Running From God
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Running From God
Running From God
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Introduction: David Jansen made a big hit on the television series called, "The
fugitive."
What made this program so exciting was that every week the character he
played was staying just one step ahead of the law.
He was running from the law because he had been falsely accused of killing his wife. He had been convicted
because he had been falsely accused of killing his wife. He had been convicted
and sentenced to prison, but somehow he escaped. After he escaped, his one goal was to find the man he had seen leaving the scene of the crime. He did not know a lot about the man, except that he had only
After he escaped, his one goal was to find the man he had seen leaving the
scene of the crime. He did not know a lot about the man, except that he had only
one arm. Some weeks he would come very close to catching the man, but somehow the man always managed to escape. Likewise, as he traveled across the country seeking to capture this man, he had many close calls with the law but was always able to escape and run to the next town Always he sought the man he saw leaving the scene of his wife's murder, and always he was fleeing from the
Some weeks he would come very close to catching the man, but somehow the
man always managed to escape. Likewise, as he traveled across the country
seeking to capture this man, he had many close calls with the law but was
always able to escape and run to the next town Always he sought the man he
saw leaving the scene of his wife's murder, and always he was fleeing from the
law.
That character reminds us a lot of people who SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES
A lot of people who SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES
RUNNING FROM GOD, in much the same way a fugitive runs from the police.
This is what Jonah did as soon as God gave him an evangelistic assignment
he did not wish to carry out.
Then he soon found out something that most of
us have yet to learn...A MAN CAN NOT RUN AWAY FROM GOD!
When we try to run from God we are admitting some things. For instance...
A lot of people who SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES
A lot of people who SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES
RUNNING FROM GOD, in much the same way a fugitive runs from the police.
Illustration - You can run but not hide
omnipresence of God
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
I. OUR RUNNING FROM GOD IS AN ADMISSION WE HAVE HEARD FROM GOD.
I. OUR RUNNING FROM GOD IS AN ADMISSION WE HAVE HEARD FROM GOD.
GOD.
1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Jonah heard from God and knew exactly what God wanted him to do.
The problem is that Satan has seen to it they have filled the life God has given us to use for Him with so many other things.
Too busy for God!
Work
given us to use for Him with so many other things.
Pleasure
Jonah heard from God and knew exactly what God wanted him to do.
Illus: When you talk to some people they want to give the impression they would like to do God's will, but God won't tell them what it is. In other words, they would like you to believe it is not their fault they are walking in sin; it is God's fault.
would like to do God's will, but God won't tell them what it is. In other words,
they would like you to believe it is not their fault they are walking in sin; it is
God's fault.
There is not a person here who does not know what God wants him to do.
The problem is that people find themselves in the same dilemma Jonah found himself. They only have one life and their plans are contrary to God's.
himself. They only have one life and their plans are contrary to God's.
The Bible states that Jonah clearly heard the voice of God. Verses 1-2 say, "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah...saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me."
Verses 1-2 say, "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah...saying,
Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness
is come up before me."
WHAT DID JONAH DO? He did the opposite of what God told him to do.
HE RAN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION!
RAN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION!
Now remember what I told you, OUR RUNNING FROM GOD IS AN ADMISSION WE HAVE HEARD FROM GOD! Otherwise we would not be running!
ADMISSION WE HAVE HEARD FROM GOD! Otherwise we would not be
running!
People are no different today than Jonah was in his day. For example, God can speak to a man's heart about...
For example, God can speak to a man's heart about...
- Witnessing to someone, and he will go everywhere except to that person's house.
to that person's house.
- Praying, and he will have time for everything except prayer.
prayer.
- Tithing, and he will have money for everything except his tithe.
tithe.
- Going to church, and it is amazing -- he will be too sick to go to church, but not too sick on Monday to go to work, or other places he wants to go.
go to church, but not too sick on Monday to go to work, or other places he
wants to go.
The problem today is not that people do not know what God wants them to do.
The problem is that Satan has seen to it they have filled the life God has given them to use for Him with so many other things.
given them to use for Him with so many other things.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS IRONIC? This is the kind of reaction you would expect from a heathen, not from a child of God! Yet, we can't help but wonder how many times we have done the same thing.
expect from a heathen, not from a child of God! Yet, we can't help but wonder
how many times we have done the same thing.
The lost world walks in the darkness of sin, but we are children of the light.
Christians should know better!
WHEN GOD SPEAKS TO A CHRISTIAN HE SHOULD RESPOND AS PAUL
DID ON THAT DAMASCUS ROAD.
Acts9: 5throughActs9: 6
4-----N\I 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
_ii_i.s_liaEflor thee to kick agajial _the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord,
'4n4,,vhat wilt thou have mitodo? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city,
and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Illustration called to preach
II OUR RUNNING FROM GOD IS AN ADMISSION WE BELIEVE WE CAN ESCAPE.
