksgiving holiday will be a first for my family. Ramona and I will not be with our parents. The kids will not sit at Grandma’s table. We will have to watch the Texas Aggies grind the Texas Longhorns into Bevo burgers from our living room, rather than from the bleachers of Kyle Field.
Now before you start thinking we’ll be suffering from the holiday blues, I assure you that we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with new traditions and counting our blessings with our new family in Wisconsin. When I start telling the story of the wondrous things God has done in our lives in the past year, I can’t help but give Him thanks.
My prayer for each of you is that, no matter your circumstances, you will give thanks for God’s wondrous work in your life this past year. Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Pastor Larry
Psalm 9:1 NASB95
In 1636, amid the darkness of the Thirty Years’ War, a German pastor, Martin Rinkart, is said to have buried 5,000 of his parishioners in one year—that’s an average of about fourteen funerals a day. His parish was ravaged by war, economic disaster, starvation, disease, and death.
Yet, in the heart of that darkness, with the cries of fear outside his window, Pastor Rinkart sat down and wrote this table grace for his children:
Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His world rejoices.
Who, from our mother’s arms,
Hath led us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.
Martin Rinkart was a man who knew thanksgiving comes from our love for God, not from outward circumstances. (Craig Larson, Illustrations for Teaching & Preaching)
This Thanksgiving holiday will be a first for my family. Ramona and I will not be with our parents. The kids will not sit at Grandma’s table. We will have to watch the Texas Aggies grind the Texas Longhorns into Bevo burgers from our living room, rather than from the bleachers of Kyle Field.
Now before you start thinking we’ll be suffering from the holiday blues, I assure you that we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with new traditions and counting our blessings with our new family in Wisconsin. When I start telling the story of the wondrous things God has done in our lives in the past year, I can’t help but give Him thanks.
My prayer for each of you is that, no matter your circumstances, you will give thanks for God’s wondrous work in your life this past year. Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Pastor Larry
Monday, November 2, 2009
A New Life in a New Land (Ruth 2:1-3 )
In our last study, we saw Naomi coming back to Bethlehem-Judah. She reminds us that believers who fail God can come back home. Another exciting truth we see illustrated in this story is that we not only see Naomi coming back to the land, but we also see Ruth getting into the land. Naomi is a type of a believer coming back to God and restored. Ruth is a type of an unbeliever coming to God and being redeemed. Now, we find her beginning her new life in a new land. She has left Moab, the old life; and is now in Bethlehem, the new life. She has just been saved from her old life, and is just getting started in her new life.
In these first days of Ruth’s new life in a new land, we have illustrated for us the matter of spiritual growth. August Van Ryn writes, “The whole of the second chapter unfolds the divine process of spiritual growth and enlightenment."
Physically, when we are born, we were but babes that entered a life in which there is a process of growth. The same is true spiritually. When we are born-again, we are spiritual babes in which a process of spiritual growth begins. A new baby must learn to walk, talk, etc. A new Christian enters a world in which everything is new. Spiritual growth is learning to talk and walk that new life.
Peter declared in 1 Peter 2:2, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” He also had in mind spiritual growth in 2 Peter 1:5-7, “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”
I like the description Buddy Robinson gave of spiritual growth. He said, “A converted man is a baby in a cradle, and a wholly sanctified man is a man with his breeches on and his haversack on his back and his gun on his shoulder, with both eyes open and saying, ‘Where is the enemy?’”
Ray Baughman spoke of a survey that estimated 60% of the people in this country profess to belong to some church. From that survey he gave these evaluations. Out of 1000 people, 40% of them are spiritually dead. Of the 600 remaining, only about 200 will experience any amount of spiritual growth in their Christian life.
Many believers are like the little girl that fell out of bed one night. Her mother heard her crying and rushed to see what was wrong. “Mommy, mommy, I fell out of bed,” sobbed the little girl. Her mother picked up her, pulled her close and asked, “Honey, why did you fall out of bed?” The little girl answered, “I was sleeping too close to where I got in.” Many believers are living to close to where they got in when they were saved. They need to grow and move further on in the Christian life.
Let’s look at our text and notice Ruth’s new life in a new land and how it illustrates spiritual growth.
[Ruth 2:1-3]
1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
3 So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
1. THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We read, Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz (2:1). This is our first introduction to Boaz in the book. Boaz is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. From this point on, the emphasis in the book is the process by which Ruth becomes acquainted with Boaz and how their relationship develops and deepens. He is introduced and from here on out we see how Ruth is drawn into an intimate relationship with Boaz.
Contrary to what many would suggest, the purpose of spiritual growth is not to make us Bible scholars. Some have the idea that spiritual growth is a good and growing knowledge of the Bible. That may be part of the process, but if all your Bible study does is make you a theologian, you have missed the whole purpose of the Bible. The purpose of the Bible is to reveal Jesus Christ.
It is the person of Christ who vitalizes and energizes every page of the Bible. Jesus is prophesied in the Old Testament and He is presented in the New. The Old Testament anticipates Christ, the New authenticates Him. The Old Testament contains Christ and the New explains Him. Jesus is the fullness, the fascination, fiber, fragrance, and focus of the Bible. Jesus is found on every page, in every expression; in every symbol, prophecy, psalm, and proverb. If you read the Bible and miss Jesus, you have not read the Bible.
To some, spiritual growth is getting us ready for heaven. But I remind you that the light of Heaven is the face of Jesus; the joy of Heaven is the presence of Jesus; the melody of Heaven is the name of Jesus; the harmony of Heaven is the praise of Jesus; the theme of Heaven is the work of Jesus; the employment of Heaven is the service of Jesus; the duration of Heaven is the eternity of Jesus; and the fullness of Heaven is Jesus Himself.
Friend, the purpose of spiritual growth is developing a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Keeping this in mind, notice what was said about Boaz. First, we see that he was:
A) A Man of Relations
Boaz is called a “Kinsman of her husband” (2:1). Boaz was related to Naomi through marriage. Jesus is our kinsman. He, who in heaven had a Father, but no mother; came to this earth and was born of a mother, but had no father. He became one of us, one with us, and one for us. By taking on Himself human flesh, he became related to us.
Secondly, we see that he was:
B) A Man of Resources
Boaz is also described as “a man of great wealth” (2:1). He was a man of many possessions. Jesus is greater than the greatest, mightier than the mightiest, wealthier than the wealthiest.
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Corporation, is the richest private individual in the world. Here is a calculation of his wealth based on a forty hour work week. His wealth translates to:
$923,076,292.31 per week, $2,307,692.31 per hour, $38,461.54 per minute,
$534.19 with every beat of his heart.
Yet, I have news for Mr. Gates. He is a pauper compared to the Lord Jesus.
We also see that Boaz was a:
C) A Man of Reputation
“His name was Boaz” (2:1). Boaz means “mighty man.” He was a man with a respected and honored name. God has given Jesus a name that is above every name. At His name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord.
