1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,550 Hello and welcome to the Middletown Baptist Church podcast, 2 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:06,182 where we are proclaiming the truth to the 3 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:06,606 world. 4 00:00:06,718 --> 00:00:09,662 My name is Pastor Josh and I want to thank you for listening to 5 00:00:06,718 --> 00:00:10,690 this podcast. 6 00:00:10,990 --> 00:00:14,630 I hope that this podcast can be a blessing to you and strengthen 7 00:00:10,990 --> 00:00:16,290 you in the word of God. 8 00:00:16,750 --> 00:00:17,558 Now come along. 9 00:00:17,614 --> 00:00:21,650 Let's look into the Bible and see what God has for us here today. 10 00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:25,862 All right, we're going to continue our study in the book of 11 00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:26,102 Ruth. 12 00:00:26,126 --> 00:00:28,156 If you have your bibles, turn there with me. 13 00:00:28,278 --> 00:00:29,392 Ruth, chapter three. 14 00:00:29,456 --> 00:00:31,568 We're going to pick up where we left off last week. 15 00:00:31,664 --> 00:00:33,992 If you weren't here last week, I'll try to catch you up with where 16 00:00:31,664 --> 00:00:35,536 we are in this story. 17 00:00:35,728 --> 00:00:38,616 The story of Ruth is a story of love. 18 00:00:38,688 --> 00:00:40,728 It's a story of redemption. 19 00:00:40,904 --> 00:00:44,176 And we're seeing the picture of the kinsman Redeemer. 20 00:00:44,208 --> 00:00:47,216 Now, if you don't know what the kinsman redeemer is, it's an 21 00:00:44,208 --> 00:00:51,032 individual that redeems another individual 22 00:00:44,208 --> 00:00:52,184 in their loss. 23 00:00:52,352 --> 00:00:55,908 And so we see Ruthenhenne, who has lost their husband. 24 00:00:56,044 --> 00:00:59,972 And in this culture, losing your husband means losing your security, 25 00:00:56,044 --> 00:01:03,036 losing your income, losing the future 26 00:00:56,044 --> 00:01:06,580 promise that you had with that relationship. 27 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:10,180 And so what would happen, and God instilled this, was that the 28 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:12,980 closest family member to your deceased 29 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:15,996 husband would then take you in, take 30 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:18,492 care of you, give you security, give 31 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:20,188 you income, give you provisions and 32 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:21,042 all that. 33 00:01:21,236 --> 00:01:24,086 And what we're going to see here in the story is that Ruth goes 34 00:01:21,236 --> 00:01:26,382 to Boaz and basically petitions him 35 00:01:21,236 --> 00:01:29,054 in faith to be her kinsman Redeemer. 36 00:01:29,222 --> 00:01:32,862 She hears from Naomi that Boaz is her relative, a close relative. 37 00:01:32,926 --> 00:01:34,270 So she says, this is great. 38 00:01:34,310 --> 00:01:35,438 This is an opportunity. 39 00:01:35,534 --> 00:01:39,494 And so we looked at last week Ruth's proposition, her proposal 40 00:01:35,534 --> 00:01:42,198 to Boaz, to marry her, to give her security, 41 00:01:35,534 --> 00:01:44,558 to give her salvation, if you will. 42 00:01:44,654 --> 00:01:48,366 And the picture of that is the picture of what Jesus does for us 43 00:01:44,654 --> 00:01:49,878 and the fact that he is our kinsman 44 00:01:44,654 --> 00:01:50,590 Redeemer. 45 00:01:50,710 --> 00:01:53,638 We come to him in faith for salvation. 46 00:01:53,694 --> 00:01:55,570 We come to him in faith for security. 47 00:01:55,910 --> 00:01:57,942 We come to him in faith for provision. 48 00:01:58,006 --> 00:02:02,694 We come in him with faith so that he can do all the things that 49 00:01:58,006 --> 00:02:03,686 he promises us. 50 00:02:03,718 --> 00:02:05,206 And so what does Boaz do? 51 00:02:05,238 --> 00:02:08,806 Boaz comes back to Ruth and he says, yes, Ruth, I will do that. 52 00:02:08,958 --> 00:02:13,750 I will keep that role in my life as the top focus that I have. 53 00:02:13,870 --> 00:02:14,838 I will take care of you. 54 00:02:14,854 --> 00:02:18,200 If you go back, you'll see it there in verse number eleven. 55 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,500 He says, and now, my daughter, fear not. 56 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,640 And so the remedy to her anxiety, the remedy to her fear, 57 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:27,632 was that relationship with Boaz. 58 00:02:27,776 --> 00:02:31,420 And we know the remedy to our fear, the remedy to our anxiety, 59 00:02:27,776 --> 00:02:34,096 our concerns, would be to come to a relationship 60 00:02:27,776 --> 00:02:34,504 with Christ. 61 00:02:34,552 --> 00:02:37,112 And the Lord tells us, don't fear. 62 00:02:37,176 --> 00:02:37,968 Fear not. 63 00:02:38,104 --> 00:02:40,976 And we know that in two Timothy, chapter one, verse seven, 64 00:02:38,104 --> 00:02:42,816 God has not given us the spirit of fear, 65 00:02:38,104 --> 00:02:44,544 but of power and of love and of a 66 00:02:38,104 --> 00:02:45,450 sound mind. 67 00:02:45,640 --> 00:02:49,110 And so a lot of times in her life, our circumstances are realistic. 68 00:02:49,150 --> 00:02:49,598 They're real. 69 00:02:49,654 --> 00:02:51,598 They're real difficult circumstances. 70 00:02:51,654 --> 00:02:53,278 Ruth was in a real spot. 71 00:02:53,334 --> 00:02:55,010 She was in a real difficult position. 72 00:02:55,590 --> 00:02:58,022 But because of her relationship, or at least in this 73 00:02:55,590 --> 00:02:59,358 case, her future relationship with 74 00:02:55,590 --> 00:03:01,958 Boaz, Boaz reminds her, don't fear. 75 00:03:02,134 --> 00:03:04,286 And that's sometimes what happens to us in our own christian 76 00:03:02,134 --> 00:03:04,486 life. 77 00:03:04,518 --> 00:03:08,262 We've got circumstances and difficulties and loss and pain and 78 00:03:04,518 --> 00:03:10,198 what have you, anxieties and all 79 00:03:04,518 --> 00:03:10,878 of that. 80 00:03:11,014 --> 00:03:14,030 But what God says is that a relationship with me will bring you 81 00:03:11,014 --> 00:03:15,838 peace, it will bring you confidence, 82 00:03:11,014 --> 00:03:16,750 it will bring you hope. 83 00:03:16,790 --> 00:03:19,270 And so therefore, there's no reason to fear. 84 00:03:19,390 --> 00:03:23,134 And so Boaz says, fear not, I will do to thee all that thou requirest. 85 00:03:23,182 --> 00:03:25,526 All that thou needest, essentially, is what he's saying. 86 00:03:25,678 --> 00:03:28,174 Everything that you need, I will be there for you. 87 00:03:28,302 --> 00:03:30,086 And that's what God says to us. 88 00:03:30,278 --> 00:03:33,726 And it's important to remember the sufficiency of Christ in your 89 00:03:30,278 --> 00:03:34,310 life. 90 00:03:34,470 --> 00:03:38,856 Sometimes as an individual, we think about this understanding. 91 00:03:38,888 --> 00:03:41,752 At least I'll speak for myself that you know what? 92 00:03:41,776 --> 00:03:42,784 I know that God is good. 93 00:03:42,832 --> 00:03:43,856 I know that he loves me. 94 00:03:43,888 --> 00:03:45,160 I know that he's all powerful. 95 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:47,984 But in my situation, I'm not sure if he's going to handle it. 96 00:03:48,072 --> 00:03:50,592 I'm not sure that he's going to work it out the way that I think 97 00:03:48,072 --> 00:03:51,800 he should work it out. 98 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,736 And really what we're doing is we're not putting our sufficiency 99 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:55,208 in Christ. 100 00:03:55,264 --> 00:03:58,536 We're putting our sufficiency in worldly wisdom, in what makes 101 00:03:55,264 --> 00:04:00,160 sense to us on paper or what makes 102 00:03:55,264 --> 00:04:02,230 sense to us in a circumstantial event. 103 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:04,842 And so what the Bible tells us is that what Jesus Christ does for 104 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:07,266 us is sufficient in every way. 105 00:04:07,418 --> 00:04:09,510 And that's what Boaz is telling Ruth here. 106 00:04:09,930 --> 00:04:15,466 But in this promise comes an issue, the issue of a problem, verse 107 00:04:09,930 --> 00:04:16,314 number twelve. 108 00:04:16,482 --> 00:04:20,778 And now, it is true that I am thy near kinsman, but this is what 109 00:04:16,482 --> 00:04:22,090 we left off with last week. 110 00:04:22,170 --> 00:04:25,070 Howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 111 00:04:25,450 --> 00:04:29,276 And so we leave off last week with a lot of optimism, a lot of 112 00:04:25,450 --> 00:04:31,480 promise, a lot of hope. 113 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:35,692 But now we see that there is a problem that is presented to Ruth 114 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:37,476 and to Boaz, and that is that there 115 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:40,716 is a nearer kinsman, a closer family 116 00:04:31,900 --> 00:04:41,400 member. 117 00:04:41,980 --> 00:04:42,916 Now, what does that mean? 118 00:04:42,948 --> 00:04:46,532 That means that Boaz does not necessarily have the right to claim 119 00:04:42,948 --> 00:04:49,652 this kinsman redeemer position unless 120 00:04:42,948 --> 00:04:51,820 the closer relative gives up that 121 00:04:42,948 --> 00:04:52,396 right. 122 00:04:52,548 --> 00:04:56,294 And so we're going to see that exchange happening here in the next 123 00:04:52,548 --> 00:04:57,406 few verses. 124 00:04:57,558 --> 00:04:59,758 But until then, what happens? 125 00:04:59,894 --> 00:05:04,046 Well, Ruth has a chance to trust in her kinsman Redeemer or 126 00:04:59,894 --> 00:05:05,094 to fear. 127 00:05:05,222 --> 00:05:09,070 She has a chance here to trust and to wait and to be patient or 128 00:05:05,222 --> 00:05:12,206 to be anxious and running and trying 129 00:05:05,222 --> 00:05:13,838 to manipulate situations. 130 00:05:13,934 --> 00:05:16,278 There's a lot of things that she could do here in this case. 131 00:05:16,414 --> 00:05:19,782 But let's see what happens here after Boaz tells her, hey, there's 132 00:05:16,414 --> 00:05:21,090 a closer relative. 133 00:05:21,470 --> 00:05:24,270 And so there's another kinsman Redeemer. 134 00:05:24,310 --> 00:05:27,734 That's possibly the one that could take this relationship. 135 00:05:27,822 --> 00:05:30,702 But the problem is for Ruth and for Boaz is they've already expressed 136 00:05:27,822 --> 00:05:31,726 their love for each other. 137 00:05:31,838 --> 00:05:34,982 There's already been this unveiling of their heart to each 138 00:05:31,838 --> 00:05:35,430 other. 139 00:05:35,550 --> 00:05:37,646 And that's what we looked at last week in that proposal. 140 00:05:37,718 --> 00:05:39,510 If you would like to read through that, you can. 141 00:05:39,630 --> 00:05:41,822 There might be some confusion if you don't know the context. 142 00:05:41,886 --> 00:05:44,342 Essentially, Boaz wakes up in the middle of the night and there's 143 00:05:41,886 --> 00:05:45,918 a lady laying at his feet, and he's 144 00:05:41,886 --> 00:05:46,646 like, what are you doing? 145 00:05:46,718 --> 00:05:47,190 And it's dark. 146 00:05:47,230 --> 00:05:48,186 He's like, who are you? 147 00:05:48,278 --> 00:05:51,226 And she goes through this whole spiel about basically how she 148 00:05:48,278 --> 00:05:52,906 wants him to marry her, to redeem 149 00:05:48,278 --> 00:05:53,562 her. 150 00:05:53,746 --> 00:05:57,554 And so this is what he says at the end of verse number 13. 