Lessons from a “Drunken” Sailor

Author: Rob Jackson

Jonah 1:1-17

I. Love unlovely: God accomplishes His will . . . sometimes this is not what we as selfish humans desire, (Jonah 1:1, Jonah 4:2).

He did not give Jonah an option. It is easy to love those who love us. The Assyrians (whose Nineveh was an important city of the Assyrian empire). Nahum 2:11-12; Nahum 3:19 tells of the cruelty of Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire. Oh, it takes Christian maturity to love those who hate us, despise us, blow up our buildings. We need to pray for them (the terrorists). When I first heard the news of 9-11 I was filled with anger and rage. I was filled with hate towards those people. But, instead I must be filled with love . . . love them. Jesus says to love your enemies . . . .use some Scriptures.

A. You love them because God tells you to love them, (Matthew 5:43-48).

B. Sometimes you can win them over, (David).

C. It is a growing experience for you and one for those around you.

II. You can run, but you cannot hide, (Jonah 1:3).

He went as far to the West as he could. He thought he could get away from God, (Psalm 139:8-12).

Some of you are running from God, (Hebrews 10:24-25).

III. Obedience is costly, but disobedience is more costly, (Jonah 1:4-17).

A. Hudson Taylor

B. Jonah’s disobedience was costly, (Jonah 1:4-5, Jonah 1:15-17).

IV. God often gives second chances, (Jonah 2:9, Jonah 3:10).

Moses – murderer
Abraham started great but blew it in Egypt.
David dropped the ball with Bathsheba.
Peter denied Christ.
Paul began by persecuting Christians.
John Mark went home.

I look at my life, and thank God that He gives me second chances. Thanks be to God!

He will give you, too, a second chance if you will let Him. Some of you have blown it. You are sitting in the pew and you know you have blown it … you have been disobedient. Thanks be to God, God will give you a second chance.Blackaby, “Some of the great people of God were broken by sin and disobedience, yet God did not give up on them.”

God receives all the glory in our obedience . . . He invites you to join Him for a purpose.

God used Jonah to call 120,000 to repentance.

Author
Recent Posts

Rob Jackson

Pastor at Central Baptist Church, Decatur

Rob has been pastor of Central Baptist since December 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Samford University, a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, and a Ph.D. also from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also attended Beeson Divinity School and Wheaton College.

He has served as Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Double Springs, AL, Associate Pastor at Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, KY, Evangelism Associate for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, and an Adjunct Professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.