THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR
TODAY’S PROGRAM. ADRIAN ROGERS’ HAD THIS UNIQUE
ABILITY TO APPLY BIBLICAL TRUTH TO EVERYDAY LIFE. AND
IN THIS MESSAGE, HE’LL BE BRINGING THAT ABILITY TO ONE
OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STORIES EVER WRITTEN, THE STORY OF
RUTH. AS WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES, “REDEEMING LOVE.” DO
YOU HAVE A PLACE WHERE YOU MEET WITH GOD? A SPECIAL
PLACE! IS THAT PLACE SACRED TO YOU? TODAY, ADRIAN ROGERS
REVEALS THE MOST SACRED PLACE YOU CAN BE AND HOW TO FIND IT.
THE MOST SACRED PLACE ON EARTH IS NOT IN THAT PEW WHERE
YOU’RE SITTING, NOT AT THIS ALTER, NOT BEHIND THIS PULPIT,
NOT SOME TEMPLE SOMEWHERE; THE MOST SACRED PLACE ON EARTH IS
AT THE FEET OF JESUS, WHEN YOU ARE FULLY, FULLY, FULLY
COMMITTED TO HIM. LEARN TO FIND THAT PLACE WITH TODAY’S
MESSAGE, “FIVE WAYS TO DRAW CLOSER TO JESUS.” AND REMEMBER
YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE AGAIN AND FIND OTHER MATERIALS
RELATED TO THIS MESSAGE ALL AT LWF.ORG. NOW LET’S
JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. WOULD YOU TAKE GOD’S WORD AND
FIND THE BOOK OF RUTH; JOSHUA, JUDGES, RUTH AND, UH, TURN TO
THE THIRD CHAPTER. AND WHEN YOU’VE FOUND IT, LOOK UP HERE.
A MAN SAID THESE WORDS SOME TIME AGO. HE MUST’VE BEEN A
SAINT BECAUSE IT WAS IN HIS PRAYER THAT HE PRAYED THESE
WORDS, “LORD, I WANT TO SEE YOU MORE CLEARLY. I WANT TO
FOLLOW YOU MORE NEARLY. I WANT TO LOVE YOU MORE DEARLY.” AND
I THINK THAT’S THE PRAYER OF MOST OF OUR HEARTS. WE MAY NOT
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT IT IN WORDS LIKE THAT, BUT WE WANT
TO SEE HIM CLEARLY, WE WANT TO, UH, TO GET CLOSER TO HIM,
AN, AND TO FOLLOW HIM MORE NEARLY AND TO LOVE HIM MORE
DEARLY. WE WANT AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST, DON’T WE? WE HEAR OTHER PEOPLE TALK ABOUT
IT, AND WE SAY, “LORD, I JUST REALLY WANT TO KNOW YOU IN A
VERY CLOSE WAY.” WELL WE’RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THAT,
EH, TODAY. UH, WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO SUNDAYS AND
WILL BE, UH, THIS SUNDAY AND NEXT SUNDAY, IN THE BOOK OF
RUTH, AND WE’RE DOING ABOUT A, A CHAPTER A SUNDAY. NOW, WE’RE
TALKING HERE IN THE BOOK OF RUTH AND SHOWING YOU THAT IT
IS A STORY, A TRUE STORY, A LOVE STORY, BUT THERE IS A
STORY BEHIND THE STORY. AS PAUL HARVEY WOULD SAY, “THE
REST OF THE TRUTH,” AND THAT IS THIS: THAT THIS WOMAN WHO
WAS A MOABITE, WHOSE NAME WAS RUTH, WHO WAS A PAGAN,
A GENTILE, OUTSIDE THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, IS
BROUGHT TO FAITH IN HER LORD, AND SHE HAS A REDEEMER
WHOSE NAME IS BOAZ, WHOM SHE MARRIES. BOAZ FROM BETHLEHEM
PICTURES THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND SO THE MAID FROM
MOAB MARRIES THE BACHELOR OF BETHLEHEM, AND THEY LIVE
HAPPILY EVER AFTER, AND THAT’S A PICTURE, A TRUE PICTURE, AN
ILLUSTRATION, OF THE CHURCH AND THE LORD JESUS, FOR THE
CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST. AND, UH, WITH THAT IN THE
BACKGROUND IN YOUR HEART, THERE COMES A TIME, AND BY
THE WAY, THE WHOLE SCENE TAKES PLACE DURING THE BARLEY
HARVEST. AND, UH, AT LEAST WHAT WE’RE STUDYING TODAY,
AND BOAZ WAS A MIGHTY MAN OF WEALTH, AND HE BECAME, AH,
RUTH’S REDEEMER, AND WE’RE GOING TO SEE THAT MORE NEXT
WEEK, AND I DON’T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME THIS
MORNING TALKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IF I DO, I’D LOVE TO
DO IT, BUT I WON’T BE ABLE TO GET FINISHED WITH WHAT I WANT
TO SAY TODAY. THE SCENE IS DURING THE BARLEY HARVEST AND,
UH, BOAZ IS THE ONE WHO OWNS THE BARLEY FIELDS, AND HE IS
THERE WITH HIS HARVESTERS IN THE FIELDS, AND RUTH, WHO HAS
COME RECENTLY FROM MOAB TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL, IS GOING TO BE
MARRIED TO BOAZ, AND HE IS HER HUSBAND’S, HER FORMER
HUSBAND’S, UH, RELATIVE. SH, RUTH IS A WIDOW AND NOW SHE’S
GOING TO BE MARRIED TO BOAZ. NOW, THE SCENE THAT WE HAVE
TODAY IS A SCENE OF A VERY CLOSE AND INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIP OF RUTH, WHO PICTURES THE CHURCH, WITH
BOAZ, WHO PICTURES THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I HOPE YOU’VE
GOT THE SETTING. NOW LET’S LOOK IF WE CAN IN RUTH, UH,
CHAPTER, UH, THREE, “THEN NAOMI HER MOTHER-IN-LAW,” THAT
IS RUTH’S MOTHER-IN-LAW, “SAID UNTO HER,” UH, “‘MY DAUGHTER,
SHALL I NOT SEEK REST FOR THEE, THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH
THEE?’” THAT IS, “DO YOU WANT REST AND REFRESHMENT, DO YOU
WANT REPLENISHMENT, DO YOU WANT ALL THAT YOUR HEART
YEARNS FOR?” “‘AND NOW IS NOT BOAZ OF OUR KINDRED,’” BOAZ,
