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.

About the Contributors