The story of Jonah is a story of prodigal prophet and a pursuing God.

OPENING SCRIPTURE

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

But Jonah arose 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 from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:1-3 NKJ)

• Jonah received a call from God.
• What is a call from God? It is simply a direction that God wants you to in.

POINT #1: GOD’S CALL IS NOT BASED ON OUR TIMING

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.”

• Arise and Go: Get up from a place of comfort.
• God’s timing and our timing are not always the same
• An interruption for us = A divine intervention for God.
• Submit your plans to God and allow Him to guide you.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9 NLT)

POINT #2: GOD’S CALL IS NOT BASED ON OUR LIKING

• Nineveh was not the preferred holiday destination for Jonah!
• Sometimes God’s call comes wrapped up in a package that you don’t like.
• Trust him even if you don’t like it.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4)

POINT #3: GOD’S CALL DOES NOT GUARANTEE OUR SUCCESS

• Jonah chose Tarshish, far away from the call.
• The mere fact that we heard from God does not guarantee success.
• The success of the call hinges on you – your obedience!

WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING (Ephesians 4:1 NKJ)

POINT #4: GOD’S CALL COMES AT A PRICE

But Jonah arose 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 from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:1-3 NKJ)

• Jonah paid the price: He went down to Joppa. He went down into the ship. The metaphor here is that Jonah went down spiritually. He went down – “He paid the fare”.
• He paid the fare but never reached his destination.

POINT #5: GOD’S CALL IS ON REPEAT

But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up… But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. (Jonah 1:4,5 NKJ)

God uses the captain of the ship, an unbeliever to repeat the call to Jonah.

So the captain came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish.” (Jonah 1:6 NKJ)

• How far can one go to be away from God’s presence? Not very far.

POINT #6: GOD’S CALL IS COVERED WITH GRACE

So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.

• The mariners got saved in the process.
• Even if you are on the run His grace will always chase you!

Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17 NKJ)

• The fish was not God’s judgment on Jonah but his loving and saving grace!

CONCLUSION

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?