Tag: Love

Jonah part 8 The self-righteous believer

Jonah 4:1-11

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.2  And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.3  Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.4  Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry? 5 So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.6  And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.7  But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.8  And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.9  And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.10  Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:11  And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?

Jonah worried more about what people thought about him then people coming to salvation

Luke 6:26-36

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. 27 ¶  But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28  Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. 30  Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31  And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32  For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.33  And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

We are not to seek to be popular

We are to love those who oppose us, but not seek to please them

We are to show mercy by lovingly sharing God’s truth

Jonah put his comfort ahead of his responsibility

I Corinthians 9:19-24

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23  And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. 24   Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

We are to be servants, not masters

Obedience and sacrifice are to be a normal part of our lives

Everything we do should be for the sake of sharing the gospel

Jonah justified his sin  

II Corinthians 5:8-15

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. 12   For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.13  For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.14  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

We should do what we do with Heaven in mind

We will stand before Christ one day and give an account of this life

The love of Christ should be our only motivation

God taught Jonah the importance of eternal values

Matthew 6:19-20

Lay not up for yourselves corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Remember, this world is not our home

John 17:14-17

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17   Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Matthew 5:14-16

  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Worldly retirement will not satisfy and will run out

Only what is done   for Jesus really   matters

Poem by CT Studd





Only one life
Will soon be past
Only what is done
For Christ will last

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

Jonah, part 4 The Unredeemed Showed More Grace than the Redeemed

Jonah 1:10-17

10  Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.11  Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.12  And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. 13  Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.14  Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.15  So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.16  Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.17  Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

When faced with the truth, Jonah finally owned up

  • Jonah had to admit he was the reason for the storm
  • God needs us to quit blaming everyone else and face up to our responsibility in the storm
  • Is it possible that an unholy church has brought God’s judgment upon this nation?
  • Is it possible that the church has forsaken her first love? –
Revelation 2:1-5

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them  which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3  And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent

  • Works apart from obedience is useless
  • We are admonished to follow our first love – Jesus
  • God will remove the light of His church if it continues to run from her responsibility
  • Do people still need to hear the uncompromising gospel of Jesus Christ?
  • Will we arise and go or stay asleep
Romans 13:11-14

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let ustherefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Ephesians 5:13-16

  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as  fools, but as wise,16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

  1. A sleeping church is a dead church
  2. The evil today is just as evil as it was in the day  of  Jonah
  3. WE ARE THE LIGHT!!!!!
  4. NOTE THE QUESTION: Why hast thou done this?

The world showed compassion

Jonah 1:13  Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them

The world today is rowing hard to solve the problems of this age in which we live

  1. They try hard to be good
  2. They rely on their own effort to satisfy God
  3. They sometime have more compassion then the church
Luke 6:35-40

your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37   Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. 39  And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? 40  The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Christ’s command to believers

1. LOVE

2. Forgive them

3. Give to them

4. Do not judge them or condemn them

John 3:17-19

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

5. Show mercy

Love is how the world knows we are real

  1. It is hard to love them if we do not love one another
  2. It is hard to be a light when we do not come to the  source of light

   

The result of NOT BEING the light

  1. We are thrown into the stormy water
  2. We become shipwrecked
  3.  We sink to the bottom
  4.  We get swallowed up by the burdens of this life

Being a loving member of the Body

I am often challenged by people to not love them. You know what I mean! Those who think their job is to criticize every move you make. They are the “devils” advocate they say. Well, quit!!!! God commands me to love you, so quit trying to make me not. You know, don’t you? You have a few “fellow believers” like that, I know you do. So what do you do? How do you react? LOVE. Drown them in love. That is what God is telling you they need.

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

What if, when your favorite agitator shows up, instead of being combative, you responded in love? I wonder if, over time, you could change an attitude for the better and make someone’s life more meaningful? The key to a really successful church family is love. People need the Lord more than anything else in their lives. The best way to show them Jesus, is to show them love. Learn to look at those who “are hard to get along with” as love projects. Find ways to do random acts of kindness for them. Send them a special gift of candy or flowers or maybe a certificate for a nice restaurant. Invest in their happiness, even at the expense maybe of some of yours.

Our church is filled with people who have been hurt or disillusioned. They are wondering if God is real, or if this Christian stuff is real. They have become estranged from the body and are alone and in need of someone, anyone, to show up and offer them the gift of love. Will you become a gift giver today? I hope you will.

Prayer: Father, I know that there are hurting people within our church. Show me at least one of them who I can reach out the hand of friendship and love. Help me put aside my own comfort and convenience and be your love in action to them, I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.