100:00:00,380 –> 00:00:02,060:)200:00:02,880 –> 00:00:14,700Ruth took a risky initiative of faith she went to Boaz and asked, and because300:00:14,700 –> 00:00:23,219she asked she received, and that is why I chose the title faith for this message400:00:23,219 –> 00:00:28,120Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick I’m glad you500:00:28,139 –> 00:00:31,840could be with us today, and Colin we’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in this600:00:31,840 –> 00:00:37,459story so far of Ruth and Naomi, and now Boaz has come into the story so today700:00:37,459 –> 00:00:42,840we’re going to see faith on display. Yes and you know in the New Testament we800:00:42,840 –> 00:00:49,080have some very clear statements about the nature of faith Hebrew chapter 11900:00:49,080 –> 00:00:55,119for example tells us what faith is, the New Testament gives us faith in words1000:00:55,119 –> 00:01:00,980the Old Testament gives us faith in pictures and today we’re going to look1100:01:00,980 –> 00:01:07,199at a marvellous picture of faith and for anyone who is a visual learner this1200:01:07,199 –> 00:01:14,260story is going to convey what it looks like to actually live by faith, what it1300:01:14,260 –> 00:01:18,760looks like to take an initiative of faith, what it looks like to put your1400:01:18,760 –> 00:01:24,879trust in God. It’s a beautiful story and it conveys a wonderful truth1500:01:25,360 –> 00:01:29,940So, this story is in Ruth and chapter 3 so I hope you’ll join us in your Bible1600:01:29,940 –> 00:01:33,959if you can, as we continue the message, Faith. Here’s Colin.1700:01:33,959 –> 00:01:42,400I want us to see that Naomi’s counsel is a beautiful expression of faith and hope1800:01:42,400 –> 00:01:50,559and love. Boaz had clearly shown interest in Ruth, but he had done nothing to move1900:01:50,559 –> 00:01:57,620the relationship forward. There may be a hint as to why this was in verse 102000:01:57,620 –> 00:02:02,639where Boaz says,2100:02:02,639 –> 00:02:10,720that’s how he addresses Ruth. So, the fact that Boaz addresses Ruth as2200:02:10,720 –> 00:02:18,059daughter indicates that there was a very substantial difference in age.2300:02:18,940 –> 00:02:27,339mother was much older than Ruth. And you see, that is why he says in verse 10,2400:02:27,339 –> 00:02:32,380You have made this last kindness greater than the first, in that you have not gone after young2500:02:32,380 –> 00:02:39,380men, whether poor or rich. That the natural thing for Ruth to have done of2600:02:39,380 –> 00:02:45,580course would have been to go after someone of her own age. And if Boaz2700:02:45,699 –> 00:02:52,300had any romantic thoughts in regards to Ruth, he would have been very quick to put these2800:02:52,300 –> 00:02:58,940out of his mind. I mean, why would a young woman like Ruth have any interest in an aging2900:02:58,940 –> 00:03:00,220man like me?3000:03:02,500 –> 00:03:07,500So you see when Ruth came home from the fields day after day during the barley harvest,3100:03:07,500 –> 00:03:08,899Naomi would ask her,3200:03:10,860 –> 00:03:12,380Did you see Boaz today?3300:03:12,580 –> 00:03:15,059Oh yes, I had lunch with him and the others.3400:03:17,500 –> 00:03:19,820Did he say anything to you today?3500:03:22,259 –> 00:03:22,759No.3600:03:24,020 –> 00:03:25,059Nothing unusual.3700:03:27,419 –> 00:03:29,419And now it’s the end of the barley harvest.3800:03:31,660 –> 00:03:32,899And Naomi is thinking,3900:03:34,460 –> 00:03:36,580He’s never going to have the courage to ask her.4000:03:36,820 –> 00:03:38,940He’s never going to have the courage to ask her.4100:03:41,059 –> 00:03:43,539Well, we all know how this story should end,4200:03:44,779 –> 00:03:45,979but time has passed,4300:03:47,100 –> 00:03:48,539nothing has happened4400:03:50,059 –> 00:03:51,779until Naomi came to the rescue.4500:03:53,419 –> 00:03:55,179The barley harvest is over,4600:03:55,179 –> 00:03:57,100and Naomi reckons it’s now or never.4700:03:57,860 –> 00:04:02,020And so she encourages Ruth to take a risky initiative of faith.4800:04:02,300 –> 00:04:04,220What she’s saying