The Way-An in-depth study of God's Word with Paul Orr

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Isaiah continues to present God's scathing indictment against His chosen nation of Israel. This once faithful city has become a harlot. She is filled with murderers and thieves. They love bribes and have neglected the fatherless and the widow. They are rebellious, filled with iniquity, corrupters. They have forsaken the LORD and provoked the Holy One of Israel to anger.

Therefore, the LORD, the LORD of Host, the Mighty One of Israel will take vengeance upon them. The children of Israel, through their rebellion, have made themselves as the enemy of God. There will be consequences. They shall stand in the light of God's righteous judgment. There they will be ashamed and embarrassed of all that they have done in rebellion and disobedience towards God who loves them. They will now face the eternal judgment of God. 

Yet as Isaiah concludes this indictment, he presents the people with the glorious hope that they can have in the LORD. A glorious hope that lies ahead because of the promises that God made to the fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and David. God remains faithful to His word always. 

The scathing indictment followed by the glorious hope of the coming kingdom should bring the present generation to repentance. There will be a generation to follow that will be taken into captivity. This should encourage them that God is a covenant keeping God. His word is sure. 

For us today, to be able to look back on this, we can know that God desires us to live in obedience to His word, to repent when we fail to keep His word and to always be looking ahead to the glorious hope we have in Jesus, Christ in us the hope of glory. God has promised that a day is coming when Jesus will return and set up the kingdom of God. What great hope we have as followers of Jesus!

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Beginning Sunday May 5th, we have changed locations and will meet on Sundays at 10 am. If you are interested in joining us either live or on Zoom, please contact us at the above email address.

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We now begin a study in the book of Isaiah. It is a tremendous book, referred to as a major prophet of the Old Testament. The book of Isaiah is quoted many times throughout the New Testament. It is a book centered on God, the work that God was doing and the work that God will continue to do, right up to the present and beyond.

Isaiah is broken up in two parts. Chapters 1 through 39 emphasizes judgment and deserved punishment. In this section the people of Isaiah's day are being called back to holiness and obedience through repentance. Chapters 40 through 66 deals with salvation, restoration and atonement. This message is to those in the future. God is assuring the people of Israel that they would be restored to the land and that He would establish His kingdom.

In these opening verses, Israel is called into the court room of God with all of creation as witnesses. Isaiah reveals a scathing indictment by God against the people. The accusation and its details should come as a surprise to no one. Isaiah under the power of the Holy Spirit is calling it straight. He will not tip toe around the crisis that the people have brought upon themselves. He is calling it straight and clear according to God's word. There can be no mistake as to what he is saying. He is speaking the truth of God's word without apology. How desperately we need Isaiah's in our present day.

In spite of this scathing indictment and the fact that God has every reason to punish with great severity the nation of Israel, yet God offers to them full pardon. God offers to them complete forgiveness if they will choose to repent. For those who refuse to repent, judgment and destruction. God's offer is gracious but includes no middle ground.

God is both just and the justifier. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

We all stand guilty before a Holy God, but by His grace through Jesus we can all receive full pardon and forgiveness through the blood of the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

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As we conclude this wonderful little book of Ruth, much stands out before us.

We see the incredible sovereignty of God revealed throughout. Over and over again we see God working supernaturally in the natural. The book concludes with a genealogy.  Beginning with Perez and concluding with David, yet it ultimately points to and will conclude with Jesus.  
Through this genealogy we see God well at work before Naomi, Boaz and Ruth arrived on the scene and long after they are off the scene. God's work continued then and continues up to our present day. In spite of the chaos, evil, tribulation and lawlessness, God is sovereign. He is in control. As it has been said, history is His Story.

We saw Ruth display humility, faithfulness, courage and endurance as she continually lived in obedience to God's word. She is a hero and a great example to follow. The Christian life requires courage and endurance. The life of victory by a believer will never be achieved apart from courage and endurance displayed in steadfast, unwavering obedience.

