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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