Are you running from God or telling him no? Are you headed in the wrong direction? Have you found yourself in the middle of a storm? Learn about the call of God, how to say yes, and what to do when you’re in a storm. Plus, find out about the five things to understand for a better life with God.

I believe the Holy Spirit is wanting us to consider a fresh look at our lives in light of the book of Jonah. The book of Jonah is more than just a story of a man inside the belly of a great fish. It is a story of God’s grace towards a rebellious prophet, and ungodly, merciless, and undeserving people.

Allow today to be a spiritual wakeup call, and place your faith in Jesus as your savior.

Jonah, a man of the run from God. Are you?

A fresh look at your life

Jonah, by his actions was telling God, “No! I am going to do, what I want to do.” So many people today are telling God, “No; this is how I am going to live my life.” Deep, down inside most people believe in God. They know about Jesus. They call themselves Christians yet are headed in the wrong direction. Like Jonah, many people have boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction of God’s will for their lives.

With all that is happening in the world, I believe the Holy Spirit is wanting us to consider a fresh look at our lives in light of the book of Jonah. The book of Jonah is more than just a story of a man inside the belly of a great fish. Jonah is a story of God’s grace towards a rebellious prophet; and it’s a story of God’s grace towards an ungodly, merciless, undeserving people, much like people around the world today. You can run from God, but you cannot hide from him. God is a God of love, grace and mercy.

Are You Headed in The Wrong Direction?

‘“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish”’ (Jonah 1:2-6, NIV).

The people of Nineveh were Assyrian. They were evil, wicked, immoral people. The Assyrians were enemies of Israel, and Jonah wanted to see the people of Nineveh get what he thought they deserved. Jonah did not want to see the Ninevites get off easy. He wanted them to pay for all the evil they had done. Jonah knew what might happen if he warned the people of a coming destruction and judgement of God. And Jonah wanted no part of it.

Interestingly, Jonah’s name means “dove of faithfulness”. Yet, Jonah was acting anything but faithful to God. Jonah was acting according to worldly thinking. Jonah was acting out of a selfish motive, and he was acting spiritually irrational. Jonah knew God was God of all creation. In his heart he must have known he could not hide from God. But somehow Jonah thought that he could alter God’s plan. Jonah’s rebellious actions resulted in a painful lesson for himself as well as others.

As people of faith, we call ourselves Christians. As Christians we profess Jesus as our savior. We follow and believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. We, like Jonah, believe God created the world and that he is the creator of all things. God is sovereign, meaning there is no authority greater than God’s authority.

Several weeks ago, we read in Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” In other words, we are to live as one in Christ. We saw how Jesus submitted to the father, when he prayed, “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). We also learned that in Titus 2:14 Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own.” This is true for everyone who places their faith in Jesus.

Just as the Assyrian people of Nineveh did not deserve the grace of God, neither do any of us. Yet Jesus died so that whosever would believe in Jesus would be saved. But Jonah thought differently, and he headed in the opposite direction of what God desired. Jonah was telling God, “No, Lord. I’m going to do things my way. I know what is best. This person or that person is too wicked, too ungodly, too far gone to receive the grace of God. They do not deserve it.”

When people turn their backs towards God and refuse to say “yes Lord,” they are living in spiritual rebellion towards God, like much of the world today. By their actions, they have chosen to run away from the will of God.

We like Jonah, know the Lord, and we also need to understand:

1. We cannot run from God.

2. Our actions will affect others. The actions of others can bring about storms in our lives much like the sailors in the story of Jonah. The actions of others can cause trouble in our lives, much like the cargo being tossed overboard to lighten the ship. The loss of cargo was not the owner’s fault, yet they appeared to suffer due to Jonah’s rebellion.

3. God will get our attention by bringing situations in our lives.

4. Our disobedience doesn’t change God’s plan or will.

5. We need help to be reawakened. Jonah needed someone to awaken him from deep sleep, and we do too.

Just As Jonah Could Not Run from God, Neither Can Anyone.

Jonah, the prophet of God, was told by God to go to the city of Nineveh and warn them of a coming judgement. This was not a suggestion from God but, rather, a word of urgency. Jonah was different from other prophets of God. Most prophets were sent to warn the people of God. Jonah was being sent to a rebellious, ungodly nation to warn them of a coming judgement. God told Jonah, go to that great city. It was with a sense of urgency. Much like what God told Elijah in 1 Kings 17:9, “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.” Or as in Jeremiah 13:6, when God told the prophet to retrieve the belt that God had him hide in the rocks: "Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there.” In both cases, it was a word of instruction to do immediately. Not to put it off. However, Jonah refused to go to Nineveh and headed in the opposite direction. Deep down I believe Jonah knew he could not hide from God. But that did not stop Jonah from trying.

Jonah was not acting rationally. He wanted to do what he wanted to do. Jonah must have thought he knew better than God. Jonah knew the people of Nineveh were evil wicked people. He knew that they were enemies of Israel. Jonah knew how they mistreated and killed the people of God and Jonah wanted them to pay for their sins. Jonah also knew the character of God and he did not want God to extend to the Ninevites mercy or grace of any kind. In Jonah 4:2, we see Jonah understands God’s compassion, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

As I have said many times, people know about God, yet the world refuses to live according to God’s word. Like Jonah, they tell God “no”.

