Jonah "God's Successful Prophet"
TEXT: Jonah 1: 1-6
-- Jonah, fleeing from the fulfillment of God's command, was ship-wrecked, cast into the sea, and swallowed by a great fish. At length, spewn up on the shore, he carried out his mission. We cannot be content running from God. God has made us and we can only find true happiness living according to God's commands.
-- Most of us know at least that much about Jonah, but this description misses 2 very important facts.
--1] Jonah did not intentionally carry out God's mission
--2] and Jonah did not find peace and happiness
--I need a picture of a kid running away from home
--Questions to think about
1] Have you ever considered running away?
2] Have you ever tried to run away from God?
3] Are you running away right now?
--for conclusion
--
"Should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a 120,000 people, who do not know their right hand from their left?"
-As a prophet who came after Jonah once said, "There is more rejoicing in heaven over 1 lost sinner who repents than over 99 righteous ones who have no need for repentance."
