326 - The Grace of God Has Arrived#
326 - The Grace of God Has Arrived
(JP Text Group - Yun Dan Feng Qing Compilation)
Exodus 16:14-18
14 After the dew had gone up, there was on the ground a fine, flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: Each one is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent." 17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered just as much as they needed.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise You. Thank You for starting our new week of life. This is Your grace that has come upon us. What a grace it is that we are valued by You and saved by You. During this time, You lead every brother and sister who comes to seek You. You know the needs of every heart, and You provide us with food in due time. We need Your grace and need to live with Your grace. May the Holy Spirit help renew everyone's thoughts and ideas, allowing us to see Your grace, receive a life of grace, and bring forth God's glory. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.
The sharing topic is: The Grace of God Has Arrived.
Brothers and sisters, what is grace? It is something undeserved, something we should not have, yet God gives it to us freely. Grace is not based on actions; if it were, it would not be called grace. God gives it to us as a gift. What do we need to do? First, we need to see grace, then receive it with a grateful heart, and accept the grace that God gives us every day. Some may say they do not see it; in fact, we need to use our spiritual eyes to see that every day, countless graces from God come upon us, and we can receive them.
Elijah's disciple was Elisha. When God clearly intended to take Elijah back, he found Elisha and passed the mission to him. Elisha had a determination and said, "My father, can you also give me such a blessing?"
Elijah asked, "What do you want?"
He said, "I wish to have a double portion of your spirit."
Elijah replied, "I cannot do that. If you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours." When Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind, Elisha said, "My father, I see it."
When Elisha said he saw it, he had already received that grace. He had already received that power. In Jesus Christ, God has given us abundant blessings and gifts, and abundant power. We must first see it. If you see it, you can say, "Lord, I see it." God says, "You see it; this is yours." What is frightening is that in life, some have never seen God's grace. It is not that there is none; it is that your eyes have not seen it. You need to pray to God: "Lord, give me eyes like Elisha's to see Your grace. My heart is open to You, and You will let me see."
Today's text is a story about the food that God provided for the Israelites. Brothers and sisters, can you see food every day? When you see food, do you see God's grace? Some may say, "What grace is there?" Let me ask everyone a question: Do you have the habit of praying when you eat? Yes, thank the Lord. Why do we pray? Do not say it is because I am a Christian, and I must pray before eating. If it is a must, it becomes a routine and a burden. If one day you forget and remember only after eating, you might say, "Oh no, why didn't I pray?" and feel stressed. I tell you, we pray because we can see God's grace. What grace is there in eating this food?
There are friends serving in Africa. Do you know what the situation is like there? Those who have seen the news may know that it is over forty degrees Celsius, and many people die from the heat, and there is no water to drink; they drink dirty river water, along with cattle and sheep. When we are here enjoying air conditioning, asking why the sun is so hot or why it rains so much, we do not think about their lack. When we eat every day, even throwing away food, we may think it is nothing, but you need to see God's grace. In many places, there is no food to eat. Only by comparing can we realize how much God has given.
When Jesus performed the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, after five thousand men were satisfied, there were twelve baskets of leftovers, not whole ones. If it were you, would you want that? No, why? Because it was not grown through hard work; it could just be thrown away. There may be many reasons to say it could be fed to birds or wild animals...
There are many reasonable reasons, but Jesus commanded the disciples to gather the leftovers, not to waste them, because in Jesus' eyes, that was the grace of the Father. If I were one of them, I would take the leftover piece and put it in my bag to give to others as a testimony, saying: "This food was not grown; it was transformed. This is God's grace."
Let me give you a suggestion: When you have testimonies in your life, be sure to record them. When you are weak, look at these testimonies, or when you are old, look back at your testimonies, and you will marvel at how much God's grace there has been every day.
Last week during our group meeting, a sister's child had a simple herpes outbreak, with little blisters inside and outside the mouth, which was very uncomfortable. That day, I went to the sister's house very early. Just as I sat down, the child came over to hug me and then went out to play. After a while, the child came back to hug me again and brought me something to eat. That day, the reaction was particularly unusual; the child was only a little over a year old.