Jonah thought, I’m headed away from doing what you want. Unlike what Jesus told the father “Not my will but your will be done.” The rebellious world will say “not your will Lord, but my will.” This is exactly what Jonah was saying by his actions.

Notice, Jonah was not bothered by his actions. He was able to fall into a deep sleep. Jonah wasn’t worried about anything. He was oblivious to the wind and storm. Jonah was oblivious to the ship almost sinking. Jonah was oblivious to the trouble he caused in the lives of others on the ship.

When you cannot sleep, it is often because you are worried about something. Jonah was not concerned about his disobedience.

As you read further in the story of Jonah, you will find Jonah goes from being asleep in the belly of the ship to crying out to God from the belly of a great fish. Jonah could not run from God. God knew exactly where Jonah was headed. God also heard Jonah when he called out to the Lord in prayer from the belly of the fish.

We Cannot Save Ourselves

Just as the sailors may try to save themselves from the storm, neither can Jonah save himself from the sea.

The sailors tried to lighten the ship and toss the cargo overboard. The sailors cried out to their gods in hopes the storm would end. The sailors tried rowing back to shore. The sailors tried to find who was responsible for the storm and they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Jonah knew the storm was his fault. He said as much to the sailors on board the ship. Jonah knew the storm would end if the sailors would throw him overboard. In the back of Jonah’s mind, he may have thought that his life would end and that would seal the fate of the people in Nineveh, but by the grace of God, God caused fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was saved from droning in the sea.

The crew feared God when they learned Jonah was running from the God of heaven above, who made the land and sea.

By the grace of God:

• God saved the sailors as they called out to God in fear.

• God saved Jonah as he called out to God in humility and faith.

• God saved the people of Nineveh as they repented and called out to God.

Not one person can save themselves. It is only by the blood of Christ, by the love, mercy and grace of God that we are saved.

Our Actions Affect Others

Just as Jonah’s rebellious actions affected others on the ship, our rebellious actions can affect others around us.

Jonah’s choice to not do what God told him to do resulted in some harsh consequences. Jonah’s actions affected his life and the lives of others, both those on that ship and those who owned the cargo.

You have no idea of the lives you touch daily. Your words and actions have an effect on those around you, both good and bad. Positive or negatively.

Jonah did not realize how his choices could affect others on the ship until much later when the crew did all they could to save their lives. Jonah’s actions caused fear to well up in the crew’s hearts. Jonah’s actions caused the loss of the cargo. Jonah’s actions almost caused the loss of the ship and all abord.

Rebellious choices and actions can affect family and friends.

Our actions can affect others around us that we know nothing about. Your actions and choices in life can touch generations.

• Billy Graham touched millions of lives, but what if he had said no God?

• What if the person who shared Jesus with you said no and just walked away without saying a word?

• What if the person who shared Jesus with the person who told you about Jesus had refused and said no to God? The person who told you about Jesus might not have shared Jesus with you. Resulting in you not sharing your faith with your family and friends.

Jesus told the disciples to go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20). What if the disciples said no? We all have a choice regarding how we act. May we not respond like Jonah, but rather let us respond like Jesus: Not my will but your will be done.

You see, we are called to forgive. We are called to love one another. We are called to pray for one another. We are called to be a living example of Christ to the world. We are called to share the message of Christ to all the world.

How do we say yes to God?

• As you do, you are saying yes to the call of God.

• As you put Jesus first in all your choices, you are saying yes God.

Let me suggest that when you say no to God, you are saying that you know what’s best, and God doesn’t.

God Can Use Storms to Awaken Us

Jonah found himself in a storm of his own causing. God caused the wind and the storm to get Jonah’s attention. It was not to hurt him. However, the crew was caught up in the same storm along with the owners of the cargo that was tossed overboard. Again, we see it was not to hurt them.

Not all storms in life are caused by you. Like the sailors on board the ship; they simply found themselves in the storm.

Understand, some storms are used of God to awaken a person spiritually. However, how you respond in the storm is your choice. When you find yourself in a storm, call out to God. Do not attempt to save yourself, instead pray. Search your heart to see what God is wanting you to do and then do it.

We Need Help to Be Reawakened

Jonah needed someone to awaken him from his deep sleep. Jonah was fast asleep until the captain awakened him. You were spiritually fast asleep until you heard the Gospel message and said yes to Jesus. The world is fast asleep spiritually. They are oblivious or their rebellious actions.

Consider This Your Spiritual Wakeup Call

Many like Jonah know the truth of God, only for some reason they are running from God. They need to be shown the grace of God. It’s not our place to decide who is to hear the message of salvation. Our job is to tell the undeserving of coming judgement. Our job is also to warn of a coming judgement much like a storm. May we never refuse to obey God’s command to tell the world about the grace, mercy and forgiveness of God that is awaiting whosoever will believe in Jesus and turn from sin. We may hate the sin but we are called to extend grace to the sinner. God loves the sinner and desires them to turn to the Lord with all their hearts and be saved. Just as grace was extended to the people of Nineveh.

Once, we were all deserving judgement, but by the grace of God we were told the Gospel message. The message of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness in the name of Jesus.

Are you attempting to run from God? Have you found yourself in the middle of a storm? Allow today to be a spiritual wakeup call, and place your faith in Jesus as your savior. Remember, the Lord extends his grace to the undeserving, of which we are all at one time.

Suggested Praise and Worship

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This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.