God's word tells us not to despise the day of small things. So much took place in Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the thousands of Judah. The messianic line was kept intact in the little town of Bethlehem. Centuries later Jesus, our savior, Christ the Lord was born of a virgin, a poor peasant teenager scorned by all who knew her. He was born in a manger, in a place that was barely fit for animals.  Yet from this small humble beginning came the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

In a day and age were so many are infatuated with mega churches, mega movements, the massive Christian culture that has been built, we would do well not to despise the day of small things but remember well that it is not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the LORD of Host.

Finally, Ruth is a timeless story of love and redemption. By the grace of God and the blood of Jesus, our lives have been woven into this timeless story. God is still at work in this world seeking a bride and reaping a harvest. God has placed us here for such a time as this. May God grant us ears to hear, a heart to receive and the courage to obey at all times in order that we may be all that God has called us to be for His glory and His glory alone. Maranatha!

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As we begin this last chapter of Ruth, it is critical that we never forget the fact that God always writes the last chapter. This little book began with three funerals but will now end with a wonderful marriage. Christ was crucified between two thieves at Calvary. What began with three crosses will end up with the marriage supper of the Lamb. As believers, we have more hope than we can even begin to imagine. Our hope is in Jesus our Lord and Savior who was crucified, died, buried and rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven and will soon return to receive us to Himself. What incredible, glorious hope we have as followers of Jesus.

We also see in this final chapter that Jesus alone is able to redeem us from the bondage of sin into which we are all born. Redemption requires that a price be paid in full. When Jesus cried out on the cross, "it is finished", He was declaring that the debt of our sin, of the sin of the world had been paid in full. For all who confess, repent and ask Jesus to redeem us from the bondage of sin in which we live, He will freely, graciously forgive us from all our sin and clothe us in His righteousness.

The world will continue to grow darker and darker as the return of Christ grows on the horizon. For us as believers, we live with a hope that can never be diminished. We have Christ in us the hope of glory. God always writes the last chapter. That chapter has been written and it is glorious. Look up to Jesus! Look ahead to the kingdom of God. We are living in a hope that grows brighter every day in spite of the growing darkness all around us.

Maranatha!

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Ruth now presents herself to Boaz, her kinsman redeemer. She followed the biblical counsel from Naomi exactly without any deviation. The biblical instruction from Naomi coupled with Ruth's obedience has led her to the feet of her kinsman redeemer. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ, according to the scriptures will always lead the lost sinner to the foot of the cross, to the feet of Jesus.

Boaz embraces Ruth's request. He first comforts her by telling her not to fear. He recognizes the great courage and boldness that brought Ruth to his feet. Next, he assures her that she will indeed be redeemed that very day. He will do all that she requests. Her redemption will be accomplished according to the scriptures without any deviation. Boaz will not rest until the matter of Ruth's redemption is accomplished.

The gospel of Jesus Christ, according to the scriptures will always lead the lost sinner to the foot of the cross, to the feet of Jesus. Jesus found no rest in this world until the matter of sin had been resolved and paid for. At the cross, the sin of the world was paid for. The matter has been resolved. All who come to the foot of the cross, the foot of the cross will receive redemption through the finished work of Jesus.

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Ever since Boaz has entered the narrative, Naomi is a changed person. No longer is she consumed with the bitterness of her experience. She is now focused on the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. Naomi is now able to focus on Ruth and not herself.

Naomi is a woman of great faith. She now determines in accordance with the word of God that she will develop a plan for Ruth allowing her to present herself as a bride to Boaz, their kinsman redeemer. The plan is a simple, biblically based plan. It is a plan that will ultimately lead Ruth to the feet of her kinsman redeemer. 

The true gospel of Jesus Christ according to the scriptures will bring a lost sinner to the foot of the cross. A person will never know redemption until they first come to the foot of the cross.

This passage, as you will see, is filled with treasures of Christ. As we dig into these verses, be amazed and encouraged at how clearly the gospel of Jesus Christ is on display. 

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We continue our journey through the book of Ruth. Ruth although a small book in the Old Testament, is one of the greatest treasures within the scriptures. It is filled with incredible typology that illuminates the great truth of so many biblical doctrines. Even more, we see with great clarity, the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a refreshing and encouraging read in light of the dark days in which we currently live.