I saw the child's face and asked, "What happened?"
The child's mother said, "It's herpes."
Looking at the child, it seemed they were very uncomfortable.
I said, "Come here, I will pray for you."
The little child knew how to pray; do not think that a one-year-old knows nothing.
After the child came over, I laid my hands on them and prayed: "In the name of Jesus Christ, I command the herpes on your body to disappear immediately." After the prayer, I said, "Go play." The child happily went to play.
The next day, the child's mother said: "The herpes on the face completely disappeared overnight." We have seen it; the child's mother is a doctor, and with her professional knowledge, she said that even with medical treatment, simple herpes takes about two weeks. Who did this overnight? God's grace! I told the child's mother: "You must keep these two photos; they are to show you how this child experienced God's grace overnight." Not only the child, but we also experienced it. Amen!
If there were no photos, perhaps after half a month, this matter would be forgotten. When encountering problems again, one might say, "Where is the grace? God does not love me anymore." It is not like that. I hope that every day, you can see God's grace in your life. Every day, there will be grace in what you experience.
Is the food that the Israelites ate every day God's grace? But they forgot. We should not eat bland food; we want quail... They did not realize that this was the most precious thing in the world, God's grace. All food in the world comes from the ground, and animals are also earthly, but only manna is personally sent down from heaven by God. Perhaps because the Israelites often fried, boiled, and deep-fried it, they eventually got tired of it and said they did not like this food, complaining about the tasteless food...
In fact, it is not the food's problem, but their hearts have a problem. Sometimes I tell my children, if you are hungry for a day, you will think any food is delicious. Of course, I can only say that; I cannot do that. What is frightening is that in life, we overlook God's grace, thinking it is what we deserve, and as a result, we lose our grateful hearts and also lose our faith. That is the troublesome thing. Manna was the best food God prepared for the Israelites. They ate this food for forty years, and their bodies were strong; no one developed cancer after eating it, nor did anyone suffer from malnutrition. God supplied them very well every day.
Verse 16: "Gather according to the number of persons; each take an omer."
How much is an omer? Converted to liters, it is 2.2 liters, which is about the amount for an adult's meal. The texture of manna is a relatively crispy solid, similar to coriander seeds. At that time, there were many clay pots, and they kept collecting it with clay pots. In the wilderness for forty years, except for the Sabbath, manna came down every day without interruption. When it came down, the Israelites had to go and collect it. They never worried that there would be none tomorrow or that they would not have food for the next meal; they did not need to worry at all.
Jesus also told us, "Do not worry about what to eat, what to drink, or what to wear. That is what the Gentiles seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. He can supply the birds of the air, so He will surely supply you with food, drink, and clothing. You need to see these issues with spiritual eyes." In fact, eighty percent of the worries in life do not happen. Yet we live in worry, even worrying about many things that have not happened. At this time, we are pushing our minds to the extreme, especially when two people are not getting along; they will think of countless chaotic things.
The Israelites ate the best food but lacked a grateful heart. 2.2 liters is an ancient measuring vessel, and this calculation was quite accurate. No matter what vessel it was, it was the same. God's grace for them was to let them see God's provision. The Israelites' time is different from ours; they entered the next day after six o'clock in the afternoon.
According to the current time, on Saturday morning, they could gather two portions, leave it overnight, and it would not spoil the next day. If they thought this was ordinary food, try leaving it out at other times, and it would spoil. But on this day, it did not spoil. Did this not show them God's grace?
If you say it is God who wants us to gather, we must save time... that is wrong. God could have let you gather; it would not take much time because the Israelites in the wilderness were worshiping God and not doing much work. They could have gone out to gather on the Sabbath, but God said it was not necessary. I want you to rest on the Sabbath; your body needs to rest, and labor must stop so that you can see My grace. Therefore, on that day, manna could be kept until the next day, just as fresh as the first day. Hallelujah! Is this not God's grace? Every day they experienced it, but their spiritual eyes did not see it, and they often complained, "God, why do You treat us this way? We have no water to drink; this place is too hot..." If it were not for the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, they would have all died.
