Doing the Will of God from the Heart

Jonah 4:2

Introduction

• Introduction to the Book of Jonah
• Common misconception: Jonah is only a fish story
• Jesus referenced Jonah as a type of His death, burial, and resurrection
• Importance of understanding Jonah as an expression of God's love

Chapter 1: God Who Chastens

• Jonah learns that God chastens those He loves
• Jonah's rebellion against God's will
• Personal anecdote: The preacher’s building program and learning God’s will
• Jonah's attempted escape to Tarshish
• Jonah’s false peace and the storm
• Sailors' efforts to save Jonah, highlighting their compassion compared to Jonah's lack

Chapter 2: God Who Cleanses

• Jonah prays from the belly of the fish
• Acknowledgement of God's chastening
• Jonah’s prayer is paralleled with 1 John 1:9 (confession and forgiveness)
• Jonah’s renewed commitment: "I will sacrifice unto thee…salvation is of the Lord"
• Spurgeon’s humorous take on Jonah’s declaration

Chapter 3: God Who Conquers

• Jonah preaches in Nineveh
• The great revival in Nineveh
• Everyone, including animals, repents
• The power of preaching God’s Word
• Contrast between Jonah’s successful ministry and his unchanged heart
• Hypothetical rewriting of Jonah's story to show an ideal ending

Chapter 4: God Who Cares

• Jonah's displeasure and anger at God's mercy
• Everything in the book obeys God except Jonah
• Jonah’s complaint and God’s gentle rebuke
• Illustration of Jonah as the elder brother from the parable of the Prodigal Son
• Importance of doing God's will from the heart, not just in action

Practical Application

• Reference to Romans 12:1-2: Presenting oneself as a living sacrifice
• Daily dedication of heart, body, mind, and will to God
• Example of how to start each day with a commitment to God
• Transformation through consistent obedience and renewal

Conclusion

• Encouragement to love and serve God from the heart
• Prayer for the community to do God's will from the heart and experience joy in service

*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.