REMEMBER, PICTURES JESUS, “‘WITH WHOSE MAIDENS THOU
WAST? BEHOLD, HE WINNOWETH BARLEY TONIGHT IN THE
THRESHING FLOOR.’” TO WINNOW BARLEY MEANS TO TOSS IT UP IN
THE AIR, LET ALL THE CHAFF BE BLOWN AWAY SO THAT THE BARLEY
WILL REMAIN. AND THERE THEY ARE AS THE OLD-TIME CUSTOM AND
HABITS WERE, UH, SEPARATING THE BARLEY FROM THE CHAFF. NOW
HERE’S THE ADVICE, HERE’S THE ADVICE NOW THAT NAOMI GAVE
TO RUTH, AND IT IS THE ADVICE THAT I’M GOING TO GIVE TO YOU
IF YOU WANT TO DRAW NEAR TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. LISTEN
TO THESE WORDS NOW, “‘WASH THYSELF THEREFORE, AND ANOINT
THEE, AND PUT THY RAIMENT UPON THEE AND GET THEE DOWN TO THE
FLOOR: BUT MAKE NOT THYSELF KNOWN UNTO THE MAN, UNTIL HE
HATH DONE EATING AND DRINKING. AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN HE LIETH
DOWN, THAT THOU SHALT MARK THE PLACE WHERE HE SHALL LIE, AND
THOU SHALT GO IN, AND UNCOVER HIS FEET, AND LAY THEE DOWN;
AND HE WILL TELL THEE WHAT THOU SHALT DO.’ AND SHE SAID
UNTO HER,” RUTH SAID TO NAOMI HER MOTHER-IN-LAW, RUTH IS THE
WIDOW OF NAOM, NAOMI’S SON, “AND SHE SAID UNTO HER, ‘ALL
THAT THOU SAYEST UNTO ME I WILL DO.’” NOW THERE YOU HAVE
THE SETTING. LET ME TELL YOU, LET ME TELL YOU NOW, FIVE WAYS
TO DRAW CLOSER TO JESUS, AND IT’S RIGHT HERE. AND I WANT
YOU TO SEE IT. IT, IT, IT’S, IT’S SO IMPORTANT. NOW
REMEMBER, FOLKS, CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A CODE, IT IS NOT A
CAUSE, IT IS NOT A CREED, IT IS NOT CONDUCT, IT IS
NOT CHURCH; IT’S CHRIST, [AUDIENCE: THAT’S RIGHT]
IT’S CHRIST. AND THE MARK OF A CHRISTIAN IS A LOVE FOR THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND THE TRUE DESIRE OF EVERY CHILD OF
GOD IS TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST INTIMATELY. WE WANT MORE
THAN REDEMPTION, WE WANT A RELATIONSHIP. WE WANT MORE
THAN THE GIFTS, WE WANT THE GIVER. WE WANT JESUS CHRIST TO
BE REAL TO US. AS THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, “OH, THAT I MAY
KNOW HIM.” WELL, PAUL ALREADY KNEW HIM INTELLECTUALLY, HE
ALREADY KNEW HIM SPIRITUALLY, BUT PAUL WANTED TO KNOW MORE
AND MORE ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. NOW YOU CAN KNOW
ABOUT SOMEBODY WITHOUT KNOWING SOMEBODY. I WANT TO KNOW
JESUS, DON’T YOU? I WANT CHRIST TO BE REAL TO ME. I
WANT TO KNOW, NOT MERELY ABOUT HIM, I WANT TO KNOW HIM, AND
WHEN THE RAPTURE COMES, AND IT MAY COME SOON, I WANT TO
RISE IN THE RAPTURE AND MEET SOMEBODY FACE TO FACE THAT
I’VE ALREADY KNOWN HEART TO HEART. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST, TO KNOW HIM, AS THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS
THERE IN PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER THREE AND VERSE 10, “THAT I
MAY KNOW HIM.” NOW NA, NAOMI’S ADVICE IS WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL
ADVICE, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW YOUR REDEEMER BOAZ IN AN
INTIMATE WAY. STEP NUMBER ONE. WRITE IT DOWN: BE FRESHLY
CLEANSED. BE FRESHLY CLEANSED. LOOK IN VERSE THREE. NAOMI
SAYS TO RUTH, “WASH YOURSELF. YOU’RE GOING TO MEET HIM. BE
CLEAN.” AND THIS IS WHAT WE MUST DO IF WE WOULD DRAW
NEAR UNTO OUR LORD. PUT THESE VERSES DOWN. JAMES IS TALKING
ABOUT DRAWING NEAR TO OUR LORD, AND JAMES SAYS IN JAMES
CHAPTER FOUR VERSE EIGHT, “DRAW NIGH TO GOD AND HE WILL
DRAW NIGH TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YE SINNERS, AND
PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YE DOUBLE-MINDED.” JAMES SAID,
“IF YOU’RE GOING TO DRAW NIGH TO GOD, YOU’VE GOT TO BE
CLEAN. YOU CAN’T WORSHIP WITH DIRTY HANDS, DEFILED HEARTS,
AND DOUBLE MINDS.” THAT’S WHAT JAMES IS SAYING. WASH YOUR
HANDS, NO, NO MORE DIRTY HANDS. UH, PURIFY YOUR HEART,
NO MORE DEFILED HEART. UH, GET YOUR MIND SINGLE, “THIS ONE
THING I DO.” AND SO THAT’S THE VERY FIRST STEP IN COMING
CLOSE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS TO BE CLEAN, TO BE CLEAN.
PUT THIS VERSE DOWN, SECOND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER SEVEN
VERSE ONE, “HAVING, THEREFORE, THESE PROMISES, DEARLY
BELOVED, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES FROM ALL FILTHINESS
OF THE FLESH AND SPIRIT, PERFECTING HOLINESS IN THE
FEAR OF GOD.” IF YOU WOULD DRAW NEAR TO YOUR LOVER, YOUR
REDEEMER, YOU MUST BE CLEAN, YOU MUST BE CLEAN. MANY PEOPLE
COMPLAIN THAT THEIR PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED. THEY SAY,
“I PRAYED AND I PRAYED AND I PRAYED, BUT MY PRAYERS ARE NOT
ANSWERED. MY PRAYER LIFE IS FRUITLESS AND DEAD.” LISTEN TO
THESE VERSES. ISAIAH CHAPTER ONE VERSES 15 AND 16. GOD
SAYS, “AND WHEN YE SPREAD FORTH YOUR HANDS, I WILL HIDE
MINE EYES FROM YOU.” HERE WE ARE UP AND, SAYING, “OH, GOD.”
