Sunnyside First Baptist Church
Jeff Butler - Sin Rarely Stays Isolated
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- “Blessed Are the Peacemakers”— Good Morning and welcome to First Baptist— My name is Pastor Jeff Pagel— Today we are continuing our time in the Book of Ruth.— Let’s see where we have been so far, and some background on the book-Ruth is a story of God quietly turning loss into hope, emptiness into provision, and bitterness into redemption.-The story takes us from Famine to Loss to Faithfulness to Provision finally to Redemption———————————————— And underneath everything is the quiet Providence, or plan of God.— Who works everything, and I mean everything out for our benefit and ultimately His glory.— But still leaves us with questions that we cannot answer—God did not abandoned Naomi in her bitterness or Ruth in her uncertainty.— Nor will he ever abandon us in our deepest, darkest times and our uncertainties.——————————————Biblical Redemption RESTORES what is broken————————————————-— Through our choices and circumstances we live in our own broken world— In a world that was broken long before we were here and will continue to be until Jesus comes to RESTORE it.— Biblical redemption restores what has been broken and Jesus is the ultimate Redeemer who secures our peace with God.— Consider this question as work through our passage today— What is our part in God’s work of reconciliation, restoration, and redeeming peace?— I’d like to start with an illustrationILLUSTRATION - “The cost of Restoration”— Restoring an old house is rarely simple.— Especially for me, I can barely hammer a nail or screw a screw in straight— I wish I was more like the “Craftsmen” in our church.— For example Lloyd can take a “chunk of wood” and turn it into some really beautiful things— Let’s get back to our house in need of RESTORATION— Once the walls are opened, hidden damage appears.— Rot, Broken wiring, Weak foundations, Water damage.— Restoration costs more than wood, nails, screws, paint and time— Someone must pay...— Someone must do the difficult work.— Someone must address what is hidden.Redemption in Scripture is not sentimental… It is costly restoration.— In the Book of Ruth, Boaz cannot merely tell Ruth:“I care.”— He must act publicly, Legally, Financially and Honorably.— In RESTORING our “old” house permits are required, basic wiring knowledge is needed, carpentry skills are demanded— Peace is not pretending nothing is broken.— Peace is doing what right standing with God requires to restore what can be restored.— As we begin let’s prayOPENING PRAYER—Father,— Thank You for Jesus, our Redeemer.— Teach us to become peacemakers, not “peace-fakers.”— Guide us listen to peacemakers in our lives and reject those who create chaos and disorder and steal “peace”— Give courage to address brokenness honestly.— Help us pursue reconciliation without sacrificing truth.— Restore families, friendships, and churches through the Gospel.— In Jesus’ name,— Amen.In our passage today - “Boaz protects Ruth’s reputation and sends her home with provision.”—————————————————-— Naomi says: “The man, Boaz will not rest but will settle the matter today.”— A great example for us to seek reconciliation and redemption out immediately, if not sooner for those you have “wronged,” or “been wronged by” in some way small or big— In the situation that Boaz finds himself— He goes to the city gate, immediately, not letting the inevitable gossip, to get ahead of him and tell the story… falsely— The gate functioned as courthouse, business center, and public gathering place.— He assembles elders.— He presents the matter to the “nearer redeemer,” an Old Testament way of saying what we would call an arbiter or judge.— The nearer man is willing to redeem the land.— But when he learns Ruth is to be included, as an heir, he declines.Boaz accepts the responsibility...TO GUIDE OUR DISCUSSION, LET US CONSIDER THREE TRUTHSTruth #1 - Peacemaking addresses brokenness openly and rightly.Verdad #1 — Hacer la paz aborda el quebrantamiento de manera abierta y correcta.———————————————— Our passage is… Ruth 3:14–18; 4:1–4— Listen as I read
Ruth 3:14–18 NLT 14 So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” 15 Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town. 16 When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?” Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, 17 and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ” 18 Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”— And Ruth 4.1-4Ruth 4:1–4 NLT 1 Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. Just then the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him, “Come over here and sit down, friend. I want to talk to you.” So they sat down together. 2 Then Boaz called ten leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses. 3 And Boaz said to the family redeemer, “You know Naomi, who came back from Moab. She is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don’t want it, let me know right away, because I am next in line to redeem it after you.” The man replied, “All right, I’ll redeem it.”