151 00:05:57,642 --> 00:06:01,818 He says, tarry this night, meaning wait, wait tonight, and it 152 00:05:57,642 --> 00:06:03,450 shall be in the morning, that if 153 00:05:57,642 --> 00:06:05,370 he will perform unto thee the part 154 00:05:57,642 --> 00:06:07,842 of a kinsman, well, let him do the 155 00:05:57,642 --> 00:06:08,490 kinsman's part. 156 00:06:08,530 --> 00:06:10,658 Meaning this is out of our control. 157 00:06:10,714 --> 00:06:12,210 This is out of our hands. 158 00:06:12,330 --> 00:06:14,270 We have to kind of let this play out. 159 00:06:14,450 --> 00:06:15,470 So be patient. 160 00:06:15,590 --> 00:06:17,318 But then he says something very interesting here. 161 00:06:17,374 --> 00:06:21,774 He says, but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then 162 00:06:17,374 --> 00:06:23,462 will I do the part of a kinsman to 163 00:06:17,374 --> 00:06:23,686 thee. 164 00:06:23,718 --> 00:06:26,654 As the Lord Liveth, lie down until the morning. 165 00:06:26,702 --> 00:06:30,262 So he's essentially telling her, we have to trust God if this 166 00:06:26,702 --> 00:06:32,150 is going to come to pass, if God opens 167 00:06:26,702 --> 00:06:34,094 this door, if God allows this to 168 00:06:26,702 --> 00:06:35,766 happen, then we're going to run right 169 00:06:26,702 --> 00:06:36,398 through. 170 00:06:36,574 --> 00:06:39,118 And so this is going to be a picture of patience. 171 00:06:39,254 --> 00:06:41,398 This is going to be a picture of trusting. 172 00:06:41,574 --> 00:06:43,854 And that's a word that I want you to think about here this evening, 173 00:06:41,574 --> 00:06:47,198 trusting God in his promises, in 174 00:06:41,574 --> 00:06:49,486 the midst of difficulty, in the midst 175 00:06:41,574 --> 00:06:52,710 of a problem, in the midst of a difficulty 176 00:06:41,574 --> 00:06:54,486 that could possibly lead to us not 177 00:06:41,574 --> 00:06:56,174 receiving what we expect we should 178 00:06:41,574 --> 00:06:56,930 receive. 179 00:06:57,310 --> 00:06:59,550 And so, you know, God tells us that he loves us. 180 00:06:59,670 --> 00:07:01,430 God tells us that he's never going to leave us. 181 00:07:01,510 --> 00:07:03,406 God tells us that he's never going to forsake us. 182 00:07:03,478 --> 00:07:05,462 But sometimes there's situations in our life where we're 183 00:07:03,478 --> 00:07:06,620 tempted to doubt that. 184 00:07:06,750 --> 00:07:07,712 And what does God tell us? 185 00:07:07,736 --> 00:07:09,872 God tells us to wait, to be patient. 186 00:07:10,016 --> 00:07:12,456 There's another passage of scripture that we could cross reference 187 00:07:10,016 --> 00:07:15,220 with this, and that's in psalm 46. 188 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:18,616 Most of you know this verse, but if you don't know this verse, 189 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:21,008 it's a wonderful verse to deal with when 190 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:22,800 we're going through a time of crisis 191 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:25,328 in our life, a time of uncertainty, 192 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:27,400 a time of waiting, possibly. 193 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:33,626 Psalm 46, verse number ten, says, be still and know that I am 194 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:34,270 God. 195 00:07:34,570 --> 00:07:36,514 I will be exalted among the heathen. 196 00:07:36,562 --> 00:07:38,458 I will be exalted in the earth. 197 00:07:38,634 --> 00:07:42,810 So God's command for us in the midst of a crisis is to be still, 198 00:07:38,634 --> 00:07:45,794 to be patient, to trust in him, to trust 199 00:07:38,634 --> 00:07:48,426 in his word, to trust in his ways. 200 00:07:48,618 --> 00:07:53,746 Now, if you know the context of psalm 46, it's all about chaos. 201 00:07:53,898 --> 00:07:57,034 It's actually not a peaceful situation that the psalmist is in 202 00:07:53,898 --> 00:07:57,680 right there. 203 00:07:57,810 --> 00:08:01,068 A lot of times people will read psalm 46 and they'll get to 204 00:07:57,810 --> 00:08:02,212 verse number ten and they'll think, 205 00:07:57,810 --> 00:08:03,708 well, be still and know that I am 206 00:07:57,810 --> 00:08:03,916 God. 207 00:08:03,948 --> 00:08:06,676 That is all about when God gives you a peaceful moment in your 208 00:08:03,948 --> 00:08:08,252 life, then you can just thank him 209 00:08:03,948 --> 00:08:08,532 for that. 210 00:08:08,556 --> 00:08:09,900 That's not what he's talking about here. 211 00:08:09,980 --> 00:08:12,956 A few weeks ago, Brother Chris Phillips, our special speaker for 212 00:08:09,980 --> 00:08:14,524 our marriage conference, was talking 213 00:08:09,980 --> 00:08:15,740 about this very thing. 214 00:08:15,860 --> 00:08:19,156 And he says, when God tells us to be still, it's not saying, hey, 215 00:08:15,860 --> 00:08:20,300 be still in this peace. 216 00:08:20,340 --> 00:08:22,420 It's saying, be still in the midst of the storm. 217 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:25,774 Very similar to when Jesus is on the water, right with his disciples 218 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:26,654 and the storm's coming. 219 00:08:26,702 --> 00:08:27,422 What does he say? 220 00:08:27,526 --> 00:08:27,830 Peace. 221 00:08:27,870 --> 00:08:28,690 Be still. 222 00:08:28,990 --> 00:08:31,350 So it's peace in the midst of chaos. 223 00:08:31,510 --> 00:08:34,398 And I think a lot of times in our life we're waiting for peaceful 224 00:08:31,510 --> 00:08:36,286 circumstances to have peace. 225 00:08:36,398 --> 00:08:38,502 But the Bible doesn't say that's what happens. 226 00:08:38,606 --> 00:08:41,118 The Bible actually says that we can have peace in the midst of 227 00:08:38,606 --> 00:08:41,726 a difficulty. 228 00:08:41,758 --> 00:08:44,774 So we go back to Ruth, and Ruth is now in a crisis moment. 229 00:08:44,942 --> 00:08:48,110 She's in a moment of saying, now I've shown my love for Boaz. 230 00:08:48,230 --> 00:08:50,820 Now I have my heart set on this kinsman redeemer. 231 00:08:50,910 --> 00:08:52,160 This other guy, I don't know. 232 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:53,536 This other guy I don't want. 233 00:08:53,648 --> 00:08:56,824 But now, possibly God might change the path. 234 00:08:56,872 --> 00:08:58,752 God might change what's going on. 235 00:08:58,896 --> 00:09:00,420 And so she's got to trust. 236 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:03,176 And I want you to think about that here this evening. 237 00:09:03,208 --> 00:09:04,780 This understanding of trust. 238 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:08,296 The Bible says in Hebrews, chapter eleven, verse six that it's 239 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:10,608 impossible to please God without 240 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:11,224 faith. 241 00:09:11,352 --> 00:09:13,820 You cannot please God without faith. 242 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:15,296 And so what is faith? 243 00:09:15,328 --> 00:09:17,912 Well, a lot of times we'll say faith is believing in something that 244 00:09:15,328 --> 00:09:19,524 we don't see, which is true. 245 00:09:19,712 --> 00:09:22,924 But faith is also tied together with trusting, right? 246 00:09:23,012 --> 00:09:26,708 I can say all day what I believe, but until I truly trust 247 00:09:23,012 --> 00:09:28,364 in what I believe, I'm not really having 248 00:09:23,012 --> 00:09:28,948 faith. 249 00:09:29,084 --> 00:09:31,380 You've heard the classic analogy of the chair, right? 250 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:32,324 The chair is there. 251 00:09:32,372 --> 00:09:33,396 I believe that that's a chair. 252 00:09:33,428 --> 00:09:34,860 I believe that chair can hold me up. 253 00:09:34,940 --> 00:09:38,812 But until I sit in that chair, that's actually the action of trust. 254 00:09:38,956 --> 00:09:42,772 I'm trusting and displaying my faith that that chair will hold me 255 00:09:38,956 --> 00:09:43,292 up. 256 00:09:43,436 --> 00:09:47,108 And so we say that we trust God, or at least we say we believe 257 00:09:43,436 --> 00:09:48,728 that God is who he says he is. 258 00:09:48,844 --> 00:09:51,392 Well, it's that trust that proves that faith. 259 00:09:51,536 --> 00:09:58,232 And so here Ruth has a chance to express confusion, express doubt, 260 00:09:51,536 --> 00:10:00,576 or express trust and faith. 261 00:10:00,768 --> 00:10:01,616 And so what happens? 262 00:10:01,648 --> 00:10:02,288 Verse number 14. 263 00:10:02,344 --> 00:10:04,620 And she lay at his feet until the morning. 264 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:08,840 And so Boaz and Ruth are not doing anything inappropriate, but 265 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:10,288 they're just here waiting till the 266 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:10,648 morning. 267 00:10:10,744 --> 00:10:12,712 And she rose up before one could know another. 268 00:10:12,776 --> 00:10:14,174 So she gets out of there. 269 00:10:14,352 --> 00:10:17,618 And he said, let it not be known that a woman came into the 270 00:10:14,352 --> 00:10:18,310 floor. 271 00:10:19,130 --> 00:10:21,938 Now, Boaz and Ruth were not trying to hide anything, but it was 272 00:10:19,130 --> 00:10:23,698 just that Boaz didn't want this near 273 00:10:19,130 --> 00:10:26,146 kinsman to learn what Ruth had done. 274 00:10:26,258 --> 00:10:28,578 Basically like, hey, let's let God figure this out. 275 00:10:28,594 --> 00:10:29,850 Let's not try to manipulate this. 276 00:10:29,890 --> 00:10:32,030 Let's not try to get in the mind of this other guy. 277 00:10:32,850 --> 00:10:34,338 And so verse 15. 278 00:10:34,394 --> 00:10:37,746 And he said, bring the veil that thou hast upon thee and hold 279 00:10:34,394 --> 00:10:38,090 it. 280 00:10:38,170 --> 00:10:41,298 And when she had held it, he measured six measures of barley and 281 00:10:38,170 --> 00:10:43,162 laid it on her, and she went into 282 00:10:38,170 --> 00:10:43,554 the city. 283 00:10:43,602 --> 00:10:45,714 So he gives her something as she goes. 284 00:10:45,842 --> 00:10:49,602 And I think that this is a picture of how God expects us to 285 00:10:45,842 --> 00:10:50,506 trust him. 286 00:10:50,698 --> 00:10:53,482 In most cases, when God gives us a promise, he's going to give 287 00:10:50,698 --> 00:10:54,802 us a provision in the midst of that 288 00:10:50,698 --> 00:10:55,490 promise, right? 289 00:10:55,570 --> 00:10:56,202 So what? 290 00:10:56,226 --> 00:10:58,282 Boaz makes a promise to her. 291 00:10:58,306 --> 00:10:59,950 He says, let's trust. 292 00:11:00,730 --> 00:11:01,874 Let's let this play out. 293 00:11:01,922 --> 00:11:02,890 I will take care of this. 294 00:11:02,930 --> 00:11:04,770 I'm going to go to the other kinsman. 295 00:11:04,890 --> 00:11:06,306 I'm going to take care of this for you. 296 00:11:06,338 --> 00:11:07,416 You don't have to worry about this. 297 00:11:07,458 --> 00:11:10,076 He says, here, take these provisions and go. 298 00:11:10,188 --> 00:11:11,420 And that's what God does to us. 299 00:11:11,460 --> 00:11:14,476 When he's asking us to trust him, he's saying, look, I've given 300 00:11:11,460 --> 00:11:16,076 you all these provisions in your 301 00:11:11,460 --> 00:11:16,612 life. 302 00:11:16,756 --> 00:11:18,740 Now trust me in the midst of this doubt. 303 00:11:18,780 --> 00:11:20,680 Trust me in the midst of this darkness. 