Brothers and sisters, we need to see with spiritual eyes that God's grace has already arrived. Hallelujah! This is God's grace; God is providing for them in due time. When God prepared all this, what were the Israelites supposed to do? The scripture we just read:
Exodus 16:21-22
21 Each morning they gathered as much as each needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person.
What do we see from this passage? What time did they gather the manna? Before the sun came up. If we are under grace and do nothing, thinking that food will fall from the sky, or money will drop from the sky, does that fit? This person's thinking is: "God, I know You have already sent down manna; You have sent down abundant manna around my tent. I believe I have received it. Now I will start laying hands on the jar, saying, 'Manna, come out...' If nothing comes out, I start to condemn myself, saying, 'Oh, my faith is too small...'
Is it like this? Where is the problem? Many Christians say: "Lord, why don't You let my finances turn around supernaturally?" It can be supernatural, but if you do not want to work starting tomorrow, how many times did Jesus perform the miracle of the five loaves and two fish? Twice. Why did He not perform more miracles every day during the three and a half years? If He did, would He lack disciples? Why did He not do it? If it became a lifestyle, it would turn into laziness. In urgent situations, God can supernaturally manifest His power, but now we are talking about life. You cannot lay hands on the jar every day, saying, "Manna, come out..." Now you need to change your thinking; it is not about living in the supernatural every day. Some people with special gifts expect this, but it is not like that every day.
In the Old Testament, Elijah and Elisha performed many miracles, but they were not in the supernatural every day. They believed God was a supernatural God, but their lives were similar to ours. For example, after Elijah performed the miracle of rain, God took him up, and he returned faster than Ahab. Why does the Bible not say Elijah was always that fast? From then on, he did not need to walk or ride a donkey; he could just go wherever he wanted... It only recorded that one time. At other times, he walked like us. He walked to the juniper tree and took forty days to reach God's mountain, proving that his feet did not have any special function. This is life.
Many people confuse life with the supernatural, saying: "Lord, why can't I have faith to see that?" You are living in life. In life, God gives you His word, and you receive His grace according to His word; that is enough. Every day He has provision. Amen! Every morning, gather according to your personal meal portion. God's grace has already arrived; what you need to do is gather, and there is a time limit. You need to be diligent. If you sleep until the sun rises, enjoying your sleep, will you go to gather manna? No matter how great your faith is, you will not see it because the time has passed.
Countless people have tried this: on Sunday gatherings and at other times, God will make up for my business. This requires faith to receive. Many people say, "If I work one more day, I will surely reap." But with God, it is not like that. With God, everything that should be received is given to you, and on Sunday, you must rest. Which way do you choose to live? One way is to never give yourself rest time, working like crazy, thinking that as long as you work hard enough, you will surely get more; or do you follow God's way, working diligently at other times, believing that the seventh day is a day of rest, not only for your soul but also for your body? Everyone has their own habits; I hope your habits are connected with God.
The first point of sharing: God has prepared all abundant blessings; you need to believe correctly and receive correctly.
Ephesians 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
Is this a fact? Has this been accomplished? It has been accomplished. Our Lord Jesus Christ's Father has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. When did this happen? When Jesus was on the cross. When Jesus was on the cross, all spiritual blessings were already given to you. Where do you go to receive these blessings? We used to sing a song: "If you want to receive it, it is in Jesus Christ." If you want to receive these blessings, it is in Jesus Christ.
Think about it, what does manna symbolize? Jesus! He personally tells us, "I am the bread of life that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever eats the bread I give them will live forever." Many people say, "If this food were available for sale now, how great it would be." It is no longer needed; God has given you something better, which is Jesus Christ! Some say, "Where can I eat Jesus?" Whatever you can think of, God has already prepared it. God has prepared blessings for you; you only need to come and receive them. To receive correctly means to follow what God has said; He has already prepared these blessings, and they were prepared before the foundation of the world to be given to you in Christ. When you realize it and see it, you can receive it.
