hree Funerals and a Wedding
By the help of the Lord I plan to preach this at a youth rally tomorrow night in Wisconsin. Your prayers are appreciated
Three Funerals and a Wedding
Thank you Rev. Mike Faulk
Ruth 1:14-18 KJV
14: And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15: And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16: And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18: When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
Introduction
- The book of Ruth begins like this:
o Now it came to pass in the days when the Judges ruled
- It was during the reign of the Judges
- There was no King on the throne
- People did which was right in their on eyes
- The children of Israel were living in a backslidden state
- Time of cruelty in Israel
- A time of division among Gods chosen people
- A time of instability within the nation
- The setting of the book of Ruth was a time of Spiritual Darkness
- It was Much like the setting that we live in today
- A time when it seemed they would make a little bit of progress
- A setback would come and
- Right in the middle of these turbulent times
- We find a beautiful love story
- A story that is full of hope
- A story about a harvest
- A story about how love found away
- When there seemed to be know way
Famine
- Abimilech, Naomi, Chillion, and Malon
- Run to what seems to be greener pastures
- They tried to run from the famine they had in Israel
- The were running from the will of God
- There are three things you can do when trouble comes
1. Try to escape…Try and run from your problems
a. That is what this family did
b. They tried to run from trouble
c. They tried to run from the will of God
2. Try to endure the trial
a. I am not going to let this thing move me
b. If you do this you will end up just like Naomi
c. You will find yourself bitter
d. The trial will become your master and you will become it’s slave
3. Turn the trial into your servant
a. You can allow that trial to serve you
b. We can have the spirit that Ruth had
c. That said
i. It can change me
ii. It can touch me
iii. And I am going to allow God to work through it
- Alimilech said that when the famine comes we are going to run
- We are not going to try to overcome it
- We are not going to try and endure the famine
- But when it comes were going to run
- Were going to leave this land that God has promised us.
- We are going down to a little place called Moab
- We are just going to be down here for little while
- After the famine is over
- And when the blessing are being poured out in Israel
- Then we’ll make our way back to God’s promised land and the will of God
- But for now I will run from the problem
- I am going to get as far away from the dilemma as possible
- I am not going to face the situation we are in
- We are just going to run and put it all behind me
- Alimilech was following the flesh
- He was not walking after the spirit
- He ended up exchanging a famine for death
- He end up dead, along with his two sons in Moab
Application
-
Moab
Meaning of Moab
- Moab is a place where physical things are elevated above the spiritual
- A place where you walk by the flesh and not by the spirit
- Moab came about because Lot when he had the opportunity to pick out any place he wanted to live
- He lifted up his physical eyes
- All he could see was the well watered plain
- He could have lived anywhere he wanted to live
- Instead of seeking God’s direction
- Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom
- He allowed his physical eyes look in the direction of worldly things
- Because he looked on worldly things instead of spiritual
- He wound up in an incestuous relationship with his oldest daughter
- The result of that relationship was a son whose name was Moab
Alimilech’s Family in Moab:
- Alimilech somehow got his eyes off the promise
- He began to see the greener pastures of Moab
- He got his eyes on the physical beauty of Moab
- Moab was a beautiful place
- Water was plentiful
- The fields were green and ripe with harvest
Application
o Can I tell you this evening to keep your eyes on the promise
o We have a promise that is greater than this world can offer.
o The world cannot replace or duplicate what Jesus Christ has done for you
o The grass is not greener on the other side church.
o You
Life in Moab:
- Having established themselves in Moab,
- Elimelech and Naomi found the food they needed.
- They found the job security necessary to support them.
- In addition to this, both of the sons found wives among the beautiful daughters of Moab.
- From all appearances, Elimelech and Naomi begin to have some measure of success in their exodus from Israel.
- But after a season, disaster would visit this family.
- First, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi as a widow in a strange country.
- Adding what seems insult to injury, Naomi then watched as both of her sons died in this strange nation.
-
Naomi in Moab:
- It was here in Moab that Naomi found herself standing beside three Graves
- One, The grave of her husband
- The others, the graves of her two sons
- She found herself alone in Moab
- It was just her and her two daughters-in-law
- There she was…Alone in strange land
- She had came to find hope
- She had came to find happiness
- They thought that they would find joy in Moab
- But instead she found loneliness
- Instead of Hope
- She found Bitterness
- She found herself in Isolation
Application
- Young people
- The devil would like to paint you a beautiful picture.
