Tonight, we’re going to have an opportunity to get into a story that’s very familiar to all of us. But I want to look at it from the vantage point of “Who was God trying to catch?”
The Holy Spirit speaks to each one of us and He speaks to us individually with words specifically to us. But there are times He will say things that you can share with others. I want to preface my message tonight with something the Holy Spirit shared with me. The piece I’m going to share with you fits very well in what we’re going to talk about tonight.
What I’m about to read was given to me while I was reading 1 John 4:16.
“The more you spend time with Me, the more you will come to understand My love. And the more you understand My love, the more you will see My heart in dealing with people. People need to experience My love and that will happen as more and more of My love is poured into you and you pour it out onto others.
“My greatest need is to have people who are willing to do whatever I ask of them. So until I have people like this, My ability to touch the lives of people is limited. And I want to touch people, again, like I did when I was here. But I’m no longer walking the earth. I can no longer function in the earth the way I did when I was here.
“That’s why My greatest need is people who will hear My voice and respond to My directions. When that happens, you will see revival like you’ve never seen or head of before – people being healed, the dead being raised – all because I have people who are willing to follow My word.
“So find that place in Me that will allow Me to find a place in you. And when you do, I will be able to use you to usher in revival.”
So, we see that the Father’s heart is for us to love people the way He loves people, for us to bring people into the kingdom the way He would want them brought in. But so many of us are influenced by things outside the Church that we find ourselves thinking like people outside the Church.
I think about my feelings years ago when Osama Bin Laden was alive. I would been one of the first people to say he needs to die. But do you know that was not God’s heart? That was Barry’s selfish heart. God wanted the man saved. That was God’s heart. So many Christians, like I was years ago, have God’s nature but are not living out of God’s heart.
The record we’re going to look at tonight is in the book of Jonah, but we’re not going there just yet. Put a marker there because we’re going to get there eventually.
Before we get there, I want to look at God’s heart a little bit. I want to look at what God desires. These are verses we’re familiar with and that we’ve read before.
Matthew 6:9-10
(9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name.
(10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
We are to pray that God’s will is done here on earth like it is in heaven. What’s implied here is if we don’t pray, then God’s will is not going to get done. Do you see that? Why would Jesus tell us to pray if God’s will could get done without it? That’s a message in and of itself – how we don’t understand and value prayer.
2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise [The promise he’s referring to is the Lord’s return.], as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Jesus is coming back but He’s not rushing it because He wants as many people as possible to be saved.
Ezekiel 33:11
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
God is saying “There is no reason for you to die and to miss heaven. The only thing you have to do is turn from your wickedness. And when you turn from your wickedness and start to serve Me, you will not die.”
1 Timothy 2:4
“‘Who will have men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
God wants every single person to have the life that He’s offering through Jesus. That’s what He wants.
In these four verses we’ve seen God’s heart. He wants His will done one earth. He wants no one to perish. He wants the wicked to turn from their evil ways. And He wants every single person to be with Him in heaven. The only thing that matters to God: everlasting life for people. That should be the only thing that matters to you!
Now, what role do we play?
Genesis 1:26-28
(26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping that the creepeth upon the earth.
(27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
(28) And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth the upon the earth.
Genesis 2:19-20
(19) And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
(20) And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
What we see in Genesis 1 and 2 is that God gave man dominion. God made a sovereign decision that He was going to give man dominion over what He had created. So, He step back and let man rule. When He did that, He made the decision that He would not override our freewill.
What we also see here in Genesis is that God uses our authority to bring about His will on ear. Can you now understand why it’s so important that we get men and women born again? God can’t get His will done through someone who has a sin nature. It’s only get done through people who are like Him and that’s why God’s number one priority is to get a person saved.
Go to Ezekiel 22:30-31. God is not happy. The spiritual leaders of Israel are not feeding the flock. They are taking advantage of them by requiring things that are not required. God is ready to put an end to this.
(30) And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
God’s heart was not to destroy the land but the people had been so wicked that the door to the destruction had been opened and it was coming. God wanted someone to stand in the gap and stop it from coming, but He couldn’t find anybody. Then, Bro. Barry, why didn’t God just stop it? He needed man’s authority.