to her is basically this,4900:04:04,259 –> 00:04:06,259put away your morning clothes,5000:04:06,979 –> 00:04:09,139and dress yourself as if for a wedding5100:04:09,139 –> 00:04:11,020because that’s what’s ahead of you.5200:04:12,660 –> 00:04:13,660That’s Naomi’s counsel.5300:04:15,139 –> 00:04:17,339Now let’s look at Ruth’s initiative, verse six.5400:04:17,779 –> 00:04:19,700So she went to the threshing floor5500:04:19,980 –> 00:04:24,100and did just as her mother in law had commanded her.5600:04:24,619 –> 00:04:25,179The threshing floor.5700:04:25,660 –> 00:04:27,700Now, the threshing floor was very simply an5800:04:27,700 –> 00:04:30,739elevated area of land,5900:04:31,019 –> 00:04:32,459like a kind of platform,6000:04:32,459 –> 00:04:35,299they’d looked for a raised area of land6100:04:35,779 –> 00:04:38,619and then there would be a ring of stones6200:04:38,619 –> 00:04:41,500that would be placed around that quite substantial6300:04:42,140 –> 00:04:42,660area.6400:04:43,179 –> 00:04:45,579And then the harvested sheaves6500:04:45,859 –> 00:04:48,179would be brought to this platform,6600:04:48,179 –> 00:04:49,260this threshing floor,6700:04:49,260 –> 00:04:51,220this raised area of land.6800:04:51,500 –> 00:04:54,179And they would be spread out in that area,6900:04:54,179 –> 00:04:56,179probably up to about a foot deep.7000:04:56,700 –> 00:04:58,500And then a wooden sled7100:04:58,739 –> 00:05:01,059with iron fragments on the bottom7200:05:01,059 –> 00:05:03,540would be driven over the sheaves7300:05:03,779 –> 00:05:07,220until the grain was separated from the chaff7400:05:07,459 –> 00:05:09,540and from the stalks.7500:05:10,339 –> 00:05:11,660Then in the evening,7600:05:11,660 –> 00:05:14,820when the wind would blow up from the sea,7700:05:15,299 –> 00:05:17,820the farmer would take a pitchfork7800:05:18,500 –> 00:05:21,820and he would throw what was lying on the floor7900:05:21,820 –> 00:05:23,700repeatedly up in the air8000:05:24,380 –> 00:05:27,380and the wind would simply blow away the chaff8100:05:27,380 –> 00:05:29,700and then leave the barley8200:05:30,299 –> 00:05:32,299lying separated out,8300:05:32,299 –> 00:05:35,459winnowed on the floor.8400:05:36,739 –> 00:05:39,540And when the winnowing was done,8500:05:40,220 –> 00:05:44,859the farmer or someone who was on his team8600:05:45,540 –> 00:05:47,980would spend the night beside the grain,I mean, to protect it.8700:05:47,980 –> 00:05:50,140This was of great value.8800:05:50,140 –> 00:05:52,339This was a year’s investment of work,8900:05:52,339 –> 00:05:55,940and you didn’t want to leave that unprotected.9000:05:56,660 –> 00:05:59,899Now, Naomi knew that Boaz would be guarding the grain9100:05:59,899 –> 00:06:01,220that particular night.9200:06:01,220 –> 00:06:04,220And sure enough, when Ruth went to the threshing floor,9300:06:04,220 –> 00:06:09,380she found Boaz sleeping at the end of the heap of grain.9400:06:09,619 –> 00:06:10,859Verse seven,9500:06:10,859 –> 00:06:15,059she pulled the blanket off Boaz feet9600:06:15,820 –> 00:06:17,739and she lay down.9700:06:17,739 –> 00:06:21,260And perhaps it was the cold on Boaz feet9800:06:21,260 –> 00:06:22,660that wakened him up, I don’t know,9900:06:22,660 –> 00:06:25,019but at midnight, Verse nine,10000:06:25,260 –> 00:06:27,019the man was startled10100:06:27,019 –> 00:06:29,299and he turned over and behold,10200:06:29,420 –> 00:06:31,660a woman lay at his feet.10300:06:32,980 –> 00:06:34,660Who are you?10400:06:34,899 –> 00:06:36,339Boaz asked.10500:06:37,220 –> 00:06:38,820Verse nine,10600:06:38,820 –> 00:06:41,739I am Ruth your servant.10700:06:41,739 –> 00:06:44,299Spread your wings over your servant.10800:06:45,420 –> 00:06:48,700For you are a redeemer.10900:06:50,540 –> 00:06:52,059Now, if you want what she said11000:06:52,059 –> 00:06:54,179in plain English, Ruth said to Boaz11100:06:55,100 –> 00:06:56,619marry me,11200:06:57,220 –> 00:06:57,899marry me.11300:06:57,899 –> 00:07:00,579This is a proposal of marriage11400:07:01,420 –> 00:07:03,619and there is something very beautiful11500:07:03,619 –> 00:07:06,179in the way