Who is My Neighbor?
Jonah and Nineveh: Sharing Compassion For Your Neighbors

Sunday July 7th, 2019 - Pastor Wungreiso Valui
Jonah 4

Central Idea: Salvation belongs to the Lord.

I AM A HEBREW (Jonah 1)

God sent a Hebrew to save the Pagans, but it was the Pagans who tried to save the prophet

"So he said to them, 'I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.' Jonah 1:9

God requires faithfulness. More than your heritage, sacrifices, and successes, God calls you to be faithful.

"Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." I Corinthians 4:2.

"Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the LORD and took vows." Jonah 1:16

I HAVE BEEN CAST OUT (Jonah 2)

The prophet condemned the Pagans, but now he felt condemned and cast away

God will pursue anyone in the most violent storm and to the deepest sea.

"Then I said, 'I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.'" Jonah 2:4

Desperation and affliction are not from God, but salvation is of the LORD.

"But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." Jonah 2:9

When faith starts to speak, it already believes in what God can accomplish.

THEN HE CRIED OUT AND SAID (Jonah 3).

At the first preaching, the Pagans were saved God's word is sufficient. Say no more or no less, but His words are needed to be said.

"Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it." Jonah 3:10

WHEN I WAS STILL IN MY COUNTRY (Jonah 4)

The prophet was unwilling to share God's compassion with the nations. The Pagans were the enemy of Israel; Nineveh was an enemy of Israel.

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, and said, "Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!" Jonah 4:1-2

IT IS BETTER FOR ME TO DIE

Salvation is of the Lord. God's word is final and decisive. God's mercy is for everyone; it is not under human management.

"Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!" Jonah 4:3

"And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left-and much livestock?" Jonah 4:11

Content: What does the Bible say? Read Jonah 4.

Cross References: Other Biblical Texts

1. Jesus said he will give the sign of Jonah. Matthew 12:40-41
2. Salvation belongs to God. Jonah 2:9, John 14:6, Acts 4:12

Context: Why is this passage important today?

1. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah 1:1-2
2. Jonah fled to Tarshish. Jonah 1:10
3. Jonah swallowed by a great fish. Jonah 1:17
4. God heard Jonah's cry. Jonah 2:2
5. God relented from destroying Nineveh. Jonah 3:10

Conviction: How did the passage impact you?

1. What did you discover about God's mercy?
2. What did you discover about Jonah's anger and displeasure?
3. What did you discover about Jonah's repentance? Jonah 2:2
4. What did you discover about Nineveh's repentance? Jonah 3:10

Commitment: What should I do now?

1. Consider how Jonah could not hide from God.
2. Consider God's love for the city of Nineveh.
3. Consider how God used Jonah despite his objections and rebellion.
4. Consider the Great Commandments and the Great Commission.

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