Some ask: "Why do we receive communion once a week? Can it be once a year?" Yes, some take it once a month, and some once a year. You can take it once every ten years; I have no problem with that. But I hope everyone receives it every day. This is the content of Acts chapter two. Why was the early church so revived? Why did so many miracles happen? Because every day their focus was on Jesus, just like the Israelites in the wilderness, gathering manna every day. Amen! Do you want that? There are countless testimonies that appear when receiving communion every day. Hallelujah!
What is this? Manna! The name of manna means: "What is this?" When receiving it, you should ask yourself, "What is this?" If your body has a disease, you say: "This is healing." OK, that is yours. Hallelujah! If you are very sad, I ask you, "What is this?" You say it is joy. OK, then that is yours. The meaning of manna is: "What is this?" God's name is very elegant. When the meeting ends and we distribute communion, I will ask you: "What is this?" You should not answer that it is communion; you should say to yourself: "Lord, I have a tumor in my body; this is the thing that destroys the tumor." OK, you already have the answer.
God sent down manna for them, and there was no fixed way for them to eat it; they did not have to eat it raw. No! They could eat it however they needed; manna could supply everything your body needs! It is all in Christ. Think about it, everything you need, what is beyond Christ? He has already prepared it for you. Since He has prepared it, you must first believe and then receive it back. What does it mean to gather before the sun comes up?
Morning is very important; what you do in the morning will affect the outcome of your day. Do you believe that? In the morning, you can tell yourself: "This is a beautiful day, a day full of God's blessings. God has prepared abundant blessings for me; everything I touch will be blessed."
You can also say: "Why is it bright again? I have to see that awful boss again; I have to meet that awful colleague again... Today this car will definitely not go smoothly..." Think about what your day will be like. You need to receive manna with a heart to receive God's grace! Hallelujah! God has already prepared it.
Colossians 2:9-10
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
In Jesus Christ, there are so many abundant blessings. I also want to tell you one more thing: not only are there abundant blessings, but they are also the best. God not only has abundant spiritual blessings but also the best. I have told you before that the purity of gold reaches 99.999... but it is not completely pure. In the new heaven and new earth, the New Jerusalem we will go to, God says the streets are paved with pure gold, and when the purity of pure gold reaches 100%, it becomes transparent. You have never seen that, because people today cannot do that. The best is in Jesus Christ.
Do not throw away the best and pick up the second best. You already know where the best is. Amen! Just come and receive it. We have received abundance in Him. Are you in Jesus Christ now? How did you get in? By believing in Jesus, you are already in Christ. You are already qualified to receive these abundant blessings. We need to live practically every day, just like the Israelites. You can have faith, but in the morning, you need to go gather manna; these are two different things.
I hope everyone, after getting up every day, pays attention to our WeChat public account - "Reigning in Life," to see, listen to the morning devotion, and look at God's words. This day will be different. Develop the habit, just like the Israelites gathering manna every day. Even if the enemy steals, you will not lack. Even if God's blessings are abundant, you will not be proud. Because you focus on Jesus every day, focusing on His provision. Isn't this manna wonderful? Those who gathered more did not have too much, and those who gathered less did not have too little. What is going on? One measure is the same; it is God's grace! Hallelujah! Greedy people cannot survive here; they will fall into the ground.
John 10:9-11
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
In this passage, Jesus tells us that He is the gate. What gate? The gate of salvation, the gate that allows you to be full. When doing business, do you want to find a way in? When doing things, do you want to find a way? Jesus says, "I am the gate; come to me." Does He have wisdom? Does He have power? You think successful people in the world are very successful, but Jesus is the most successful; there are many wealthy people in the world, but Jesus is the richest; many people understand health, but Jesus is health; some people are very joyful every day, but Jesus is joy. What else do you want to say? You have already found the best; now just go and receive it. Amen!
