Does Running From God Make Sense?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Does Running From God Make Sense?</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id179.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Fresh Air of Restoration"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, “Does Running From God Make Sense?” Jonah 1, Feb 25, 2001am</B></div> <bR> <div>      The FBI agent recently caught spying for the Russians, Robert Hanssen, was apparently a devout Catholic, or so it seemed to his friends and family. Yet for many years he carried on as a spy for Russia, and his activities even resulted in the death of at least two men. It is inconsistent for this man to act like a devout follower of Christ and his teachings, and yet be involved in spying against his country. As followers of Christ, we must avoid inconsistency – when what we say we are and what we actually do are two different things.</div> <div>      Jonah was inconsistent with his calling. He was a genuine prophet, but for a time, he didn’t act like one. Prophets were people who spoke for God; God gave them a specific message that he wanted them to give to others. Jonah’s story takes place in the 8th century B.C. He was asked to take a message to Nineveh, a significant city in Assyria. But Assyria had previously been a threat to Israel; Jonah regarded them as the enemy, and he hated them. But generally a prophet did as God commanded.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Several things do not make sense about Jonah’s story:</B></div> <div>      A. Jonah 1:1-3, The book of Jonah begins like any other prophet’s book. Jonah was given a message from God, as so he got up and went – in the wrong direction. Jonah ran because Israel was the usual place where God revealed himself to his prophets – if Jonah could just get out of Israel, God would call someone else to go. At the time, Jonah hated the Assyrians more than he was willing to obey God.</div> <div>      B. Jonah 1:4-6, Jonah’s heart was hard, while the hardened sailors feared for their lives. While the sailors were throwing their paychecks (the cargo) overboard to save their lives, Jonah was oblivious and unresponsive.</div> <div>      C. Jonah 1:7-10, Jonah knew he was running from the God of heaven, the supreme God, who made the earth and <I>sea</I>. In his heart, Jonah knew he could not escape God’s attention, but he had tried anyway.</div> <div>      D. Jonah 1:11-16, The sailors desperately looked for a way to do what is right, while Jonah would rather die than do what he is called to do. Jonah could have repented and insisted on going through with God’s original mission. They had dumped the cargo, so there was no point in going on, anyway. But Jonah chose death rather than go to Nineveh (God had other plans though).</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Don’t run from God; instead, be a consistent follower.</B> </div> <div>      If you are a follower of God, <I>follow</I> him. Behave like a follower. Listen to his direction; submit to his will; make use of his strength.</div> <div>      We run from God when we tell him “no.” When we know his will and we refuse it, that is running from God. You don’t even have to leave home to do it! This doesn’t make sense because 1) Christ died for us, and 2) we have chosen to follow him. Our running from God makes no more sense than Jonah’s flight made sense.</div> <div>      Several examples come to mind: trust God in your trials, rather than thinking he can’t handle it. Show love and encouragement to your family, rather than being selfish. Make the choice to be a mentor to a younger believer, rather than assuming someone else will do it. Let go of that habitual sin that you have been enjoying; rather than holding on to it. Find creative ways to share Christ’s love and his message, rather than keeping it to yourself. Decide to serve Christ in the church by using your spiritual gift, rather than keeping it to yourself. Choose to get along with others, rather than continuing to dispute with them over minor issues. Trust in Jesus Christ and his work on the grace for your salvation, rather than depending on your good works.</div> <bR> <div>      Be encouraged that following God is a process that demands perseverance. Being a consistent follower does not mean perfection. It means that your are pursuing growth. It is growing, struggling through the process and moving forward. It is like a football team on offense. They are moving toward the goal despite setbacks from the opposing team. Keep moving ahead even when you are set back.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2001, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>