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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

GOOD NEWS FROM THE FIELD OF GRACE

Introduction:

Last time we were in the Book of Ruth, we saw that Ruth the Moabitess has gone to the field of Boaz to glean barley. While she was there, she met the owner of the field. She caught his eye. She ate lunch at his table and he personally served her the food.

When she left the field that day, she left with more than she bargained for. She returned home that evening weary and tired from her labors, but she has a story to tell Naomi.

All day, her mother-in-law Naomi would have been waiting for her to return with enough grain for a little meal. When Ruth does return, she is loaded down with enough grain to last them a week. Not only does she have grain, but she has some good news to tell as well.

I want us to look at that good news today. It is news that we all need to hear, because this Good News From The Field Of Grace can help each of us to grow in our own walk with the Lord.

There are some mighty big truths here for who are those willing to grab hold of them this morning. Allow me to share with you this Good News From The Field Of Grace.

I.         RUTH HAD SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT THEIR PROVISIONS. (Vs. 17-18)

            A.        Ruth Had Provisions That Were Designed To Satisfy. (Vs. 17)

When Ruth returns home, she has 25lbs of barley. This is more than enough to feed these 2 women for a week.

She went looking for enough for one meal and returned with enough to feed them for a week.

Boaz wanted her to get so much in his field that she would never even dream of gleaning anywhere else.

                        Our Heavenly Boaz is determined to bless His people.

Ephesians 1:3–“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

He wants to give us so much that we will never think of going anywhere else to glean.

Ruth's words to Naomi in verse 21 serve to show them that the blessings would continue until the end of the harvest.

                        Our Lord will bless us right until the end of the harvest here in this world.

                        But, our Lord doesn't intend to stop blessing us even when we leave this world.

                        Oh how He blesses us now, but He will really bless us then!

Ephesians 2:7–“That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

                        Ruth Had Provisions That Were Designed To Satisfy. . .

            B.        Ruth Had Provisions That Were Designed To Show. (Vs. 18)

Can you see Ruth as she throws that 25lb across her shoulder and heads into the city?

                        Everyone who sees her pass by knows that she is that girl from Moab.

They know she has nothing and by now most of them know she has gone to the field of Boaz to glean.

                        They can see that she has received a blessing just by watching her go past.

                        It might be that Boaz was making a statement to the community.

That sack of grain trumpeted, "I've got my eye on Ruth, and I'm going to be a blessing in her life."

Did you know that God's blessings in our lives are designed to show a lost world just how good God is.

He blesses His people in order to create a desire in the hearts those who do not know Him. That is why He gives us grace for living. He wants to use us as living testimonies to His grace, His power and His glory.

Matthew 5:16–“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

As we live out the real blessings of God, this world is going to be affected by God's work in us!

What are the real blessings of God? It is a life that manifests the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:2-23–"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

A child of God who displays these graces in his or her life is a child of God who walks in victory!

            C.        Ruth Had Provisions That Were Designed To Share. (Vs. 18)

Not only does she share the bounty of her provision with Naomi, but she also shares the remaining part of her portion that she was given by Boaz in verse 14.

                        Ruth isn't selfish, she wants to share what she has with Naomi.

We are not to simply horde up the blessings of the Lord, but we are to share them with others.

Whatever we have been blessed with by God has been given to us to use for His glory. Whether it be a talent, God's truth, a gift, financial resources, or whatever,

                        His blessings are given to us so that we might share them with others.

Ruth got what she did because of grace, but also because she was willing to work for it! She gleaned and she got!

The same is true in spiritual matters! We only get out of something about as much as we put into it! Whether it be prayer, worship or just victory in our daily life, it isn't for the lazy! God's best is reserved for those who are willing to deny themselves, take up His cross daily and follow Him. (Matthew 16:24)

            RUTH HAD SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT THEIR PROVISIONS.

II.       RUTH HAD SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT A PERSON. (Vs. 19-21)

            A.        Boaz Was A Person Who Was Interested In The Situation. ( Vs. 19)

When Naomi sees all that Ruth has returned with, she is overwhelmed and begins to magnify the person who has given so much.

                        She can easily see that you don't get this much by merely gleaning!

                        She knows that someone has blessed them with an open hand!

                        She blesses the person who "has taken knowledge of " Ruth!

The word "knowledge" conveys the idea of "paying attention to; to acknowledge; to notice".

Naomi realizes that the person who gave them this grain has noticed Ruth and wanted to be a special blessing to her. Naomi doesn't know it yet, neither does Ruth, but Ruth has been noticed by one who is interested in knowing her even better. He is interested in her situation!

Could I tell you this morning that the Lord Jesus is interested in you! Wherever you may be in your spiritual journey, Jesus is interested in knowing you better.

                        If you are lost, He is interested in knowing you in salvation.

If you are cold and backslidden, He is interested in your return to Him so that you can know Him intimately.

If you are defeated, He is interested in leading you to the place of power and victory.

                        The question is: Are you interested in what He has to offer you?

                        Boaz Was A Person Who Was Interested In The Situation.

