Sermon Tone Analysis

The God of the Second Change

Jonah #1

Jonah 1:1-17

Running From the Call

I want us to take a short turn through a little but well know book.

Sadly this book is generally known for a supporting character.

In the Old testament book about a prophet named Jonah … the most famous character is a >>>> you said “whale” but there is no whale in this story.

A whale is a mammal and as we wills see there is no water mammal referred to in this story.

It is a FISH … but the Fish, while an interesting part, is only just a PART in the story, a supporting character at best.

This story is about God.

This story is about an important part of the Character of God.

People often see God in the Old Testament as vindictive and Judgmental but that is not true, God’s judgment is always the result of his Holiness but not his deepest desire.

The Apostle Peter explains an important part of God’s Character that we will find front and center in this book, this true story.

2 Peter 3:9 – /The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance/

Hallelujah we serve the “God of the Second Chance” …

This story, while teaching us about God, and his offer of Repentance, also becomes a good mirror.

When we compare ourselves to others, we might see ourselves as pretty good people … but when we look at God … we see ourselves as we truly are

As we take this short 4 message walk with jonah, I want you to see God through the wonder of Repentance Available through the God of the Second Chance.

What happens when repentance happens?

Who Demands it?

What Does Repentance bring in Man?

In God?

What does Repentance Reveal?

Read chapter one with me in the book of Jonah … Someone is NOT where they should be …

*READ Jonah 1:1-17*

There are many things about this story that are not pretty.

Our lead human character Is portrayed in a very honest, albeit unflattering, light.

So, the title “Running From God”

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*1.

Running From God*

Jonah was a prophet.

In 2 Kings 14:23-27 he is shown during the reign of King Jeroboam II.

That was a wicked king who lead God’s people into idolatry.

God’s correction came on them through the attacks of pagan nations.

Foreign people had repeatedly attacked and taken land.

But God sent Jonah.

Jonah prophesied a popular message that God would restore their borders and he Did.

Now my guess is that Jonah became a famous and popular preacher.

Today he would have had books, T.V. etc.

With all that success, /“The Word of the Lord Came to Jonah”/ in verse one … in other words … GOD CALLED

Now that does not mean a phone call … but what if it was …”

“Jonah … It’s God calling”

“yes Lord”

“Jonah, good job with the preaching in Israel, I’m sure the people really like the message you gave them from me.

“Thanks God, yes it’s been kinda cool to have the people like me, doesn’t always happen with my fellow prophets.

“You know God, I think it’s time to enlarge the Church … build a family life center with a Gym … a coffee shop in the foyer would be really nice too.”

“Well Jonah, I have something new for you alright …”

“cool Lord”

“Jonah, you might want to sit down, I want you to go to Nineveh and I want you to preach about their sin and call them to repentance.

They are a wicked people and I want to tell them that I have seen their wickedness and something has to change”

“Jonah … Jonah … can you hear me now?”

You see … Nineveh was the worst … we will learn more about how bad they were in a later message, but Imagine that God said to you, “I want you to go to Afghanistan, to the Taliban headquarters … or into the hills for the Al Qaida leaders and I want you to preach against their wickedness.”

Or Libya 10 years ago, Nazi Germany of the 40s, etc.?

If God said “I want you to go to the place where they will hate you the most, where they hate me (God) the most and preach, REPENTANCE”

God’s Call comes in many ways sometimes dramatically … but most times not

God has called me in many ways and times over the years

December 15, 1975, at the First Baptist Church in Pickerington, Ohio; we were worshipping in the Elementary/Middle School.

I knew that morning that God wanted me to be a preacher of the gospel.

But I didn’t tell anyone, I waited for two weeks.

I honestly felt guilty for two weeks for keeping this to myself.

Then on December 28th 1975 I made that decision public to our church where my father was the pastor.

There have been many calls and many assignments

In May of 2000, in my quiet time, I sensed the Lord saying, “Jim you are going to leave your current pastorate and move to another state and another large city.

I shared it with Lisa and she confirmed that feeling.

Then two weeks later, a pastor began to talk to me about joining him in moving to St. Louis to First Baptist Ferguson.

I was not surprised by that Pastor’s call because God had already revealed his plan in my life.

But calls aren’t always so dramatic and life changing.

God’s call doesn’t always involve a moving van, but the stakes are still in eternal issues.

In December 1983, I was a freshman in college, studying for the minister, serving on the staff of the Miller Heights Baptist Church as their Minister of Music.

There was a guy on campus named David, he was an Atheist.

When you are an open atheist on a Baptist College campus, you are a marked man for hot hearted, well meaning Christians.

I wanted in the dorm lobby one night as several of those well-meaning Christians “spiritually assaulted” him arguing the existence of God and Christianity, to no avail.

To be honest you could tell that David was enjoying the exchange.

As I watched from across the room, I prayed a little prayer “Lord, I want to be able to give a meaningful witness to David.”

That was all I said.

David and I were acquaintances on the small campus but were definitely not friends, we didn’t hang out, we had very little interaction.

The next day we had a dorm meeting to declare our roommates for the next semester.

I had already decided that I was going to have a room by myself, no roommate for the coming semester.

After the meeting, David walked up to me and said “Jim, I was wondering if you would be willing to be my roommate next semester.”

I told you we weren’t friends.

He knew I was a preacher, a minister, he usually avoided me, and now “Wait, what, me, WHY?”

That was God calling … that was an Answer to my prayer from 24 hours earlier.

God was at work in David’s life and he was revealing it to me

God’s call is always a revelation of what he is doing.

God’s call could be as simple as an invitation to an area of obedience in your life.

It could be an invitation to life change.

If God reveals his plans, his ways, or his work, he is not just giving you a “heads up”… God doesn’t send out twitter bombs …

God is calling you to JOIN him!

He told Jonah /“Go to the Great City of Nineveh” … /

Now before I move on … you should know something about that guy, David, in college.

I said “YES” to his request.

We became roommates and friends.

Over time, discussions about God, Sin, Salvation, Heaven and Hell, even the Second coming arose between us.

Over time, he softened his heart to the gospel and eventually two years later, he trusted Christ as his Savior and Lord.

I will be honest that I haven’t been so quick to obey every time God called … nor would I guess, have you … what about Jonah … the popular preacher … God revealed a desire for a preaching trip, a mission trip for Jonah …

God called and

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*2.

Jonah Ran Away*

Wait a minute that’s not how preachers are supposed to be …

Dallas Willard, Christian Author, USC Professor in Philosophy … in his book /“The Divine Conspiracy”/ writes that /"the only place in all of God’s creation where the effective will of God is allowed to be absent is the Human Heart."

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Jonah said “NO” and he ran away …