that Ruth framed11600:07:06,299 –> 00:07:08,260this proposal.11700:07:08,260 –> 00:07:08,859You may remember11800:07:08,859 –> 00:07:10,420in chapter two in verse twelve11900:07:10,420 –> 00:07:12,179that the first time Boaz met Ruth,12000:07:12,179 –> 00:07:13,299he said to her12100:07:13,299 –> 00:07:15,179the Lord repay you for what you have done12200:07:15,179 –> 00:07:16,739and a full reward be given to you12300:07:16,739 –> 00:07:18,380by the Lord, the God of Israel12400:07:18,380 –> 00:07:20,779under whose wings.12500:07:22,059 –> 00:07:24,899You have come to take refuge.12600:07:24,899 –> 00:07:25,739That was the first thing12700:07:25,739 –> 00:07:27,459the Boaz ever said to Ruth.12800:07:27,459 –> 00:07:29,779She’d never forgotten it.12900:07:29,859 –> 00:07:31,619And when she came to make her proposal,13000:07:31,619 –> 00:07:33,100she used precisely the same13100:07:33,100 –> 00:07:35,420language spread your wings,13200:07:35,420 –> 00:07:37,859she says to him over your servant,13300:07:37,859 –> 00:07:39,579for you are13400:07:39,619 –> 00:07:40,380a redeemer, you see13500:07:40,380 –> 00:07:43,140what Ruth is saying Boaz?13600:07:43,220 –> 00:07:45,179The first time we ever met.13700:07:46,700 –> 00:07:49,019You prayed.13800:07:49,100 –> 00:07:50,299That I would find rest13900:07:50,299 –> 00:07:53,339under the wings of almighty God.14000:07:53,339 –> 00:07:55,660What I’m asking you tonight,14100:07:55,700 –> 00:07:57,140is that you become the answer14200:07:57,140 –> 00:07:59,339to what you prayed for me.14300:07:59,339 –> 00:08:01,660Take me under your wings.14400:08:01,660 –> 00:08:03,100I want you to be the means14500:08:03,100 –> 00:08:04,500by which I experience14600:08:04,500 –> 00:08:06,540the blessing of being14700:08:06,540 –> 00:08:10,260under the wings of God.14800:08:12,100 –> 00:08:15,980So there’s Naomi’s console,14900:08:17,019 –> 00:08:19,380there’s Ruth’s initiative.15000:08:20,660 –> 00:08:23,500And then there’s Boaz resolve,15100:08:23,619 –> 00:08:24,940and Boaz had no hesitation15200:08:24,940 –> 00:08:26,339whatsoever in accepting15300:08:26,339 –> 00:08:27,420Ruth’s proposal.15400:08:27,420 –> 00:08:29,619In fact, he absolutely jumped15500:08:29,619 –> 00:08:31,820at the opportunity15600:08:31,820 –> 00:08:33,099and we saw earlier15700:08:33,099 –> 00:08:34,619what we can learn from Naomi’s15800:08:34,619 –> 00:08:35,859example of love.15900:08:35,859 –> 00:08:37,580There’s actually more here16000:08:37,580 –> 00:08:39,820for us to learn from Boaz’s16100:08:39,820 –> 00:08:43,619example of love in action.16200:08:43,619 –> 00:08:44,900I want to draw your attention16300:08:44,900 –> 00:08:46,700to three things in regards16400:08:46,700 –> 00:08:48,700to what we learn about love16500:08:48,700 –> 00:08:50,260from Boaz,16600:08:50,260 –> 00:08:51,700and the first thing very obviously16700:08:51,700 –> 00:08:55,539is that love waits.16800:08:55,539 –> 00:08:57,940Love waits.16900:08:57,940 –> 00:09:02,460She lay at his feet until morning.17000:09:02,460 –> 00:09:04,940What an extraordinary17100:09:04,940 –> 00:09:10,099test this was of Boaz character,17200:09:10,099 –> 00:09:12,739godliness and integrity,17300:09:12,739 –> 00:09:13,900can you imagine this?17400:09:13,900 –> 00:09:17,020He woke up in the middle of the night17500:09:17,020 –> 00:09:18,900and found the woman to whom17600:09:19,059 –> 00:09:25,219he had been drawn lying at his feet.17700:09:25,219 –> 00:09:30,619Now, if this was the movies,17800:09:30,619 –> 00:09:32,179we all know that they would have become17900:09:32,179 –> 00:09:38,099one that night under the light of the stars.18000:09:38,099 –> 00:09:39,460But that didn’t happen.18100:09:39,460 –> 00:09:44,619It’s extraordinary, really, isn’t it?18200:09:44,619 –> 00:09:45,820It didn’t happen.18300:09:46,179 –> 00:09:47,000Verse 14.18400:09:50,500 –> 00:09:54,260She didn’t move, just at his feet.18500:09:54,260 –> 00:09:57,020Never moved from there.18600:09:57,020 –> 00:10:00,140Boaz didn’t move either.18700:10:00,140 –> 00:10:06,500Now, why did Boaz not say to Ruth,18800:10:06,500 –> 