Jonah: Experiencing Yahweh’s Grace While Growing Up - Part 1

#5 Jonah: Experiencing Yahweh’s Grace While Growing Up - Part 1
Jonah 4:1-11

Chapter 1 Running away FROM God
Chapter 2 Being brought BACK TO God
Chapter 3 Walking WITH God
Chapter 4 Growing up IN God

I. Anger and disappointment set in when we demand that God follow our
   blueprint instead of His.  

     1. Not sharing God’s heart or priorities.    
     2. Not seeing ourselves and others the way God sees us.
     3. Being more gripped with other’s sins over our own.
     4. Being conscious of God’s truth, but not transformed by His truth.
     5. Being angry on behalf of ME and MY kingdom, not on behalf of God
         and His kingdom.
     6. Rejecting God’s sovereignty and goodness over my life, my
         circumstances and what goes on in the world.
     7. Desiring to hold onto my anger and disappointment.  

Good reason to be angry?
   ~Is God’s Name, His will, or His word being dishonored?
   ~Are People being wronged or injured?

II. The people who give grace the best are the ones who have experienced
    God’s grace and truly know the LORD and themselves.  

Acts 10:34-35 - “…Peter said: ‘I understand now that God does not show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is His.’”

Galatians 2:11-14 - “But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and be unfriendly, fearing the party of the circumcision.”

III. Unresolved sinful anger and disappointment will suffocate my spiritual growth and fruit.

Have I shared honestly with someone about my anger and disappointments and asked God to intervene?  (James 5:16)

What are some actions I wish I had done differently in the past? Am I willing to trust the Lord with my past? (2 Corinthians 5:17)

What are some events that have happened to me that I wished never happened? Do those events still control me and why? (Proverbs 3:5-6)

What is happening to me right now that I would change if I had the power to change it? Will I trust the Lord to first change me? (Philippians 2:10-11)

Am I fearful or unbelieving concerning my future, and will I believe the Lord always has my best interests in mind? (John 14:1-3)

Faith Sheet

Transformation verse – Jonah 4:2 “…You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness…”

Main Themes
~The people who give grace the best are the ones who know they need it
   the most.

~Ongoing anger and disappointment set in on us if we do not continually
   receive and enjoy God’s grace and mercy.

~The grace and mercy that saved us and keeps us alive is the same grace
   and mercy we are to give to others when they fail God and us.

 #1- Reviewing This past Sunday
Jonah: Experiencing the LORD’s Grace While Taking Time to Grow Up Part 1  Jonah 4:1-11

1. Read Jonah 4:1-11 and discuss the message with someone.
2. Is there anyone you would rather see punished than forgiven? If so, what
    will you do about it?
3. How have you grown in showing God’s grace to others since you became
    a believer?
4. Pray for all God’s people to continue grow up.

 # 2- Preparing for Next Sunday
Jonah: Experiencing The LORD’s Grace While Taking Time to Grow Up
Part 2     Jonah 4:1-11

1. Read Jonah 4:1-11 several times and ask the Lord to reveal Himself and
    His truth to you. Focus on verses 10-11.
2. EXAMINE- Spend some time asking some questions like who, what
    where, how and why. Ask questions like: What is the meaning of the
    passage, the main thoughts or points?
3. APPLY- Apply the text to your own life. Ask these fundamental questions:
        ~What does this passage tell me to appreciate about God?
        ~What does this passage tell me about myself?
        ~Is there a command for me to obey, a warning to notice, a sin I must
          repent of, or something that leads me to give thanks?
       ~How will I live differently because of what I just read? 
4. PRAY- Pray through the passage and your application asking for God
    and His truth to impact your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit and pray
    for others.