Field of Grace. With Lyrics.

ABIDING IN THE FIELD OF GRACE

Text taken from:  Ruth 2:21-23

Introduction: Ruth has been gleaning in the field of Boaz, while there she got more grain than she bargained for. She also caught the eye of the wealthy field owner, a man by the name of Boaz. He works things out for her so that she leaves his field with more enough grain to feed her and her mother in law for a week or more! She also leaves that field with instructions from Boaz. You see, this man is falling in love with Ruth and he is determined to get to know her better. Before she leaves, she is invited by Boaz to abide in his field until the harvest has ended. He wants to take care of Ruth and see that she has all she needs and more! He wants to be blessing to her life.
I would remind you that Boaz is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. In these verses, we see a portrait of how the Lord works with His people and how His people should respond to Him. You see, like Boaz, the Lord Jesus possesses a big field of grace and He wants us to abide in it. If we will abide in the field of grace, He will see to it that we get everything we need and much more. Allow me to point out the great blessings that are contained in these verses. I want to share for a few minutes on the subject Abiding In The Field Of Grace.

I. V. 21 RUTH IS INVITED TO ABIDE
A. It Was A Personal Invitation - "He said unto me" - Boaz is interested in Ruth as an individual. He wants to know her better. He is concerned about her. (Note: Jesus Christ is a personal Savior! He is interested in a personal relationship with each of us, Rom. 10:13. He is interested in us personally. He wants out walk with Him to be an intimate one, John 15:5-6. Ill. Rev. 3:20.)

B. It Was A Precise Invitation - Boaz told her exactly what she was to do, "Abide in my field." He left no question as to what he expected from Ruth. (Note: So it is with Jesus. He wants us to be in an intimate, abiding relationship with Him, John 15:4; 15:15-16.) (Note: Jesus doesn't want His people gleaning in His field one day and another field another day. He wants us to live a live that is consistent. One that feeds off of our relationship with Him. One that requires Him to exist. He wants there to be a hunger in the heart for Him, Psa. 42:1-2.)

C. It Was A Promising Invitation - "until they have ended all my harvest." Boaz wanted Ruth to know that she was invited to glean in his fields of grace until everything had been gathered. This promised her that she would enjoy plenty until the harvest was over. (Note: The relationship Jesus wants to have with His children is not a short term situation! He wants us to abide in His field until all His harvest has ended. That is why He has promised us that He will never leave us, Heb. 13:5. That is why He has promised us that He will never cast us away, John 6:37.) (Note: Those who enter into this kind of relationship with the Lord Jesus find themselves in a fertile field of grace, where is presence and His blessings are rich and real! His blessings do not have to be hit or miss, but they can be as constant as the North Star!

II. V. 22 RUTH IS INSTRUCTED TO ABIDE
A. The Character Of The Field - Ruth is told that "it is good". This is a good field! It was a proven field, v. 17. It was a productive field, Chap. 2; It was a promising field, v. 21. This speaks to the quality of the field! (Note: The field of grace that Jesus expects us to abide in is a field of the best character. Staying with Him will produce the fruit of His image in your life, Rom. 8:29. Gleaning in any other field leads to destruction and death, Pro. 16:25. The character of the Lord's field is that it is a good field. It is the best field. For those who have gleaned there and tasted the fruit thereof would never think of gleaning anywhere else. When you can have all that Jesus offers, why would you settle for anything else? 


B. The Completeness Of The Field - Ruth found more than just food when she was in the field of Boaz. She found peace, safety, security, hope, refreshment, relationships, hope, promise, goodness, kindness, and blessing, 2:9-17.) This speaks to the quantity of the field. (Note: When you glean in the field of the Lord Jesus and determine that you will abide there through the times of bounty as well as the lean times, you will find that His field contains all you need to sustain you through all times.) (Note: Is Jesus all you need? That's not nearly enough! Is Jesus all you want? That's not far enough either! He wants us to come to the place where Jesus is all we have, Heb. 13:5b! Paul said it best, Phil.1:21. Where are you in that process?) When we come to the place where Jesus is all we have, we will find that we have all we want and all we need. He offers completeness for all those who glean in His field, Phil. 4:11-13.

