PASTOR JOHN COWLES
BRIDGE CHURCH
Running From God
JONAH – Week 1
Jonah 1:1-3
Jonah 1:1-3 ESV - Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
I want to point out that on an absolute level, you cannot run from God’s presence.
1 Kings 18:15 ESV - “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
We need to understand that God is going to say things and ask us to do things that we don’t like, and we don’t want to do.
How do people run from God today?
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Jonah 1:1 ESV - Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah…
How do people run from God today?
• Ignoring His Word.
We don’t like what God says or commands
How do people run from God today?
• Ignoring His Word.
We don’t like what God says or commands
We don’t hold God’s Word in high regard.
How do people run from God today?
• Ignoring His Word.
• We hide or ignore our
Jonah 1:3 ESV - But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Numbers 32:23 ESV – But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.
How do people run from God today?
• Ignoring His Word. • We hide or ignore our sins.
• We disobey His
Jonah 1:3 NLT – But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.
You are never farther from God than when you’re close to Him and you say “but God”.
Philippians 2:10-11 ESV – so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Psalm 139:7-10 ESV – Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Psalm 139:1, 7 ESV – O Lord, you have searched me and known me! - Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
Reflection:
• Are you including Jesus in your daily decisions? What do you need to do differently so that He is included?
• Are you reading His Word daily?
• How do you find your life different when you have and have not sought his advice?
• Is there a struggle that is a concern for you now? Are you willing to surrender it to the Lord, maybe have someone pray with you about it?
• Have you bowed down to Jesus, giving yourself completely to him?