Destination Church Spokane Podcast

The story of Boaz and Ruth is a bit of a Hallmark love story, isn't it! Yet, right at the end we get the reference to Judah and Tamar, a story of a whole different kind: deceit, manipulation, and sexual immorality. Both of these ancestors of Boaz's family brought a level of "crazy" into the family tree, and yet this is the family of tree of none other than King David... and King Jesus! Our own family history - or present! - is no barrier to the blessing and redemption that God is able to bring. Like Judah and Tamar, we too can be forgiven and our stories redeemed.

Everywhere the River of God flows, even through desert regions and the farthest reaches of places long dead, there will be new life! Jesus Himself gives this living water that brings His life to the world. The Gospels of Luke and John both tell stories of Jesus directing fishermen to cast their nets into the water. Though these fishermen had been unsuccessful after much labor, after following Jesus' instruction their nets were full to overflowing. Where Jesus is, He brings life! When that life draws its nourishment from Him, it continues to flourish and does not fade. Our lives can be like this!

Life can flourish close to the river, so throughout history, settlements and major cities have tended to establish along rivers or estuaries. In Ezekiel 47, we see the river of God flowing from His presence out into the world. What begins as a trickle builds momentum, depth, and width: from ankle deep to knee deep, then continues to grow, from waist-high to "deep enough to swim in", and we are swept up in His purpose. Every step of the way is an invitation to us to follow along, test out, and wade into the river of God's presence and purpose in the earth. And everywhere that river goes, life can flourish!

God is more than faithful as we step out in faith into what He is calling us to do. In Proverbs 24:27 that step of faith is into the field; for Nehemiah that step begins in prayer, then leads to a conversation with the king, and leads him all the way to from Babylon to Jerusalem. We may feel like the commission is too big, but as we prepare the field where God is sending us, He will also bless the work. This is true across the world and locally. Cameron Oliver encourages us in these things as he and his family prepare for the their faith-filled move back to South Africa to plant City Light Church in Capetown!

Like so many before and after her, Ruth had experienced relational pain. Her first husband had died, and they had not had children. In rescuing and redeeming her, God brought not only a husband, but broke the barrenness over her life as well. She was able to have a child! God brings fruitfulness and new life to us today as well, breaking barrenness through Jesus our Redeemer. Wonderfully, the way Jesus redeems us leads to the reconciling of peoples, blessing of nations, and the release of God's promise into new generations. Like Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi, our stories are joined with God's Big Story to bring redemption to the most far-reaching fields we could imagine.

Boaz and Ruth want to marry each other, but Boaz has to make sure this is legally worked out with a different marriage prospect for Ruth! He picks the right time, and we too can know that God is choosing the right timing as He works on our behalf. Boaz takes full responsibility for handling this correctly. Is there going to be a cost? Yes! But there are also great benefits. This is true for us too. There are costs for us in following Jesus, but the benefits of redemption far outweigh those costs! Jesus wants relationship with us, He considers us worth redeeming, and He won't rest in His pursuit of His people! (Apologies for the mystery pulsing sound in the background of this week's recording!)

Ruth pursues Boaz and he pursues her, with much blessing and dignity. What a reflection Boaz is of Jesus' heart for the people of God, both in the way He pursues us and in the way He blesses, welcomes, and desires our pursuit of Him! The way He guards and shepherds our lives as we pursue Him in faith will stir confidence that He will do everything in His power to redeem us completely.

Something happens when we awaken to the kindness and provision of God. Naomi recognizes Boaz's favor on Ruth and her heart that had been so stuck in grief now begins to make plans for a hopeful future. Ruth trusts Naomi's plan and takes bold initiative of her own as well. God is calling us as His people to pursue Him, not passively, but with great faith and daring! Because Jesus is so committed to us, we can take great hope in Him as we plan to love, serve, and pursue Him and His kingdom purpose.

We are redeemed, and God has not forgotten us! Boaz's extreme generosity toward Ruth caused Naomi to take notice, and she realizes that Ruth has met one of their family redeemers. God has led Ruth right into His blessing, care, and provision. As Ruth discovers that Boaz is a kinsman redeemer for her, so too the Scriptures reveal Jesus as the Redeemer for all of us who will believe in Him. His blessing is oh-so-much more than monetary and not at all limited to our physical provision, though He cares about those things too; God also provides a deep spiritual provision for the soul. As the story continues, Ruth stays under the protection of Boaz according to his instruction, resulting in continued grace and favor for her and Naomi. When we stay near to God's people, working in His fields regularly, we can expect Him to bring a regular harvest in our lives that will bless not only us, but those around us too.

Such generosity! Boaz shows Ruth great favor that baffles her. After all, they've just met; why would he do this for a foreign woman? Boaz had heard of the sacrifices Ruth made to follow God and acted graciously toward her, setting her up for success she never could have found or accomplished on her own. Like Ruth, we, once foreigners to the kingdom of God, have been shown great favor in Christ! And then He recognizes the sacrifices we make in serving Him and one another, rewarding us beyond anything we deserve in His generous grace. Never underestimate the generous grace of God extended to us in Christ, or the power of our generosity toward others to point them to our gracious Savior!

