Centennial Park Baptist ChurchSunday January 31st  2010– 10:30 am

 

JON AND KATE PLUS – WAIT!

 

Ruth 3: 1-5

 

             1Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?  2"Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.

 3"Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.  4"It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do."  5She said to her, "All that you say I will do."

 

 

A.        The Ministry of Ruth to Naomi

 

            Every parent, at one time in their life or another, has seen their child struggle with something that they so desperately wanted to free them from.

 

           Children also, as their parents grow older, see their parents struggling / suffering and yearn to help them, relieve them.

 

            Ruth has been hurting for her mother-in-law Naomi.

 

But now, Naomi’s outlook changes………

 

B.         The Ministry of Naomi to Ruth

 

            - Naomi’s thoughts are now for Ruth and her future

 

- It’s when we serve others that we ourselves receive the greatest joy and

 

    SATISFACTION- vs. 1

 

- This is our task as Christians – Philippians 2: 3-4

 

C.        The Midnight Meeting!

 

            GOAL:  MARRIAGE

 

            - Ruth does 5 things to get ready to meet Boaz

 

            - All 5 things have a deeper spiritual significance

 

1. Ruth WASHED herself – vs. 8

 

“Cleanse yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” II Corinthians 7:1

 

 

 

 

2. Ruth ANOINTED herself – vs. 3

 

“The anointing which you have received from Christ abides in you.”

– I John 2: 27

 

 

3. Ruth PUT ON her best clothes – vs. 3

 

 

In Scriptures, clothing carries a SPIRITUAL meaning.

 

* Genesis 3: 1-8, 21                 * Isaiah 64: 6

 

* Luke 15:22                            * II Corinthians 5:21

 

* Isaiah 61: 10                          * Revelation 19:8

 

 

4. Ruth RECEIVED Instructions from Naomi – vs. 4

 

 

This procedure was the only way Ruth could offer herself to her kinsman redeemer.

 

“There is only 1 mediator between God and man – the man Christ Jesus.”

I Timothy 2: 5

 

Sometimes we come to church to get our needs met, instead of coming to church to worship the God who is greater than any need.

 

 

5. Ruth PROMISED to Obey – vs. 5

 

 

A willingness to OBEY  the Lord is the secret to knowing what He wants us to do and being blessed when we do it.

 

 

The will of God is not a Cafeteria where we can pick and choose what we want. 

 

God expects us to accept all that He plans for us and to obey Him COMPLETELY.

 

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