This morning I preached on the second chapter of Jonah, and I was really encouraged as I studied, prayed and prepared this message last week. I was encouraged because as I prayed and wrestled with the Scripture, it became clear that God's mercy was demonstrated, even while Jonah was being humbled during his disobedience, and it became apparent that like Jonah, we too must be humbled privately before God if we are to be effective in public ministry. One key take away I spent time on this morning is the fact that Jonah was hardened and was slow to repent, yet when he did pray, God was quick to respond. No matter how long you have been walking away, no matter how far you have drifted, no matter how great the rebellion, it is never too late to pray. And just like Jonah, our need for grace, our personal experience of grace is what qualifies us to preach the gospel of grace...as the attention statement below highlights, Christ chose those to preach mercy who had felt most mercy...
A man came up to me after the service and asked me to pray with him. He was concerned that his being divorced might keep him from serving God. I could see in his eyes and feel it in his grip that he was hurting and genuinely wanted to serve God. Before I prayed with him I looked him in the eye and told him that there was nothing in his past that could keep God from loving him or using him. The gospel is for believers...
Below is a copy of my sermon notes, for a look behind the scenes if you will...although there is nothing terribly exciting back there but messy handwriting and poor spelling, but perhaps it will be of some use to someone. I pray that I will continue to rest in the gospel, as one who has benefited from the gospel, so that I might be an example of the message I preach. And may God be glorified in foolish and weak vessels like us, and As Dr. Loyd Jones said once, "Those who have truly had an encounter with God walk with a limp."
Jonah
Chapter 2 – Humbled by God
Opening Statement: Good morning! This morning we will look at the famous story of Jonah in the whale. This story is often told in light hearted ways, casting the plot in a pleasant light. But this is hardly the case. The only reason Jonah and the whale should be painted on the walls of our house is to remind us of how we too are refugees running from the call of God. Jonah, a man used by God…I want you to imagine with me a man running from God who once walked with God. God told him exactly what he was to go and do. His reply was an absolute act of rebellion. He ran as far as he could from the call. What an image of both sin of commission and omission. He let remain undone that which he knew should be done, namely preaching to Nineveh, thus committing sin of omission. And his running was plain sin of commission. He was thrown overboard and was on his way to dying a cold lonely death… when even the whale was sent as an act of mercy. Do you get that… the very whale was God’s mercy on Jonah! He was about to drown. But what we see is God humbles Jonah and only after he humbles him is Jonah ready to go do public ministry…What a rich lesson for us today. This will be our focus this morning.
Major Doctrine: God will use us publically only after he has humbled us privately.
Attention: Christ chose those to preach mercy who had felt most mercy, as Peter and Paul, that they might be examples of what they taught. – Richard Sibbes
Narrative Introduction: Jonah and the Whale…
Focus Text: Jonah 2 - *(Actual Passage on Screen for Following Along “ESV”)
Start: Be reminded that we are all like Jonah, running, humbled, saved by grace alone, and then fit to preach mercy having felt it ourselves.
Focus: We will make three stops this morning:
God deals with us privately:
The man…Jonah the individual running from his call.
The Whale… The whale was God’s mercy, and a time of private encounter with God
God humbles us in addressing our disobedience:
Jonah was running from God, but God did not let him get away.
Jonah had a change of heart when God almost killed him. That’s what it took for Jonah, what will it take for you and me?
Being humbled by God allows us to be examples of the gospel we preach:
Life from death principle throughout Scripture – (Dr, Loyd Jones)
Jacob, David, Jonah, Peter, Paul…
You and I…We are fit to preach mercy only after we have felt God’s mercy
Jonah had public success only after having been humbled privately…
Emotional Focus: God will do whatever it takes to get our attention, but our being humbled by God is not something to be ashamed of, but something we must personally experience before we will ever be used by God.
