SERIES: WALKING IN THE F.O.G
TEXT: RUTH 1:10-16
Last Sunday we learned not to blame God for everything that happens or goes wrong in our lives. Today, we want to learn what it takes to move from Moab to Bethlehem, from place of the curse to the place of blessing. The Book of Ruth has to do with “discovering your life’s destiny.”
Destiny is the purpose of God for your life. Destiny is what is written about you in the book of life, the very reason why God allowed you to come to his very earth. Ruth discovered her life’s destiny. It was not easy but she did, so can you and me also.
Don’t blame God for everything that goes wrong in your life.
We must leave our past failures, mistakes (Moab) behind if we want to reach our destiny.
We will get closer to our destiny with this message. Let us learn:-
KISSERS AND CLEAVERS.
Ruth 1:14, “And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.”
Notice the different actions of the two daughters-in-law to Naomi.
- Orpah kissed and Ruth clung.
- Ruth 1:15, “Then she said, behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”
- Earlier in Ruth 1:10, “And they said to her, no but we will surely return with you to your people.”
- Orpah said she would go to Bethlehem, but her words were empty, without any weight.
- But Ruth said, Ruth 1:16, “But Ruth said, do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go and where you lodge, I will lodge, your people shall be my people and your God, my God.”
- Ruth clung to Naomi like white on rice.
- Ruth said to Naomi no matter where you go….. I will follow you.
- Her words were true, full of sincere determination.
Both girls loved Naomi, they had shared family, laughter and life, heartbreak and losses.
- Orpah would continue to love Naomi, but from a distance, but Ruth was all in.
- Orpah was a woman of great words, Ruth was a woman of great works.
- There are two kinds of people:-
- Kissers (daters).
- Cleavers (romancers).
- Some people will serve with you, tell you how much they appreciate your ministry, follow you, but they do it from a distance!!
- Others will cleave onto you because they have a burden for work, ministry, kingdom.
- Some people would take bullets, exchange fire, cover your back because of their love for God.
- Daters (men) often go for dates, I will point you up around 5 or 6, they just want a little kiss from a woman.
- Daters will hold hands and share some popcorn or chips and piece of chicken.
- Daters is really an act of flesh.
- Romancers on the other hand would take a lady to a nice restaurant, buy a flower, open doors, hold hands, drive or ride for 5 hours to spend 45 minutes in their presence.
- The romancer will not just come to steal a kiss, romancer is something of the heart.
- There are people who “date” God, but there are people who are into romance with God.
- Daters come at their convenience to let God know they made their appearance in the church.
- They give to God a kiss for two hours. They tell God “I do love you-I may not be back for a few weeks, but I will be thinking of you!!”
- “Next time I need a blessing I will call you Lord.”
- When you are in romance with God “He is lover of your soul.” You love God’s presence, you read His love letter to you, you sing a song of love.
- Are you happy in the presence of God or away from His presence?
- Some wives and children are happy when their husband/father is away!!
- When Orpah kissed bye-bye, she kissed her destiny goodbye too. When Ruth clung to Naomi’s side, she said, “Where you go, I will go, where you lodge I will lodge, where you die I will die and be buried, your people my people, your God my God”-Ruth 1:16.
HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT GOD’S WILL AND DIRECTION FOR YOUR LIFE?
- Destiny is really how much you want God’s direction and will for your life.
- Are you willing to stay awake all night praying for it?
- Are you willing to leave Moab, your people, your family into new territory of Bethlehem?
- How much are you determined to do the will of God?
- The journey of Bethlehem is often lonely and difficult.
- Your level of blessing will be determined by your desire to pursue spiritual truth.
- Are you going to be a kisser or a cleaver, a dater or a romancer?
- Abraham chose to cleave to God, to romance with God, long term, He left his country and people to follow where God was leading-Hebrews 11:8.
- Abraham has no idea what the final destination would be, what the future held.
- Our problem is, we want to know the destination before we start the journey.
- God is saying “No, you start going, and I will start showing.”
NAOMI AND RUTH FINALLY ARRIVED IN BETHLEHEM.
- When Naomi left Bethlehem 10 years before she was a respected lady.
- Elimelech’s wife had a house, land and happy life with great friends, when she came back she was a shell of former self.
- She was broken, bankrupt and bitter-Ruth 1:20.
- Most people stayed in Bethlehem and endured the famine.
- People leave church when things are rough, they leave because their feelings are hurt offended or they don’t like strife.
- When they come back they come with the same hurts, having lost their former identity in the house of God.
- Go only when God says go.
- Ruth comes to the strange land and people she was of dark complexion, dark haired, beautiful body, God had planned for her to meet a handsome Bethlemite to marry her and start a royal family!!
- If she had stayed in Moab with Orpah she would have missed a place in the history of Israel-God’s people.
- When you leave Moab-your past behind, when you cross the Jordan to join the place God is leading you to-you will discover the key to your future.
- You will discover your purpose (destiny) you will be at the right place at the right time.
- Location and time must come together for you.
- Blessings come to cleavers and romancers not to kissers and daters. Kissers never come close enough to Him to know His heart!!
CONCLUSION
- Are you at the right place at the right time?
- Do you find yourself desiring for God to give you the destination before you start the journey?
- Your destiny will be approached through faith.
- Your destiny is really in your hands, “dead or alive it really depends on you.”
- Ruth got married to Boaz (Boaz=strength, swiftness, vigor). Mahlon =sickness or sickly, Killion or Chillion=failing, pining, wasting away.
- Marriage destiny is also in your hands.
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Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.
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