Sermon Notes

This week Pastor Robins continued his series on the book of Jonah.

Jonah in the ship - Protesting
Jonah in the fish - Praying
Jonah in the city - Preaching
Jonah in the suburbs - Pouting

- Important for us to understand God speaks.
- He had a message for Nineveh - He had a messenger - Jonah.
- Everyone listened to God but Jonah.
- Nineveh was one of largest cities in the world at the time.
- Disobedience never brings us closer to God.
- Jonah fled from God. Jonah went from the presence of God vs. 1:3
- Are you going farther or closer to God?
- Joppa is mentioned in the New Testement Acts 9:36, 10:5. Jonah went form Gathefer to Joppa on his way to Tarshish.
- He went down - went down always used when people are going away from God.
- Man always pays the fare when he runs away from God. It costs you, your relationship with Him, not just money, family, relationships.
- Why did Jonah run? Maybe he hated Ninevites? Maybe he was just disobedient? Vs. 4:2 He understood the character of God. He knew God would stop from doing harm if people repented.
- Is that a good reason? Should we not spread the gospel to people we deem unworthy - they don't deserve it.
- Who does not deserve to be saved? Is there anyone that bad? No! Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
- 1:4 Nature listens to God - Nature at His command.
- Mark 4:39-41 - Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and it ceased - great calm.
- One moment big storm, the next great calm - only one could do that. God controls nature.
- The wicked listened to God. vs. 5 The sailors were very afraid and became very religious.
- Religion will not help you. You need a personal relationship.
- There are no atheists in foxholes.
- The sailors call out to their own gods.
- 1:5 Jonah was asleep the phrase went down is used again here.
- Just because you go away from God doesn't mean God gives up on you.
- 1:6 Captain wakes Jonah to pray. It is a shame that the prophet had to be called to pray by a heathen man.
- Tragic to turn to prayer after all else fails - should pray first.
- Initially when we run away from God there seems to be a sense of relief, can relax now, false sense that all is well.
- 1:7 Cast lots - lot fell on Jonah.
- They ask 6 questions - Who caused trouble? Occupation? Where are you from? What is your country? What people are you from? Why have you done this?
- If you are running away from God - what in the world would cause you to do this?
- God had cranked up the storm. Tried everything humanly possible.
- When God tightens the screws in your life - you can try everything but talking to God and it won't work.
- Conditions worsen - Futile human efforts - time to pray.
- Vs. 14 They cried out to the Lord
- The creatures listened to GOd.
- Picked up by a great fish. Critics say no fish in mediteranean big enough to swallow a person. Bible says - the Lord had prepared a great fish could have been a whale - could have been a sardine.

Have a happy day!
Blessings,
Liisa