- Of the joy that the world can bring…
- Can I tell you today that the picture does not tell the whole story
- It may look easier
- It may look like more fun
- It may look glamorous and popular.
- Moab’s NOT WORTH IT!!!!
- You can’t afford to go back to Moab!
- You can’t risk a journey back to where you came from!
- You can’t afford to start hanging out with old friends!
- You can’t jeopardize eternity for the pleasure of Sin for a season!
- It’s NOT worth it!!!!!
- It’s time to keep our eyes fixed on the Promise!
Back to Israel
The Famine is over in Bethlehem
- It was sometime after the death of her family
- Three funerals had taken place
- Three graves had been filled
- Naomi had news that the famine was over in Bethlehem
- There is blessings back in Bethlehem
- She heard that there was a harvest back in her homeland
- The famine was over
- She wanted to go back and take part in the blessing
- She wanted to go back
- Not so much to worship God
- She just wanted to get her hands on the blessing
- Naomi’s Spirit and attitude were not right
- She wanted to get her hands on the blessing without having to put forth the effort to worship
Naomi and Ruth return to Israel
- Naomi begins to make plans to go back to Bethlehem
- Ruth and Orpah were right there with her
- Helping to get ready for the trip back to Bethlehem
- Naomi said I think you should just stay here in Moab
- I don’t have anything to offer you if you go
- You will be despised in Israel
- Why don’t you go back to your gods in Moab
- Why don’t you just go back to your family
Application:
o Can you imagine what you would do if you had that kind of witness in your life
o You really don’t want to serve the God I serve
o That is what she was saying to them
o Ruth, Orpha, Go ahead back to the gods of the Moabites
o You don’t want to follow me
o If you follow me you will just find yourself bitter
o My God will only deal you sorrow and Pain
o It will not be worth it
- Orpha kissed her mother-in-law and made way back to her family
- But look at the spirit and attitude of Ruth
- Everything around her was an obstacle to her faith
- Everything said she would never make it
- Look at the witness that she had
- Three of them were dead because the were out of the will of God
- They were dead because they were running from trouble
- The only other witness had allowed herself to become bitter and sour
- She even encouraged her to stay in Moab and worship their false Gods
- There was also a Law in Effect in Israel that said no Moabite, even to the Tenth generation would be able to come into the congregation of Isreal
- The law said
- You may live in Israel but you will always be a Moabite
- You will always be an out-cast to our society
- You will never be able to be apart of God’s family
- But somewhere inside of Ruth
- Beyond all these obstacles
- Beyond the laws that said it could never happen
- Ruth believed that the God of Israel was not as bitter as her mother-in-law
- Through all the bitterness
- Through all the trouble that she had been through
- She said the God of Israel is the God I want to Serve
- She belived that the God of Israel would love her no matter who she was
- She believed that this God could meet her ever need
- It did not matter about her past
- It did not matter where she was from
- It did not matter the circumstances life had dealt her
- She believed that the God of Israel was not a bitter God
- She said Naomi…You can’t leave me here in Moab
- I’ve made up my mind I am Going to Go with you
- I am going to follow you back to Bethlehem
- I am going all the way
- Nothing is going to stop me
- If your getting closer to God then that is where I want to be
- Your people are going to be my people
- An your God is going to be my God…
Application
- Can tell you right now.
- It doesn’t matter how you’ve been treated
- It does not matter the color of you skin…
- Your social status
- Or who your momma and daddy is or is not
- God loves you as who you are.
- God wants take you from where you are…
- And make you something you never dreamed of being.
- It’s time to quit listening to the naysayer’s.
- They say you won’t make it.
- HE says… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Heb.
- They say you can’t live for God!
- He says… With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)
Kinsman Redeemer
- Here comes Naomi and Ruth back into Bethlehem
- Naomi says to her friends “don’t call Naomi or Pleasant any more
- Just call me Mara…Just call me bitter
- What was PLEASANT is now BITTER
- Because life has dealt me a bad hand
- God hasn’t done anything for me lately
- My circumstances made be bitter
Application
- Naomi may have been bitter.