C. The Company Of The Field - When Ruth was gleaning in the field of Boaz, she had precious relationships with the men in the field, 2:4-7; 9; with the maidens in the field, 2:8, 22; and with the master of the field himself, Boaz, 2:7-18. (Note: When we learn to abide in the Lord's field, we are also privileged to enter into some glorious relationships. First, there is the relationship with the people of God! Our fellowship together is precious! We are a body, 1 Cor. 12:12-27. We are part of a fellowship, 1 John 1:3. Thank God for His people! They are precious! Secondly, we have a relationship with the Master of the field, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a close relationship, 1 John 1:3, John 15:5. It is a permanent relationship, John 6:37; John 14:16. The relationships of His field are precious beyond words!)

III. V. 23 RUTH IS INCLINED TO ABIDE
A. Her's Was A Continual Work - Ruth entered that field every day and gleaned faithfully until the harvest ended. (Note: That is what Jesus expects all of His people to do! He wants us to glean in His field faithfully every single day! He would have His people dedicated, consecrated, and consistently gleaning in His field, carrying out His will until He comes. Ill. Eph. 2:8-10)

B. Her's Was A Completed Work - She was steadfast and dedicated until the work was finished. (Note: The Lord would have His people continue in His harvest work until He ends all the harvest. He is looking for those who will begin well, glean well and finish well. I want to be able to say what Paul said when he reached the end of the way, 2 Tim. 4:6-8.)

C. Her's Was A Consecrated Work - This verse tells us that she "dwelt with her mother in law." She was a young, beautiful, widow. She caught the eye of Boaz, and she probably caught the eye of other men in Bethlehem. Still she walked in integrity and maintained her purity through those difficult, lonely days. This speaks volumes about Ruth's character! She willingly submitted herself to the field, the future, her family and her new faith. In doing so, she sets the example for you and me. (Note: As we glean, we are to be faithful to do His will as we pass through this world. Are you doing that? We are also to walk in integrity. We are to keep our lives clean and pleasing in the sight of the Lord for the glory of God. He would have His people be holy, 1 Pet. 1:16. There are many who need to come before Him and make a fresh commitment to glean in His will, in the field of grace until the harvest is ended!)

Conc: Ruth committed herself to staying in the field of Boaz. She did not wander from field to field, but she settled down and worked in the fields of grace. I wish God's people could catch a vision of that truth today! Far too many of God's people are wandering here and there, gleaning in this field and then another. Would to God that we would just determine in our hearts that we are done playing with this thing and settle down to serve Him and glean in His field until He comes for us.
If you are not saved, I invite you to enter the field of grace by faith. He will save you today if you will come. If you are saved and have strayed from His field, I invite you to return, there is plenty for you to glean here. If you are doing your best to be consistent and faithful, I would encourage you to carry on. I've read the book and it won't be long until the harvest has ended and we are called to the big house.

Taken from the Sermon Notebook by Alan Carr  

Notes: 

Ruth 2:21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "Furthermore, he said to me, 'You should stay close to my servants until * they have finished all my harvest.' " (NASB: Lockman)

Amplified:  And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said to me also, Stay close to my young men until they have harvested my entire crop (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

 

Stay close (01692) (dabaq) is translated "cleaved" in Ruth 1:14 (see word study on dabaq). In this verse the Septuagint translates dabaq with the Greek verb proskollao (4347) (prós = to, toward and in compound words prós implies motion, direction + kollao = to glue) literally means to glue one thing to another so that it adheres. Figuratively, proskollao means to join closely. Proskollao was frequently used in medical language of the uniting of wounds.
Boaz is advising Ruth to "stick like glue" to his servants. Notice that Boaz lets Ruth know of his concern for her in a very practical way. Husbands should likewise exercise this same protective tendency for their wives. Remember these were the difficult and dark days of the judges.

