                    [Times Square Church Pulpit Series]

                              Winning Christ!

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By David Wilkerson
March 29, 1989
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          "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
          knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have
          suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but
          dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8, KJV).

          Have you won the Lord's heart? The apostle Paul stated
          the purpose of renouncing his past life as this: "That
          I may win Christ." He was completely captivated by
          Christ, having eyes only for the Lord.

          Why would Paul feel the need to "win" Christ? Christ
          already had revealed Himself not just to the apostle,
          but in him. Even so, Paul set out to win Christ's heart
          and affection.

          You see, Paul's entire being - his ministry, his life,
          his very purpose for living - was focused only on
          pleasing his Master and Lord. All else was rubbish to
          him! I believe one of the reasons Paul never married
          was to give himself more time to care "for the things
          that belong to the Lord, how (I) may please the Lord"
          (1 Corinthians 7:32). and he urged others in the same
          direction, "that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto
          all pleasing" (Colossians 1:10).

          Is this scriptural - this "winning the heart of Jesus"?
          Are we not all the object of God's love, regardless?
          Indeed, His benevolent love extends to all mankind. But
          there is another kind of love - an affectionate love
          such as occurs between a husband and wife - and only a
          few ever experience it.

          This love is expressed in the Song of Solomon, with
          Solomon portrayed as a type of Christ. In this passage,
          the Lord speaks of His bride: "Thou hast ravished my
          heart...my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one
          of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is
          thy love...my spouse! How much better is thy love than
          wine!" (Song of Solomon 4:9-10). Later, He says, "Turn
          away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me"
          (6:5). His bride responds, "I am my beloved's, and his
          desire is toward me" (7:10).

          I believe the bride of Christ will consist of a holy
          people who live so pleasingly to their Lord, so
          obediently, so separated from all others, that His
          heart will be ravished. As the word is used in this
          passage, "ravish" means to "unheart" or "steal my
          heart." Christ's followers ravish His heart with one
          eye (Song of Solomon 4:9). That one eye is the
          singleness of a mind focused on Christ alone!

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                            The Example of Ruth

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          The Book of Ruth is a wonderful story of a converted
          heathen maiden who won the heart of her earthly lord. I
          believe it is a prophetic story - a message that speaks
          powerfully to us today. For we win Christ in the same
          way that Ruth won Boaz!

          When this message stirred in my heart, I searched
          throughout my library, including all the commentaries -
          but could not find a single writer who saw the
          spiritual and prophetic meaning of the Book of Ruth.
          Only one writer even suggested that, since Ruth was a
          Moabite, God may be telling us something about the
          Gentiles being grafted into the vine.

          But this story is more than just historic! Paul writes:
          "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples;
          and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the
          ends of the world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:11). Paul
          says that even the Old Testament's mention of muzzling
          oxen was written "for our sakes, no doubt" (1
          Corinthians 9:10).

          The story of Ruth begins with these words: "There was a
          famine in the land (Ruth 1:1). Thus the Israelite
          Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon
          and Chilion, flee Judah for Moab. Elimelech dies there,
          and Naomi's two sons marry heathen wives, Orpah and
          Ruth. They remain in Moab for another ten years.

          But Moab is a place of idolatry - the congregation of
          the wicked, the seat of the scornful. Moab himself,
          after whom the region was named, was born of an
          incestuous relationship between Lot and one of his
          daughters. In fact, the name "Moab" stands for
          fornication. It was he who seduced Israel at Shittim in
          the wilderness, after which 24,000 died from a plague.
          God forbade the Israelites to marry Moabite women, "for
          surely they will turn away your heart after their gods"
          (1 Kings 11:2).

          In the spirit realm, this very same thing happens when
          a famine of God's Word occurs: God's people turn toward
          the world, yield to the seduction of idolatry, and mix
          with the ungodly. This kind of famine drives believers
          elsewhere to find something to satisfy their inner
          needs.

          Christians today grow cold and backslide because they
          are not receiving true spiritual food. They go to
          church, but the cupboard is bare. The preaching they
          hear is shallow - no meat, no living water - just
          entertainment. Starvation abounds right in God's house!

          This is why our churches are being overrun with
          adultery, divorce, rock and roll, unbiblical
          psychology, a New Age gospel - with our young people
          using drugs and getting pregnant. The famine in the
          church has driven them to Moab, the place of idolatry.
          And Moab is a place where young men die! Naomi's sons
          died in Moab!

          Yet back in Judah, "The Lord had visited his people in
          giving them bread" (Ruth 1:6). The word came to Naomi
          that the famine in Judah was over - that once again God
          had visited His people with plenty of bread and
          blessings. Memories of past blessings flooded Naomi's
          soul, and she began to yearn for the holy place. She
          was sick of Moab and its idolatry and death. So "she
          arose with her daughters in law, that she might
          return...wherefore she went forth out of the place
          where she was...and they went on the way to return"
          (Ruth 1:6-7).

