Five Ways to Draw Closer to Jesus Ruth 3

Transcription

1 Five Ways to Draw Closer to Jesus Ruth 3

2 1 Ruth s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, My daughter, shouldn t I find security for you, so that you will be taken care of? 2 Now isn t Boaz our relative? Haven t you been working with his female servants? This evening he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Ruth 3:1-2

3 3 Wash, put on perfumed oil, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but don t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do. 5 So Ruth said to her, I will do everything you say. Ruth 3:3-5

4 If you would draw close to Jesus you must I. Be Freshly Cleansed Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! James 4:8

5 Therefore, dear friends, since we have such promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, completing our sanctification in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7:1 15 When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil. Isaiah 1:15-16

6 How are we to be cleansed? 1. By the Word of God. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. Ephesians 5:25-26 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word. Psalm 119:9

7 What does the Word do? 1. The Word reveals sin. 2 The Word reveals the solution. How else are we cleansed? 1. By the Word of God, but also 2 By the blood of Christ

8 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, We have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:7-9

9 II. Be Fragrantly Consecrated Be nice to be near! The anointing IS the Holy Spirit. The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him. 1 John 2:27

10 III. Be Fitly Clothed Wash, put on perfumed oil, and WEAR YOUR BEST CLOTHES... Ruth 3:3

11 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isaiah 61:1-3 (KJV)

12 I greatly rejoice in the LORD, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10 Where do you get that kind of clothing? Pull some of the groans out of your prayers and insert some hallelujahs! Come before his presence with singing. Psalm 100:2

13 IV. Be Fully Committed but don t let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do. Ruth 3:3-4

14 V. Be Faithfully Compliant When he lies down, notice the place where he s lying, go in and uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will explain to you what you should do. So Ruth said to her, I will do everything you say. Ruth 3:4-5 The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him. John 14:21

15 Boaz s Response to His Bride 1. He Received Her At midnight, Boaz was startled, turned over, and there lying at his feet was a woman! So he asked, Who are you? I am Ruth, your slave, she replied. Spread your cloak over me, for you are a family redeemer. Then he said, May the LORD bless you, my daughter... Ruth 3:8-10

16 2. He Reassured Her 11 Now don t be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you say, since all the people in my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Yes, it is true that I am a family redeemer, but there is a redeemer closer than I am. 13 Stay here tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, that s good. Let him redeem you. But if he doesn t want to redeem you, as the LORD lives, I will. Now lie down until morning. Ruth 3:11-13

17 3. He Replenished Her And he told Ruth, Bring the shawl you re wearing and hold it out. When she held it out, he shoveled six measures of barley into her shawl, and she went into the town. Ruth 3:15 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation! Psalm 68:19 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Eph. 3:20 (NKJV)

18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall: for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day. Ruth 3:18 (KJV) Your responsibility is your response to His ability.