This was the person who Ruth would come to know, love, and marry. From the time he is introduced, we see Ruth learning of him, falling in love with him, and living for him. This is the purpose of spiritual growth; to know Christ in an intimate way.
Our prayer ought to be:
More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern.
Spirit of God my teacher be
Showing the things of Christ to me.
Secondly, as we see spiritual growth illustrated in this story:
2. THE PURSUIT OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We read, "And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, 'Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.' And she said to her, 'Go, my daughter'” (2:2). In those days, much like our country, Israel had a welfare system to take care of the poor.
We read in Leviticus 19:9-10, “And when you reap the harvest of the land, you shall not completely reap the corners of the field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.”
When the owner of the land harvested the wheat, he was to leave the corners. He was not to go back and pick up what had been missed or dropped. This was to be left for the poor. It was God’s welfare system. It was not a handout, but something one had to work for to obtain. They had to go to the fields and gather what remained. It was a law that helped to provide for the poor.
As we see Ruth gathering from these corners, we see:
A) The Food Needed to Sustain Her
We see that Ruth was concerned about how they were going to eat. They had returned home penniless, yet they had to eat. If they did not eat they would die physically. The same is true spiritually. Involved in spiritual growth is the pursuit of spiritual food. Peter had this in mind when he said, "like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation" (1 Peter 2:2). Just as one must have food to sustain physical life, one must have a diet of God’s word to sustain spiritual life.
R. A. Torrey told about how in one of his early pastorates he asked one of his members how she was getting along in her Christian life. She replied, “Very poorly. My life is a disgrace to me and the Church.” Torrey asked her, “Do you read and study your Bible everyday?” She answered, “No, but I do study it occasionally when I have time.”
A little baby was lying in a carriage nearby. Torrey pointed at the baby saying, “Suppose you should feed that baby once in two hours today, one in six hours tomorrow, and then let it go a day without feeding, and feed it every two hours the next day. If you kept up that process, do you think the child would grow?” She said, “No, I think the child would die under that kind of treatment.” Torrey responded, “And yet, that is the way you are treating your soul.”
Spurgeon said, “If we think our bodies require refreshment by food thrice a day, can we think that less will serve our souls.” If we neglect to feed our souls, our spiritual life will become lean and eventually die. As Ruth needed food to sustain herself physically, we need to feed on God’s word to sustain our spiritual life.
According to J. A. Carlson, a bird can go 9 days without food; a dog 20 days; a turtle 500 days; a snake 800 days; large ocean fish 1000 days, and some insects 1200 days. May I say, the believer cannot go one day without eating spiritually in order to grow spiritually.
B) The Field Near to Supply Her
Her desire was to go into one of the nearby fields and glean corn (generic for wheat or barley). She had learned of God’s welfare system, and she had asked Naomi if she could go and search for a field to glean. We will notice in a moment that the field she went into to glean was none other than a field of Boaz. May I say that it is only in God’s fields that we can find the spiritual food we need to sustain our spiritual life and to grow as a Christian.
The Word of God is one of God’s fields to find spiritual food. Jabez Burns said, “The Word of God may be likened to food as it is essential to the life of the soul.” Mark G. Pearse said, “The Word of God is the food of the life of God. The Word of God, read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested is essential to healthy, spiritual life.” One has said, “The Bible is a loaf, every chapter a slice, every verse a bite.”
The Will of God is one of God’s fields to find spiritual food. God told Elijah to go to the river brook Cherith and it was there he would be fed. Being in the will of God is like finding manna on the ground each day as God leads us.
The Work of God is one of God’s fields to find spiritual food. As we work in His field we find barley to glean and wheat to harvest.
The Worship of God is one of God’s fields to find spiritual food. The Psalmist said, “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). As we worship Him we find spiritual food.
Ruth wanted the food and worked the field. Spiritual growth does not just happen. It is pursued. One must glean from the field. One must want to grow and work to grow.
We have seen illustrated in this story: the purpose of spiritual growth, the pursuit of spiritual growth.
3. THE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We read, So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech (2:3). To me, this is one of the most thrilling verses in all the Bible. I like to think of it as the happy happenings. She went looking for a field in which someone would favor her and allow her to glean. She ended up in the field of Boaz. As we see her coming to the field of Boaz, we are reminded of:
A) The Divine Guidance of Life
If you are reading the KJV, you will see the word “hap” which means “chance or happenstance.” From a human standpoint, it seems as if she lucked up or by chance ended up in a field owned by Boaz. Ruth had no idea the field belonged to Boaz. It would appear that she just “happened” to choose his field. From a human standpoint, it looked like happenstance. But from a heavenly viewpoint, it was providence. You can be sure that she did not just “happen” to choose this field. Behind the scenes was a God who was in charge of her life, and He was seeing to it that all things worked for her good and His glory.
I think many will be surprised when they get to heaven and realize that a lot of things that happened to them were not breaks, but blessings. It was more than being fortunate on earth, but being favored in heaven.
We are also reminded as we see Ruth coming to the field of Boaz of:
B) The Divine Goal of Life
What was God doing? He was arranging things so that Ruth and Boaz would come to know each other and fall in love. God is behind the scenes of life, arranging all things with the goal in mind of bringing us into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. The whole process of spiritual growth is a work of God in our lives, allowing and arranging certain things to bring us closer to Jesus.
It is as Paul said in Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
We see Ruth getting in and going on in her new life. It’s a new life in a new land!
In these first days of Ruth’s new life in a new land, we have illustrated for us the matter of spiritual growth. August Van Ryn writes, “The whole of the second chapter unfolds the divine process of spiritual growth and enlightenment."
Physically, when we are born, we were but babes that entered a life in which there is a process of growth. The same is true spiritually. When we are born-again, we are spiritual babes in which a process of spiritual growth begins. A new baby must learn to walk, talk, etc. A new Christian enters a world in which everything is new. Spiritual growth is learning to talk and walk that new life.
Peter declared in 1 Peter 2:2, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” He also had in mind spiritual growth in 2 Peter 1:5-7, “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”
I like the description Buddy Robinson gave of spiritual growth. He said, “A converted man is a baby in a cradle, and a wholly sanctified man is a man with his breeches on and his haversack on his back and his gun on his shoulder, with both eyes open and saying, ‘Where is the enemy?’”
Ray Baughman spoke of a survey that estimated 60% of the people in this country profess to belong to some church. From that survey he gave these evaluations. Out of 1000 people, 40% of them are spiritually dead. Of the 600 remaining, only about 200 will experience any amount of spiritual growth in their Christian life.
