THE BIG IDEA: To review men in the Bible that God called and used in His service to make Him great among men.
BIBLE FACT: God uses His own sovereignty to process and to call whom He wills into His employment to represent and to serve Him.
How God Chooses The Man
God calls the man (Divine invitation)
God breaks the man (Divine motivation)
God makes the man (Divine dedication)
God blesses the man (Divine inspiration)
God uses the man (Divine exaltation)
Jonah: God’s Most Reluctant Repentant Leader
(Hearing God’s voice and making my repentance real)
Lesson 1
There is an old Greek story of a soldier under Antigonus who had an extremely painful disease that was likely to bring him soon to the grave. This soldier was always first in the charge, rushing into the hottest part of the fray, as the bravest of the brave. His pain prompted him to fight, that he might forget it; and he was not afraid of death, because he knew that in any case he had not long to live. Antigonus greatly admired the valor of his soldier, and discovered his malady and had him cured by one of the most eminent physicians of the day. But from that moment the warrior was absent from the front of the battle. Now he sought his ease; for, as he remarked to his companions, he had something worth living for–health, home, family, and other comforts, and he would not risk his life now as he had before. So, when believers live crucified lives and have nothing to live for in this world but Christ, they are driven to exhibit zeal, self-denial, and industry. But how often pleasures and joys distracted them, causing them to be absent without leave. – (adapted from Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Quotable Spurgeon, (Wheaton: Harold Shaw Publishers, Inc, 1990)
I. Jonah’s penitent activities
A. Jonah: A penitent prophet and son of a true/faithful prophet; Jonah 1:1; II Kings 14:25
B. Jonah hears the assignment from God; v.2
C. Jonah’s foolishly attempts to pay his way from the presence of the Lord; v.3
1. He made plans to flee the presence of God
2. He changed location to remove himself from the voice and presence of God (Men think that there are certain places where God does not speak. Jonah acted as if God did not speak to people in Tarshish.)
3. Jonah chose a transportation method that would lead him to God
4. Jonah attempted to pay the price of a ticket to escape the presence of God
5. Jonah’s attempt to flee from the presence of God was a downward experience
6. Jonah engaged and endangered others in his attempt to flee the presence of God
D. Jonah’s trip of reluctance was intercepted and interrupted God; v.4
E. Jonah’s absent during the storm that he caused; v.5
F. Jonah discovered and cannot pass the TSA security check point; vv.6-10