THE THRESHING BEFORE BLESSING.

SERIES: WALKING IN THE F.O.G

TEXT: RUTH 3:2-7

Naomi had lost everything she had, husband, sons, identity, property, reputation. She was a bitter woman, bitter at God. Now Naomi is at the verge of a breakthrough. Naomi has started to think differently as she looks at her situation with the eyes of faith. Naomi is now trying to apply the “triple A” (AAA), Accept, Adjust, Adjust, Advance.

Living in denial will make a person not adjust to new realities. Failure to adjust denies us advancement for life must continue. Failure to accept, adjust and advance brings isolation and living death. So we must accept, adjust and advance. Naomi knew that if things were ever going to turn around for her and Ruth, Boaz and Ruth had to come together-(right time, right location, right connections).

Naomi sees if her lost land was going to be restored, Boaz was going to open his heart.

Ruth was the key to opening Boaz’s heart. Right people are important for destiny. Right people are those who care and have the ability to make a difference-Ruth 3:2, “Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.”

The critical time of the harvest was upon them. Winnowing-when the chaff and the wheat are separated.

• Removing the chaff is done in a process called “winnowing.”
• Winnowing is done at night when the wind is at peak.
• The harvest sheaves are thrown into the wind, the chaff is blown away as the wheat or barley falls to the threshing floor.
• The threshing floor is where the good is sifted from the bad, positive is separated from the negative.
• Each one of us has negative things/traits in our lives, personalities.
• Each one of us has negative things that need to be removed or sifted. Let us learn:-

BITTERNESS MUST BE REMOVED.

• Naomi’s problems had made her bitter.
• Naomi’s bitterness must be sifted from her life.
• Bitterness is always in the heart and under your skin, change of location cannot remove bitterness.
• Change of husband or wife or job cannot take away bitterness.
• Bitterness must be “put” or “cut” away-Eph. 4:31-52.
• Bitterness is a root that grows in our lives and seeks to destroy us-Heb. 12:14-15, “Follow peace with al men and holiness without which no man shall see God. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled.”
• Bitterness is never legitimate, no matter what someone has done to you.
• It does not matter how bad or how often you have been wronged, bitterness is a wrong response and will never be acceptable to God.
• Bitterness is a poison and it poisons the owner and others to death.
• Bitterness comes from a Greek word “Pikria” which means “sticky.”
• Bitterness starts with anger. When you allow anger to grow, it becomes resentment. When resentment sticks to your life, it grows to bitterness.
• Once bitterness sticks it is hard to get it off, it is like getting gum in your carpet or blanket.
• Bitterness is a spirit, bitterness is a root that grows in you physically and spiritually and then it affects you physically and spiritually.
• You cannot be bitter at someone and love God at the same time-1^st John 4:20.
• You cannot love God and be bitter at someone!!
• Bitterness causes us to question our own salvation-Eph. 4:31-32.
• Naomi had to work on her bitterness to receive the blessing.
• Prior to your breakthrough, there will be a major breaking down.
• The breaking down is actually God sifting us so that the good is separated from the bad, negative from the positive, pride from humility-Luke 22:31; Job 2:9.

THE THRESHING FLOOR.

• When it comes to the threshing floor, Satan intends to rob you of your blessing, wreck your confidence in God’s provision, doubt your adoption.
• God will allow testing to remove the chaff and build character.
• Peter was threshed before he was used of God. Job testing came before the “double portion blessing”-Job 42:10.
• Ruth on her part had to be faithful and steadfast, the Lord brought her to the threshing floor of Boaz.
• Ruth 3:3 “Wash thyself therefore, anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee and get thee down to the floor; but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.”
• Naomi understood something about men. When she told Ruth to eat and drink before approaching him-Ruth 3:3.
• Let his attention be fully on you, wait for the right time-He will give you everything you want.
• Get dolled up, do your hair, Smokey eyes, don’t put on your field clothes-put on your best.
• Naomi did not want Ruth to go there asking for things from Boaz.
• Ruth got Boaz’s attention before she moved to greater favor.
• To get God’s attention, you must do what is necessary, prepare, don’t just ask for help, “give me, give me!!”
• Even Jesus Christ did not start His prayers asking the Father for stuff.
• “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done…………..”
• Worship is the gateway to the heart of God.
• First prepare physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, then get attention as a principle.

RUTH GOT BOAZ’S ATTENTION.

• When Ruth got Boaz’s attention, it was time to get down to business-time for divine reversal.
• It was the moment Naomi and Ruth needed to change their destiny-Boaz was the man to do it.
• Ruth had known Boaz as a stranger then her boss, as a unique friend. Now the relationship is shifting to something greater.
• Naomi had told Ruth exactly what to wear, what to say and when to say it-Ruth 3:2-4.
• Ruth was specifically told to pay attention when Boaz sleeps-Rut 3:7.
• During the days of the judges, the days of Naomi and Ruth, the enemies of Israel would wait until Israel had harvested and winnowed the wheat then they would attack and steal the harvest.
• They had to guard the harvest even by night.
• The threshing floor was also a place for battle.
• Boaz slept next to the grain just in case the enemy tried to come in the night.
• Ruth lay by the feet of Boaz, waiting for invitation to the heart of Boaz.
• The threshing floor battle turns into the blessing when we fall on the floor in deep intimate prayer and worship before God.

CONCLUSION

• The threshing floor is the place we get to separate the bad and the good in our lives.
• We must let all bitterness away from our lives to receive the blessing and to advance to the next level.
• The altar is open for you to confess your bitterness, to advance to your next level into destiny.