Is God Punishing Me?

Week 9

October 16, 2016 Rev. Tom Boeck, Associate Pastor

John 9:2 (NIV) “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

It was common in biblical times to think that someone who was

experiencing hard times was being _________________ by God.

Romans 3:23 (NIV) “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of

God.”

The Lower Story is how she released her daughters-in-law, Orpah and

Ruth, to go back to their father’s houses, so they could hopefully find

a new husband and have a _________ again.

The ______________ of human life in the face of tragedy sees two

grieving women holding on to each other, hoping to figure it all out.

In the Upper Story, we see how God used Naomi’s trials to direct her

back to her home, where her loyal, godly, Gentile daughter-in-law,

Ruth, could be _____________ in to the lineage of the messiah

through a relative-a kinsman-redeemer, thus ensuring the

___________ of salvation for all of mankind: Jew and Gentile!

 The Story at page 127. Ruth 4:13-17 (NIV) “13 So Boaz took Ruth

and she became his wife. When he made love to her,

the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.14 The

women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not

left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous

throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your

old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better

to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for

him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they

named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

John 9:3 (NIV) 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said

Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be dis-

played in him.”

In Our Story, the challenges or rebukes of God are intended by our

loving God, to bring us into His __________ for our lives.

Hebrews 11:4-12 (NIV) 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not

yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you

completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses

you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.

For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you

are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you

are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover,

we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.

How much more should we submit to the Father of

spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they

thought best; but God disciplines us for our

good, in order that we may share in his

holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time,

but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace  for those who have been trained by it.

We will endure ________________ in this life, but God will give us

the strength to _________________.

Psalm 116:1-2; 5-6 (NIV)

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

5The Lord is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

6 The Lord protects the unwary;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

Call on the Lord and _____________ for His compassion in your life.

He (God) ______________ you, more than you’ll ever know!