(31) Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, said the Lord God.
I want you to understand this. The people got what they deserved but God was looking for someone who allow Him to show the people some mercy! And He couldn’t find anyone.
Think about that for a minute. You could be the only one standing in someone’s way to keep them from going to hell, or receiving God’s mercy. You could be the only person standing in the gap! But you’ve got to have your Father’s heart.
Psalm 106:23 – It’s like a re-cap of Israel’s history. It’s the cliff notes!
“Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away a his wrath lest he should destroy them.”
Moses was the only person who stood between Israel and the entire nation being wiped out. Moses! And look at how it describes Moses – “his chosen.” What does Ephesians say about us? “We were chosen in him before the foundations of the world that we should be without blame and holy before him.” We are God’s chosen! We stand in the gap so that destruction doesn’t come. God uses our authority to bring about His protection for people.
Now turn to Jonah. We know this story, but tonight, as Paul Harvey used to say “We’re going to see the rest of the story.” Most of the time when Jonah is preached, the focus is on the fish. The fish is not the issue. That was not who God was trying to catch. Jonah was not who God was trying to catch either!
Jonah 1:1-2
(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.
When the word of God uses the phrase “wickedness is come up before me,” there is a lot of wickedness – so much so we can’t really comprehend it. The wickedness is so great that it has gotten God’s attention.
Nineveh was a city built by Nimrod and, as you remember from Genesis 10, Nimrod was not a godly person. His name means “we will rebel.” Nineveh was a city built by a man who rebelled against God. And the city has now rebelled so much that their wickedness has gotten God’s attention.
The inhabitants of Nineveh were known for their violence and cruelty. Look in Jonah 3:8. Now listen to what the king is saying about his city.
“But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.”
This is what the king was saying about Nineveh. When you look in Nahum 1:11, in talking about God’s wrath against Nineveh, it says “There is one come out of thee, that imagine the evil against the Lord, a wicked counselor.” This person purposefully sought to do evil against the Lord.
Nahum 3:4 says that, in the city of Nineveh, there was rampant prostitution and rampant witchcraft. So you can understand how their wickedness had risen so much that it got God’s attention.
Go back to Jonah 1 and let’s look at his response to God in verse 3.
“But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” This is a prophet who was fleeing from the Lord.
Psalm 90 tells us that those of us who dwell under the shadow of the Almighty is in God’s presence. There are benefits of being under the shadow of the Almighty! When Jonah runs, does he have the protection of the Almighty?
Jonah did not want to deliver the message to Nineveh because Nineveh, the Assyrians, were enemies of Israel. There was no way he wanted to deliver a message of salvation. He was telling God, “You’ve got to get someone else for this job. I don’t want it.” Jonah did not have God’s heart.
I want to share something the else the Holy Spirit gave to me. I received as I was reading Acts 13:22. “The fulfilling of My will is directly related to the desires of your heart. In order to see My will come to pass on earth, I need people who have My heartbeat. I need people who have My compassion. I need people who love the way I love. I need people who are willing to extend mercy.”
Based on what we have read so far about Jonah, that does not fit Jonah. Now the question, ladies and gentlemen, is does what I just read fit you? Are you loving the way God loves? Are you extending mercy the way He extends mercy?
Now look at God’s response to Jonah in verse 4. Jonah has gotten onto a boat and was headed out to sea.
“But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.”
You know the story. Look at verse 10.
“Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.”
The men knew that what they were facing was because Jonah was in rebellion and running from God. Look at what Jonah says in verse 9.
“And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.”
So Jonah tells them in verse 12, “Throw me in the sea.” Do you see this? Jonah would rather die than deliver the salvation message. So the men did as Jonah requested.
Look at verse 17.
“Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”
Do you see this? God is telling Jonah, you’re not getting away that easily. “I’m going to give you a chance to reconsider your options!” God sent the fish to keep him from drowning because that’s what Jonah wanted. Are you following me?
