RUN JONAH RUN

RUN JONAH RUN

(GW) The LORD spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said, “Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people that I can no longer overlook the wicked things they have done.” Jonah immediately tried to run away from the LORD by going to Tarshish. He went to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid for the trip and went on board. He wanted to go to Tarshish to get away from the LORD. The LORD sent a violent wind over the sea.

The LORD spoke his word to Jonah, son of Amittai. He said, “Leave at once for the important city, Nineveh. Announce to the people that I can no longer overlook the wicked things they have done.” Jonah immediately tried to run away from the LORD by going to Tarshish. He went to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid for the trip and went on board. He wanted to go to Tarshish to get away from the LORD. The LORD sent a violent wind over the sea.

The storm was so powerful that the ship was in danger of breaking up. The sailors were afraid, and they cried to their gods for help. They began to throw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship’s load. Now, Jonah had gone below deck and was lying there sound asleep. The captain of the ship went to him and asked, “How can you sleep? Get up, and pray to your God. Maybe he will notice us, and we won’t die.” Then the sailors said to each other, “Let’s throw dice to find out who is responsible for bringing this disaster on us.”

So they threw dice, and the dice indicated that Jonah was responsible. They asked him, “Tell us, why has this disaster happened to us? What do you do for a living? Where do you come from? What country are you from? What nationality are you?” Jonah answered them, “I’m a Hebrew. I worship the LORD, the God of heaven. He is the God who made the sea and the land.” Then the men were terrified. They knew that he was running away from the LORD, because he had told them.

They asked Jonah, “Why have you done this?” The storm was getting worse. So they asked Jonah, “What should we do with you to calm the sea?” He told them, “Throw me overboard. Then the sea will become calm. I know that I’m responsible for this violent storm.” Instead, the men tried to row harder to get the ship back to shore, but they couldn’t do it. The storm was getting worse.

So they cried to the LORD for help: “Please, LORD, don’t let us die for taking this man’s life. Don’t hold us responsible for the death of an innocent man, because you, LORD, do whatever you want.” Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the sea became calm. The men were terrified of the LORD. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the LORD. The LORD sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

(GW) He restored Israel’s boundaries from the border of Hamath to the Dead Sea as the LORD God of Israel predicted through his servant Jonah, the prophet from Gath Hepher and the son of Amittai.

He restored Israel’s boundaries from the border of Hamath to the Dead Sea as the LORD God of Israel predicted through his servant Jonah, the prophet from Gath Hepher and the son of Amittai.

So, In This Story, It’s Not So Much An All-In Kind Of Man Or Woman Who Shines -- But A God Who Goes All-In To Pursue Those Of Us Who Resist And Even Rebel.

THE WORD -- RUN -- means TO BOLT

WHAT ARE YOU RUNNING FROM?

SEE -- EVERYBODY GETS DOWN ON JONAH -- but how many of us disobey GOD -- like

(GW) Whoever knows what is right but doesn’t do it is sinning.

Whoever knows what is right but doesn’t do it is sinning.

LIKE -- WHATEVER HAS BEEN REVEALED TO YOU -- BY HIS HOLY SPIRIT OR HIS WORD

(PassionNTPsa) And he said to them, “As you go into all the world, preach openly the wonderful news of the gospel to the entire human race! Whoever believes the good news and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe the good news will be condemned. And these miracle signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of my name. They will speak in tongues. They will be supernaturally protected from snakes and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”

And he said to them, “As you go into all the world, preach openly the wonderful news of the gospel to the entire human race! Whoever believes the good news and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe the good news will be condemned. And these miracle signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of my name. They will speak in tongues. They will be supernaturally protected from snakes and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”

WE KNOW IT’S RIGHT .... WE KNOW THAT IS CHRIST’S NEW COVENANT COMMAND TO US -- AS WELL AS ....

Read His Word As Followers Of Christ

Pray - Love - Worship As Followers Of Christ

Reaching Others For Christ

HOW ARE WE DOING?

Our Bad Decisions Not Only Affect Us But Those Around Us

ILLUSTRATION

My story in Florida -- a rock company had been formed to launch the career of the next Teen Music Star. The plan was set and being managed by USA renown Radio DJ Johnny Dark -- record deals were set, radio stations in top play regions were set, TV appearances were set -- then this guy who was mad at GOD comes into the picture and is hired as the band organizer and leader. Things start going south immediately -- I find myself in the middle of it all counseling, witnessing Jesus to them and I told them -- I’m your Jonah!

These Poor Sailors Were Going The Direction They Should Go -- They Hadn’t Done Anything Wrong Except Let Jonah On The Ship!!

BUT -- because of JONAHS decision to RUN -- IT cost them resources

LISTEN -- letting the wrong people into your life will ALWAYS COST YOU

Those poor sailors should have NEVER let JONAH on their ship -- – like we should never let the JONAHS into our own lives

ILLUSTRATION

Saw a lady on Steve Harvey show, who had been a relationship with a guy, helped him get on his feet and get into his business and helped build it up and then she caught him cheating on her. She then said after 6 months she ran into him, he wanted to take her out, asked to borrow money for groceries and such – she was wondering if she should get back together with him – WHAT???? – THROW THAT JONAH OVER BOARD!!

God Not Only Forgives Jonah -- He Restores Him To The Mission.

In his abundant grace -- God calls people ‘ALL IN’-- again.

DON’T LET BAD CHOICES DEFINE YOU.

You are not your past. Sometimes we cause our own mess and sometimes we get caught up in other people’s storm --We cannot let those bad choices define us.

MAYBE --

A bad relationship paralyzed you for awhile -- but it is NOT who YOU ARE

You got caught up running from GOD because you were hurt deeply from someone else’s decisions

You haven’t really been following the directives of His Word

NIV84 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

He sees all the bad choices we make -- He does not condemn us. It doesn’t matter what you have done, God can use you -- He has a purpose for you.

DON’T LET BAD CHOICES DISQUALIFY YOU.

Jonah could have said, God I have disqualified myself from doing what you wanted… God says no, I have called YOU.

No matter how you have messed up, it does not disqualify you. If it did, God would never have used Peter or Paul.

God takes imperfect people and uses them to accomplish His perfect will -- that includes you.

Warren Wiersbe

“The Will Of God Will Never Lead You Where The Grace Of God Can’t Keep You And The Power Of God Can’t Use You.”

Jonah embraced the grace of God and headed for Nineveh.

SOMETIMES -- The Hardest Thing We Have To Do Is To Embrace The Grace Of God.

NIV84 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God isn’t through with you because you blew it.

And he won’t give up on YOU when more ugly stuff is POPS UP -- COME ON -- JUMP ‘ALL IN’

(PassionNTPsa) Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour. Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure. And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.

Be well balanced and always alert, because your enemy, the devil, roams around incessantly, like a roaring lion looking for its prey to devour. Take a decisive stand against him and resist his every attack with strong, vigorous faith. For you know that your believing brothers and sisters around the world are experiencing the same kinds of troubles you endure. And then, after your brief suffering, the God of all loving grace, who has called you to share in his eternal glory in Christ, will personally and powerfully restore you and make you stronger than ever. Yes, he will set you firmly in place and build you up.