HERE’S GOD SAYING, “I’M NOT WATCHING, I’M NOT LOOKING, I’M
NOT LISTENING.” WELL WHY WOULD GOD DO THAT? LISTEN, HE SAYS,
“WHEN YE MAKE MANY PRAYERS I WILL NOT HEAR. YOUR HANDS ARE
FULL OF BLOOD. WASH YOU, MAKE YOU CLEAN, PUT AWAY THE EVIL
OF YOUR DOINGS BEFORE MINE EYES, CEASE TO DO EVIL.” GOD
SAYS, “I WILL NOT HEAR YOUR PRAYERS; YOU CAN’T DRAW NIGH
TO ME WITH DIRTY HANDS, DOUBLE MINDS. YOU CAN’T DO THAT. BE
CLEAN BEFORE YOU COME BEFORE ME.” ISAIAH CHAPTER 52 AND
VERSE 11, “DEPART YE, DEPART YE, GO YE OUT FROM HENCE.
TOUCH NO UNCLEAN THING, BE YE CLEAN THAT BEAR THE VESSELS OF
THE LORD.” CAN YOU IMAGINE A MAIDEN WANTING TO BE NEAR HER
LOVER, HER BRIDEGROOM, WHO IS DIRTY AND SWEATY AND GRIMY AND
SMELLY? CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? CAN YOU IMAGINE ANYBODY
GOING TO HAVE A INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE THAT SHE
LOVES, WHO DOESN’T EVEN CARE ENOUGH TO BATHE? YOU’RE COMING
TO THE LORD. YOU’RE COMING FOR AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH
ALMIGHTY GOD THROUGH HIS SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. BE
FRESHLY CLEANSED. WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY’S
BATH. WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ONE THAT YOU HAD A MONTH AGO.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING FRESHLY CLEAN. NAOMI SAYS
TO RUTH, LISTEN, “BE FRESHLY CLEANSED.” HOW ARE WE
CLEANSED? NOW, LET, IN A VERY PRACTICAL WAY, HOW DO WE GET
CLEAN BEFORE WE COME TO THE LORD? WELL, WE’RE CLEANSED
BY THE WORD OF GOD. PUT THESE VERSES DOWN. EPHESIANS FIVE,
“HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, EVEN AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE
CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT, THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY IT
AND CLEANSE IT BY THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD.” THE
WORD OF GOD IS TO YOUR SPIRIT WHAT WATER IS TO YOUR BODY.
YOU ARE WASHED WITH THE WORD. DAVID SAID THE SAME THING
IN PSALM 119 VERSE NINE, "WHEREWITHAL SHALL A YOUNG
MAN CLEANSE HIS WAY? BY TAKING HEED THERETO ACCORDING TO THY
WORD.” NOW HOW DOES THE BIBLE CLEANSE US? WELL, JAMES SAYS
THE BIBLE IS LIKE A MIRROR. IT SHOWS WHAT WE ARE. IT REVEALS
THE DEFILEMENT AND THE DIRT IN US. YOU SEE, NOT ONLY DO WE
READ THE BIBLE, THE BIBLE READS US. THAT’S THE REASON
SOME PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO READ THE BIBLE. YOU SEE, THERE’S
THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD. BUT NOT ONLY DOES THE
WORD REVEAL THE SIN, THE, THE, THE, THE WORD REVEALS THE
SOLUTION. NOW YOU’RE CLEANSED BY THE WORD AND YOU’RE ALSO
CLEANSED BY THE BLOOD. LISTEN TO THIS, THIS SCRIPTURE. FIRST
JOHN CHAPTER ONE VERSES SEVEN THROUGH NINE, “IF WE WALK IN
THE LIGHT, AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE
WITH ANOTHER,” NOW WATCH THIS, “AND THE BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF
JESUS CHRIST HIS SON CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN. IF WE
SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE
TRUTH IS NOT IN US. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE’S
FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS, AND TO CLEANSE US
FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” NOW NAOMI SAYS TO RUTH, “BE CLEAN,
BE FRESHLY CLEANSED.” HOW DO YOU DO THAT? YOU DO THAT WITH
THE WORD, YOU DO THAT WITH THE BLOOD, BECAUSE THE WORD POINTS
OUT YOUR SINS, AND THE WORD REMINDS YOU OF THE BLOOD, AND
THE WORD GIVES THESE SACRED PROMISES, “IF WE CONFESS OUR
SINS.” IT DOESN’T SAY “OUR SIN,” IT SAYS “OUR SINS.” NOW
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? WELL WE SAY, “OH, I GUESS EVERYBODY’S
A SINNER. I, LORD, I, I, UH, JUST CONFESS MY SIN.” THAT
WON’T DO IT. IT SAYS, “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS,” OUR SINS.
YOU SEE, THE KIND OF PRAYER THAT SAYS, “WELL, LORD, IF
I’VE SINNED, I’M SORRY,” YOU’RE WASTING YOUR BREATH.
SAY: “LORD, I LOST MY TEMPER. LORD, I HAD A LUSTFUL THOUGHT.
