Doing the Job You Are Called To Do

Jonah mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25

TIMELINE - Jonah, likely around 800 B.C. to 730 BC - Time of Assyrian weakness, fighting Arameans and Urartians - famine, leaders struggling in mid 700’s B.C.

722 B.C. - Shalmaneser conquers Samaria (N. Kingdom) 2 Kings 17 - Jonah’s ministry will have an effect on his own nation.

RECAP JONAH - By Chapter - Historical narrative - Jesus refers to Jonah

JONAH - A Performance Review

1) Jonah 1:9b

Statement of identity, faith, as opposed to others’ beliefs

The sailors know this God, this YHWH, and know He’s the real deal

2) Jonah 2:2a

“i called, He answered”

No leaving a message not to be returned

Jonah waited for trouble, and then cried out - common, but OK, it happens

3) Jonah 3:8b

It is up to each individual to cry out to God, sincerely

Then…turn from wickedness

Each person needs to turn from sin, our position as sinners (Lee Ann)

4) Jonah 4:2b

You, LORD, are: gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindess (and truth) - Ex. 34:6

Jonah knows

POINTS - The Calling

Jonah knows God’s promises

Truth - speak it, regardless - Jonah gets 1/3 through the city and they are hearing and responding

1) God’s calling is not always “pleasant”

God gives the command - choice to follow or not

Disobey? Correction (spiritually)

Obey? Protection (spiritually)

Yes, physical stuff happens, but the issue/response is always spiritual

2) God’s calling demands our response

Ask for His help and guidance

OR we can cry out to Him when we are in trouble

BEST - cry out to Him for help, guidance, and remember His protection if bad happens

The fish was a consequence to Jonah

God prepared the fish

God knows what your response is now, and what it will be

What is He preparing for you? What will He allow to happen, hoping you will learn and grow/

How messy will you make following Him?

The LORD had a plan for Jonah, Ninevah, Israel, and some prophet was not going to stop it.

BIG PICTURE

Believers need to cry out for strength, help

Lost need to cry out for salvation

3) The Calling may not always make sense to us

Hindsight is 20/20 - right?

Scripture, minus Revelation 5-on, is hindsight. We see God’s perfect plan, nearly complete, actually it IS complete, it just hasn’t all happened yet.

This is the message of the prophet, the apostle, the believer

We KNOW what God has done for us, for all mankind

We KNOW what He will do

Why don’t we let Him lead and just follow?

Fear, worry, concern, “logic”

Ninevah was mired in politics, social and cultural matters

“Who is some ‘God’ that is going to make a difference?”

The US, the world, is mired in politics, social and cultural matters?

“Who is some ‘God’ that is going to make a difference?”

The LORD commands us to follow, to go, to teach, to lead people to Him, to stand up for Him

To THIS people? Yes

To the evil around us? Yes

WHY ELSE ARE YOU HERE?

4) The Calling is God’s Plan

The LORD keeps His promises

His name is His promise

His Word is Truth

His Word is Power - Romans 1:16, Hebrews 4:12

God’s Command is this:

(NOT) Figure out the cutest, easiest, most friendly way to tell people a little bit about me and maybe they will come to church, maybe...

He says: Preach the truth! Be ready, in season and out. 2 Tim. 4:2

SPEAK HIS WORD - Let Him do the work the Word is meant to

His Word will not return empty - Isaiah 55:11

To the wicked people here??? YES

HIS WORD IS HIS PROMISE

Jonah knows, and is frustrated - chapter 4

Jonah was seriously more concerned (worried) with the political and cultural reality than the spiritual potential.

Ninevah repents

and Jonah pouts

and the account of Jonah ends there.

100 Years later

Book of Nahum - Assyria is gone, done

The church, 100 years ago

Where are we now? Stronger, splintered

QUESTIONS:

How will you prepare for the health of the church?

How will you spread God’s Word?

To people you don’t like...

If the health of the church was up to you, and the next 20,30, 50, years depended on YOUR actions, what would be the outcome?

If you come to church, and bring your kids, they MIGHT get saved and even follow the LORD

If that’s all you do, it is very unlikely that your grandkids will

This starts at home!

We worry that the kids are missing out on school, sports, fun...

Our kids are missing out on the GOSPEL! Unless we make sure they are not

CLOSE

Ninevah had a choice to make - Based on the truth of God’s Word

We need to present the choice to people - based on the truth of God’s Word

God desires to use you, yes YOU. How easy will you make that on Him and yourself?

Not always “pleasant” and according to YOUR plan

But always rewarding, and good, according to God and His plan

Let’s let His Word accomplish what He wills it to.