Jesus says, "I am the gate; just go in." Do not say, "I need to admire this gate; it is brown, and the doorknob does not look that good..." This is where the problem arises. Today you come to see the abundance of Jesus; do not come and then say, "Why are there two lights on? What a waste of electricity! Who scratched something on the door..." You have lost focus. When you come, it is to enter into Christ Jesus. Whoever enters through me will be saved; as long as you enter, you are saved, and you will come in and go out to find pasture. The sheep have no other thoughts; when they go in and see grass, they eat.
Are we like that? Do not say that believing in Jesus makes you noble. Many people like to sing high notes, saying: "We should not always focus on the earth; we should seek heavenly things..." This is correct, but is your daily life on earth or in heaven? It is on earth, practically, eating and drinking are all on earth, but what you look up to is in heaven. Live a grounded life; do not make it seem like believing in Jesus makes you an otherworldly person. That is not the case. Jesus came to the world and lived like a normal person. Although He is God, He did not float around on clouds every day.
Many people hope to live like that. Do not do that; you are a sheep, so you should eat grass. We are Christians, asking for health and abundance every day, encountering good things. Is that okay? Yes, because we are sheep. Is there anything wrong with eating some grass?
Someone said: "Teacher, can I pray for my finances?"
I said: "Why not? You can completely do that."
He said: "But if I pray like this, others will say I am worldly."
I said: "Let them say what they want."
You are clearly a sheep, and there is a pile of fresh grass in front of you. You say: "Lord, can I eat? But if I eat, others will say I am not a pious sheep." What should you do? Eat! Many people experience God's grace after eating and start to turn around because the grass is what God has prepared for you. If you eat, you will gain strength; if you do not eat, you will have no strength to be pious.
Last week, a sister gave a testimony that her mother went to the hospital for a check-up, and the disease supernaturally disappeared, saving her thousands. Since then, her mother has been sharing the gospel with relatives, very enthusiastically. Did she eat grass? She ate the grass of healing; she is a sheep who ate the grass of healing, and the disease disappeared. She said, "You do not know how good this grass is." This is giving a testimony.
Jesus said: "Whoever enters through me will be saved, and they will come in and go out to find pasture." Going in to eat grass and coming out to give testimony. It does not mean you come out of the gate of salvation; you are now in church eating grass and going out to give testimony. About two months ago, there was an elderly sister here with lung cancer. At that time, we prayed for her twice. The first time, her brother brought her; she took nearly an hour to climb five floors, resting after each floor because her body was very weak and lacked strength. After the meeting, we prayed for her together, and at that moment, she felt healed by God. Later, she testified that she was healed by God. Last week, when she returned to her hometown, she spent seven thousand yuan for a recheck, and the doctor said there were no cancer cells in her body. In church, she testified that she was healed by God. This time, she used facts to tell them that God had completely healed her. One check required more than six thousand yuan, but that instrument is very accurate. It can detect even a tiny cancer cell, and there was none. Is this a miracle? You have seen it with your own eyes. Yesterday, I went to her brother's place.
Her brother testified: "My sister was really healed by God."
I said: "Then let us share with our brothers and sisters how your sister received healing."
He said: "My sister is far from the church; she has only come twice. One thing is different; after she came the first time, we prayed for her, and after that, she kept listening to the word every day."
In the past ten years, I have seen countless people healed, and they all have a common point: they keep listening to the word. You know, I preach to exalt Jesus Christ. I know that relying on my eloquence cannot bring you prosperity. But what I preach about Jesus, if you accept it and receive the words of Jesus, you can receive abundance. It can produce testimonies. Believe that the Jesus I preach has this power. Some people keep listening to the word, are willing to read the Bible, are willing to pray, and are particularly looking forward to gatherings. I believe this is the work of the Holy Spirit. Various testimonies, healings, and turnarounds have appeared in their lives. It fulfills the promise: "He is the gate; whoever enters through Him will be saved and will come in and go out to find pasture." Because the purpose of Jesus coming is to give life to the sheep and to have it abundantly.
This refers to two kinds of life: one is salvation; the second is abundant life. Many Christians are only saved, which is a pity. They should continue to receive abundant life. Abundant life means: knowing that God has already sent down grace, and then you go to receive it; you are abundant. Amen! Gather according to your meal portion, just like receiving manna.