Many believers are like the little girl that fell out of bed one night. Her mother heard her crying and rushed to see what was wrong. “Mommy, mommy, I fell out of bed,” sobbed the little girl. Her mother picked up her, pulled her close and asked, “Honey, why did you fall out of bed?” The little girl answered, “I was sleeping too close to where I got in.” Many believers are living to close to where they got in when they were saved. They need to grow and move further on in the Christian life.
Let’s look at our text and notice Ruth’s new life in a new land and how it illustrates spiritual growth.
[Ruth 2:1-3]
1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
3 So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
1. THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We read, Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz (2:1). This is our first introduction to Boaz in the book. Boaz is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. From this point on, the emphasis in the book is the process by which Ruth becomes acquainted with Boaz and how their relationship develops and deepens. He is introduced and from here on out we see how Ruth is drawn into an intimate relationship with Boaz.
Contrary to what many would suggest, the purpose of spiritual growth is not to make us Bible scholars. Some have the idea that spiritual growth is a good and growing knowledge of the Bible. That may be part of the process, but if all your Bible study does is make you a theologian, you have missed the whole purpose of the Bible. The purpose of the Bible is to reveal Jesus Christ.
It is the person of Christ who vitalizes and energizes every page of the Bible. Jesus is prophesied in the Old Testament and He is presented in the New. The Old Testament anticipates Christ, the New authenticates Him. The Old Testament contains Christ and the New explains Him. Jesus is the fullness, the fascination, fiber, fragrance, and focus of the Bible. Jesus is found on every page, in every expression; in every symbol, prophecy, psalm, and proverb. If you read the Bible and miss Jesus, you have not read the Bible.
To some, spiritual growth is getting us ready for heaven. But I remind you that the light of Heaven is the face of Jesus; the joy of Heaven is the presence of Jesus; the melody of Heaven is the name of Jesus; the harmony of Heaven is the praise of Jesus; the theme of Heaven is the work of Jesus; the employment of Heaven is the service of Jesus; the duration of Heaven is the eternity of Jesus; and the fullness of Heaven is Jesus Himself.
Friend, the purpose of spiritual growth is developing a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Keeping this in mind, notice what was said about Boaz. First, we see that he was:
A) A Man of Relations
Boaz is called a “Kinsman of her husband” (2:1). Boaz was related to Naomi through marriage. Jesus is our kinsman. He, who in heaven had a Father, but no mother; came to this earth and was born of a mother, but had no father. He became one of us, one with us, and one for us. By taking on Himself human flesh, he became related to us.
Secondly, we see that he was:
B) A Man of Resources
Boaz is also described as “a man of great wealth” (2:1). He was a man of many possessions. Jesus is greater than the greatest, mightier than the mightiest, wealthier than the wealthiest.
Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft Corporation, is the richest private individual in the world. Here is a calculation of his wealth based on a forty hour work week. His wealth translates to:
$923,076,292.31 per week, $2,307,692.31 per hour, $38,461.54 per minute,
$534.19 with every beat of his heart.
Yet, I have news for Mr. Gates. He is a pauper compared to the Lord Jesus.
We also see that Boaz was a:
C) A Man of Reputation
“His name was Boaz” (2:1). Boaz means “mighty man.” He was a man with a respected and honored name. God has given Jesus a name that is above every name. At His name every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord.
This was the person who Ruth would come to know, love, and marry. From the time he is introduced, we see Ruth learning of him, falling in love with him, and living for him. This is the purpose of spiritual growth; to know Christ in an intimate way.
Our prayer ought to be:
More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern.
Spirit of God my teacher be
Showing the things of Christ to me.
Secondly, as we see spiritual growth illustrated in this story:
2. THE PURSUIT OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We read, "And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, 'Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.' And she said to her, 'Go, my daughter'” (2:2). In those days, much like our country, Israel had a welfare system to take care of the poor.
We read in Leviticus 19:9-10, “And when you reap the harvest of the land, you shall not completely reap the corners of the field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. And you shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.”
When the owner of the land harvested the wheat, he was to leave the corners. He was not to go back and pick up what had been missed or dropped. This was to be left for the poor. It was God’s welfare system. It was not a handout, but something one had to work for to obtain. They had to go to the fields and gather what remained. It was a law that helped to provide for the poor.
As we see Ruth gathering from these corners, we see:
A) The Food Needed to Sustain Her
We see that Ruth was concerned about how they were going to eat. They had returned home penniless, yet they had to eat. If they did not eat they would die physically. The same is true spiritually. Involved in spiritual growth is the pursuit of spiritual food. Peter had this in mind when he said, "like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation" (1 Peter 2:2). Just as one must have food to sustain physical life, one must have a diet of God’s word to sustain spiritual life.
R. A. Torrey told about how in one of his early pastorates he asked one of his members how she was getting along in her Christian life. She replied, “Very poorly. My life is a disgrace to me and the Church.” Torrey asked her, “Do you read and study your Bible everyday?” She answered, “No, but I do study it occasionally when I have time.”
A little baby was lying in a carriage nearby. Torrey pointed at the baby saying, “Suppose you should feed that baby once in two hours today, one in six hours tomorrow, and then let it go a day without feeding, and feed it every two hours the next day. If you kept up that process, do you think the child would grow?” She said, “No, I think the child would die under that kind of treatment.” Torrey responded, “And yet, that is the way you are treating your soul.”
Spurgeon said, “If we think our bodies require refreshment by food thrice a day, can we think that less will serve our souls.” If we neglect to feed our souls, our spiritual life will become lean and eventually die. As Ruth needed food to sustain herself physically, we need to feed on God’s word to sustain our spiritual life.
According to J. A. Carlson, a bird can go 9 days without food; a dog 20 days; a turtle 500 days; a snake 800 days; large ocean fish 1000 days, and some insects 1200 days. May I say, the believer cannot go one day without eating spiritually in order to grow spiritually.
B) The Field Near to Supply Her
Her desire was to go into one of the nearby fields and glean corn (generic for wheat or barley). She had learned of God’s welfare system, and she had asked Naomi if she could go and search for a field to glean. We will notice in a moment that the field she went into to glean was none other than a field of Boaz. May I say that it is only in God’s fields that we can find the spiritual food we need to sustain our spiritual life and to grow as a Christian.
The Word of God is one of God’s fields to find spiritual food. Jabez Burns said, “The Word of God may be likened to food as it is essential to the life of the soul.” Mark G. Pearse said, “The Word of God is the food of the life of God. The Word of God, read, marked, learned, and inwardly digested is essential to healthy, spiritual life.” One has said, “The Bible is a loaf, every chapter a slice, every verse a bite.”
The Will of God is one of God’s fields to find spiritual food. God told Elijah to go to the river brook Cherith and it was there he would be fed. Being in the will of God is like finding manna on the ground each day as God leads us.
The Work of God is one of God’s fields to find spiritual food. As we work in His field we find barley to glean and wheat to harvest.
