As we come to the end of the book of Jonah we discover what Jonah’s problem has been all along. Jonah has a problem with love, and it’s an issue we all share with him. God often calls us to love even those people who don’t seem worthy of love. Jonah remembers the hurt endured in the past and he’s worried about the potential of being hurt again.

God wisely and graciously reminds Jonah that he cares for the people of Nineveh, and desires their salvation. So, how can we love the unlovable?

Remember they are created in God’s image.

Remember they often don’t know God.

Remember you have been shown much grace.

(Jonah 3:6 - 4:11)

Jonah finally turns his life around, but the turnaround begins with a pile of fish vomit. When God delivers us from our rebellion, sometimes it’s messy, but we often find that God uses our mess to be a part of His message when we give him our unreserved yes. The good news is God can save messed up people, and God can use messed up people!

We praise God for His grace, but we don’t presume upon grace.

The method of God’s deliverance may be messy.

The only way we will overcome resistance in our heart to God is to respect His authority and rest in His love.

Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh…The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

‭‭Jonah‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬, ‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jonah’s prayer reminds us that when we call on God, He hears us, even if we have neglected to spend time with him for a while. Jonah’s running from God leads him to some difficult consequences, but his pain will produce destiny much like a mother’s labor pain. As Jonah looks to God’s presence in his feelings of hopelessness, he knows he is not helpless.

Maybe God is getting your attention today through different circumstances or through the story of Jonah. Call on him today, and know that he is ready to help in your time of need.

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”

Jonah 2:1-2 NIV

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port.

Jonah 1:3

Just as the word of God came to Jonah, God speaks to us today. But there is a tendency in all of us to reject the leadership of God in our lives. The good news is that God pursues us. In His mercy sometimes he may even send a storm to get us back on track. God is a God of second chances if we are willing to get off the boat headed to Tarshish and head in the right direction.

3 takeaways from Jonah 1…

1 - God often asks us to do things we don’t want to do.

2 - We all run from God

3 - There will always be a boat heading in the wrong direction.

If we all run from God, how can we turn back to him like Jonah?

Jonah faces God (Jonah 1:6)

Jonah admits who he is (Jonah 1:9)

Jonah confesses what he has done (Jonah 1:12)

Jonah surrenders to God (Jonah 1:12)

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

In the Old Testament, the meaning of Pentecost was that if God was able to redeem his people from Egypt, then he would be able to provide for their lives too, just as he had promised.

In the New Covenant the gift of the Holy Spirit reminds every believer that Jesus redeems us from the tyranny of sin and death, but He also graciously gives us the power to live an abundant, fruitful, spirit-filled life.

3 Takeaways from Acts 2:1-41…

The Holy Spirit empowers ordinary people for God’s extraordinary purpose.

The coming of the Spirit showed the Gospel redeems diverse cultures without removing the diversity of cultures.

When we are filled with the Spirit and our hearts are pierced by the Gospel, God will use us to turn the world upside-down.

A reminder to pray…

Our Middle School and High School students are at camp this week.

-Pray for safe travels to and from Latham Springs, TX.

-Pray for the leaders who have taken a week off work to invest in students.

-Pray for students to experience breakthrough and renewal.

So Namaan went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times,as the man of God had instructed him…

2 Kings 5:14

All too often, God’s solutions to our problems differ from how we see it playing out. In those moments, our response can either invite God or reject Him from working in our lives. Namaan’s story teaches us some principles to guide us toward experiencing all God has for us even when it doesn’t make sense.

Your EXPECTATION OF GOD cannot supersede GOD’S PLAN for your life

The Voices In Your Life Will Move You Towards God’s Solution or Away From It

You Have To Let Your Feelings Catch Up To Your Obedience

“Feelings are indicators, not dictators. They can indicate where your heart is in the moment, but that doesn't mean they have the right to dictate your behavior and boss you around. You are more than the sum total of your feelings…

- LysaTerkerust

When You Follow God’s Way, You Will Always Get More Than You’re Asking For

(2 Kings 5:1-17)

So, Peter was kept in prison,

but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

Acts 12:5 NIV

· Prayer is the church’s weapon. It is not a passive act. Prayer is not our last resort, it must be our first response. In this passage the followers of Christ go to war with prayer. Prayer isn’t defeat. It’s an act of holy defiance. It’s an act of placing dependent confidence in the sovereign God who hears the prayers of his people and rules over all.

Remember this when you face opposition…

Opposition is to be expected.

Prayer is an act of defiance to opposition.

God gives peace in the face of opposition.

God gives grace in the face of opposition.

Prayer is a powerful weapon for every believer

Thou art coming to a King, large petitions with thee bring for his grace and power are such; none can ever ask too much.”

John Newton

(Acts 12: 1-17)

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

Luke 23:34 NIV

Among the last words Jesus spoke before his death on the cross: This prayer reveals what is so remarkable and so unsettling about following Him. Jesus died the way he lived, and his followers are called to this kind of others-first living. It could be the very reason so many people admire Jesus, but so few actually choose to follow Him.

Admirers of Jesus won’t change the world. Followers of Jesus will.

Following Jesus will cost you something.

There is something disingenuous about accepting Jesus’ forgiveness but resisting His invitation to follow.

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