304 00:11:21,220 --> 00:11:23,436 And so he says, I will perform it. 305 00:11:23,508 --> 00:11:24,356 I will do this. 306 00:11:24,428 --> 00:11:25,828 I will take care of this. 307 00:11:25,964 --> 00:11:30,460 And so, just as Boaz is doing all the work for Ruth, so does Jesus 308 00:11:25,964 --> 00:11:31,852 do all the work for us in the midst 309 00:11:25,964 --> 00:11:33,396 of our salvation, in the midst of 310 00:11:25,964 --> 00:11:35,216 our doubts, in the midst of our loss, 311 00:11:25,964 --> 00:11:37,176 in the midst of our hope that we 312 00:11:25,964 --> 00:11:37,832 have. 313 00:11:38,016 --> 00:11:39,336 And so, verse 16. 314 00:11:39,488 --> 00:11:42,288 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, who art 315 00:11:39,488 --> 00:11:43,784 thou, my daughter? 316 00:11:43,832 --> 00:11:46,704 And she told her all that the man hath done to her. 317 00:11:46,792 --> 00:11:49,888 So she explains all the stuff that happened between her and Boaz. 318 00:11:50,024 --> 00:11:52,720 And she said, these six measures of barley gave he me. 319 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,900 For he said to me, go not empty unto thy mother in law. 320 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:57,352 And this is the truth. 321 00:11:57,376 --> 00:11:59,064 I mean, sometimes we feel like we're empty. 322 00:11:59,112 --> 00:12:00,752 Sometimes we feel like we are without. 323 00:12:00,816 --> 00:12:03,180 But God always gives us everything that we need. 324 00:12:03,610 --> 00:12:05,230 Philippians, chapter four. 325 00:12:05,850 --> 00:12:09,162 Paul says, God, my God, shall supply all your need. 326 00:12:09,306 --> 00:12:12,634 And so when God is making us go through something, or at least 327 00:12:09,306 --> 00:12:14,218 allowing us to go through something, 328 00:12:09,306 --> 00:12:15,682 he's always going to give us the provisions 329 00:12:09,306 --> 00:12:17,330 that we need to get through that 330 00:12:09,306 --> 00:12:18,442 struggle, even though it might not 331 00:12:09,306 --> 00:12:19,698 feel that way sometimes. 332 00:12:19,834 --> 00:12:21,706 But he's given us enough in his word. 333 00:12:21,738 --> 00:12:24,602 He's given us enough in his presence for us to understand that 334 00:12:21,738 --> 00:12:25,634 we can trust in something. 335 00:12:25,682 --> 00:12:28,522 It's not like God just leaves us out on a ledge and doesn't give 336 00:12:25,682 --> 00:12:30,218 us truths in his word so that we 337 00:12:25,682 --> 00:12:31,350 can trust in that. 338 00:12:31,530 --> 00:12:36,518 The word of God is a rich depth of faith that we can have in 339 00:12:31,530 --> 00:12:38,102 the concept of, hey, this is what 340 00:12:31,530 --> 00:12:38,950 we go back to. 341 00:12:39,030 --> 00:12:42,102 God tells me all these things, and so I can go back to that. 342 00:12:42,286 --> 00:12:45,046 And I think that that's important to realize when we're coming 343 00:12:42,286 --> 00:12:46,486 to this understanding of trust and 344 00:12:42,286 --> 00:12:46,750 faith. 345 00:12:46,790 --> 00:12:47,134 Right? 346 00:12:47,222 --> 00:12:48,742 Faith cometh by hearing. 347 00:12:48,806 --> 00:12:50,770 This is Romans chapter ten, verse 17. 348 00:12:51,110 --> 00:12:55,290 Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 349 00:12:55,950 --> 00:12:59,206 And so if you want to grow in your faith, you have to grow in the 350 00:12:55,950 --> 00:13:00,566 understanding of what God's word 351 00:12:55,950 --> 00:13:00,790 says. 352 00:13:00,830 --> 00:13:02,078 It's always linked together. 353 00:13:02,214 --> 00:13:04,814 You can't just grow in faith by saying, well, I'm just gonna try 354 00:13:02,214 --> 00:13:05,570 harder. 355 00:13:05,990 --> 00:13:08,982 I'm just gonna, like, really pull myself up on my bootstraps and 356 00:13:05,990 --> 00:13:09,814 keep trying. 357 00:13:09,982 --> 00:13:13,102 The truth is that when we don't have that proper object of 358 00:13:09,982 --> 00:13:14,510 faith, we're never gonna have solid 359 00:13:09,982 --> 00:13:14,766 faith. 360 00:13:14,798 --> 00:13:16,566 We're never gonna have a solid footing. 361 00:13:16,758 --> 00:13:19,718 Like, I put my faith in a lot of things sometimes, and probably 362 00:13:16,758 --> 00:13:21,006 not the greatest things to put my faith 363 00:13:16,758 --> 00:13:21,614 in. 364 00:13:21,782 --> 00:13:24,966 You know, there's been times I don't know about you, I don't like 365 00:13:21,782 --> 00:13:26,262 heights, but sometimes I've climbed 366 00:13:21,782 --> 00:13:28,046 up on some ladders that probably weren't 367 00:13:21,782 --> 00:13:28,822 very trustworthy. 368 00:13:28,846 --> 00:13:29,242 Okay? 369 00:13:29,326 --> 00:13:31,338 I probably shouldn't have trusted them, and I probably shouldn't 370 00:13:29,326 --> 00:13:32,802 have gone as high as I did on that 371 00:13:29,326 --> 00:13:33,458 ladder. 372 00:13:33,594 --> 00:13:35,826 The truth is, is that sometimes we put our faith and trust 373 00:13:33,594 --> 00:13:38,914 in something that is really not reliable. 374 00:13:39,042 --> 00:13:41,858 But the truth is that when God calls us to do something, and when 375 00:13:39,042 --> 00:13:43,402 he asks us to do something, it's 376 00:13:39,042 --> 00:13:44,362 the most reliable thing. 377 00:13:44,386 --> 00:13:47,218 And the reason we can have that proof is through his word. 378 00:13:47,314 --> 00:13:49,882 And so she says, I have what I need here. 379 00:13:49,906 --> 00:13:50,858 He didn't leave me empty. 380 00:13:50,914 --> 00:13:51,790 Verse 18. 381 00:13:52,250 --> 00:13:56,732 Then she said, this is Naomi's advice to Ruthenhenne, which at this 382 00:13:52,250 --> 00:13:58,172 point in time, Naomi is giving good 383 00:13:52,250 --> 00:13:58,692 advice. 384 00:13:58,796 --> 00:14:02,236 She wasn't giving good advice back in chapter one, okay? 385 00:14:02,308 --> 00:14:05,284 If you remember back then, she was telling Ruth to stay in Moab. 386 00:14:05,452 --> 00:14:07,052 Keep worshipping your idols. 387 00:14:07,156 --> 00:14:10,076 Even further on, Naomi said, hey, I'm bitter. 388 00:14:10,268 --> 00:14:12,316 God's taken everything away from me now. 389 00:14:12,348 --> 00:14:15,652 Naomi's perception has changed, and now she's a lady that's 390 00:14:12,348 --> 00:14:16,980 giving wonderful advice. 391 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:20,000 She says, sit still, my daughter. 392 00:14:20,540 --> 00:14:23,168 That's reminiscent of that psalm 46 passage. 393 00:14:23,284 --> 00:14:25,288 Be still and know that I am God. 394 00:14:25,464 --> 00:14:28,696 She said, there is a time in the midst of a struggle that you 395 00:14:25,464 --> 00:14:30,512 have to sit still and trust in your 396 00:14:25,464 --> 00:14:31,740 kinsman redeemer. 397 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,112 And that is one of the hardest things to do. 398 00:14:34,216 --> 00:14:36,744 One of the hardest things to do is just sit and be patient and 399 00:14:34,216 --> 00:14:38,660 wait for God to do his work. 400 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:41,648 A lot of times, we want it right now. 401 00:14:41,784 --> 00:14:42,936 We live in that society. 402 00:14:43,008 --> 00:14:45,648 We live in a smartphone society where everything, we can 403 00:14:43,008 --> 00:14:47,328 just pull it up, and that's access. 404 00:14:47,424 --> 00:14:47,904 Right now. 405 00:14:47,952 --> 00:14:49,660 Right now, I guarantee you. 406 00:14:50,350 --> 00:14:51,798 But let me say it this way. 407 00:14:51,854 --> 00:14:53,598 Yesterday my phone stopped working. 408 00:14:53,774 --> 00:14:54,438 Okay? 409 00:14:54,534 --> 00:14:55,214 It stopped working. 410 00:14:55,262 --> 00:14:56,110 About 430. 411 00:14:56,150 --> 00:14:57,118 I don't know what it was. 412 00:14:57,174 --> 00:15:00,970 It popped up all these error codes, and I didn't have reception. 413 00:15:01,270 --> 00:15:01,806 You know what? 414 00:15:01,838 --> 00:15:04,294 I think it was like 430 by 438. 415 00:15:04,382 --> 00:15:06,454 I was at the Verizon store, okay? 416 00:15:06,542 --> 00:15:07,790 I'm like, I gotta have my phone. 417 00:15:07,830 --> 00:15:08,086 Okay? 418 00:15:08,118 --> 00:15:09,150 This is my access point. 419 00:15:09,190 --> 00:15:10,822 This is where I do everything this is where I do my work. 420 00:15:10,846 --> 00:15:12,278 This is where people communicate to me. 421 00:15:12,374 --> 00:15:14,918 So I drove over there and they fixed it for me, and I got out, and 422 00:15:12,374 --> 00:15:16,586 I was like, peace, right? 423 00:15:16,658 --> 00:15:20,106 But for those eight minutes, I was stressed because I'm like, someone 424 00:15:16,658 --> 00:15:21,426 could be reaching out to me, right? 425 00:15:21,538 --> 00:15:24,802 And I started realizing, what, you know, where have I gotten to 426 00:15:21,538 --> 00:15:26,658 in my life where I'm so reliant on 427 00:15:21,538 --> 00:15:27,202 this now? 428 00:15:27,306 --> 00:15:28,290 There are reasons for that. 429 00:15:28,330 --> 00:15:30,938 My wife was out with the kids somewhere else, and I didn't have 430 00:15:28,330 --> 00:15:32,922 a way to contact her, and I was concerned 431 00:15:28,330 --> 00:15:34,058 that she might need me. 432 00:15:34,154 --> 00:15:35,058 So there are things. 433 00:15:35,154 --> 00:15:37,402 It's not like I was just playing games on my phone and I couldn't 434 00:15:35,154 --> 00:15:38,298 take eight minutes without it. 435 00:15:38,314 --> 00:15:41,050 I just wanted to make sure that my wife wasn't traveling and 436 00:15:38,314 --> 00:15:41,554 needed something. 437 00:15:41,602 --> 00:15:46,294 But anyway, the concept of this immediate gratification has 438 00:15:41,602 --> 00:15:49,430 caused us as believers to struggle 439 00:15:41,602 --> 00:15:50,950 with this understanding of being patient 440 00:15:41,602 --> 00:15:52,454 and waiting on God to do his work. 441 00:15:52,502 --> 00:15:56,382 Sometimes God is going to do it in his timing, and most of the 442 00:15:52,502 --> 00:15:58,550 time, our timing is not God's timing. 443 00:15:58,710 --> 00:16:01,022 Like, come on, lord, when are you going to do this? 444 00:16:01,126 --> 00:16:02,590 When are you going to work this out? 445 00:16:02,750 --> 00:16:07,262 And so, for her, this was just one evening, but it probably seemed 446 00:16:02,750 --> 00:16:08,048 like an eternity. 447 00:16:08,134 --> 00:16:12,356 But Naomi says, sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the 448 00:16:08,134 --> 00:16:14,172 matter will fall. 449 00:16:14,356 --> 00:16:18,396 She essentially tells her this advice, don't stress about it till 450 00:16:14,356 --> 00:16:19,708 it actually comes to pass. 451 00:16:19,844 --> 00:16:23,372 There's nothing you can do right now except for trusting in 452 00:16:19,844 --> 00:16:26,360 God, praying, giving it over to him. 453 00:16:27,140 --> 00:16:30,300 And I want you to see another passage of scripture that ties so 454 00:16:27,140 --> 00:16:31,764 well into this, and that's Philippians 455 00:16:27,140 --> 00:16:32,800 chapter four. 456 00:16:33,300 --> 00:16:36,430 We've already mentioned in Philippians chapter four the principle 457 00:16:33,300 --> 00:16:38,210 of God providing needs. 458 00:16:38,910 --> 00:16:43,774 But in Philippians chapter four, we also see this idea of prayer 459 00:16:38,910 --> 00:16:45,238 and giving it over to God in the 460 00:16:38,910 --> 00:16:46,570 midst of anxiety. 461 00:16:48,350 --> 00:16:51,878 I know for me a lot of different things bring me anxieties 462 00:16:48,350 --> 00:16:54,230 and concerns and tempt me to not trust 463 00:16:48,350 --> 00:16:55,126 in God. 464 00:16:55,318 --> 00:16:59,150 But whatever it is for you, Philippians chapter four, verse six, 465 00:16:55,318 --> 00:17:00,606 says something very interesting. 