A Pop Quiz for Sleeping Saints
A POP QUIZ FOR SLEEPING SAINTS
TEXT Jonah 1:1-17
Introduction: The background for the book, the call of Jonah and his attempt to out maneuver God. Notice that he path was a downward one, v. 3. The path of disobedience to God can only lead downward. It seems evident from v. 5 that Jonah was the only true believer on board. As such, he had a responsibility to be a bright light for God. Jonah isn’t shining though he is sleeping. While the storm is raging all around, while the heathen mariners call out to their false gods, while every man on board needed help from the true God, the only one who could have made a difference was sound asleep. When the captain of the vessel locates the sleeping prophet, he asks the first of a series of questions that Jonah had to face. As I read this, it is clear to me, that conditions in our world are no different from those on board that ship. The world is engulfed in a great storm; people are perishing and looking for answers to life’s questions. They are looking for someone to point the way. All he while, the church and church people are sound asleep. These sailors gave Jonah a little pop quiz that we would do well to look at. Let’s consider these questions Jonah faced, and see that they are questions we face as believers also.
I. THEY QUESTIONED HIS PREOCCUPATION v. 5-6
A. Jonah was so caught up in his rebellion against God and in going his own way that he was totally oblivious to the conditions around him.
1. The modern church - we sleep while the world around us fights for its very life.
B. The captain came and rebuked the prophet for his prayerlessness.
1. The tragedy of a sleeping church in a dying world
Ezekiel 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
2. The shame of the world’s rebuke!
C. They world may not say it, or act like it, but they want a living, praying, serving church.
1. Who they come to when trouble comes.
2. It’s time to wake up
Romans 3:11-14 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
II. THEY QUESTIONED HIS PROFESSION v. 7-8
A. It must have been embarrassing for Jonah to declare himself to be a man of God.
1. It is hard to stand when you’ve blown your testimony.
B. As Christians, we must never allow ourselves to forget who we are and what we have been called to be.
1. The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
2. The harvest is white
John 4:35-38 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
C. Christian, what is your occupation? Are you on the job for Jesus?
III. THEY QUESTIONED HIS PEDIGREE v.8
A. Jonah is asked about his origin, there is a threefold question.
B. Whence Comest Thou?
1. How can a running, disobedient man say that he is God’s man from God’s country?
2. He can’t! Our disobedience and sin clouds our testimony and causes our lips to be silent.
C. What Is Thy Country?
1. Jonah was from the Promised Land.
2. But, he didn’t live like a worshipper of Jehovah God!
3. We are literally from Heaven
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
4. However, sin and slackness make it difficult for a lost world to believe us!
D. Of What People Art Thou
1. Jonah was one of the chosen people of God.
2. The church is the redeemed people of God!
3. People saved by grace, Heaven bound, Hell proof, eternally saved and equipped with the truth and power of God Almighty.
4. Our activity ought to match our bloodline!
E. All these things are true of the Christian, but they are all hollow and empty to a lost world that sees the church as self-absorbed, out of touch and irrelevant to their world and problems.
F. The world has every right to question our reality when we do not live up to it!
IV. THEY QUESTIONED HIS PURPOSE v.10
A. “Why have you done this?” –
1. They seem amazed that anyone would act so foolishly and claim to know God at the same time.
B. In truth, the world would prefer that we left them alone.
1. There will come a day, however, when they will point an accusing finger at us and demand to know why we slept while they perished.
C. We need to take the Lord’s work very seriously, for a day is coming when we will not be able to work
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
D. We all ought to question our purpose.
1. Why am I here?
2. What am I really doing for God?
3. What does God want me to do?
4. Why do I do what I do?
5. What do I not do that I need to do?
6. All are powerful questions that demand and deserve to be answered.
V. THEY QUESTIONEDED HIS PUNISHMENT v. 11-17
A. “What shall we do with thee?”
1. The answer they receive is the only one that makes sense.
2. “Cast away the disobedient saint.”
B. This is the modern world’s reaction to the church.
1. This is our punishment, they simply ignore us, or worse, they cast us off.
2. The modern world is asking, “Where does the church fit in?”
3. This was not how it was during the life of Christ –
Mark 2:12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
Matthew 9:33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
4. They might not have liked Him, but no one was able to ignore Him!
C. The reason?
1. Everywhere Jesus went, He touched those around Him.
2. His life, because of His holiness, was a challenge to the sinner, a light to the seeker, food to the hungry, forgiveness to the guilty, and life to the dead.
3. Jesus made a difference!
4. That was Jonah’s responsibility to Nineveh and to the men on that ship.
5. It is our responsibility to the world around us today!
Concclusion: I didn’t like this little pop quiz very much! But, it does serve as a wake up call to God’s children who desire to make a difference in their world. We need to be awake, active and on deck letting our lights shine for the Glory of God. We can either be like Jonah or like Jesus. I know who we are called to be like, but who are we really closer to today?
