I went out...

[PastorMike]

Ruth 1:21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty...

I was thinking about this verse... here Naomi was complaining about God, she said I had everything when I left here but God took it all away and brought me back empty... her emphasis was "I, full" and "God, empty" but Naomi had missed the plot...

Naomi's problem was that she went out, this is always a recipe for disaster, if the Lord had brought/lead her out then the Lord would have preserved her, but instead SHE went out and now that she lost everything, she is putting the blame on God... When Naomi went out she had a husband, he died in the land of Moab, she had two sons who married two Moabite women against the law of God and they died without children in the land of Moab, Naomi's family died in poverty, barren and stricken in the land of their enemies, because THEY went out...

and the Lord... I love that... God didn't leave Naomi down in that land, God got word to her to come again to the land of Bethlehem, the house of bread or provision, she went out but God didn't leave her out he brought her back...

empty... the reason she was empty is because of her own sin, God had given her a place of provision but SHE went out, she didn't stay in the place of provision and she lost everything... if you go out from the place of provision of God, you are limiting yourself to your own abilities, how much I can earn, how much I can save etc... and Naomi lost everything...

It is interesting that when God provided for his people in the land of provision, he didn't provide for Naomi in the land of Moab... you see, we expect God to bless us where WE are at, but that is not God's way, he has a place of blessing for us and if we are not there we will not get the blessing... Naomi had to return to the land of Bethlehem...

So Naomi went out full and the Lord brought her back, she may have been empty but the Lord brought her back, she may have lost everything but the Lord brought her back... God didn't leave her to die in the land of her enemies, He brought her back...

Naomi's testimony really was... I, in my ignorace went out from the place of blessing, i went down into a foreign land where I lost everything, my family, my wealth and everything I own but praise God when i was at my lowest, when i had no where left to turn I turned to Him, and he brought me back, He didn't leave me to die in the land of my enemies but he brought me back to my own people, to the land of the blessing and the praise of God...

I went out full and when I lost everything, God, in his mercy brought me back, I may have been empty but he brought me back... Glory to His name...

 

[J4Jesus]

Sometimes we asked the Lord to bless our plans and then when things dont work out we say Lord what happened? What we should have done is ask the Lord what is YOUR plan? Then it wont fail. His plan is already blessed.

 

[CindyisHis]

Excellent observation, Preacher Mike!

 

[Nobel22]

One Word... Brilliant!

 

[HephzibahBenJudah]

Jesus spent much time alone in prayer in the early hours of the morning...to get the plans for the day and the power to walk in the places He walked....we are no different...we have to follow His example.

 

[CindyisHis]

This was so good, I had to read it again, as I am in the book of Ruth this morning.

This thread deserves a bump. I'm sure there's the possibility of some who have never seen this thread before. The op is super!

 

[pdudgeon]

thanks for bumping this, Cindy. it was good to read it again, having read it once, because it gave me a fresh insight again.

 

[spiritfilledwoman]

Excellent stuff, PM.

 

[Glenda]

Thank you, Mike..

 

[KingZzub]

Great preaching, bro.

Cheers,
|ZZ|

 

[peacechild4]

Thank you... I enjoyed this!!

 

[PastorMike]

Glory to God for His abundant mercy...

 

[PastorMike]

I just checked in today after many years away from CF and I was looking at some of my previous posts, I CANNOT believe this was 17 YEARS ago... Man how the time flies... Any old timers here? God bless you all...

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Is this the same screen name you had back then? I think I remember you. I was Didaskalos at the time and did a stint as a mod at that time.
That was a long time ago. I am 69 and am approaching 1/3 of my life on CF.
Welcome back!

 

[PastorMike]

Is this the same screen name you had back then? I think I remember you. I was Didaskalos at the time and did a stint as a mod at that time.
That was a long time ago. I am 69 and am approaching 1/3 of my life on CF.
Welcome back!

Yeah I was PreacherMike back then, then I planted my church in Newry and changed my name to PastorMike.

 

[hhodgson]

I just checked in today after many years away from CF and I was looking at some of my previous posts, I CANNOT believe this was 17 YEARS ago... Man how the time flies... Any old timers here? God bless you all...

Wow! Pastor Mike... Man it's good to see you again. We really missed you AND so many others. Since our time on earth is very short, we hope you will... (along with the others) return back to us and get some good bible teaching back into our forum. This forum has suffered drought for several years. Been praying that many of our old Word of faith friends return. We know that some have passed on to glory and we long to meet them in person. Myself, Dids and nowfaith have hung in here currently up to the present day. I can say for sure that we all love you guys and it would be awesome if we could all return and start a new reunion of fellowship together before Jesus returns.

Thank you Mike for all of your good teaching and sharing of the WORD to us over the years. I will add my favorite Christian music video for your enjoyment and whoever else is tuned in. Love ya man!

(Enjoy the Song)

 

[PastorMike]

Hey bud, thanks for the welcome... it's been a while...

 

[tturt]

yes, thank you.

Reminds me of the Scriptures that state "Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in." I Kings 3