Jonah 1:1-3 (NLT)
The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.”
Jonah 1:3 (NLT)
3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord.
Jonah 1:4 (NLT)
4 But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.
AVOIDING God is NOT just a ME issue, it CREATES a WE issue.
Jonah 1:12 (NLT)
12 “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”
Jonah 1:16 (NLT)
16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
Jonah 1:17 (NLT)
17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
Jonah 2:9 (NLT)
9 I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”
Jonah 3:10 (NLT)
10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 4:1-3 (NLT)
This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
How to REMOVE the JONAH in me.
- Change our ME focused mentality to a HE focused mentality
Jonah 4:3b (NLT)
I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.
James 1:17 (NLT)
17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God
Psalm 103:10 (NLT)
10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve
Jonah 4:5 (NLT)
Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city.
- Change our PITY to PRAISE
Psalm 34:1-3 (NIV)
1 I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glorify in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His Name together.
PRAISE is the greatest REMEDY to one’s AFFLICTION
Jonah 4:10 (NLT)
10 The Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant…But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
- Change our ME first mentality to an OTHERS first mentality
- Philippians 2:3 (NLT)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.