            B.        Boaz Was A Person Who Was Involved In The Situation. (Vs. 19)

Not only was Boaz interested in Ruth's situation, he was now involved in the situation. He has opened his hands and his heart to Ruth and is taking steps to improve her condition. (2:11; 2:15-16.)

                        He is busy working behind the scenes to do what Ruth needs.

                        He is involved in her life.

Our heavenly Boaz is also involved in our lives. Oh, there are times when He cannot be seen and there are times when His Hand is not visible, but we can rest assured that He is actively working on our behalf to fulfill His plan for our lives!

                        Boaz Was A Person Who Was Interested And Involved In The Situation.

            C.        Boaz Was A Person Who Was An Instrument In The Situation. (Vs. 20-21)

Boaz didn't even realize the extent that he was being used in the lives of these two women. He had become an instrument in the hand of the Lord. There are three ways in which Boaz was being used by God as an instrument of blessing.

                        1.         Boaz Was An Instrument Of Revival.

In Chapter 1:20-21, we saw that Naomi was a defeated and discouraged woman. She was that way because of her backslidden condition.

However, when Ruth returns from the field of grace with the good news of Boaz, Naomi is once more restored to the place of worship and victory.

God has used this man to encourage the heart of one of His children.

You might be in a position this morning in which you have allowed your heart to grow cold and hard toward the things of the Lord.

I just want to remind you that if you are His, He knows where you are and one day, He will show up and set things right in your heart and life.

                                    He’ll do that today, if you’ll let him!

Just because you are down, it doesn’t mean that you are not out!

One of the first steps in getting back in the place of His best blessings is to come before Him and deal with whatever is lacking in your life.

                                    That is the challenge we have from the Word of God.

                                    (1 John 1:9; Psalm. 51:7-12)

                                    Boaz Was An Instrument Of Revival.

                        2.         Boaz Was An Instrument Of Redemption.

                                    As Naomi listens to Ruth speak, the wheels of her mind are turning.

                                    She hears the name Boaz and she recognizes that he is "near of kin".

                                    She remembers who he is and says, "he is one of our next kinsmen".

Now, she begins to realize all that the Lord is doing. In His providence, He has brought Ruth into contact with one who has the right of redemption according to the Law. (Leviticus 25:25-34)

                                    You can almost see her regaining her spiritual confidence.

Remember that under the Law of Redemption, for a man to be a Kinsman Redeemer three things had to be true:

                                    a.         He Had To Be Related - Boaz was related (2:1)

                                                So is Jesus - Phil. 2:5-11; John 1:1, 14!)

                                    b.        He Had To Be Able To Redeem - Boaz was a mighty man of wealth. (2:1)

Jesus is able to redeem all who come to Him for salvation - Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:10-14.

                                    c.         He Had To Be Willing To Redeem.

Everything Boaz was doing suggests that he was willing to do anything to get to know Ruth.

Jesus was more than willing to pay the price for our redemption. Romans 5:8–“But God commendeth His love. . .”

These women needed a redeemer. If they didn't find one, they were destined to live their lives in poverty.

If you are not saved, you need a redeemer! You have one if you will accept Him. His name is Jesus and He died for you!

If you are saved, take a minute to think back over what the Lord has done for you, you will have to admit that you have many reasons to praise His Name and to rejoice in Him this morning! Are you doing it?

                                    Boaz Was An Instrument Of Revival.

                                    Boaz Was An Instrument Of Redemption.

                        3.         Boaz Was An Instrument Of Refreshment.

Ruth tells Naomi in verse 21 that she will be going back to the field of grace to work until the harvest has ended. In other words, they are going to enjoy plenty because of this man named Boaz.

I would imagine that every day he reminded the reapers to drop the "Handfuls of Purpose" for Ruth. Everyday he would see that she had parched corn, a cool drink of water and all the grain she could carry when she left the field. He was going to be a blessing to Naomi and Ruth.

Just a reminder to those of you who are living on spiritual scraps this morning, Jesus wants to load your wagon!

He has glory, and power, and victory and blessing for every one of His children. Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 15:57. But, it isn't for the lazy.

For Ruth to get what Boaz wanted her to have she would have to go to the field of grace every day (day by day) and put forth some effort.

                                    It is the same way in the spiritual realm.

If we want the best, then we have to pay the price in prayer, holiness and time spent in communion with the Lord.

Our walk with the Lord is no stronger, no deeper, no greater than we want it to be! If there is a lack in our life spiritually, it's not someone else’s fault.

If we want to see the problem, we need to look no farther than the nearest mirror. Better yet, look no farther than our own heart, for there lies the problem and the solution.

                                    Our help lies in one of David's Psalms of repentance. (Psalm 32)

Conclusion:

Let me ask you some questions.

Did you need to hear some of these truths this morning?

Does you relationship and fellowship with the Lord need help today?

The first step to take is a step in His direction. If He has challenged you as a believer about your personal walk with Him, then come to this altar and do something about it!

If He has shown you that you are lost and headed to Hell, then come down here and receive Jesus as your Savior and let God change the outcome and direction of your life.

There's good news from the field of grace! But, it will never help you until you deal with it on a personal level!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!