Jonah - The God who Confronts

One of the Goals have that we have in the Free Church is to be a movement who is multiplying disciples and multiplying churches throughout the world.

AOne of the Goals we have in the Free Church is to be transformational churches… which means we have to be those who have been impacted by the Gospel.. it stems for the thought that the Gospel itself is transformational… if we are people who live the Gospel - Good News that Jesus saves

that are healthy and life giving…

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A couple years ago we as a church took on a remodeling project here at the church and it included the sanctuary, office, conference room and the Sunday school classrooms and bathrooms. It was needed and it came out beautiful.. we have some amazing gifted people that all helped.. l have been around a number of building projects and renovations.. Part of me really likes it because you this immediate results... sense of accomplishment..

In 1974 Billy Graham was instrumental in organizing the first International gathering on World Evangelism…this is beginnings of what has been called the Lausanne Movement… after Lausanne Switzerland where they convened…The goal was to come together to stategize how to evangelize “unreached people groups” arround the world.

Our mission Statement says,

In 1974 Billy Graham was instrumental in organizing the first International gathering on World Evangelism…this is beginnings of what has been called the Lausanne Movement… after Lausanne Switzerland where they convened…The goal was to come together to stategize how to evangelize “unreached people groups” arround the world.

In October of 2010

“The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization “brought together 4,200 evangelical leaders from 198 countries, and extended to hundreds of thousands more, participating in meetings around the world, and online.

The goal was to bring a fresh challenge to the global Church to bear witness to Jesus Christ and all his teaching – in every nation, in every sphere of society, and in the realm of ideas.

It was to build unity around a set of biblical convictions and call to action..

One of their Biblical convictions is To lOVE THE GOSPEL..thi was their statement.

“As disciples of Jesus, we are gospel people. The core of our identity is our passion for the biblical good news of the saving work of God through Jesus Christ. We are united by our experience of the grace of God in the gospel and by our motivation to make that gospel of grace known to the ends of the earth by every possible means.” Lausanne Movement, Cape town “Confession of faith and action’

The past few weeks we have been in the book of Jonah.. God gave Jonah clear mission and that we declare his word to the city of Nineveh. But instead of going to Nineveh he heads in the opposite direction. He is a prophet on the run — God sends a Storm and God sends the fish and it is in the depth of the ocean that Jonah has a heart change.

The Bible’s view is quite the opposite. The book of Genesis gives just a few seconds to the countless aeons of prehistory, and devotes the rest of its pages to God and us. We learn that human beings are not a chance and feeble speck, but the summit of God’s creation and the key to his purpose.

“We exist to Glorify God by multiplying transformational churches among all people.”

God gave Jonah clear mission a call to action and that was to proclaim God’s word to the city of Nineveh. But instead of going to Nineveh he heads in the opposite direction.. towards Tarshish.

EFCA MISSION STATEMENT

Knowles, A. (2001). The Bible guide (1st Augsburg books ed., p. 23). Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg

This is our vision locally, regionally and globally. It is our desire that we are a church who are becoming a church (a movement of believers) who not only professes faith but are impacted by the Good news....

This is our vision locally, regionally and globally. It is our desire that we are a church who are becoming a church who not only professes faith but are impacted by the Good news....

In the story we See Jonah is a prophet on the run — he spiraling downward God is in relentless pursuit.

The past few weeks we have been in the book of Jonah.. God gave Jonah clear mission and that he was to proclaim God’s word to the city of Nineveh. But instead of going to Nineveh he heads in the opposite direction. Jonah is a fugitive a prophet on the run — God sends a Storm and God sends the fish and it here that God...God gives Jonah a second chance to answer the call....

That is what it means to be evangelical… the word evangelical comes means gospel or EVANGELON “to herald the good News.”

And God being relentless in his love for both Jonah and the city of Nineveh.

To be those who experience the power of the Gospel in Salvation and then to proclaim the message to others… thats what it means to be an evangelical church.

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:17 ESV

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Romans 1:16 ESV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

God gives Jonah a second chance to answer the call.

God sends a violent storm jonahs way and then he appoints a whale to swallow up Jonah up.