When Jesus distributed the five loaves and two fish, He had already prepared grace. When it comes to you, how many loaves do you want to eat? If you are too shy to ask for more and only take half, then that is yours; you can only receive half. If you ask for five, you will get five. God's grace has already been prepared; the abundance depends on your belief in Him. Then receive it; do not receive less, but receive more. You will see more grace appear. Therefore, Jesus said: "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Please remember, brothers and sisters, Jesus loves you! He loves you specially! He is willing to give you His abundance; you just need to receive it. Just like continuously eating grass, your body will continuously change. Amen!
Psalm 34:4-10
4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him! 9 Fear the Lord, you His holy people, for those who fear Him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Reflect on this passage when you go back. If you believe this word is for you, hold on to this word and seek Him in everything. If God says: "Dear people, from Monday to Saturday, I will send down manna around your camp; you need to gather before the sun comes up, according to your meal portion. Those who can eat more should gather more, and those who can eat less should gather less. Go and receive this grace." The people say Amen, and then those who should sleep go to sleep; they will get nothing. Knowing God's word does not mean you can receive!
I have always told everyone that you are not here to learn about grace or Bible knowledge; you are here to receive life. I hope this word can produce power in your life. For example, if your child is sick, you stretch out your hand and declare in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that the child is healthy, and the disease leaves the child now! You are speaking in faith! Amen! Many people do not dare to speak, saying that it is God's will. If God does not heal, how can I dare to say it... God has already spoken this grace word; you are just repeating God's promise.
For those in business, in the morning, declare in the name of Jesus Christ to bless today's business. Whether it is duck neck or something else, you can declare in the name of the Lord Jesus that the taste will be better. Let those who eat it enjoy this flavor. This becomes alive. Otherwise, you say the five loaves and two fish are already cooked; how can there be life? But Jesus gave it life, and five thousand people were satisfied. This represents that there is life inside. Amen! Our concepts need to change. When picking up manna, do not think it is dead; it is alive. Every day is alive. See God's grace and receive it.
The second point of sharing: Rest and Action.
What is rest? I remember someone said that rest is sleeping. Then God could just say to sleep; why say rest? People have misused the term. When do people say rest? It is in front of a rectangular box, saying to rest. We are not like that. When we enter into Jesus, we are in rest. Rest is not dying, nor is it doing nothing, and it is certainly not sleeping. Rest means you see that God has accomplished things and then go to work with that power. First, you must see that Jesus has completed the work on the cross and say: "Lord, I know You have prepared it; I will rest." It refers to peace and stability in the heart. Hallelujah!
Many times, when people encounter problems, they become anxious and lose their rest. It is not that I speak of rest, and you have rest; it is that you see God's grace has already arrived, and then you have rest. Just like a little child who is hungry, crying and fussing, when the mother gives him milk, he immediately rests. Seeing the provision brings rest. You need to see that God's grace has already arrived. Rest is doing things with a victorious heart from God. Please remember, it is doing things with a victorious heart; you are at rest. We are not resting in the midst of work; we are working in rest.
Have you heard the difference? Some think that earning enough money is happiness; that is wrong. Because you are blessed, you can earn enough money. Some think that improving their appearance will make many people like them; that is wrong. Many people like you, and then you have a good appearance. Some say this is not quite right. You see a wife is beautiful; it is because the husband gives her much love. A wife who does not want to wear makeup can still be beautiful. A couple who fights every day, even with the best cosmetics, their faces will not shine. True strength and glory come from within. When there is rest inside, peace and joy will naturally shine outside. That kind of joy cannot be blocked by anyone. Knowing that God is pleased with you and has prepared everything for you, go and receive it.
