Sunday Sermon
sunday morning service 2nd Aug 2009
Ruth 1
We do not know when this took place exactly but it was before the kings of Israel, during the time of the judges.
possible around the time of Judges chapter 6.
1. Disaster strikes v1-6
A. Famine v1.
Famine in the promised land was a sign of Gods judgement.
The people of Israel must have been going through a time of rebellion!
During that time of Rebellion the Spirit has decided to focus our eyes on one particular family.
Mr and Mrs. Elimelech Ephrathite. Address Bethlehem Judah.
A nice little family, with two sons. Naomi was a blessed woman!
However, the times were hard, there was Famine in the land.
But this disaster was under the control of Yahweh.
(possibly famine was caused by invading nations – Judges 6).
Yet, the family make the choice and decide to move.
There is no direct reference here to say whether this was a bad choice or not!
The text seems to say that they did not plan to go for ever, they only went to “sojourn”.
However the Israelites were warned many times not to go back to Egypt and this going to Moab was the path back to Egypt! Thin edge of the wedge?
Further they were told to have nothing to do with Moab because of past history, see Deu23v3-6. Overall scripture would point to this being the wrong move!
Certainly it would make one think twice, but times were hard.
B. Death!
Death – the husband goes first v3. But there is still the two sons.
Then the sons also die! After about ten years and marriage v4-5.
Seems that Gods judgement is following hard after Naomi!
App
When it comes to judgement our tendency is to think of the coming judgement on those who reject God.
But the bible focuses more on the judgment of Gods children. 1Pet4v17.
The judgement begins with us!
What are we to do with Gods judgment?
a. we are to remember that it comes for our good – Heb 12v6
b. we are to take it and not run from it! That is learn its lessons.
c. we are to come to repentance rev 3v19.
2. going home v6-14
Hearing of food again in Israel Naomi and the daughters return home v6-7
But then Naomi sends the daughters back to their mothers with her blessing v8-13
But Ruth will not go v14-18.
She shows that she has a living faith in Yahweh, takes an oath never to leave Naomi.
App
The Lords judgement does not last forever v6, those back in Israel get food.
The work of repentance is to draw us back to God.
V6 is an act of repentance, returning to God.
What a result, God “visiting” us again!
Naomi seems to recognise that Gods judgment has followed her v13.
And in recognising that she is blessed v14, Ruth clings to her, also 16-17.
The judgment of God on his children does not last forever and it is always for our good.
In the judgement itself there is blessing though we can’t see it at the time – Heb 12v11
3. Pleasantness and Bitterness v19-22
The town of Bethlehem is stirred at the return of Naomi.
She wants to be called Bitterness instead of Pleasantness!
She left the place full but has come back empty!
Yet there was hope, though she could not see it! She had Ruth and the harvest was starting!
She may have been fuller now than she was to begin with!
App
God is merciful even though we are not perfect!
Naomi had come home, she had repented, but she was still blinded to Gods favour.
But what encouragement there for us.
Times may be hard, we may not be as repentant as we should be, but if there is even the slightest turning to God he meets us in mercy.
And who knows what God is working in these times?
Later on the great blessing of Ruth is seen (4v15).
Later on down the family line the saviour is born!
Out of judgment, out of bad choices, out of bitterness, comes the Saviour!
sunday evening service 2nd Aug 2009
Col 3v5-11
Last week we saw the need to seek Christ who is above, because we have been raised to life in Him and now we exist in Him.
We are to look for His appearing and also our appearing, which will be when He comes!
Further direction is given in v5-11 as to how we might prepare for that Great Day.
The need to prepare is obvious: we are not sinless yet. We are a work in progress.
That is what these verse direct us to, the work that we are to engage in:
The starting point as we look forward to the great Day is: preparing.
Preparing for the Great Day of the Lord:
1) put to death!
because of who you are put off/ put to death v5.
V5, as we wait for the coming glory we are not to be inactive.
Whatever still belongs to the old ways, the sinful nature is to be killed off.
- put sinful practices to death by no longer using the body for evil.
Sexual immorality/ fornication – simply stop it. Don’t use the body for it.
Impurity/uncleanness – don’t use the body for impurity
Lustful passion – control the mind
Evil desire – godlessness. – control the mind
Covetousness / greed, which is idolatry – worship of self in this case, what I want is all important. Control the mind.
Rid yourself, v8
The principle of the New Life must be worked out in practice: they must get rid of / put off.
Literally the taking off of clothes. – see heb12v1.
Anger – a settled outlook
Rage/wrath – a more fluctuating, up and down current of angry emotion
Malice – evil behaviour
Blasphemy – speech that is against God
Filthy language – obscene talk.
Stop lying, v9
Lies is given a new verse all to itself.
The prohibition on lying would have been a drastic change to lifestyle.
Lying is the commonest form of self preservation, that we learn from an early age.
Say anything to keep out of trouble.
But they are not to lie, because they are living a new life!
They no longer need to try to take care of themselves by telling lies!
App:
The great question that then attaches itself to all these things is HOW?
We will be looking at how’s as we go along.
But a few things for here: v5 is mainly pointing to how we actually use our physical body.
Thus questions such as is this a good place for me to be in, is this company helpful, is watching this good, is staying up so late productive etc.
V8 points to the use of the will. When my will is crossed anger etc pours forth.
V9 points to the heart, for it is from the heart that lies come.
Paul is calling us to gain control over our body, mind and heart! How?
The spiritual disciplines are all tools developed to help gain control over these things.
2) further motive to prepare:
Why put to death all these things, put off and get rid of, to stop lying, why?
a. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming v6.
It is due to sin that God’s wrath is kindled, and punishment is coming.
He is angry at such things.
b. That used to be your lifestyle but now is not, v7.
Paul reminds the Colossians that the things that they are to put to death, and that God’s wrath is coming against are the very things they used to do!
Their lives were marked by such things! They walked in them.
It was their general pattern of living.
App
Whenever we find the preparation work hard, when we are tempted to sin, remember God is angry at sin!
God does not stand afar off, he is not unconcerned by sin! It angers Him. It brings His rage.
It should also bring our rage as we remember our old sinful lifestyles.
We may be able to look back on our sin and see the damage it inflicted to ourselves and others.
But this is not to bog us down, this is to spur us on to greater seeking God.
3) the ultimate reason for our preparing: remember who we are v10-11 (context v1-4)
You are new, born again, with Christ as the one loyalty in your life now.
The putting off of the old self is to be balanced by a putting on of the new self.
We do not just put off, and remain naked! Mat 12v43-45.
We put on the new / young! This new life is then to be nourished, it is to grow.
How? by growing in knowledge of God, the one in whose image we were created.
The one who created the new nature in us.
In this new knowledge, there is no division between peoples.
We are all called to know God regardless of any human standard.
The only thing that counts is Christ, “Christ is all, and in all”
The putting on of the new self involves the entering into a new humanity.
No matter what we were before, now that we are saved we are Christ’s.
App
We do all we do to work out our salvation because we are saved: we are children of God.
It who we are!
We tell our children “act your age”. The Christian is to act her new nature.
The best way to act out who we are is by focusing on the One who has made us new.
As we focus on Him not only are we changed, but we create a new humanity, where what we once were no longer matters – Jew or Greek, slave of free etc.
The important thing is we are in Christ! He is all that matters.
We look forward to the Great Day of His appearing by looking to Him now and always.