We are living in a day when we really need to understand the importance of Gospel proclamation.

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The story of Jonah is about our own tendency to wander and God’s love and compassion towards us and how far he will extend his love and mercy towards. … God is longing that none would perish but that all would come to eternal life.

sends the fish and it here that God...God gives Jonah a second chance to answer the call....

Its ‘information that causes one joy’ or ‘words that bring delight."

God gs Jonah a second chance to answer the call....

God’s love and compassion and how far he will extend his love and mercy towards. us… God is a God of second chances. longing that willing none would perish but that all would come to eternal life.

What comes to the surface is that,God is the God of second chances: God is longsuffering willing that none would perish but that all would come to eternal life.

Not only does God give Jonah a second chance but he gives the whole city of Nineveh an opportunity to turn and change their ways… .. God gets ahold of the Kings heart and the whole city turns to the Lord. If you like surprise endings, this is exactly the way this book concludes.

God gives both Jonah and the whole city of Nineveh an opportunity to turn away from their wicked lifestyles and turn again to the one true God…

Jonah’s message struck a chord with the King of Nineveh - who after hearing Jonah proclaim the message of salvation - the King is humbled and comes to the place of repentance.

This powerful picture of the King standing up getting off his throne and puts on sack clothe — this is the picture of repentance when get off our thrones allow Christ to be King… This happened to the King and whole city..

God gets ahold of the heart of the King of Nineveh - who when hearing the Jonah proclaim the message of the means of salvation from destruction - This powerful picture of the King standing up getting off his throne and puts on sack clothe — this is the picture of repentance when get off our thrones allow Christ to be King… This happened to the King and whole city..

We have this powerful metaphor of the King standing up and getting off his throne and puts on sack clothe …

Demonstrating true repentance and surrender

…we often look at repentance as partial action — God I surrender my heart, (stop)my family, my employement..my retirement.. you are King… it's sovereignty.

One of the true marks of revival is transformation And surrender

Revival comes to the City of Nineveh… and the entire city to turn to God.

Something similar happened and the turn of the last century. When the Word of God went sweeping through Wales in the early 1900s, and a tremendous revival, and a fifth of all of the country was converted and came into the church, there were tremendous labor union problems that were happening inside the mines.

When the Word of God went sweeping through Wales in the early 1900s, and a tremendous revival, and a fifth of all of the country was converted and came into the church, there were tremendous labor union problems that were happening inside the mines.

When the revival came, they were wiped away, because on company time, the managers started to sponsor Bible studies, and the people, the miners, were part of the Bible studies.

Miners had been stealing tools for years. As God changed these mens hearts they began to return the stollen good..

The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive The Secret Siege of Nineveh

When the Word of God went sweeping through Wales in the early 1900s, and a tremendous revival, and a fifth of all of the country was converted and came into the church, there were tremendous labor union problems that were happening inside the mines. When the revival came, they were wiped away, because on company time, the managers started to sponsor Bible studies, and the people, the miners, were part of the Bible studies. They began to bring back all the things they had been stealing.

Do you know how all mines had one shed where the company kept its tools, and you used the tools? Miners had been stealing them for years. During the revival, they had to build five new sheds at most mines just to put back all the tools the miners started bringing back. The managers started to say, “On company time, we want to spend time praying and reading the Bible with you.” What happened? Repentance, not negotiation! Repentance changes cities. That’s what it says.

During the revival, they had to build five new sheds at most mines just to put back all the tools the miners started bringing back.

The managers started to say, “On company time, we want to spend time praying and reading the Bible with you.” What happened? Repentance and change of heart… Gospel transformation..

True transformation

o see revival in our churches and in our nation…

Huge miracle… Most of us want to see revival in our churches and in our nation…

Paul tells us that, The Gospel is not just the “good news,” but also much more..

As a culture we are in a rapid descent morally and this is not the first time in History..

Jonah is one of those books that reminds us as a local church of being faithful to gospel proclamation. When we handle the word of truth correctly what it does is bring real transformation. It will lead to the nourishment of believers but it will also bring new birth…

Jonah reminds us of the importance to us that we are to be about gospel proclamation.