The Worship of God is one of God’s fields to find spiritual food. The Psalmist said, “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). As we worship Him we find spiritual food.
Ruth wanted the food and worked the field. Spiritual growth does not just happen. It is pursued. One must glean from the field. One must want to grow and work to grow.
We have seen illustrated in this story: the purpose of spiritual growth, the pursuit of spiritual growth.
3. THE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
We read, So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech (2:3). To me, this is one of the most thrilling verses in all the Bible. I like to think of it as the happy happenings. She went looking for a field in which someone would favor her and allow her to glean. She ended up in the field of Boaz. As we see her coming to the field of Boaz, we are reminded of:
A) The Divine Guidance of Life
If you are reading the KJV, you will see the word “hap” which means “chance or happenstance.” From a human standpoint, it seems as if she lucked up or by chance ended up in a field owned by Boaz. Ruth had no idea the field belonged to Boaz. It would appear that she just “happened” to choose his field. From a human standpoint, it looked like happenstance. But from a heavenly viewpoint, it was providence. You can be sure that she did not just “happen” to choose this field. Behind the scenes was a God who was in charge of her life, and He was seeing to it that all things worked for her good and His glory.
I think many will be surprised when they get to heaven and realize that a lot of things that happened to them were not breaks, but blessings. It was more than being fortunate on earth, but being favored in heaven.
We are also reminded as we see Ruth coming to the field of Boaz of:
B) The Divine Goal of Life
What was God doing? He was arranging things so that Ruth and Boaz would come to know each other and fall in love. God is behind the scenes of life, arranging all things with the goal in mind of bringing us into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. The whole process of spiritual growth is a work of God in our lives, allowing and arranging certain things to bring us closer to Jesus.
It is as Paul said in Romans 8:28-29, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
We see Ruth getting in and going on in her new life. It’s a new life in a new land!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sowing & Reaping
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8 NASB95
Like most 4-year-old children, Anissa hates going to bed. Getting a hummingbird to be still is easier than getting Anissa in her bed at night. Before you ask if I’ve thought of it, superglue or rope would just result in a visit from child protective services and some awkward explaining on my part. So, Ramona and I just keep fighting the good fight. I welcome advice from parents who have walked this same road. The only thing harder than getting her in bed each evening is getting her out of bed the next morning. We are doing our best to help her see the connection between the two problems. If she would go to sleep earlier, getting up would be a joy instead of a daily trauma.
Isn’t it strange how people have trouble seeing the connection between their actions and the resulting consequences? An old preacher I know has a way of getting to the point with his words. He would say, “What is down in the well always comes up in the bucket.” What you sow in your actions will determine what you reap in the future. You can’t separate your actions from the results of your actions.
I know what you may be thinking right now: “Well…duh! Pastor I already know this stuff. Why don’t you write something insightful or fresh?” I don’t know if this insightful or fresh, but did you notice the first clause of Galatians 6:7? “Do not be deceived…” God knows how we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are an exception to the rule. That is why He gave us the warning before giving us the principle of sowing and reaping. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it can’t happen to you. If you sow it, you are going to reap it!
Did you see the second clause of verse 7? “God is not mocked.” If you think you are going to be an exception to the rule of sowing and reaping, then you are not just deceiving yourself, you are taunting God. You are daring God to stop you! I may not be the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but I do understand that playing a game of spiritual chicken with God on life’s highway is not wise. God isn’t going to flinch or swerve. Those who sow to the flesh will one day realize that life stinks! Stinks? Yes, that is what corruption means—decaying.
Now, I want you to see that Galatians 6:7-8 is more than a principle. It is a promise! If you sow the things of God’s Spirit in your life, you will reap the things of God’s Spirit. God doesn’t promise that your life will be easy and free of trials. He does promise that the end result will be eternal.
Love,
Pastor Larry
p.s. Does anyone know where I put my duct tape?
Like most 4-year-old children, Anissa hates going to bed. Getting a hummingbird to be still is easier than getting Anissa in her bed at night. Before you ask if I’ve thought of it, superglue or rope would just result in a visit from child protective services and some awkward explaining on my part. So, Ramona and I just keep fighting the good fight. I welcome advice from parents who have walked this same road. The only thing harder than getting her in bed each evening is getting her out of bed the next morning. We are doing our best to help her see the connection between the two problems. If she would go to sleep earlier, getting up would be a joy instead of a daily trauma.
Isn’t it strange how people have trouble seeing the connection between their actions and the resulting consequences? An old preacher I know has a way of getting to the point with his words. He would say, “What is down in the well always comes up in the bucket.” What you sow in your actions will determine what you reap in the future. You can’t separate your actions from the results of your actions.
I know what you may be thinking right now: “Well…duh! Pastor I already know this stuff. Why don’t you write something insightful or fresh?” I don’t know if this insightful or fresh, but did you notice the first clause of Galatians 6:7? “Do not be deceived…” God knows how we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are an exception to the rule. That is why He gave us the warning before giving us the principle of sowing and reaping. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking it can’t happen to you. If you sow it, you are going to reap it!
Did you see the second clause of verse 7? “God is not mocked.” If you think you are going to be an exception to the rule of sowing and reaping, then you are not just deceiving yourself, you are taunting God. You are daring God to stop you! I may not be the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but I do understand that playing a game of spiritual chicken with God on life’s highway is not wise. God isn’t going to flinch or swerve. Those who sow to the flesh will one day realize that life stinks! Stinks? Yes, that is what corruption means—decaying.
Now, I want you to see that Galatians 6:7-8 is more than a principle. It is a promise! If you sow the things of God’s Spirit in your life, you will reap the things of God’s Spirit. God doesn’t promise that your life will be easy and free of trials. He does promise that the end result will be eternal.
Love,
Pastor Larry
p.s. Does anyone know where I put my duct tape?
Monday, October 26, 2009
What The Bible Says About Ghosts, Part 2
Today I am going to continue with the subject that I preached about last Sunday. It was the topic of ghosts: What are they? Why do they interact with the living? Are they really the spirits of the dead? We looked in the Bible to see what truths God has given us, and then we used our own logic to try to understand what is really happening when people say they have seen or talked to ghosts or spirits of the dead.
We discussed the fact that the Bible supports the idea that ghosts are indeed the spirits of persons whom have died. But when it came to the world’s idea of what a ghost is, namely the spirit of a dead person who haunts the living, I showed you that the Bible does not agree with this assessment.
Isaiah 26:14 tells us that, “They are now dead, they live no more; those departed spirits do not rise….” The Bible tells us that the ghosts or spirits of people who have died are located in one of two places. They are either in hell awaiting their final Day of Judgment at the Great White Throne. Or, they are in the presence of their Savior, Jesus Christ, in heaven.