LORD, I WAS UNKIND. LORD, I WAS LAZY. LORD, I DID THIS, I
DID THAT.” NAME IT, NAIL IT, CONFESS YOUR SIN. THAT MEANS
AGREE WITH GOD ABOUT YOUR SIN. THE WORD CONFESS, “HOMOLOGEO,”
MEANS TO SAY THE SAME THING, NOT TO ADMIT IT. A CONFESSION
IS AGREEING WITH ALMIGHTY GOD THAT IT IS WRONG. GETTING ON
GOD’S SIDE, “IF WE CONFESS OUR SIN.” “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS,
OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS,
AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!” NOW THE VERY
FIRST THING, IF YOU WOULD HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH
YOUR HEAVENLY BRIDEGROOM: BE FRESHLY CLEANSED! THAT’S THE
FIRST THING. AND BY THE WAY, FRIEND, WHEN YOU DO GET CLEAN,
THE BIBLE SAYS, “THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, GOD’S SON
CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN,” AND WHAT GOD CALLS CLEAN
LET NO MAN CALL UNCLEAN. HALLELUJAH. [AUDIENCE:
AMEN] THANK GOD FOR THAT. NOW SECONDLY, NOT ONLY BE FRESHLY
CLEANSED, BUT BE FRAGRANTLY CONSECRATED. I’VE CHOSEN THOSE
WORDS CAREFULLY, BE FRAGRANTLY CONSECRATED. LOOK IN VERSE
THREE. SHE ALSO SAYS, “ANOINT THEE.” THAT IS, HUH, HUH,
“RUTH, PUT ON SOME PERFUME. PUT ON SOME PERFUME.” THESE
WOMEN KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING, YOU KNOW THAT? [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] THEY’RE SMART. “RUTH, BE CLEAN AND BE [CLAP]
SWEET! BE NICE TO BE NEAR. COME WITH AN AROMA, COME WITH
AN ANOINTING.” NOW, NOT ONLY WERE BRIDES ANOINTED, BUT
PRIESTS WERE ANOINTED. AND THE ANOINTING OF THE PRIEST MEANT
A CONSECRATION; THAT WE’RE SET ASIDE. YOU KNOW, IN THE, THAT
LOVE POEM IN, IN THE BIBLE, THE SONG OF SOLOMON, ALSO IS
A PICTURE OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH AND, UH, THE BRIDEGROOM
SAYS, INS, THE, CHAPTER ONE VERSE 14, “MY BELOVED IS TO
ME AS A CLUSTER OF CAMPHIRE IN THE VINEYARDS OF EN-GEDI.”
HUH, HA. HE GOES TO SAY IN CH, IN, UH, CHAPTER FOUR,
“SPIKENARD AND SAFFRON, CALAMUS AND CINNAMON, AND
ALL THE TREES OF FRANKINCENSE, MYRRH AND ALOES, WITH ALL
THE CHIEF SPICES.” THEY DIDN’T HAVE WALGREENS, BUT THEY COULD
GO OUT INTO THE FIELD AND, AND COMPOUND AN ANOINTING OIL,
[CLAP] AND THEY WOULD WEAR IT, AND THE VERY FRAGRANCE, THE
VERY FRAGRANCE WOULD SPEAK OF LOVE AND INTIMACY. WELL, YOU
SAY, “PASTOR, IF I’M CLEANSED, IF I’M CLEANSED BY THE WORD
AND BY THE BLOOD, HOW AM I ANOINTED? WHAT GIVES ME
A SWEET-SMELLING [THUMP] FRAGRANCE [THUMP] TO MY
BRIDEGROOM?” YOUR ANOINTING IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOUR
ANOINTING IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. FIRST JOHN CHAPTER TWO VERSE
27, “BUT THE ANOINTING WHICH YE HAVE RECEIVED OF HIM
ABIDETH IN YOU AND YE NEED NOT THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU, BUT
AS THE SAME ANOINTING TEACHETH YOU ALL THINGS AND IS TRUTH
AND IS NO LIE.” YOU SEE, THE ANOINTING THAT WE HAVE IS THE
SPIRIT OF GOD. AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT? WHEN I AM CLEAN AND
WHEN I AM FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND I COME BEFORE THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST, HE SAYS, “SSSSSSS. MMM, I LIKE THAT,
I LIKE THAT.” IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE BIBLE SAYS,
THAT GIVES US THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST. YOU WANT TO BE
NEAR? DO YOU WANT TO HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST? BE ANOINTED, BE SURRENDERED TO
THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD SO THAT HE CAN MAKE YOU A
SWEET-SMELLING SAVOR, AND THAT YOUR VERY LIFE, YOUR VERY LIFE
WILL BE LIKE INCENSE TO HIM. YOU KNOW, THERE’RE PEOPLE LIKE
THAT. FOLKS, I KNOW PEOPLE THAT WALK WITH THE LORD JESUS.
WHEN THEY WALK IN THE ROOM YOU CAN JUST SMELL THE INCENSE.
I DON’T MEAN PHYSICALLY. I’M TALKING FAR BEYOND THE
PHYSICAL, NOW; THESE ARE ONLY EMBLEMS OF THE DEEPER
SPIRITUAL TRUTH. NUMBER ONE, BE FRESHLY, FRESHLY CLEANSED.
NUMBER TWO, BE FRAGRANTLY CONSECRATED. NUMBER THREE,
BE FITLY CLOTHED. BE FITLY CLOTHED. LOOK IN VERSE THREE.
HE SAYS, SHE SAYS, “AND PUT THY RAIMENT UPON THEE.” HUH,
NOW, NOW SHE’S A PROSPECTIVE BRIDE, AND, AND, UH, NAOMI
SAYS, “NOW, RUTH, WEAR YOUR BEST. DRESS UP, DRESS UP,
RUTH. YOU’RE GOING TO SEE BOAZ.” NOW SHE’S BEEN A WIDOW.
SHE IS WEARING HER WIDOW’S GARMENTS, GARMENTS OF
MOURNING, AND SHE’S BEEN IN THE FIELD GLEANING AND WORKING
AND HER CLOTHES ARE DUSTY AND DIRTY. “GET RID OF THOSE
THINGS, RUTH. DRESS UP, RUTH! HUH, YOU’RE GOING TO MEET
BOAZ.” THAT MUST’VE BEEN WONDERFUL GOOD NEWS FOR RUTH.
DO YOU KNOW THE GOSPEL OF GOOD NEWS IS THIS? PUT THESE VERSES
IN YOUR MARGIN: ISAIAH CHAPTER 61 VERSES ONE THROUGH THREE.
HERE’S WHAT ISAIAH THE PROPHET SAID. IT, THE LORD JESUS
QUOTED HIM WHEN HE BEGAN HIS PUBLIC MINISTRY, “THE SPIRIT
OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME BECAUSE THE LORD HATH ANOINTED
ME TO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS UNTO THE MEEK; HE HATH SENT ME TO
BIND UP THE BROKENHEARTED,” RUTH WAS BROKENHEARTED,
“TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES,” RUTH HAD BEEN TAKEN
CAPTIVE BY SIN, SORROW, AND DEATH, “THE OPENING OF THE
PRISON TO THEM THAT ARE BOUND; TO PROCLAIM THE ACCEPTABLE
YEAR OF THE LORD, AND THE DAY OF VENGEANCE OF OUR GOD; TO
COMFORT ALL THAT MOURN.” THIS POOR, BROKENHEARTED WOMAN
NEEDED COMFORT. NOTICE THIS, “TO APPOINT UNTO THEM THAT
MOURN IN ZION, TO GIVE THEM BEAUTY FOR ASHES, THE OIL OF
JOY FOR MOURNING, THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF
HEAVINESS.” HUH, HUH, HUH, THIS IS THE WAY RUTH IS TO
DRESS UP. “RUTH, PUT OFF YOUR ASHES OF SORROW, UH, I, I’M
GOING TO GIVE YOU BEAUTY FOR ASHES. RUTH, PUT AWAY YOUR
MOURNING; I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU JOY FOR MOURNING.
