Upcycle For Tamp

Introduction

Did you know if you lined up every billboard created over the course of a year in America in a straight line, it would be 2,700 miles!

That’s about as far, by car from new york to California.

In the past advertisers used to paint the billboards but now they use a large vinyl banners

Each of these vinyl banners stay up for about a month and then are taken down and discarded only to have a new one put up

.Well this bothered Jeff Shinabarger

He decided that he saw an opportunity here

He called the advertising companies and offered to take the vinyl material to use it again...He saw a need in his community, where there were a number of refugees who were unemployed and trying to make ends meet.So he had an idea…one word…Don’t know if you ever heard of it...Upcycle

Upcycling is taking something that would normally become disarded and making something beautiful

Sometimes more beautiful than even it’s original

He employed the refugees to help transform these vinyl banners into bags and in his first year sold over 17k bags

Maybe you’ve seen this upcycling in:

how people can take something like a campbell can and make a modern light fixture out of it..

Roses out of egg cartons

Broom out of soda bottles

Shopping bags out of old cereal boxes...

Transition

Or maybe it’sIn your life as

God has brought you from brokenness to whole…but not just bringing you back to where you were but actually

upcycling you...Transition

The apostle Paul, the author of much of the New Testament,

​ NIVHere is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

God used a murderous, hateful, broken man like Paul to turn the world upside down. God has chosen to use His people…His Church…the local body…to display Him here… in some incredible way... And God chose a cowardice prophet to call to a GREAT CITY…not just once…but twice... Transition To TextWe’ve been following the life of Jonah…the prophet we learn about in the book of Jonah... He was first approached by God to go to Ninevah…A GREAT CITY (not in a good way…but in it’s size, in it’s sin, in it’s brokeness)Instead of going up, he turns and runs...Boards a boatGod pursues him sending a stormHe is eventually thrown overboard and God calms the storm God provides a huge water creature of some type to come and swallow Jonah for 3 days and 3 nights...There in the fish we saw him pray to God...Not in repentance…but in thanksgiving and a hint of self-righteousness....So the fish vomits him onto the shore... This is where will pick up in the book of Jonah..

Turn with me to

vs. 1 “The word of the Lord came to Jonah A SECOND TIME”It comes again…his call has returned to Him…He is given another opportunity to be used by God... The first time he was called he was probably in the comfort of his home…A far shorter distance, I’m sure, from where but after his initial rejection of God (not to be graphic) is found in a pool of fish vomit...So maybe you and I can take a lesson from this to....

Listen To Him Now, Don’t Wait Till Your In A Pool Of Fish Vomit

I’m not going to lie…I kinda made this point to see if note takers were going to actually write this…seriously though...

Jonah was uniquely called as a prophet to go and preach to this city of Nineveh...Not of His own ability but under the direction and the power of God...You can definitely see this in the fact that when we see the response of the Ninevites it was not to Jonah but in vs. 5 “The Ninevites believed God” Where do you find yourself in your context today?How might God use you today?Don’t wait…Don’t put it off... Transition Maybe for you though...You can empathize a little more with Jonah...You’ve been on the run…And maybe you’ve been on the run for far too long...We see God’s heart in his call for the “second time” a reluctant prophetHe repeats the call...Look at vs. 2 Go to...This is literally 2 words Arise and Go

The reason NIV translators and many others have chosen to translate it as just “go” is because the grammar calls the focus to the “go” and the urgency..

But I don’t want us to miss out on the beauty here of what God is doing...

All throughout the first section of , we see God telling him to “get up” and “go”Instead he got up and fled…And then the author repeats “Down” “Down” “down”Down to joppaDown to the shipDown into sleepInto the “Depths” of the seaGod provides and drags him out and says “now arise”

We Can Arise From The Mess & Be Used Because Of God’s Grace

Remember the deepest spot we find Jonah is in the ocean and it is through the grace of God that he provides the fish to bring him up and to spit him onto the ground.Notice that this “arise” is far more significant now that he is where he is from where he was originally.

​ NIVBut when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

So it is by God’s mercy, His character that he allows us to be a part of what He is up to. God of second chancesMaybe it would be better to say “God of another chance”God gives another chance…but this is the opportunity you have....Another chance to be used by Him... Application ListWho needs to be reminded today to arise as a parent…By His power and His graceWho needs to be reminded today to arise and serve...By His Power and His GraceWho needs to be reminded today arise and share your faithBy His power and HIs GraceWho needs to be reminded today to arise....From where you are…And to go where He is?By His Power and His Grace TransitionSo God gave Jonah another chance…By His grace he is commanded to arise…and go…and proclaim He goes to Nineveh and he preaches to the NinevitesNot the most eloquent of sermons...vs, 4b“40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown”And they believed God and repented Compare that with Jonah...He was brought up in the word of GodHe was brought up with the people of GodHe was even a prophet of GodYet, those in this city, that seemed condemned by God, responded with the most simple of messagesBecause they understood where they were and the great need that they had....

​ NIVHumble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

God’s Grace Is For The Humble Heart

maybe this is what Jesus meant when he said

​ NIV“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

not a deficient spirit but a humble heart...

​ NIVA bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

UPCYCLE He came to my desk with a quivering lip, the lesson was done, Have you a new sheet for me dear teacher, I’ve spoiled this one. I took his sheet all soiled and blotted and gave him a new one all unspotted and into his tired heart I cried do better now my child.\the day was done, have you a new day for me dear master, I’ve spoiled this one. He took my day all soiled and blotted and gave me a new one all unspotted and into my tired heart he cried do better now my child.\