Lessons From Jonah

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Lessons From Jonah Matt 1240-41
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Jonah was a prophet during the reign of Jeroboam
II in Israel - II Kings 1425
A. He was told to deliver a
message to Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian
empire, a nation that was extorting large sums of
protection money from Jonahs country.            
              1. History
records that the Assyrians were a brutal and
wicked nation.                      
2. They savagely destroyed all who
opposed them, not just the men, but the women and
children as well.
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I. The book of Jonah is unique
Messenger instead of the message.             We
learn lessons from the actions of the prophet,
instead of the message he delivered.             
Christ affirms the truth of this message - Matt
1240-41
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II. While an evil nation may exist for a time
they are not assured of lasting Prov 1434
1. Isa 6012 - A nation that will not serve God
will be uprooted.
                      
2. Jer 1214-17 - God will uproot any nation
that does not listen to Him                       
   3. No nation is so great
that God cannot and will not bring low.
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(No Transcript)
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III. Jonah did not want to bring Gods message
to Nineveh - Jonah 11-3
Self-righteousness 1.  When we see the lost it
is easy to fall in the snare of pride. a. Our
focus becomes what I want, what I need, instead
of looking out for the needs of others - Phil
23-4 2. This is the trap Jonah fell in. Jonah
was not interested in their salvation, he wanted
to see them destroyed.
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Assyrians, the Lords of the Massacres The
bloodiest ancient civilization
Woe to the city of blood, full of lies, full
of plunder, never without victims!The crack of
whips, the clatter of wheels, galloping horses
and jolting chariots! Charging cavalry, flashing
swords and glittering spears! Many casualties,
piles of dead, bodies without number, people
stumbling over the corpses.(Nahum 31-3)
Not only were the Assyrians cruel and brutal,
they were evil. The same prophet ended his words
about their cruelty with this charge all
because of the wanton lust of a harlot, alluring,
the mistress of sorceries, who enslaved nations
by her prostitution and peoples by her
witchcraft (Nahum 34). He saw the Assyrians
not only as cruel and brutal but also involved in
a hosts of sexual sins and witchcraft as well.
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     IV. Jonah HAD A TOUGH PREACHING JOB
When Jonah was forced to go, he taught that they
only had 40 days Jonah 31-4 1.  This isnt just
a small town in rural Alabama. It is called the
great city (Jonah 12) 2.  It took three days
just to walk across it! - Jonah 33
                    
 BUT. 3.  The people from the lowest
to the greatest, turned! - Jonah 35-9
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      V. God was merciful
Jonah 310  1. The nature of God - Jeremiah
188                      2. God will have mercy
on those who obey him.
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VI. Jonah Was Mad!!!!
Jonah had to go and preach to his enemies Jonah
41-3 a. How soon he forgot his rescue from the
whale! Was that not mercy? b. Mercy for himself,
but not to his enemies?
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        VIII. God teaches Jonah a lesson -
Jonah 44-11
1.   Jonah cared more for the plant than a city
full of people!  2.  Jonah had done nothing for
the plant, but he did teach a whole
city.  a.  Why? Because Jonah got something from
the plant. He looked only to his own personal
benefits. b. Jonah did not have the mind of
Christ - Phil 23-4 3. 120,000 people turned
because of one mans teaching!
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Conclusion       We need to keep our focus.
A.  Souls are precious B.  II Tim 224-26 -
emphasis is on the lost, and not the
saved C.   Lose our self-righteousness and fa
see the lost and dying world around
us.