JONAH 3
God spoke to Jonah
Jonah 3:1-2
: Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: "go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."How does the Lord speak to us?
-worship, prayer, bible, other people
-we’re not that unlike Jonah
-trick is to be listening
*Jonah is listening
*God WANTS to speak
-opposite of Chapter 1, where Jonah heard and didn’t do.
-heart has been changed
*God wants us to obey immediately when he speaks
How do we obey the things God tells us to do?
Where does the courage, strength, ability come from to obey?
*2nd time Jonah was asked to go to Ninevah he answered quickly – remembered what happened the 1st time he said no
*we remember what it was like before living in Christ & we are quick to obey – we are confident: God will not lead us somewhere we will not be taken care of
-this doesn’t happen overnight
-we have to arrange our lives and attitudes to be around other believers striving to be near
God
-we have to read the Bible and see what He sounds like when He speaks
Romans 1:5
: Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.-faith leads to obedience
-Holy Spirit works through us to be this to this world - we are his hands and feet
*obedience should be our lifestyle
-we do this by being so in love with Him and knowing Him
What are the results of obedience?
-Jonah brought new life to other people
-Our own spiritual life is not just for us
-If we slack, we are hurting those around us
-we all have gifts and abilities that other people need
*There is an invisible line of people that could be hurt by what we don’t do. The line starts with us – who we interact with now, and tomorrow and who they interact with, etc.
*Jonah helped an entire city by listening to God – could have been citywide hurt and damage
TO DO:
- make a list of practical definite things you can do for God
-things God wants you to do
- pray over these and ask for strength and direction
