"A HARVEST ROMANCE." Reading: The Old Testament book of Ruth. Take time to read it through. This beautiful story is set in one of the darkest periods of Israelite history. (1300 BC) The narrative traces a life from idolatry to royalty. The book of Ruth has four chapters, or eighty five verses spanning twelve years of time. Love is written all over the events, but the word “love” is never used in the book. The location of the story is Bethlehem – the house of bread, the fruitful. Just outside Bethlehem is the burial place of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob. 1. A DEFINING MOMENT Ch 1 v’s 16-18 What a day of destiny it was for Ruth and Orpah! Two young ladies experienced the same surge of powerful emotions. They had both buried their husbands, and now they were at a crossroads in their lives. They faced a momentous decision. Men and women today must decide for the true or the false, right or wrong, Christ or Satan. For these young women, it was settled under an Eastern sun, but for you who read this message, it may be in the confines of your own home. There is a time we know not when, A place we know not where That seals the destiny of man For Glory or despair. From this point, we lose sight of Orpah. She disappears from our view into the mists and shadows of idolatry. But not so with Ruth! In a supreme moment, she settled the issue in a life-long surrender to the claims of God upon her. 2. A DIVINE APPOINTMENT Ch 2 v 2 The Spirit of God moves in an amazing way in lives. Here we find Ruth, a young woman from Moab, gleaning ears of corn in a field near Bethlehem belonging to someone she didn’t even know. But God knew whose field it was – it belonged to Boaz, the man of wealth, the kinsman redeemer. God’s providence brought her here. He wanted them to meet. It was not a chance meeting. This is no accident that you are reading a message from God today. Over 2000 years ago, His Son, the Prince of Glory, the heavenly Boaz, came to Bethlehem, and on to Calvary that He might draw you to Himself. He wants to redeem (or buy you back from Satan) today. He paid the price of your redemption by His death on Calvary. He wants to pour His love upon you today. Trust Him as your Saviour today. Confess your sin to Him and receive His forgiveness. Do it now! 3. A DEVOTED COMMITMENT Ch 4 v 10 Boaz, the richest man in Bethlehem, took a stranger and an outcast to be his wife – not a slave or a house keeper, but one to love. What a remarkable book! It opens with three deaths and a famine, and ends with the joys of a wonderful marriage. Is this not a picture of the amazing grace and favour of the Lord? He still takes over broken empty lives and transforms them into lives with a purpose. Only He can give you something worth living for! Life was shattered and hope was gone Crushing the load that I bore. When out of the depths I cried, “Dear Lord, Give me something worth living for. Something more than my yesterdays, More than I had before: Something more than wealth or fame.” He gave me something worth living for. . If you would like spiritual counsel and feel you would like to talk to our pastor then click HERE to e-mail him directly. Written for this website by Rev. Stewart. Due to be updated: end November Archived Messages. 11/09/05 An effective evangelist. 08/05/05 A Day of Trouble. 01/03/05 A Growing Church. 24/12/04 Christmas Message. 18/09/04 The Three-fold Inheritance. 23/05/04 Christ Our Life. 30/01/04 Being Faithful. 27/12/03 Advent Prediction. 11/10/03 Watchman - Guilty or Guiltless? 14/05/03 An epoch making day. 20/04/03 All hail the risen Lord. 22/03/03 Heart Cry for Revival. 02/01/03 The Church of the Open Door. 02/12/02 The River of Blessing. 01/09/02 The Revelation of the River. 04/05/02 The Greatest Watershed in History. 29/01/02 Knowing and doing the Will of God. 22/11/01 Things Which Cannot Be Shaken. 07/07/01 The Soulwinner's conflict 24/04/01 The Divine Dividend 17/03/01 The Move That Made The Difference 10/01/01 Marching On In The Will of God 15/12/00 Christmas Message 07/10/00 The Inheritance of Divine Fullness (2) 15/09/00 The Inheritance of Divine Fullness (1) 28/07/00 Prerequisites To Divine Fullness (4) 15/06/00 Prerequisites To Divine Fullness (3) 07/05/00 Prerequisites To Divine Fullness (2) 09/04/00 Prerequisites To Divine Fullness (1) 22/04/00 Easter Message