THEME: AVOIDING BEING JONAH.
TOPIC: STOP QUERYING GOD
The book of JONAH is a lesson of life. It encapsulates the whole existence of man: his creation; his purpose revealed; his refusal to follow the line of purpose: the consequence; petty repentance and ultimate life long anger at GOD for the life in him that only GOD has control of.
GOD always responds to genuinely repentant prayers. Nineveh repented with prayer and fasting ( JONAH 3: 5-9 ) and GOD responded to a repentant prayer ( JONAH 3: 10 ).
Misgivings come when GOD's answers to our prayer or request is not what we want to hear. JONAH 4: 9-11.
WE MUST REMEMBER THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING ALWAYS.
Romans 9:20 says "Nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest GOD----"
QUERYING GOD COULD BE IN SEVERAL WAYS
1. When your question does not reflect your past experience of GOD's mercies and faithfulness.
2. When you forget how powerful HE is.
3. When you doubt GOD's love and HIS good intentions
David refused to query GOD in Psalm 42: 5 and James 4: 7 exhorts total submission.
WHY?
HE bought us and owns us (1 Corinthians 7: 23a TLB).
At all times in our lives GOD wants to direct us and wants to BE OBEYED.
2 Timothy 3: 16- 17 summarizes the book of Jonah.
1. HE teaches us. GOD shows the path on which we should walk.
2. HE rebukes us. GOD Shows us when we are of the wrong path.
3. HE corrects us. GOD shows us how we can get back on the path.
4. HE trains us. GOD shows us how we can stay on the path.
When our lives are like those of the disciples who left all as soon as they were called, ( Mark 1: 16-18; 2: 14 )we cannot but go beyond our dreams in life in JESUS NAME.
Let us pray.
THEME:
AVOIDING BEING JONAH
TEXT: THE BOOK
OF JONAH
TOPIC:
AVOIDING REBELLION
TEXT: Gen.
9 & 10; Luke 3:23-36; John 1-3; Nahum 1-3; Zephaniah 2:13;
INTRODUCTION
Historical Background.
1. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria was
established by Asshur the son of Shem, the 2nd born of Noah after the flood (Gen. 10:11-12). It was the
capital of Assyria, situated on the river Tigris.
2. It is so important to God that
just like The Book of Jonah, Nahum made Nineveh; the main subject
of his prophesy. Nah 1:1,11;2:8;3:7. Zephaniah
also makes predictions concerning the place (Zeph. 2:13). See 2 Kings 19:36;
Isaiah 37:37; Matthew 12:41; Luke 11:30-32.
3. God equally loves every of His
creation. If there is anything God detests in man, it is sin. He
loves us all, irrespective of our background, creed, language, tribe,
extraction, etc. Gal 2:6. The dividing line between any people and God is
sin, otherwise, we are all equal before Him. He is ever seeking how to unite
man back to Himself.
SOME INFERENCES
Prophet Jonah stubbornly, never wanted
any forgiveness for the people of Nineveh, perhaps
1. Because they were not his own
people-immediate descendants (Hebrews)
2. Because they were hard tormentors of
the Israelites. Isaiah 36 & 37; 2 Kings 18:13, 17-37; 2 Chronicles 32:9-19
3. Because he wanted to be referred to
as a Prophet whose predictions did not change. He did not realize that
even God had to repudiate His own predictions severally in the Scripture when
circumstances that necessitated them changed. Exo. 29:9; 1Sam. 2:30-31; 2 Chronicles
32:24-26; 2 Kings 20:1-11; Isaiah 38:1-6; 2 Kings 14:25
4. Because, he did not agree with God's
attribute of "mercy, compassion, forgiveness etc" Psalm 145:8-9;
86:15;103:8
5. He lost site of the covenant
of God. Genesis 9:1-17;
6. He rather preferred to rebel against
God. John 1:2-3
7. He is listed among the lesser
prophets of the Bible.
AVOIDING REBELLION
A rebel is someone who exhibits great
independence in thought and action. Refusal to accept authority, code or
convention.
Organized opposition to authority of
the Lord.
Before we jump to pass judgement on
Prophet Jonah, perhaps, it might be very wise of us to examine our attitude
towards God and His concerns. Any disparity is a clear mark of rebellion
DANGER OF REBELLION
1. It is an open access to demonic
bondage. Consequences of rebellion are grievous. 1Sam. 15:23
The practice of divination is an
indication of the presence of familiar spirit in the lives of such individuals.
Acts 16:16
2. Rebellion severs a man from God. Psalm
68:6
3. Rebels do not have a right heart
towards God Psalm 78:8
4. A cruel messenger goes after a rebel
Proverbs 17:11; John 1:4-17; Luke 15:15-16 (Prodigal son)
5. Judgement upon rebellious. Ezekiel
3:26
6. According to Jesus Christ,
unforgiving persons will be turn over to tormentors. Matt 18:34-35
7. When a man forsake his duty, he
forsakes his mercy
Isaiah 30:1-17 address Rebellion.
CASE STUDY
Sons of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Numbers
16:1-33
The Prodigal son. Luke 15:11-24
PRAYERS
1. Holy Spirit, please heal my deepest
wounds. Whosoever I have also offended, Lord grant unto him or her eternal
grace to forgive and let go in Jesus name.