466 00:17:00,638 --> 00:17:06,720 It says, be careful or I be anxious for nothing, but in everything 467 00:17:00,638 --> 00:17:10,320 by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. 468 00:17:10,780 --> 00:17:14,196 So we're asking in faith, let your request be made known unto God. 469 00:17:14,308 --> 00:17:16,876 So the Bible tells us what to do when we're being still, and that 470 00:17:14,308 --> 00:17:20,060 is to bring our requests, our struggles, 471 00:17:14,308 --> 00:17:22,540 our anxieties, our cares over to 472 00:17:14,308 --> 00:17:24,108 God with thanksgiving. 473 00:17:24,164 --> 00:17:26,684 Meaning, Lord, you're gonna do what you're gonna do, and I know 474 00:17:24,164 --> 00:17:27,561 it's good. 475 00:17:27,715 --> 00:17:29,053 And do all that. 476 00:17:29,221 --> 00:17:30,909 And what does it say in verse number seven? 477 00:17:30,989 --> 00:17:36,245 And the peace of God which passeth all understanding. 478 00:17:36,277 --> 00:17:38,797 Meaning no one can understand this outside of those who are in 479 00:17:36,277 --> 00:17:39,301 Christ. 480 00:17:39,445 --> 00:17:42,149 And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep 481 00:17:39,445 --> 00:17:44,077 your hearts and minds through Christ 482 00:17:39,445 --> 00:17:44,829 Jesus. 483 00:17:44,989 --> 00:17:49,317 And so in the midst of conflict or the midst of crisis, 484 00:17:44,989 --> 00:17:50,997 or in the midst of anxieties, what do we 485 00:17:44,989 --> 00:17:51,381 do? 486 00:17:51,485 --> 00:17:52,733 We turn it over to the Lord. 487 00:17:52,781 --> 00:17:53,421 Be careful. 488 00:17:53,485 --> 00:17:57,104 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, 489 00:17:53,485 --> 00:17:58,800 let your request be made known unto God 490 00:17:53,485 --> 00:17:59,860 with thanksgiving. 491 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:04,960 And therefore, the product of that patience is what peace? 492 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:06,500 The peace of God. 493 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,424 And so that's an amazing product of that patience. 494 00:18:09,472 --> 00:18:13,336 And we even see that in Galatians, we see the fruit of the 495 00:18:09,472 --> 00:18:13,712 spirit. 496 00:18:13,776 --> 00:18:18,048 One of the elements of the fruit of the spirit would be in the 497 00:18:13,776 --> 00:18:18,480 King James. 498 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:21,814 It says long suffering, which is a good way to describe patience, 499 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:23,122 suffering long. 500 00:18:23,266 --> 00:18:25,874 But the Bible says that there is this understanding that when we're 501 00:18:23,266 --> 00:18:28,642 in the spirit, we're more able to 502 00:18:23,266 --> 00:18:31,106 be long suffering and be patient 503 00:18:23,266 --> 00:18:34,310 and wait upon the peace of God. 504 00:18:34,650 --> 00:18:37,842 And so we go back to Ruth and we see Naomi giving Ruth this same 505 00:18:34,650 --> 00:18:38,370 advice. 506 00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:42,570 Basically this sit still, wait, allow God to work out this 507 00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:45,674 matter, for the man will not be in 508 00:18:38,450 --> 00:18:46,310 rest. 509 00:18:47,620 --> 00:18:52,700 So she contrasts Ruth's role in this problem and Boaz's role. 510 00:18:52,860 --> 00:18:54,172 What's Ruth's role? 511 00:18:54,316 --> 00:18:56,212 Sit still, be patient. 512 00:18:56,316 --> 00:18:57,040 Trust. 513 00:18:57,660 --> 00:19:00,268 What's Boaz's role as the kinsman Redeemer? 514 00:19:00,444 --> 00:19:06,500 Well, this man will not be in rest until he have finished the thing 515 00:19:00,444 --> 00:19:07,060 this day. 516 00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:09,460 Meaning Boaz is the one doing the work. 517 00:19:09,580 --> 00:19:11,580 Boaz is the kinsman redeemer. 518 00:19:11,740 --> 00:19:13,774 Let him do the thing that he does. 519 00:19:13,932 --> 00:19:16,810 And that's what it means for us as christians to say, let God 520 00:19:13,932 --> 00:19:17,474 do his work. 521 00:19:17,522 --> 00:19:21,018 Trust in him, trust in his goodness, trust in his holiness, 522 00:19:17,522 --> 00:19:23,634 trust in his power, trust in his provision. 523 00:19:23,682 --> 00:19:24,642 And say, you know what? 524 00:19:24,786 --> 00:19:25,778 I can't stress about this. 525 00:19:25,794 --> 00:19:26,950 This isn't my issue. 526 00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:30,250 There are certain things that we should have concern over things 527 00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:31,950 that we're doing in our life, about 528 00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:34,634 the actions that we do and the reactions 529 00:19:27,770 --> 00:19:35,530 that we have. 530 00:19:35,650 --> 00:19:38,218 But really, sometimes there's going to be things that are outside 531 00:19:35,650 --> 00:19:39,890 of our control that we can't stress 532 00:19:35,650 --> 00:19:42,430 about because that literally will bring 533 00:19:35,650 --> 00:19:46,494 us to a place of selfishness, pride 534 00:19:35,650 --> 00:19:47,750 and anxiety. 535 00:19:47,910 --> 00:19:50,966 And then that will lead to a very negative place because we're 536 00:19:47,910 --> 00:19:52,062 thinking it's all about us. 537 00:19:52,086 --> 00:19:53,454 We're thinking it's all on us. 538 00:19:53,502 --> 00:19:56,998 And really the truth is that the Bible tells us that our salvation, 539 00:19:53,502 --> 00:19:58,662 our redemption, is not on us. 540 00:19:58,686 --> 00:20:00,134 It's ultimately on the Lord. 541 00:20:00,222 --> 00:20:04,390 And so we see a transition from verse 18 to verse one. 542 00:20:04,510 --> 00:20:07,470 And you know that the chapter divisions are there for organization. 543 00:20:07,550 --> 00:20:10,150 So the story continues on, and we got to see what happens in verse 544 00:20:07,550 --> 00:20:13,384 one, because now we shift focus from 545 00:20:07,550 --> 00:20:16,300 Ruth and her challenge of patience 546 00:20:07,550 --> 00:20:20,568 and prayer and peace to now the kinsman 547 00:20:07,550 --> 00:20:22,872 Redeemer, what he's doing, and that's 548 00:20:07,550 --> 00:20:23,560 Boaz. 549 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,940 And so verse one says, then Boaz then went Boaz up to the gate 550 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:29,656 and sat him down there. 551 00:20:29,688 --> 00:20:33,936 Now, a lot of people might ask the question, maybe you don't. 552 00:20:33,968 --> 00:20:35,848 Maybe you didn't catch it, but, like, why is he going to the 553 00:20:33,968 --> 00:20:36,420 gate? 554 00:20:36,820 --> 00:20:39,040 There is great significance to the gate. 555 00:20:39,780 --> 00:20:45,524 The gate was the place where everyone that was any importance 556 00:20:39,780 --> 00:20:46,380 would go to. 557 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:47,988 It wasn't just the gate of the city. 558 00:20:48,044 --> 00:20:50,900 It was the place where a lot of matters would be judged. 559 00:20:51,020 --> 00:20:54,316 It would be the place where all the powerful men would sit, all 560 00:20:51,020 --> 00:20:55,188 the wise men. 561 00:20:55,244 --> 00:20:59,460 And people would come with needs, they would come with concerns, 562 00:20:55,244 --> 00:21:01,044 they would come with conflict. 563 00:21:01,132 --> 00:21:02,582 It would be a place of trade. 564 00:21:02,716 --> 00:21:05,306 It would be a place where people would sell their wares. 565 00:21:05,458 --> 00:21:09,042 And when I was in Israel, if we could actually throw up, I have 566 00:21:05,458 --> 00:21:10,190 a picture up there. 567 00:21:10,770 --> 00:21:12,042 Hopefully you guys can find it. 568 00:21:12,066 --> 00:21:13,458 It's on the slides there. 569 00:21:13,554 --> 00:21:16,226 When I was in Israel, we actually got to go to one of these 570 00:21:13,554 --> 00:21:18,922 gates, and the words weren't there. 571 00:21:19,066 --> 00:21:22,230 If you could take those words down, you can see the gate there. 572 00:21:24,650 --> 00:21:26,550 Yeah, we'll get it up there in a second. 573 00:21:27,130 --> 00:21:28,186 It's going to be hard for you. 574 00:21:28,218 --> 00:21:31,224 I'm the one in the very middle, the dark blue there. 575 00:21:31,312 --> 00:21:34,432 Not that it matters, but if you can tell there's a wall there, 576 00:21:31,312 --> 00:21:36,344 and then there was like a bench that 577 00:21:31,312 --> 00:21:37,424 the people would sit. 578 00:21:37,472 --> 00:21:39,440 So they said, when we're in Israel, they're like, all right, 579 00:21:37,472 --> 00:21:41,584 all the pastors, all the wise men. 580 00:21:41,632 --> 00:21:42,992 Okay, we want you to go sit. 581 00:21:43,016 --> 00:21:46,584 So that was all the pastors on our tour, and we all sat down there. 582 00:21:46,632 --> 00:21:49,088 But it's interesting how it would go, because basically it would 583 00:21:46,632 --> 00:21:49,920 be like an l shape. 584 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:51,000 They would go in. 585 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:53,464 There would be like a bench, and then they would come around. 586 00:21:53,592 --> 00:21:55,654 And so there would be security there as well. 587 00:21:55,792 --> 00:21:58,338 And so that picture is just kind of showing you what it would 588 00:21:55,792 --> 00:21:58,786 have been like. 589 00:21:58,818 --> 00:22:02,154 Boaz is going, and he's sitting at the gate waiting for this 590 00:21:58,818 --> 00:22:04,322 other man who would have been probably 591 00:21:58,818 --> 00:22:06,842 wealthy, well, to do powerful. 592 00:22:06,906 --> 00:22:08,570 He would have gone through that gate as well. 593 00:22:08,650 --> 00:22:11,386 And so he knew that this was a place where this person would be. 594 00:22:11,418 --> 00:22:13,058 So he's in the place that he should be. 595 00:22:13,074 --> 00:22:16,162 So you guys can go ahead and take that down if you want to know 596 00:22:13,074 --> 00:22:16,442 more. 597 00:22:16,506 --> 00:22:18,658 If you want pictures about stuff I was doing in Israel, I'll 598 00:22:16,506 --> 00:22:19,650 try to throw them up when I can, 599 00:22:16,506 --> 00:22:20,802 when they're applicable. 600 00:22:20,986 --> 00:22:22,920 That was, I believe, at the same time of Dan. 601 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:24,888 That's in northern Israel. 602 00:22:25,064 --> 00:22:26,816 But anyway, so that's the gate. 603 00:22:26,848 --> 00:22:28,280 That's the gate that he went to. 604 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,620 Not that specific gate, but a gate like that. 605 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,112 And he sat down there and behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz 606 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:35,500 spake came by. 607 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:37,200 So now here's his moment. 608 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,440 Boaz is going to petition for Ruth, but he can't just say, I want 609 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:43,408 Ruth and you don't want her, because 610 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:44,952 the rightful thing for Boaz to do, 611 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:46,512 the honorable thing is to offer it 612 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:46,944 to him. 613 00:22:46,992 --> 00:22:49,618 That's what he has to do if he's an honorable man, which we see, 614 00:22:46,992 --> 00:22:51,190 Boaz is an honorable man. 615 00:22:51,570 --> 00:22:54,842 And so Boaz comes in and then what does he say here? 616 00:22:54,866 --> 00:22:55,786 This is a really interesting thing. 