ARISE! THERE IS A NEW DAY DAWNING!

Pastor Bill Marks, Christian Fellowship, Potchefstroom, (018) 293 1608 or 079 311 6515 During the days when the Judges ruled Israel, famine struck Bethlehem. Due to the famine, Elimelech decided to leave with his wife and two sons on a journey to the eastern side of the Dead Sea Valley, to the country of Moab. He had decided to leave of his own accord, and so often in life we make choices without hearing from God, which brings "Self-inflicted Circumstances" (famines) upon ourselves! The famine was not intended or initiated by God, but by the people themselves, for the Lord had previously warned them that the land would turn against them if they were unfaithful to Him. Deut. 28:15 - "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you …" Deut. 28:24 - "The Lord will change the rain of your land to powder and dust; from the heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed." But let us proceed with Elimelech's history. Ruth 1:3-5 - "Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband." Naomi had not only faced natural famine in her own country, but was now facing personal famine in her own life. After living in Moab for ten years, her husband died as well as her two sons (Mahlon: which means "sickly" and Chilion: meaning "pining", "wasting disease"). Ruth 1:6 - "Then she AROSE with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread." We need to change our mindset when we are experiencing a famine in our lives. We need to repent! Repentance is a decision that results in a change of mind, which then leads to a change of purpose, and of action. Ruth 1: 7 - "Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.” Naomi AROSE! And as she began to act in the natural and went back to Bethlehem, A NEW DAY was beginning to dawn for her in the spiritual realm. Ruth 1: 11 - "But Naomi said, 'Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me?'…" We see Naomi giving both her daughters-in-law a choice to return to their mother's house. (Naomi's name means: "pleasant" and "trusting"). Ruth 1:16, 17 - "But Ruth said: 'Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.'" Ruth not only trusted in Naomi, but also in the nature of Yahweh (the Lord). Ruth 1:19,20 - "Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said 'Is this Naomi?' But she said to them, 'Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.'" Because of past circumstances Naomi was feeling embitterment towards God. When we feel bitter, people will observe it in our conversations, deeds and attitudes. Even our physical health will deteriorate. Bitterness also builds up walls of isolation, fear and distrust. FORGIVENESS is the key to overcome bitterness. Whatever "famine" you may be going through, remember the Father loves you! Today you too can also experience A NEW DAY DAWNING in your life if you will ARISE and say like the prodigal son: I am going back to my Father's House where there is BREAD. For JESUS is the BREAD of LIFE! Arise, have a change of mind and experience a breakthrough in your life! Sponsored by: TG TRADERS