[Outline for Overhead]
How To Lose Your Joy Even While Doing God's Work!
Jonah 3:10 - 4:5
1. When You're More Concerned With Your Personal Pride Than You Are God's Will!
Jonah 4:1 & 2
2. When You Become Angry
Jonah 4:3 & 4
Ephesians 4:26 & 27
3. When You Start Pouting!
Jonah 4:5
Jonah 2:4 - 6
You can maintain your joy and praise by:
1. Focusing on God and not on things!
Matthew 6:31 - 33
2. Focusing on God's salvation and not yourself!
Proverbs 3:5 & 6
3. Focusing on ways to Praise God and not on the Hindrances!
Psalm 9:1 & 2;
Psalm 35: 28;
Psalm 104 33 & 34
[Pastor’s preaching notes follow for you review]
How To Lose Your Joy Even While Doing God's Work!
Jonah 3:10 - 4:3
Jonah 3:10 – 4:3 (NKJV)
10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.
2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”
4Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
5So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city.
[How To Lose Your Joy Even While Doing God's Work!]
1. When You're More Concerned With Your Personal Pride Than You Are God's Will!
A. The real source of Jonah's problem was a personal one
Jonah 4:1 & 2 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
1) He was focused on himself and not on God's will for the city
of Nineveh
2) When God changed His mind and spared the city,
Jonah thought it made him look bad!
3) Truth was that Jonah thought God should destroy the
"gentiles" in Nineveh.
B. Many allow personal pride to hinder them from doing God's will.
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[How To Lose Your Joy Even While Doing God's Work!]
2. When You Become Angry
A. Jonah was angry because God spared Nineveh, the capital city of
Assyria which brought much terror to Israel
Jonah 4:3 & 4 (NKJV) 3Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”
4Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
B. Some Christians teach of God's love and forgiveness but become
angry when it happens!
1) When someone is saved from a life of sin they don't want
them to be a spiritual leader of others.
2) When someone has gone through a divorce or had a son or
daughter who went astray, some Christians become angry
when that person is placed in a spiritual position.
3) When someone who has not been in the church as long or
serving God as long as they have and they get placed on the
church board, or get to teach theclass, etc.
Ephesians 4:26 & 27 (NKJV) 26“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27nor give place to the devil.
[How To Lose Your Joy Even While Doing God's Work!]
3. When You Start Pouting!
A. Jonah pouted because God had forgiven Nineveh
Jonah 4:5 (NKJV) So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city.
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B. He went out on the east side of the city to see what was going to
happen.
1) Made a booth to watch form
2) He expected God to destroy the city even though they had
repented!
3) He began to pout - It's an art to pout....poke out your lit.....roll
your eyes...... shake your head...... etc.....
C. Many Christians are just like that today....
1) They witness the change in a sinner's life then they sit on the
sidelines to see how long they will last....
2) Instead of being excited and joyous because of the grace of
God, they puff up because forgiveness is provided.
3) Jonah had forgotten about his deliverance just a few days
ago....
Jonah 2:4 – 6 (NKJV)
4 Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; The deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 I went down to the moorings of the mountains; The earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God.
4) Let's not forget where we came from!
Conclusion:
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You can maintain your joy and praise by:
1. Focusing on God and not on things!
Matthew 6:31 - 33 (NKJV)
31“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
32For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
2. Focusing on God's salvation and not yourself!
Proverbs 3:5 & 6 (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
3. Focusing on ways to Praise God and not on the Hindrances!
Psalm 9:1& 2 (NKJV)
1 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psalm 35:28 (NKJV) And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.
Psalm 104:33 & 34 (NKJV)
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.