Jonah AWOL, Russ Perkins, @imagechurch Dumfries, VA

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Jonah is more than a kids story. This is history, this is not a parable and not alagory. Jonah was a real person that lived and walked the earth. Jesus Himself links back to Jonah, no other old testament prophet is called back in this way.

The book of Jonah is full of the supernatural.

Jonah's experience is directly linked to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

3 Keys to take from Jonah
1. God is sovereign and His purposes always prevail
2. Our willful disobedience will effect us and those around us
3. God loves people=the work and the worker matter

The storm that overtook the ship that Jonah was in was so severe that seasoned sailors were terrified. Yet Jonah was asleep underneath.

God continually called Jonah to do the work, that was appointed for Jonah to accomplish, and no matter how Jonah resisted, God brought him to the place he was destined for.

Point 1:
Our definition of "good" is not the same that we attribute to God. God's goodness is in perfect balance.

Everything in this story obeys God, from the wind and waves to the sailors and Ninivites. Everything except for Jonah.

When people repent, God relents. For Jonah to open his eyes and obey God, it took the first recorded submarine ride.

It took Jonah twice hearing from God to obey, and there were consequences. How do you obey?

"The chief end of man is to worship God and enjoy Him forever." -Westminster Catechism

We are all a royal priesthood, all who believe are all called by God to worship and live for Him.

The great commission calls us to obey God. We do not obey God to find acceptance, but because we are accepted by God when can obey.

Point 2:
Jonah is joyless, angry, and irritated, why? Because he knows what he is supposed to do and refuses to do it.

Jonah was the definition of a hypocrite, someone who knows what God is calling him to do, and refuses. But yet, his story was a prelude, a reflection, of what Christ would do.

If we know the right thing and refuse to do it, that is a heart issue and we need to pull that out.

When we believe our sin does not negatively affects ourselves or those around us, we are believing a lie. Nothing stays hidden forever.

Don't be the one who gives God the Heisman.

Point 3:
God loves His perfect will and the work that it is, and is to, accomplish. But God equally loves the workers.

Jesus said that the call to reach other world is not for the chosen few who work it full time, but we are all equally called. When God wants something done, He grabs someone to do it.

If we say that we follow Jesus, then God has grabbed us to accomplish something to glorify God.

What does a 21st century Jonah look like? He knows God, but doesn't always behave like he does.

How much do you have to hate someone, to not want to tell them about Jesus.

Jonah is, in essence, speak a simple truth: don't be like me, obey God. A huge lie that we can hear about ourselves is that we are too broken or dirty to be used by God.

Imagine this... a place full of people who clearly understand the mistakes that Jonah made and yet choose to obey and love instead.

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