Jonah reminds us that in our current context and culture the only thing that will make a difference gospel proclamation.

of the importance to us that we are to be about gospel proclamation.

We as the church need to once again fall in the love with the Gospel message that it is only God who can save us.

The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization brought together 4,200 evangelical leaders from 198 countries, and extended to hundreds of thousands more, participating in meetings around the world, and online.

The goal was to bring a fresh challenge to the global Church to bear witness to Jesus Christ and all his teaching – in every nation, in every sphere of society, and in the realm of ideas.

One of their confessions and commitment was to be people who love the Good News… the Gospel...

This is their statement...

“As disciples of Jesus, we are gospel people. The core of our identity is our passion for the biblical good news of the saving work of God through Jesus Christ. We are united by our experience of the grace of God in the gospel and by our motivation to make that gospel of grace known to the ends of the earth by every possible means.” Lausanne Movement, Cape town “Confession of faith and action’

Jonah reminds us of the importance to us that we are to be about gospel proclamation.

proclamation is the declaration that we are in desperate need of a savior and its is only God can save us… Jonah found himself in the at the bottom of the ocean in the belly of the fish… He describes this place the place of Sheol or the grave - the place of no return -

n that only God can save us…

Jonah found himself in the at the bottom of the ocean in the belly of the fish… He describes this place the place of Sheol or the grave - the place of no return - He calls it the land whose “bars closed upon me forever.” Jonah needed to be rescued from the grave itself… it is at the bottom that Jonah comes to the conclusion that Salvation comes from God alone.

Jonah found himself in the at the bottom of the ocean in the belly of the fish… He describes this place the place of Sheol or the grave - the place of no return - He calls it the land whose “bars closed upon me forever.”

He comes to the conclusion that Salvation comes from God alone. it is only when he came to this conclusion is he rescued from the whale.

Jonah needed to be rescued from the grave itself… it is at the bottom that Jonah comes to the conclusion that Salvation comes from God alone.

This is the essence of Gospel proclamation.. it is the message Jesus is the only means to salvation. Repentance is turning from dependance on self to placing your trust and faith in God… and the result is real transformation...anything short of Gospel proclamation leads too merely a system of belief or religion. here is the thing.

Jesus is enough to bring salvation and the result is real change in our lives. Repentance is turning from dependance on self to placing your trust and faith in God… If we don’t get the basics of Salvation…

Religion doesn’t changed people… it is not transformational..

that Jesus is enough to bring salvation and the result is real change in our lives. Need to understand that Religion doesn’t changed people...

Jesus is enough to bring salvation and the result is real change in our lives. Need to understand that Religion doesn’t changed people...

hat Jesus is enough to bring salvation and the result is real change in our lives. Need to understand that Religion doesn’t changed people...

Religion doesn’t changed people… it is not transformational..

Religion centers itself on behavior modification, the gospel brings deep, inner transformation. Religion comes with a grocery list of do”s and don’ts. The declares that we are justified because and Jesus himself took care of the list.

Religion makes people nice. The gospel makes people new.

Gospel finds God useful. The Gospel finds God beautiful.

Gospel proclamation is change that comes from inside out rather than from the outside in.. Apostle Paul when writing to the Corinthians tells us that power of Gospel rests on Jesus Christ and him crucified alone.

Gospel proclamation is change that comes from inside out rather than from the outside in..

The Gospel is what the apostle Paul proclaimed...

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 cor 2-5

Part of our mission as a local church is being faithful to gospel proclamation. When we declare the word of God faitfully what it does is it

1 cor 2-5

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 ESV

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 Cor 1:

Five Key elements of the Gospel proclaimation.

Depends on the grace of God - The gospel was not wrapped up in mans wisdom but Salvation is all God…

Depends upon the power of the cross - the message remains Christ an him crucified.

Depends on the Holy Spirit - demonstration of the spirit… proclaimation is coupled with demonstation. It is God who regenerates and transforms lives...

It brings us in contact with God’s

J

Matthew 12:41 ESV

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

leads to repentance - Turning from our selves and trusting God..