Let me tell a story. This woman is named Ruth. Have you read the Book of Ruth? Let me briefly share the background of the Book of Ruth. At that time, there was a family of Jews from Bethlehem. That year, there was a famine in Bethlehem, so this family moved to Moab, a foreign land. From a symbolic perspective, it is like coming out of the original church and returning to the world. They stayed in the foreign land for ten years and married wives; both sons married wives. After ten years, only three women were left in the family; all the men had died. In that era, if the men in the family died, the women were in a very tragic situation. The daughters-in-law were still young, and the mother-in-law did not want to burden them, so she let them return to their own places to remarry. The mother-in-law wanted to return to her hometown, and whatever life she could live there, she would live. They had no hope left. But Ruth said, "Do not 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."
You should also believe this. The God of Abraham is your God; the God of Isaac is your God; the God who can bless Peter and Paul is your God. Just think like this, and it will be easier.
Ruth followed her mother-in-law back to her hometown—Bethlehem. When they returned, it was just the time for the barley harvest, the season of reaping. After returning, what would they do for a living? Just like Naomi said, her God is the God who created heaven and earth, who can say a lot, but what to do with the family in this situation? Many people easily become discouraged under this gap. Life must continue; Naomi cannot say, "Ruth, you figure it out; I will pray first, and then fast for forty days..." You cannot fast all the time. Ruth suggested going to glean in the fields. Is this not a way of living? If someone is too spiritual, they might say: "Isn't this not believing in God's provision?" Wrong! This is precisely believing in God's provision! You are going to receive. Amen!
Did Israel have such a rule in the Old Testament? God told the Israelites, "When you harvest your fields, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner." Ruth did what was in accordance with God's will. She knew there was grace here, and it was not excessive to receive this grace. You know, many blessings in Jesus Christ are for you. Is it excessive to go and receive? Others may say you are worldly; let them say what they want. I want to receive this; this is what God has given me. Why not? I see it; I see God's grace. Amen!
Ruth 2:2-3
2 Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and glean among the ears of grain behind someone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go, my daughter." 3 So Ruth went out, entered a field, and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
What do I want to tell you now? Believe that God's grace has already been prepared, and when you act, it just happens... Is there really such a coincidence? I once wrote a long paper called "There Are No Accidents in This World." You think what happens by chance is inevitable. Is our meeting today by chance? Wrong, it is inevitable! God led us to know each other. Hallelujah! Although Ruth arrived here with her mother-in-law, her mother-in-law was not as good as her, but Ruth did not look down on her mother-in-law. Before doing anything, she sought her mother-in-law's consent, saying, "Please allow me to go." The mother-in-law said, "Go ahead."
At this moment, grace arrived. Ruth went, and do you think Ruth would say, "Whose field is this? I need to check the ancestry of the owner." Did she do that? No, she just believed in her mother-in-law's God and believed that God would guide her steps. Perhaps she prayed as she walked, and just happened to arrive at this field. Therefore, the word "just happened" appears many times in the Book of Ruth. I want to tell you, this is God's grace. And Ruth saw God's grace. When she acted, grace came upon her.
Ruth 2:8-10
8 Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my female servants. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you, and whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled." 10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?"
She encountered a good person! If it were an unbeliever, they would say she encountered a good person. How could there be such a good thing? That is God's grace. Do not hope everyone says, "I met a good person today." Wrong! That is God's grace. Suddenly, a big client comes to find you, and you say, "How lucky!" Wrong! That is God's grace!
Ruth bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?"
Did she know this was grace? In fact, Ruth experienced what it means: "Those who take refuge in the Lord will not be put to shame!" Perhaps her mother-in-law had told her before, but the mother-in-law had not experienced it herself. The daughter-in-law experienced it. Do you also hope to experience this? Then first believe that His grace has already arrived, and then take steps forward. As you walk, you will see God's grace. Boaz said, "Do not go to another field; just follow me." The meaning is that I have plenty of fields, and perhaps others will bully her. Boaz wanted to tell Ruth that others might bully her, but just follow me.
This is grace.
Ruth 2:12, "May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."
Boaz is Boaz; why is he a wealthy man? There is a reason. First, he is filled with faith and grace. He treats a woman he does not know, who is gleaning, with such kindness. The disparity between their identities is vast. In today's society, a billionaire would not even glance at a person on the street. How does he speak to Ruth? "May the Lord repay you for what you have done." What does this mean? It tells Ruth not to worry about the future. You are now gleaning, but God will reward you for what you are doing now. You will gather a lot of grain, and you and your mother-in-law will live well. It tells Ruth not to worry.
