A Lot of People Should Come unto the Lord Like This... Saved & Lost People Alike Should Just Listen & Do What God Tell Them...  Jonah 1:4-16 The book of Jonah is very fascinating. It contains the story of a Prophet, men, God giving men chances, God glorifies men if they repent, and another fall by Jonah after he is used mightily by God. It is the perfect book for a believer, that knows he is saved but, wants to know more about the nature of God, Saved people, lost people, and the Power of God over all mankind and, I'm still in the first chapter. I love this book almost as much as Proverbs but I just love the whole Bible. Because if you read and study the Bible enough, you will begin to see all of the little nuggets that are in the entire thing. Another thing, read and study the King James Bible because that is the only Bible without error. Jonah 1:1, "Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah..." when you have God speaking to you, LISTEN! Because you are not your own anymore, if you are a blood bought convert of Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. If you do not hear from God anymore, you need to look at your life, past & present. Just see where you have dropped the ball because God never did. You don't want to do what Jonah did and just do what you think is good for yourself. Because God will get you to do whatever he wants you to do no matter what. I am here to say, the life of a saved man is not supposed to be simple. You should not depend on yourself, other church members, or your pastor. No, you should depend on the Lord Jesus Christ and him only. Just read Proverbs 1:22-31, if you have heard the Lord but just don't hear him anymore. You just continue living in that situation you are in and don't humble yourself, repent of your sin, and start seeking the Lord's Will for everything. Humbling yourself is the thing that no one likes to do. Look at Israel in 2 Chronicles 7:14, notice God is talking to his children and the first thing he asks them to do is humble themselves. That is what God really wants, humble, faithful servants that pray to the Lord no matter what, always turning from their wicked ways. If you are looking for something to do in your church, humble yourself and just ask the church leaders and do whatever is asked of you. That takes me to Jonah 1:4-6, God can do anything he wants to and whatever he does will turn out to be the biggest blessing that could have ever happened to you, bar none. God will do anything to his servants that he thinks is due. God will let you go as far from him as you think you can get. God will even let this world take you to pieces as this world can do. As the Mariners were tossing things overboard and Jonah was asleep below deck. I can see why the shipmaster wants to wake Jonah and ask him to pray to his God. Like I said, God can bring you the largest blessings whether they look like a blessing to you, at that time, or not. The person that hasn't been saved by the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't know what God has planned throughout a saved man's life. Can I say that I don't even know what is going to happen in other Christian's lives? God has let me see the things that he wants me to do and that is all I should be concerned with. I know what I am called to do, 2 Timothy 4:2. Just like I am called by God to do certain things, by the Holy Ghost. Jonah was called to go to Nineveh. As you read the first chapter of Jonah, at least he was honest to the men that asked him these questions. Because in Jonah 1:7-10, the sailors start casting lots and they learn that Jonah is a Hebrew. They start to get really worried because they know that God is the Judge of everyone. If you are a born again believer and you are out of God's Will, you know that you are out of God's Will. The lost sailors put two and two together, don't you think that they would become a bit afraid for their lives because they did not want to face God in the afterlife. The sailors were scared, they wanted their lives to be calmed down once again. So, in Jonah 1:11-16, they start asking Jonah what they have to do to be favored by God. But in verse 13 they just started to do the same thing that they were doing before, rowing, rowing, rowing. Coming up with nothing done because you got to do what God says to get out of the mess that you are in. Turn from your wicked ways, repent of your sin, and trust the Lord. They finally did that in verse 14, they cried unto the LORD and repented and ask him to not kill them. Verse 15-16, they finally do what Jonah told them to do out of fear of the LORD. It is good to know that Christ wants to save anyone who will do what he asks, just turn from your wicked ways, repent to the savior, and trust in him, it is that simple. It is good to know that Christ wants to save anyone who will do what he asks, just turn from your wicked ways, repent to the savior, and trust in him, it is that simple. The turning from the wicked ways may seem overwhelming but if you are faithful in doing so, Christ is faithful to save you and give you a way out. God is not finished with Jonah though because, in verse 17, he causes a great fish to swallow up Jonah. God will do that to his children when they don't obey him. God can put different things in your life that makes you feel like Jonah at this point in his life but, God will have a choice for you to make for yourself in those situations. You can either do what God has called you to do or not. In chapter 2, Jonah ponders from where he is, where he is going, and what Christ told him to do. He weighs the cost for his life and Jonah decides that it is better to do as God said and not what he wanted to do in chapter 3. Conclusion If you are never spoken to by the Holy Ghost, I would be worried. But, this isn’t the only place in the Bible where this kind of personal striving to please the Lord is listed, Luke 22:39-46… 39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. You may have prayed to God and asked to do different things for you but I think you are making a mistake. You should pray to God and ask what He wants from you. Life can throw a whole lot at you. It is better to be in the Will of the Father than second-guessing all of the time. So, read your Bible and pray throughout the day, and you will grow.
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Saved & Lost People Alike Should Just Listen & Do What God Tell Them, Jonah 1:4-16, and another fall by Jonah after he is used mightily by God,
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