RUTH! PUT OFF THE GARMENT OF HEAVINESS; I’M GOING TO GIVE
YOU THE GARMENT OF PRAISE!” HOW DO YOU COME BEFORE THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST? FRIEND, WITH [THUMP] BEAUTY AND
[THUMP] JOY AND PRAISE! THAT’S THE WAY YOU DRESS UP WITH THE
LORD. WELL, WHERE DO YOU GET THOSE KIND OF CLOTHES? ISAIAH
61 VERSE 10, “FOR I WILL GREATLY REJOICE IN THE LORD,
MY SOUL SHALL BE JOYFUL IN MY GOD; FOR HE HATH CLOTHED
ME WITH THE GARMENTS OF SALVATION, HE HATH
COVERED ME WITH THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, AS A BRIDEGROOM
DECKETH HIMSELF WITH ORNAMENTS, AND AS A BRIDE
ADORNETH HERSELF WITH HER JEWELS.” YOU WANT JESUS TO BE
REAL TO YOU? PULL SOME OF THE GROANS OUT OF YOUR PRAYERS
AND SHOVE IN SOME HALLELUJAHS. [AUDIENCE: AMEN] “COME BEFORE
HIS PRESENCE WITH SINGING!” PRAISE HIM, PRAISE HIM, PRAISE
HIM, PRAISE HIM! PUT ON THE GARMENTS OF PRAISE! AND YOU’LL
FIND OUT THAT HE’LL BE MORE REAL TO YOU THAN HE HAS BEEN
WITH OUR OLD STALE, STAID, TAKE-IT-OR-LEAVE-IT PRAYERS.
SO, BE FRESHLY CLEANSED, WASH YOURSELF. BE FRAGRANTLY
CONSECRATED, ANOINT THEE. BE FITLY CLOTHED! PUT OFF
THOSE OLD GARMENTS AND CLOTHE YOURSELF WITH THE GARMENTS OF
SALVATION TO COME BEFORE THE LORD. NUMBER FOUR, BE FULLY
COMMITTED. BE FULLY COMMITTED. NOW LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES
THREE AND FOUR, UH, THE LAST PART OF VERSE FOUR, UH, THREE,
“BUT MAKE NOT THYSELF KNOWN UNTO THE MAN, UNTIL HE HATH
DONE EATING AND DRINKING. AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN HE LIETH
DOWN,” WATCH THIS, “THOU SHALT MARK THE PLACE WHERE HE SHALL
LIE, AND THOU SHALT GO IN, AND UNCOVER HIS FEET, AND LAY THEE
DOWN.” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? “RUTH, YOU PLACE YOURSELF AT
THE FEET OF YOUR REDEEMER.” THE MOST SACRED PLACE ON EARTH
IS AT THE FEET OF JESUS. YOU PLACE YOURSELF AT THE FEET OF
YOUR REDEEMER. THIS WAS A SIGN OF FULL COMMITMENT. SHE WAS
SAYING WHEN SHE DID THIS; SHE CAME TO THE THRESHING
FLOOR. BOAZ IS ASLEEP ON THE THRESHING FLOOR. SHE PULLS
BACK THE CORNER OF HIS LONG GARMENT, AND THERE AT HIS FEET
SHE PLACES HERSELF. IT WAS HER WAY OF SAYING, “BOAZ, I AM
WILLING TO TAKE YOU AS MY REDEEMER HUSBAND.” THERE’S
NOTHING DIRTY HERE. THERE’S NOTHING INDECENT HERE. DO NOT
INTERPRET THIS IN THE LIGHT OF MODERN AMERICA. [AUDIENCE:
THAT’S RIGHT, AMEN] THIS WAS A THRESHING FLOOR. THERE WERE
WHOLE FAMILIES THERE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, UH, SHE SAID,
“THAT WHEN YOU GO TO THIS THRESHING FLOOR, YOU LOOK AND
SEE WHERE HE IS, WHERE HE’S LYING DOWN.” IT, IT’S NOT
SOMETHING IN SOME CLANDESTINE MOTEL ROOM SOMEWHERE. AND,
AND PEOPLE ARE THERE. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN, IN VERSE
11 HE SAYS TO RUTH, “I KNOW THAT YOU’RE A VIRTUOUS WOMAN.”
NOTHING DIRTY, NOTHING IMPURE. NO, BUT WHAT SHE IS DOING
HERE; SHE IS PLACING HERSELF AT HIS FEET UNDER HIS
PROTECTION. AS A MATTER OF FACT, AH, WHEN SHE SAYS, “PUT
YOUR SKIRT OVER ME,” THE WORD “SKIRT” IS THE SAME WORD THAT
IS TRANSLATED “WINGS” IN THE EARLIER CHAPTER WHERE THIS
WOMAN WAS SAID TO COME UNDER THE WINGS OF JEHOVAH. WHAT SHE
IS SAYING IS THAT, “I PLACE MYSELF UNDER YOUR PROTECTION;
I AM FULLY COMMITTED TO YOU!” QUESTION: CAN YOU HAVE AN
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IF YOU’RE
NOT FULLY COMMITTED TO HIM? ANSWER: NO, NO. IS CHRIST
LORD? I MEAN, HAVE YOU, AND I ASK MYSELF THIS QUESTION.
AND FOLKS, I PRAYED OVER THE MESSAGE BEFORE I PREACHED IT.
