LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A HEARTBEAT

SERIES: WALKING IN THE F.O.G

TEXT: RUTH 1:1-20

If the story of Ruth was adopted for the silver screen it would contain all the parts necessary for a blockbuster.

• Sudden trouble.
• Tragedy and death.
• Rags-to-riches.

The story of Ruth is one of the greatest in the Bible. The story of Ruth gives us hope that no matter what happens, no matter what we face in life, (famine, death or want) God has a grand finale, a tremendous third act planned for your life.

The favor of God F.O.G is sufficient for our life.

Ruth’s story also reminds us that God is sovereign and in control, even in death. Even when things as bad as we can possibly imagine, God is planning long term blessing for you.

In Hebrew’s 10:9, “Then He said, behold I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. Another truth we learn in the story of Ruth is that God never allows you to lose anything unless He plans to return something better than what you had.

We also learn from Ruth the truth that your reaction to trouble will determine your outcome.

The spiritual truths and kingdom keys found in the story of Ruth can carry your life, family and ministry through low times and also new levels of ministry.

The story of Ruth begins with a famine, migration and death.

• A father Elimelech moves his wife Naomi and his two sons of Judah, Bethlehem (house of bread) to Moab because of famine.
• From the look of things, only the family of Elimelech left Bethlehem to Moab.
• While in Moab the two sons of Naomi marry two local girls (sisters name Orpah and Ruth).
• Before the ink dries on their marriage certificates the brothers and their father die, leaving three widows.
• Clouds of famine, loss, want and separation consumed the three widows that were left to carry on in the land of Moab.
• When Naomi left Bethlehem of Judea because of famine, little did she know that ten years later she would return home, broken depressed and bitter.
• Guess who Naomi blamed for her misfortune? GOD!! Ruth 1:20, “she said to them, Do not call me Naomi (pleasant) call me mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”
• Her tragedy had caused her to lose her vision, her purpose and her concept of God.
• Naomi had grown resentful, Ruth would enter the family that would produce the royal lineage of Israel.
• Famine test our faith/resolve and too often we blame God for every tragedy/loss/heartache/tear that comes our way.
• But Ruth teaches us that:-

1. Life can change in a minute.
2. Victories of today can turn into the sorrow of tomorrow.
3. Whatever happens in life God is still in control. Let us learn:-

FAMINE HAPPENS IN THE WEIRDEST OF PLACES.

Bethlehem, where Naomi and Elimelech were from was known as the “city of bread.”

• Bethlehem was known for its large fields of wheat and barley.
• The grains used to make the bread on the table of the showbread in the temple were from Bethlehem.
• How can the “house of bread” be without bread?
• Famines are caused by drought and droughts come for lack of rain.
• Spiritual famine are caused by lack of spiritual rain. When the Holy Spirit is not being poured out in churches a spiritual famine occurs.
• When famine comes people do desperate things. In 2^nd Kings 6:28-29 mothers ate their own children.
• People were selling dove’s dung and donkey brains in order to survive-2^nd Kings 6:25.
• Elimelech took his family across the River Jordan into the land of the Moabites.
• The Moabites were the descendants of an incestuous relationship between Lot and one of his daughters. The Moabites had suffered under the curse of Deuteronomy 23:2-4.
• Elimelech was hungry and that hunger made him to do the desperate things-look for bread in very unusual places.
• Moab was a regression, not progression-where are you today?
• In a church where there is a famine, people begin to turn on each other (gossip, backstabbing and betrayal) becomes normal-Galatians 5:15.
• As for us F.B.C-AR let us welcome the Holy Spirit to keep us growing, thriving and satisfied. Famine is very bad!!

UNEXPECTED TRAGEDY.

• While on Moab, Naomi lost Elimelech, Ruth and Orpah lost Mahlon and Chillion.
• We are not told why and how these three men died.
• Naomi’s life was in danger, usually Elimelech’s property in Bethlehem would be in danger, because his two sons were also dead.
• If she stayed in Moab, she would lose her property to relatives.
• Even then she could not as a woman retain the property for herself.
• A kinsman’s Redeemer was needed to redeem it for her.
• Naomi was desperate, destitute and in a dilemma.
• Naomi found herself in a cursed land and in a bitter Moab.
• When Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem her one daughter-in-law (Orpah) decided to stay in Moab.
• Orpah’s decision was to stay and continue in her past. She decided to live in the land of the curse and death.
• Orpah would live a life of separation. She would never see Naomi and Ruth again.
• When Lot left Sodom with his two daughters, thinking the end of the world had come, the daughters got their father drunk in order to have sexual relations with him!!
• Two sons were born, Ben Ami father of the Ammonites and Moab the father of the Moabites.
• Lot lived with the memories of that night in cave as he watch Ben Ami and Moab grow up.
• In Moab people are reminded of the “one night-stands” that birthed the unexpected (bad things happen in Moab).
• Moab is a place of sorrow and the long you stay in Moab you are reminded of past failures and hurts.
• The affairs you had, of the time you backslid (backsled) thoughts of tragedy and “what if” haunt you.
• Like the man of Gadara in Mark 5:1-5, 2000 evil spirits lived in one man.
• The graveyard is a place of death, weeping, sorrow and loss.
• A graveyard has no future, it is simply a memorial to a life that used to be.
• The devil drove the poor man of Gadara into a graveyard.
• Are you living in Moab? It is time you come out.
• Is everything around you dead? Your marriage, your job, your family has no joy, you are stuck in Moab, living among the dead-Moab is where bad things happen to good people.
• To come into your blessing you must make a break from Moab-Phil. 3:13.

IT IS NOT EASY (The Jordan separates Moab and Bethlehem).

• It will take faith, courage to cross over into the new land/ministry/level.
• Friends will tell you to remain but there comes a time where Bethlehem is far much better.
• Broken, bitter people can give you bad advice.
• Naomi was bitter, broken full of hate-Ruth 1:7-13.
• She advised her daughters-in-law to get new husbands-bitter people are poor counselors.
• Naomi was bitter at God for the loss of her husband and sons.
• Bitter people, hurting people have extremely difficult time giving encouragement.
• Bitter people make other people bitter, angry people make others angrier, hurting hurts others.
• Never take advise from bitter people.
• Orpah took Naomi’s advice and stayed in Moab-she was a selfish woman.
• Ruth chose to listen to the God of Israel. She chose to minister to Naomi.
• To find your blessing you must leave Moab the place of broken dreams, loss, desperation, depression.

CONCLUSION

• Whey do bad things happen to good people? It is a part of God’s sovereignty.
• Be careful about blaming God-make sure you are not living in Moab where God wants you in Bethlehem.
• You will not get no where in Moab the place of brokenness, bitterness and barrenness.
• Only Elimelech and family left Bethlehem for Moab.
• Today, choose to leave your Moab-return to Bethlehem the “House of bread,” to Jesus Christ the real bread of life.

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Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

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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