2. Holy Spirit, deliver me from
every act of rebellion/disobedience and obstinacy in Jesus name.
3. I throw every Jonah (disobedience,
unforgiveness, stubbornness, impatience, etc) in my life over board in Jesus
name
4. I remain disembarked from every
fellowSHIP (rebellion, unprofitability, wrong direction, etc, that
hitherto, have put me in any form of bondage in Jesus name.
5. O Lord deliver me from every
spiritual and physical storms orchestrated to end my journey abruptly in Jesus
name.
SONG
RH 469: The Lord is our Rock, in Him we
hide
CONCLUSION:
We must realize that we are all object
of forgiveness which we are all enjoying through grace. Eph 2:8-9. Hence show
similar bowels of mercies towards every mankind irrespective of their states.
Remember, we are saved to serve.
Maranatha
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Theme: Avoiding Being Jonah
Text: The book of Jonah
Topic: Avoiding Excuses
Text: Jonah 1; 1 Samuel 10:20-22
Introduction
Jonah
is a perfect portrait of a reluctant leader. If ever God provided a
picture of our human nature- our inclination to run from duty in favour
of serving self; He did it through Jonah.
A
number of believers today have ready made excuses why they cannot do
God's work. They often abandon the business of God to serve self.
Jonah is not alone, God has called many reluctant leaders:
Jeremiah, Jeremiah 1:4-6
When
God called Jeremiah, he debated with God on the basis of his tender
age, as though God had forgotten how old he was. God basically
responded, " I have been preparing you since before you took shape in
your mother's womb.
Moses, Exodus :3:2-14
After
40 years of preparation, Moses expressed a total reluctance as he stood
before a burning bush, trying to excuse himself from leadership. He
wanted to have a reassurance that God indeed has sent him.
Saul, 1 Samuel 10: 20-22
Saul stood head and shoulders above everyone, yet he hid among equipments when Samuel came to anoint him king of Israel.
Gideon, Judges 6:11-22
God called Gideon to lead an attack against the Medianites. He argued with an angel, explaining why he should not do it.
Consequences of giving excuses
1. We miss the privilege of partnership with God (Jonah 1:1-3)
2. Our choice damages more people than we know
3. We become hardened and desensitize to the tragedies we cause, Jonah 1:5-8
4. We lose both integrity and trust, Jonah 1:9-10
Conclusion
It
is interesting to note that every major player in the story of Jonah:
the storm, the sailors, the fish, the king, the Ninevites, the vine, the
worm, and the east wind- all obeyed God except Jonah. If we are
sincere in avoiding being Jonah, we have to put an end to giving
excuses.
THEME: STARTOUT GOD’S WAY
TEXT: PROV.3:3-6; ISA.41:10-13;
TOPIC: RELATIONSHIP IN SERVICE.
TEXT: JOSHUA_1:10-17
1:10
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
1:11
Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals;
for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the
land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
1:12
And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh,
spake Joshua, saying,
1:13
Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying,
The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
1:14 Your wives, your little ones, and your
cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but
ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and help
them;
1:15
Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they
also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall
return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD's
servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All
that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will
go.
1:17
According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto
thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
Introduction
Ø God
intends His people to stand united in accordance with the prevailing Unity of
the Godhead.
Ø Jesus
labored to build a Church that is united.
Ø God
prospers His people to varying levels at different times.
Those
that the Lord has given relative rest should encourage others striving for the
same.
God’s Plan Joshua 1:10-17
Ø Right from Creation, God made man to
have a helper and to work together.
Gen.
2:18;
2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I
will make him an help meet for him.
Ø Eccl. 4:9-12
4:9
Two are better than one; because they
have a good reward for their labour.
4:10
For if they fall, the one will lift up
his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not
another to help him up.
4:11
Again, if two lie together, then they
have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
4:12
And if one prevail against him, two
shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ø God declared His intention to have His
people stand in unity and remain in one accord.
Ezekiel 37:22, John 10:16
Ø Jesus prayed for unity among His
disciples just as the Unity that abides in the Godhead. John 17:22-23
17:22
And the glory which thou gavest me I have
given them; that they may be one,
even as we are one:
17:23
I in them, and thou in me, that they may
be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and
hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Christ’s Labored for a United Church
Ø Jesus Christ kept His
disciples together and taught them to work together.
John 17:12
17:12 While
I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest
me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the
scripture might be fulfilled.
Ø Jesus Christ labored
to build a Church that is in one accord and taught His disciples to do the
same. Luke 10:16
10:16
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he
that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
God Blesses His People Variously
Ø
The time, place and manner of blessing
is determined by God. Joshua_1:12-13
1:12 And
to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake
Joshua, saying,
1:13 Remember
the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD
your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
Ø
There is no place for envy in the
household of faith.
Ø
Those that are blessed must labor to
see others blessed also through prayer, sharing and encouragement. Galatians_6:2
6:2
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Joshua_1:14-15
CONCLUSION
Believers are members of the same body united in
Christ. As a result of the common bond that we share, it is imperative that we
take interest in one another and bare each other’s burden.
Those that the Lord has given relative rest should
encourage others striving for the same.
They must stand in prayers, support and
encouragement with others who are still struggling until they also come to
experience the freedom, and prosperity that God intends for them.
