Jonah, Part 2 - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

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New Life COTR
Sunday March 2, 2008

JONAH
Part 2

INTRODUCTION: Last week we looked at Jonah Chapter 1 and learned four things.
When God speaks to us it might be something we don’t want to do.
1. When God speaks to us there is always a boat going in the opposite direction.
2. If God has to He’ll send a storm to get our attention.
3. Our worst nightmare may be just what we need.
In Jonah chapter 2 Jonah is in the belly of the fish and we read about Jonah’s prayer of repentance. We’ll come back to that.
Today we’re going to look at Jonah 3.
Jonah 3:1- “Then the Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.”
Many people in life will not give you a second chance at something. They draw the line and say “I’m going to write you off.” You blew it with me.

I. GOD IS A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES
God came to Jonah a second time.
Some of you have blown it with God before, but God is a God of second chances.
Some of you have blown it with church, but God is a God of second chances.
Some of you have blown it with ministry, but God is a God of second chances.
Some of you have blown in marriage but God is a God of second chances.
GOD CAME TO JONAH A SECOND TIME!
Some of you God has come to you in the past and you have yet to surrender your life to God. Well God is coming to you again today!
Some of you today are coming back to God after disobeying Him.
SOME OF YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THE GRACE OF GOD TODAY!
GRACE- God giving you what you don’t deserve!
SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE THE GRACE OF GOD TODAY!
Ephesians 2:4-9- Turn and Read
(ILLUSTRATION)
This is what God wants to do in your life. Young or old!
2Corinthians 5:17- “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
TRANSITION: There are those of you like me, who don’t deserve the grace of God. But the Word of the Lord will come to you a second time.
Just like it did Jonah! What was the Word of the Lord for Jonah?

II. GO NOW
Jonah 3:2- “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”
GO- Go now, go immediately, go now, go suddenly!
Whenever God comes to you and gives you a second chance the time is always NOW!
The time to go is NOW!
When God says it’s time to GO you need to do it immediately because if you don’t you’ll talk yourself out of it.
God may be saying He wants you to go and forgive someone. God and apologize. God and give something away. DO IT NOW!
GO and repent of some sin, make it right NOW!
Jonah 3:3- “Jonah obeyed the Word of the Lord and went to Nineveh…”
Jonah got it right and obeyed the Word of the Lord.
“God I’ll go where you want me to go but don’t go there.”
THREE TYPES OF CHRISTIANS

1. I want what I want period!
2. I want what God wants but!
3. I want what God wants period!
TRANSITION: Jonah got a second chance to go and he did.

III. TO GO YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LET GO
Jonah 3:4- “On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned.”
STARTED- to untie or loosen so you can go.
To go the direction Jonah needed to go he had to let go of the things he was holding on to.
Jonah 2:8- “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
Jonah had to let go so he could do what God was calling Him to do!
YOU MUST UNTIE YOURSELF TO YOU CAN DO WHAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO!
I don’t know what that could be for you?
1. Your self-will, I’m going to do whatever I want period!
2. Could it be your holding on to a sense of financial security or control? I can’t take that job because this ones just to secure.
3. Could it be you’re holding on to your reputation? What other people think about you. If I do what God calls me to do others will think I’ve lost it?
4. Could it be some sin in your life?
5. Maybe it’s a relationship.
WHAT IS IT YOU’RE HOLDING ON TO THAT GOD NEEDS YOU TO LET GO OF?
UNTIL YOU LET GO YOU CAN NEVER DO WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO!

CONCLUSION: What are you holding on to today that you need to let go of?
God is speaking and for some of you it’s a second chance. GO NOW! Let Go and do what God needs you to do.
Jonah 3:4-10- Turn and Read
God had compassion on the Ninevites.
God is a God of Grace. GOD IS A GOD OF SECOND CHANCES!