Most people have asked the question “Who am I” The answer to that question gives a sense of purpose and meaning. It speaks to our identity. Our identity drives our focus or efforts and our work. Our identity gives significance and value to what we do. Without an identity, we are adrift without direction. When we know who we are and what we have been called to do, it will affect how we act, live, and work toward. When God called Moses, he was struggling with his own identity. He asks God, “Who Am I?” God responds by defining His own identity; I AM. I am a statement of confidence and boldness. When we know who we are, it eliminates doubt and worries about our position.

So what is Greater Life Church? It is more than a building. It is more than a place to sing, fellowship, or serve in some capacity. If Greater Life Church is to impact our community, we have to have a new mindset. Greater Life Church is not just a place we attend; it is who we are. It is not part of our life; it is our life. When we say “I am Greater Life,” it becomes personal. I am Greater Life is a statement of ownership. I am Greater Life

Life is full of choices. Some are automatic and some require thought. Some are easy and some are hard. Some are convenient, and some are challenging. Some choices are like doors that lead us into different rooms. In our text, Jonah makes some choices. He chose to flee from God and what He told him to do. Jonah was called and anointed, but when God called, Jonah said no. We know from our Sunday School lessons, that God brought a storm into Jonah’s life. Even in the midst of the storm and trouble, we see God’s grace and provision in Jonah’s story. God had a plan for Jonah, even in the face of his disobedience. God still had a use for Jonah, and when Jonah finally said yes, God allows him to fulfill that purpose. Like Jonah, we have to say yes to God because His plan is better than ours.

Life is full of choices. Some are automatic and some require thought. Some are easy and some are hard. Some are convenient, and some are challenging. Some choices are like doors that lead us into different rooms. In our text, Jonah makes some choices. He chose to flee from God and what He told him to do. Jonah was called and anointed, but when God called, Jonah said no. We know from our Sunday School lessons, that God brought a storm into Jonah’s life. Even in the midst of the storm and trouble, we see God’s grace and provision in Jonah’s story. God had a plan for Jonah, even in the face of his disobedience. God still had a use for Jonah, and when Jonah finally said yes, God allows him to fulfill that purpose. Like Jonah, we have to say yes to God because His plan is better than ours.

Life is full of choices. Some are automatic and some require thought. Some are easy and some are hard. Some are convenient, and some are challenging. Some choices are like doors that lead us into different rooms. In our text, Jonah makes some choices. He chose to flee from God and what He told him to do. Jonah was called and anointed, but when God called, Jonah said no. We know from our Sunday School lessons, that God brought a storm into Jonah’s life. Even in the midst of the storm and trouble, we see God’s grace and provision in Jonah’s story. God had a plan for Jonah, even in the face of his disobedience. God still had a use for Jonah, and when Jonah finally said yes, God allows him to fulfill that purpose. Like Jonah, we have to say yes to God because His plan is better than ours.

Often one word can change everything. This is especially true in the word of God. Out text contains one of these times. A previously unknown prophet, Elijah shows up and tells the King that, beginning immediately, there would be no rain or even any dew. Then he goes away. When he goes away, God speaks to Elijah and gives him explicit instructions. He begins with “Get thee hence....” Hence indicates an immediacy; as in right now! God tells Elijah to get there as quickly as possible. This instruction is important because “there” was the difference between survival and death. Something significant was tied to that place. God had commanded the ravens to feed him there. God can use the most unlikely source to fulfill the need in our life. We do not have to understand it; we must only obey. If God tells us to get there, we have to get there as soon as possible, because it is there that He will bless us. There is the place of God’s purpose. There might not be the place we expected, but there is where God needs us to be to fulfill His purpose. There is the most important place in the world.

Often one word can change everything. This is especially true in the word of God. Out text contains one of these times. A previously unknown prophet, Elijah shows up and tells the King that, beginning immediately, there would be no rain or even any dew. Then he goes away. When he goes away, God speaks to Elijah and gives him explicit instructions. He begins with “Get thee hence....” Hence indicates an immediacy; as in right now! God tells Elijah to get there as quickly as possible. This instruction is important because “there” was the difference between survival and death. Something significant was tied to that place. God had commanded the ravens to feed him there. God can use the most unlikely source to fulfill the need in our life. We do not have to understand it; we must only obey. If God tells us to get there, we have to get there as soon as possible, because it is there that He will bless us. There is the place of God’s purpose. There might not be the place we expected, but there is where God needs us to be to fulfill His purpose. There is the most important place in the world.

