November 27, 2005 pm    Hopeful    A Fount of Hope Ruth 1

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

OPENING: While hunting, Larry and Elmer got lost in the woods. Trying to reassure his friend, Larry said, "Don’t worry. All we have to do is shoot into the air 3 times, stay where we are, and someone will find us."
They shot in the air 3 times, but no one came. After a while, they tried again. Still no response. When they decided to try once more, Elmer said, "I hope it works this time. We’re down to our last 3 arrows."

APPLICATION: Larry and Elmer were putting their hope in the advice of others, even though they didn’t understand that that advice didn’t apply to shooting arrows.

People in difficult circumstances often rely on advice of
· friends
· neighbors
· and experts
Just like Larry & Elmer, they will listen to others, placing their hope in the wisdom and experience of those they trust.

Hope is vital - in fact it’s critical - for our every day survival in life.

God understands that. That’s why, in Romans 15:4 we’re told: "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have HOPE."

Scripture text:  Ruth 1:11 (NIV) But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me--even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons-- 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!" 14 At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her. 15 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

The Disaster: (no hope)  A Hopeless situation.  V. 11-13  No hope.  No one to hold.  No one to look to.  It seems that God has gone.

Desperation: (no Future)  Go back.  V.14-15  No hope for you.  Go Back. 

Decision: (Where is the hope?)  Go back to the old gods or believe in the new.  What will we trust in today?  We will put our faith and trust in the old gods of the world for our

Determination: (Go with Hope)  I will go to where there is hope.  commitment to go with the Lord and his people. 

Declaration: (I have hope with the Lord!) What will we declare?  What have we declared? 

There is hope where you go, so I will go.

There is hope where you stay, so I will stay with you.

There is hope with your people, so your people will be my people. 

There is hope with your God, so your God will be my God. 

There is hope where you die, so there will I die. 

Desire:  (I have hope with you!)  Naomi had become Ruth’s hope.  Also, Ruth had become Naomi’s hope. 

Design of Hope: (Hope Streams forth)  The fount of Hope comes forth from the people of God.  God’s hope is given from us to the others in our lives.  They are looking for something or someone to believe in.  With the Lord there is hope.