Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a kinsman; and may his name be famous in Israel! And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”
— Ruth 4:14–15

So Boaz and Ruth were finally married, and they had a son, and the women then told Naomi how blessed she was. This book is called the book of Ruth, but it begins and ends with Naomi. She was no longer Mara (bitter), for now she was truly blessed. (more…)

“Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the Lord will give you by this young woman.”
— Ruth 4:12

Next they spoke of Tamar and Judah, whose history was very shameful. Tamar was Judah’s daughter-in-law who dressed up like a harlot and had a child through Judah. If I were Boaz, I would have been insulted if someone likened my fiancée to such a woman. However, this case actually was meant as an encouragement to Boaz, for though Ruth as a Moabitess came from a dark background, so also the birth of Perez came as a breaking forth from a dark background to become a blessing to Israel. (more…)

“May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.”
— Ruth 4:11c–12

Perez means breaking forth. Something was limited and held back, but now it breaks forth. (more…)

“The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel.”
— Ruth 4:11b

Eventually all the people blessed Boaz with an interesting blessing. They said, “The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel” (Ruth 4:11). At this I would be insulted, for although Rachel means sheep, Leah means weary or tired. This is like saying, may your bride be like a sheep and like being tired! These, however, are the two who built the house of Israel. (more…)

All the people who were in the gate, and the elders said, “We are witnesses.”
— Ruth 4:11a

To all this the elders and those present said, “We are witnesses.” Perhaps they did not understand why Boaz would do such a thing. Ruth was young and possibly beautiful, but Boaz was entering into something that would not bring him any profit in the long run, for any child born of their union would be credited to Mahlon. (more…)

So the closest relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” And he removed his sandal.
— Ruth 4:8

Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.
— Ephesians 5:25

The closer kinsman surrendered his right by drawing off his sandal and handing it to Boaz. This was the custom at that time. It was a confirmation, the equivalent of signing a contract today. Boaz then said, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of Naomi. (more…)

For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh. This mystery is great, but I speak with regard to Christ and the church.
— Ephesians 5:31-32

The religious world uses us; it does not care about us. The Lord, on the other hand, cares for us and fights for what would be a blessing to us. (more…)

Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance.”

The kinsman said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.”
— Ruth 4:5-6

Up until this time, the closest relative must have felt very fortunate that Boaz was bringing all this up. It seemed very much to his benefit. But when Boaz brings up the idea of marrying Ruth, this closer relative declines. (more…)

Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, kinsman of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down.
— Ruth 4:1

For there is, on the one hand, the setting aside of the preceding commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness (For the law perfected nothing), and, on the other hand, the bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
— Hebrews 7:18-19

In our experience, when the Lord comes in and confronts our natural man, we listen, but still with our laws, ideology, and self-confidence firmly in place. The Lord says, “You must do this for yourself if you wish to fulfill what is right before God,” and initially we are inclined to think we can do it. (more…)

Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, “Turn aside, friend, and sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. Then he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down.
— Ruth 4:1-2

I like this picture. The Lord is in charge, and all must obey Him. Even a natural man full of ideology cannot argue in the Lord’s presence. Boaz then rehearses how Naomi has returned from the country of Moab without male heirs and is in danger of losing her portion of the land. (more…)

None of the judges seemed to exhibit any interest in what was really on God’s heart. They were raised up to judge God’s people, but none of them asked God how they should judge or what would truly please Him. (more…)

Due to the degradation among the priests after the Israelites entered into the promised land, God raised up judges to rule His people. The first three judges—Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar—must have ruled well, for the Bible records very little about them (Judg. 3). When we come to Gideon, however, the peculiar stories begin. (more…)

I am afraid that very few among us live as priests before God. Only a few gather to pray at the designated times of prayer or have a time of personal prayer. Therefore, most flunk the first matter necessary for a healthy church life. (more…)

Today, if the local church or group of believers we fellowship with is to be healthy, it needs to have people who function in these three capacities—as priests, kings, and prophets.
(more…)

Now David, having served his own generation by the counsel of God, did indeed fall asleep and was buried with his fathers and saw corruption.
— Acts 13:36

In order to understand the phrase “his own generation,” we have to consider what the situation of David’s generation was. (more…)

And when He had deposed him, He raised up David for them as king, to whom also He testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will.
— Acts 13:22

Paul, Peter, John, Stephen, and even the Lord Jesus all spoke of David. How could a flawed man who committed such great sins become so appreciated? How could he be held up as one who was according to God’s heart and who served his generation? (more…)

And when He had deposed him, He raised up David for them as king, to whom also He testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will.
— Acts 13:22

We all need to consider why we do what we do. For instance, if you are a student, why did you choose the college you attend? You may respond, “I want to have a good career.” Why? “So I can get married and raise a family.” Again, why? So you can have grandchildren? What is your goal?
(more…)

And when He had deposed him, He raised up David for them as king, to whom also He testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will.
— Acts 13:22

There is a great difference between being according to God’s heart and doing things for God. Doing things for God with no realization of God’s heart has little meaning. We should focus on what God is after. (more…)

Some Christians faithfully preach the gospel, then hold onto their converts as an asset. They display these converts in the meetings as living proof of their own Christian fruitfulness, forcing them to stand up and say something. Though such Christians are faithful to preach the gospel, they have no idea what God’s heart’s desire is, and those they bring to Christ are often not able to grow well. (more…)

Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
— John 15:4

As we become involved with activities, these often take on the preeminence which rightfully belongs to the Lord. The things we might feel are serving our generation for Christ, such as preaching the gospel, leading Bible studies, and so on, can merely be Christian things for us to do. (more…)

And when He had deposed him, He raised up David for them as king, to whom also He testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will….