- But she still had Redeemer
- Naomi, you still have a Kinsman redeemer
- Life may have dealt her a bad hand
- Her life is full of sorrow and rejection
- Things may not be going just as she wanted them too.
- But on the other side of the balance sheet
- She has a great big God that is on your side
- Naomi had a kinsman redeemer
- His name is Boaz…
- His very name means strength
- He is a man of great strength and of great wealth
- Though the going was tough for a while…
- He is going to be there for you when you need him
- He can buy you right out of the problems
Ruth Gleans in Boaz’s field
- As the story goes on Ruth and Naomi get settled in Bethlehem
- Ruth heard about another Law that God had
- It is a Law that says that if you are poor
- And have no other means to take care of yourself
- You can go into the field after the reapers and glean what they have left behind.
- That is what she did
- She got a basket and headed out to the field
- And of all the fields she could have went to glean she chose the field of Boaz
- Boaz was a near kinsman to Naomi and her late Husband Elimilech
- I believe that God directed her steps to the field that was Boaz’s
- I can just see it now Boaz come up to the field and he asked one of his workers
- Who is the new lady gleaning in the field
- Oh that lady there…The Moabite
- That is Ruth the daughter in law of Naomi
- Boaz made his way over to Ruth and said
- I know all about your past
- I know all about you
- I know you left your family in Moab and your god
- I know that you are doing your best to take care of your mother-in-law
- I just want you t know I am impressed by you
- By the way...Don’t glean in any other fields
- Just glean in mine
- And if you get thirsty…there is plenty of water
- When lunch is served…just go pull up a chair to my table
- There is always enough
- I know about your past Ruth
- I know about the struggles you have had to this point
The President of United State of America
- Meeting the President of the United States of America
Application: PREACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!
- I believe that is what God is trying to say to us tonight
- I see the struggles that you have been through
- I know about the problems of the past
- I even see the your present
- But do me a favor
- Just keep gleaning in my field
- Just keep pressing on day after day
- Don’t Give up because I have a bright future in store for you
- When your hungry I will feed you
- When your thirsty I will give you water
Closing (Musicians Come)
Jesus – Our Kinsman Redeemer
- I want you to know that no matter how bad the circumstance
- No Matter how bitter you have allowed yourself to become
- No matter how far you have allowed yourself to run
- You have a kinsman redeemer and he is here in this house tonight
- He knows where you are at
- He knows what kind of problems you have
- He knows the bitter blows that life has given you
- You have a kinsman redeemer here
- His name is none other than Jesus Christ
- He has wealth and he can buy you out of any problem that you are facing
- The name of Jesus means strength
- The name of Jesus Means Hope
- The name of Jesus means healing
- The name of Jesus means deliverance
- You can find power in the name of Jesus
- You can find hope in the name of Jesus
Everyone Stand!!!!!!!
Application
- God knows all about our past
- He knows the struggles that have brought us to where we are today
- I encourage you today
- Keep gleaning in his field
- God sees you in your present condition
- Keep inviting people to church
- Keep living a life of godliness
- Keep living a life of truth
- God has the future in control
- I see a glorious future for this church
- I see a wedding that is in the future
- If we just keep doing what is right
- If we keep gleaning in God’s harvest field
- God will take care of our future
Ruth presents herself to Boaz
- Finally the day came
- Naomi said Ruth, Boaz wants to marry you…
- You just need to present yourself to him
- I want you to prepare yourself
- Anoint yourself
- Put own that wedding garment
Application:
- How long has it been since you have just presented yourself to Him
- How long has it been since you have felt his anointing
- How long has it been since you presented yourself to him
- That is what we need to do tonight
- Make your way to this altar tonight
- Present yourself to the Lord of the Harvest
- It’s time to hear His voice once again…
- In the darkness He can be a glimmer of hope
- It’s time for a fresh anointing
- It’s time for a brand new touch
- It’s time to forget about the things that have happened in the past
- It’s time to forget about the Bitterness I once had
- Why have you come to the harvest field
- Maybe you have come hoping to receive another blessing
- Maybe you have come in search of Salvation
- But if you can just get into His Presence
- Maybe you can feel his loving touch one more time
- Maybe you can hear him say I Love You one more time
- Whatever the need. Jesus is here!