Scripture does not support the idea that the dead can easily or readily return to interact with the living of their own will. They just don’t decide that they have a message to bring to the living or that they will hang around because they have unfinished business. Once a person dies, there is no unfinished business. You can’t change your eternal status after you die. That must be taken care of before you die.
And then in Luke 16:19-31, we saw a little more about the distinction between the spirits of the righteous dead and the spirits of the wicked dead in the story Jesus told about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. Both men died -- Lazarus was escorted to Paradise and the rich man to hell. From this story, we saw that the ghosts of the wicked dead could not return to haunt or speak or interact with the living, even if they wanted to. And we also saw that though it appears that the righteous dead can return and interact with the living, they are not necessarily allowed to.
Finally, from there we went on to see that since the apparitions and spirits that people claim to see and talk to (or are haunted by), are not actually the spirits of those who have died, then they have to be either angels or evil spirits. And we came to the conclusion that they were evil familiar spirits. Now that’s just a brief overview of what we talked about last Sunday morning.
Today, we are going to take a look at one instance in the Bible where the living and the dead did interact. We’re going to see if there are any plausible reasons why God would allow the spirits of the dead to speak to the living. And finally, we’ll look at some suggestions to help you judge whether a spirit is a ghost or an evil spirit.
1. Saul and the Witch of Endor
The Bible teaches that Moses, who had died, appeared with Jesus (along with Elijah, who had been raptured) at the Transfiguration. So, God has allowed someone who has died to come back and communicate with the living.
Let’s look at an instance that takes place in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel 28. You may be somewhat familiar with this passage, as it deals with King Saul and his attempts to contact the dead through a witch or medium from Endor. Let’s read together 1 Samuel 28:5-20.
This event takes place at the end of King Saul’s reign and his life. Because of his disobedience to God, the Lord is allowing the Philistines to defeat and kill him in battle. He is removing the kingdom from Saul’s lineage and giving it into the hands of David.
In 1 Samuel 16, God told Saul He would do this because of his disobedience. But when Saul sees the mighty Philistines advancing against him, he tries to inquire of the Lord what to do, but receives no answer. The reason God doesn’t respond is because He has already told Saul what was happening and why. Saul, however, was afraid and not satisfied with God’s silence, so he did something that was strictly forbidden by God – he consulted a medium or psychic. He wanted to contact the dead prophet Samuel to find the answer he wanted.
Now, notice the Bible tells us that the ghost of Samuel did indeed rise from the dead and speak to the living. So, this begs the question, doesn’t this prove that the ghosts of the dead can and do interact with the living? Well, I’ll give you a "clear" answer – Yes and No.
A. The Ghost of a Righteous Man
First, let’s look at some of the facts surrounding this story. Remember, this morning I said that the spirits of the wicked dead could NOT speak with the living because they are confined in hell. But the spirits of the righteous dead are not confined. Therefore, it appears that they ARE able to interact with the living. This Old Testament event confirms that fact--the ghosts of only the righteous dead are able to speak to the living. Notice that it is the ghost of Samuel, a righteous prophet of God, who makes an appearance here.
B. Mediums Don’t Speak to Real Ghosts
Second, we said that when a medium or psychic says that they are speaking with the dead, they are actually in contact with evil spirits called familiar or seducing spirits. That is why trying to contact the dead is strictly forbidden and punishable by death in the Old Testament (Leviticus 20). This story confirms that fact as well.
The medium or witch, who was used to speaking with one or more familiar spirits, was totally surprised when the real ghost of Samuel actually appeared before her. She wasn’t expecting to actually see him. She was terrified and cried out to Saul that he had tricked her. This tells us that Samuel’s appearance had absolutely nothing to do with her supposed psychic powers or ability to speak with spirits.
C. Confirmation of God’s Will
And finally, we notice that since the medium had nothing to do with Samuel’s appearance, his presence must have been with God’s permission and for a specific purpose. Samuel appeared to confirm God’s will upon Saul’s life. He did not bring any new prophetic information. He did not bring a secret piece of information to guide Saul in defeating the enemy. He did not try to comfort or console Saul. He simply stated what Saul already knew, but was unwilling to believe – that God had turned His back on Him and was taking the kingdom of Israel away because of his disobedience.
So, in this one instance, I would have to say that the ghost of a righteous man was allowed to speak with the living, for the specific purpose of confirming God’s will upon his life. However, this does NOT mean that the spirits of the righteous dead can return and interact with the living at any time and for any reason whatsoever. It simply gives one instance in which it was allowed.
2. Why Would They Speak To Us?
Now, while studying this topic in preparation for this sermon, I realized that maybe more importantly than answering the question, “Can the ghosts of the dead speak to the living?” would be answering the question, “Why would they speak to us?”
We know that most, if not all, of the spirits that people call ghosts are actually evil familiar spirits who impersonate the dead when speaking to the living. But we also know that it is possible for the spirits of the righteous dead to contact the living, though they are usually not allowed to do so. Samuel, after all was allowed to speak to Saul. But as we’ve noted, he did so with a specific purpose.
So, if God were to allow the righteous dead to speak to us, I’d think that it would also have to be with a specific purpose in mind. The Bible doesn’t support the idea that the dead are just out there contacting the living whenever they feel like it. So if the righteous dead are speaking to the living on occasion, that begs the question, why would they? For what purpose would God allow them to do so?
Trying to recall what I’ve heard, or read, or observed about people who say they have spoken with the dead, I came up with a short list of possible reasons why the dead would be allowed to speak to us, and then I compared it to Scripture to see if these reasons are plausible. (This is by no means an exhaustive list.)
A. Comfort and Guidance
Some people claim that when they speak to the ghosts of the dead, they receive comfort and guidance. The spirit encourages them or comforts them during a difficult time in their lives. They don’t feel so alone or insignificant. They receive assurances of God’s love for them. Or maybe they even receive instructions or guidance about a problem they are facing, or an answer to a question.
This seems like a good reason for the dead to interact with the living. Comfort and guidance are positive needs that we all have. It sounds reasonable that a loving God may allow the spirit of a righteous person to speak with the living, in order to bring them comfort and guidance, right? Well, let’s see what the Bible says.
2 Corinthians 2:3-4 (AMP), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement). [4] Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction)…”
John 15:26 (AMP), “But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.”
These two passages tell us clearly Who it is that has the job of being our Comforter, Counselor, and Guide. God the Father and Holy Spirit are the ones whom we should look to for comfort and guidance, not the spirits of the dead.
When we think that the purpose of the dead speaking to us is to offer us these things, then we are attributing the work of God to His creation. We are looking for something from a ghost that only God Himself can provide for us.
This fact leads me to conclude that those who speak to the dead for these reasons are fooling themselves or are being deceived by evil spirits, because God would not send someone or something else to do His job for Him. He would have no need to.
Furthermore, if we seek to fulfill these needs by communing with the dead, we are practicing idolatry and prostituting ourselves by fulfilling our needs with something else other than God. So, I do NOT believe God would send the spirits of the righteous dead to the living in order to bring us comfort or guidance.
