Covering

Several years ago, I used to hear a lot of pastors or preachers talk about covering or being under authority. As God was training me, I did not fully realize what this had meant until HE had me open HIS church.

Ruth 3:1-4 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to Ruth, My daughter, shall I not seek rest or a home for you, that you may prosper. 2 And now is not Boaz, with whose maidens you were, our relative? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.3 Wash and anoint yourself therefore, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.4 But when he lies down, notice the place where he lies; then go and uncover his feet and lie down. And he will tell you what to do.

Boaz is a type of Christ who is the redeemer for Ruth. The threshing floor is the alter or church. God told King David to erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite (2 Sam 24:18). When I say church, I do not mean organized religion. It can be in a building. It can be in a home or in a meeting room. We, the believers, is the church but more importantly to be determine are authority and anointing. The anointing marks the authority on a person to preach, teach, and deliver God's power. If there is no anointing, then the person has no business preaching or teaching. Perhaps, they need to spend more time with God before stepping into their calling.  Many have gone ahead of God. But it is in the church or altar in which God may crush and winnow His people to repentance and brokenness. It is the threshing floor in which the grains are crushed. 

Verse three says we are to wash and anoint ourselves going in our best clothes. This does not mean we have to wear a suit and a tie but that is not a bad thing either. But we must go with the right motivation and condition of our heart. We must prepare washing ourselves with the Word of God and anointing through prayer and meditation in HIM. 

When Boaz had laid down, the instructions to Ruth was to uncover his feet and lie beside him. What did this mean? I read where in Jewish tradition, Ruth would had laid down horizontally to Boaz. This would have symbolized the cross. But why did she had to uncover his feet. The garment represented authority and rank. Just as in the military, the stripes or symbols on one's shoulder or arms represented rank and authority. Ruth was basically asking Boaz to take her under his authority and house for her protection and welfare. Boaz had land. He had resources. He was well known around the community. She would receive and participate in what he possessed as long as she was under his covering and authority through her obedience.

In Mark 5, the woman who had bled for twelve years was finally healed because of her faith as she touched Jesus' garment. Yes, she was one of God's people but she had yet to make a choice to fully submit to God. She had spent all she had on doctors. At first, as many Christians, rather than making full commitments to God, we rather try to find a short cut in our healing and chaos. But all her physical resources had to be spent before she decided to follow, obey, and submit to His authority. She had to go to the bottom of her life.

Mark 5:25-27 25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years,26 And who had endured much [i]suffering under [the hands of] many physicians and had spent all that she had, and was no better but instead grew worse.She had heard the reports concerning Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the throng and touched His garment.

She came up behind HIM and touched His garment. If we are to find our healing through Jesus, we must decide to truly follow HIM and put ourselves under HIS authority. She coming up behind HIM symbolized that she had made a decision to follow Jesus. Many think they are following Jesus because they acknowledge HIM and they define this as believing onto HIM but as many are still sick or in chaos. It is proving they may not be following up behind HIM or submitting to His authority. Then we must touch HIS garment. We must find a church or group that has HIS anointing which marks the authority to flock HIS people. When we find a church or pastor who has the authority to flock God's people, then we must submit to their authority and protection. When God appoints HIS authority and anointing on a church, those who submit to that church or pastor will receive the anointing, protection, resources, and guidance of that church or pastor. This is where God is using as His church/vessel for provisions and feeding His Word.

In my family, I have my wife and three children. My children are very young and they do not know much about the world. But since they are under my house or authority, they receive the blessings of obedience or the curses if I disobey. However, as I obey God, they receive blessings, protection, participate in the anointing we receive, the power of God, and much more. For example, If I take in a street child, whether that child is obedient or disobedient, they will still fall under my authority and protection and he/she will be provided the food we eat and will enjoy the blessing we partake. If the child continues to obey, then the food (Word of God) I feed him/her will begin to make him/her healthy. What if this child was given to a family that only served junk and fast food? Then the child would not grow up very healthy. As the pastor, husband, and father, I have certain authority designated to me and those under my wing will partake such authority and anointing. The church is in the same manner. In our church, the members are being fed what is given to me. They participate in the anointing and power given through our pulpit/altar. Those who obey will benefit and be blessed. Those who disobey will eventually be pruned. God flows HIS authority and anointing through this church. God is a God of order. Yes, it is so important to have a pastor who is one who prays and intercedes and seeks the Heart of God.

But how do we know we are at a right church? Are we to look for a church with power? What if there is no power or Spirit within the church and they only emphasize the Word or fundamentals? If there is no power of Love or spiritual manifestations of the Spirit, then it may be obvious God is not in that house. And even when there is power, the fruit must be present and lasting. We are known by the fruit of the Spirit. Yes, there are seasons or times when we may be waiting to be joined with a church (flock) or we may be on our own for a little while. But it is God's will we are under submission and authority with those HE has assigned as shepherds and other anointed servants of God. Scripture says not to forsake assembling with one another (Heb 10:25). Do not listen to those who tell you to leave your churches but have no solutions. You must always ask and be led by the Spirit of God. A sheep on its own is very vulnerable. Do you think your so called brother or sister who professes to know Christ on Facebook who is telling you to leave your churches or your country will pay your rent? But you say your church is not doing what it should be? Then why don't you set the example and intercede for your church? Why don't you go to your church and pray 1 to 2 hours a day before the altar crying out to HIM? Will prayer not change things? Will it not move Father's Heart? Let us not complain but take responsibility and accountability.

Ruth did not try to find another job. She did not try to find a younger husband. Ruth was very obedient to Naomi and as she followed her precise instructions. She found provisions, protection, and life. She had to find a covering or protection and Noami was a type of the Holy Spirit who led her to Boaz who was a type of Christ. We must always seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit. Through her obedience, she was used by God to be in the line in which Jesus would come. You must do what the Holy Spirit Wills for your life rather than your personal desire. Then it will be well with you. Naomi sought a home for Ruth to rest so that she may prosper. We all need to be under a house of God to have our spirits prosper in which we can rest in God.

Ruth had faith. Abraham had faith. Enoch had faith, Noah had faith. Rahab had faith. Many think faith is more or less thought. When Abraham believed, it was counted as righteousness. When we believe, we need to act and react toward God's Will. It is our obedience to HIS Word and commands that is counted as righteousness for us.

Deuternomomy 5:24-25 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to [reverently] fear the Lord our God for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day.25 And it will be accounted as righteousness (conformity to God’s will in word, thought, and action) for us if we are watchful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us.

May you all be led by the Holy Spirit bearing His Fruit to glorify the Father in Christ Jesus.

Pastor Steve Yong Kim
Fire of God Church
Fremont, CA USA