We Can Make It!
Jonah 3:1-2 NLT
In the governing scripture of Destiny we see a very important word that we must stay aware of as we travel this journey God has set before us.
Habakkuk 2:3 NLT This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
We must know that “Future” is anything after today!
When God sets the plan in place, it is then a matter of us staying committed & faithful.
We must be focused on what the mission is & how God wants it to be carried out.
The story of Jonah is one that has a lot of insight to offer us…
I. Hearing the Assignment… Jonah 1:2 NLT “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”
We make the overall vision of Destiny clear & post it so everyone can see the direction that God has given us.
But each person that is placed in Destiny must hear what God is saying He wants you to do to make sure it happens.
God has not called anyone to sit around & “guard the fort”. The call of God on your life is to get up out of complacency & go in the power of His Spirit. (Pastor Joel)
A. The city of Nineveh… Jesus is sending each & every born-again believer to reach lost people. The local church must get a hold of this mandate & forget everything else so this becomes a burning fire on the inside.
Jonah, go to Nineveh… The message is clear.
B. Our gulfcoast is our Nineveh… When the Lord birthed the vision for Destiny here on the gulfcoast, He did so knowing He has placed people here that He can use to get His job done.
C. Many GO…Wrong Direction… Jonah 1:3 NLT But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the LORD. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the LORD by sailing to Tarshish.
Jonah decided since he didn’t want to do what God wanted, he would just pursue things in another direction.
This speaks of this generation. They have a passion to do something, but are misguided by these two enemies;
• Rebellion – Whatever I am supposed to do, I’ll do the opposite! Wherever I’m supposed to go, I’ll go anywhere but there! This is my life, I will live it the way I want to!
• Excuses – We use these to JUSTIFY our rebellion.
For Jonah, he did not want God to change His mind if the Assyrians repented.
Be careful about listening to your own reasoning & allowing it to be confirmed by carnal people around your life.
D. Consequences of Disobedience… Jonah 1:4-6
• God’s Wrath (v.4)
• Others’ loss (v.5)
• Your detachment (5b-6)
II. Broken at the Cross… Jonah 2 READ
A. God has a fish for you! It will be a situation or season in your life that STINKS!
Verses 1-6a In these passages can you hear the brokenness coming through in his voice?
Many times we find ourselves in a place that we begin realizing that all the decisions that we have been making were not the best for our life.
I mean…get real…we have made a complete mess of our life because we have been hard-headed & wanted to do it our way.
But thank God for His mercy & desire for us to turn around through repentance & get back on track.
B. Fish Focus! When God allows you to be swallowed by a fish; it will bring clarity to your God-given vision.
You will stop looking around, thinking weird thoughts, & being distracted by every little thing.
C. Season of Opportunity… Then the LORD ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.
Sometimes you need the world to vomit you up in order to realize the opportunity & moment of Destiny in your life.
III. Running to the Call… Jonah 3
This time Jonah obeyed the LORD’s command and went to Nineveh…
A. Thank God for 2nd Chances (v.1)! Jesus loves you no matter what you have done & wants to use you to touch the world around you.
B. The message is still the same (v.2) Your assignment will never change. (Psalm 139)
You cannot get hung up in the what; but stay focused on the who has called you.
C. Obedience is the safety zone for your blessing.
1 Samuel 15:22 MSG Then Samuel said, Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices—empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult.
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 MSG If you listen obediently to the Voice of GOD, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, GOD, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of GOD, your God:
GOD's blessing inside the city,
GOD's blessing in the country;
GOD's blessing on your children, the crops of your land, the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds, the lambs of your flocks.
GOD's blessing on your basket and bread bowl;
GOD's blessing in your coming in,
GOD's blessing in your going out.
GOD will defeat your enemies who attack you. They'll come at you on one road and run away on seven roads.
GOD will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he'll bless you in the land that GOD, your God, is giving you.
GOD will form you as a people holy to him, just as he promised you, if you keep the commandments of GOD, your God, and live the way he has shown you.
All the peoples on Earth will see you living under the Name of GOD and hold you in respectful awe.
GOD will lavish you with good things: children from your womb, offspring from your animals, and crops from your land, the land that GOD promised your ancestors that he would give you.
GOD will throw open the doors of his sky vaults and pour rain on your land on schedule and bless the work you take in hand. You will lend to many nations but you yourself won't have to take out a loan.
GOD will make you the head, not the tail; you'll always be the top dog, never the bottom dog, as you obediently listen to and diligently keep the commands of GOD, your God, that I am commanding you today.
Don't swerve an inch to the right or left from the words that I command you today by going off following and worshiping other gods.
Destiny has been placed here on the Gulf Coast for divine purpose & plan that was decided by God.
The decision that is before each one of us today is “are we going to obey the voice of His Spirit” & surrender to God’s call.
The questioning, complaining, the offenses, & all other distractions must be cut loose today!
I am through with all the stuff that stinks & I am ready to submit & follow as God leads Destiny to its divine appointment!
If God can count on you for the vision that is being done here at Destiny get down here to the front signifying to God that He can count on you.