Today, you rely on God in specific matters; do not worry! God will reward you for what you are doing. God has long prepared it. You come to take refuge under the wings of the Lord God of Israel; may you be richly rewarded by Him. This means He will give you many blessings, and you will experience His grace and be very grateful to Him.
Ruth 2:17, "So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah."
How much is an ephah? You know? It is about ten days' worth of supply, roughly 44 liters. Manna is 2.2 liters. In one day, she gathered 44 liters, enough for them to eat for ten days or half a month. That is a lot! Have you ever gleaned? You cannot gather much in a day. When I was very young, I went out with my mother to glean, and we could not gather much. But Ruth gathered 44 liters in one day, which is impressive. We think Ruth was too lucky. Let us see what made her have such a great harvest.
Ruth 2:15-16
15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, "Let her gather among the sheaves and don't reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her."
Ruth gathered so much grain in one day that she was probably very happy and told her mother-in-law, "This is amazing! Truly, those who take refuge in the Lord will not be put to shame..." She probably said a lot, and her mother-in-law was also very happy. In reality, it was God's preparation. Let us be grounded; Boaz symbolizes the heavenly Jesus Christ. Jesus knows your situation on earth. Sometimes Peter is very proud, saying, "I can do this," and Jesus says, "You first do this. Although your ability is great, do this well, and you will be better." Jesus said to the rich young ruler, "You are doing well; if you can sell your possessions and follow me, you will have treasures in heaven..."
Do you see? Our Lord Jesus is very considerate of us. He did not say, "You can take grain from the bundles; I am a wealthy man..." This would hurt Ruth's pride and take away her only self-esteem. Do you know how much our God cares for you? But sometimes we say, "I can do this; I can do that..." Wrong! That is what God has left for you. When Boaz said these words to his servants, did Ruth know? No, she did not. So, when you receive such great blessings every day, is it the result of your hard work? No! That is what God has left for you. Amen!
The servants really did this. They saw her gleaning behind them and secretly dropped some stalks on the ground. Perhaps Ruth would say, "How come there are so many left?" She thought it was God's grace; in fact, it was Boaz's special care for her. Do you know that Jesus has special care for you? Do not say your business is big; it is the result of your hard work. That is the grain God has left for you to glean. Do you think you made your business so big? Is your position high because of your effort? No! It is God who has lifted you up. Hallelujah! So see God's grace, rest, and take action.
That heavenly Boaz is doing the same for you today. He treats us well and is especially willing to leave blessings for us to pick up. The key is to pick up! Otherwise, even if Boaz leaves many stalks of grain, if Ruth does not work, how can she receive? First, Ruth is a diligent person, and second, God left blessings for her. She received them and got them. Today, your life will change like this. Believe that God's grace has already arrived; go and pick it up. You will see God's grace. God will leave these stalks of grain for you to glean every day. You are here to pick up these blessings. It seems these things happen naturally, but they are the grace God has left for us.
Let us look at the last few verses, and we will conclude.
Proverbs 3:5-10
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank You and praise You. I am willing to trust in You wholeheartedly, not relying on my own understanding. I believe Your grace has already arrived, and You have left these stalks of grain for me to pick up. I experience Your grace practically every day, living out Your grace. In everything, I am willing to acknowledge You, believing You will guide my path, just like Ruth just happened to arrive in Boaz's field, and Boaz was particularly willing to take care of her. I believe that every person or thing I encounter every day is not by chance; it is You allowing me to encounter grace. I am willing to face those around me with a joyful and grateful heart, believing You will turn all things around for my benefit. Thank You and praise You; You are my Lord, You are my provider. I express my gratitude to You, believing Your grace has already arrived. I am willing to be a channel of grace. I go in to eat grass and come out to be a beautiful testimony. Thank You for preparing such abundant provision today. All glory be to You. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!