When God Gets In Your Shoes Series

When God Gets In Your Shoes

Ruth Series (7 of 7)

(Inspired by Perry Stone’s, Lay It On Me)

8/24/14 Chester’s FBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

A In the ANE, if a husband died and there were no men in the family to inherit his land, the widow was to marry the brother of her husband to carry on the family name.

1 If there were no brothers, then a next of kin could marry the widow and redeem the family inheritance.

a Boaz was near kinsman, had the right to redeem the land that belonged to Elimelech & Naomi.

b Boaz called a meeting at the city gate and told the folks that if no one else was going to redeem the property of Elimelech, he would.

aa Sure enough, there is a another guy who is closer in relation to Elimelech than Boaz was and he wanted the land.

bb Ruth 4:3-6 (NASB) 3 Then he said to the closest relative, "Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. 4 "So I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.'" And he said, "I will redeem it." 5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance." 6 The closest relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it."

cc He wasn’t willing to marry Ruth . . . instead, “Go ahead, Boaz, you can have her.” (v.6).

c There are many believers who want the blessing, favor, greater anointing, 60-fold/100-fold blessing but their not willing to do what it takes to move up into greater blessing and move in into greater favor.

2 Ruth 4.7 we find an ancient custom that was the equivalent of the exchange of ownership, granting of privilege, gave access to a place that had previously been inaccessible.

Ruth 4:7 (NASB) 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.

a When the man & Boaz exchanged shoes it meant, “Now I have a right to walk where I’ve never walked before . . . have legal authority to step into territory that I’ve couldn’t before!

b Exodus 3:5 (NASB) 5 Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

aa The ground was holy, and out of respect, Moses removed his shoes . . . but what if there was another reason?

bb Moses was about to move into his destiny/prophetic purpose by going to confront the most powerful king on the planet.

cc The job God had for Moses was too big for one man.

c Maybe God was saying, “Ol’Moe, get your shoes off and let Me get in them! Let me walk in your shoes down to Egypt!

aa Over 40-years later, God would tell Moses successor Joshua to remove the “shoe” from off his foot right before they surrounded the ancient fortified city of Canaan. (Walls thick enough for two chariots to drive on top of)

bb Joshua 5:15 (KJV) 15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

d If we understand the law of exchanging a shoe, God was saying:

Joshua, I’m about to give you this land.

I’m redeeming back this land for My people.

Give me your shoe and I will give the authority to walk through the land to claim it for your people.

B We need God to get in our shoes!

1 There are times when we try to do things that are bigger than we are.

a Bigger than our ability, bigger than our budget, bigger than our faith.

b When we let God take over the situation, and we declare, “The walls are bigger than I am than I am able to scale, and the enemy is stronger than I am” . . . But I’ve given my shoes God!!!