          Orpah and Ruth said good-bye to parents, friends, and
          family. They told their lifelong loved ones they would
          be gone for good, that they were going to Judah - a
          place where God was "visiting His people!"

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            Today, Once Again, the Lord is Visiting His People!

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          Once again a famine has ended! Here at Times Square
          Church and in other churches around the world, the pure
          Word of God is going forth. When the Lord visits His
          people, He "gives them bread."

          During this last famine of the Word, while others fled
          to today's Moab - worldliness, lethargy, coldness,
          pleasure, and success - a holy remnant persevered. They
          endured the self-exaltation of TV evangelists, the
          sordid sensuality that swept into God's house, the
          foolishness in the pulpit, and the mockery of
          backslidden Christians.

          They prayed, fasted, and interceded. And, now, the Lord
          has heard their cry and is visiting His people. Why is
          Times Square Church packed with hungry seekers? Because
          word has gotten out that God is here! People are
          hearing that a Word from God is flowing. The same is
          true in other places, as the news spreads that a
          visitation of God is taking place. The famine is over!
          God has sent bread from heaven - and if you haven't yet
          tasted it, then get out of Moab and go back where God
          is visiting His people!

          This is what Naomi and her two daughters did. Their
          departure for the border of Judah represented a move
          toward the Lord. They were being drawn by the Spirit of
          God - attracted by the news of His visitation.

          And today, in the same way, I see in the Spirit untold
          thousands heading home, back to the fullness of Christ
          - away from the hype, the emptiness of the gospel of
          ease and prosperity, the double standards and
          half-heartedness.

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                            Crossing the Border

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          Yet sadly, half of those who set out to come back to
          God will stop at the border. They won't break loose;
          they won't pay the price. I see them in this church by
          the hundreds. They start out with great fervor, and
          they claim to be hungry - but they get hung up on the
          border between Moab and Judah!

          As we see in Scripture, Orpah and Ruth reach the border
          and face a decision. Will they follow the move of God's
          grace (Naomi means "grace") over into the fullness of
          Christ? Their names give you a clue: Orpah means
          "stiffneckedness." Ruth means "friend, companion."

          A confrontation takes place at the border. Naomi
          decides to test Orpah's and Ruth's commitment and
          resolve. For them, the decision to go will require more
          than emotion, more than words. They have to choose
          either to go back or to go on - with no promise of
          reward and a clear vision of the high cost ahead.

          Rather than preaching prosperity, ease, and success,
          Naomi presents to them a picture of suffering and
          poverty - one that offers nothing of earthly goods, but
          instead, only a walk of faith. In fact, she encourages
          them to return to their own mothers' houses. "Naomi
          said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to
          her mother's house; the Lord deal kindly with you...The
          Lord grant you that ye may find rest...in the house of
          her husband" (Ruth 1:8-9).

          This indeed is the gospel of God's grace; suffering,
          self-denial - the cross. It is the gospel Christ gave
          to Saul: "For I will shew him how great things he must
          suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9:16). Paul preached,
          "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not
          only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his
          sake: (Philippians 1:29).

          Both Orpah and Ruth remain steadfast at this point:
          "They lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said
          unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy
          people" (Ruth 1:9-10). You already know from Orpah's
          name that, in spite of her river of tears, in spite of
          all her strong words about going on, she will drop out
          and go back to her idolatry. Outwardly, however, she is
          broken and tender, and seems to be part of this move
          back to God.

          But Orpah does not know how powerfully her heart is
          held in the clutches of her old circle of loved ones;
          she doesn't know that an idol remains in her soul. She
          weeps now because she is torn between two loves. She
          sincerely wants to go on, she loves the fellowship of
          these two - but she has not cut the tie to Moab!
          Beloved, tears are not enough. Naomi knows this and
          puts the two women to a final test: "Naomi said, Turn
          again, my daughters; why will ye go with me? Are there
          yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your
          husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way" (Ruth
          1:11-12).

          I believe Naomi could see into Orpah's heart, into her
          struggle. She probably thought to herself, "Poor child!
          She thinks she wants the Lord's fullness, but she is
          still charmed by this world. She would be miserable if
          she went on, because she'd always be looking back!"

          So Naomi says, "Go your way!" Orpah must have reached a
          decision in her heart after asking herself, "Is
          rejection, poverty, and separation from all I've known
          the only option? No! I'll go back to Moab and serve God
          - my way! I'll still love these precious saints, but
          I've got to get on with my life."