B. Prophecy
Let’s look at another possibility for God sending the dead to speak to the living - and that is prophecy. Some people say that the spirits bring them news of the future. They warn them of upcoming calamities or positive outcomes. The Bible is filled with prophecies that God gave to men. Could this be a reason for God allowing spirits to speak with the living? Could He be revealing the future to His children for their benefit?
It certainly sounds plausible. But reason with me a moment here. The Bible is God’s revelation of His plan to mankind from beginning to end. I don’t know the exact amount, but if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that at least half, if not more of its content, are prophecies that tell us what is going to happen in the future.
I guess that when I look at all the information that God has provided for us, I have to ask the question, would God have left anything out? Would there be a reason for Him to add to what He has already said by sending a ghost to the living to reveal it? I couldn’t think of one. And in fact Revelation 22:18-19 (NIV), “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. [19] And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
Again, I don’t believe that God would send the spirits of the righteous dead to speak to the living to reveal prophecy or foretell the future, for the simple reason that He has already revealed it to us in His Word. We have no need of further revelations. Beware-- the evil one who would like nothing more than to have us believe that there is some new information that God is revealing to us so that he can gain a foothold into our lives and thoughts.
C. Justice
Another reason people believe that God may allow the spirits of the righteous dead to speak to the living would be for the purpose of seeing justice fulfilled. When someone’s life is tragically taken from them, sometimes we think that their spirit and soul cannot find rest until justice has been found, the perpetrator caught, or the facts of the situation brought to light. It’s the idea that these souls have “unfinished business,” so they are communicating with the living in order to find peace.
Could this be a reason for God allowing communication between the living and the dead? Wanting to see justice done seems like a pretty good reason. After all, the Bible talks about judgment, our sins being brought to light, and punishment being meted out on the unrepentant. Would He see to it that those who are guilty of a crime be caught by sending the spirits of the righteous dead back to speak to the living?
Again, I think the answer is a pretty clear NO. Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 34:8, “For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution…” Jeremiah 51:56, “For the Lord is a God of retribution; he will repay in full.”
We live in a fallen world where evil is allowed to work and affect the lives of the righteous as well as the unrighteous. This means that there will be occasions when bad things happen. But God never promises that justice will be met this side of heaven. He never says that He will right all the wrongs on earth. He says that He will repay in full on judgment day.
Isaiah calls it a day of vengeance. It is not our job to seek revenge or justice for a wrong; it’s God’s. And we can rest in the assurance that He will see to it. We don’t need to talk to the dead in order to see justice done.
Now you may be able to think of some other reasons that sound plausible for why God might allow communication between the righteous dead and the living. And if you do and would like to talk about them or explore them with me, I’d be happy to do so. I thought of a few others myself, but in each case, just like with the three we mentioned, I found that the Bible does not support them as valid reasons for God allowing the dead to speak to the living.
So, while it is possible for the righteous dead to interact with us, there doesn’t appear to be a valid reason for why they would be allowed to do so. We have the very Spirit of God living and working within each and every believer that imparts the will and mind of God to us, who helps us interpret the prophecies written in the Scriptures, who comforts and guides us in all things.
1 Corinthians 2:12, “We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” In John 16:15, Jesus tells the disciples that, “All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”
We have no need of the dead or their messages or comfort or whatever. So be very wary if you have an encounter with a spirit or someone else who has. As it says in 1 John 4:1, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” And in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”
3. Testing the Spirits
And finally, I want to real quickly go over some suggestions I have for you about how to test the spirits to see whether or not they are from God. Each experience or situation must be judged on an individual basis.
You must have spiritual discernment, Biblical knowledge of the Truth, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in order to understand things of a spiritual nature. But having said that, I want to give you some questions to ask and some things to do and keep in mind should you ever need to test the spirits.
A. Questions to Ask
Like with anything you are trying to learn or understand, you need facts or information in order to rightly judge a situation or experience. In order to gain the information you need, you will probably have to ask questions. Here are some important ones:
1. What do you know about the person who had the experience? If you weren’t the one who saw or spoke to or heard from a spirit, what do you know about the one who did? Are they a born again Christian? Do they dabble in other religions or the occult? How serious are they in their relationship with Christ? How often do they claim to have these experiences? Could something else have triggered this experience, like drugs or hypnosis? Is the person lying to you about the experience to get attention or boost their ego?
2. What do you know about the dead person being impersonated? If someone tells you that they have heard from the ghost of a dead person, find out what you can about what that person was like when they were alive. Were they Christian? What kind of Christian were they? Did they dabble in other religions or the occult? Etc.
3. What was the result of this experience in both the physical and spiritual lives of those involved? Even if those who spoke to the dead had a positive experience, find out what other results these experiences may have had on not only the person who spoke to the dead, but the lives of others involved. Maybe a criminal was brought to justice because a medium spoke to the supposed spirit of the victim and was able to garner information that helped police catch them. But what about the life of the medium? What kind of effect do these readings have on their beliefs, their salvation? Do they profess Christ as the Son of God? Do their experiences lead them into a closer relationship with God? Do they lead other people away from putting their trust in God?
All of these are valid questions to ask. The answers to them will help you determine whether a person is speaking to the actual ghost of a righteous person, (which is highly unlikely), or if they are being deceived by evil familiar spirits.
B. Ask God for Discernment
Another thing to do if you are faced with having to test the spirits is to ask God for the spiritual discernment you need to make a right judgment. God knows the truth of every matter. Why not go to the source of truth in order to determine the truth? He will not keep it hidden from you if you truly and honestly seek the Truth. He has already given you His Spirit, and His Word, and His anointing, and His secret wisdom, and even His mind so that you can know the Truth.
1 Corinthians 2:16, “But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 John 2:20, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not of the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. [7] No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”
C. Study To Show Thyself Approved
And finally, Paul exhorts us in 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. If you really want to know the truth of a situation, then you need to know what the Bible says about it. And you can’t know what the Bible says about any given situation if you don’t study it. You’ve got the answers to all of life’s questions right at your fingertips. You can test the spirits and know the truth by opening His Word and reading His answers.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV), “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from who you learned it, [15] and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Don’t be deceived because you haven’t done your homework.
I hope you have enjoyed this short teaching on ghosts. If you have questions that I didn’t answer please feel free to talk to me about them. I’ll do my best to find an answer for you.
We discussed the fact that the Bible supports the idea that ghosts are indeed the spirits of persons whom have died. But when it came to the world’s idea of what a ghost is, namely the spirit of a dead person who haunts the living, I showed you that the Bible does not agree with this assessment.