I HAD TO ASK MYSELF EVERY ONE OF THESE QUESTIONS. HAVE I,
HAVE I PLACED MYSELF AT THE FEET OF MY REDEEMER? YOU
KNOW, IT WAS MARY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHO HAD THE HABIT OF
SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS. THE MOST SACRED PLACE ON
EARTH IS NOT IN THAT PEW WHERE YOU’RE SITTING, NOT AT THIS
ALTAR, NOT BEHIND THIS PULPIT, NOT SOME TEMPLE SOMEWHERE. THE
MOST SACRED PLACE ON EARTH IS AT THE FEET OF JESUS WHEN
YOU ARE FULLY, FULLY, FULLY COMMITTED TO HIM, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE: AMEN] NOW HERE’S, HERE’S THE LAST OF THESE FIVE
THINGS. IF YOU WANT HIM TO BE REAL TO YOU, YOU WANT THAT
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP TO HIM, NOT ONLY BE FULLY COMMITTED,
BUT BE FAITHFULLY COMPLIANT, FAITHFULLY COMPLIANT. LOOK NOW
IN VERSES, UH, FOUR AND FIVE OF THIS SAME CHAPTER, “AND SHE
SAID UNTO HER,” THAT IS, RUTH SAID TO NAOMI, “ALL THAT THOU
SAYEST UNTO ME I WILL DO.” AND VERSE FOUR, “AND HE WILL TELL
THEE WHAT THOU SHALT DO.” RUTH IS COMPLIANT. SHE IS READY TO
OBEY. SHE IS READY TO BE NOT ONLY A HEARER OF THE WORD BUT
A DOER OF THE WORD. AND THIS IS THE FINAL STEP IN
FELLOWSHIP WITH OUR HEAVENLY BOAZ AND REDEEMER HUSBAND.
DO YOU WANT TO BE NEAR TO HIM WITHOUT OBEYING HIM? DO YOU
THINK SOMEHOW THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE AT HIS FEET
WITHOUT HEARING HIS WORD? NO. NAOMI SAID THAT, “HE WILL TELL
YOU WHAT YOU SHALL DO.” RUTH SAID, “I’LL DO WHAT HE SAYS.
I’LL SAY, YES, LORD, YES, TO YOUR WILL AND TO YOUR WAY.” DO
YOU WANT THE LORD JESUS TO BE A BRIGHT, LIVING REALITY
TO YOU? JESUS SAID IN JOHN CHAPTER SEVEN VERSE 17, “IF
ANY MAN WILL DO GOD’S WILL, HE SHALL KNOW OF THE DOCTRINE,
WHETHER IT BE OF GOD, OR WHETHER I SPEAK OF MYSELF.”
THAT IS, IF YOU SURRENDER YOUR WILL TO THE LORD, GOD WILL
TEACH YOU. IT’S NOT, “LORD, YOU SHOW ME WHAT YOU WANT
ME TO DO AND I’LL TELL YOU WHETHER I’LL DO IT OR NOT.”
NO, NO. YOU SAY, “LORD, I’LL DO IT, WHAT IS IT?” HAVE YOU
EVER DONE THAT? “LORD, I’LL DO IT, WHAT IS IT?” JOHN 14 VERSE
21 IS ONE OF THE GREATEST TEXTS IN THE BIBLE ABOUT
KNOWING THE LORD INTIMATELY. LISTEN TO IT. JESUS SAID, “HE
THAT HATH MY COMMANDMENTS, AND KEEPETH THEM, HE IT IS THAT
LOVETH ME: AND HE THAT LOVETH ME SHALL BE LOVED OF MY
FATHER.” NOW WATCH THIS NEXT THING, “AND I’LL MANIFEST
MYSELF TO HIM.” “I’LL MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM.” “HE THAT HATH
MY COMMANDMENTS, AND KEEPETH THEM, HE IT IS THAT LOVETH ME:
AND HE THAT LOVETH ME SHALL BE LOVED OF MY FATHER, AND I WILL
MANIFEST MYSELF UNTO HIM.” FULLY COMPLIANT! [THUMP] THE
LORD SAYS, “I’M GONNA BE REAL TO YOU.” NOW DO YOU THINK
YOU’RE GONNA KNOW GOD BY BIBLE STUDY? LISTEN TO ME, AND THIS
MAY FRIGHTEN YOU, AND YOU MAY DISAGREE WITH IT MOMENTARILY,
BUT YOU DON’T KNOW GOD BY BIBLE STUDY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
DID YOU KNOW THAT BOYS GO TO SEMINARY SOMETIMES AND
BACKSLIDE WITH A BIBLE UNDER THEIR ARM? WHAT GOOD IF YOU
KNOW HEBREW AND DON’T KNOW HIM? WHAT GOOD IS IT IF YOU
KNOW GREEK AND YOU DON’T KNOW GOD? BIBLE STUDY GIVES YOU
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD. OBEDIENCE GIVES YOU KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
THERE’S A DIFFERENCE. THERE’S A DIFFERENCE. “HE THAT HATH
MY COMMANDMENTS, AND KEEPETH THEM, HE IT IS THAT LOVETH
ME.” ALL THE REST IS JUST RELIGIOUS TALK. DON’T YOU
STAND UP AND SING, “OH, HOW I LOVE JESUS,” AND YOU DON’T
OBEY HIM. HE SAID, “WHY CALL YE ME, LORD, LORD, AND DO NOT
THE THINGS THAT I SAY? HE THAT HATH MY COMMANDMENTS, AND
KEEPETH THEM, HE IT IS THAT LOVETH ME: AND HE THAT
LOVETH ME SHALL BE LOVED OF MY FATHER, AND I WILL MANIFEST
MYSELF TO HIM.” BOAZ WAS NEAR AND DEAR AND CLEAR TO RUTH
BECAUSE SHE SAYS, “WHATEVER HE SAYS TO ME, I’LL DO. I WILL
BE FAITHFULLY COMPLIANT TO HIS WILL AND TO HIS WAY.” WELL, IN
THE FEW MOMENTS THAT WE HAVE LEFT; I WANT YOU TO SEE BOAZ’
RESPONSE TO HIS BRIDE. NOTICE FIRST OF ALL THAT HE RECEIVED
HER, VERSES EIGHT AND NINE, “AND IT CAME TO PASS AT
MIDNIGHT, THAT THE MAN WAS AFRAID, AND TURNED HIMSELF:
AND BEHOLD, A WOMAN LAY AT HIS FEET. AND HE SAID, ‘WHO ART
THOU?’ AND SHE ANSWERED, ‘I AM RUTH, THINE HANDMAID. SPREAD
THEREFORE THY SKIRT OVER THINE HANDMAID, FOR THOU ART A
NEAR KINSMAN.’ AND HE SAID, ‘BLESSED BE THOU OF THE LORD,