617 00:22:55,818 --> 00:22:57,282 He says, ho such a one. 618 00:22:57,426 --> 00:22:59,470 Now that's an interesting thing to say. 619 00:23:00,450 --> 00:23:03,618 If you were to put it in our terms today, it basically means mister 620 00:23:00,450 --> 00:23:04,274 so and so. 621 00:23:04,322 --> 00:23:05,670 He doesn't say the name. 622 00:23:06,570 --> 00:23:09,506 And a lot of commentators would say, why doesn't he say a name? 623 00:23:09,538 --> 00:23:11,070 He obviously knew this person. 624 00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:14,066 A lot of commentators would say that this person doesn't get 625 00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:16,170 the honor of having his name in scripture 626 00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:18,942 because of his, his act that he does 627 00:23:11,690 --> 00:23:19,126 here. 628 00:23:19,158 --> 00:23:21,182 Basically, he denies his responsibility. 629 00:23:21,366 --> 00:23:23,478 And we're going to see this come to pass here. 630 00:23:23,494 --> 00:23:26,622 So he misses the opportunity to be the kinsman redeemer. 631 00:23:26,646 --> 00:23:28,526 And so therefore he doesn't get any honor here. 632 00:23:28,598 --> 00:23:32,294 So we have a guy named Boaz who is going to get the honor because 633 00:23:28,598 --> 00:23:34,270 of his responsibility and his faith 634 00:23:28,598 --> 00:23:36,182 and his trust and his action. 635 00:23:36,366 --> 00:23:40,286 And then we see this other guy who had the opportunity and selfishly 636 00:23:36,366 --> 00:23:42,310 turns it down so he gets no recognition 637 00:23:36,366 --> 00:23:42,796 here. 638 00:23:42,918 --> 00:23:44,264 Ho such a one. 639 00:23:44,432 --> 00:23:45,240 Turn aside. 640 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:46,032 Sit down here. 641 00:23:46,056 --> 00:23:47,312 And he turned aside and sat down. 642 00:23:47,336 --> 00:23:49,192 So he's going to get his attention here. 643 00:23:49,376 --> 00:23:52,980 He's going to come to this place where he's going to petition. 644 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:57,112 And, you know, I think that this was probably at least if I was 645 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:58,880 Boaz, I would be nervous, right? 646 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,424 Because now Boaz is like, great, I have a wife, but now I got 647 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:03,072 to get this guy to not take her as 648 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:03,640 a wife, right? 649 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,696 So this is, this is, there's a lot at stake for Boaz here because 650 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:08,510 remember, Boaz is nothing. 651 00:24:08,540 --> 00:24:11,706 A perfect kinsman redeemer, like our savior is a perfect kinsman 652 00:24:08,540 --> 00:24:12,042 redeemer. 653 00:24:12,066 --> 00:24:13,482 So Boaz still has flaws. 654 00:24:13,586 --> 00:24:14,834 He's still a human being. 655 00:24:14,962 --> 00:24:17,498 And so Boaz is going to basically explain it. 656 00:24:17,554 --> 00:24:19,642 But before he does that, we see him again. 657 00:24:19,706 --> 00:24:21,546 Being an honorable man, he brings witnesses. 658 00:24:21,578 --> 00:24:23,190 Now, why does he bring witnesses? 659 00:24:23,490 --> 00:24:25,466 Well, very similar to why we would bring witnesses. 660 00:24:25,498 --> 00:24:27,618 So there would be people that were watching, so that there would 661 00:24:25,498 --> 00:24:29,722 be people who could vouch for what is 662 00:24:25,498 --> 00:24:30,074 said here. 663 00:24:30,082 --> 00:24:32,210 And so he took ten men of the elders of the city. 664 00:24:32,330 --> 00:24:34,692 Again, picture in your mind that gate, okay? 665 00:24:34,716 --> 00:24:35,908 That gate with everyone sitting there. 666 00:24:35,924 --> 00:24:37,340 He says, hey, ten of you, come here. 667 00:24:37,380 --> 00:24:38,228 Listen to this. 668 00:24:38,364 --> 00:24:39,700 And he says, sit ye down here. 669 00:24:39,740 --> 00:24:40,436 And they sat down. 670 00:24:40,468 --> 00:24:43,716 And he said unto the kinsman Naomi, that is, come again. 671 00:24:43,828 --> 00:24:48,412 Out of the country of Moab selleth a parcel of land which was 672 00:24:43,828 --> 00:24:50,120 our brother Elimelech's. 673 00:24:50,460 --> 00:24:54,100 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, buy it before the inhabitants 674 00:24:50,460 --> 00:24:56,140 and before the elders of my people. 675 00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:58,444 If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it. 676 00:24:58,572 --> 00:25:02,020 But if thou will not redeem it, then tell me that I may know, 677 00:24:58,572 --> 00:25:04,260 for there is none to redeem it beside 678 00:24:58,572 --> 00:25:07,028 thee, and I am after thee. 679 00:25:07,124 --> 00:25:09,348 And he said, I will redeem it. 680 00:25:09,404 --> 00:25:12,196 Now, you might say, what's going on here? 681 00:25:12,308 --> 00:25:13,924 He didn't mention anything about Ruth. 682 00:25:14,052 --> 00:25:16,612 Well, there's actually a few elements to the Kinsman Redeemer. 683 00:25:16,636 --> 00:25:21,508 It's not just about a spouse being reunited with the family, but 684 00:25:16,636 --> 00:25:23,540 it's also about the land to be reunited 685 00:25:16,636 --> 00:25:24,212 to the family. 686 00:25:24,316 --> 00:25:26,400 So the kinsman redeemed are played different roles. 687 00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:29,488 He was also the person who would redeem the land. 688 00:25:29,544 --> 00:25:31,020 He would buy back the land. 689 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:36,136 And so, for whatever reason, Boaz presents the land first. 690 00:25:36,328 --> 00:25:39,040 He says, hey, there's some land that you can acquire because 691 00:25:36,328 --> 00:25:40,480 you're the kinsman redeemer. 692 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:41,952 Would you be willing to redeem this? 693 00:25:41,976 --> 00:25:46,600 Because Naomi's well past her age of childbearing, and so he doesn't 694 00:25:41,976 --> 00:25:47,520 mention Ruth here. 695 00:25:47,560 --> 00:25:48,864 He only mentions Naomi. 696 00:25:48,952 --> 00:25:50,520 And he says, naomi has some land. 697 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:52,116 Would you redeem it back? 698 00:25:52,288 --> 00:25:55,636 And what guy wouldn't want in some land, right? 699 00:25:55,668 --> 00:25:57,436 He was like, great, I will do it. 700 00:25:57,468 --> 00:25:58,564 I will redeem it. 701 00:25:58,692 --> 00:26:02,172 And probably in Boaz's heart, you know, at least sometimes we don't 702 00:25:58,692 --> 00:26:03,756 want to speculate, but in my heart, 703 00:25:58,692 --> 00:26:05,940 if I was Boaz, I'd be like, oh, no, 704 00:25:58,692 --> 00:26:06,892 my heart would have sunk. 705 00:26:06,916 --> 00:26:10,300 When he says, I'll redeem it, I'll do it, because it's a package 706 00:26:06,916 --> 00:26:10,612 deal. 707 00:26:10,676 --> 00:26:12,108 With the land comes Ruth. 708 00:26:12,164 --> 00:26:14,240 With the land comes being a husband. 709 00:26:15,220 --> 00:26:19,902 And so we're going to see here that he's going to add more to it. 710 00:26:20,046 --> 00:26:25,210 Then said, boaz, what day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, 711 00:26:20,046 --> 00:26:28,142 thou must buy it also of Ruth, the 712 00:26:20,046 --> 00:26:30,838 Moabitess, the wife of the dead, 713 00:26:20,046 --> 00:26:33,894 to raise up the name of the dead upon 714 00:26:20,046 --> 00:26:34,702 his inheritance. 715 00:26:34,766 --> 00:26:37,830 So he says, well, there's more to the story. 716 00:26:37,910 --> 00:26:41,726 You're going to get some land, but you're also going to have a wife, 717 00:26:37,910 --> 00:26:44,390 a Moabitess wife, for that matter. 718 00:26:44,770 --> 00:26:47,210 And we see this man, we don't know his name again. 719 00:26:47,290 --> 00:26:50,802 And so, selfishly, I believe he says, great, I'll take the land, 720 00:26:47,290 --> 00:26:51,978 of course. 721 00:26:52,154 --> 00:26:55,170 But when the wife is thrown in, we see him backpedal. 722 00:26:55,210 --> 00:26:58,226 We see him go, whoa, that's not for me. 723 00:26:58,258 --> 00:27:00,346 So selfishly, he didn't want to do that work. 724 00:27:00,378 --> 00:27:01,666 He didn't want to go that far. 725 00:27:01,778 --> 00:27:04,082 He wanted the benefit of the land, but he didn't want to do the 726 00:27:01,778 --> 00:27:05,674 work truly as a complete kinsman 727 00:27:01,778 --> 00:27:06,550 redeemer. 728 00:27:07,210 --> 00:27:10,190 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself. 729 00:27:11,010 --> 00:27:14,150 And we see more to his heart in his explanation here. 730 00:27:14,490 --> 00:27:18,230 He says, lest I mar mine own inheritance. 731 00:27:18,530 --> 00:27:21,442 So he says, hey, I was willing to gain something from this, but 732 00:27:18,530 --> 00:27:23,430 I'm not willing to sacrifice anything. 733 00:27:23,770 --> 00:27:26,562 I'm not willing to give up any of my inheritance, because probably 734 00:27:23,770 --> 00:27:28,746 he had children that he needed to delegate 735 00:27:23,770 --> 00:27:29,986 the money to and give that money 736 00:27:23,770 --> 00:27:30,906 to eventually. 737 00:27:31,018 --> 00:27:33,426 And he's like, no, I don't want to lose anything that I have 738 00:27:31,018 --> 00:27:34,034 already. 739 00:27:34,202 --> 00:27:35,910 I'm not willing to sacrifice. 740 00:27:36,230 --> 00:27:39,686 This is a perfect picture of every other thing in the world that 741 00:27:36,230 --> 00:27:40,974 people put their faith in, right? 742 00:27:41,062 --> 00:27:44,150 There is nobody or nothing that's willing to sacrifice for you 743 00:27:41,062 --> 00:27:45,526 or at least give up their life. 744 00:27:45,638 --> 00:27:48,686 Jesus is the only kinsman Redeemer who said, look, I'm willing 745 00:27:45,638 --> 00:27:50,318 to put my life on the line for you. 746 00:27:50,414 --> 00:27:52,046 I'm willing to die for you. 747 00:27:52,198 --> 00:27:55,926 And so this is a picture of a willing kinsman redeemer, willing 748 00:27:52,198 --> 00:27:56,982 to sacrifice. 749 00:27:57,126 --> 00:27:59,294 Boaz is the one willing to sacrifice. 750 00:27:59,462 --> 00:28:01,670 This other fellow is not willing to sacrifice. 751 00:28:01,710 --> 00:28:05,214 He says, that's going to marden my own inheritance. 752 00:28:05,382 --> 00:28:08,902 Redeem thou my right to thyself, for I cannot redeem it. 753 00:28:08,926 --> 00:28:12,886 So Boaz's heart goes down, and then it goes back up, because this 754 00:28:08,926 --> 00:28:14,582 man says, look, I want to redeem 755 00:28:08,926 --> 00:28:17,158 it, but if it means losing my inheritance, 756 00:28:08,926 --> 00:28:18,286 not going to happen. 757 00:28:18,398 --> 00:28:19,126 You can take it. 758 00:28:19,158 --> 00:28:20,330 You can have this. 759 00:28:20,710 --> 00:28:23,782 And I think that's a beautiful picture of the relationship that 760 00:28:20,710 --> 00:28:24,798 we have to Christ. 