In this study we will see the initial meeting between Ruth and Boaz. In Boaz we see an example of true Christian leadership. A great example of leadership that we would all be wise to follow.  Boaz also exhibits many Christ-like qualities within his character. The grace and kindness displayed by Boaz bears forth a great reflection of Christ. Boaz is a type of Christ, therefore we would all be wise to take note of and follow the example he sets for us.

Ruth on the other hand, a picture of the church, displays a character filled with humility, gratitude and diligence. Ruth is truly living in the worst circumstances imaginable. She is a widow in a foreign land. As far as she knows, the balance of her life will be lived in utter poverty as a stranger in a strange land. Yet she allows nothing of her circumstances devalue her character. Ruth does not have two nickels to rub together yet her character is priceless.

At the end of our study, we once again see Naomi. Hearing the name of Boaz gives her great hope, just as the name of Jesus gives us all great hope. Naomi recognizes the hand of God in all that is happening. Her heart is bursting with joy and hope. No longer is she Mara, but she is now once again Naomi. God has taken her bitterness and once again poured pleasantness back into her life.

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This was a message given in September of 2018. The relevance of this message today cannot be overstated.

The last days before the return of Christ will be marked by great deception. In fact, the greatest weapon on Satan is deception. In spite of all the warnings contained within the entirety of the scriptures concerning deception, this great evil has slithered in at every opportunity giving great rise to the apostasy of the last days church.

The danger of deception is quite frightening. Those who are deceived believe sincerely and zealously that they are living in the truth. They will defend the deception that they are living in more vigorously than they would have defended the truth. Deception is a deadly foe. Once a person has been infected with this venom, only a powerful work of the Holy Spirit can remove it thoroughly and completely. Needless to say, it is better to never be deceived in the first place.

This is why John admonishes us to abide in the truth found only in Jesus Christ and His Word. Sadly, we live in a day were the importance of Jesus Christ and His Word has been set aside. As it has been said, the first casualty in war is truth. Nowhere is that statement truer than in the church of these last days.

It is our prayer that as you listen to this message you will be encouraged to abide in the truth found only in Jesus Christ and His Word. It is only by abiding in the Truth that you will be protected from the deception of the enemy.

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This is a message on the book of Habakkuk that was given in December of 2016. The puprose of the message then was to show its contemporary application to Christian living in today's world while at the same time offering comfort and encouragement.  Although the message is more than seven years old, it remains a contemporary message. Habakkuk was written around 609 BC, yet its message applies to each and every follower of Jesus Christ today. Hopefully and prayerfully, the Holy Spirit will anoint His word from Habakkuk, bringing you both comfort and encouragement for the days that we are living in. Maranatha!

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Beginning Sunday May 5th, we have changed locations and will meet on Sundays at 10 am. If you are interested in joining us either live or on Zoom, please contact us at the above email address.

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Naomi and Ruth make it safely back to Bethlehem as a result of God's Divine protection. Their arrival brought much excitement to those in Bethlehem. They recognize Naomi but can see clearly that the past decade away from the presence of God has been hard on her. She is Naomi yet her appearance has changed dramatically for the worse. She went out full, ten years prior, but now returns home a widow without sons. She is empty.

Hope is starting to spring up on the horizon. The barley harvest has begun. They are in the land of promise. The blessings of God are slowly beginning to unfold. Naomi has chosen a great time to return to Bethlehem, to the presence of God. For those that have left the presence of God, it is always a good time to return to Him.

We are introduced to Boaz who God will use to change the course of Ruth's life and Naomi's life. This Divine meeting that will take place between Boaz and Ruth will change the course of eternity. God's eternal plan for mankind, the perpetuation of the messianic line is tied up in the meeting of Boaz and Ruth along with the guidance and encouragement of Naomi.

In this little book of Ruth, we see the providence of God acting supernaturally in the natural to bring about the fulfillment of His perfect will. What we see before us is the depth of the wisdom and the height of the majesty of Almighty God.

Contact Paul at [email protected]
Beginning Sunday May 5th, we have changed locations and will meet on Sundays at 10 am. If you are interested in joining us either live or on Zoom, please contact us at the above email address.