Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

WHEN GOD MOTIVATES CONVERSION
JONAH 1:10-16

INTRODUCTION:

Is Jonah's ship the old ship of Zion? No but God causes salvation to occur on this ship. God is the main character in this book. God initiates all the events in this story. In the text He motivates toward the conversion of gentile seamen. We can witness His work as:

HE MOTIVATES GODLY FEAR. v 10-11

HE MOTIVATES TESTIMONY. v 12

HE MOTIVATES A FUTILITY IN GOOD WORKS. v 13

HE MOTIVATES HUMBLE OBEDIENCE. v 14-15

HE MOTIVATES EVIDENCE OF CONVERSION. v 16
 
 

A. Motivating a . . Severe Fear. v 10 a
" became extremely frightened. . . "
A phrase by phrase exegesis.

Feared with a great fear"--i.e., they were exceedingly afraid.
Such fear can be the beginning of conversion .
They had feared the tempest and loss of life now they fear God.
Like most pagans, these men greatly feared the wrath of God would fall upon them for their failing to worship Him properly.

Note 2 Cor.7:10
For the sorrow that is according to {the will of} God produces a repentance without regret, {leading} to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

B. Motivating a . . Surprising Fear. v 10 b
". . . said to him, "How could you do this?"

They expressed an exclamation of horror at his flight from Jehovah.
If professors of religion do wrong, they will hear from those who make no such profession.
They knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the \Lord because he had told them.
Jonah already answered some questions.

C. Motivating a . . Searching Fear v 11
So they said to him, "What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?"

They knew him to be a prophet; so they ask of him the mind of God.
If God is to be appeased; what shall we do.
He Serves a Superior God So He Must Have Superior Knowledge

2KI 17:28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the \Lord.\

for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy.

Like a thing alive and obeying its Master's Will
The storm preached the omnipotence of God, even more powerfully

ILLUSTRATION:
In building the Golden Gate bridge there was a great fear of falling. The work was greatly hindered. Then they put a net below the workers and fewer fell than had fallen before.

APPLICATION:

THE TRUTH OF NATURAL RELIGION
1. THERE IS A GOD,
2. SIN ANGERS GOD,
3. GOD PUNISHES SIN.
 

A. MOTIVATING A . . REVEALING TESTIMONY.
A phrase by phrase exegesis.
JON 1:12 And he said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you,

Jonah showed a more noble side of his character.
The Prophet knew his sin caused the storm.

B. MOTIVATING A . . REGRETFUL TESTIMONY.

for I know that on account of me this great storm {has come} upon you."

He did not want others to perish on his account."

ILLUSTRATION:
Today it is regretful that students must give a secret type of testimony. Even the mentioning of God is outlawed in some circles.

Example: A Christian Valedictorian of a graduating class arranged that every time he faked a sneeze several students would say "God bless you."

APPLICATION:

Jonah gave a weak testimony but he gave one never the less. All of us give one kind of testimony or another. We should diligently seek to give a positive testimony.
 

A. MOTIVATING A FUTILITY IN WORKS DONE . . ENERGETICALLY. JON 1:13
A phrase by phrase exegesis.
However, the men rowed {desperately} to return to land but they could not,

"To dig" with oars, the word means to break through the water.
Their concern for Jonah stands in contrast to the attitude of Jonah for Nineveh.

B. MOTIVATING A FUTILITY IN WORKS DONE . . EARNESTLY.

for the sea was becoming {even} stormier against them.
Yahweh was not pleased with their plan.
God's displeasure and God's counsel-were against them.

ILLUSTRATION:
Once upon a time there were three monkeys standing on a seesaw. Above them hung a bunch of bananas. The three monkeys all scampered toward the high end of the board in order to reach the bananas. As they did, the high end tilted downward and became the low end. The monkeys then scampered back to the other end, with the same result. That is how people look who try eagerly with their works to gain salvation.

APPLICATION:

That is the way our so called "good works" appear to God.
 