Now David, having served his own generation by the counsel of God, did indeed fall asleep and was buried with his fathers and saw corruption.
— Acts 13:22, 36

These are the two things we all should care about above everything else—our relationship with God and how we serve our generation. We should serve our generation according to God’s heart. We should not merely care for our own things. (more…)

This conference was on the book of Philippians. As the title indicates, it was focused on Christ. In particular, it covered five “treasures” related to Christ that we see in the book of Philippians. (Each of these treasures was covered in one of the five message outlines for the conference.)

First, we must have the presence of Christ. Second, we should live in Him as the reality of the divine and mystical realm. Third, we should count all things loss to gain His excellency. Fourth, He is the prize of God’s high calling. Lastly, He is the source of the joy in the local churches. (more…)

And when He had deposed him, He raised up David for them as king, to whom also He testified and said, I have found David, the son of Jesse, a man according to My heart, who will do all My will….

One of the great names in the Bible is that of David, king of Israel. Most people know how he faced Goliath as a youth, and many appreciate the psalms he wrote. In fact, he wrote Psalm 23, the most famous psalm in the Bible. He had his faults and committed some serious sins, yet the apostle Paul tells us that David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) and a man who served his own generation (Acts 13:36). (more…)

This conference was on the book of Philippians. As the title indicates, it was focused on Christ. In particular, it covered five “treasures” related to Christ that we see in the book of Philippians. (Each of these treasures was covered in one of the five message outlines for the conference.)

First, we must have the presence of Christ. Second, we should live in Him as the reality of the divine and mystical realm. Third, we should count all things loss to gain His excellency. Fourth, He is the prize of God’s high calling. Lastly, He is the source of the joy in the local churches. (more…)

This conference was on the book of Philippians. As the title indicates, it was focused on Christ. In particular, it covered five “treasures” related to Christ that we see in the book of Philippians. (Each of these treasures was covered in one of the five message outlines for the conference.)

First, we must have the presence of Christ. Second, we should live in Him as the reality of the divine and mystical realm. Third, we should count all things loss to gain His excellency. Fourth, He is the prize of God’s high calling. Lastly, He is the source of the joy in the local churches. (more…)

This conference was on the book of Philippians. As the title indicates, it was focused on Christ. In particular, it covered five “treasures” related to Christ that we see in the book of Philippians. (Each of these treasures was covered in one of the five message outlines for the conference.)

First, we must have the presence of Christ. Second, we should live in Him as the reality of the divine and mystical realm. Third, we should count all things loss to gain His excellency. Fourth, He is the prize of God’s high calling. Lastly, He is the source of the joy in the local churches. (more…)

This conference was on the book of Philippians. As the title indicates, it was focused on Christ. In particular, it covered five “treasures” related to Christ that we see in the book of Philippians. (Each of these treasures was covered in one of the five message outlines for the conference.)

First, we must have the presence of Christ. Second, we should live in Him as the reality of the divine and mystical realm. Third, we should count all things loss to gain His excellency. Fourth, He is the prize of God’s high calling. Lastly, He is the source of the joy in the local churches. (more…)

The 2010 Labor Day weekend conference was on the book of Philippians, on the topic of “Christ, Christ, Christ!”  Everything in our daily life, in our pursuing, and in our church life must be focused on Christ, Christ, Christ! We seek or desire nothing but the Lord Himself; He is our real blessing and our unique prize.

There were five messages, and selected excerpts from these messages are now available on this website. You can listen to them online, or by downloading them in mp3 format for offline listening, such as on your iPod.

To go to this list of these excerpts click here:

Audio Excepts: Christ, Christ, Christ! (more…)

The other entries for this conference enable you to listen to the excerpts directly on this website, but you are also welcome to download the files in mp3 format to listen to them offline, such as on your iPod or other mp3 player, or in your car.

To make it easier for you to do this we’ve combined the mp3s into a single zip file that you can access below. (It also contains the synopsis of the excerpts from this conference.) (more…)

“We will make you plaits of gold
with studs of silver.”
— Song of Songs 1:11

Our experience will always be along these two lines: the line of nourishing and the line of the work of the cross. As we experience these two lines, God will be able to constitute us with Himself.

We thank the Lord that He does not shame us or reject us for being a wild mare. May the Lord work in us so that we will have more hunger for His nourishing and for gaining His rest. Meanwhile, may we let the cross do its work to make us plaits of gold with studs of silver so that we can live before Him in an increasing union with Him.
(more…)