June 29-July 5 Jonah

Go To Nineveh Jonah!Go To Nineveh Jonah!

We are going to talk about Jonah today. Not about

Jonah and the fish, but the real lesson contained in the

book of Jonah.


He had every right to run (he thought). Why should he go to that stinking city? He hated the place. Why should he warn the

Ninevites about Gods judgment?


After how they had treated his people, they deserved to be

wiped out. The last thing Jonah wanted was for his enemies to

receive Gods blessing.


So he ran ... as fast and as far as he could away from what God wanted

him to do. But God had other plans.

You know the story: God stirred up a storm. Jonah bailed out of the boat

and ended up in the belly of the fish.


God gave Jonah time to think over his actions and attitudes. For the

first time Jonah didn't complain, he prayed. (Probably the only time anyone ever prayed for a fish-

burp.)


The prayer was answered and Jonah eventually traveled to hated Nineveh. He preached to the

people there. Though his odor wasn't appealing, his message was

and the Ninevites repented.


God relented (as Jonah knew he would), and Jonah fumed,

furious over the turn of events. He sulked.

We can be so difficult.But God can be so patient.


The Book of Jonah is more than a fascinating account of one man's

futile attempt to run away from God. It is a story of God's love for even the most unlovable, despicable people we

can imagine—and of our responsibility to tell them the Good

News.


Situation:Situation: God told Jonah to preach to the Assyrians in

Nineveh. Jonah knew that if he preached to them, they would have

an opportunity to avoid God's wrath. Jonah hoped to see these enemies punished by God, so he

ran away.


Observation:Observation:Running away from God can't be done. Jonah discovered that.

God's dominion extends everywhere.


Inspiration:Inspiration: How infinitely more difficult it is for us to grasp what

Jesus meant when He said: "God is Spirit." Jesus knew! His mind was

not limited as our minds are limited.


His eyes were not focused on the mud puddle of life. He knew full well the borderless reaches of the Spirit, and He came to try to give

us some understanding of its wonders, its comfort, and its

peace.


The spirit is not something bound in a body. The Bible declares that

God is a Spirit that He is not limited to body; He is not limited

to shape; He is not limited to boundaries or bonds;


He is absolutely immeasurable and indiscernible by eyes that can see only physical things. The Bible tells us that because He has no

such limitations He can be everywhere at once—that He can

hear all, see all, and know all.


He can be everywhere at once, heeding the prayers of all who call out in the

name of Christ; performing the mighty miracles that keep the stars in their places and the plants bursting up

through the earth and the fish swimming in the sea.


There is no limit to God. There is no limit to His wisdom.

There is no limit to His power. There is no limit to His love.


If you have been trying to limit God—stop it! You wouldn't try to limit

the ocean. You cannot limit the universe. You wouldn't be bold

enough to try to change the course of the moon, or to stop the earth as

it turns on its axis!


How everlastingly more foolish it is to try to limit the God who created and controls all these

wonders! (From Peace with God by Billy Graham)


Application:Application:Did you ever try to run away from your shadow as a child? You can't run from God either. When God tells you to go somewhere, listen

and follow.


Where is God sending you to tell others about him—to your

family, next door, your coworkers? Will you run from

God's call?


Exploration:Exploration: Sovereignty-Job 37:23 NET As for the Almighty,

we cannot attain to him! He is great in power, but justice and

abundant righteousness he does not oppress.


Job 38:41 NET Who prepares prey for the raven, when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack

of food?Revelation 19:16 NET He has a name

written on his clothing and on his thigh: "King of kings and Lord of

lords."

Jonah Finally ObeyedJonah Finally Obeyed

Situation:Situation:Jonah finally obeyed God and preached in Nineveh. The people and their king

responded immediately, and God had compassion on

them.


Observation:Observation:God's words can have a

transforming effect on people, causing them to

repent from their sins,


Inspiration:Inspiration:Violent strife and conflict have haunted the human

race to one degree or another since the day Adam and Eve first chose to rebel

against God.


At those times, death rides through every city and town bringing suffering and death.

But sometimes, just as suddenly, we enter a time of peace and

relative calm.


Why? ... because many have listened to His message of warning and turned to Him

in repentance and faith.


A good example of this is seen in God's dealings with the people of the ancient Assyrian capital of Nineveh. They were an evil, pagan people who worshiped idols and often fought against

God's people.


God sent the prophet Jonah to Nineveh to proclaim His coming

judgment to them: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.... Forty more days and Nineveh will be

overturned."