THE STUDY OF SERVANTHOOD

The old testament translates several Hebrew words as “servant”  Each presents a certain portion of truth concerning the heart of a servant.

A)     The meaning of “Ebed”

1.       “Ebed” generally means a slave or a servant.  This applies to a person who is at the complete disposal of another person. Likewise God’s servant must be at the disposal of the Lord Jesus Christ and of those whom he is called to serve.

2.       “Ebed” applies to a person who works for a master. (Deut. 15:12-18)

3.       “Ebed” is also a slave in the service of a king (I Kings 1:9,47)

4.       “Ebed”  the word also applies to a person who serves in attendance to the temple sanctuary (1 Samuel 3:9)  A servant must tend the true temple of God, the Church, with his worship toward God and his service to God’s people.

B)      The second meaning is “Abad”

1.       This is a person who tills the ground (Genesis 2:5) 

The servant of God must work at breaking up the fallow ground of their hearts so that they can receive the seed of the Word of God.

2.       Secondly, this word “Abad” applies to a person who dresses or keeps a garden. (Genesis 2:15)

A servant God must dress and keep God’s vineyard, the Church of Jesus Christ.

3.       The name “Abad” applies to a priest who serves the people.  A servant who lays down his life in sacrificial service to those whom God has called him to serve.

C)      The third Hebrew word for servant  is “Sakiyr”

1.       It generally means a person who works for wages by day or by year. The “sakiyr” is a hired servant.  As a servant leader of the Church we must forsake the attitude of “paid professionalism”.  The hired servant was not a love-slave (Leviticus 25:39-42).  A Servant leader must forsake a religion of legalism that protects his rights. He must move into a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

2.       A servant must realize that ministry and activities not motivated by the love of God are not worth half as much. 

D)     The fourth Hebrew word for servant is “Sharath” it means a person who is a doer of menial and insignificant tasks.

1.       A servant must perform seemingly insignificant tasks sometimes in His Kingdom.

2.       A person or priest who minister or serves before the presence of God.

3.       Joshua was a “sharath” to Moses (Exodus 24:13). A servant of God’s serving those over him with a servant’s heart.

The New Testament translates in Greek “servant” as “doulos” which gives us a very good word picture of a servant’s heart.

A.       The word “doulos” signifies bondage, but commonly applies to a servant who has willingly bonded himself to a master.  Paul the Apostle uses the word to describe himself in his epistles:

Philippians 1:1 “Paul a servant (doulos) of Jesus Christ

Titus 1:1  “Paul a servant (doulos) of God

1.       The Love Slave of God

The most effective servants in the Kingdom of God are those who serve the Lord only out of a desire to love Him.  Such leaders or servants do not serve for money, reputation, position, power or selfish motive, even though their service means long hours of pressure and sacrifice. They are able to serve sincerely with humility and no desire for personal profit or fame.

2.       Secondly, the concept of serving in Greek in the New Testament present the word “deacon”

The word “deaconship or servanthood” is a New Testament concept.  This deaconship is not limited to those who take up offering or serve communion. The true meaning of deaconship goes even far deeper.

3.       The church appointed deacons on the basis of having a good reputation, being full of the Spirit and being full of wisdom (Acts 6:3)  As a deacon he must be able to lead and have a “people-conscious” heart.  The deacons are actually doing the work of the ministry for God’s Kingdom. They are the one that heals the sick and cast out devils.  Jesus said that He came to serve not to be served. (Mark 10:45).  He told the disciples the greatest servants are those who serve and not those position seeking and ambitious seeking servants. (Matthew 23:11) The selfish disciples who desired a position for themselves there is no room for such in God’s kingdom.

4.       So as God’s servants or leaders he must desire to serve, not to be served, to give, and not to take. They must find true happiness in pleasing God and the Church. To put one’s first is to violate this nature of servanthood.  Selfishness is out if one aspires to be a love slave for Jesus. Many servants today in churches are sold to fame, money and even their selfish purpose for profit only. They served for fame and as a “sakiyr” a hired servant.  As a servant leader of the Church we must forsake the attitude of “paid professionalism.

