Jonah 3:1-10
Liberal Conformity or Loving Confrontation? (Jonah 3:1-2)
I’m reminded of another man that God called to be obedient, in Acts 9, Ananias. Remember God told Ananias to confront Saul and pray for him. Ananias was very hesitant. Listen to what Acts 9:10-15 says: “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
Loving Gospel Confrontation – Social Conformity = Eternal Comfort with Christ
Complacency + Social Conformity = Eternal Conflict and Separation from God
Confrontation Now = Comfort Later
The great question is: Do we want to see a world transformed by God’s Word or do we what it to benefit us only? If we want the benefits of God without the sacrifice of obedience, we may be proving that we do not know Christ. The truest gauge to how much we love God is how much do we love people?
Listen to 1 John 4:7-11 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
Counted Out or Counting on God’s Word? (Jonah 3:3-5)
Do we not share the message of salvation to people because we believe that God has already marked them off the list of salvation? Why they’re too bad to be saved! I’m thankful that someone didn’t count me out, that they knew the importance of call of Christ to share with me.
Being Surprised or Being Supportive? (Jonah 3:6-9)
When you sacrifice or fast you are serious! Baptists only fast when they’re sick or serious about God! Why should we be surprised when God does an amazing work, awakens a people to who He is! We must be supportive! Many Christians are saying that Kayne West’s salvation is only a publicity stunt. I believe his unashamed passion for others to know Christ is anything but a stunt, its real biblical Christianity. Why are we surprised at God’s promises? If God has placed you where you are, it’s for a Kingdom purpose! Believe that. Isaiah 55:11 “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Becoming Angry or Being in Awe? (Jonah 3:10)
If we are obedient to share Christ, people’s eternity is forever changed!
Proverbs 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise.”