But when the king of Nineveh heard Jonah's message, he repented and ordered the whole people to repent as

well. As a result God's judgment was averted.


Only later, when evil increased in the generations after Jonah and the people failed to repent, did God's judgment finally fall on Nineveh. God's judgment is

often this way.


Some day it will come in all its fullness and finality, but in the meantime it may be

that God's hand of judgment will pause when we repent.

(From Storm Warning by Billy

Graham)


Application:Application:If God tells you to speak to

others about their actions, take courage. You might be

surprised at how many accept your words and repent.


Exploration:Exploration: Repentance-2 Kings 22:19 NET ‘You displayed a

sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard how I intended to make this

place and its residents into an appalling example of an accursed

people.


You tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,' says the Lord.Matthew 3:8 NET Therefore produce fruit that proves

your repentance,


Acts 17:30 NET Therefore, although God has

overlooked such times of ignorance, he now

commands all people everywhere to repent, (Max Lucado Devotional Bible)

Upside-Down Values Upside-Down Values

Enmity and hostility have a way of turning otherwise kind and

compassionate people into vicious and vindictive people. That is one reason why Scripture cautions us against allowing bitterness and hatred to remain in our hearts.

Upside-Down Values Upside-Down Values

These attitudes can seriously distort our values, turning them upside down so that we care

more about things such as our own honor, our material well-

being, or our national or ethnic pride, than we do about people.

Upside-Down ValuesUpside-Down Values

Jonah fell into this trap. God called him to preach repentance to the

people of Nineveh, but Jonah resisted because they were bitter

enemies of his people, the Israelites. Only after a near-death

experience did the unwilling prophet finally comply.

Plant Teaches Jonah About Plant Teaches Jonah About PeoplePeople

However, his values were still upside-down. When he

complained about the repentance of the Ninevites,

God taught him a lesson using a shade plant.


The Lord exposed the prophet's distorted attitudes by showing that he cared more for the loss of the plant than for the plight of

an entire people whom God was determined to save.


Jonah 4:5 NET Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made a shelter for himself

there and sat down under it in the shade to see what would happen to the city.


6 The LORD God appointed a little plant and caused it to grow

up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to rescue him from his misery. Now Jonah was very delighted about the

little plant.


7 So God sent a worm at dawn the next day, and it attacked the little plant so

that it dried up. 8 When the sun began to shine, God

sent a hot east wind.


So the sun beat down on Jonah's head, and he grew

faint. So he despaired of life, and said, "I would rather die

than live!" 9 God said to Jonah, "Are you really so very angry

about the little plant?"


And he said, "I am as angry as I could possibly be!" 10 The LORD said, "You were upset about this little plant, something for which

you have not worked nor did you do anything to make it grow. It grew up overnight and died the

next day.


11 Should I not be even more concerned about Nineveh, this enormous city? There are more

than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as

well as many animals!"


Can we see this picture? Jonah has picked a spot to watch the

destruction of Nineveh. He has made himself comfortable with a soda in one hand and a burger in the other. He wants to see fire & brimstone but instead he’s taught

a lesson from a plant.


Jonah and the plantJonah and the plantJonah cared for a plant

God and the people of God and the people of NinevehNineveh

God cared for the people of Nineveh


Jonah and the plantJonah and the plant Jonah was concerned for

himself God and the people of God and the people of

NinevehNinevehGod was concerned for the

welfare of others.


Jonah and the plantJonah and the plant Jonah did not create the

plant.God and the people of God and the people of

NinevehNinevehGod created all the people

and animals in Nineveh.


Jonah and the plantJonah and the plant Jonah did nothing for the

plant. God and the people of God and the people of

NinevehNinevehGod took care of Nineveh.


Jonah and the plantJonah and the plant The plant had temporal value.


The people of Nineveh had both temporal and eternal

value.


Jonah and the plantJonah and the plant Jonah’s primary concern was for

his own personal comfort. God and the people of God and the people of

NinevehNinevehGods primary concern was for

human life—and spiritual sensitivity toward Him.


Jonah and the plantJonah and the plant Jonah’s values displayed

selfishness and an upside-down perspective on life.


Gods values displayed His love and a proper perspective on life.


What do your attitudes toward others—especially

your enemies—reveal about your values? Have you

allowed yourself to become "upside-down" in your concern for people?


If so, why not step back and take a long, hard look at

what matters to God. Then take steps to reorient your life so that it honors what the Lord value's. (Word In Life

Study Bible)

Spiritual

June 29-July 5 Jonah