MESSAGE # 2 "Finding Your Portion from His Favor"

TEXT:  Ruth 2: 1-3

Intro:  There are 3 primary personalities in the book of Ruth.  They are:

               1)  Naomi - a type and picture of a backsliden child of God.

                                    we have many pictures of her type with us today.

               2) Boaz -     a type and picture of the Lord Jesus Christ.  There

                                    are many types of Jesus in the Old Testament, but

                                    Boaz is one of the most descriptive we have.

               3) Ruth -     a type and picture of a lost sinner who is found by

                                    God and experiences the wonderful grace avail-

                                    ble through Him.

                This message deals with the inner desire in every person for

                communion with God.  Granted, we do not find or seek God

                until He reveals Himself to us, but after this occurs, then there

                is a seeking to satisfy that inner desire.  Unfortunately, most

                today, seek to fill that desire with worldly lusts and pleasures.

                These are only a band aid on the infection, but will not cure

                only cover.  Even then, it is only for a season.

I.  RUTH WAS SEARCHING WITH A PURPOSE (verse 2)

   A)  There was the purpose of Food (she was hungry, and was going

           to the fields to glean ears of corn.  Naomi was hungry too.  It sure

           would be a blessing today to see someone hungry enough for God

           to go to the fields of the Word of God and glean some corn.  This

           is a beautiful picture of how the sinner hungers for a relationship with

           God.  Nothing short of salvation will ever satisfy that hunger.

    B)  There was the purpose of Favor ("I shall find grace")

           Ruth was looking for some land owner who would be pleased with

           her, and allow her to glean in his fields.  But there was a problem.

           Ruth was a Moabitess and therefore unclean according to the law.

           Notice she was looking for grace, and the law can never offer grace.

           The field owners operating by law would reject her, but she found

           a field owned by Boaz, who was operating in grace.

    C)  There was the purpose of Fulfillment ("let me now go")

           this shows the anxiety and anticipation that she displayed.  This,

           sadly, is missing in churches today.  It seems to be that most are

           looking for the blessing but not the blesser.  Ruth had a need, yes,

           but she was also looking to be a blessing also.  We live in a world

           that says "give me, give me", but never "give back".

II.  RUTH WAS SEARCHING THROUGH PROVIDENCE (verse 3)

    A)  Of a Command from the Past (allowed to glean because of the

            law in Lev 9: 9-10).  But notice, she was led to field by law, but it

            was grace that she experienced.  The law can never save, it is only

            a schoolmaster that will show you or lead you to grace.  All this was

            because of something that occured in the past.  In other words, she

            experienced a privilege that was granted in the past.  We are the

            same today.  We experience grace in this present world, because

            of a past occurence call Calvary.  If you are saved, then you are a

            present product of a past work.

     B)  Of a Control in the Present (vs 3 "her hap") the word "hap means

           "she just happened to find this field".  That was probably true on her

           part, but not on God's part.  Providence led her to this field.  Same

           today with people who just walk into a church and God saves them.

           No accident or happenstance or luck, it was God leading them.

           Boaz was determined there was going to be a relationship between

           them.  This was the right place, time and the right person.  This rule

           works in the life of a sinner coming to God.

III.  RUTH WAS SEARCHING FOR A PERSON (verse 1)

       (physical hunger may have been the initial reason for her to go to the

       field of Boaz, but that quickly disappeared when her eyes met the

       eyes of Boaz.  She was just looking for 1 meal to stay alive, but she

       found Boaz, who's wealth would make sure she never hungered again.

      A)  Of Relationship (probably not a Hebrew woman in Bethlehem who

             wouldn't want to marry Boaz.  But God put a twinkle in the eye of a

             Moabitess girl name Ruth.  Not only a twinkle, but there was a tie.

             Boaz was her kinsman.

      B)  Of Riches ("was a mighty man of wealth")

            this means that Boaz possessed all the necessary riches to redeem

            her from a life of poverty.  This is a wonderful picture of our Lord

            Jesus Christ, who has all the riches of eternity and can redeem us

            from the poverty of sin.

     C)  Of Respect ("a mighty man")  The name "Boaz" means "in it is

            strength".  I am sure that the name Boaz commanded respect and

            attention throughout Bethlehem.  We serve a saviour whose name

            commands respect and awe.  At the name of Jesus, every knee

            shall bow, and every tongue shall confess.