Pleasant Garden Baptist Church Podcast (Sermons)

The Gospel’s Work on Full Display

Ruth 4:1-11

1 Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 

2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 

3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 

4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 

5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 

6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 

7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal.  

9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 

10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 

11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses." 

The Gospel’s Work on Full Display

1. The gospel rejoices in wise ingenuity (4:1-6).

2. The gospel recognizes costly investment (4:6-8).

3. The gospel redeems lost causes and wrecked reputations (4:9-11).

What does Daniel have to say to 2022 American Christians?

Daniel 1:8, 17 (ESV)

1:8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 

1:17 As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

1. Hostility and oppression isn’t new to God’s people.

     Daniel says, “Don’t lose sight!”

2. Biblical faithfulness nurtures perseverance in a hostile land.

     Daniel says, “Don’t lose courage!”

3. God is present and powerful anywhere and everywhere.

     Daniel says, “Don’t lose hope!”

The Gospel and a Sinful Culture

Deuteronomy 25:5-6

5 If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. 

6 And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.  

The Gospel and a Sinful Culture

1. The Bible grounds identity and sexuality in God's creation design.

 

  27 So God created man in his own image,  in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ---Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV)

  24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. ---Genesis 2:24 (ESV)

2. The Bible doesn’t glorify sexual sin.

3. The Bible declares the only appropriate place for a sexual relationship is between a husband and wife.

  18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. ---1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV)

4. Even though God gives standards of holiness, God’s people don’t always live up to those standards.

5. God doesn’t cancel us in our sinfulness.

6. If God doesn’t cancel us in our sinfulness, we shouldn’t be so quick to cancel others in their sinfulness. 

7. Remember, we lose the culture war before Christ wins the culture war at His return.

What should we as Christians do?

1. Maintain and exalt a biblical sexual ethic.

2. Strive to nurture relationships that already exist.

3. Respect your own conscience.

4. Be generous with prayerful grace.

5. Prayerfully seek opportunities to speak and display the gospel’s work in your own life.

The Gospel (of Ruth) and our Bodies

Ruth 3:10-11

10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 

11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.”

The Gospel and our Bodies

1. The enemy will tempt you to believe the necessity and convenience of sin (3:10).

2. The enemy will tempt you to believe you aren’t as valuable as God says you are (3:10-11, 2:9).

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” ---Ruth 2:8-9 (ESV)

 

18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. ---1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (ESV)

3. The enemy will tempt you to get ahead of God’s way of caring for you (3:11).

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. ---Proverbs 22:1 (ESV)

“For God So Loved!”

Romans 12 (NASB)

1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect.  

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 

4 For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, 

5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. 

6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 

7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 

8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of [j]exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.  

9 Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 

11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 

12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 

13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.  

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 

16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 

17 Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. 

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 

20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

---

Surrendered Life (vs 1-2)

- Abandon

- Deny – Luke 9:23

- Die – To die to self is to live for Christ

- Conformity vs Transformation  - 2 Corinthians 5:7

Sacrificial Attitude (Mindset) (Vs 3, 14 – 17, 19 - 20)

Biblical Self Awareness

- Humility

- Harmony

- Empathy

Serving Love -Understanding Who we are and What we are about! (Vs 4-11, 13)

"Christ Knew who He was/is and what He was about!" -Mark 10:42

Others focused:

- We need each other

- Loving sincerely 

- Giving Preference

- Devotion in love

- With Zeal, not lacking

- Meeting needs

- Welcoming = showing hospitality

Steadfast Faith (Vs 12, 18, 21)

- Hopeful rejoicing

- Patience in Difficulty

- Devoted to Prayer

- Peaceful Living

- Overcoming with Good

The Gospel of Ruth and Our Humanity

Ruth 3:1-18

1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 

2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 

3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 

4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”  

5 And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” 

6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 

7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 

8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 

9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”  

10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 

11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.

12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.   

13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.” 

14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 

15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.

16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 

17 saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 

18 She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”

The Gospel and our Humanity

1. Our human nature tempts us to help God (3:1-5).

2. Our human nature tempts us to be too influenced by others (3:6-9).

3. We overcome our human nature by looking at others through a God-shaped lens (3:10-18).

Staying on Mission, Part 2

Acts 1:8

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

1.     God has a heart for the nations (1:8).

2.     The people of God are to be sent into the world (1:8).

3.     The Spirit of God empowers and guides our worldwide witness (1:8, 16:6-10).

  6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.  9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. ---Acts 16:9-10 (ESV)

“Staying on Mission”

Acts 1:8

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 1:8 Personalized:  And you will be my witnesses in Pleasant Garden and in all North Carolina and the United States, and to the whole world.

Staying on Mission

1. Missions must begin right where we are (1:8).

2. Regional and nationwide missions spring out of what God’s doing where we live (1:8).

3. Acts illustrates the importance of celebrating and retelling what God’s doing.

“Delivering the Next Generation”

Exodus 1:15-2:10 (NLT)

15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 

16 “When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver.  If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” 

17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too.  

18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives. “Why have you done this?” he demanded. “Why have you allowed the boys to live?”  

19 “The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” the midwives replied. “They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.”  

20 So God was good to the midwives, and the Israelites continued to multiply, growing more and more powerful. 

21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.  

22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. But you may let the girls live.”

2:1  About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 

2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 

3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 

4 The baby’s sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.  

5 Soon Pharaoh’s daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 

6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This must be one of the Hebrew children,” she said.  

7 Then the baby’s sister approached the princess. “Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?” she asked.  

8 “Yes, do!” the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby’s mother. 

9 “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.  

10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”

God’s call on each of us to deliver the next generation means we must:

1.  Expose the darkness to the Light (1:17-20)

     “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ---John 8:12

     14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

      ---Matthew 5:14-16

   A.  Make yourself available!

     God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve . . . ---1 Peter 4:10

   B.  Pray for God to show you!

     If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ---James 1:5

   C.  Then do it! 

     But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ---James 1:22

2.  Surround our fears with Faith (1:22 - 2:3)

     Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. ---Isaiah 41:10

     For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. ---2 Timothy 1:7

 

   Fear in the life of a believer:

   1 - Fear causes us to reduce the size of God and elevate the size and opinion of man.

   2 - Fear causes us to lead people in the wrong direction. 

   3 - Fear causes us to stay quiet when we should clearly speak up.   

   4 - Fear causes us to be passive about an issue that the Lord has clearly brought to our attention.

   5 - Fear causes us to not engage the broken, the hurting, the misfits and the neglected because if we include them in our lives and actually invite them into our homes then it could get messy. 

   6 - Fear causes us to refuse to embrace change because we care way more about being comfortable than being conformed into the image of Christ.

   7 - Fear causes us to control things and take matters into our own hands rather than trusting the Lord and trusting others. 

   8 - Fear causes us to conceal sin and shame in our lives when God’s Word is so clear that we should ask others for help

3.  Stand firm on grace, expecting God’s blessings (2:4-10)

     “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” ---1 Corinthians 2:9

This next generation needs:

- Time

- Truth

- Trusted examples

Staying on Mission

Acts 1:6-14, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (ESV)

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 

11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” 

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.  

13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 

14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

STAYING ON MISSION

1. Distractions can keep us off mission (1:6).

9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. ---1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (ESV)

2.    God will empower us for mission right where we are (1:8).

3.    Our unity will be vital to our fulfillment of His mission (1:12-14).

Application Questions:

1. What’s distracting me from His mission?

2. Am I seeking God’s power to reach those around me?

3. Who’s on my list who is far from Jesus?

4. Is anything keeping me from unity with others?