Aug. 10, 2025

Background:

• We must make two choices
• We must get our eyes off ourselves (Galatians 2:20)
• We have been brought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20)
• We must build for growth
• We are far from our goal of being perfect Christians
• Our churches are not getting new members
• As Christians we should all be missionaries (Acts 1:8)

Key Sermon Points:

1. Running from God

• Jonah's disobedience was a sin of omission
• A willful refusal to answer God's call
• Many of us have felt a tug on our hearts to do something but we choose to do something else
• God puts a call on all of our lives
• God is ever present, we can not escape Him
• There is always a message that God sends us in the midst of what we are going through
• Jonah fled- We can not flee from God, he is everywhere
• We can not hide from the Lord (Psalm 139:7-9)
• God is sovereign and omniscient- the winds and waves obey His will
• Someone always knows who we are, especially when we are running from God
• Jonah knew his disobedience had contributed to the fear of others
• The mariners recognized the God of the Hebrews calmed the sea, their god could not do it
• The power of God ensured that the fish was there at exactly the right time
• Jonah prayed
• We must call on the Lord
• We need to cry out to the Lord even when we know we have been disobedient- he will make a way for us
• Jonah's repentance was motivated by God's judgment
• There are consequences to disobeying God
• Sometimes we must suffer  the consequences of our sin before we are ready to repent
• God shows us mercy in the midst of our disobedience
• God does not give up on us
• God provides for us in the midst of our disobedience

2. Running toward God

• Jonah's prayer thanks God for his deliverance before it began
• God delivers us from the full consequences of our sin as an invitation to his even greater pardon
• God gives us another chance
• God will use anything to make sure his will is accomplished (Numbers 22:21-22)
• When we do reckless things God stops us (Numbers 22:32-33)
• God provides for us protection in the midst of our disobedience
• If God calls us he will equip us to go (Matthew 28:19-20)
• It is about what God commands us to do
• The Bible commands us to go- to preach and teach God's word
• We each have an opportunity to share God's word- no matter where we are
• God does something miraculous when we obey- he speaks through us
• We must plant the seed
• We must allow the Spirit to work in us
• We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us
• We must make ourselves available
• The Lord is waiting for us to do right and answer the call