Matt 12:

Jonah 3:10 ESV

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

One of the Goals we have in the Free Church is to be transformational churches… which means we have to be those who have been impacted by the Gospel.. it stems for the thought that the Gospel itself is transformational… if we are people who live the Gospel - Good News that Jesus saves

it stems for the thought that the Gospel itself is transformational… if we are people who live the Gospel - Good News that Jesus saves

The final chapter of Jonah reminds us that God

In 1974 Billy Graham was instrumental in organizing the first International gathering on World Evangelism…this is beginnings of what has been called the Lausanne Movement… named after Lausanne Switzerland where they convened…

T/S we learn frim Jonah that Gospel proclamation

In 1974 Billy Graham was instrumental in organizing the first International gathering on World Evangelism…this is beginnings of what has been called the Lausanne Movement… after Lausanne Switzerland where they convened…The goal was to come together to stategize how to evangelize “unreached people groups” arround the world.

Interesting that when the King declares a fast he adds let every one turn so that possibly God may turn and relent… In other words that God’s justice might be adverted and that God himself might have a change of heart…

The purpose of the Lausanne gathering was to bring pastors, missionaries around the globe to strategize how to evangelize “unreached people groups.”

Paul in his letter tell the difference between being sorry and actual repentance.

God and our Emotions.

2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

In October of 2010

“The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization “brought together 4,200 evangelical leaders from 198 countries, and extended to hundreds of thousands more, participating in meetings around the world, and online.

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Search Factory, an Australian based marketing consulting company, wanted to determine the search volume for some of Google's strangest search requests. So using a process they called "exact match targeting," they were able to collect the worldwide average monthly search volume for some random search queries. As you can see, the searches reveal that around the world there are a lot of mixed feelings about relationships, especially related to marriage, dating, and romance.

For instance, here are some of most interesting average searches per month (notice the progression):

"Why did I get married?"—40,500 monthly searches

God used Jonah in amazing away to offer God’s grace transformed a whole city…You would think that Jonah would be on a spiritual high… but that is not where we find Jonah - Jonah has something going on at the sub level…

"How to ask a guy out"—14,800 monthly searches

"How to mend a broken heart"—9,900 monthly searches

"How to have an affair"—5,400 monthly searches

"How to get away with murder"—1,900 monthly searches

"How to hide a dead body"—1,000 monthly searches

There is a lot of hurt in the world and each of us carry our own hurts and it is manifested through our emotions.

God used Jonah in amazing away to offer God’s grace transformed a whole city…You would think that Jonah would be on a spiritual high… You would think that the emotion he would be experiencing is JOY..

but that is not where we find Jonah - Jonah has something going on at the sub level… He is struggling with his emotions and particularly his anger towards God… he HAS GOT TO THE POINT HE can no longer hold it in.

He is struggling with his emotions and particularly his anger towards God… he can no longer hold it in.

End of chapter 3 God relents from Judgement… and Jonah gets even angrier/.

Jonah 3:10-4:1

and we see this in His own responses..

God is interested in our deepest heart issues. We like to treat the symptoms, but God likes to treat the cause.

God is not a make-up artist, but an interior designer...

Jonah responds of Anger.

Jonah 3:10–4:1 ESV

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

Jonah 4:1 ESV

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.

When Jonah sees that God had responded with grace and mercy towards.. Nineveh it displeased Jonah - I the (Heb) It was exceedingly evil to Jonah… Jonah believed in his heart that God had made a biggest Divine Faux Pas… To say that Jonah was very unhappy about this is an understatement,

To Jonah the most recent occurrences in Nineveh seemed a theological embarrassment and a divine faux pas.

And like a pressure cooker the more he thought about God saving the city of Nineveh the angrier he became… the word anger literally means that he was growing angrier by the moment … His face literally flared up… He was irked… He was livered.. One commentator puts it like this.. “It was not simply the case that Jonah could not bring himself to appreciate Nineveh. Rather, to a shocking extent, he could not stand God!”

he became angry. like a pressure cooker the more he thought about God saving the city of Nineveh the madder he got… the word anger literally means that his face flared up… He was irked… He was livered..