As Ruth's story continues, she's now in Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, and not knowing anyone in a foreign land she begins to look for favor. She meets Boaz and finds great favor with him, including protection, guidance in the community, and provision.  As the church we need these things as well. We need the favor of God, and our God is seeking a people He knows are in need. Like Boaz's favor toward Ruth, God's favor and provision for us are much bigger than just enough crumbs to get by. His favor is a bountiful feast and it's ready for us in the home he has prepared.

Have you ever felt like the worst evangelist ever? One of the amazing things about the story of Naomi and Ruth is how God kept drawing Ruth even as Naomi kept giving her all the reasons to turn back. God can overcome our weakness too, and use our imperfect efforts to draw people into His purpose for their life. Calloused hearts? He can soften them. Great resistance? He can overcome it. Great trauma? God can transcend it. And when we feel like we've come to the end of ourselves? God is just getting started! 

As the beautiful story of Ruth begins, the scene is anything but beautiful. In Bethlehem, the House of Bread, there's a famine. In their desperation, a family of four leaves the land and fields of God's Promise to go into the fields Moab. The Moabite people were considered cursed by God, but the sons of this family marry Moabite women. After tragedy and trauma, only the women are still living, but God's bigger plan begins to unfold. God's drawing pursuit of both Naomi and Ruth reflects His pursuit today of those who have walked away from His promise and those who have never known God and His ways. People who have left the church due to  and people who have never been a part of God's family can hear the wonderful good news: there is bread in God's house again and it's time to come home! Someone told Naomi that good news, and we have the privilege of spreading the news still today.

Do you know the purpose of prophecy in the New Covenant? Does your church family cultivate a genuinely prophetic atmosphere that also builds away from manipulation? What should we do with prophetic words that may seem unclear or maybe a bit "off?" As a New Testament prophetic people of the Spirit of God, it's vital that we understand how to weigh and test prophecy. In this message, Jon Meek reminds us of several practical ways to receive prophetic words and evaluate them according to Scripture and the testimony of Jesus.

"Everyone here sends their warm embrace to everyone there. Be sure to extend your warm embrace to one another in Christ." Paul's final words to his much loved friends in Philippi reflect the family relationship that the church is meant to enjoy. God's gracious embrace of us empowers us to extend grace to one another, in our own local church and to the family that is spreading across the nations! God's grace is truly on our family, on our going, and on our unity. What a fitting finale for Paul's letter to the church in Philippi!

When we develop a culture of grace, the gospel will shape our generosity. Giving has the opportunity to become an expression of our genuine fellowship and partnership with one another, leading us to take responsibility beyond ourselves. And more than mere obligation, giving also becomes an expression of our worship; God receives it as a beautiful aroma, a pleasing sacrifice to Him. As we learn that our Father really does care for us too, giving becomes an expression of our faith in Him. Like the Philippian church, we can discover a gospel-centered approach to giving, knowing Jesus is our supply.

Paul was very grateful for his friends in the church in Philippi. He rejoiced in the Lord for their pattern of support for him, and for what it revealed about their hearts. Though Paul was in prison, he had learned how to stay satisfied and fulfilled, even if his friends hadn't been able to help him. Contentment is learned, and we mature in this God-honoring part of our own discipleship. Whether we have much or little, we are able to do all the things that God has commissioned us to do, not through ourselves but through the strength that comes through Jesus Christ.

It's easy to say, "Be anxious for nothing," but actually finding true peace is going to take some intentional focus. The good news is that God promises to help us walk in peace when we put our faith in Him. How? First, it's important that we get the frame - the Big Picture - right. In the Big Picture, our future and our present is secure in Christ. Secondly, learning how to focus: to proactively take delight in God, and to dwell on the right things. Finally, as we learn to follow the example of others who are applying the first two, the promise is this: "...and the God of peace will be with you."

At the beginning of Philippians 4 Paul speaks into a relational or leadership issue between two women. He points out that they are on the same side and need to work together in the same direction. Sometimes our own interpersonal issues or ideas of how to advance God's mission can inadvertently cause division in the church, sometimes significant enough that it takes help from other leaders to bring reconciliation. The good news is that Jesus is our perfect example of unity and leadership! When we submit our lives to Him, He can help bring a unity in the church that paints a beautiful picture of what God intends human relationships to be.

We are not spiritual settlers who stay put, satisfied with where we are, because we have not yet 'arrived' in our faith. We press on toward our calling in Jesus, learning to live out the Citizenship we have in His kingdom. Paul encourages the church in Philippi to keep their eyes towards what is ahead rather than the sinful past - or even past success - which is behind them. Like the church in Philippi, we too are following Jesus and His perfect example all the days of our lives!