Sermon Title:
Can You Hear Me Now?! Key Scriptures:
Jonah Chap 1 and Jonah Chap 2
In the book of Jonah it begins by God commanding Jonah to go to Nineveh a city where the people rebelled against God, but because Jonah had no desire to help these people because of how he felt about them, he chose to disobey God and go the opposite direction physically and spiritually. Jonah found out real quick that you cannot run from God and sooner or later we must realize that it is better to follow and obey God then to walk in our feelings...
It is not about how you feel, it's about you faithfully obeying God!
Your feelings will get you in trouble and cause you to fail , but your faith will result in you being fulfilled.
Faithful living cause God to shower you with favor
When Jonah disobeyed God, God allowed many circumstances to happen to try to get Jonah's attention... Kinda like when you were a child and your mom or dad tried to get your attention when you were disobedient... They would call you by your entire name or count from 1 to 3.
Your parent did whatever it took to get your attention and get you back on track... So does our loving God.
Here is what we learn from the life of Jonah:
1. Listening and obeying God is the first step of expressing our love for God
Don't allow your feelings to get in the way of your faith!
When God speaks, simply listen and obey
God desires to get your attention in difficult situations...
Don't be so quick to ask why... Ask God what are you trying to teach me... What do you need me to correct or change
Don't be so caught-up in the moment that you miss the message
It's not always about God changing your situation, in most cases God desires to change you!
Turmoil should trigger us to trust God
God wants to draw you to Him in your difficulties
Surrender yourself and your situation to God
God uses our trouble in hopes to touch and transform our lives
2. Obeying the word makes you wise and helps you overcome obstacles
Remember:
It's not about your feelings, it's about you faithfully trusting God
3. Your obedience to God can help you avoid unnecessary obstacles
The result of our sin creates difficult circumstances sometime
Minimize the misery in your life by making obedience to God your main priority
3 Key Points:
A. God Pursues Us
B. God Protects Us
C. God Preserves Us
God was trying to get Jonah's attention in every circumstance he found himself in... I believe as each situation got worse God was saying to Jonah... CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!
God was saying can you hear me now when...
- He sent the wind
- When the sea got rougher
- When they through Jonah overboard
- When Jonah was swallowed by a BIG fish...
I believe God is asking us CAN WE HEAR HIM NOW?! when our health is bad, when we have difficulties, financial trouble, relationship issues, trouble on our job, restless nights, heartbreak, hopelessness... and any issue that causes discomfort or dis-ease in our life.
God is saying to you right now in your current situation...
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!
How will you respond to Jesus today?
When Jonah repented, prayed, and turned back to God, he was saved...
The fish coughed him up on dry land.
God rescues those who return to Him!
Come to Jesus today!
Can You Hear Me Now?! Key Scriptures:
Jonah Chap 1 and Jonah Chap 2
In the book of Jonah it begins by God commanding Jonah to go to Nineveh a city where the people rebelled against God, but because Jonah had no desire to help these people because of how he felt about them, he chose to disobey God and go the opposite direction physically and spiritually. Jonah found out real quick that you cannot run from God and sooner or later we must realize that it is better to follow and obey God then to walk in our feelings...
It is not about how you feel, it's about you faithfully obeying God!
Your feelings will get you in trouble and cause you to fail , but your faith will result in you being fulfilled.
Faithful living cause God to shower you with favor
When Jonah disobeyed God, God allowed many circumstances to happen to try to get Jonah's attention... Kinda like when you were a child and your mom or dad tried to get your attention when you were disobedient... They would call you by your entire name or count from 1 to 3.
Your parent did whatever it took to get your attention and get you back on track... So does our loving God.
Here is what we learn from the life of Jonah:
1. Listening and obeying God is the first step of expressing our love for God
Don't allow your feelings to get in the way of your faith!
When God speaks, simply listen and obey
God desires to get your attention in difficult situations...
Don't be so quick to ask why... Ask God what are you trying to teach me... What do you need me to correct or change
Don't be so caught-up in the moment that you miss the message
It's not always about God changing your situation, in most cases God desires to change you!
Turmoil should trigger us to trust God
God wants to draw you to Him in your difficulties
Surrender yourself and your situation to God
God uses our trouble in hopes to touch and transform our lives
2. Obeying the word makes you wise and helps you overcome obstacles
Remember:
It's not about your feelings, it's about you faithfully trusting God
3. Your obedience to God can help you avoid unnecessary obstacles
The result of our sin creates difficult circumstances sometime
Minimize the misery in your life by making obedience to God your main priority
3 Key Points:
A. God Pursues Us
B. God Protects Us
C. God Preserves Us
God was trying to get Jonah's attention in every circumstance he found himself in... I believe as each situation got worse God was saying to Jonah... CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!
God was saying can you hear me now when...
- He sent the wind
- When the sea got rougher
- When they through Jonah overboard
- When Jonah was swallowed by a BIG fish...
I believe God is asking us CAN WE HEAR HIM NOW?! when our health is bad, when we have difficulties, financial trouble, relationship issues, trouble on our job, restless nights, heartbreak, hopelessness... and any issue that causes discomfort or dis-ease in our life.
God is saying to you right now in your current situation...
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?!
How will you respond to Jesus today?
When Jonah repented, prayed, and turned back to God, he was saved...
The fish coughed him up on dry land.
God rescues those who return to Him!
Come to Jesus today!