Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

BOOK OF RUTH:

SEARCHING FOR GRACE

Introduction

There are three primary personalities that are presented in the book of Ruth.

First, there is Naomi. We saw in Chapter 1 how that she is a picture of a backslidden believer. We were shown how she had gotten away from the place the Lord had for her (Bethlehem-Judah) and we saw what it cost her. She lost her husband and her two sons and by her own admission she says she went out full, but came home empty.

We look at Naomi and we are reminded that sin always has consequences!

We also saw how that, empty and broken, she decided to return and did return to the place of blessing. Naomi is a lesson in hope for anyone who has gotten away from the things of the Lord.

Another person we meet in this book is a man by the name of Boaz. Boaz provides for us a clear type of the Lord Jesus Christ. I’ll say more about him later in this message and in future sermons.

And of course the third main character of this story is a Gentile girl named Ruth. Ruth is a young woman from a pagan country who comes to know the true God.

In this passage, she is a picture of a brand new convert, a young Christian who is just beginning to learn about and grow in the things of the Lord. She is just beginning to experience the great blessings of the Lord and His grace.

As we observe the activities of Ruth in these verses, we see a woman who is searching for grace. I want to point out some elements of her search this morning. As I do, I want you to know that these elements reveal what ought to be the goal and focus of every genuine believer.

Let's look at Ruth as we see her Searching For Grace:

I.         THE PURPOSE IN HER SEARCH. (Vs. 2)

            A.        She Was Searching For Food.

Ruth wants to go to the fields and glean ears of corn. She and Naomi need food to eat. The main thrust of her search is to find food for the body.

She illustrates that desire that is birthed in the heart of the child of God at conversion: That is, a desire to know more about the Lord and to grow in Him.

                        How important is the Word of God to you?

Job 23:12–“. . .I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”

Jeremiah 15:16–“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

1 Peter 2:2–“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

Philippians 3:10–“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”

                        Do you desire to know God better? Not just know about God, but to know God!

Partaking of the Word of God is what causes growth in the life of a believer!

                        She Was Searching For Food.

            B.        She Was Searching For Favor. (Vs 2)

                        ". . .I shall find grace"

Ruth was looking for some land owner who would be pleased to accept her and to allow her to glean in his fields. Someone who would allow her to do that:

                                    In spite of her nationality.

                                    In spite of her past.

                                    In spite of who she was, she was looking for grace.

She pictures the new born child of God who wants more than anything to just please the Lord. There is an overwhelming desire to just please the Lord.

Those of you who are married, do you remember how that “first love” was?

                        You did whatever you could to please the one you loved.

That’s the way it is when we first come to know the Lord.

We want to do whatever we can to just please the Lord. But tragically, the longer that we are saved, we sometimes find our love for the Lord waning.

The Lord told the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:4–“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”

Many, like Ruth, worry about being accepted by the Lord. But we need to understand that our past is no longer an issue if we are saved by the grace of God. He has given us a brand new start. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

            C.        She Was Searching For Fulfillment.

Her statement "Let me now go", shows that she is itching to be a blessing to Naomi. Ruth simply wants to serve.

In this she is again a picture of a new believer. When a person is saved by the grace of God, they want to do something for the glory of the Lord. They want to serve Jesus.

Remember the man who had the Legion of unclean spirits cast out of Him by Jesus? Look at Mark 5:18-20.

                        He found fulfillment in telling others about what Jesus had done for him.

            THE PURPOSE IN HER SEARCH.

II.       THE PROVIDENCE IN HER SEARCH. (Vs. 3)

            A.        It Involved God's Command In The Past.

Ruth went to a field and began to glean. She was allowed to do this because of a command that God had given in the ancient past.

                        Look at Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 24:19-22.

                        God had worked in the past to take care of Ruth’s present need.

The same is true in the life of the believer. Our present standing in Jesus was made possible because of what God did in the ancient past.

We were chosen and elected in the past. Look at Ephesians 1:4-6

                        Jesus was provided for our salvation before man ever sinned.

