Is There Bread In The House Series

BREAD IN THE HOUSE

Ruth 1:1-6 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread.

“for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread”

There was a famine in the land which had resulted in some people leaving Bethlehem in search of bread – there is a famine in the church in this day for lack of what this bread represents

BETHLEHEM

Bethlehem’s name

The word Bethlehem signifies "the house of bread," and Jesus Christ is the Bread of his people, on which they feed. Ephratah was the old name of the place which the Jews retained and loved. The meaning of it is, "fruitfulness," or "abundance." Jesus was born in the house of fruitfulness. It is Jesus that makes us fruitful. "If a man abides in me," he says, "and my words abide him, he shall bring forth much fruit." Glorious Bethlehem Ephratah! Rightly named! Fruitful house of bread—the house of abundant provision for the people of God!

Bethlehem’s history

A place of death and life – famine and feast

Genesis 35:16-20 Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Benoni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem) And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day.

It was here that Rachel had to stop and give birth to a son – Benjamin. Before she died she called her child “Benoni” which means ‘son of my sorrow’, because of the pain of his birth. But after Rachel’s passing, Jacob changed his name to “Benjamin” which mean ‘son of my right hand’ this is a type of Jesus Christ – His Death and Resurrection

A Place of famine and feast – Ruth

A place of anointing – David anointed King – Jesus anointed King

1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”

A place of birthing the supernatural - it was in Bethlehem that Jesus was born

Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Bethlehem’s position

A place of humbleness and reliance upon God

It is said to be "little among the thousands of Judah." Why is this? Because Jesus Christ always goes among little ones, He was born in the little one "among the thousands of Judah." not on Hebron’s royal mount, not in Jerusalem’s palaces but the humble, village of Bethlehem. - Christ is always born in Bethlehem among the little ones. Big hearts never get Christ inside of them; Christ lies not in great hearts, but in little ones. Mighty and proud spirits never have Jesus Christ - he who hath a broken heart, and a low spirit, shall have the Savior, but none else. He heals not the prince and the king, but "the broken in heart, and he binds up their wounds."

THE BREAD

It comes from heaven and is spiritual in nature

Exodus 16:4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.