Introduction: Jonah’s Disobedience
The message is not just for the regular attendees but for anyone who will hear it.Example: Brother Mickey Roddy mentioned family members in two different states listening to the service online.The message serves as a reminder and a warning, urging listeners to get right with God.The sermon’s title is “Down to Joppa.”Understanding the geography is crucial to understanding Jonah’s situation.Jonah lived in Gethsemane, near Jerusalem and the temple.Jonah decided to leave the presence of the Lord, which is a terrifying prospect.Pastor Tommy emphasizes the importance of God’s presence and the fear of being without it.Pastor Tommy acknowledges personal struggles to stay right with God.Jonah’s Decision to Flee
Deciding to walk away from the presence of the Lord is the worst decision one can make.The presence of the Lord is constant and provides guidance.Jonah lived close to Jerusalem, near the Mediterranean Sea.Nineveh was about 500-550 miles northeast of Jerusalem, a three-day journey (60 miles) within the city.Jonah chose to flee to Joppa (about 50 miles away) to get a boat instead of going to Nineveh.The devil can convince people to flee from God’s presence.The Consequences of Leaving God’s Presence
Leaving the presence of the Lord opens one’s life to negative experiences.It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.There will be times when one must decide to stand for God, even if it’s difficult.One can never truly get away from God.When standing with God, His presence guides forward.Fleeing from God involves leaving behind the church, God’s people, and family.The devil can interrupt one’s whole life after turning away from God.Many people have gone down to Joppa and found it empty and sinful.Even on a boat, one cannot escape God’s presence.Jonah’s Motivation and the Inevitability of God’s Presence
Jonah didn’t like Nineveh or the Assyrians and thought they would be spared if he preached to them.Turning against God’s will requires prayer and introspection.God wants people to stay in His presence.Joppa was a short journey away, but Jonah’s decision led him to go further down.Jonah paid for a boat to Tarshish, 2,500 miles away in Spain, thinking he could escape God’s commission.Turning one’s back on God leads to a downward path with no remedy or mercy.It’s important to stay in the presence of the Lord.The Downward Spiral and the Storm
Pastor Tommy knows people who have left the presence of the Lord and sought other solutions.Flesh is inclined to run from God.Leaving God leads to paying the price to ride the devil’s boat.Jonah went down into the boat, trying to hide, but God knows everyone’s direction.The Lord sent a great wind and tempest, exposing those who leave His presence to life’s storms without comfort.The presence of the Lord is worth more than anything.Even in storms, Jesus can calm them.Spiritual Sleep and Divine Intervention
Many people are spiritually asleep, trying to forget God and their past fellowship.Storms will wake them up.Jonah fell asleep, but the men on the boat cast lots to find the cause of the storm, and the lot fell on Jonah.King David’s story is referenced as an example of straying from God’s presence and facing consequences.David stayed home instead of going to battle.He committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed.The prophet Nathan confronted David with a story, revealing his sin.One cannot escape the presence of the Lord, who will open their eyes.Jonah’s Confession and the Whale
Jonah confessed that he was the reason for the storm.Honesty about sins is crucial.Jonah suggested being thrown overboard to stop the storm, hoping to escape God.God can take away the hope of death.Turning back to where one left God is necessary for improvement.God prepared a great fish (whale) to swallow Jonah.There is always a lower point than one imagines.In the house of God, there is firm footing.The Depths of Despair and the Cry for Help
Jonah went to the bottom of the mountains, feeling trapped in the belly of hell.Jesus believed the story of Jonah.Jonah cried out from the belly of hell due to his affliction.It all started when he walked away from the presence of the Lord.People walk away from God for far less.One doesn’t know how far down it is when they leave God’s presence.Jonah thought he would be in the fish’s belly forever.Tears of affliction and sorrow will come when one goes away from God.Turning Back to God
Jonah realized God wasn’t giving up on him and would keep him alive in the whale’s belly as long as he was rebellious.He decided to look toward God’s holy temple.God began to move in Jonah’s life when Jonah began to seek God again.One can be in church and still run from the presence of the Lord.There is a father for the child of God.Lost people come to church and then go back to their old ways because they never got changed.How can someone who has experienced the presence of God decide to run from that?The flesh is more powerful than one thinks.Jonah was in a bad spot when he began to look up.Then he was brought up.His prayer went up.He got prayed up.One needs to do business with God to get back on the right track.Turn around, look up, pray up, get ready, and start calling on God.He’ll start lifting you out of where you’re at.Jonah got prayed up in the belly of the whale.Repentance and Restoration
Jonah was willing to sacrifice, finally willing to do what God said.The worst thing one can do is turn their back on God.One’s life will crash and end in a nasty mess.God never let Jonah out until he got right.One won’t get out from under the hand of God until they get right if they are His.Jonah got spit up.Jonah was spit out near Jerusalem, back where he started.Jonah still had the same journey to Nineveh that he had when he left.He was just many days behind.Final Exhortations and Conclusion
Do not turn your back on the presence of the Lord.It will cost you more, and you will regret it.One doesn’t have to go that way.Jonah hit the ground running and had to go 500 miles.Jonah preached, and the people repented.God had mercy on him and spared that great city.The message is for those who are going down to Joppa.They need to recognize that they have to get out of there and get back to God.They cannot continue on this downward path away from the presence.The book of Jonah is a sad story, but it doesn’t have to be your story.All may have a Jonah-like experience.One may end up in a spot that they can’t get out of.They will have to reckon with God in the end.Get right with God tonight.Let God teach what’s He.Get right with Him and quit going down that wrong and downward path.Flee to Him.Obey God.He’ll make all the difference in your life.
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