MY DAUGHTER.’” “BLESSED BE THOU OF THE LORD.” HE BLESSED
HER! HE BLESSED HER! YOU WANT A BLESSING? EPHESIANS ONE
VERSE THREE, “BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD
JESUS, WHO HATH BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS.” THE MOST BLESSED PLACE
ON EARTH IS THE FEET OF JESUS. NOT ONLY DID HE RECEIVE HER,
HE REASSURED HER. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES 11 AND 12, OR
11 THROUGH 13, “AND NOW, MY DAUGHTER, FEAR NOT, FOR I
WILL DO TO THEE ALL THAT THOU REQUIREST, FOR ALL THE CITY OF
MY PEOPLE KNOW THAT THOU ART A VIRTUOUS WOMAN. AND NOW IT
IS TRUE THAT I AM THY NEAR KINSMAN: HOWBEIT THERE IS A
KINSMAN NEARER THAN I. TARRY THOU, TARRY THIS NIGHT, AND IT
SHALL BE IN THE MORNING, THAT IF HE WILL PERFORM UNTO THEE
THE PART OF A KINSMAN, WELL; LET HIM DO THE KINSMAN,
KINSMAN’S PART. BUT IF HE WILL NOT DO THE PART OF A KINSMAN
TO THEE, THEN I WILL DO THE PART OF A KINSMAN TO THEE,
AS THE LORD LIVETH. LIE DOWN UNTIL THE MORNING.” NOW I
DON’T WANT TO GET INTO THIS TOO DEEPLY, BUT THERE WAS A
NEARER KINSMAN WHO STOOD IN LINE BEFORE BOAZ. WE’RE GONNA
TALK ABOUT THAT NEARER KINSMAN NEXT WEEK BECAUSE THAT NEARER
KINSMAN IS THE LAW THAT CANNOT REDEEM. WE’RE GONNA TALK ABOUT
THAT NEXT WEEK, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT HE SAYS TO
HER, “DON’T YOU BE AFRAID.” NOT ONLY DID HE RECEIVE HER,
BUT HE REASSURED HER, HE SPOKE PEACE TO HER TREMBLING HEART,
AND THAT’S WHAT SO MANY OF US, AH, NEED: TO BE REASSURED. YOU
SEE, SHE KNEW THAT HE LOVED HER, HE LOVED HER, AND HE DID
LOVE HER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE LOVED HER BEFORE SHE LOVED
HIM. HE TOOK THE INITIATIVE. AND THE BIBLE SAYS, “WE LOVE
HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.” AND THEN THE APOSTLE JOHN
SAYS IN THE EPISTLE OF FIRST JOHN, “PERFECT LOVE CASTETH
OUT FEAR.” YOU KNOW, I USED TO READ THAT AND THINK, “MAN,
THAT’S GREAT, BUT, HA, WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO ME? I’VE
NEVER DONE ANYTHING PERFECTLY BUT SIN. SO, YEAH, IF I LOVED
HIM PERFECTLY THEN I WOULDN’T HAVE ANY FEAR.” AND THEN ONE
DAY GOD OPENED MY EYES AND PUT THIS IN MY THICK SKULL:
“ADRIAN, IT’S NOT YOUR PERFECT LOVE FOR ME THAT CASTS OUT
FEAR; IT’S MY PERFECT LOVE FOR YOU THAT CASTS OUT FEAR.”
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE TRANSLATION GIVES IT THIS
WAY, “WE HAVE NO NEED TO FEAR SOMEONE WHO LOVES US
PERFECTLY.” HUH, HUH, HE’S SAYING, HE SAID, LISTEN,
LE, HE, HE RECEIVED HER, HE REASSURED HER, HE SAID,
“DON’T BE AFRAID,” AND THEN HE REPLENISHED HER, HE LOADED
HER DOWN. SHE HAD A SHAWL. HE SAID, “PUT THAT OUT HERE.” NOW
REMEMBER, SHE’D BEEN GLEANING IN THE FIELDS. HE PUT SO MUCH
BARLEY IN THAT THING THAT, THAT ONE COMMENTATOR SAID IT
WEIGHED SIXTY POUNDS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HEH, HEH, THE
BIBLE SAYS, “HE LOADED IT ON HER.” YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE
SAYS, “HE LOADETH UTH WITH BENEFITS?” HE, HE LOADED IT
ON HER. I MEAN THAT, WE, SHE DIDN’T NEED THAT MUCH, UH,
BARLEY. UH, AH, “OUR LORD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING AND
ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE CAN ASK OR THINK.” HE LOADS
HER DOWN! BECAUSE HE LOVED HER! BECAUSE SHE’D COME TO
THAT PLACE AT HIS FEET. HE RECEIVED HER, HE REASSURED
HER, HE REPLENISHED HER, AND I’VE GOT TO HURRY TO GET TO
THE END. SHE COMES BACK TO NAOMI. NAOMI SAID, “WHO ARE
YOU?” NOW, UH, SHE KNEW WHO SHE WAS. YOU’LL HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION. WHAT SHE’S SAYING, “ARE YOU THE NEW
MRS. BOAZ?” THAT’S WHAT SHE’S SAY, HA, HA, “WHO ARE YOU? WHO
ARE YOU?” AND SHE SAYS, “OH, MAMA, IT’S WONDERFUL. LOOK AT
THE GRAIN.” SHE TOLD ALL THAT SHE HAD DONE. AND THEN NAOMI
GIVES THIS ADVICE. I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO IT. LOOK IN VERSE
18. THIS WRAPS IT UP, “THEN SAID SHE, ‘SIT STILL, MY
DAUGHTER, UNTIL THOU KNOW HOW THE MATTER WILL FALL,’” NOW
LISTEN TO THIS, “‘FOR THE MAN WILL NOT BE IN REST, UNTIL HE
HATH FINISHED THE THING THIS DAY.’” “RUTH, YOU’VE DONE YOUR
PART, JUST SIT STILL, JUST BE AT REST.” “THE MAN,” [SLAP]
“WILL NOT REST TILL HE HATH FINISHED THE THING.” BE AT
[SLAP] REST, [SLAP] SIT [SLAP] STILL, THE MAN WILL DO IT.
RUTH, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIS ABILITY.