761 00:28:24,934 --> 00:28:27,782 He is the only one who offered that sacrifice for us. 762 00:28:27,926 --> 00:28:30,782 And then so many times we turn to these things in the world that 763 00:28:27,926 --> 00:28:32,206 we think are going to give us hope and 764 00:28:27,926 --> 00:28:33,254 peace and salvation. 765 00:28:33,382 --> 00:28:36,174 But let me tell you, none of those things ever, ever gave you 766 00:28:33,382 --> 00:28:37,570 the sacrifice of life. 767 00:28:38,190 --> 00:28:40,742 I used to tell the teenagers this all the time, but I could say 768 00:28:38,190 --> 00:28:41,638 this to adults. 769 00:28:41,774 --> 00:28:45,782 Those people that are putting out content on the Internet and Hollywood 770 00:28:41,774 --> 00:28:47,142 and whatever, they don't care about 771 00:28:41,774 --> 00:28:47,750 your well being. 772 00:28:47,790 --> 00:28:50,410 They want your dollars, they want your attention. 773 00:28:50,710 --> 00:28:53,718 But so many people are so given over to these things that are 774 00:28:50,710 --> 00:28:54,702 pulling them away. 775 00:28:54,846 --> 00:28:56,766 And the truth is, is that they don't love you. 776 00:28:56,918 --> 00:28:59,430 The one who loves you proved his love for you, and that's Jesus 777 00:28:56,918 --> 00:28:59,970 Christ. 778 00:29:00,110 --> 00:29:03,710 And therefore your kinsman redeemer is willing to sacrifice. 779 00:29:04,250 --> 00:29:07,778 So now we get into a really interesting thing here, and this 780 00:29:04,250 --> 00:29:09,530 is where we're going to kind of wrap 781 00:29:04,250 --> 00:29:10,830 up this evening. 782 00:29:11,850 --> 00:29:13,114 And so, verse seven. 783 00:29:13,162 --> 00:29:15,970 Now, this was the manner and former time in Israel concerning 784 00:29:13,162 --> 00:29:19,234 redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm 785 00:29:13,162 --> 00:29:20,150 all things. 786 00:29:21,170 --> 00:29:23,730 And we're not going to understand this, okay, you're going 787 00:29:21,170 --> 00:29:25,082 to say, what are we talking about 788 00:29:21,170 --> 00:29:25,464 here? 789 00:29:25,562 --> 00:29:28,420 Remember, this is thousands of years ago, different culture, different 790 00:29:25,562 --> 00:29:29,060 ways. 791 00:29:29,180 --> 00:29:31,028 This would have been the norm for them back then. 792 00:29:31,084 --> 00:29:31,612 Okay? 793 00:29:31,716 --> 00:29:35,956 So to confirm all things, a man plucked off his shoe and gave 794 00:29:31,716 --> 00:29:37,204 it to his neighbor. 795 00:29:37,372 --> 00:29:39,532 And this was a testimony of Israel. 796 00:29:39,676 --> 00:29:42,396 Therefore, the kinsman said unto Boaz, buy it for thee. 797 00:29:42,428 --> 00:29:44,080 So he drew off his shoe. 798 00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:47,236 And so you would say, what's going on here? 799 00:29:47,268 --> 00:29:48,988 This was just something that they would do. 800 00:29:49,044 --> 00:29:53,414 This was a ritual that they would accomplish in completing this 801 00:29:49,044 --> 00:29:56,214 task of the kinsman Redeemer. 802 00:29:56,382 --> 00:30:00,294 And so this would have been the custom of sandal transactions, 803 00:29:56,382 --> 00:30:00,926 verse nine. 804 00:30:00,958 --> 00:30:03,926 And Boaz said unto the elders and unto all the people, ye are witnesses 805 00:30:00,958 --> 00:30:06,742 this day that I have bought all that 806 00:30:00,958 --> 00:30:10,062 was elimelechs and all that was Chileans 807 00:30:00,958 --> 00:30:12,850 and Mahlons and the hand of Naomi. 808 00:30:13,630 --> 00:30:15,622 And so this was very, very interesting here. 809 00:30:15,646 --> 00:30:18,214 He says, basically, you are the witnesses. 810 00:30:18,262 --> 00:30:20,942 The world is the witness of what Jesus Christ did for us. 811 00:30:20,966 --> 00:30:26,350 And so all these people were the witnesses what Boaz did for Naomi 812 00:30:20,966 --> 00:30:27,382 and Ruth. 813 00:30:27,566 --> 00:30:30,662 And so, moreover, Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have 814 00:30:27,566 --> 00:30:32,806 I purchased to be my wife, to raise 815 00:30:27,566 --> 00:30:34,286 up the name of the dead upon his 816 00:30:27,566 --> 00:30:36,206 inheritance, that the name of the 817 00:30:27,566 --> 00:30:37,886 dead be not cut off from among his 818 00:30:27,566 --> 00:30:39,526 brethren and from the gate of this 819 00:30:27,566 --> 00:30:39,798 place. 820 00:30:39,854 --> 00:30:41,486 Ye are witnesses this day. 821 00:30:41,638 --> 00:30:45,774 And so everyone could be the witness of what Boaz was doing, and 822 00:30:41,638 --> 00:30:47,086 everyone could be a witness of what 823 00:30:41,638 --> 00:30:49,296 Jesus Christ has done for us and 824 00:30:41,638 --> 00:30:50,192 our lives. 825 00:30:50,376 --> 00:30:53,664 And so we're going to stop there, here this evening, because 826 00:30:50,376 --> 00:30:55,448 we're going to conclude it next week because 827 00:30:50,376 --> 00:30:56,736 there's more to the story. 828 00:30:56,888 --> 00:31:00,368 The story doesn't end with Boaz and Ruth's marriage. 829 00:31:00,464 --> 00:31:02,712 It actually continues on with a legacy. 830 00:31:02,776 --> 00:31:05,616 And we're going to talk about that legacy more, actually, not next 831 00:31:02,776 --> 00:31:05,792 week. 832 00:31:05,816 --> 00:31:09,008 We have a guest next week, but we will conclude that in two weeks. 833 00:31:09,024 --> 00:31:12,736 But I want to go with some takeaway thoughts here tonight because 834 00:31:09,024 --> 00:31:13,792 we're talking about this idea of 835 00:31:09,024 --> 00:31:14,616 kinsman Redeemer. 836 00:31:14,648 --> 00:31:15,062 But. 837 00:31:15,176 --> 00:31:18,562 But I think that in this story, one of the greatest lessons 838 00:31:15,176 --> 00:31:22,150 is that challenge for Ruth to be patient 839 00:31:15,176 --> 00:31:25,346 and to sit still and to trust in 840 00:31:15,176 --> 00:31:27,378 her kinsman redeemer to do the work 841 00:31:15,176 --> 00:31:29,186 and figure out that problem in her 842 00:31:15,176 --> 00:31:29,626 life. 843 00:31:29,738 --> 00:31:34,498 You know, I know that some people, by nature, are more prone 844 00:31:29,738 --> 00:31:37,138 to worry than others, but probably all 845 00:31:29,738 --> 00:31:38,578 of us at some point in our lives 846 00:31:29,738 --> 00:31:42,632 have a chance to wait and be patient or 847 00:31:29,738 --> 00:31:44,192 not be patient in the midst of a 848 00:31:29,738 --> 00:31:46,296 difficulty, in the midst of a quote 849 00:31:29,738 --> 00:31:47,260 unquote problem. 850 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:53,032 And, you know, I used to think growing up that if I could just run 851 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:54,728 away from all my problems, everything 852 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:55,296 would be okay. 853 00:31:55,328 --> 00:31:58,100 I remember one time, I don't know how old I was. 854 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:00,800 I couldn't have been much older than Micah, so I was probably 855 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:03,136 like ten or eleven years old, and I was 856 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:05,584 having a rebellious stage in my life, 857 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:07,144 and I was getting upset with my dad, 858 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:09,128 and my dad had all these rules, and 859 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:10,560 I said, fine, I'm going to run away 860 00:31:58,680 --> 00:32:11,256 from home. 861 00:32:11,368 --> 00:32:13,136 I don't know if any of you have ever went through that process 862 00:32:11,368 --> 00:32:13,824 in your mind. 863 00:32:13,912 --> 00:32:15,192 And I thought I really was going to. 864 00:32:15,216 --> 00:32:18,928 I went to my room and I started packing my bags, and I was 865 00:32:15,216 --> 00:32:19,544 like, I'm going. 866 00:32:19,592 --> 00:32:20,712 And my dad's like, oh, you're going to go? 867 00:32:20,736 --> 00:32:21,376 Okay. 868 00:32:21,528 --> 00:32:22,888 You better take some food with you. 869 00:32:22,944 --> 00:32:23,384 Better take. 870 00:32:23,432 --> 00:32:28,024 You know, my dad knew I wasn't going anywhere, but I was so set 871 00:32:23,432 --> 00:32:29,520 that I was going to go somewhere, 872 00:32:23,432 --> 00:32:30,976 and I was like, I'm going to go somewhere 873 00:32:23,432 --> 00:32:32,704 that doesn't have rules, and I'm going 874 00:32:23,432 --> 00:32:33,832 to make my own rules. 875 00:32:33,936 --> 00:32:39,138 And by the time I probably left and my parents probably could 876 00:32:33,936 --> 00:32:40,722 tell the story better than me, maybe 877 00:32:33,936 --> 00:32:41,458 they don't even remember it. 878 00:32:41,474 --> 00:32:41,802 I don't know. 879 00:32:41,826 --> 00:32:42,362 We'll see. 880 00:32:42,466 --> 00:32:44,618 But I'll have to ask them later if they're watching. 881 00:32:44,794 --> 00:32:48,030 But before I left, I realized, you know what? 882 00:32:48,370 --> 00:32:51,202 There's nowhere that I can go that I have it this good. 883 00:32:51,386 --> 00:32:54,430 There's no one that's going to love me like my dad and mom. 884 00:32:54,770 --> 00:32:57,634 There's no one that's going to protect me like my dad and mom, no 885 00:32:54,770 --> 00:32:58,810 one's going to feed me like them, 886 00:32:54,770 --> 00:32:59,026 right? 887 00:32:59,058 --> 00:33:01,362 There's all these things in my mind that are running through my 888 00:32:59,058 --> 00:33:03,330 mind, as rational as a ten or eleven 889 00:32:59,058 --> 00:33:03,946 year old could be. 890 00:33:03,978 --> 00:33:07,388 I started realizing that all of these things are never going to 891 00:33:03,978 --> 00:33:09,196 bring back to me what I have in that 892 00:33:03,978 --> 00:33:10,476 relationship with my parents. 893 00:33:10,628 --> 00:33:12,172 Now some of you might say, well, you know what? 894 00:33:12,196 --> 00:33:13,372 You didn't know my parents, okay? 895 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:15,428 I should have run away from them because I think I could have 896 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:17,372 found, no, I know what you're saying, 897 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:18,348 but we got to think about it from 898 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:19,724 the perspective of we have a perfect 899 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:21,660 father, we have a perfect heavenly 900 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:24,076 father who sometimes we feel like 901 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:25,596 we can go somewhere else and figure 902 00:33:13,396 --> 00:33:26,644 it out on our own. 903 00:33:26,772 --> 00:33:29,668 But he has us coming back every single time saying, look, I 904 00:33:26,772 --> 00:33:30,538 forgive you. 905 00:33:30,684 --> 00:33:33,614 It's the classic picture of the prodigal son, right? 906 00:33:33,702 --> 00:33:37,390 He meets us, he wraps his arms around us and he says, I alone can 907 00:33:33,702 --> 00:33:38,838 give you what you need. 908 00:33:38,894 --> 00:33:41,758 I alone can be sufficient in your life and provide for you and 909 00:33:38,894 --> 00:33:42,238 protect for you. 910 00:33:42,254 --> 00:33:46,694 So Ruth had the opportunity to stress and to worry and to fret about 911 00:33:42,254 --> 00:33:46,998 it. 912 00:33:47,054 --> 00:33:48,758 But then we have that picture of peace. 913 00:33:48,814 --> 00:33:49,590 Be still. 914 00:33:49,750 --> 00:33:51,966 And so I want you to think about that understanding of peace 915 00:33:49,750 --> 00:33:53,078 here this evening. 