Jonah And The Call Of God! Series

Jonah is recognized as a prophet of God. Jonah already has a definite ministry.

2Kings 14:25 He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.

His ministry requires that he respects the commission and instructions of the One who has called him! Jonah is not allowed the luxury of picking and choosing what he wants to do and where he wants to do it or what he does not want to do.

He is not to be in any way biased based on his own personal or patriotic prejudice. He is to remain faithful to the One who called him. He has to be true to the message despite its unpopularity and probable unacceptability. As a servant and messenger of Yahweh, recognize that in the majority of occasions, your message may not be accepted, and it may sometimes subject you to vile and violent repercussions.

When it comes to God’s call, we do not have the option to color, change, modify or manipulate...we are to remain faithful. Why? It’s because we are called according to His purpose not our own.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV

Every child of God has a definite calling on their life. Many of us have consistently avoided or ignored or soft pedaled (de-emphasized or downplayed that call with what may oftentimes be referred to a sense of false humility!

Before we are called to service we are first called to salvation, submission and sanctification.

It’s vital to our eternal well being that we respond positively to God when called!

According to the Word of God we are called to:

A HIGH CALLING!

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14 KJV

A HOLY CALLING!

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Timothy 1:8-9 KJV

A HEAVENLY CALLING!

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. Hebrews 3:1-2 KJV

Among other things in this calling we are called unto Eternal Life: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 KJV

We are called into His Marvelous Light: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter 2:9 KJV

We are called unto Liberty: For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 KJV

We are called into Fellowship: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV

We are called unto Peace: But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 1 Corinthians 7:15 KJV

We are called unto His Eternal Glory, Virtue and Kingdom: According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2 Peter 1:3 KJV

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10 KJV

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 KJV

We are called unto Holiness: For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 KJV