                        Revelation 13:8 calls him, “. . .the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

1 Peter 1:20–says that he was, “. . .verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”

Everything we have and are today is a product of the past work of the Lord, and of His grace. 1 Corinthians 15:10–“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

            B.        It Involved God's Control In The Present.

This verse says that it was her "hap" to go into a field owned by this man named Boaz. “Hap” means “something met with.” Some might call it an accident or in this instance a case of good fortune. (“Boy, Ruth sure is lucky!!!”)

From a human perspective it looked as though this happening was purely coincidental.

However, from God's perspective, it was His sovereignty in action. God had already determined that there was going to be a wedding, and a baby for Ruth!

Ruth doesn't know it, but the Lord is pulling all the strings of her life to get her in the right place at the right time.

Did you know that just as the Lord worked in Ruth's life He works in each of our lives? Nothing happens by accident! The words accident, happenstance and coincidence do not exist in God's dictionary!

He moves powerfully and providentially to bring about His will in your life and mine!

That is why we can have confidence as believers! God is always working in and moving in our lives to accomplish one goal. That goal is conforming us into the very image of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

                        Romans 8:28-31

            THE PURPOSE IN HER SEARCH.

            THE PROVIDENCE IN HER SEARCH. 

III.      THE PERSON IN HER SEARCH. (Vs. 1)

            She thought she was looking for a meal, but God was about to introduce her to a man.

            She went to find some food, but God was about to give her a new family.

            Although Ruth doesn't know it right now, this Boaz is the real object of her search.

            Notice what the Bible teaches us about this man:

            A.        He Was A Related Man.

                        This verse tells us that he was a "kinsman."

He was just what Ruth needed, although she didn't know it at the time.

Boaz was qualified to perform the function of the "Kinsman Redeemer" to these widows, according to the Law of God. (Numbers 27:8-11)

Boaz is a type of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Jesus became a "kinsman" to us so that He might redeem us from our sins. (Philippians. 2:5-8)

Hebrews 2:9–“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.”

            B.        He Was A Rich Man.

The Bible calls him here "a mighty man of wealth."

This means that Boaz possessed all the necessary resources to carry out the task of redemption.

Jesus Christ also is a man of sufficient resources to carry out the plan of redemption.

                        He possesses perfect righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

                        He possesses everlasting love for the fallen.

Jeremiah 31:3–“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

                        Romans 5:8, John 3:16.

He possesses infinite grace, sufficient to save any soul that will bow to God in repentance and faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

He completed God's plan for our redemption in its entirety.

                        (Hebrews 10:11-14, Hebrews 9:24-28)

                        And now God is satisfied.

1 John 2:3–“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Isaiah 53:11–“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:. . .”

Salvation may be free, but it wasn't cheap! You can be saved today if you will come to Jesus by faith!

                        He Was A Related Man.

                        He Was A Rich Man.

            C.        He Was A Respected Man.

                        We are told that Boaz was "a mighty man". His very name means, "strength."

You can’t be a mighty man without having gained some respect.

                        It is this man that Ruth will meet, fall in love with and come to know intimately.

Again, he is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in that God has given Jesus an exalted Name.

Philippians 2:9-11–“9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Men may mock Him and use His name as a byword, but in Heaven, that Name evokes worship and celebration!

Of course, one day, He will receive the respect that He is due from all men.

Romans 14:11-12–“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”

                        It is far better to do it now than to wait until you stand before Him in eternity.

I want to conclude this section from Ruth with three questions. They are simple. You know the answers and all you have to do is be honest in dealing with them.

1.         Are you saved? I’m not asking if you are a church member or a good moral person, but have you been truly born again by the Spirit of God?

2.         If you are saved, can you honestly say that you are growing in the Lord as you should be? It is God's command and desire that we grow.

2 Peter 3:18–“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

3.         Are you hungry for something in your spiritual life that you do not have right now?

If so, it is available from the Lord

Psalm. 84:11–“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Matt. 11:28–“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

God has whatever you need this morning if you will only come to Him and get it.

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!