TCA-YWAM Austin November 19, 2017 Topic: A LOVE STORY – Will we trust God to do it in us? Will we trust Jesus to be Lord of all in our life? (Compiled by Jon Dorris) (Permission granted for anyone to use freely) Intro God wants to turn your life into a LOVE STORY between you and Him. He keeps calling out to you to enter the door (Jesus) of the Love Story. He is always wooing you deeper into relationship with Him. His purpose is so that you will be convinced of His loving-kindness for you. -And that you will TRUST HIM through anything in life. -He will REWARD us back far beyond our wildest dreams. Will you trust Him through the hard times in life? -Hard times will come to everybody (Christian and non-Christian) -The question is: How will we respond to God in hard times? -Will you get bitter or better by letting God transform you through all experiences? Again I ask: - Will you let Him build His unique Love Story in your life? Remember He wants to build your character into the beautiful diamond that we have talked about -And to bless your life with peace in any situation -Because you have experienced His loving faithfulness over and over again Again I ask: - Will you let Him take you on this journey? Or will you try to control your life and eke out life without Him? -Very boring - = evil world systems bondages like DEBT – Ave. American has 277,000$ of debt -Life without FREEDOM Let me tell you a wonderful, TRUE STORY Naomi and Ruth’s LOVE STORY P a g e | 2 Before King David’s time A time when Israel was going through a terrible famine Background of the time: was apostasy, warfare, decline, violence, moral decay, anarchy, rebellion, disobedience A man, Elimelech, decided to take Naomi, his wife and their 2 sons to live in Moab, -in hopes of escaping the famine. -In Moab, his 2 sons married Moabite women -His self-made plan back-fired First he, Elimelech died Then his 2 sons died also from the severe famine that followed them to Moab -Naomi would not give up on her God Naomi heard Israel’s famine was over So she decided to move back to Israel She encouraged her 2 Moabite daughter in laws to stay in Moab and remarry Ruth would not stay Ruth said “For where You go I will go and where you dwell I will dwell, Your people will be my people and Your God will be my God; where you die, I will die.” Ruth was loyal, obedient, and faithful in her love for Naomi -You will see God honor that Godly choice Back in Israel it was hard on Naomi and Ruth. -They had nothing – no money – no food Ruth risked the dangers and went to glean wheat at edges of the fields that were being harvested. God answered their prayers and led Ruth to glean in Boaz’s field. Boaz was wealthy and very successful farmer Boaz is a picture of Jesus’ love and redemption of us at the Cross P a g e | 3 Just as Boaz chose Ruth, Jesus chose us to be His Bride -and making us a joint heir of all He has -and reign with Him forever Boaz also was a man of God with high integrity God had Boaz notice Ruth God had Ruth find favor in Boaz’s eyes She said I am a foreigner, I am not your people, why are you blessing me? He said I do not see people for WHO THEY ARE NOT, but for how God sees them. You, Ruth, have chosen to love, obey, and be loyal to Naomi all this time. -You forsook your people, your nation, your gods, and your life to bless Naomi. So Boaz (like Jesus) showed her many kindnesses. He gave her extra grain He extended his protection over her. As Naomi was crying out to God for His answers, God gave her a strategy. -Just as the Trinity decided to send Jesus to die for and redeem mankind back into relationship with Himself, -God reminded Naomi that Boaz was one of her kinsman and could redeem Ruth. (Explain kinsman redeemer & that Jesus is this for us now) -So that now Naomi and Ruth could have protection, provision, LOVE, and generations -Ruth, a foreigner to Israel was in the genealogy of King David and Jesus Boaz fought for Ruth against her 1st kinsman (a selfish man) Boaz prevailed and won back Ruth Boaz married Ruth and gave her all that he owned. Ruth was loving and faithful back to Boaz God sent Jesus to be our Boaz P a g e | 4 God wants to redeem us and lead us into the most amazing LOVE STORY Life, far beyond our dreams Have you taken Jesus up on His invitation to you? 1. To freely receive His redemption paid at the Cross? 2. To learn to love and obey Jesus’ Holy Spirit and His Kingdom ways? Listen to God’s plea at the end of Psalm 81 “I relieved his shoulder of the burden, His hands were freed from the basket. 7 “You called in trouble and I rescued you; I answered you in the hiding place of thunder; I proved you at the waters of Meribah. Selah. 8 “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you would listen to Me! 9 “Let there be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. 10 “I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. “But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. 12 “So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices. 13 “Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! 14 “I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries. 15 “Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever. 16 “But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” God offers us the finest of everything -A Cinderella Story – A King rescuing an abused poor girl, marrying her and making her His Queen. Have you accepted this offer? Or have rejected Jesus over and over again. God wants to give you another chance right now. P a g e | 5 Invitation If you want to accept Jesus’ free gift of redemption for your sins = heaven then raise your hand If you want to accept His offer to be your Lord and take you on His Love Story journey, then please stand I will lead you in a prayer for both.