JONAH: Slow Down & See What God Is Doing

 Slow Down & See What God Is Doing Jonah 3:5-9 Today’s study in Jonah is important to us today, why? Because I suspect we all need to slow down. Microwaves, Keurigs, and Netflixs … They all take the waiting out of life - all the process out of life and it condition us to immediacy, self-focus and concentration, and to not think deeply about things while accepting shallow conclusions. · Want a baked potato: 300 degrees and 90 minutes or 5 minutes on each side in the microwave and you have 80 minute to spare? · Want a cup of coffee - you could brew a pot and share - or just Keurig your own single cup in 30 seconds. · Or why drive to Redbox when you can open up Netflixs and watch all 8 seasons of The Office, rather than sleeping eating or even practicing person hygiene. And so Jonah is important to us and though we like Microwaves, Keurigs, and Netflixs this is worth our time to slow down, pay attention, and see what God is doing Jonah 3:5 (ESV) 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. This is nothing short of amazing - do you remember what’s happened to this point in the story? The book of Jonah starts off: Jonah 1:1–2 (ESV) 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” We said they were a city of warriors, we can even see today pictures of how they’d treat their captives - tortured, left alive and paraded through the city for all to see. And so Jonah was I think terrified to go - but with a mix of emotions. He may have even hated these people. Also, I’m forced to wonder of Jonah, what was his driving force in not wanting to go? Did he think God would show mercy (if so, His words to Jonah didn't expose that he simply said “call out against it, for their evil has come up before me”, doesn’t seem to me like a hope filled message - I think Jonah was angry at the people, and there for angry to God for calling him to go to them, and afraid for his own safety. Jonah 3:1–2 (ESV) 1 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” Same call, just a second time. Do you see how patient and graceful that is? This is God, not you. The creator of the universe, not the electrician, or carpenter, or office worker, God. Who told Jonah what to do and where to go yet; Jonah doesn’t and Jonah runs, and tries to kill himself. Still God uses Him. You see people want this to be a story about us. Common wisdom would say that Jonah was tried and then he was humbled and then he because good enough for God to use - if that’s the case Jonah get’s over that humility very fast and again hates these people and want’s them all to die and has a pity party with God at the end - no this is simply a book that demands your attention and demands you slow down from your rushed life to go watch a throw back like Wesley Snipes in “Blade” on net flicks … Jonah didn’t become humbled enough to be used, or good enough to used, rather God is a patient God who worked on Jonah as He worked through Jonah - you’re not a project your a person and an object of God’s affection, if you’ll slow down and see that in this book. Scripture is called an accommodation. Do you know what an accommodation is? Miriam Webster says: “An agreement that allows people, groups, etc., to work together” Here is the agreement, the Creator God, who is outside of time, and different than us want’s us to know Him and be able to know Him. And so He’s given us His Scripture - which accommodates us making an agreement that allows us to see His character was; we can understand on human terms. Through other people, through life situations, through circumstances - do you want that? You’ll have to slow down… When life is overcoming and it will be, we can see and know the one true God who is outside time, who is different than us, but who’s desire is that we’ll know Him - this is amazing if we’ll slow down and enjoy it Microwave, Keurig, Netflixs generation(s) - will we slow down and see Him and know Him & be known by Him. Do you see God in your life? I pray that you do. God has gone to great lengths to get you and show Himself to you. He’s written His character and His nature into all scripture, in ways that you can see it, touch it, feel it, and know it - so that when you’re at the end of yourself then you can trust Him and His plan in His Son - do you see it? Jonah was called to do something for God, He ran. But in all grace and patience God pursued; has God been graceful and pursuing with you do you see it or are you moving too quickly? Lets see what happens when Nineveh gets their first contact with God through this reluctant man that God is after: Jonah 3:6–9 (ESV) 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” These people encountered a message from God and in a moment waves came over the individuals, waves of guilt and desire for restoration - this is what repentance is, the driving desire to be restored to God, will you slow down and know it? An inmate