Often one word can change everything. This is especially true in the word of God. Out text contains one of these times. A previously unknown prophet, Elijah shows up and tells the King that, beginning immediately, there would be no rain or even any dew. Then he goes away. When he goes away, God speaks to Elijah and gives him explicit instructions. He begins with “Get thee hence....” Hence indicates an immediacy; as in right now! God tells Elijah to get there as quickly as possible. This instruction is important because “there” was the difference between survival and death. Something significant was tied to that place. God had commanded the ravens to feed him there. God can use the most unlikely source to fulfill the need in our life. We do not have to understand it; we must only obey. If God tells us to get there, we have to get there as soon as possible, because it is there that He will bless us. There is the place of God’s purpose. There might not be the place we expected, but there is where God needs us to be to fulfill His purpose. There is the most important place in the world.

We build walls in our society. Physical walls for physical security and emotional walls for emotional security. Isreal returned to their homeland after many years of Babylonian captivity. They rebuilt their alter with no opposition. They rebuilt their temple with minimal opposition, but when they turned their attention to rebuilding the walls of the city, that changed. City walls in biblical times were important for safety against attacks from enemies. There is an enemy who will oppose any attempt to better ourselves because they do not want to see a rebuilt us. The enemy does not mind us having an altar to or a temple, but when we seek to build walls and draw boundaries to protect ourselves from him, he will increase his attack. Our enemy does not want us to be whole. He doesn’t care if we are healed, but if we are made whole, we are protected from him. When we have walls, we make decisions about what we allow in our life. By keeping certain things out of our life, we protect ourselves from the negative effects of those things. Walls define a purpose. They limit access to our life. They represent boundaries that prevent our enemy from having free access to our life. Walls define ownership and the value we place on things. Walls define what we are willing to protect; they are a sign to the enemy about what we are willing to fight to protect. Walls exist for many reasons. As we develop in our walk with God, we have to understand the value of walls.

We build walls in our society. Physical walls for physical security and emotional walls for emotional security. Isreal returned to their homeland after many years of Babylonian captivity. They rebuilt their alter with no opposition. They rebuilt their temple with minimal opposition, but when they turned their attention to rebuilding the walls of the city, that changed. City walls in biblical times were important for safety against attacks from enemies. There is an enemy who will oppose any attempt to better ourselves because they do not want to see a rebuilt us. The enemy does not mind us having an altar to or a temple, but when we seek to build walls and draw boundaries to protect ourselves from him, he will increase his attack. Our enemy does not want us to be whole. He doesn’t care if we are healed, but if we are made whole, we are protected from him. When we have walls, we make decisions about what we allow in our life. By keeping certain things out of our life, we protect ourselves from the negative effects of those things. Walls define a purpose. They limit access to our life. They represent boundaries that prevent our enemy from having free access to our life. Walls define ownership and the value we place on things. Walls define what we are willing to protect; they are a sign to the enemy about what we are willing to fight to protect. Walls exist for many reasons. As we develop in our walk with God, we have to understand the value of walls.

We build walls in our society. Physical walls for physical security and emotional walls for emotional security. Isreal returned to their homeland after many years of Babylonian captivity. They rebuilt their alter with no opposition. They rebuilt their temple with minimal opposition, but when they turned their attention to rebuilding the walls of the city, that changed. City walls in biblical times were important for safety against attacks from enemies. There is an enemy who will oppose any attempt to better ourselves because they do not want to see a rebuilt us. The enemy does not mind us having an altar to or a temple, but when we seek to build walls and draw boundaries to protect ourselves from him, he will increase his attack. Our enemy does not want us to be whole. He doesn’t care if we are healed, but if we are made whole, we are protected from him. When we have walls, we make decisions about what we allow in our life. By keeping certain things out of our life, we protect ourselves from the negative effects of those things. Walls define a purpose. They limit access to our life. They represent boundaries that prevent our enemy from having free access to our life. Walls define ownership and the value we place on things. Walls define what we are willing to protect; they are a sign to the enemy about what we are willing to fight to protect. Walls exist for many reasons. As we develop in our walk with God, we have to understand the value of walls.