Why was Jonah so mad?

When Jonah sees that God and responded with grace and mercy towards.. it displeased Jonah - (Heb) It was exceedingly evil to Jonah… he became angry. like a pressure cooker the more he thought about it the madder he got… the word anger literally means that his face flared up… He was irked…

Anger happens when we experience disappointment… we expected something an it didn’t happen the way we thought…

a. His reputation was at stake

Jonah had prophesied destruction, and then it did not occur---

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 31: Hosea–Jonah Comment

He now found it loathsome that Yahweh could have let the forty days go by without doing anything. Nothing had happened. The city had gone back to its business. Obviously Yahweh had decided not to overthrow hated Nineveh. He had accepted the prayers of these oppressors, these international outlaws

One writer put it this way, “Jonah finds that the time-fuse does not work on the prophetic bomb that he planted in Nineveh.”

Jonah had prophesied destruction, and then it did not occur---

Calvin said that the reason for Jonah’s anger was “because he was unwilling to appear as a vain and lying prophet.” This “loss of face” would cause him an embarrassing loss of stature in Nineveh. In addition, what would happen when he returned home to Israel?

b. God’s Compassion - contradicted His theology

Jonah struggled how God could forgive such a wicked people.

Here is the thing most of the readers of Jonah would sympathize with Jonah…

, Incorporated.Here is the thing most of the readers of Jonah would sympathize with Jonah…

Stuart, D. (2002). Hosea–Jonah (Vol. 31, p. 503). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.Here is the thing most of the readers of Jonah would sympathize with Jonah…

.Even though their repentance had been genuine enough, surely their violence and immorality was so deep-seated and extreme that it merited some kind of punishment from God. Or so Jonah thinks. He does not use the words ‘cheap grace’ but that is what he means

Even though their repentance had been genuine enough, surely their violence and immorality was so deep-seated and extreme that it merited some kind of punishment from God.

Or so Jonah thinks. He does not use the words ‘cheap grace’ but that is what he means… He is so convinced that His position that he confronts God in his anger.

Jonah prayed to the Lord and shares his grievances…

Jonah 4:2–3 ESV

And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Jonah 4:2-

Jonah is takes the moral high ground with God and justify his anger.... He let God know that There is good reason for me to be angry… Jonah says I told you this would happen.

Jonah is telling God that He had good reason to Run… and that He was Right in the first plac

There is good reason for me to be angry.

This last week I got a letter from a software company that is trying to have their customers upgrade to their systems… because they are not compatible with windows 10… Instead of updating their system they are passing on the cost to their customers… I have been getting these emails from them for the last 6 months… and eventually I responded… The tone of my letter was not very nice…I was quite blunt with the way I felt... It surprised me how much this bothered me.... Anger can lerk in our hearts it an build up over time…

The first he asks God a question… and the way that it is phrased is he is expecting the answer to be yes...

Jonah had resentment to being sent and preaching to the Nineveh… because he hoped that God would destroy them…

God didn’t I tell you this is what would happen?? I saw this happening… that is why I ran… Jonah gets defensive... The simmering resentment he feels towards God bursts out in self-justifying poison.

The words ‘I’, ‘me’ or ‘my’ occur nine times in verse 2–3 alone. Jonah is totally wrapped up in his feelings.

the very thing that I was running from happened… the fear that Nineveh would repent.

the very thing that I was running from happened… the fear that Nineveh would repent.Jonah ran not because he didn’t know who God was.. it because he knew how God would respond.

Jonah ran not because he didn’t know who God was.. it because he knew how God would respond.

Jonah makes a list of Gods’ characteristics.. but He is not seeing these things as good thing… When you are ANGRY it is really difficult to see things God’s way… You tend to blame everyone else accept God...

God is gracious and merciful

slow to anger

and abounding in steadfast

relenting from disaster

God desires that none perish that all come to a saving knowledge of himself… That is his nature....

Why was Jonah Angry? There are couple of reasons..

