Jonah - Part 2 | Colin DCruz

This message was preached by  Colin D' Cruz at Word of Grace Church  Pune, on the 9th of February  2014 

 We may mess things up, but God can clean it up. He is a God of second chances. His grace abounds. . 

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Jonah falls fast asleep in the boat so much so that even the storm did not disturb him

Finally the captain wakes him up. Jonah acknowledges that the storm is because of him (1:4). The pagan sailors did not want to throw him over but finally they did and the storm subsided.

V17. The Lord provided a great fish. Our God is in control of storms and the surmai ( a fish)

Chapter 2 from inside the belly of fish, Jonah prays.

Jonah rejected the purposes of God. But God was interested in him and gets to him through the storm and the fish. God does not disown him in his disobedience.

Chapter 3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. God will pursue you. In the Old and New Testament we see this time and time again.

Abraham was called out to Ur to Canaan. Great promises were given to him and Sarah , not Hagar. He held on for a long time and then he got impatient and took matters into his own hands and Ishmael was born. Gen 16, Abraham is 86 years old. In Gen 17 Abraham is now 99 years old. There is a 13 year gap when God speaks again. God has his hand on your life and you may have messed it up but he is a God of second chances. God will get a hold of you.

Moses-  son of the pharaoh’s daughter. HE thought he could use his position but he messes up and for the next 40 years he is looking after sheep. And then the word of the Lord comes to him.

Peter Big mouth- makes big claims. Few hours later he flees and even denies knowing Jesus. The Lord comes to Pete and prepares breakfast for him. We have a gracious compassionate God. God is calling us to come back to him. He is full of grace, mercy and kindness.

Elijah was obedient. Then he has a great victory on Mount Carmel and then a woman threatens him and fear grips him and he is running away for his life and he becomes suicidal. But God got hold of him.

Now in the belly of the whale Jonah prays.

In our lives unforeseen event happen. Jonah did not expect the storm not the fish.

In life our job maybe at risk, relationships is under strain, there may be sickness. But in these times we need to cling to the Lord.

Jonah came to his senses and he prayed.

Ps 66:10-12 .10For you, God, tested us;

    you refined us like silver.

11 You brought us into prison

    and laid burdens on our backs.

12 You let people ride over our heads;

    we went through fire and water,

    but you brought us to a place of abundance.

We are in the father’s hand and nothing can happen without his knowledge. WE do not have the whole picture in life. Classic example is Joseph. God had a plan all along which was not revealed at the time but in hindsight we understand.

Rom 8:28 is the greatest assurance we have. “  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Jonah is now in the fish and he turns to the Lord.

Paul was a prisoner in Rome – from a Christ hater he becomes a herald for the gospel.

Philemon – Paul a prisoner of Christ Jesus. Paul recognizes that even his chains were the sovereign will of God. Phil1:12” saved for the advance of the gospel”

He had a captive audience – all in Caesar’s household cam to know about Christ and got saved  (Phil. 2)

Col. 3 My life is hidden with Christ. Not a hair falls without the father knowing it.

Jonah 3:1 Jonah obeys and goes to Nineveh.2:10 The fish vomits Jonah out. God is sovereign over any situation.

Chapter 3:3 Jonah repents and turns towards God. God want us to come to him but the devil tires to dissuade us.

Don’t run away from God but run to God.

Jesus is our advocate – he intervenes on our behalf

When we have our quiet time we should ask “What is God saying to me today and what am I going to do about it?”

Nineveh was a big city. It required 3 days to see it. It has 6 lakh people.

It was a very sober word and the Nenevites believed and they repented. The whole city turned and believed. It’s the greatest revival story over. Even the king responds and passes a decree for repentance.

God has compassion on the people. What an amazing God ! A wicked nation turned around by the prophet’s proclamation and a nation repents.

This morning the word has come . If you are his child he will get your attention.

We cling to God by reading His word, through prayer, being devoted to fellowship, to faithfully giving, faithfully serving, loving our brother and reaching the lost. As we does this revival will come.

God will do it as we all go out into our neighborhood.

Life is uncertain but while we have breath let’s do His will. Today let’s live for Jesus and He is calling us to be faithful.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log ontowww.wordofgracechurch.org.

    English Language Service Sundays at 10am. Please check google maps for directions!