Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:04 — 37.9MB)
Subscribe: RSS
Proverbs 4:1-9
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. As conservative and fundamental Biblicists we believe that the Bible clearly teaches throughout, that the husband is the God-ordained head of the home. As such, he is God’s primary ambassador to his wife, following 1 Pet. 3:7 as his pattern for living with her; and his children, always training them up in the way they should go as Solomon directed in Prov. 22:6, in the home; and is also God’s ambassador outside the home. Another way to say it is a man who calls himself a Christian is always representing God to someone! So men, the first question is are you representing the God of the Bible, and His perfections of His nature and character, His saving grace, and His compassion – or are you presenting a false god that lets you remain comfortable in your own self image? Let’s consider first:
- JONAH’S REBELLION! 1:1-3. Before we scold Jonah too severely, we should remember God comes to all men while they are in rebellion to Him. Immediately upon understanding exactly what God wanted him to do he ran the other way! Why? Why does any man run from the word of the Lord? Because they are keenly aware of their sin and sinfulness before Him! Psalm 139: 1 – 12 and Hebrews 4:13 are just two passages of Scripture that tell us getting away from the Lord is impossible! It was in the midst of his rebellion God made provision for:
- JONAH’S RESCUE! 1:17. Another one of the hardest lessons for a man to learn is that he can do absolutely nothing to rescue himself from his sinful condition. It makes no difference how long, or deep into your heart your rebellion is – you can do nothing on your own to change your position and attitude before the Lord. The song is right when it says “just as I am without one plea.” Men, God delights in rescuing us – especially when we think there is no hope for us! Have you ever thought that the belly of the great fish God sent to swallow Jonah was a place of rescue? There is a point to this: when God comes to rescue us, He may choose to make our rescue a process rather than an event! One writer says “the belly of the fish is not a happy place to live, but it’s a good place to learn.” The point is this: God rescued Jonah from drowning in the sea, but He did not deliver Jonah to a vacation resort so Jonah could continue to live in his sin and rebellion and running from God! Don’t miss this point: it is in the midst of all Jonah’s darkness, loneliness, misery and filth that we see:
- JONAH’S REPENTANCE! 2:1-9. For any man to repent of his sin and become a true man of God he must understand that repentance begins with prayer! It was only after Jonah’s sincere and urgent cry to God in prayer that he was delivered! Let’s consider:
- JONAH’S RESPONSE! 3:1-3. This time when the Lord spoke to Jonah, Jonah did what the Lord told him to do. True repentance is demonstrated by total obedience! When any person, man or woman, sincerely repents – or turn from their sin to God – it is an event that occurs in the heart, and manifests itself in daily living.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
