Streams of Mercy

Jonah 4:1-11

The Meanness of Most vv.1-2

Meanness

2 Timothy 3:1-7 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”

The Motivation of Many vv.3-4

Mankind’s motivation is by nature, self-seeking!

Jonah may have enjoyed what seemed to be Israel’s exclusive hold on God’s mercy and blessing.  Israel had the corner market on the things of God and Jonah could have felt it slipping away.  Let me encourage and warn you at the same time.  Church is messy!  It’s a hospital!  The youth group calls their meetings a “Spiritual ER”!  We could fall into the same trap as Jonah did if we’re not careful!  In our man-centered motivation we may think we have an exclusive hold of God’s mercy and blessings, because we act a certain way.  Let me remind you!  Religion teaches us that God will love us if we change!  A relationship with Christ teaches us that love will transform us! Let’s be careful that we don’t have a small mind, a small view of God, a racist, cliquish motivation, because “they” are not like us!  “They”, belong here!  We are Nineveh, we were Nineveh!

This is where we began: Ephesians 2:1-5 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved 

Some will even try to justify their motivation!

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,”

The Mercy of God vv.6-9

God uses the vine to teach Jonah another lesson.  Even in discipline God is merciful when we deserve death.  He took away Jonah’s comfort so that he could see God’s goodness and concern for all people.  God’s mercy is demonstrated in everyday life!  The air we breath, our heart pumps, the food we eat.  The most merciful act is Jesus dying on the cross!

Psalm 145:9 “The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”

The Model for Ministry vv.10-11

Matthew 25:35-40 “35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Luke 6:36 “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

1 John 4:20 “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”