Ruth 1:15-18. “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 even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
Today is a significant day to receive great answers through God’s Word. As we reflect on Scripture, it becomes clear that Satan’s deception is not a vague threat but a pervasive reality influencing individuals, families, and entire nations.
The Bible warns us about the reality of Nephilim, those under demonic influence. In America, organizations rooted in secularism dominate. In Japan, ancestral worship through Shinto shrines holds deep sway. In Korea, shamanistic practices, such as fortune-telling and ritual ceremonies, still grip countless lives. Many seek help from shamans, and though fortunes may seem accurate, their purpose is deception and destruction. A woman, desperate for help, was told by a fortune-teller to perform rituals. Eventually, she was led deeper into bondage — her family plagued by mental illness, epilepsy, even suicide. This story is not rare; spiritual problems are deeply rooted in many cultures.
John 8:44 says, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning… he is a liar and the father of lies.” Jesus spoke these words to the religious leaders of His time. No matter how accurate demonic revelations may seem, they are lies whose ultimate purpose is destruction. First Corinthians 10:20 makes it clear: “What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God.” Idolatry, shamanism, and spiritualism may appear cultural or harmless, but Scripture tells us they are dealings with demons.
Satan deceives through 12 strategies. First, in Genesis 3, he says, “You will be like God.” It is the lie of self-deification — you can be your own god. Second, in Genesis 6, the Nephilim gained power but ultimately faced ruin. Power without God leads only to destruction. Third, in Genesis 11, the Tower of Babel symbolizes the human pursuit of success without God — and it, too, fell.
When people despair, they often turn to mysticism: consulting shamans (Acts 13), demon-possessed fortune-tellers (Acts 16), or building grand temples to false gods (Acts 19). Yet, the result is always deeper bondage. Those trapped in this deception experience six states: 1) Satan becomes their master, 2) idolatry takes root, 3) mental illness follows, 4) physical suffering occurs, 5) their children inherit the curse, and 6) ultimately, they face eternal separation from God in hell.
We see the story of Naomi and Ruth. Naomi’s family left Israel during a famine and settled in Moab, a land known for idol worship. There, Naomi’s husband and two sons died, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law widowed. In her grief, Naomi decided to return home and urged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab. Orpah complied, but Ruth made a different choice.
Ruth declared, “Your people will be my people and your God my God.” This was not a sentimental decision; it was a covenantal one. Ruth chose the God of Israel over the idols of Moab. This was her turning point.
First, Ruth trusted the God who could change her entire past. By following Naomi, she left behind her former life. Similarly, we must abandon past spiritual deceptions and declare, “The God who transforms my past is my God.” Even if spiritual attacks persist, we need not fear. Once the decision is made, no darkness can overpower us.
Second, Ruth trusted the Creator God to restore and renew her. This is not about self-effort but God’s power. Israel lived centered around the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle — symbols not of human power but of God’s presence. The key is the covenant contained within. As Scripture says, “Believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). Ruth held onto the promise by faith, and God led her forward.
Third, Ruth believed in the Eternal God who fulfills His covenant through future generations. Ruth’s marriage to Boaz was not just a personal blessing; it was part of God’s greater plan. Ruth and Boaz bore Obed, who became the father of Jesse, the father of David — the lineage from which Christ came. This shows the profound impact of one person’s covenant decision. A Moabite woman who abandoned idolatry became the great-grandmother of King David, anchoring her forever in God’s redemptive history.
This is not just an inspiring story; it is a call to action. We must escape the deceptions leading to destruction and instead raise the bartizan of the covenant — establishing a life rooted in prayer and God’s Word. We must come out of spiritual bondage, not only for ourselves but for the sake of future generations.
Today, we must remember: the true Gospel liberates people from cultural and spiritual bondage. As long as there are believers and churches faithfully proclaiming Christ, our nation and our future will not collapse. Just as Sodom and Gomorrah fell not simply because of sin but because there were no righteous people left, our generation needs those who will hold firmly to the covenant and preach the Gospel.
We must not be deceived by appearances. Temporary success or failure does not define us. God can turn even our missteps into missions. Naomi’s family left Israel for survival, but God used Ruth’s faith to restore the covenant and raise up David. God called unlikely, broken individuals like us to be His evangelists.
The true answer is the evangelism movement that blocks disasters and darkness. Material success alone cannot stop spiritual disaster. Wealth, education, and social status without God are powerless against the true enemy. Only the Gospel can rescue and restore. Thus, the greatest blessing is not worldly success but being rooted in the mission of spreading the Gospel.
In conclusion, end your past — break from it as Ruth did. Seize the covenant today. And look to the future, preparing it for the next generation. Like Ruth, let us say, “Your God will be my God,” and walk boldly into God’s plan for our lives and our descendants.
Prayer. Father God, we thank You for calling us out of darkness into Your marvelous light. Help us today to make the covenantal decision to leave behind old ways and fully follow You. May our lives be turning points not just for ourselves but for generations to come. Let us raise the watchtower of prayer and establish the flow of Your Word and evangelism in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.