A FUTURE A-WAITS (BOAZ WEEK 3) – DYLAN JAHNIG
Scriptures:
Ruth 3
Matthew 16:24-25
Galatians 2:20
Acts 1:7
Psalm 37:7-9
Points:
1. Surrendering to God’s Plans
2. Surrendering Your Self
3. Surrendering to God’s Timing
In God’s family, we will always have a future.
The book of Ruth is the story of the Church and the assurance of the Father. When foreigners, somebody distant in their faith, walks into a loving family you can be sure of a secure future.
“One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”” Ruth 3:1-4 NIV
In Jewish culture, by law a man in the family was given the title of a ‘goel‘ – a Hebrew word that speaks of a redeemer. If someone in the family lost land the goel could come and buy it back and redeem the land. If someone in the family was done an injustice, the goel could come and stand in for them – as the Kinsman redeemer.
This was a way of God continuing the legacy of His family. w God is interested in family and generations.
At the heart of the Gospel message is God building a local church, a family.
In the story of Boaz and Jesus and the church and the field of favour is a person named Ruth that chooses a certain posture that positions herself for a future. A posture of surrender.
1. Surrendering to God’s Plans
Proverbs 19:21-23 – “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
What happens when things don’t go according to plan?
Ruth gives up her plan for God’s. If we want the favour that Boaz had, we need to be willing to surrender as Ruth did.
If you can’t make sense of the plan, take another step.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV
2. Surrender Your Self
Surrender your flesh; come in faith.
Matthew 16:24-25 – “take up your cross / deny yourself”
The baptism dilemma – we choose what goes under the water.
To baptise = to fully immerse.
There’s a generational effect: God restores more than you.
3. Surrendering to God’s Timing
Acts 1:7 – “When will you restore the kingdom?”
When my time is in His hands, time is on my side.
Psalm 37:7-9 – Sit still, He’s at work.
The future a-waits.
Discussion Questions
1. Surrendering to God’s Plans:
– Ruth 3:1-4: How does Ruth’s decision to follow Naomi’s plan demonstrate surrendering to God’s plans? What can we learn from her example?
– Proverbs 19:21-23: Have you experienced a time when your plans didn’t align with God’s? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
– Psalm 119:105: How can God’s word guide us when we don’t understand His plans? Can you share a time when Scripture provided clarity or direction in your life?
2. Surrendering Your Self:
– Matthew 16:24-25: What does it mean to you to “deny yourself and take up your cross”? How can we practically live this out daily?
– Galatians 2:20: How does being “crucified with Christ” influence our identity and actions? What does it look like to live by faith in the Son of God?
– Discuss the concept of baptism as full immersion. What areas of your life do you find hardest to surrender fully to God?
3. Surrendering to God’s Timing:
– Acts 1:7: How do you respond to uncertainty about the future or God’s timing in your life? What helps you remain patient and trustful?
– Psalm 37:7-9: What practices or disciplines help you to “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”? Can you share an example where waiting on God proved beneficial?
– How does trusting in God’s timing impact your perspective on your current circumstances and future plans?
4. How does the story of Ruth and Boaz illustrate the idea of a secure future within God’s family? Reflecting on the message, what is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to surrender more fully to Him?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the example of Ruth, who surrendered her plans for yours. Help us to trust in your perfect plans for our lives, even when they don’t align with our own. Grant us the grace to daily deny ourselves, taking up our cross to follow you. May your Spirit guide us in patiently waiting on your timing, knowing that your plans for us are good and perfect. We surrender ourselves wholly to you today. May our lives be a testament to your faithfulness and love, and may we find security and peace in belonging to your family, the Church. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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