Sermon # 45 - Give God The Rightful Place Series

We read in Jonah 4:7, “But God appointed a worm at the rising of the dawn of the next day, and it struck the plant, and it withered.” (LITV)

As Jonah enjoyed the shade of the plant that God had prepared for him, the Lord appointed a worm that obeyed God’s bidding, and ate up the plant, so that it withered completely.

Notice how the storm that God sent on the sea when Jonah tried to run away from God, the fish that swallowed Jonah, the gourd that grew up instantly to provide shade to Jonah, and the worm that devoured the plant, were all obedient to God’s command. The storm and the fish played a crucial role is saving the people of Nineveh from destruction. All of these did as God bid them to, and they all did so without making a big deal of it.

However Jonah, had such a high opinion of himself that even after his work of preaching to the people of Nineveh was completed, he still put up a shelter, and waited eagerly to see when the Lord would destroy the city.

Matthew 21 narrates the incident referred to as the triumphal entry, when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. There is an imaginary story told about the donkey that Jesus rode upon. The people who welcomed Jesus spread their cloaks along with the branches of trees that they had cut down. As the donkey walked along carrying Jesus on his back, he was so elated at the attention they received. The next day the donkey spoke highly about his prominence to another donkey, and asked his donkey friend to come along to check out the rousing reception he would receive on the streets. As both the donkeys walked down the same streets, they were surprised to find that no one took notice of them, and instead everyone shooed them away for being in the way. What the donkey failed to realize was that the response he got earlier was not for himself, but for the Lord Jesus who rode on his back. Though this is an imaginary and humorous story, it conveys the powerful message that it is the Lord who makes us special, and without Him we are nothing. He alone is worthy of all our praise, worship and honor and He alone must be elevated in our lives.

Everything we received comes from God above

The disciples of John the Baptist brought a complaint to him and this is recorded in John 3:26, “So they went to John and told him, "Teacher, you remember the man who was with you on the east side of the Jordan, the one you spoke about? Well, he is baptizing now, and everyone is going to him!"” (GNB)

It seems that the disciples of John the Baptist were perturbed that all of John’s disciples were now going after Jesus. John the Baptist did not say to them, ‘yes I too have noticed this and let us spread some rumors to get them away from following Jesus.’ Instead this was the astounding response of John as found in the verse below.

We read in John 3:27, John answered, "No one can have anything unless God gives it.(GNB)

Also in John 3:30, “He must become more important while I become less important." (GNB)

John the Baptist understood the ministry that was entrusted to him and to Jesus, was from above. He also desired that Jesus should increase, and that he himself should decrease.

This is the right perspective everyone should have, but sadly when God begins to use someone, often they begin to feel so important, and start to promote themselves.

Serving God is our duty

Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 17:10, “Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’” (WEB)

Jesus is forthright to teach His disciples that after they have done all that He had commanded them to, they were to acknowledge two things; one that they were unworthy servants, and secondly that they had only done what was their duty.

Beware of false prophets

However, even today there are many like Jonah, who will elevate themselves like Jonah did. Then there are others who are followers, who promote their leaders so much that they are almost given a place equal to God Himself. This is a dangerous situation, as after some time, the followers of such men will not even be able to identify the wrong-doings of the ones they are blindly following.

Here’s a word of caution from the word of God about anyone who prophecies falsely.

We read in Deuteronomy 18:20-22, “But if any prophet dares to speak a message in my name when I did not command him to do so, he must die for it, and so must any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods.' "You may wonder how you can tell when a prophet's message does not come from the LORD. If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD and what he says does not come true, then it is not the LORD's message. That prophet has spoken on his own authority, and you are not to fear him.” (GNB)