Therefore please take my life… for it is better for me than

Even though their repentance had been genuine enough, surely their violence and immorality was so deep-seated and extreme that it merited some kind of punishment from God. Or so Jonah thinks. He does not use the words ‘cheap grace’ but that is what he means

How strongly Did Jonah feel about this??

Mackrell, P. (2007). Opening up Jonah (pp. 86–87). Leominster: Day One Publications.\\

Therefore please take my life… for it is better for me than

Therefore please take my life… for it is better for me than me to go on living.

T/S Gospel proclamation leads to Gospel transformation -

1. Will confront our Deepest Hurts

Jonah knew the way that God would respond if the people repented.

Galinsky then asked the children to grade their parents on a dozen scales. Overall, the parents came out with high marks from their kids. Moms had an overall GPA of 3.14 and dads got an average grade of 2.98. But anger management was most parents' Achilles heel. More than 40 percent of kids gave their moms and dads a C, D, or F for "controlling his/her temper when I do something that makes him/her angry." That was the worst rating on the parental report card.

God has a question for Jonah!

When Jonah finishes his complain - God has a question for Jonah!

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When Jonah finishes his complain - God has a question for Jonah!

Jonah 4:4 ESV

And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

Jonah 4:4

Do you have a right to be angry? Anger is the expression of something much deeper--- God is interested in our deepest heart issues.

God has a question for Jonah also with a question with the expected response of no...

We like to treat the symptoms, but God likes to treat the cause.

God is not a make-up artist, but an interior designer..

Jonah is saying, “I am angry because you didn’t do X and you made me look bad and now I am disappointed with you God.” This is all external stuff…

God has physically taken Jonah to the depth of the ocean… Now he takes Jonah to the the depth of heart… What is behind that Anger??

Depression is really repressed anger… Why are you always depressed?

Jonah shows sure signs of Depression… He is not willing to let go of the issue… and he continues to let the issue stew.

Jonah 4:5 ESV

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

Jonahs Actions: He is the pouting prophet.

Jonah prayed to the Lord and makes a list of his grievances

Jonah 4:5 ESV

Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.

Jonah goes to the edge of the city and he makes a shelter.... He is settling into a obstinate position against God.

He decides he is going to protest and camp out the city ...He is waiting for God to destroy the city...

Just enough distance so he can be an observer rather than a participant of God’s judgement… It reminds me of taking our family to the 4th July fireworks and finding just the right spot where you can get that perfect view. Jonah pictures in his mind a Sodom-Gomorrah style destruction…

He is waiting for God to destroy the city...

He camps out… anger has taken root in his heart... Through out the book of Jonah you see Divine action.. God hurled the storm, God appointed the whale to swallow Jonah… Now God appoints a Plant....

God does not send fire but he does send to Jonah a Plant.

he had gone to a place some distance outside, in a spot within sight of the city but otherwise unspecified in the narrative. Because he wanted to see “what would happen to the city,

he is hoping that he might witness a Sodom-Gomorrah style destruction

We see Divine Action.

God does not send fire but he does send to Jonah a Plant.

We see Divine Action.

Now the God who appointed the storm, and the God who sent the whale now appoints a plant and made it grow above Jonah so that he would have shade… God is demonstrating grace.

the Lord is about to teach Jonah a valuable object lesson through a plant.

: Word, Incorporated.Now the God who appointed the storm, and the God who sent the whale now appoints a plant and made it grow above Jonah so that he would have shade… God is demonstrating grace.

the Lord is about to teach Jonah a valuable object lesson through a plant.

The purpose is here to have an object lesson…

God is demonstrating grace

Jonah 4:6 ESV

Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.

Jonah 4:6 ESV

Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.

As Jonah sits in sullen isolation, the Lord miraculously provides a vine that shoots up overnight. Jonah wakes up to find that his home-made shack has had a divine makeover. Structurally it has been made secure as the tendrils of the covering plant have bound it together; aesthetically it has been turned into a delightfully cool arbor by the luxuriant leaves.

This bit of shade is going to make Jonah very Happy… You and I can appreciate how he felt after this summer… when you walk from 110 degrees in to air conditionings… instant relief.

You can appreciate how he felt after this summer… when you walk from 110 degrees in to air conditionings… instant releaf.

