We read in Jonah 1:3, “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.” (ESV)
The word of the Lord we saw in the previous message came to Jonah, instructing him to go to Nineveh. However, Jonah decided to disobey God and went in the opposite direction towards Tarshish. If we were to give a description of Jonah, we could call him ‘The prophet who went in the wrong direction.’
The church of today too is guilty in that we have forgotten the great commission of our Lord Jesus and are moving speedily in the wrong direction.
Jonah fled from the presence of the Lord
The thing we notice first and foremost that is also mentioned twice, is that Jonah fled from God’s presence. Jonah’s heart was not willing to obey God and therefore, he decided to flee from God’s presence.
If the Lord were speaking to us about something, we should be willing to obey Him. When we are not willing to do so, we too will be fleeing from God’s presence. To be away from the presence of God is the most insecure place for one to be in. The word of God teaches us about the beauty of being in God’s presence and being in fellowship with Him. Sadly, we have forgotten these commandments of God, and have as a result walked away from the presence of the Lord.
• The word of God came in the wilderness
In Luke 3:2 we read, “during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” (ESV)
The temple at Jerusalem was a grand one where there were regular celebration of festivals and also sacrifices being offered to the Lord. The High Priest and many other priests were at that temple serving the Lord. Interestingly, the word of God came to John the Baptist who was preaching in the wilderness. If you are wondering why the word of God did not come to those in the temple, it was simply because they were not willing to receive it or do anything about it. Though, the priests may have preached the word of God, the people were not willing to receive it or obey it, because everything had become a routine tradition. There was also a sense of control that the priests exerted over the people, and would expel from the temple those who did not comply.
These are days when we are unable to go to the church, and worship freely because of the pandemic. However, think about all those times when the doors of the church were open, and how many of us were not interested to be a part of the fellowship. Church going to many has become a mere ritual. The ones who serve and the ones who are served have faulty expectations today. The leaders want to have control over those whom they serve, and the people want to have a place to call their own, where babies can be named, weddings and funerals can be conducted. We live in a time when the purpose of the existence of the church has sadly been forgotten.
When the word of the Lord came to John the Baptist in the wilderness, he preached the word boldly, and this is what happened as a result.
• The message was a bold one
We read in Luke 3:7, “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who taught you to flee from the wrath to come?” (JUB)
As the multitudes flocked to hear John the Baptist, he was so filled with the Holy Spirit that he preached the word with courage, and with no fear of losing the crowds that followed him. The result was that people were pricked in their hearts, they repented and turned to the Lord.
So also, if the word that is being preached in our churches today is truly God’s word, people will hear, repent and there will be a genuine transformation of lives. The word must come from the Lord, and must be preached boldly as the very words of God, and not with the thought to please men.
We also read in Luke 3:12, Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” (ESV)
The tax collectors were loyal to the Romans, and therefore were strongly rejected by the Jewish people. It was such Jewish tax collectors who came to John the Baptist to be baptized. You might recall the parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and the tax collector. They stood far apart as the Pharisees did not want to have any dealing with the tax collectors. Nonetheless, in this passage we observe that these tax collectors were genuinely seeking to change and were flocking to John the Baptist. Later we even read that soldiers too came seeking after John the Baptist.
This is the question that should arise in the hearts of everyone when they heard the word of God being preached, ‘What should we do?’ Remember the time when Paul and Silas were in prison and there was a great earthquake and all they were set free of all their shackles, the jailor ran to them with the same question, ‘What must I do to be saved?’ God’s word is life and when the word of God is preached, it should stir the hearts of those who listen, to make changes in their lives.
There was the huge temple at Jerusalem, which apparently was not fulfilling God’s purpose. The question on our mind may be as to why God did allowed the temple to remain, and did not do something about it.
• Simeon a just and devout man
It is recorded in Luke 2:25-32, “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he should see the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Lord, now let thy slave depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy saving health, which thou hast prepared before the face of all the peoples: a light to be revealed unto the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.” (KJV)
The Holy Spirit of God rested on Simeon who was a just and devout man. Not only filled with the Holy Spirit, He received the word by the Holy Spirit and was also led by the Holy Spirit.
• Anna the Prophetess
In Luke 2:36-38, we read, “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and she was a widow eighty-four years, who departed not from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord and spoke of him to all those that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (KJV)
Anna was another woman who was a prophetess was also at the temple. She was 84 years old, a widow and one who serving night and day at the temple with fasting and prayers. It was because of people like Simeon and Anna, who feared God and served Him that the temple was not destroyed. It was therefore to both of them that the Lord Jesus was revealed, when He was brought into the temple as a little baby.
Thank God that even today there those who are part of the church who listen to God, spend time with Him in prayer and are walking with Him in the power of the Holy Spirit. However, the men and women like Simeon and Anna, have become a scarcity these days.
Jesus’ response to the grandeur of the temple
We read in Matthew 24:1-2, “And Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down.” (JUB)
The disciples of Jesus were trying to impress Jesus about the splendor the temple. The response that Jesus gave to them was something they did not expect. Jesus told them categorically that the temple will someday be destroyed, and that there would not be one stone left on another. Just as Jesus foretold it happened, and the temple of Jerusalem was utterly destroyed. The priest were so caught up with their position and rituals, and the people too were continuing these traditions with no understanding whatsoever of their real meaning. The temple or the building became far more important than God Himself. The worship of God, fearful reverence for Him was replaced by the importance for the building and the traditions of men.
Even today there are many churches and cathedrals that are built with great pomp and brilliance. The architecture is so breathtaking that many people get nostalgic when they enter into such a place. Many have this erroneous belief that the building is the Church. The word of God clearly teaches us that the church is the gathering of believers and every believer is the temple of the living God.
The purpose of the church
The church today needs to ponder on some important truths. Jonah was running away from the call of God and going in a different direction. The church too has gone far from the purposes of God for their lives.
The primary purpose of the church is to bring the word of God as it is to the people. This word must bring about a change in the lives of people. There is no dearth for worship and praise, but there is such a lack of those who fear the Lord. The people of God are not being filled and led by the Holy Spirit of God.
We read in Jonah 1:3, “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.” (ESV)
Once Jonah had decided to go away from God’s call he now found a ship that would take him to Tarshish. These ships must have been rare in those days. However, not only was the ship ready, Jonah also had enough money to pay the fare to take this journey.
Strange as it may sound, sometimes when you choose to walk away from God, the situations could also be conducive to us. Even today all conditions are favorable for the church of God to go on in disobedience to God. The fundamental purpose of the church must never be forgotten, that is to be good disciples and make disciples of others. This is the responsibility of the church. If we fail to do this, everything else we do, our worship and best accompaniment, all our grand plans and programs will be nothing before the eyes of the Lord. The church of God must decide to go in the right direction that God has ordained for us. Do not make church going a ritual or tradition, but ask the Lord to transform your life, for these days are those that God has given to us to reason and make changes in our lives. There are various gifts that the Holy Spirit had endowed the church with and if we do not use it to fulfill the purposes of God, we as a church too are going in the wrong direction and we need to change course to be in alignment with God and His word. Let us be reminded however that all over the world there are still those Simeon’s and Anna’s who are sincerely walking with the Lord, and are being led by the Holy Spirit of God. It is this group of such genuine, Spirit-filled people that should make up the church of God, so that God’s true purposes can truly be fulfilled in this world.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