Most folks who read this record will say that God is sovereign and that Jonah had no choice. He was going to have to fulfill God’s will. But when you read chapter two, you see that Jonah began thinking about all the things that God had done and about God’s goodness. And Jonah changed his mind.
Now let me ask you something. If Jonah had not changed his mind, would God have forced him to change his mind? No. How do I know that? Genesis 3. God didn’t stop Adam from sinning did he? He didn’t stop Adam from walking away did he? Jonah reconsidered his options!
Look at verse one of chapter three, which is after the great fish spits him up on to dry land.
(1) “And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying,
(2) Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
(3) So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey.
(4) And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
(5) So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
(6) For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
The king lays aside his royal robes. He lays aside his authority. He lays aside his power. He wanted his city to survive God’s wrath. “I’m going to submit myself to this god.” The king of Nineveh did more than the prophet of God! He’s responding to God the way Jonah should have responded.
(7) And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, not drink water.
(8) But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yeah, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
I love verse 9.
(9) Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
Every time something like this happens in scripture, there’s a possibility that this does not have to happen. But you come to 2019 and everything happens because God wants it to happen. Isn’t that what we say? Nothing happens unless God wants it to happen. We don’t have God’s heart when we say stuff like that.
Even Jesus showed us this. In the garden of Gethsemene, he said, “Not my will but your will be done.” Jesus didn’t have to do what the Father wanted him to do, but he did! And yet we say God’s will is going to be done regardless.
God responds to us people! Satan will have you thinking everything is God’s will and do unto know why, it keeps what he’s doing under the radar.
Remember Matthew 6:910? If we have to pray that God’s will get done on earth then everything that happens is not God’s will!
So even the king of Nineveh says let’s do this. Let’s turn our lives around because God may spare the city if we do. Let’s change and maybe God will change His mind. And God did.
(10) And God saw their works that they turned form their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
God responds to you.
Now verse one of chapter four. Jonah was overjoyed that the people repented. He was ecstatic. He was dancing in the aisles. Nope. He was not happy at all.
(1) But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.
I love verse two.
(2) And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of evil.
“God, I knew that if I went there and delivered this message and the people decided to repent, I knew you’d forgive them! I knew it!”
There are people in the Body of Christ who are just like Jonah. God has told then what He wanted them to do, regarding individuals, and they have not done it for whatever reason. More than likely it was because they did not like the person. Until we have God’s heartbeat, we will not be good and faithful servants.
(3) Therefore now, O lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.
(4) Then said the Lord, Doest thou well be angry?
That’s King Jamesy for God saying “What right do you have to be angry? The only reason your Israel is the chosen people Jonah is because I chose them. So why do you believe you have the right to be angry when I make a decision about what I want to do for someone else?”
(5) So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.
I can just see Jonah pouting. “I’m just going to sit here and see what you do God. I didn’t want to talk to them anyway!”
(6) And the Lord God prepared a gourd [This is a plant that grows up to eight to ten feet with huge leaves.], and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.
(7) But God prepare a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.
(8) And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat up the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished him himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die that’s to live.
(9) And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well be angry, even unto death.
(10) Then said the Lord, Thou has had pity on the gourd [Why? Jonah liked the gourd.], for the which thou hadn’t labored, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:
(11) And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than six score thousand persons what cannot discern between their right hand and their left; and also much cattle?
God is talking about 120,000 children! That’s why God wanted Nineveh spared. There were over 600,00 people in Nineveh and 120,000 were children who did know any thing about God and He wanted them to have that opportunity.
So it goes back to what we talked about in the first part of this message, God’s primary desire is save people. That’s the message of Jonah. God did everything in His power to try to get Jonah to see where His heart was. God was telling Jonah, “I want to give the children an opportunity to decide for themselves if they want to serve Me. I don’t want to destroy it. These little ones haven’t made a decision.”
The same is true today. He wants to fill His kingdom. This is the thing that God wanted to make sure we got out of the book of Jonah.
Let tonight be the night that you walk hand in hand with God and see things with His eyes. Let tonight be the night that you are going to do what you can to introduce people to your Father!
