July 2nd, 2000, Sunday Evening

"The Command: Arise and Go"
Following God's personal instruction to you
(Special Guest Speaker: Brother Mike Frymier)

OPENING: Jonah 1:1-3, KJV


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The Lord's command for you to carry out is not only to be followed but it should be done so expediently. In this sermon, we shall examine a man who did not that: the great story of Jonah and the whale.

Six vital components in the Lord's command "arise and go" deserve examination.

• #1 OF 6: To WHOM was the command given?
  
  
  • 2 Kings 14:25: We find here that Jonah wasn't just mentioned in the bible because of his encounter with a whale. He was also a prophet--a messenger of God to the children of Israel!
    
    
  • Jonah 1:1-2: "Arise, go" from the Lord isn't to be taken lightly. It's a personal command from God. Just because this is Old Testament material doesn't mean it's irrelevant. In fact, it's very relevant. Just stop and think that the God who led Moses and the children of Israel out of Egypt all the way back in the beginning of the bible is the same one you can talk to in prayer any moment of your life!
    
    
  • Matthew 28:19-20: Some believe God is commanding only his disciples to follow this verse when in fact it relates to all of us in the world.
    
    
    • Acts 1:8: If you still don't believe you're charged with that above duty, read this scripture. We are given the power to be witnesses to all the world of Christ.
    
    
  • 2 Corinthians 5:14,17: Verse 14, "us" means any man in Christ. Those that are saved are "become new" while "old things are passed away."
    
    
  • 2 Corinthians 5:20: This verse is a personal command to all of us. How can one be an ambassador to Christ? Same as if you were a US ambassador to a foreign country--you relay the feelings and intentions of your country to the foreign land.
  
  
• #2 OF 6: WHAT IS THE CALLING?
  
  
  • Jonah 1:2: God gave Jonah a command. What SHOULD BE the immediate reaction?
    
    
    • Get off your seat
    • In the military, you have the "prepatory command" and "command of execution." Prepatory command gets our attention (i.e., "FLIGHT!" or "SQUADRON!") and command of execution means go and do it now! (i.e., "TENCH-HUT!" or "FORWARD, MARCH!")
    • God's command to us is the same as was Jonah's--do it now.
      
      
    • We can't sit back in life and wait for God to come to us (i.e., "God--what is the sign you want me to see or wait for?"). You have to go and find it and you will be guided.
  
  
• #3 OF 6: WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?
  
  
  • Jonah 1:2
    
    
  • Romans 10:8,14: Without believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, what else matters? (i.e., believing in the Word or listening to a preacher?) All else is useless without believing in Jesus Christ
    
    
    • Acts 16:26-31
  
  
• #4 OF 6: WHERE TO GO?
  
  
  • Jonah 1:2: God didn't only give Jonah a command, he gave Jonah what Jonah believed to be an impossible tasking. Nineveh is the center of Assyria--a Gentile nation. Historically, the Gentiles believed the Jews were dogs. Jonah believed this wouldn't work because he was a Jew entering hostile Gentile territory. We can't take God's place and decide what we should and shouldn't do. We should carry out the order without question
    
    
  • Joshua 1:9: Everyone has passed opportunities to ask if another has been saved; People are not afraid of people they don't know but rather of those people who know them best; Out of fear, Jonah made the wrong decision
  
  
• #5 OF 6: WHAT WAS THE DECISION MADE?
  
  
  • Jonah 1:3: Jonah did the opposite of the Lord's instruction by fleeing. Have you ever tried to flee the presence of the Lord--through work, activities, hobbies, or being with the family?
  
  
• #6 OF 6: HOW DID GOD RESPOND TO THE REACTION?
  
  
  • Jonah 1:4,17: Even in the midst of the tempest storm, Jonah refused to repent so God chastened him for three days in the belly of a whale
    
    
  • AND THE RESULT OF GOD'S CHASENING ON THOSE WHO DISOBEY HIM?
    
    
    • James 4:17: In this case, you know it's a good thing to tell lost cities the name of Jesus Christ. To know it is good and not to do it is to sin
      
      
    • Hebrews 12:6,8: Physical punishment is good and proper Only poor results can come from NOT properly punishing disobedience.
      
      
      • Because of Jonah's chastisement in the whale, he repented, turned to God, and saved that impossible city

CLOSER

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Acts 8:26-35: Now Philip is someone who followed God the instant he was commanded. Regardless of the fact Philip was in the desert and it was hot and uncomfortable, when the Lord told Philip to meet the Ethiopian, God didn't tell Philip to run but Philip ran to meet him!

So the questions is: Will you be like Jonah who needs to be chastised before he follows instruction or be like Philip who is willing to follow the exact command the first time and with fervor?