916 00:33:53,254 --> 00:33:56,810 Have you ever desired peace and quiet in your life? 917 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:01,544 By way of testimony, I have a house with a nine year old, a six 918 00:33:57,680 --> 00:34:03,712 year old and a eight month old. 919 00:34:03,896 --> 00:34:06,328 I desire peace sometimes, okay. 920 00:34:06,424 --> 00:34:09,000 Sometimes I'm like, I just want it to be peace and quiet, okay? 921 00:34:09,080 --> 00:34:12,984 But that's very far and few between in times of our house. 922 00:34:13,152 --> 00:34:16,200 But the truth is, is that there's a greater peace. 923 00:34:16,240 --> 00:34:19,664 I think sometimes that people are seeking after in this world. 924 00:34:19,712 --> 00:34:22,848 And we all know that some people try to seek that peace in 925 00:34:19,712 --> 00:34:25,286 all the wrong places and you could 926 00:34:19,712 --> 00:34:25,990 fill in the gap. 927 00:34:26,030 --> 00:34:26,638 Okay? 928 00:34:26,774 --> 00:34:31,270 I tried to do this to bring peace, but it didn't satisfy or temporarily. 929 00:34:31,310 --> 00:34:35,982 It satisfied for maybe a week or a month, maybe even a year or 930 00:34:31,310 --> 00:34:36,526 so. 931 00:34:36,678 --> 00:34:40,646 But ultimately those things of the world that are packaged so nicely 932 00:34:36,678 --> 00:34:43,630 to say, here's peace, here's pleasure, 933 00:34:36,678 --> 00:34:45,566 here's comfort, all of those things 934 00:34:36,678 --> 00:34:46,782 are eventually going to fall apart. 935 00:34:46,846 --> 00:34:50,214 All those things are going to rust away, that's eventually going 936 00:34:46,846 --> 00:34:50,926 to tear us down. 937 00:34:50,958 --> 00:34:53,910 But what the Bible says is that there is this peace that passeth 938 00:34:50,958 --> 00:34:55,090 all understanding. 939 00:34:56,090 --> 00:35:00,590 And if you have tasted of that peace, it's the most amazing thing, 940 00:34:56,090 --> 00:35:03,858 it's the most comforting thing to 941 00:34:56,090 --> 00:35:06,130 know that no matter what happens 942 00:34:56,090 --> 00:35:09,178 to you physically, emotionally and spiritually, 943 00:34:56,090 --> 00:35:11,042 that nobody can take away the love 944 00:34:56,090 --> 00:35:12,402 that God has for you. 945 00:35:12,546 --> 00:35:14,026 Romans chapter eight. 946 00:35:14,218 --> 00:35:19,394 If you are ever struggling with the concern of God caring about 947 00:35:14,218 --> 00:35:22,396 you or loving you or taking care 948 00:35:14,218 --> 00:35:24,028 of you in the midst of a difficulty, 949 00:35:14,218 --> 00:35:25,708 read Romans chapter eight. 950 00:35:25,884 --> 00:35:29,964 And if you believe the word of God as the word of God, Romans chapter 951 00:35:25,884 --> 00:35:31,988 eight will bring you right back to 952 00:35:25,884 --> 00:35:33,292 the place where you need to be. 953 00:35:33,436 --> 00:35:36,252 Because by the time you get to the end, it starts with in verse 954 00:35:33,436 --> 00:35:38,540 one, there's no more condemnation to those 955 00:35:33,436 --> 00:35:39,740 that are in Christ Jesus. 956 00:35:39,860 --> 00:35:42,772 And it ends with the fact that nothing in this world can separate 957 00:35:39,860 --> 00:35:43,620 us from the love of God. 958 00:35:43,660 --> 00:35:46,780 And he lists all of these things and he says, no, we're more 959 00:35:43,660 --> 00:35:47,880 than conquerors. 960 00:35:48,020 --> 00:35:50,816 Because no matter what comes in my life, I can still have that 961 00:35:48,020 --> 00:35:52,912 peace that passeth all understanding. 962 00:35:53,096 --> 00:35:55,352 And so there's going to be times that aren't peaceful in our 963 00:35:53,096 --> 00:35:55,488 life. 964 00:35:55,504 --> 00:35:57,616 There's going to be times where we don't believe that. 965 00:35:57,688 --> 00:35:59,472 There's going to be times where we go through struggles. 966 00:35:59,496 --> 00:36:02,296 But I'm going to tell you that that center point of God's peace 967 00:35:59,496 --> 00:36:04,720 is found in knowing him and knowing 968 00:35:59,496 --> 00:36:06,760 his word and resting in his presence 969 00:35:59,496 --> 00:36:08,576 in our life and just being still and knowing 970 00:35:59,496 --> 00:36:09,700 that he is God. 971 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:15,098 And one of the greatest things that I was able to accomplish in 972 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:16,890 my life when it comes to my spiritual 973 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:19,834 walk was not, hey, I gotta just try 974 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:20,378 harder. 975 00:36:20,474 --> 00:36:24,690 It was, I wanna just know God and know him in a deeper level. 976 00:36:24,810 --> 00:36:27,706 And the more I got to know him, the more I realized that he's 977 00:36:24,810 --> 00:36:29,034 not going to fail me. 978 00:36:29,202 --> 00:36:32,522 And there's gonna be days where, there's days where I'm talking 979 00:36:29,202 --> 00:36:34,570 to someone and I catch myself going, 980 00:36:29,202 --> 00:36:36,698 you know, I know this, but, and then 981 00:36:29,202 --> 00:36:39,362 I, anytime we say that, that's where 982 00:36:29,202 --> 00:36:40,388 we're in the problem, right? 983 00:36:40,444 --> 00:36:42,900 Because I know that God is good, but, and then we say something 984 00:36:40,444 --> 00:36:43,916 else, whatever it is. 985 00:36:44,028 --> 00:36:45,660 But my situation is really tough. 986 00:36:45,740 --> 00:36:46,548 Well, right. 987 00:36:46,684 --> 00:36:49,876 And I think that's one of the many reasons why God gave us his 988 00:36:46,684 --> 00:36:50,116 word. 989 00:36:50,148 --> 00:36:53,196 For us to see all the other people that went through struggles 990 00:36:50,148 --> 00:36:54,868 and how when they trusted in God, there 991 00:36:50,148 --> 00:36:56,356 was always reward. 992 00:36:56,548 --> 00:36:59,300 Because there's a second part of that verse in Hebrews chapter 993 00:36:56,548 --> 00:36:59,920 eleven. 994 00:37:00,220 --> 00:37:04,300 I want you to see that with me because this is so important, because 995 00:37:00,220 --> 00:37:06,394 sometimes we only heard of, hey, 996 00:37:00,220 --> 00:37:08,322 it's impossible to please God without 997 00:37:00,220 --> 00:37:08,602 faith. 998 00:37:08,626 --> 00:37:09,682 And you're like, well, now what? 999 00:37:09,706 --> 00:37:11,666 Is it impossible for me to ever please God? 1000 00:37:11,698 --> 00:37:14,098 Because I don't have the type of faith that I need to have. 1001 00:37:14,234 --> 00:37:18,042 Well, Hebrews eleven six says, hey, it's impossible to please God 1002 00:37:14,234 --> 00:37:18,922 without faith. 1003 00:37:19,026 --> 00:37:21,018 But then there's a positive side to this. 1004 00:37:21,114 --> 00:37:24,514 Anytime God says something in the negative, he always is going 1005 00:37:21,114 --> 00:37:25,802 to bring the positive side of it. 1006 00:37:25,826 --> 00:37:27,586 Like, don't do this, but do this. 1007 00:37:27,738 --> 00:37:30,914 So in Hebrews, chapter eleven, verse six, he says, but without faith 1008 00:37:27,738 --> 00:37:33,030 it is impossible to please him. 1009 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:34,992 But then he says, why? 1010 00:37:35,136 --> 00:37:38,280 He gives the background, he gives the deeper understanding. 1011 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:44,340 He says, for he that cometh to God must believe there's that trust 1012 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:47,752 that he is, meaning that he exists, 1013 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:49,656 that he is who he says he is. 1014 00:37:49,848 --> 00:37:54,976 And there's an and there that's joining two things together. 1015 00:37:55,048 --> 00:38:01,052 So believe that he is who he is and that he is a rewarder of them 1016 00:37:55,048 --> 00:38:02,892 that diligently seek him. 1017 00:38:03,036 --> 00:38:06,560 Meaning I have to believe that God is going to reward my faith, 1018 00:38:03,036 --> 00:38:09,740 not in the way that I think sometimes, 1019 00:38:03,036 --> 00:38:11,452 because there's going to be some people that 1020 00:38:03,036 --> 00:38:13,012 say if you have enough faith, all 1021 00:38:03,036 --> 00:38:14,132 of your problems are going to go 1022 00:38:03,036 --> 00:38:14,720 away. 1023 00:38:15,460 --> 00:38:18,780 Well, I can tell you there's a whole chapter called Hebrews chapter 1024 00:38:15,460 --> 00:38:20,164 eleven, okay? 1025 00:38:20,252 --> 00:38:21,428 It's called the hall of Faith. 1026 00:38:21,484 --> 00:38:24,068 And it says, all these people that had faith, but it didn't say 1027 00:38:21,484 --> 00:38:25,388 that all their problems necessarily 1028 00:38:21,484 --> 00:38:27,564 went away, their circumstances went away, 1029 00:38:21,484 --> 00:38:28,972 their bigger problem of sin went 1030 00:38:21,484 --> 00:38:29,560 away. 1031 00:38:30,060 --> 00:38:33,356 And so what I'm gonna tell you here this evening is there is a false 1032 00:38:30,060 --> 00:38:34,468 teaching out there, and I gotta tell 1033 00:38:30,060 --> 00:38:35,684 you the truth about this, okay? 1034 00:38:35,772 --> 00:38:38,284 There's some people that will teach you that if you have enough 1035 00:38:35,772 --> 00:38:39,788 faith, all of your sicknesses will 1036 00:38:35,772 --> 00:38:40,680 just go away. 1037 00:38:40,980 --> 00:38:44,972 And if you're not, the problem with your condition is that you don't 1038 00:38:40,980 --> 00:38:45,748 have enough faith. 1039 00:38:45,844 --> 00:38:46,836 That's misleading, right? 1040 00:38:46,868 --> 00:38:49,652 That is so misleading because the Bible doesn't say, the Bible 1041 00:38:46,868 --> 00:38:52,492 doesn't promise that all of my problems 1042 00:38:46,868 --> 00:38:54,276 and sicknesses will be taken away 1043 00:38:46,868 --> 00:38:55,706 here on this earthen just because 1044 00:38:46,868 --> 00:38:56,602 I have faith in God. 1045 00:38:56,666 --> 00:38:57,690 Now, can he do that? 1046 00:38:57,730 --> 00:38:57,970 Yes. 1047 00:38:58,010 --> 00:38:59,490 God is a miracle worker. 1048 00:38:59,610 --> 00:39:01,322 God can do what he wants to do. 1049 00:39:01,426 --> 00:39:03,066 And we should plead with him for healing. 1050 00:39:03,098 --> 00:39:05,610 We should plead with him for our circumstances to go away. 1051 00:39:05,730 --> 00:39:08,274 But what we do know is that sometimes God doesn't heal us in 1052 00:39:05,730 --> 00:39:09,930 the way that we expect God's going 1053 00:39:05,730 --> 00:39:11,386 to heal us in a greater way, in a different 1054 00:39:05,730 --> 00:39:12,018 way. 1055 00:39:12,194 --> 00:39:14,210 And the Bible speaks all to that. 1056 00:39:14,330 --> 00:39:17,058 But I will tell you that the Bible does say that there is one 1057 00:39:14,330 --> 00:39:19,802 great healing one day, that all of 1058 00:39:14,330 --> 00:39:21,962 our sickness will go away, all of 1059 00:39:14,330 --> 00:39:24,402 our sadness will go away, all of 1060 00:39:14,330 --> 00:39:27,074 our pain will go away, all of our 1061 00:39:14,330 --> 00:39:28,458 struggles with sin. 1062 00:39:28,634 --> 00:39:32,418 And that is one day, the Bible says, and the theological term for 1063 00:39:28,634 --> 00:39:33,650 this is glorification. 1064 00:39:33,770 --> 00:39:36,386 But it's that day when we are reunited with him. 1065 00:39:36,418 --> 00:39:39,858 One day, and that might happen sooner than later. 1066 00:39:39,994 --> 00:39:41,946 You know, you never know when that's going to happen. 