          The Bible says, "They lifted up their voice and wept
          again; and Orpah kissed her mother in law" (Ruth 1:14).
          An original manuscript adds to the sentence, "and went
          back."

          Some of you reading this now are about to kiss your
          brethren good-bye. Something in your heart is pulling
          you - a circle of special friends or old loves. But as
          Naomi said of Orpah, "Thy sister in law is gone back
          unto her people, and unto her gods" (Ruth 1:15),
          likewise, an idol has your heart - something from your
          past, of which you can't let go!

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                       You Must Go On - Or Go Back!

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          You have no middle ground, however. You can move in
          only one of two directions; either toward Moab or
          toward Judah. A line has been drawn, and you have a
          border to cross. From this point on in Scripture, we
          never hear of Orpah again. She fades away into the
          shadows of idolatry. She has nothing more to do with
          God's work or eternal values. Now God's great concern
          is with Ruth.

          "But Ruth clave unto her [Naomi]" (Ruth 1:14). Naomi
          tries one last time to discourage Ruth, saying in verse
          15, "Return thou after thy sister in law." In other
          words, "Quick, Ruth! If you hurry you can catch up with
          Orpah. She's on her way back - why not go with her?"
          But Ruth won't let go. The word used here suggests a
          maiden on her knees with her arms around her master's
          waist - as if she will never let go. Ruth wants God!

          She puts herself under the wings of Jehovah. She wants
          to take part in the visitation of the Lord, and only
          death can stop her. "And Ruth said, Entreat me not to
          leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for
          whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest,
          I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy
          God my God; where thou diest, will I die, and there
          will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also,
          if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that
          she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she
          left speaking unto her: (Ruth 1:16-18).

          As soon as Ruth crosses over the border, she is on the
          road to winning Christ. There is no signpost to tell
          her, but we know now where the road lead: straight to
          the heart of Jesus! Ruth and Naomi come to the place of
          blessing - poor, stripped, and not knowing where their
          next meal will come from - but they arrive during the
          beginning of the harvest season.

          Ruth is penniless, with no future in sight; yet she is
          a virtuous woman, and has committed everything to the
          Lord. She says, "Let me now go to the field, and glean"
          (Ruth 2:2). Only the very poor do such work. The Law
          demanded the owners not harvest the four corners of
          their fields and not glean the remains, so that the
          poor could have them. "And when ye reap the harvest of
          your land, thou shall not wholly reap the corners of
          thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of
          thy harvest...thou shall leave them for the poor"
          (Leviticus 19:9-10).

          It looks as if Ruth has made a poor bargain: Her
          devotion takes her all the way to the place of
          visitation - and now she sweats over a minimum-wage
          job! She is even below the poverty line. Take a good
          look at her, because this is how you may end up if you
          break loose and go all the way!

          This was the cross of the apostle Paul until he died:
          "For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to
          angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake...we
          both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are
          buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and
          labor, working with our own hands; being
          reviled...persecuted...being defamed...we are made as
          the filth of the world, and are the offscouring [we get
          the brush-off - we are considered the scum of the
          earth]" (1 Corinthians 4:9-13).

          Then this beloved apostle has the audacity to say,
          "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me" (1
          Corinthians 4:16)!

          Don't feel sorry for Ruth - for she is just about to
          win Christ! "She went...and gleaned in the field after
          the reapers; and her hap was to light on a part of the
          field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of
          Elimelech. And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and
          said unto the reapers...Whose damsel is this?" (Ruth
          2:3-5).

          Don't you think the writer of this story must have
          winked when he wrote that Ruth's "hap" was to end up in
          the field of Boaz? The New American Standard version
          says, "She happened." "Hap" means "by accident" or "by
          good fortune ". Is there any Christian who believes
          Ruth "accidentally" ended up gleaning in the field of
          Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer? This was, rather, the clear
          leading of the Holy spirit - because from the moment
          Ruth crossed the border and trusted her life to be
          protected under God's wing, she was supernaturally led.

          I picture Ruth passing many fields, some not quite as
          crowded, singing, "Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul;
          thank you, Lord, for making me whole...for giving to me
          Thy great salvation, so rich, so free...". Then
          suddenly, an urge within compels her to turn right and
          start gleaning on the north end of that particular
          field!

          About three hours later, Boaz gets inspired to check on
          the harvesting. He looks over the field and sees
          numerous young men cutting sheaves and poor maidens
          behind them gleaning. But he stops - because his eyes
          behold Ruth!

          "Whose damsel is this?" he asks. He is smitten on the
          spot, and his heart leaps for joy. Ruth is smiling,
          virtuous, so different from the others. She gleans for
          only half a day before she catches the eye of the
          master! That great man of wealth walks over to her and
          says, "Go not to glean in another field, neither go
          from hence, but abide here...by my maidens" (Ruth 2:8).