“Jonah is exceedingly glad because of the plant”

God’s purpose in the gourd was to teach Jonah something about concern and compassion,

Jonah is deliriously, almost embarrassingly, happy. It is the happiest he has been, despite having been God’s instrument for the most glorious spiritual revival the world has probably ever seen. Maybe for a moment he thought that maybe God has come arround to His perspective.. Now in that air conditioned booth could enjoy a front-row viewing of the coming spectacle. Jonah is still obsesed with outward circumstances… God is interested in the heart… God is still answering the question… Is it good for you to be angry?? Is it good to stuck in depression???

Gospel Proclaimation —

Jonah is deliriously, almost embarrassingly, happy. It is the happiest he has been, despite having been God’s instrument for the most glorious spiritual revival the world has probably ever seen.

His delight has been fueled by the miraculous provision of a plant

God is in control of the big things in life and the small things…

His delight has been fueled by the miraculous provision of a plant

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so that it withered…

so God “designated” (וימן, as before) “a wormGod is in control of the big things in life and the small things…

With these delightful thoughts swimming around his head he sits down for a front-row viewing of the coming spectacle.

Mackrell, P. (2007). Opening up Jonah (p. 95). Leominster: Day One Publications.

How much would it take for us to have enough money? Remarkably, studies show that most people, regardless of income, answer the question the same way: We need about 10% more to feel comfortable. Ten percent will make a difference, and whether we earn $30,000 per year or $60,000 or $250,000 or a cool millionmillions , just 10% more is what we want.

Jonah is comfortable under the shade of the plant… He has air conditioning and he has a front seat to see the destruction of Nineveh.

When people are asked the same question over time, Loyola Marymount University Professor Christopher Kaczor reports "when they do get that 10%, which typically happens over the course of a few years, they want just another 10%, and so on, ad infinitum."

All of us have a certain comfort level…

When I talk about comfort — I am talking about a certain lifestyle that we have imagined for ourselves.

The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive The Only Wise God; His Sovereignty

What it means is your body is being taken beyond the comfort level. Your muscle doesn’t want to do the things the trainer wants your muscle to do. It’s going to move you beyond the comfort level so you’re going to hurt. You’re going to sweat. Your heart is going to pound. The trainer is going to do that as a way of making you stronger. Not only that, the trainer is going to adapt your regimen to you.

But God sends a Worm and Wind to confront His comfort.

Jonah 4:7-

Jonah 4:7–8 ESV

But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

Jonah 4:7–8 ESV

But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

The next day God appointed a worm… We don’t think of God appointing worms…The word for God here is “Elohim” the same name used for God in Genesis in the creation story… God creator God makes the weed grow…God the creator appoints a Worm… God is over all creation.

The next day God appointed a worm… We don’t think of God appointing worms… It is interesting the word Yahweh the true God and covenant keeper changes to Elohim the same name used for God of creation… God creator God makes the weed grow…God the creator appoints a Worm… God is over all creation.

It is interesting the word Yahweh the true God and covenant keeper changes to Elohim the same name used for God of creation… God creator God makes the weed grow…God the creator appoints a Worm… God is over all creation.

God is in control of the big things in life and the small things…

God asks Jonah a question - Do you get angry for the plant? and even angry enough to die?

As the vine shrivels and dies, so the protecting and binding canopy over Jonah’s little shelter drops away

God repeats the question… Is it good for you be angry?

Jonah 4:9–10 ESV

But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.

Jonah 4:9–10 ESV

But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.

Jonah 4:9

Jonah had reduced his vocation to his own performance--he was in the right place, doing the right thing--but he interpreted everything through his Jonah ideas, his Jonah desires

Mackrell, P. (2007). Opening up Jonah (p. 96). Leominster: Day One Publications.

God asks Jonah a question - Do you get angry for the plant? and even angry enough to die?

God shows Jonah how absurd his reasoning is… tests Jonah reasoning.

you care that much about a plant that you did not labor for? You are so angry about this little plant.

Think about it for a minute

You did not labor for it… you did not make it grow… it came into being in night and was gone the next day… You cared so much for the little things.