00:10:11,260I love you and you love me,18900:10:11,260 –> 00:10:12,179and this is the most19000:10:12,200 –> 00:10:14,080perfect night?19100:10:14,080 –> 00:10:17,159And we are alone under the stars together,19200:10:17,159 –> 00:10:20,359let’s become man and wife in the eyes19300:10:20,359 –> 00:10:22,640of God right now.19400:10:22,640 –> 00:10:24,260Why did they not say that?19500:10:26,119 –> 00:10:31,119Because God has given sexual union19600:10:31,479 –> 00:10:35,179as a gift to be enjoyed exclusively19700:10:35,179 –> 00:10:40,179within marriage and marriage is more19800:10:40,940 –> 00:10:44,239than a private relationship of love between two people.19900:10:45,640 –> 00:10:49,820Marriage is a relationship of love20000:10:49,820 –> 00:10:53,440wrapped in the strength of law,20100:10:53,440 –> 00:10:55,700that’s what it is, that’s how God has given it to us.20200:10:55,700 –> 00:10:57,900We’ll see more about this next week.20300:10:57,900 –> 00:11:01,000Marriage is a relationship of love20400:11:01,000 –> 00:11:05,340wrapped in the strength of the law.20500:11:05,340 –> 00:11:08,960And Ruth and Boaz very wonderfully here20600:11:09,000 –> 00:11:11,580model a love that waits.20700:11:11,580 –> 00:11:15,039They want their love to be blessed by God.20800:11:16,880 –> 00:11:20,880And because they want their love to be blessed by God20900:11:20,880 –> 00:11:24,559they are committed to obeying God’s law.21000:11:25,859 –> 00:11:26,919That’s the first thing we learn about21100:11:26,919 –> 00:11:29,320love from Boaz here, that love waits.21200:11:30,580 –> 00:11:33,200Then secondly, love commits.21300:11:33,200 –> 00:11:34,520Notice what he says, verse 11.21400:11:34,559 –> 00:11:36,239And now my daughter, do not fear,21500:11:36,239 –> 00:11:39,440I will do all that you ask.21600:11:41,140 –> 00:11:42,340What a joy that must have been21700:11:42,340 –> 00:11:43,900to Ruth to hear these words.21800:11:45,400 –> 00:11:46,719Now we’re going to see next time21900:11:46,719 –> 00:11:49,080that there was a problem to overcome22000:11:49,080 –> 00:11:51,900before Ruth and Boaz could be married.22100:11:51,900 –> 00:11:54,000But what I want us to notice today22200:11:54,000 –> 00:11:57,080is that Boaz is ready to commit.22300:11:58,000 –> 00:12:01,099I will do for you all that you ask.22400:12:01,700 –> 00:12:04,500Now, Boaz had clearly,22500:12:04,500 –> 00:12:06,059early in chapter two,22600:12:06,059 –> 00:12:08,500indicated in several ways22700:12:08,500 –> 00:12:10,280his interest in Ruth.22800:12:10,280 –> 00:12:14,580He had awakened her interest in him22900:12:14,580 –> 00:12:18,080and now he has no hesitation23000:12:18,080 –> 00:12:22,099in committing himself to her.23100:12:22,099 –> 00:12:23,440You see, that’s one of the things23200:12:23,440 –> 00:12:24,280that love does,23300:12:24,280 –> 00:12:25,640love commits.23400:12:25,640 –> 00:12:30,640Self-interest wants to keep all our options open23500:12:35,119 –> 00:12:37,739but love commits,23600:12:37,739 –> 00:12:42,739knowing that joy and blessing will follow.23700:12:42,900 –> 00:12:45,679And then, very obviously from this story here,23800:12:45,679 –> 00:12:47,719we see from the example of Boaz23900:12:47,719 –> 00:12:49,719that love gives.24000:12:49,719 –> 00:12:51,260Verse 15, and he said,24100:12:51,260 –> 00:12:53,280bring the garment you are wearing24200:12:53,280 –> 00:12:54,119and hold it out.24300:12:54,119 –> 00:12:56,039And she held it and he measured out24400:12:56,039 –> 00:12:58,739six measures of barley24500:12:58,739 –> 00:13:01,700and put it on her and she went back into the city.24600:13:01,700 –> 00:13:03,260Now, six measures of barley,24700:13:03,260 –> 00:13:04,539this is even more than an ifa.24800:13:04,539 –> 00:13:08,000This would have been about 80 pounds in weight.24900:13:08,000 –> 00:13:09,859I mean, how she managed to get that back home,25000:13:09,859 –> 00:13:12,159I can scarcely imagine.25100:13:12,159 –> 00:13:13,880But she went back to Naomi25200:13:13,880 –> 00:13:16,359absolutely loaded with grain25300:13:16,359 –> 00:13:19,320and the size of