Forms of Ministry

Service is coupled with other words to describe a particular form of ministry.

The “ministry of the Word” – 2 Timothy 4:5 reminds us that a preacher is one who serves up the bread of life (Acts 6:4)

We hear of “the ministry of reconciliation” in 2 Cor. 5:18

Self- effort to keep all the requirements of the law is called “the ministry of death and condemnation,” but the life of faith is a “ministry of the spirit and a ministry of righteousness” – 2 Cor. 3:7-9

The servant of God needs to release life into people’s soul and mind so as to release them to a greater ministry for others to receive.

Some of material was taken from Frank Damazio’s  book “The Making of A Leader”

HOW TO KNOW THE LORD?

Hebrews 8:10-12, quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34   -  "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother , saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more."

So from Hebrews, here are two signs of a legalistic, Old Covenant mindset:
1. A need for "Know the Lord" type teaching with only human effort.

God says, “I Will Cause him to know Me effortlessly”  – “all shall know Me”- from the least to the greatest of them.  The Greek  for “know” here is “oido”.  It means to know God without effort.  Whereas the other “know” “ginosko”  (Know the Lord) is to know God by self effort – through seminars and head knowledge. Sometimes bible study can be head knowledge only.  Believers would not know God by “ginosko”.  It is the Spirit of God that teaches you all things – especially grace teaches us from inside out not outside in.  The bible says the anointing will teach you all things.

2. Having a consciousness of sin more than the consciousness of grace, righteousness and forgiveness.  When we are “sin conscious” rather than “righteousness conscious” we live in the flesh and not the Spirit.  The Kingdom of God is “righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.

Many Christians trying to know God by trying to overcome sin and trying to be forgiven by doing good work.  They try to resist sin and usually focused on their sin in order to be right with God.  Paul says the more we think and dwell upon our sin, the more it consumes us. The more consumed we are by our sin, the more we struggle to be free from it, the more we struggle the more we will be discouraged.

God chooses not to remember our sins. God does not forget our sins but God chooses not to remember them. God is in the business of forgetting them and some believer today are in the business of digging them up more to confess. To choose not to remember your sins is an act of faith in God’s Word.

 

The Hebrew writer wrote to the believers at that time.  It’s time to move out of a consciousness of sin and instead move into a consciousness of forgiveness, righteousness and grace.  This will set them free from all kinds of legalism and old covenant thinking.

The Lord declares, “I will put my laws into their mind”  Of course, this is not the Mosaic laws which had no substance to transform us. The Law convicts us of sin and could not deliver us.

I believe this is the “Law of Liberty”.  The new law of liberty is also the law of faith and the law of love.  These are laws that bring life and relationships with God. These are laws not to bind us and not to bring us more burden. 

Jesus came to this world to proclaim liberty and set people at liberty.  (Luke 4:18)  These laws are more than freedom from guilt and condemnation or punishment of our sin. It gives us total freedom from the roots of sin and all its effects. It gives us a closer relationship to draw near to God and come to His holy presence daily.

Look at what Galatians 5:13 says Galatians 5:13

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Life by the Spirit

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

Galatians 5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.

Galatians 5:22-23

New International Version (NIV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Grace has its own law, a higher, liberating law: "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2; cf. James 1:25). Note that this new law emancipates us from sin as well as death. Paul was explicit about this: "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2). Grace reigns through righteousness (Romans 5:21).

Paul believes that under this new law of love, law of faith and law of liberty that “all things were now lawful for him.”  Even though all things are now lawful but all things are not helpful (I Corinthians 6:12)  And I will not be brought under the power of any (I Cor. 6:12b) because not all things edify” – I Cor. 10:23b)  You are totally free but not free to do anything you wanted especially in the area of the flesh.

Paul told Timothy a young leader saying “Be strong in the grace of God (not be strong in the law of God) so that this GRACIOUS LIVING GRACE   will be imparted to faithful man and woman in his time.