Impacting Journeys Jason Norvell

FAMILY REDEEMER [Book of Ruth]

(paraphrase) Ruth 1 …there was a famine in the land ... went to dwell in the country of Moab … while there the sons got married … then Naomi’s husband and 2 sons died … Naomi might RETURN from the country of Moab, for the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread … She told her daughter in laws to go back to their families … Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you … YOUR PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, And your God, my God. 

(NKJV) Ruth 2 There was a RELATIVE OF NAOMI’S HUSBAND, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. … 11 And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth and have come to a people whom you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, UNDER WHOSE WINGS YOU HAVE COME FOR REFUGE.” … 20 Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!” And Naomi said to her, “This man is a relation of ours, one of [REDEEMER] our close relatives.” 

Ruth 3 9 And he said, “Who are you?” So, she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a [REDEEMER] close relative.” 10 Then he said, “Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter! For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, in that you did not go after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request, for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman. 

Ruth 4 9 And Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “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. 10 Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this day.” … 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a [REDEEMER] close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! … 17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “There is a son born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 

1. This line is the same line that Jesus was born into



2. Like Ruth and Naomi, we to have been separated due to a death



3. We need a family redeemer (close relative)



• We’re redeemed back into the family of God, not adopted (reconciliation)



GO'EL: Next of kin, and, hence, redeemer. Any rights possessed by a man which lapsed through his inability to perform the duties attached to such rights, could be and should be resumed by the next of kin. This his go'el, or kinsman, had to redeem. 

Would You Still Trust God…

1. … If You Thought You Could Save The Day? (Gideon – Judges 7)

2. … If He Doesn’t Answer You the Way You Think? (Gideon – Judges 7)

2 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.’ ” And 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 4 But the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many;

7 Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the 300 men who lapped I will save you and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.”

3. … If We Had Enough To Cover Everything? (Job – Job 1)

4. … If It Took Longer Than Expected? (Abraham & Sarah – Genesis 18)

5. Trust God In All Circumstances (Paul – Philippians 4)

Philippians 4:12-13 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Believe - Blessing Offor

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU

1. INVISIBLE ENERGY THAT EMPOWERS YOU TO ACCOMPLISH MORE - The force is ... 

2. REQUIRES YOU TO SEPARATE YOURSELF AND TRAIN INTENSELY - The force requires ... 

3. BECOME RADICAL

DANIEL 3: - … 12 … They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.” … 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true … 15 … But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego … 17 … our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

1. INVISIBLE ENERGY THAT EMPOWERS YOU TO ACCOMPLISH MORE - These 3 individuals had from God ...  

2. REQUIRES YOU TO SEPARATE YOURSELF AND TRAIN INTENSELY - These 3 individuals had to ...

3. BECOME RADICAL - These 3 individuals said live or die we only honor God and ...

19 … cast them into the burning fiery furnace … 24 … “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

… come out … 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 … there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

1. INVISIBLE ENERGY THAT EMPOWERS YOU TO ACCOMPLISH MORE - The king realized they had an ...

2. REQUIRES YOU TO SEPARATE YOURSELF AND TRAIN INTENSELY - The Fourth, says ... 

3. BECOME RADICAL 

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU

God Never Promised…

1. God promised a land to Abraham that did not come to pass while he was alive

2. God never promised easy, even at the start (Location, Connections, and Comfortable)

3. God never promised an end date to the completion

Genesis 12:1-9 (NKJV) Promises to Abram Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him… 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” …

4. God promised He would give the land to Abraham’s descendants

5. God never promised they would just walk in, but they would have to take it

6. God promised to deliver the enemy into their hands, they had to possess it and occupy

Joshua 21:43-45 The Promise Fulfilled So, the Lord gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 The Lord gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

7. God never promised it would be easy

8. God promised He would never leave them

9. God promised man has no chance against you, when you go with Him

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

LOVE TRUMPS ALL‬‬

Mark‬ ‭12:28-34‬ One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ [Deuteronomy 6:4-5] 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [Leviticus 19:18] No other commandment is greater than these.” 32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” 34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.‬

1. Nothing New

Deuteronomy 6:4-5&6 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.

Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

2. Trumps All

Exodus 20:1-21 [10 Commandments] …3 “You must not have any other god but me. …4 “You must not make for yourself an idol …7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. …8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. …12 “Honor your father and mother. …13 “You must not murder. …14 “You must not commit adultery. …15 “You must not steal. …16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. …17 “You must not covet… 

3. Keep Focus

“Love God Love People” by Danny Gokey

Gotta keep it real simple, keep it real simple / Bring everything right back to ground zero

'Cause it all comes down to this / Love God and love people (people)

We're living in a world that keeps breakin' / But if we wanna find the way to change it

It all comes down to this/ Love God and love people

Mark 4:39-41 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

1. Don’t Be Afraid

Mark 4:35-41 [Jesus Calms the Storm] As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

2. Have Faith

Mark 4:30-34 [Parable of the Mustard Seed] Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? 31 It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, 32 but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.” 33 Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. 34In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

3. Grow in Faith

Matthew 17:19-20 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” 20“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”