Here is Jonah’s problem:

Jonah had reduced his vocation to his own performance--he was in the right place, doing the right thing--but he interpreted everything through his Jonah ideas, his Jonah desires…

1 Corinthians 3:5–7 ESV

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Cor 3:5-

What a about the great city of Nineveh?

Jonah 4:11 ESV

And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Jonah 4:11

What a about the great city of Nineve

Shouldn’t I take pity on the city of Nineveh —that is so much greater… than a plant…

who are more than 120 000 people… This great city.. .

Jonah's sulking disappointment came from a failure of imagination, a failure of heart. He had no idea what God was doing--the largeness of his love and mercy and salvation. He had reduced his vocation to his own performance--he was in the right place, doing the right thing--but he interpreted everything through his Jonah ideas, his Jonah desires.

Jonah's sulking disappointment came from a failure of imagination, a failure of heart. He had no idea what God was doing--the largeness of his love and mercy and salvation.

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Who are also lost… and also much cattle…

Conclusion

The goal was to bring a fresh challenge to the global Church to bear witness to Jesus Christ and all his teaching – in every nation, in every sphere of society, and in the realm of ideas.

Some have remarked that the Book of Jonah ends abruptly or somehow in an incomplete manner. On the contrary, the book ends in a way that draws attention and, therefore, increases its teaching potential.

This question about the right to be angry is central to the whole book, and crucial to the narrator’s point in telling the story as he has. What right do we have to demand that God should favor us and not others? By reducing the question to the particular issue of the gourd, God focused the question in a way that would cause Jonah to condemn himself by his own words. Jonah did just that.

The story is deliberately left open-ended for those who study its message to complete in their own lives

.This question about the right to be angry is central to the whole book, and crucial to the narrator’s point in telling the story as he has. What right do we have to demand that God should favor us and not others? By reducing the question to the particular issue of the gourd, God focused the question in a way that would cause Jonah to condemn himself by his own words. Jonah did just that.

God confronts

Stuart, D. (2002). Hosea–Jonah (Vol. 31, p. 506). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

It was to build unity around a set of biblical convictions and to call the church to action..

One of the Biblical convictions:

Is To lOVE THE GOSPEL..this was their statement. listen to this...

“As disciples of Jesus, we are gospel people.

The core of our identity is our passion for the biblical good news of the saving work of God through Jesus Christ.

We are united by our experience of the grace of God in the gospel and by our motivation to make that gospel of grace known to the ends of the earth by every possible means.”

Lausanne Movement, Cape town “Confession of faith and action’

I love the Clarity of this Statement… We are Gospel people… the centrality of all that we do is to bring people to the savior… Jesus Christ… Simple Clear Mission.

This morning we are concluding our sermon series in the book of Jonah.

God gave Jonah clear mission a call to action and that was to proclaim God’s word to the city of Nineveh. But instead of going to Nineveh he heads in the opposite direction.. towards Tarshish.

Jonah is a prophet on the run —in his attempt to escape from God - He moves further and further from the presence of God. God at the same time is in a relentless pursuit of Jonah.

God sends a violent storm Jonah’s way and then he appoints a whale to swallow up Jonah up.

Jonah is one of those stories that remind us of our own tendency to drift away from the …like

The Hymnist Robert Robinson captured it in his him Come thou fount of every blessing…

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.

Jonah proclaims the message of God… The Good News that God saves… The city is given 40 days warning to turn from their wickedness or else they will be destroyed.

Jonah’s message strikes a chord with the King of Nineveh - and the King gets up off his throne and puts on sack clothe … and then he calls the whole nation to repentance. Revival comes to the City of Nineveh…

Jonah’s message struck a chord with the King of Nineveh - who after hearing Jonah proclaim the message of salvation - the King is humbled and comes to the place of repentance.

Acts 3:19–20 ESV

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,

Acts

We have this powerful metaphor of the King standing up and getting off his throne and puts on sack clothe …

Demonstrating true repentance and surrender

There have been many awakening and outpourings in the church… One of the true marks of revival is Gospel transformation.