YOU SIT STILL. HUH, HUH, “THE MAN WILL NOT REST TILL HATH
FINISHED THE THING.” YOU SEE, JESUS, OUR HEAVENLY REDEEMER,
CAME TO THIS EARTH. THE FIRST TIME WE SEE HIM, EH, IS IN THE
TEMPLE, AND, AND, HIS PARENTS SAID, “WHAT’RE YOU DOING
HERE?” HE SAID, “DON’T YOU KNOW THAT I MUST BE ABOUT
MY FATHER’S WORK?” IN JOHN CHAPTER NINE HE SAYS, “I MUST
WORK THE WORKS OF HIM THAT SENT ME WHILE IT IS DAY.” “THE
MAN WILL NOT REST UNTIL HE’S FINISHED.” I SEE HIM AS THEY
SPIT ON HIM AND JERK THE BEARD FROM HIM AND TELL LIES ABOUT
HIM AND LAY THE LASH ON HIS BACK. WHY DOESN’T HE QUIT?
“THE MAN WILL NOT REST TILL HE HATH FINISHED THE THING.” I
SEE HIM AS THEY LIFT HIM UP TO CALVARY AND NAIL HIM ON THAT
CROSS, AND THEY SAY, “COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS!” THANK
GOD HE DIDN’T, BECAUSE, “THE MAN WILL NOT REST UNTIL HE
HATH FINISHED THE THING.” [THUMP] AND THEN THERE COMES
THAT MOMENT [SLAP] WHERE HE SAYS, “IT IS [SLAP] FINISHED.”
[SLAP] [AUDIENCE: AMEN] IT’S DONE, HA, HA. IT IS DONE. AND
NOW THE MAN IS RESTING. HE’S SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF
THE FATHER, FOR HE HATH DONE IT. HE HATH DONE IT! THE MAN
DID NOT REST UNTIL HE FINISHED THE THING. AND THAT’S THE
REASON, FOLKS, THAT I CAN REST AND YOU CAN REST,
BECAUSE WE’VE ENTERED INTO THE FINISHED REST [AUDIENCE: AMEN]
OF OUR REDEEMER, OUR BOAZ, THE LORD JESUS. AMEN, AMEN. WOULD
YOU BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER? HEADS ARE BOWED, EYES ARE
CLOSED. NOW IF YOU HAVE NEVER, EVER GIVEN YOUR HEART TO
JESUS, YOU NEED TO DO SO TODAY. AND I PROMISE YOU ON
THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD, HE WILL SAVE YOU IF YOU
WANT TO BE SAVED. HE’S ALREADY PAID FOR YOUR SIN WITH HIS
BLOOD ON THE CROSS. IF YOU’LL JUST SAY, “LORD JESUS, I’M
A SINNER. MY SIN DESERVES JUDGMENT, BUT I NEED MERCY. I
OPEN MY HEART NOW, I TURN FROM MY SIN, I TAKE MY PLACE AT
YOUR FEET, MY BLESSED REDEEMER HUSBAND, MY HEAVENLY BOAZ. I
GIVE YOU MY HEART, MY LIFE, FOREVER.” SAY, “PASTOR, I
CAN’T REMEMBER ALL OF THAT.” WELL JUST PRAY THIS, “LORD
JESUS, COME INTO MY HEART, FORGIVE ME AND SAVE ME. SAVE
ME, JESUS.” PRAY THAT FROM YOUR HEART. AND THEN THOSE
OF YOU WHO’RE ALREADY SAVED, WOULD YOU SAY, “LORD, TEACH ME
HOW TO DRAW NEAR. TEACH ME HOW TO DRAW NEAR TO YOU AND TO
KNOW YOU INTIMATELY. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.” FRIEND, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER
MOMENT OF YOUR TIME? I WANT TO ASK YOU SINCERELY FROM MY
HEART, DO YOU KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD
AND SAVIOR? HAS THAT BURDEN OF SIN BEEN LIFTED? DOES GOD’S
SPIRIT WHISPER TO YOUR SPIRIT THAT YOU BELONG TO JESUS?
SALVATION IS SO SIMPLE. THE BIBLE SAYS CLEARLY, PLAINLY,
SWEETLY, SUBLIMELY, “BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND
YOU WILL BE SAVED.” WOULD YOU PRAY AND SAY, “LORD JESUS,
THANK YOU FOR DYING FOR ME. COME NOW INTO MY HEART.
FORGIVE MY SIN, CLEANSE ME, SAVE ME AND BEGIN NOW TO MAKE
ME THE PERSON YOU WANT ME TO BE.” PRAY IT AND MEAN IT. AND
IF YOU DO, WRITE TO US SO WE CAN REJOICE AND WE’LL SEND YOU
SOME LITERATURE TO HELP YOU GET STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN
LIFE. [MUSIC] WE HOPE THAT THIS SERIES, “REDEEMING LOVE”
HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU. YOU CAN LISTEN TO THIS
MESSAGE AGAIN, LISTEN TO OTHER MESSAGES IN THIS SERIES
OR DOWNLOAD PASTOR ROGERS OUTLINE, NOTES AND OTHER
MATERIALS RELATED TO THIS MESSAGE ALL AT LWF.ORG. NEXT
TIME WE FINISH THE STORY OF RUTH, IT’S AN EPIC LOVE STORY,
BUT IT IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT. AND ADRIAN ROGERS SHOWS
US THE STORY WITHIN THE STORY. BUT YOU’RE GONNA SEE THREE
PICTURES OF SALVATION HERE IN THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF THE BOOK
OF RUTH. AND WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO SEE IS A PICTURE OF OUR
REDEEMING LORD, THAT’S THE LORD JESUS. AND THEN YOU’RE
GOING TO SEE A PICTURE OF, UH, OF OUR RENEWED LIFE, WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN WE COME TO JESUS. AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO SEE
A PICTURE OF OUR RESTORED LEGACY, WHAT WE GET WHEN WE
COME BACK INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD. ARE YOU READY FOR
THAT? JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES FROM
THE BOOK OF RUTH, “REDEEMING LOVE.” THANKS FOR WATCHING
TODAY’S PROGRAM WITH US. WE’LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] FORGIVE MY SIN, CLEANSE ME, SAVE ME. AS
LOVE WORTH FINDING ENTERS OUR FISCAL YEAR END WE WANT TO
THANK OUR MONTHLY PARTNERS FOR YOUR FAITHFUL SUPPORT.
YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT IS ESSENTIAL AS WE STRIVE TO
SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH MORE PEOPLE ACROSS THE GLOBE AND ON
THIS STATION. IF YOU’VE NEVER FINANCIALLY GIVEN TO THE
MINISTRY WOULD YOU PRAYERFULLY CONSIDERING DOING SO RIGHT
NOW? VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN PARTNER WITH
US AS WE TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE LOVE OF JESUS.