— Boaz does not create a secret arrangement with Ruth.— Our our “modern” way we might jump to some INCORRECT conclusion, without all of the correct information— It is easy to do without all of the information— He goes to the gate. He gathers witnesses.— He tells the truth.Biblical peace is not the absence of uncomfortable conversation. It is the presence of righteousness within conflict.——————————————— Let’s connect this to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.9.— Jesus says...Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”— Let me say it again— “Blessed are the peacemakers.”— A peacemaker is active.— Peace must be built, it’s not natural for us, but it is required— I am reminded of Matthew 18.15.Matthew 18:15 ““If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”APPLICATION - Are you avoiding a necessary conversation?— Peacemaking does not mean attacking.— It means speaking truth in love.APPLICATION - Healthy churches address conflict biblically.— Not through parking-lot gossip.— Not through factions, Directly, Prayerfully.— BUT… Graciously, gently, respectfully, in a loving matter, without judgement.— Let’s move toTruth #2 Redemption requires “willingness and cost.”Verdad #2 — La redención requiere “disposición y sacrificio”.—————————————Our passage isRuth 4:5–8 NLT 5 Then Boaz told him, “Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.” 6 “Then I can’t redeem it,” the family redeemer replied, “because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land; I cannot do it.” 7 Now in those days it was the custom in Israel for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party. This publicly validated the transaction. 8 So the other family redeemer drew off his sandal as he said to Boaz, “You buy the land.”—————————————————— The nearer redeemer, or judge says:— “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance.”— He has legal ability, but not willingness to assume the cost of buying the land and assuming Ruth in the process— Boaz is willing. A kinsman-redeemer had to possess:The right relationship.The resources.The willingness.Boaz qualifies!!APPLICATION -Love that costs nothing is often little more than sentiment.———————————————-— Forgiveness costs pride.— Reconciliation costs vulnerability.— Generosity costs resources.— Service costs time.APPLICATION - A church participating in redemption must be willing to pay costs.————————————————— Time. Money. Energy. Compassion. Patience.Ministry that never costs us may not resemble the Cross very closely.———————————————Truth #3 - Redemption creates a NEW FutureVerdad #3 - La redención crea un NUEVO futuro————————————————— Boaz publicly acquires the property and takes Ruth as his wife.— His purpose includes preserving the name of the Elimelech, Naomi’s husband that had diedThe elders bless Ruth. They connect her with Rachel, Leah, and Tamar—women woven into Israel’s story.Naomi, a widow is publicly welcomed into covenant history.APPLICATION - Redemption does not merely erase the past. It creates a future.———————————————————In Christ, we are not merely pardoned criminals.We become adopted children.APPLICATION - The church should reflect redeemed family.——————————————————— People from different backgrounds become one body. And are welcomed with open arms— Former strangers become brothers and sisters.— Let’s reflect back on our opening questionWhat is our part in God’s work of reconciliation, restoration, and redeeming peace?——————————————————We participate in redeeming peace by:addressing brokenness truthfully,accepting appropriate cost, andworking toward restored relationships and renewed futures.Let’s loop our discussion today with the Gospel and the life of Jesus—————————————————-— Jesus is our true Kinsman-Redeemer.— He became our brother through the incarnation.— He possessed the resources of heaven.— He willingly paid the price by the whip marks on His back, By the crown of thrones he wore, By His nail scared hands and feat— The nearer redeemer could not risk his inheritance.— Jesus, our kinsman redeemer, gave His life to give us an inheritance.— At the cross, Jesus made peace through His blood.Let’s Pray...— Father,— Thank You for the costly redemption of Jesus.— Make us peacemakers.— Give us courage, honesty, humility, and willingness to bear the costs of restoration.— Amen.—————————————-— I’ll leave you with this short verse from Psalm 85.10.Psalm 85:10 “ Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” Romans 1:32dNLT
Romans 5:12NASB95
1 Peter 1:18–19NASB95
Ephesians 1:7NASB95
1 Corinthians 6:20NASB95
Colossians 2:13–14NASB95
Romans 3:21–24NASB95
Romans 5:8–9NASB95
1 Corinthians 13:12NLT
Romans 4:7–8NLT
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Sunnyside First Baptist Church
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