Preached July 17, 2011
@ Bethel Unity Baptist Church
JONAH ... He was Hard Headed!
Introduction: The Prophet (Preacher, Teacher, Man of God) was called for a task that he saw overwhelming … Go (God said I have something for you to do) and preach the word of God to Nineveh … Jonah ran the opposite way, into the bottom of a ship, and ended up in a stomach of a Great Fish (whale), in the bottom of the ocean.
At the point he had to come to grips with what God wanted him to learn!
John Maxwell one of the Great Christian writes of our time … states in his book “Failing Forward” the Rules for Being Human.
· “Rule # 1 … You will learn lessons
· Rule # 2 … There is o mistakes – only lessons
· Rule # 3 … A lesson is repeated unit it is learned
· Rule # 4 … If you don’t learn the easy lessons, they get harder. (Pain is one way the universe gets your attention)
· Rule # 5... You’ll know you’ve learned a lessons when your actions change.”
Thoughts to Consider from Jonahs School of Hard Knocks (Life lessons)!
In Chapter #1
- God has a calling
- We can run from God, but can’t hide.
In chapter # 2
- Jonah learned to pray! (vs. 1)
- Jonah learned to call for help! (vs. 2)
- Jonah had to remember the Lord! (vs. 7)
- Jonah had to learn to say thank you! (vs. 9)
In chapter # 3
- Jonah went/followed God’s calling
- Jonah saw a great revival
In chapter # 4
- Jonah became disgruntle
- Jonah attitude was God you didn’t do what I expected.
- I’m going to get mad/depressed
Jonah reminds me so much of Christians today in the world … and a Simple Question for you today!
- What do you need to change in order to be in the Perfect will of God today?
