Moby Dick

Jonah’s Journey

Show Video - Moby Dick - preaching scene- The new version with Gregory Peck as the preacher then the second half show the Old version with Orsen Wells as the preacher.

Scripture: Jonah 1–4,

Jonah 1:1–3:

1:1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

ILL>> A few centuries before Christ a man named Alexander conquered almost all of the known world using military strength, cleverness and a bit of diplomacy. The story is told that Alexander and a small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city. Alexander, standing outside the walls, raised his voice and demanded to see the king. When the king arrived, Alexander insisted that the king surrender the city and its inhabitants to Alexander and his little band of fighting men.

The king laughed, "Why should I surrender to you? You can’t do us any harm!" But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a sheer cliff

The townspeople gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, Alexander’s soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths! After ten soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side. The townspeople and the king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to commit suicide at the command of this dynamic leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.

Are you willing to be as obedient to the ruler of the universe, Jesus Christ, as those soldiers were to Alexander? Are you as dedicated and committed? Think how much power Christ could have in our area with just a portion of such commitment.

Introduction: The Book of Jonah differs from other minor prophets. It is a narrative, biographical rather than prophetic. It’s the story of a servant, a storm, and a sovereign God. Jonah is God-called but disobedient; the storm is God-appointed and God-controlled, and God’s powerful attributes are evident throughout the story. Jonah himself is a strange paradox: a prophet of God, and yet fleeing from God; thrown into the sea, yet alive; a preacher of repentance, yet needing repentance. He is pictured as sanctified in spots, self-willed, godly, courageous, prayerful, obedient after chastisement, bigoted, concerned with his own reputation, zealous for the Lord. As if this was not enough, Jonah is a great missionary book, and Jonah himself a great evangelist.

1. The Rebellious Prophet (ch. 1).

A. The Word Heard (vv. 1, 2). God spoke to Jonah and instructed him to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and cry against it because of its wickedness. This word from God was a definite word, a disturbing word, a distinct word, and a disobeyed word.

B. The Will Hardened (v. 3). Jonah understood God’s Word and yet he was uncomfortable with God’s Word and unwilling to obey God’s Word. He acted as people often do who don’t like God’s commands—he rebelled and ran away, thus removing himself as far as possible from being under the influence of God.

C. The Wrath Hurled (vv. 4–16). The truths embedded in these verses include the directed storm (v. 4), the discovered sin (vv. 5–13), and the devoted sailors (vv. 14–16).

D. The Whale Handy (v. 17). The sailors cast Jonah into the sea and a huge fish swallowed him. Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Truths found in this verse include the prepared fish, the providential fact, the prophetic figure, and the prophet’s fate.

If God had “predestined” the city of Nineveh to be saved then He would not need a preacher called Jonah. Any teaching that eliminates the need of soul winners here and abroad is from the pits of hell. Satan has won a great victory when he has tricked us into thinking we dont need to win people to Christ. Evangelism is the focus of the ministry of Jesus and the ministry of the church. Would he have befriended prostitutes and drunks if there was no need for evangelism.

Don’t you ever let anything trick you into boarding a ship to run away from your mission field!!

False teaching, selfishness, laziness, pursuit of money, sports, fear, pride, ... which sin boat are you on?