Tag God's Will

Jonah 1 & Hebrews 12:1-11 – “A Lesson in God’s Discipline”

Jon Beck Leave a comment

Jonah 1:1-17 & Hebrews 12:1-11

INTRO

  • Jonah heard and understood but disobeyed.
  • God loved him and disciplines him.
    • Storm, Sailor, Fish
  • Somebody was going to Nineveh, because that was God’s will!

Jonah 1:17 – And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

17 The sea did not change its nature when Jonah splashed into it. Jonah did not suddenly develop into a champion swimmer. But the necessary protection was there. There is no suggestion that the fish was a special creation for the purpose or that Jonah’s preservation within it was miraculous. The power of God ensured that the fish was there at exactly the right time.

Why did God choose this means of preserving Jonah’s life? God could easily have provided a piece of floating wreckage to which Jonah could have clung, until he washed up on the beach half-drowned. Miracle is not the gratuitous display of God’s omnipotence, nor is it called out merely because of human need. Taken in its setting, it is probable that every miracle has spiritual significance (cf. the word “sign” in John’s gospel). That must surely be the case here, especially since Jesus used this miracle to picture his own resurrection.

For the sailors the raising of the storm and its subsequent quieting were indubitable evidence of the Lord’s control of chaos. Since “the fish” was at God’s disposal, it meant that every force in the world, however potentially dangerous, was completely under God’s dominance and control. So while in one way the fish is secondary in the revelation to Jonah, it was needed for the prophet to grasp that God’s love is operative in a world that is entirely under divine control

Kenneth L. Barker and John R. Kohlenberger III, Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition: Old Testament) (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), 1462.

Hebrews 12:1-12

Run with endurance – v. 1

  • lay aside

Looking to Jesus – vv. 2-4

  • founder and perfector of our faith
  • who suffered on the cross
  • right hand of the throne of God
  • so that we may not grow weary

Learn and Grow from His discipline – vv. 5-11

  • discipline – Train, educate, correct
  • motivated by His love for us – v. 6
    • Father/Son
  • For our good – v. 10
    • Share His holiness (personal holiness is the goal)
    • Seems painful, but leads to a fruitful life

The What Now

  • To obey God is to trust God. To trust in God’s plan and purpose
  • We tend to wait on a voice, open door, or sign. (What is God asking me to do?) Do the “obvious” right (the truths of Scripture) and then the “not so obvious” becomes clearer.
  • God is not playing hide and seek with us as we consider His will.
  • When we are outside His will, then we should expect His discipline
  • Expect it. Learn from it. Grow through it.
  • Remember, HE LOVES YOU

Q & A with Pastor Jon – “How does God speak to us?”

Jon Beck Leave a comment

Q & A with Pastor Jon is a teaching time I utilize that looks directly at Scripture to answer questions that I have been asked over the course of my ministry.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church Family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Wednesday at 6:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube. You can find our Worship Guides, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer Lists, and other resources at our Church Website.

Scripture For Study

Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

INTRO

  • Phrases I have heard over the years:
    • Before making a decision…”I am waiting on a Word from God.”
    • “God spoke to me the other day.”
    • “God spoke to me in a dream.”

  • DOES GOD SPEAK TODAY?
    •  Yes, He does.

Psalm 19 – GOD SPEAKS

  • General Revelation – vv. 1-6
  • Special Revelation – vv. 7-9
Psalm 19

	[1] The heavens declare the glory of God,
		and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
	[2] Day to day pours out speech,
		and night to night reveals knowledge.
	[3] There is no speech, nor are there words,
		whose voice is not heard.
	[4] Their voice goes out through all the earth,
		and their words to the end of the world.
	In them he has set a tent for the sun,
	[5] 	which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
		and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
	[6] Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
		and its circuit to the end of them,
		and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

	[7] The law of the LORD is perfect,
		reviving the soul;
	the testimony of the LORD is sure,
		making wise the simple;
	[8] the precepts of the LORD are right,
		rejoicing the heart;
	the commandment of the LORD is pure,
		enlightening the eyes;
	[9] the fear of the LORD is clean,
		enduring forever;
	the rules of the LORD are true,
		and righteous altogether.
	[10] More to be desired are they than gold,
		even much fine gold;
	sweeter also than honey
		and drippings of the honeycomb.
	[11] Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
		in keeping them there is great reward.

	[12] Who can discern his errors?
		Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
	[13] Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
		let them not have dominion over me!
	Then I shall be blameless,
		and innocent of great transgression.
	
	[14] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
		be acceptable in your sight,
		O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (ESV)

A few of the “ways” people listen for God to speak (you can google “how does God speak to us”)

  • Through His Word (The Bible)
  • An audible voice
  • Circumstances
  • Impressions
  • Angels (God’s Messenger’s)
  • Creation/Nature
  • Visions
  • Dreams
  • Godly Counsel

A few points to ponder:

  • REMEMBER… GOD HAS GIVEN US ALL WE NEED! – 
2 Peter 1:3 -  His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
  • As always… we must think through this biblically and theologically.
  • God does utilize other means to encourage and strengthen us in our faith.
  • God has always spoken with the authority.
    • Through His Decrees
    • Through His Prophets
    • Through Jesus Christ
    • Through His Word… the Bible
  • Today, our authority is found in His Word… The Bible.
    • KEY WORD AUTHORITY
    • It is not one of many
    • It is the ONE.
  • No other means should compromise the Word we have already received.
    • When we value and seek out the other means… the Bible will be less of authoritative in our daily life.  We will begin to seek the “other means”
      • Small still voice
      • Impression
      • Wise counsel
      • Dreams
      • A word in my prayer time
  • LIFT HIGH THE WORD!!!!!
    • Trust in the Word
    • Advice and wise counsel are fine, but the Word is our place of real authority
    • An impression and feeling may be God confirming His presence and peace in our life, but feelings should not dictate and guide the course of our life.
    • A thought or dream (our mind) can obviously be used of God to confirm a reality from His Word, but looking for a fresh word in a vision and dream diminishes the sufficiency of the Word of God.
    • The Word is enough!

A deeper look at the progressive nature of God speaking. (From a Sermon in August)

2 Timothy 3:16-17 & Psalm 19:7-11 “The Greatness of God’s Word”