Cycles of Sin

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Cycles of Sin

September 11, 2022 • Mike Burt • Ruth 1:1–18

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The Book of Ruth is a simple somewhat ordinary story on one hand and on the other; it is an amazing account of God’s faithful dealings with a simple family. The Book of Ruth is sort of the calm in the midst of the storm. The Book of Judges is a book of one episode of judgment after another called the Cycle of the Judges. I will show you a simple chart on Sunday about this cycle. God’s people would listen for a while and then they would turn to evil…God would judge them…God would send them a deliverer…they would turn back to Him. This cycle would happen time and time again.

“In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 (ESV)

The story of Ruth is set in a time period when everyone was doing whatever they wanted. The people determined right and wrong, not God. This is a very dangerous attitude to have. I believe it’s the same problems of our time. Truth is presented as subjective and people decide what is right and wrong. (usually wrong!)

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (ESV)

In this great storm of the times of the Judges, God interrupts the story to show us a short account of one family – Elimelech and Naomi. God shows great kindness and faithfulness to an unfaithful family – redeeming a Moabitess and demonstrating the kinsman redeemer. Join us Sunday for a first walk into Ruth – see you then.

Pastor Mike

Redemption by Obedience

November 6, 2022 • Mike Burt • Ruth

“Priceless gems have often been found in unlikely places. Many a choice flower has been found blooming in a rocky crevice. Rainbow artistries have suddenly lit up the drabbest skies. Beauty spots have charmed the traveler at surprise turns on the least-promising road. It is even so with this superbly beautiful little idly, the book of Ruth.” J. Sidlow Baxter This has been a beautiful love story and is one of only two books in the Bible named for women (Esther is the other). And Ruth is not just a woman but a Gentile woman at that. This account was originally joined to the Book of Judges and is almost a lone positive story in the many depressing stories of sad Judges and disobedient Jews. Ruth becomes a beacon of hope in the ways God will protect and provide the integrity of the Messianic line moving toward His prophetic choices of monarchy (David) and His promises of a Redeemer (Jesus). Lots of rich theology about the person and role of Jesus Christ as our Redeemer can be traced to the typology centered around the figure of Boaz. The kind providence of God uses seemingly insignificant people and events to accomplish important kingdom goals. The loyalty and devotion of Ruth is rewarded with unimaginable blessing that spills over to all those who come to embrace the Lord Jesus as their Redeemer. The summary of the Book is seen in the fulfillment of the hopes of Naomi - Ruth 4:14 “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today”. Naomi found her Redeemer in Boaz through Ruth – We must find our Redeemer in the linage of Boaz in the person of Jesus – our closest Kinsman Redeemer! See you Sunday for the final message in Ruth – Pastor Mike

Redeem, Restore and Rejoice

October 30, 2022 • Denis Garijo • Ruth 4:13–22

“Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!”. Ruth 4:14 After eight weeks, we are at the end of Ruth's book, and what a beautiful happy ending we have in this book. In these nine verses, we will see God REDEEMING, RESTORING, and letting them REJOICE in His blessings. Those blessings were available for Ruth and Naomi and are still available for us in Jesus Christ. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you”. 1 Peter 5.10 “This book begins with a funeral and ends with a wedding! It opens with famine and closes with fullness!” Warren Wiersbe

Do you trust me?

October 16, 2022 • Mike Burt • Ruth 3:9–18

“‘Wait on the Lord’ is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not his way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come.” J.I. Packer. Knowing God Waiting is hard! Many of us struggle with patience and an urgent desire to jump up and do! Yet it is God who so often advocates ‘wait’ to the impatient believer. We saw last week that Naomi did not wait, she developed a plan to bring about the solution she imagined God to be unfolding but she could not wait for Him to do it – so she stepped in with a worldly inspired plan. Only by the honor of Boaz and the virtue of Ruth did her plan not create a disaster! Sunday we will continue in this saga as Boaz protects Ruth by sending her back with barley (engagement ring?) and Naomi trusting the heart of Boaz to obey the Law of God. When men or women force their image of God’s will onto others the outcome will be damaged lives and missed blessings. Only God could bring back this ‘wreck’ from the brink of disaster and turn it into something that honors Him. Naomi is getting closer to seeing the Lord again in her life – not there yet, but closer! Come this week to see the solution Boaz seeks by following God’s Word instead of a human plan to achieve God’s goals. It involves the Scripture, trust and obedience – all ingredients to genuine maturity and faith. Bring someone who is tired of trying to do God’s will on their own – let them find the rest God intends by trusting in His Word. See you Sunday, Pastor Mike