Towers Baptist Church
Worship Gathering for July 5
Jonah 1:1-17 ESV
Jonah 1:1-17
Jonah can be called the “wrong way prophet” or “the pouting prophet” but I don’t want you to see this as 48 verses about difficulties, bad luck, misfortune and fear of what God may do to you if you disobey. Instead, these 48 verses are filled with rich truths, a deep message for humanity and the portrayal of God’s character and his purpose. So, instead of viewing this story through the way the world views it or the way you may have viewed it as a child, I want us to view it through these Biblical lenses. I want us to see…
1. God’s patient attitude and love toward all people
2. God’s grace and mercy
3. God’s power over nature
4. The disaster of running from God.
Application: When a command comes to us from the word of the LORD, we can in faith trust and obey or in fear run the other way.
Biblical Truth: Disobedience is leaving the presence of the LORD. I want that principle to sink in and resonate for a moment.
Have you ever thought or said, “I feel like God is not here. I don’t know where God is.” The truth is that if you feel far from God, distant from God, let me remind you He has not moved. We are the ones who have moved, who have drifted, who have fallen from His presence.
Let me remind you of the Words of Scripture.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you”
(Deuteronomy 31:6).
Application: When that command comes from the LORD, deliberately approach the LORD.
When you feel buried under the fear and uncertainty put away your pride and self-sufficiency and deliberately and specifically cast your cares upon Him in humility.
Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch watchmaker who helped many Jews escape from the Nazi’s and the Holocaust during WW2. She hid them in her home. She believed that this was the will of God. She was obedient and trusted God in what He asked her to do.
She is quoted as saying this:
If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed.
If you look within, you’ll be depressed.
If you look at God, you’ll be at rest.
Biblical Truth: There are dangerous consequences for disobeying the LORD.
Application: No matter the cost, our answer must be YES!
You may say this is ridiculous. Jesus would never ask me to do something crazy. I would say you are thinking like Jonah and that is your faithless excuse. Listen to the words of Jesus himself in Luke 15:25-27:
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Do you realize what He just asked the great crowd? He said put your yes on the table, no excuses and follow me.
This may have convicted you. It may have brought up a sense of failure in your life. It may have brought up a since of shortcoming before the LORD. There is good news!
Biblical Truth: The LORD can redeem these times to draw us back to Him because nothing is impossible for Him.
This is His display of power, grace and love.
Power that He can calm the storm, control nature and use creation for his purposes.
Grace to draw all men to himself no matter their past.
Love for these people that he would want to extend His mercy upon his prophet, the mariners on the boat and an evil city.
Today, I want you to respond by putting your YES on the table.
I want you to say YES to obeying God no matter what He asks and no matter the cost.
· It may be as simple as buying the coffee for the person behind you in line at Tim Hortons
· It may be a bigger step by sharing the Gospel with a lost person this week.
· It may be extreme by selling all your possessions and moving to a strategic city as a missionary while working in your field of expertise, but for the purpose of the Kingdom of God.
Are you ready to put your YES on the table?
I want you to say YES to following Jesus no matter the cost.
o It may cost a relationship.
o It may cost a job.
o It may cost everything.
If you are not a follower of Jesus and you are crying out to your own god for your needs, you are living dangerously. You are living in the danger of being separated from the true God for eternity. You can step out of that danger right now, by saying YES to following Jesus.
So, here is what I am asking you to do. I want you to text YES to 604-265-1593 or send an email to prayer@towersbaptistchurch.org
If there is something God is asking you to do text YES, I WILL OBEY now.
If you want to follow Jesus text YES, I WILL FOLLOW now.