Jonah: The Lord’s Grace When We Are Running Down Hill

Jonah: The Lord’s Grace When We Are Running Down Hill
Jonah 1:1-16

I. The LORD – The personal, faithful and Covenant God

Genesis 1:1 - “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 2:7 - “Then the LORD (Yahweh) God (Elohim) formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

Psalm 19:1 - “The heavens are telling of the glory of God (Elohim) …”

Psalm 19:7 - “The law of the LORD (Yahweh) is perfect, restoring the soul…”

II. The Word

Psalm 119:105 - “God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.”

Jeremiah 23:29 - "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”

Hebrews 4:12 -"It is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.”

III. The Prophet

Amos 3:7 - “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.”

IV. The Commands
     ~Arise - Fulfill, stand up
     ~Go - Act, proceed
     ~Cry out - Proclaim, announce

V. The City  

A Gracious and Compassionate God Commentary - “By the command of Ashur (and) the goddess Ishtar, the great gods my lords… (The) Awe of the radiance of Ashur my lord overwhelmed them. The nobles (and) elders of the city came out to me to save their lives… I flayed as many nobles as had rebelled against me (and) draped their skins over the pile… I flayed many right through my land (and) draped their skins over the walls. I slashed the flesh of the eunuchs… I brought …(the ruler of Suru) to Nineveh, flayed him, (and) draped his skin over the wall of Nineveh.”  

VI. The Disobedience

     1. Unbelief    
     2. Foolish thinking
     3. Racism and self-righteousness

VII. The Cost

VIII. The Grace

Romans 1:22, 28 - “Professing to be wise, they became fools… And just as they did not acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.”

C.S. Lewis - “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, thy will be done, and those to whom God says, in the end, Thy will be done.”

Faith Sheet

Transformation verse - “…Salvation is from the LORD."      Jonah 2:9

Main Theme      

~ Yahweh’s grace in our disobedience is what keeps us from going too far
   away from Him and is the motivator for turning us back into full enjoyment
   of Him and His calling on our lives. (Romans 2:4)  

~ We always suffer the consequences of disobeying God; however, God’s
    favour always flows toward us as believers even when we disobey Him in
    order to turn us back to Him. (Hebrews 12:4-12)

#1- Reviewing This Past Sunday
Jonah: The Lord’s Grace When We Are Running Down Hill
Jonah 1:1-16

1. Read Jonah 1:1-16 and discuss the message with someone.
2. How has God’s grace in times of your disobedience impacted your life?
    Your spiritual growth? Your testimony of Him to others?
3. Read Romans 2:4. Discuss why it is His kindness that leads us back to
    repentance and turning from our disobedience.
4. Pray for yourself or anyone you know that is walking in any foolishness
    and disobedience toward God and others.

# 2- Preparing for Next Sunday    
Jonah: Experiencing Yahweh’s Grace in His Discipline
Jonah 1:17-2:1-9

1. Read Jonah 1:17-2:1-9. Pray to understand the passage.
2. Observe - What does the passage say? (read it several times)
3. Interpret - What is the meaning of the passage, the main thoughts or
    points?
4. Application - How do the truths revealed here impact my relationship with
    God? Cause me to praise or appreciate Him? How do the truths impact
    my relationship with others? How do the truths impact my daily walk in
    discipling others? Is there something for me to believe? To confess? To
    give thanks? To avoid? Use the text and pray.