desire to be restored to God, guilt and shame may be a part of it - but they’re ready to be instantly washed clean by God in Christ. This is why Jesus said: Matthew 12:41 (ESV) 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The people of Nineveh had no message of hope - they simply saw their sinfulness in the mirror of God based on Jonah’s message of Judgment. They knew instantly that God was a good and judging and look at these last insightful convicting words in verse 9. Jonah 3:9 (ESV) 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” Who knows… maybe God will relent. Let me tell you who knows - you. You know that God will relent from judging your sin, not because your sin is just - OK or because God winks it away but because like Jonah himself, God pursues you. Like the men on Jonas’ boat - God comes to you. Like the people of Nineveh God is ready with mercy for you - and that’s the judgment for us. We know the message of Jesus’ salvation and God’s grace and yet some of us may not repent - may not turn TO God, the people of Nineveh just knew God was a judging God -but He was still writing His story and revealing Himself the one we know more fully today. He was accommodating, will you slow down and see it. He’s a God of grace and mercy and peace and love and sent His son Jesus as the sign of Jonah: Jesus who wasn’t reluctant to deliver grace, like Jonah. Jesus who wasn’t reluctant to see sinful people restored, like Jonah. But rather who was driven by that mission - and now we have a decision today - will we stand in judgment in the shadow of a people who turned to a God of grace that they couldn’t have known, will we be too busy racing through life with microwaves, Keurigs, to watch more net flicks and miss God’s grace - or will be we called to Him and enjoy Him? That’s our question today This is worth our time to slow down, pay attention, and see what God is doing. Have you come to the point in your life where you’ve lived (maybe like Jonah) disobedient and on your own - and maybe just maybe, it’s time to come and be restored to God - to be His and Him be yours - Christ does that. That’s the story God was writing with scripture, that’s the accommodation, His demonstrate in His word, the Bible His great desire to restore you to Him - it’s finished and you when you see it, partake in that Grace. His offer is a fresh start with Him, demotion to Him - slow down, pay attention, and see what God is doing. He’s saving you, right now. Is that happening? I want you to take a moment and pray to God “God save me” he’ll do that and then we’ll walk with you, study your Bible with you, and pray with you - Church, Christian slow down, pay attention, and see what God is doing, do you remember the sweetness of your salvation, that moment when for the first time God called you to Him - spend time this week rejoicing freshly in God’s saving of you, lets slow down, pay attention, and see what God is doing. Imagine for a minute with me, what would you life be like if you embraced that goal: find God and enjoy Him. I think as you did that you’d bring Him glory in this microwave, Keurig, Netflix’s life you slowed down, enjoying all of God, all His blessings, all His grace and peace, you'd be like that one person on the sidewalk staring up and looking, as people raced by to get to work, to make that next meeting, to cram down some lunch and get back to it - you’d be there just looking up and enjoying something - people would begin to stop and gaze too, and maybe as their gaze aligns with yours they’d begin enjoying God and suddenly a movement - a crowd stopping traffic jam, Church that’s or job - enjoy. We’re in this most amazing time where God’s done writing His story now we slow down and enjoy - and as we do, and as we tell people about the God we enjoy they’ll desire Him in their busy rushed lives. Also, Sunday’s at 9:30 a new class topic is starting we’ll be going through a basics that Christians believe class, but more than that, we’ll be comparing what Christians believe to what other religions you may encounter day in and day out, believe. It’ll be fascinating slow down church, and see what God has done. Have someone over, brew a slow pot of coffee, thanks giving is coming - notice how special the fellowship is when you don’t just cram food in the microwave and quick eat it to get back to bed and do more work, when the time is set aside to enjoy one another, to enjoy what God has given us. I pray you’ll join me this week in enjoying the peace, grace and love of God - lets slow down, together, pay attention together, and see what God is doing together. If you’re not in a home group - I’m asking you to talk to Nathan and Jennifer Aschliman today; stay enjoy some lunch together and lets be a people who celebrate what God is doing. See What God Has Done JONAH: Slow Down & See What God Is Doing Pastor John Weathersby Transcend Church 5 of 5 Sunday 10/15/2017