Jonah-You Like Who

Lessons From Jonah

You like WHO?!?!

Forerunner – who we are.  We are open to everyone, but we expect a certain behavior level  for those attend. 

What do you do when Jesus tells you that He loves that person that has hurt you so badly and he wants YOU of all people to tell them that in humility?  What power!  What true witness of what it means to call Jesus Lord if you choose to obey.

Identity

Jonah had some nationalistic pride.  He was a proud Jew.  I am a proud American. 

He could not separate himself from his identity as a Jew, in order to fulfill his primary responsibility (and identity) as God’s servant.

We find our identity in different things.  Some sports, some academics, some in Forerunner or at church. 

What would it be like if Jesus Christ in the flesh showed up at your school tomorrow?  What flood of emotions would run through you?  Wonder!  Amazement?  Shame? 

“What is He doing here?”  “This doesn’t fit into my perception of how things should be?”

“He doesn’t belong here.”

What if He singled you out of the crowd and called to you?  Would you be overjoyed, or would you shrink back like it was your crazy aunt Matilda trying to get your attention? 

Who do you identify with most?  Jesus or the crowd?

Maturity brings us to the place where we are connected to others around us, but our identity is in Christ.

Worldwide Jesus

Reaching beyond our current circles of influence.

Going out of our comfort zone.  Jonah had to go preach to and share God’s Word with his enemy.

Jesus died for everyone!

Went and apologized and witnessed to my greatest enemy from High School…Drug.

Teens’ world is their school and family.

Adults’ their work and church, social circle

Churches world…their neighborhood, city or region.

Do we really comprehend that God so loved the WORLD, that He gave…

When He asks us to go somewhere or do something, we need to see the bigger God-sized picture to the best of our ability.

Remember you are God’s first. 

Before you are your friends, you are God’s

Before you are your parent’s, you are God’s

Before you are your boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s, you are God’s

Before you are your own self-image’s, you are God’s.  You belong to Him, and through the great miracle of His love, He is ours.

We must let that be our identity.  We must let that fact rule our actions.

We must not treat Jesus as an additive to our life, but let Him be our life.

We must walk in obedience to Him (Jonah)