07-21-2019 The Re-Commissioned Servant

1 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.” 4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” 5 Then 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. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. 9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” 10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 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?”

Reminder: The Repentant Servant Returns to the Work

God is a God of Second Chances

1 John 1:9 NLT

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

2 Peter 3:9 NLT

9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

2 Samuel 12:13 NLT

13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.

Micah 7:18 NLT

18 Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.

The Revival (reminder of last week)

Preaching Was an Act of OBEDIENCE on the Part of Jonah

His Presence, Power and Potential were **not** what brought about the change in Nineveh

The LIVING WORD OF GOD and the Holy Spirit Brought Revival in the Most Unlikely of Places...

This was not a Story of Man’s Triumph, It is a Story of God’s Triumph over the Sin of his Servant and the Sin of a Nation

The Resentful Servant

He Forgot about Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:2 NLT

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Colossians 3:13 NLT

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Psalm 86:15 NLT

15 But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

Exodus 34:6 NLT

6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

He was Sour about Second Chances for OTHERS

Both the Old and New Testaments bear witness to a forgiving God.

Consider Abraham Who lied to others about his relationship to Sarah…

What about Jacob who Lied about his birthright...

Meditate on the forgiveness of Moses, who murdered a man (Exodus 2:11-15);

Let’s Discuss David, who committed adultery and had a man murdered (2 Samuel 11:14-17);

Remember Rahab, who was a prostitute in Jericho (Joshua 2); and

Ponder Peter, who denied even knowing Jesus after spending three years with Him (Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:55-62, John 18:15-17 and 25-27). Each of these—and dozens of other men and women like them in Scripture—stand as monuments of God's grace (Hebrews 11).

Zacchaeus the tax collector, for example, was considered a sinner by his neighbors (Luke 19:1–10). When Zacchaeus shows he has changed and is making amends by giving possessions to the poor, Christ responds by saying, "Today salvation has come to this house." When the criminal dying on the cross next to Jesus asks for Him to remember him, Christ responds by saying He will see him in paradise (Luke 23:32–43).

vv. 6-11 - Life Lessons for Jonah

Leafy Plant - Sign of God’s Provision

Worm - Sign of Sin of Man (eats what is good and destroys God’s Intended Purpose) - True of Nineveh AND Jonah!

Hot East Wind & Sun - Sign of God’s Judgment (nothing can withstand the heat of His Wrath and Punishment) which unchecked by Repentance Results in DEATH

Reminder that Jonah’s simple sadness over the loss of the plant is MISPLACED COMPASSION - God had MUCH BIGGER PLANS -

The Repentance of a CITY who through Sin and Wickedness had Denied God’s Plan and Provision, and like the Worm had devoured everything around it, was facing the Heat of God’s Judgment, but GOD WHO IS RICH IN MERCY and COMPASSION and Slow to Anger, filled with unfailing love was eager to turn back from their Destruction...

Challenge:

Who is YOUR NINEVEH?

Where do YOU RUN when God Calls You to Preach to them?

What in your life is the object of MISPLACED COMPASSION?

Make sure you are not missing the Signs God is Giving to You in order to Help you be More Concerned with the Father’s Business than your own!

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