the gift of course25400:13:19,320 –> 00:13:22,559was an indication to Naomi25500:13:23,520 –> 00:13:25,039not only of Boaz commitment to Ruth25600:13:25,039 –> 00:13:26,359but of the blessing25700:13:26,359 –> 00:13:28,020that he was going to bring into the lives25800:13:28,020 –> 00:13:29,219of both of these women25900:13:29,219 –> 00:13:31,359in the days and the years that lay ahead.26000:13:32,559 –> 00:13:33,799Share generosity.26100:13:34,679 –> 00:13:36,880What does it mean to grow in love?26200:13:37,960 –> 00:13:39,099Love waits,26300:13:40,359 –> 00:13:41,400love commits,26400:13:43,159 –> 00:13:45,119love gives.26500:13:45,119 –> 00:13:46,340You’re listening to Open The Bible26600:13:46,340 –> 00:13:47,539with Pastor Colin Smith26700:13:47,539 –> 00:13:49,359and A Message Called Faith26800:13:49,359 –> 00:13:50,239part of our series,26900:13:50,280 –> 00:13:52,960Ordinary People Extraordinary God27000:13:52,960 –> 00:13:54,859based on the story of Ruth.27100:13:54,859 –> 00:13:57,080If you’ve missed any of the series so far27200:13:57,080 –> 00:13:58,840or if you want to go back and listen again27300:13:58,840 –> 00:14:00,599you can always do that by coming online27400:14:00,599 –> 00:14:01,719to our website,27500:14:01,719 –> 00:14:04,219openthebible.org.uk27600:14:04,219 –> 00:14:05,960there you’ll find all the messages27700:14:05,960 –> 00:14:08,460which have already gone out on air.27800:14:08,460 –> 00:14:10,099You’ll also find them as a podcast27900:14:10,099 –> 00:14:11,979and those are on all the main podcasts sites28000:14:11,979 –> 00:14:13,979search for openthebible.uk28100:14:13,979 –> 00:14:18,559or follow the link to the podcasts on our website.28200:14:18,659 –> 00:14:21,039Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham28300:14:21,039 –> 00:14:24,679with news of a special Open The Bible promotion this Easter.28400:14:24,679 –> 00:14:27,440Now I wonder what plans you have for Easter.28500:14:27,440 –> 00:14:29,500At Open The Bible, we have something28600:14:29,500 –> 00:14:32,599that might be of interest to you and your church.28700:14:32,599 –> 00:14:35,640We filmed a one actor, one act performance28800:14:35,640 –> 00:14:37,580of Colin’s well known book,28900:14:37,580 –> 00:14:39,219Heaven, How I Got Here,29000:14:39,219 –> 00:14:41,719The Story Of The Thief On The Cross.29100:14:41,719 –> 00:14:43,900It’s a really powerful gospel message29200:14:43,900 –> 00:14:47,520and we’re making the film available to you for free.29300:14:47,520 –> 00:14:50,500If your church wanted to show the film this Easter,29400:14:50,500 –> 00:14:53,739we have created a free resource pack to help you.29500:14:53,739 –> 00:14:58,739To find out more, go to openthebible.org.uk.29600:14:59,299 –> 00:15:01,599Back to the message now, here’s Colin.29700:15:01,599 –> 00:15:03,820What’s it mean to grow in love?29800:15:04,880 –> 00:15:09,880I’ve waits, love commits, love gives.29900:15:12,900 –> 00:15:16,840Now we’ve seen what we can learn about love30000:15:16,900 –> 00:15:21,900from the examples of Naomi and the example of Boaz.30100:15:23,219 –> 00:15:26,440I want in these last minutes this morning30200:15:26,440 –> 00:15:30,739for us to see what we can learn about faith30300:15:30,739 –> 00:15:34,460from the example of Ruth.30400:15:34,460 –> 00:15:38,479Next week, God willing, we’re going to see in more detail30500:15:38,479 –> 00:15:43,479that what Boaz did for Ruth gives us a marvelous picture30600:15:44,479 –> 00:15:47,940of what the Lord Jesus Christ does for us.30700:15:47,940 –> 00:15:49,940What Boaz does for Ruth points us30800:15:49,940 –> 00:15:52,559to what Jesus does for us.30900:15:52,559 –> 00:15:55,000But you see if you flip that around and turn it on its head,31000:15:55,000 –> 00:15:58,940it’s also true that what Ruth did31100:15:58,940 –> 00:16:01,280in taking an initiative of faith31200:16:01,280 –> 00:16:04,520in going to Boaz is a marvelous picture31300:16:04,520 –> 00:16:06,679of how we then should come31400:16:06,679 –> 00:16:10,119to the Lord Jesus Christ.31500:16:10,159 –> 00:16:15,159Ruth took a risky