          Why does he say this? Because he is ravished by her.
          She has stolen his heart, and he has to have her near
          him. "Have I not charged the young men that they shall
          not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the
          vessels, and drink" (Ruth 2:9). Then he tells his
          harvesters, "Let fall also some of the handfuls of
          purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean
          them" (Ruth 2:16).

          What attracts Boaz to Ruth? She asks him that question
          herself: "Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that
          thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a
          stranger? And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath
          fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy
          mother in law...and how thou hast left thy father and
          thy mother, and the land of thy nativity" (Ruth
          2:10-11).

          Boaz is drawn to her because she has come to trust the
          covering wings of God!

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                When We Set Ourselves to Be Christ's Alone,
                      We Become the Apple of His Eye!

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          Are you beginning to get the picture? Ruth's Boaz is
          our Christ - our Redeemer-Kinsman. The moment you walk
          away from all loves other than Christ - letting go of
          all former idols, old friends, and old ways - is when
          the eyes of Christ fall upon you. That's when you win
          Christ! You lose the world and its fleeting glory and
          passing pleasures - but you win His eternal love and
          glory!

          When you win His heart, you win His favor. You never
          again will suffer hunger or thirst in your inner man!
          He will lead you in such incredible, miraculous ways.
          Like Ruth, who ran home to tell Naomi all the exciting
          things happening to her, you will call the family of
          God and share miracle after miracle of how God is
          supplying all your needs. You'll end up saying, "Who am
          I to be so blessed?"

          In 1958, God called me to leave my country church,
          forsake all, and step out in blind faith by coming to
          New York City to preach to street gangs and drug
          addicts. I had no promises, no visions of greatness, no
          money in my pocket. And now, I can testify - it has
          been 30 years of miracles, 30 years of supernatural
          supply. His banner over me has been love! I want only
          to win Christ!

          Here's the end of our story: Ruth marries Boaz, this
          "mighty man of wealth." "When Boaz had eaten and
          drunk...he went to lie down...and she came softly, and
          uncovered his feet, and laid her down...and he said,
          who art thou? and she answered, I am Ruth thine
          handmaid; spread therefore thy skirt over thine
          handmaid, for thou art a near kinsman. And he said,
          Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter; for thou has
          shewed more kindness...inasmuch as thou followedst not
          young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter,
          fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest;
          for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a
          virtuous woman" (Ruth 3:7-11).

          It was a custom in the Orient for servants to sleep at
          their masters' feet in perpendicular fashion, in order
          to warm them. As Boaz slept, Ruth lay down in this
          manner, fully clothed, and probably prayed.

          In these situations, it was the duty of a near
          relative, as "next of kin," to redeem his servant's
          inheritance and to remove all encumbrances. The kinsman
          would do so by taking a cloth or covering and putting
          it over the servant's shoulders, signifying, "I will be
          your covering."

          Boaz did this for Ruth, and these words were the
          clincher for her: "Inasmuch as thou followedst not
          young men, whether poor or rich." Think of what Boaz
          said: "I will do for you all that you have desired."
          Every desire of her heart would be granted because she
          was faithful - because she did not have roving eyes!
          She had not looked for wealth, success, or glamour. She
          wanted only Boaz! He was saying to her, "I can trust
          you. Your love is true. You won't leave me for others,
          no matter how attractive they are. You will be mine
          only, and I will be yours only!"

          So at the gate of Bethlehem, before ten witnesses, Boaz
          redeems Ruth's inheritance. He satisfies all claims to
          her and her possessions. "Boaz said unto the elders,
          and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day,
          that I have bought all that was...of the hand of Naomi.
          Moreover, Ruth...have I purchased to be my wife, to
          raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance,
          that the name of the dead be not cut off" (Ruth 4:9).

          This is the work of the Cross! Jesus has cleared all
          claims of the devil on us or our inheritance. We are
          now free to be espoused to Christ.

          "So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife; and when he
          went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she
          bare a son" (Ruth 4:18). His name was Obed, the
          great-grandfather of David, the seed of Christ.
          Obed...Jesse...David...Jesus!

          Did Ruth win Christ? Why, Christ became her very life!

          We win Christ today by the choices we make that are
          pleasing to him - decisions that prove our faithfulness
          to cling only to Him. So in every choice, ask yourself,
          "Will this please Him? Will it make Him say to the
          angels, 'See, my love has left all else for Me'?"

          Win Christ by abandoning yourself completely into His
          care - and resting peacefully under His wings!

          ---
          Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O.
          Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771 USA.

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