Important Lessons From Familiar Stories

Jonah

-Introduction

-Matt 12:38-40

            -Isn’t it amazing that the Jewish leaders actually asked for a sign!

                        -Jesus had provided many signs through His miraculous works.

-Evidently, they had a particular type &/or magnitude of sign in mind.

-In response, Jesus referred to the sign of Jonah.

-It is the book of Jonah that I would like to focus on this evening. 

            -In doing so, we’ll try to “draw out” some important lessons.

-But, first, let’s notice an important point (Point #1) from this passage in Matthew 12: 

  Just like the Jewish leaders did in Jesus’ time, many people today ignore the evidence

  revealed in the scriptures due to what they already have in their minds (preconceived

  ideas).

-Book of Jonah

-overall synopsis

-Chapter 1 - Jonah runs from God.

-Obviously, a person cannot run from God.

            -Ps 139:1-12

            -the storm at sea - Jonah 1:4-5, 9-17

            -Point #2 - There are consequences to our actions.

                        -God always gives us the freedom to make our own decisions.  Even when He

                          gave Jonah direct instructions, He allowed Jonah to choose to disobey.  Yet,

                          let’s always remember that there are always consequences to our decisions/actions.

-Chapter 2 - Jonah runs to God.

-Jonah 2:1-10

-God always allows people to return to Him.

-Regardless of what one does - no matter how dire their situation - God will allow them to

  return.

            -I’ve heard people say, “God would never forgive a person like me.”  If that person

  responds to God’s word, God will forgive.

-Heb 6:4-6 - not a short fall on God’s part but on man’s part

      -A person can become so hardened that he/she lacks any desire to repent.

-Point #3 - When we find ourselves doing something contrary to the will of God, we

  need to acknowledge, repent of it and seek God’s forgiveness quickly. 

-Chapter 3 - Jonah runs with God.

-Point #4 - When people run with God, good things happen.

-The people of Nineveh heard God’s message, took it to heart and responded to it.

-That’s exactly what we need to do.

-Chapter 4 - Jonah runs ahead of God.

-Jonah was trying to determine what God should do.

            -Rom 11:33-36

-Instead of submitting to the will of God, Jonah tried to dictate to God what He should do.

-How many times have you heard people say things like,  “God should...”, “I don’t think

  God would...”,

-Sometimes I hear these types of statements being used when somebody is trying to support

  or justify that which is contrary to God’s will.

            -We cannot do so.  We must simply conform and submit to God’s word.

-Point #5 - We need to depend upon statements that begin with “God’s word says...”

-Let’s Notice Three Additional Points:

-Additional Point #1:  God’s word can impact those that we would least expect.

            -Jonah 1:16 - These mariners were impacted by what they saw.  

            -Usually we think of these men has hardened, rough characters.

            -Jonah 1:5 - They were idolatrous.

            -Yet, they sacrificed to God and made vows to Him.

-Additional Point #2:  God has always offered salvation to all.

            -Some incorrectly assume that the Gentiles that lived during the times of the Law of

              Moses had no opportunity for salvation.

            -However, the Ninevites (Gentiles) were told to repent.  Therefore, they had to have

  had a standard to repent back to.  That would have been the Patriarchal Law.

-Additional Point #3:  Let’s not make the same mistake as Jonah in lacking compassion for

       our fellow man.

            -Why did Jonah initially run from God?  - Jonah 4:1-2

            -When they repented, Jonah was angry.

            -Let’s be careful that we don’t become too hardened by the sinfulness that surrounds us

              to the point of losing compassion for others.  Instead, we need to show our

  compassion by reaching out to them with the Gospel of Christ.

-Summary and Invitation

-Let’s not run away from God.  Let’s not run ahead of God.  Let’s simply run with God.

-Let’s continue to study His word, learn from it and strive to live more in accordance with it.

-What about you this evening?  Have you responded to God through the Gospel?  If not,

  Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Luke 13:3,5,

  Acts 17:30) Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)

-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel, have you been living faithfully?  If not, confess your

  shortcomings, repent and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).