Isaiah 26:14 tells us that, “They are now dead, they live no more; those departed spirits do not rise….” The Bible tells us that the ghosts or spirits of people who have died are located in one of two places. They are either in hell awaiting their final Day of Judgment at the Great White Throne. Or, they are in the presence of their Savior, Jesus Christ, in heaven.
Scripture does not support the idea that the dead can easily or readily return to interact with the living of their own will. They just don’t decide that they have a message to bring to the living or that they will hang around because they have unfinished business. Once a person dies, there is no unfinished business. You can’t change your eternal status after you die. That must be taken care of before you die.
And then in Luke 16:19-31, we saw a little more about the distinction between the spirits of the righteous dead and the spirits of the wicked dead in the story Jesus told about a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. Both men died -- Lazarus was escorted to Paradise and the rich man to hell. From this story, we saw that the ghosts of the wicked dead could not return to haunt or speak or interact with the living, even if they wanted to. And we also saw that though it appears that the righteous dead can return and interact with the living, they are not necessarily allowed to.
Finally, from there we went on to see that since the apparitions and spirits that people claim to see and talk to (or are haunted by), are not actually the spirits of those who have died, then they have to be either angels or evil spirits. And we came to the conclusion that they were evil familiar spirits. Now that’s just a brief overview of what we talked about last Sunday morning.
Today, we are going to take a look at one instance in the Bible where the living and the dead did interact. We’re going to see if there are any plausible reasons why God would allow the spirits of the dead to speak to the living. And finally, we’ll look at some suggestions to help you judge whether a spirit is a ghost or an evil spirit.
1. Saul and the Witch of Endor
The Bible teaches that Moses, who had died, appeared with Jesus (along with Elijah, who had been raptured) at the Transfiguration. So, God has allowed someone who has died to come back and communicate with the living.
Let’s look at an instance that takes place in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel 28. You may be somewhat familiar with this passage, as it deals with King Saul and his attempts to contact the dead through a witch or medium from Endor. Let’s read together 1 Samuel 28:5-20.
This event takes place at the end of King Saul’s reign and his life. Because of his disobedience to God, the Lord is allowing the Philistines to defeat and kill him in battle. He is removing the kingdom from Saul’s lineage and giving it into the hands of David.
In 1 Samuel 16, God told Saul He would do this because of his disobedience. But when Saul sees the mighty Philistines advancing against him, he tries to inquire of the Lord what to do, but receives no answer. The reason God doesn’t respond is because He has already told Saul what was happening and why. Saul, however, was afraid and not satisfied with God’s silence, so he did something that was strictly forbidden by God – he consulted a medium or psychic. He wanted to contact the dead prophet Samuel to find the answer he wanted.
Now, notice the Bible tells us that the ghost of Samuel did indeed rise from the dead and speak to the living. So, this begs the question, doesn’t this prove that the ghosts of the dead can and do interact with the living? Well, I’ll give you a "clear" answer – Yes and No.
A. The Ghost of a Righteous Man
First, let’s look at some of the facts surrounding this story. Remember, this morning I said that the spirits of the wicked dead could NOT speak with the living because they are confined in hell. But the spirits of the righteous dead are not confined. Therefore, it appears that they ARE able to interact with the living. This Old Testament event confirms that fact--the ghosts of only the righteous dead are able to speak to the living. Notice that it is the ghost of Samuel, a righteous prophet of God, who makes an appearance here.
B. Mediums Don’t Speak to Real Ghosts
Second, we said that when a medium or psychic says that they are speaking with the dead, they are actually in contact with evil spirits called familiar or seducing spirits. That is why trying to contact the dead is strictly forbidden and punishable by death in the Old Testament (Leviticus 20). This story confirms that fact as well.
The medium or witch, who was used to speaking with one or more familiar spirits, was totally surprised when the real ghost of Samuel actually appeared before her. She wasn’t expecting to actually see him. She was terrified and cried out to Saul that he had tricked her. This tells us that Samuel’s appearance had absolutely nothing to do with her supposed psychic powers or ability to speak with spirits.
C. Confirmation of God’s Will
And finally, we notice that since the medium had nothing to do with Samuel’s appearance, his presence must have been with God’s permission and for a specific purpose. Samuel appeared to confirm God’s will upon Saul’s life. He did not bring any new prophetic information. He did not bring a secret piece of information to guide Saul in defeating the enemy. He did not try to comfort or console Saul. He simply stated what Saul already knew, but was unwilling to believe – that God had turned His back on Him and was taking the kingdom of Israel away because of his disobedience.
So, in this one instance, I would have to say that the ghost of a righteous man was allowed to speak with the living, for the specific purpose of confirming God’s will upon his life. However, this does NOT mean that the spirits of the righteous dead can return and interact with the living at any time and for any reason whatsoever. It simply gives one instance in which it was allowed.
2. Why Would They Speak To Us?
Now, while studying this topic in preparation for this sermon, I realized that maybe more importantly than answering the question, “Can the ghosts of the dead speak to the living?” would be answering the question, “Why would they speak to us?”
We know that most, if not all, of the spirits that people call ghosts are actually evil familiar spirits who impersonate the dead when speaking to the living. But we also know that it is possible for the spirits of the righteous dead to contact the living, though they are usually not allowed to do so. Samuel, after all was allowed to speak to Saul. But as we’ve noted, he did so with a specific purpose.
So, if God were to allow the righteous dead to speak to us, I’d think that it would also have to be with a specific purpose in mind. The Bible doesn’t support the idea that the dead are just out there contacting the living whenever they feel like it. So if the righteous dead are speaking to the living on occasion, that begs the question, why would they? For what purpose would God allow them to do so?
Trying to recall what I’ve heard, or read, or observed about people who say they have spoken with the dead, I came up with a short list of possible reasons why the dead would be allowed to speak to us, and then I compared it to Scripture to see if these reasons are plausible. (This is by no means an exhaustive list.)
A. Comfort and Guidance
Some people claim that when they speak to the ghosts of the dead, they receive comfort and guidance. The spirit encourages them or comforts them during a difficult time in their lives. They don’t feel so alone or insignificant. They receive assurances of God’s love for them. Or maybe they even receive instructions or guidance about a problem they are facing, or an answer to a question.
This seems like a good reason for the dead to interact with the living. Comfort and guidance are positive needs that we all have. It sounds reasonable that a loving God may allow the spirit of a righteous person to speak with the living, in order to bring them comfort and guidance, right? Well, let’s see what the Bible says.
2 Corinthians 2:3-4 (AMP), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement). [4] Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction)…”
John 15:26 (AMP), “But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me.”
These two passages tell us clearly Who it is that has the job of being our Comforter, Counselor, and Guide. God the Father and Holy Spirit are the ones whom we should look to for comfort and guidance, not the spirits of the dead.
When we think that the purpose of the dead speaking to us is to offer us these things, then we are attributing the work of God to His creation. We are looking for something from a ghost that only God Himself can provide for us.