initiative of faith.31600:16:16,559 –> 00:16:19,440She went to Boaz and asked.31700:16:20,679 –> 00:16:25,679And because she asked, she received.31800:16:25,760 –> 00:16:30,760And that is why I chose the title faith for this message.31900:16:30,859 –> 00:16:34,080What then would an initiative of faith32000:16:35,239 –> 00:16:38,340look like for you or for me?32100:16:39,219 –> 00:16:41,080These observations in closing,32200:16:42,140 –> 00:16:47,140faith seeks Christ and is blessed.32300:16:47,919 –> 00:16:50,820Faith always involves a choice.32400:16:50,820 –> 00:16:53,799It involves moving in a particular direction.32500:16:55,140 –> 00:16:57,020It involves saying no to some things32600:16:57,020 –> 00:16:59,020in order to say yes to others.32700:17:00,419 –> 00:17:02,219Not as verse 10 of chapter three.32800:17:02,219 –> 00:17:05,079Boaz said, may you be blessed by the Lord my daughter,32900:17:05,079 –> 00:17:06,619you’ve made this last kindness greater33000:17:06,859 –> 00:17:10,119than the first in that you have not gone33100:17:10,119 –> 00:17:13,880after young men whether poor or rich.33200:17:15,560 –> 00:17:19,939Ruth could clearly have chosen a different life33300:17:19,939 –> 00:17:21,099with a younger man.33400:17:22,599 –> 00:17:25,000There is always a different life33500:17:25,000 –> 00:17:27,099that you could choose, always.33600:17:30,020 –> 00:17:31,079But we’re gonna see next week33700:17:31,079 –> 00:17:34,079that in proposing this marriage to Boaz,33800:17:34,079 –> 00:17:37,359Ruth was motivated by obeying the law of God.33900:17:39,579 –> 00:17:43,260There are many choices that you could make.34000:17:44,359 –> 00:17:47,339There are many different lives that you could live.34100:17:48,780 –> 00:17:51,479But if you will seek after Christ,34200:17:51,479 –> 00:17:53,939you will be blessed, period.34300:17:55,579 –> 00:17:56,959And that’s what faith does.34400:17:58,260 –> 00:18:00,319Of all the choices that are there,34500:18:01,819 –> 00:18:04,000faith says, I’m going after Jesus Christ34600:18:04,000 –> 00:18:06,880because I’m convinced that blessings will be found in him.34700:18:08,060 –> 00:18:08,900That’s faith.34800:18:10,520 –> 00:18:15,079Second faith, asks Christ and receives.34900:18:15,079 –> 00:18:16,599Notice chapter three and verse eleven.35000:18:16,599 –> 00:18:17,760Now, my daughter, do not fear,35100:18:17,760 –> 00:18:21,280I will do all that you ask.35200:18:21,280 –> 00:18:22,800That’s the key point here.35300:18:25,079 –> 00:18:29,060Boaz was clearly ready to give.35400:18:29,060 –> 00:18:30,140No question about that.35500:18:30,140 –> 00:18:31,839It was immediate, his response.35600:18:32,819 –> 00:18:36,680But Ruth did not receive until she asked.35700:18:38,140 –> 00:18:40,859And if she had not asked, she would not have received.35800:18:42,579 –> 00:18:45,400James says in the New Testament,35900:18:45,400 –> 00:18:50,400you do not have because you do not ask.36000:18:52,739 –> 00:18:57,739And Jesus says, ask and it will be given to you.36100:18:58,119 –> 00:19:03,180Jesus Christ has more to give any of us36200:19:04,359 –> 00:19:06,199than any of us have yet received.36300:19:08,459 –> 00:19:11,560Yet how easy it is for us as believers36400:19:11,560 –> 00:19:14,959in the Lord Jesus Christ to go for long stretches36500:19:14,959 –> 00:19:17,939with our asking, you know, for anything particular at all.36600:19:21,439 –> 00:19:23,900What do you need from the Lord Jesus Christ today?36700:19:24,079 –> 00:19:25,479What will you ask?36800:19:27,619 –> 00:19:28,800Do you need strength?36900:19:30,439 –> 00:19:31,680Do you need peace?37000:19:33,599 –> 00:19:34,880Do you need patience?37100:19:38,180 –> 00:19:39,439Do you need forgiveness?37200:19:41,280 –> 00:19:44,280Do you need the ability to forgive someone else?37300:19:46,599 –> 00:19:51,079Draw near to Christ in an initiative of faith.37400:19:51,079 –> 00:19:53,040That’s what this story is about today.37500:19:54,900 –> 00:19:58,099Ask and you will receive.37600:20:00,520 –> 00:20:04,619And then, Faith submits to Christ and obeys.37700:20:04,619 –> 00:20:06,319You notice what Naomi says37800:20:06,319 –> 00:20:09,079go and uncover his feet and lie down37900:20:09,079 –> 00:20:11,380and he will tell you what to do.38000:20:11,380 –> 00:20:14,199There’s great emphasis, and this really is important38100:20:14,199 –> 00:20:18,599that Ruth lay only at the feet of Boaz,38200:20:18,599 –> 00:20:21,079and as we saw, the scripture emphasizes38300:20:21,079 –> 00:20:23,119she never moved there38400:20:23,760 –> 00:20:26,439and that is important, not only38500:20:26,439 –> 00:20:28,540because it’s an indication of the purity38600:20:28,540 –> 00:20:30,359of what took place that night,38700:20:30,359 –> 00:20:35,359but it’s also an indication of the submission38800:20:35,739 –> 00:20:39,479that is at the very heart of asking.38900:20:40,500 –> 00:20:43,920Remember that it says of Mary in the New Testament,39000:20:43,920 –> 00:20:46,140when Martha was busy in the kitchen,39100:20:46,140 –> 00:20:48,040that Mary sat where?39200:20:48,040 –> 00:20:52,140At the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.39300:20:53,119 –> 00:20:54,880The significance of this is very obvious.39400:20:54,880 –> 00:20:58,880To sit at someone’s feet is to submit yourself39500:20:58,880 –> 00:21:00,560to their teaching or their direction.39600:21:00,560 –> 00:21:02,199And that’s the point here, isn’t it?39700:21:02,199 –> 00:21:04,400Go in and cover his feet, lie down at his feet,39800:21:04,400 –> 00:21:05,839he will tell you what to do.39900:21:08,180 –> 00:21:09,439Now you see, we’re learning something40000:21:09,439 –> 00:21:12,939very, very important about faith.40100:21:12,939 –> 00:21:14,819Not only does faith seek Christ,40200:21:14,819 –> 00:21:17,839and not only does faith ask of Christ,40300:21:17,839 –> 00:21:21,959but faith submits itself to Christ.40400:21:23,319 –> 00:21:24,900He will tell you what to do.40500:21:26,239 –> 00:21:27,959So as you draw near to him and say,40600:21:27,959 –> 00:21:30,280I’m choosing to seek the blessing40700:21:30,280 –> 00:21:32,239that is found in the Lord Jesus Christ,40800:21:32,239 –> 00:21:34,880I’m coming to ask according to my need.40900:21:34,880 –> 00:21:39,040Then in that same faith, you must submit yourself41000:21:39,040 –> 00:21:41,560to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ41100:21:41,560 –> 00:21:43,660and do what he says.41200:21:44,680 –> 00:21:45,920Do what he says.41300:21:48,319 –> 00:21:51,040And then lastly, faith trusts Christ and waits.41400:21:51,079 –> 00:21:54,520This beautiful last verse that we read today41500:21:54,520 –> 00:21:57,800where Naomi says to Ruth, wait my daughter,41600:21:57,800 –> 00:22:00,079until you learn how the matter turns out,41700:22:01,160 –> 00:22:03,420for the man will not rest,41800:22:03,420 –> 00:22:05,859but will settle the matter today.41900:22:08,280 –> 00:22:10,359If you will seek Christ,42000:22:11,599 –> 00:22:14,040if you will ask of Christ,42100:22:15,140 –> 00:22:19,640if you will submit yourself to Christ and do what he says,42200:22:19,640 –> 00:22:24,520you can trust the Lord Jesus Christ to settle42300:22:24,520 –> 00:22:28,819whatever you place into his hands.42400:22:29,920 –> 00:22:31,680You’ve been listening to Open the Bible42500:22:31,680 –> 00:22:35,040with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Faith.42600:22:35,040 –> 00:22:38,719Part of our series Ordinary People Extraordinary God42700:22:38,719 –> 00:22:41,079based on the story of Ruth.42800:22:41,079 –> 00:22:43,060If you’ve missed any of the series so far42900:22:43,060 –> 00:22:45,000or if you want to go back and listen again,43000:22:45,000 –> 00:22:47,979you can do that by coming online to our website,43100:22:48,380 –> 00:22:50,900openthebible.org.uk.43200:22:50,900 –> 00:22:53,859Or you can find Pastor Colin’s teaching as a podcast43300:22:53,859 –> 00:22:56,699and those are on all the main podcast sites.43400:22:56,699 –> 00:22:58,979Find a link on our website to go there43500:22:58,979 –> 00:23:02,020or search for Open the Bible UK43600:23:02,020 –> 00:23:04,500on your favourite podcast