A. MOTIVATING HUMILITY IN THEIR . . CALLING. JON 1:14
A phrase by phrase exegesis.
Then they called on the \Lord\
Called earnestly, a submissive cry, as men do in great earnestness.
The heathen sailors pray to Jonah's God before following Jonah's advice.
Prayed in submission towards God, and with much fervor.

and said, "We earnestly pray, O \Lord,\
Prepared by recent education and discipline to receive the truth.
This second prayer came in light of knowledge and reverent fear.
Double use of particles, cried or called, and beseech or pray, emphasizes sincerity.
They forsake idolatry and abandoned their former gods.
They seek to know the true God.

B. MOTIVATING HUMILITY IN THEIR . . CONCERN.

do not let us perish on account of this man's life: and do not put innocent blood on us;

They lay down their oars and appealed to God. (Man's work cease God's grace begins)
Perhaps they know something of God's Law that punished murder.

for Thou, O \Lord,\ hast done as Thou hast pleased."
Wonderful, concise, confession of faith in these new converts.
God has directed by casting of lots, that he has passed sentence on Jonah, it is all His doing.
They regard Jonah as a prophet of the Almighty God,
because they properly fear his God, they do not eagerly lay their hand on Jonah.
Fear changes from blind terror of the unknown to reverent fear of God.

C. MOTIVATING HUMILITY IN THEIR . . CONSENT. v 15

So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea,

They carry Jonah with respect and maybe honor.
Revering his God, they respected him.
This was discipline caused by Jonah's disobedience.
Note what they do, they participate in the punishment of sin.

and the sea stopped its raging.

The sea, when it had received Jonah, was hushed at once, to shew that God
alone had raised it, and quieted it.
It stood still, like a servant, when it had accomplished its mission.
The sea bowed in humble submission.
There was suddenly a great calm. The preaching of the storm is finished.
Jonah said earlier "I fear the God who made the sea." This is one proof.

ILLUSTRATION:
Bible teacher Donald Grey Barnhouse (1895-1960) told the following story: A young son of a missionary couple in Zaire was playing in the yard. Suddenly the voice of the boy's father rang out from the porch, "Philip, obey me instantly! Drop to your stomach!" Immediately the youngster did as his father commanded. "Now crawl toward me as fast as you can!" The boy obeyed. "Stand up and run to me!" Philip responded unquestioningly and ran to his father's arms.

As the youngster turned to look at the tree by which he had been playing, he saw a large deadly snake hanging from one of the branches! At the first command of his father, Philip could have hesitated and asked, "Why do you want me to do that?" Or he could have casually replied, "In a minute." But his instant obedience without questioning saved his life!

APPLICATION:

Jonah, you and I need a snap to kind of obedience. It is good to know God even used Jonah's obedience.
 
 

A phrase by phrase exegesis.

Then the men feared the \Lord\ greatly,
At the sudden great calm "the men feared the Lord exceedingly"
Jehovah proved able, the soldiers believed and latter make vows
In wonder and awe they feared the Lord exceedingly, for they too were able to confess that the God of Israel was maker of the sea.

B. MOTIVATION EVIDENCED IN FAITH.

and they offered a sacrifice to the \Lord\
Again not after they landed, but immediately, on board the ship.
The mariners honored God by offering a sacrifice and making vows.
Forsaking their idols, they made a sacrifice and pledged themselves to Israel's God.
They combined faith and works.
How would Jonah know of these vows? He heard of their testimony
It implies they sacrificed immediately on the cessation of the storm.
So God in longsuffering had extended His salvation to the Gentiles.

ILLUSTRATION:
A fable is told about a king who had a special diamond. The diamond got scratched and the king offered a reward to anyone who could remove the scratch without damaging the diamond. No one could successfully promise to meet the kings requirements.

Then one day a diamond cutter said he could fix the diamond and make it even more valuable. To the kings surprise the diamond cutter etched a beautiful rose on the diamond. The scratch was not gone but it became the stem of the rose.

Jesus did something like that in my life. He took a life full of scratches and in His forgiveness is making a rose.

APPLICATION:
God has a master rose maker; . . . HE is the ROSE OF SHARON

CONCLUSION:

HE MOTIVATES GODLY FEAR. v 10-11

HE MOTIVATES TESTIMONY. v 12

HE MOTIVATES A FUTILITY IN GOOD WORKS. v 13

HE MOTIVATES HUMBLE OBEDIENCE. v 14-15

HE MOTIVATES EVIDENCE OF CONVERSION. v 16
 
 

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