This fact leads me to conclude that those who speak to the dead for these reasons are fooling themselves or are being deceived by evil spirits, because God would not send someone or something else to do His job for Him. He would have no need to.
Furthermore, if we seek to fulfill these needs by communing with the dead, we are practicing idolatry and prostituting ourselves by fulfilling our needs with something else other than God. So, I do NOT believe God would send the spirits of the righteous dead to the living in order to bring us comfort or guidance.
B. Prophecy
Let’s look at another possibility for God sending the dead to speak to the living - and that is prophecy. Some people say that the spirits bring them news of the future. They warn them of upcoming calamities or positive outcomes. The Bible is filled with prophecies that God gave to men. Could this be a reason for God allowing spirits to speak with the living? Could He be revealing the future to His children for their benefit?
It certainly sounds plausible. But reason with me a moment here. The Bible is God’s revelation of His plan to mankind from beginning to end. I don’t know the exact amount, but if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say that at least half, if not more of its content, are prophecies that tell us what is going to happen in the future.
I guess that when I look at all the information that God has provided for us, I have to ask the question, would God have left anything out? Would there be a reason for Him to add to what He has already said by sending a ghost to the living to reveal it? I couldn’t think of one. And in fact Revelation 22:18-19 (NIV), “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. [19] And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”
Again, I don’t believe that God would send the spirits of the righteous dead to speak to the living to reveal prophecy or foretell the future, for the simple reason that He has already revealed it to us in His Word. We have no need of further revelations. Beware-- the evil one who would like nothing more than to have us believe that there is some new information that God is revealing to us so that he can gain a foothold into our lives and thoughts.
C. Justice
Another reason people believe that God may allow the spirits of the righteous dead to speak to the living would be for the purpose of seeing justice fulfilled. When someone’s life is tragically taken from them, sometimes we think that their spirit and soul cannot find rest until justice has been found, the perpetrator caught, or the facts of the situation brought to light. It’s the idea that these souls have “unfinished business,” so they are communicating with the living in order to find peace.
Could this be a reason for God allowing communication between the living and the dead? Wanting to see justice done seems like a pretty good reason. After all, the Bible talks about judgment, our sins being brought to light, and punishment being meted out on the unrepentant. Would He see to it that those who are guilty of a crime be caught by sending the spirits of the righteous dead back to speak to the living?
Again, I think the answer is a pretty clear NO. Romans 12:19, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 34:8, “For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution…” Jeremiah 51:56, “For the Lord is a God of retribution; he will repay in full.”
We live in a fallen world where evil is allowed to work and affect the lives of the righteous as well as the unrighteous. This means that there will be occasions when bad things happen. But God never promises that justice will be met this side of heaven. He never says that He will right all the wrongs on earth. He says that He will repay in full on judgment day.
Isaiah calls it a day of vengeance. It is not our job to seek revenge or justice for a wrong; it’s God’s. And we can rest in the assurance that He will see to it. We don’t need to talk to the dead in order to see justice done.
Now you may be able to think of some other reasons that sound plausible for why God might allow communication between the righteous dead and the living. And if you do and would like to talk about them or explore them with me, I’d be happy to do so. I thought of a few others myself, but in each case, just like with the three we mentioned, I found that the Bible does not support them as valid reasons for God allowing the dead to speak to the living.
So, while it is possible for the righteous dead to interact with us, there doesn’t appear to be a valid reason for why they would be allowed to do so. We have the very Spirit of God living and working within each and every believer that imparts the will and mind of God to us, who helps us interpret the prophecies written in the Scriptures, who comforts and guides us in all things.
1 Corinthians 2:12, “We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” In John 16:15, Jesus tells the disciples that, “All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”
We have no need of the dead or their messages or comfort or whatever. So be very wary if you have an encounter with a spirit or someone else who has. As it says in 1 John 4:1, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” And in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.”
3. Testing the Spirits
And finally, I want to real quickly go over some suggestions I have for you about how to test the spirits to see whether or not they are from God. Each experience or situation must be judged on an individual basis.
You must have spiritual discernment, Biblical knowledge of the Truth, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in order to understand things of a spiritual nature. But having said that, I want to give you some questions to ask and some things to do and keep in mind should you ever need to test the spirits.
A. Questions to Ask
Like with anything you are trying to learn or understand, you need facts or information in order to rightly judge a situation or experience. In order to gain the information you need, you will probably have to ask questions. Here are some important ones:
1. What do you know about the person who had the experience? If you weren’t the one who saw or spoke to or heard from a spirit, what do you know about the one who did? Are they a born again Christian? Do they dabble in other religions or the occult? How serious are they in their relationship with Christ? How often do they claim to have these experiences? Could something else have triggered this experience, like drugs or hypnosis? Is the person lying to you about the experience to get attention or boost their ego?
2. What do you know about the dead person being impersonated? If someone tells you that they have heard from the ghost of a dead person, find out what you can about what that person was like when they were alive. Were they Christian? What kind of Christian were they? Did they dabble in other religions or the occult? Etc.
3. What was the result of this experience in both the physical and spiritual lives of those involved? Even if those who spoke to the dead had a positive experience, find out what other results these experiences may have had on not only the person who spoke to the dead, but the lives of others involved. Maybe a criminal was brought to justice because a medium spoke to the supposed spirit of the victim and was able to garner information that helped police catch them. But what about the life of the medium? What kind of effect do these readings have on their beliefs, their salvation? Do they profess Christ as the Son of God? Do their experiences lead them into a closer relationship with God? Do they lead other people away from putting their trust in God?
All of these are valid questions to ask. The answers to them will help you determine whether a person is speaking to the actual ghost of a righteous person, (which is highly unlikely), or if they are being deceived by evil familiar spirits.
B. Ask God for Discernment
Another thing to do if you are faced with having to test the spirits is to ask God for the spiritual discernment you need to make a right judgment. God knows the truth of every matter. Why not go to the source of truth in order to determine the truth? He will not keep it hidden from you if you truly and honestly seek the Truth. He has already given you His Spirit, and His Word, and His anointing, and His secret wisdom, and even His mind so that you can know the Truth.
1 Corinthians 2:16, “But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 John 2:20, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” 1 Corinthians 2:6-7, “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not of the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. [7] No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”
C. Study To Show Thyself Approved
And finally, Paul exhorts us in 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. If you really want to know the truth of a situation, then you need to know what the Bible says about it. And you can’t know what the Bible says about any given situation if you don’t study it. You’ve got the answers to all of life’s questions right at your fingertips. You can test the spirits and know the truth by opening His Word and reading His answers.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV), “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from who you learned it, [15] and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Don’t be deceived because you haven’t done your homework.
I hope you have enjoyed this short teaching on ghosts. If you have questions that I didn’t answer please feel free to talk to me about them. I’ll do my best to find an answer for you.
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