site.43700:23:04,500 –> 00:23:08,140Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.43800:23:08,140 –> 00:23:09,739And if you already give to support43900:23:09,739 –> 00:23:11,020the work of Open the Bible,44000:23:11,020 –> 00:23:13,579we want to say a big thank you today.44100:23:13,579 –> 00:23:15,060If you don’t already support us44200:23:15,060 –> 00:23:17,000but you’re considering doing so,44300:23:17,040 –> 00:23:19,839you can do that by coming online to our website,44400:23:19,839 –> 00:23:22,280openthebible.org.uk,44500:23:22,280 –> 00:23:23,760there you can give online.44600:23:23,760 –> 00:23:26,040You can also hear about our gift to you44700:23:26,040 –> 00:23:28,560if you’re able to set up a new direct debit44800:23:28,560 –> 00:23:30,199to the work of Open the Bible44900:23:30,199 –> 00:23:33,280in the amount of five pounds per month or more45000:23:33,280 –> 00:23:36,599or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more.45100:23:36,599 –> 00:23:38,020If you’re able to do that,45200:23:38,020 –> 00:23:39,339we’d love to say thank you45300:23:39,339 –> 00:23:42,199by sending you a copy of Lee Strobel’s book,45400:23:42,199 –> 00:23:43,599the Case for Easter.45500:23:43,599 –> 00:23:46,560Also Pastor Colin’s booklet Six Days45600:23:46,599 –> 00:23:48,020that changed the world,45700:23:48,020 –> 00:23:49,199and on top of that,45800:23:49,199 –> 00:23:53,280a lovely Open the Bible tote bag, pen and bookmark.45900:23:53,280 –> 00:23:55,099Colin, what might readers get46000:23:55,099 –> 00:23:57,199out of reading Lee Strobel’s book,46100:23:57,199 –> 00:23:58,599The Case for Easter?46200:23:58,599 –> 00:23:59,599Well, I think the first thing46300:23:59,599 –> 00:24:02,800is it’s an absolutely fascinating read.46400:24:02,800 –> 00:24:05,119I mean, Lee Strobel was an atheist46500:24:05,119 –> 00:24:07,260when he began exploring the Christian faith46600:24:07,260 –> 00:24:09,040and in the case for Easter,46700:24:09,040 –> 00:24:11,560he retraces his own steps46800:24:11,560 –> 00:24:13,000showing the biblical evidence46900:24:13,000 –> 00:24:14,719that led him to believe47000:24:14,719 –> 00:24:17,359that Jesus really rose from the dead.47100:24:17,359 –> 00:24:19,319And the compelling evidence47200:24:19,319 –> 00:24:21,459on which we can take a reasoned step of faith47300:24:21,459 –> 00:24:24,079is really placed before us in the Gospels.47400:24:24,079 –> 00:24:26,079The reality is that there are many people47500:24:26,079 –> 00:24:28,260who’ve not seriously considered it.47600:24:28,260 –> 00:24:29,880Well, the case for Easter47700:24:29,880 –> 00:24:32,719can help Christians come to clarity47800:24:32,719 –> 00:24:35,760about why we believe in the resurrection47900:24:35,760 –> 00:24:38,459and it can help to provide a pathway to faith48000:24:38,459 –> 00:24:41,439for someone who’s just beginning to explore Christianity.48100:24:41,439 –> 00:24:43,619Well, The Case for Easter by Lee Strobel48200:24:43,619 –> 00:24:45,420and Colin’s booklet,48300:24:45,420 –> 00:24:46,7806 Days That Changed The World48400:24:46,780 –> 00:24:50,260as well as a lovely Open the Bible tote bag,48500:24:50,260 –> 00:24:52,599bookmark, and pen are our gift to you48600:24:52,599 –> 00:24:55,199if you’re able to set up a new direct debit48700:24:55,199 –> 00:24:57,619to the work of Open the Bible this month48800:24:57,619 –> 00:25:00,319in the amount of five pounds per month or more48900:25:00,319 –> 00:25:03,900or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more.49000:25:03,900 –> 00:25:05,920Full details, terms and conditions,49100:25:05,920 –> 00:25:07,359and to give online,49200:25:07,359 –> 00:25:08,699come to our website,49300:25:08,699 –> 00:25:11,959openthebible.org.uk.49400:25:12,199 –> 00:25:14,579For Colin Smith, for Open the Bible,49500:25:14,579 –> 00:25:15,819I’m David Pick,49600:25:15,819 –> 00:25:17,640and I hope you’ll join us again soon.49700:25:17,640 –> 00:25:23,520What does it mean49800:25:23,520 –> 00:25:25,380for Jesus to be our Redeemer?49900:25:25,380 –> 00:25:29,560Find out next time on Open the Bible.