1067 00:39:42,098 --> 00:39:44,418 But the truth is that we should long for that day. 1068 00:39:44,434 --> 00:39:48,836 As christians, I long for the day when my sinful flesh is not fighting 1069 00:39:44,434 --> 00:39:50,068 against the spirit. 1070 00:39:50,244 --> 00:39:52,988 I long for the day where there's no more waking up in the 1071 00:39:50,244 --> 00:39:55,492 morning and things are aching and 1072 00:39:50,244 --> 00:39:57,252 pain and all of that. 1073 00:39:57,356 --> 00:40:00,644 I long for the day where there's no more chaos in this world. 1074 00:40:00,772 --> 00:40:03,892 The Bible says that day is coming, but until then, trust in 1075 00:40:00,772 --> 00:40:04,684 him that it's coming. 1076 00:40:04,732 --> 00:40:06,440 God is going to make all things right. 1077 00:40:07,140 --> 00:40:11,276 David the psalmist says, God, it seems like you're letting all 1078 00:40:07,140 --> 00:40:12,612 the bad people get away with this 1079 00:40:07,140 --> 00:40:13,772 and all the good people are going 1080 00:40:07,140 --> 00:40:14,800 through difficulties. 1081 00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:16,608 And David's speaking for us. 1082 00:40:16,624 --> 00:40:16,896 Sometimes. 1083 00:40:16,928 --> 00:40:19,560 Sometimes it looks like people are getting away with stuff that's 1084 00:40:16,928 --> 00:40:19,952 evil. 1085 00:40:20,016 --> 00:40:21,504 Like, when's God going to judge them? 1086 00:40:21,592 --> 00:40:22,400 Let me just tell you. 1087 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:25,208 And we don't, like, rejoice in this necessarily in the fact that 1088 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:26,672 they're going to be judged, but we 1089 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:27,992 should rejoice in the fact that God 1090 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:29,176 is going to make all things right. 1091 00:40:29,208 --> 00:40:30,488 He is the great judge. 1092 00:40:30,664 --> 00:40:33,656 He's the one that's sitting on the bench of the city, but ultimately 1093 00:40:30,664 --> 00:40:35,580 his bench is higher than everybody else. 1094 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:39,680 There's the Bema seat, but there's also going to be one day, 1095 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:41,552 the bema seat is the judgment that 1096 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:43,088 God is going to say, okay, this is 1097 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:44,352 what you did for me as a christian 1098 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:45,552 rewards, right? 1099 00:40:45,696 --> 00:40:47,160 That's the judgment seat of Christ. 1100 00:40:47,240 --> 00:40:50,060 But there's also what's called the great white throne judgment. 1101 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:53,456 And so what that means is that God is going to judge all of those 1102 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:54,392 that have rejected him. 1103 00:40:54,416 --> 00:40:57,208 And so all these people that have rejected God and turned their 1104 00:40:54,416 --> 00:40:58,664 way to evil, God's not going to let 1105 00:40:54,416 --> 00:40:59,704 it go unnoticed. 1106 00:40:59,832 --> 00:41:01,152 God is a righteous judge now. 1107 00:41:01,176 --> 00:41:03,912 He's patient and he has grace. 1108 00:41:04,096 --> 00:41:05,344 He's long suffering. 1109 00:41:05,472 --> 00:41:08,584 But the Bible says that he will right all wrongs in this world. 1110 00:41:08,712 --> 00:41:10,344 And we have to have faith in that. 1111 00:41:10,432 --> 00:41:11,936 We have to have faith in that as christians. 1112 00:41:11,968 --> 00:41:14,480 And that's what we are looking at when it comes to the peace of 1113 00:41:11,968 --> 00:41:16,420 God in our lives. 1114 00:41:16,760 --> 00:41:18,744 But until then, what do we do? 1115 00:41:18,872 --> 00:41:20,896 We preach the gospel, okay? 1116 00:41:20,928 --> 00:41:23,020 For a lot of us, we want to be the judge. 1117 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:27,216 We want to be the judge and the jury and take out our wrath upon 1118 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:27,656 people. 1119 00:41:27,768 --> 00:41:30,136 God did not call us to do that. 1120 00:41:30,288 --> 00:41:34,784 God called us to project and to proclaim and to display the gospel 1121 00:41:30,288 --> 00:41:36,792 message in that time that we have 1122 00:41:30,288 --> 00:41:38,158 in this age of grace. 1123 00:41:38,344 --> 00:41:40,402 And so what do we do we preach the truth? 1124 00:41:40,506 --> 00:41:44,874 We say what is true, we call out what is wrong, but we have grace 1125 00:41:40,506 --> 00:41:46,378 to preach the message and love to 1126 00:41:40,506 --> 00:41:47,570 preach the message, to give people 1127 00:41:40,506 --> 00:41:49,230 the opportunity to come to Christ. 1128 00:41:50,210 --> 00:41:53,538 You know, I know some people that will say, including myself, 1129 00:41:50,210 --> 00:41:55,546 that person could never come to Christ. 1130 00:41:55,698 --> 00:41:57,186 That's not our judgment. 1131 00:41:57,378 --> 00:41:58,402 That's not our job. 1132 00:41:58,506 --> 00:42:00,898 Our job is to proclaim the truth of the gospel. 1133 00:42:00,994 --> 00:42:04,860 There have been people that have changed because of the Holy 1134 00:42:00,994 --> 00:42:07,380 Spirit, not because of logic, not 1135 00:42:00,994 --> 00:42:09,692 because of wisdom, but because of 1136 00:42:00,994 --> 00:42:11,380 the power of the Holy Spirit changing 1137 00:42:00,994 --> 00:42:12,932 their heart from a heart of stone 1138 00:42:00,994 --> 00:42:14,320 into a heart of flesh. 1139 00:42:14,780 --> 00:42:19,620 And so that's where our peace comes from, the bigger picture, the 1140 00:42:14,780 --> 00:42:21,484 peace of God, which passeth all understanding. 1141 00:42:21,532 --> 00:42:25,324 Now, I'm going to move forward a little bit here, and I am going 1142 00:42:21,532 --> 00:42:27,236 to tell you that as a christian today, 1143 00:42:21,532 --> 00:42:29,852 we have a lot of reason to be anxious. 1144 00:42:30,036 --> 00:42:31,880 We have a lot of reason to question. 1145 00:42:32,300 --> 00:42:36,076 We have a lot of reason to even sometimes doubt the goodness 1146 00:42:32,300 --> 00:42:38,276 of God because we look at circumstances. 1147 00:42:38,428 --> 00:42:42,012 What I would tell you is you can watch the news, okay? 1148 00:42:42,036 --> 00:42:44,444 There's nothing unbiblical about watching the news. 1149 00:42:44,572 --> 00:42:49,452 But what you deal with when you watch the news is either biblical 1150 00:42:44,572 --> 00:42:50,908 or not biblical, okay? 1151 00:42:51,044 --> 00:42:53,396 You can do everything in your life biblically or you can do everything 1152 00:42:51,044 --> 00:42:54,740 in your life unbiblically. 1153 00:42:54,900 --> 00:42:56,404 So it doesn't necessarily mean this. 1154 00:42:56,452 --> 00:42:59,442 Like, for example, this is what I try to do sometimes. 1155 00:42:59,506 --> 00:43:01,674 I just try to not watch the news, okay? 1156 00:43:01,762 --> 00:43:04,058 I'm like, okay, if I just don't watch the news, I won't have 1157 00:43:01,762 --> 00:43:04,866 any problems. 1158 00:43:04,978 --> 00:43:07,154 The truth is, is that people will tell me what's going on in the 1159 00:43:04,978 --> 00:43:07,306 world. 1160 00:43:07,338 --> 00:43:08,426 Then I immediately start stressing. 1161 00:43:08,458 --> 00:43:09,666 So it doesn't really matter. 1162 00:43:09,778 --> 00:43:12,442 I can't avoid the temptation always. 1163 00:43:12,626 --> 00:43:15,178 That's what happened when all these people tried to be monks. 1164 00:43:15,354 --> 00:43:16,802 And there's still people that try to do this. 1165 00:43:16,866 --> 00:43:20,242 They try to go live out on a monastery thousands of miles away. 1166 00:43:20,386 --> 00:43:21,794 They try to remove everything. 1167 00:43:21,882 --> 00:43:23,842 And they say, okay, I'm never going to sin again because I don't 1168 00:43:21,882 --> 00:43:25,046 have any outside distractions. 1169 00:43:25,138 --> 00:43:27,150 And then they realize they have something called the flesh, 1170 00:43:25,138 --> 00:43:27,558 okay? 1171 00:43:27,574 --> 00:43:29,670 And the flesh is going to still want those bad things. 1172 00:43:29,790 --> 00:43:32,166 And so it's not about just avoiding the bad. 1173 00:43:32,278 --> 00:43:38,286 It's about really living and relying on the goodness and the grace 1174 00:43:32,278 --> 00:43:39,542 of God in the midst of all this. 1175 00:43:39,566 --> 00:43:41,590 And so that's how you can have the peace of God. 1176 00:43:41,750 --> 00:43:45,526 And so I'm not here today to say, hey, don't watch the news or 1177 00:43:41,750 --> 00:43:47,326 don't deal with your neighbor don't 1178 00:43:41,750 --> 00:43:48,318 go to work, okay? 1179 00:43:48,374 --> 00:43:50,150 Because you might say, well, my problem's at work. 1180 00:43:50,230 --> 00:43:52,450 If I just didn't go to work, everything would be okay. 1181 00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:53,464 I can't tell you. 1182 00:43:53,472 --> 00:43:54,656 Well, just quit your job, okay? 1183 00:43:54,688 --> 00:43:55,792 You gotta deal with it. 1184 00:43:55,896 --> 00:43:58,928 You gotta deal with the problems of this world, okay? 1185 00:43:58,984 --> 00:44:01,808 But there's a way to deal with it biblically, and that is to look 1186 00:43:58,984 --> 00:44:04,848 to Christ in the midst of your decisions, 1187 00:43:58,984 --> 00:44:06,096 in the midst of your reactions. 1188 00:44:06,168 --> 00:44:09,600 So we'll be back in two weeks to conclude the book of Ruth. 1189 00:44:09,640 --> 00:44:11,776 I hope that it's been a good study for you. 1190 00:44:11,888 --> 00:44:12,856 It has been for me. 1191 00:44:12,888 --> 00:44:15,880 I've heard the book of Ruth so many times, but this time through, 1192 00:44:12,888 --> 00:44:17,416 I really wanted to see it through the 1193 00:44:12,888 --> 00:44:19,924 lens of the kinsman redeemer only. 1194 00:44:20,052 --> 00:44:24,492 Not that we can't take other elements of it, but I think that 1195 00:44:20,052 --> 00:44:26,500 kinsman Redeemer is that main theme 1196 00:44:20,052 --> 00:44:26,860 through. 1197 00:44:26,940 --> 00:44:28,172 And I think that was a blessing. 1198 00:44:28,196 --> 00:44:32,320 Now, if you want to know what we're going to be studying next, 1199 00:44:28,196 --> 00:44:34,116 I'll tell you in two weeks. 1200 00:44:34,148 --> 00:44:37,188 But I'm still praying about a few different studies. 1201 00:44:37,364 --> 00:44:41,524 So we're going to be getting through this in two weeks and then 1202 00:44:37,364 --> 00:44:42,400 we'll move on. 1203 00:44:42,820 --> 00:44:45,380 Thank you again for listening to the Middletown Baptist Church 1204 00:44:42,820 --> 00:44:46,232 podcast. 1205 00:44:46,396 --> 00:44:48,940 I hope that this sermon has been a blessing for you. 1206 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:51,592 If you would like to find out more information about our church 1207 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:55,256 or this sermon, you can find us@middletownbaptistchurch.org 1208 00:44:49,320 --> 00:44:58,180 or find us on Facebook or YouTube. 1209 00:44:58,680 --> 00:45:03,888 You can also email me directly@joshmissaroiddletownbaptastchurch.com. 1210 00:45:04,064 --> 00:45:07,568 if you've enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe and follow 1211 00:45:04,064 --> 00:45:10,580 along for future podcasts and updates. 1212 00:45:11,040 --> 00:45:12,136 Thank you so much. 1213 00:45:12,248 --> 00:45:13,104 God bless. 1214 00:45:13,232 --> 00:45:14,280 Have a wonderful day.