II OUR RUNNING FROM GOD IS AN ADMISSION WE BELIEVE WE CAN ESCAPE.
3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
ESCAPE.
joh
Illustrations
That is, the reason we even try to run is because WE BELIEVE WE CAN ESCAPE.
Give me one time this has worked ....
ESCAPE.
Why else would we run? There is no doubt about it. Jonah knew what God wanted him to do but he felt
There is no doubt about it. Jonah knew what God wanted him to do but he felt
he could outrun God and do what he wanted to with his life.
Look at verse 3. We read, "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD."
Look at verse 3. We read, "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD."
presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going
If you are running from God there will be a ship available to take you.
to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with
You English students notice, this verse begins with a conjunction. That is, God had specifically told Jonah what He wanted Jonah to do.
them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD."
You English students notice, this verse begins with a conjunction. That is, God
Again, be reminded, Jonah did not like the cruel and evil Ninevites. He would rather have had them be destroyed than to be "saved." He certainly did not want to waste the one life God had given him on such low-down critters!
rather have had them be destroyed than to be "saved." He certainly did not
I will follow God if that's what I want to do.
want to waste the one life God had given him on such low-down critters!
How many times has God spoken to you about witnessing to a person you did not care very much about? Maybe you did not like the...
not care very much about? Maybe you did not like the...
- Way he looked.
had specifically told Jonah what He wanted Jonah to do. Then we read,
- Way he behaved.
- Way he combed his hair.
- Attitude of that person.
One thing was sure, you DID NOT LIKE THAT PERSON!
Yet, the Lord wanted you to witness to him. The last thing you wanted to do, with the one life you have, is spend your valuable time, wasting your valuable time, on someone you did not care about.
the one life you have, is spend your valuable time, wasting your valuable time, on
s N someone you did not care about.
Those who live their lives like this are
WHY DID JONAH REBEL?
61/
Again,
III Running From God Affects Others
III Running From God Affects Others
4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 6 So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
jon
vs 4 - broken ship - broken home, Called to preach rebelled and live a life of regrets ......
vs 4 - headed into a storm that comes from God - how much trouble could we avoid if we just submitted to his will
not every storm is self induced but this one was.....
Illustration -
Running from God - teen here was called to preach then his Sr. year he started hanging around the wrong crowd. Several girl friend later he is in a federal penitentiary
vs 5 /6 Notice Jonah is not found crying to God or calling out he lets the heathen call on their Gods
vs 6 he is oblivious to the danger he has caused others
Before we close, I would like you to see one more thing
from these verses.
Verse 3 tells us, "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of
the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship qoinq to Tarshish: so
he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to qo with them unto Tarshish
from the presence of the LORD."
Notice, the Bible says, "...and he found a ship qoinq to Tarshish: so he paid the
fare thereof..."
"Tarshish" means: "Contemplation, or examination." Jonah had made some bad decisions before, like all of us, but that was the worst decision he had ever made. If we make a decision to go against what we know God would have us do, we are making a terrible decision and we will have to pay the cost.
bad decisions before, like all of us, but that was the worst decision he had ever
made. If we make a decision to go against what we know God would have us
do, we are making a terrible decision and we will have to pay the cost.
The Bible says this is what Jonah did, "...so he paid the fare thereof..."
Satan will never let a person know what the cost of sin is. If people knew what it was, they would never yield to it. Everyone here can choose to obey the devil, but there is something you had better learn, that is, it is going to cost you.
what it was, they would never yield to it.
Everyone here can choose to obey the devil, but there is something you had
better learn, that is, it is going to cost you.
Illus: Everyone here, at some time or other, has ridden on a toll road. The
longer you ride, the more you have to pay.
Illus: A man came to the Lord. He tells the story of how Satan tempted him to leave his wife and two children. He said that when he was facing the temptation all he could see was pleasure after pleasure. But, several years have gone by now. He has remarried and so has his wife. He said, "Preacher, the day I chose to walk out of that house and leave my wife and children, I had no idea what a price I would pay. If I could do it over again, knowing what I know not, it would be no temptation at all. But then I was blinded by sin!
leave his wife and two children. He said that when he was facing the
temptation all he could see was pleasure after pleasure. But, several years
have gone by now. He has remarried and so has his wife. He said, "Preacher,
the day I chose to walk out of that house and leave my wife and children, I had
no idea what a price I would pay. If I could do it over again, knowing what I
know not, it would be no temptation at all. But then I was blinded by sin!
God gives the account of Jonah so that we may learn from his mistake. How
about it?
Are you willing to learn from Jonah’s life?